Engineering Design
- Tech
Wired and weird: Meet the cyborg plants
By mixing electronics with greenery, engineers have made plants that conduct electricity, detect bombs and send email.
- Physics
How to chill an object by sending its heat into space
Researchers have designed a device that can cool an object by radiating its energy into outer space. Think of it as a solar panel in reverse.
- Tech
How to spin synthetic spider silk
A new method for spinning artificial spider silk combines parts of proteins from two species and mimics what happens in a spider’s silk-forming gland.
- Computing
The Internet of Things wants to link all facets of our world
The Internet of Things means everyday objects are becoming computers. Can people harness this technology to make the world better?
- Computing
How to build computer chips only 3 atoms thick
Scientists have engineered an ultrathin material only three atoms thick. The material could be used to make extremely slender computer chips.
- Computing
LEDs offer new way to kill germs in water
Growing ultraviolet-light-emitting diodes on thin, flexible sheets of metal holds promise for water disinfection and other applications.
- Health & Medicine
Snot Science: A snotty setup
We’ve got a video with a snotty experiment. Now we describe how you can do the same test yourself. Try it!
- Health & Medicine
Snot Science: Results are nothing to sneeze at
We tested a lot of snot, but now we need to figure out what our data mean. Here’s how to group and analyze our data.
- Health & Medicine
Snot Science: Taking mucus to the next level
There’s more to science than just squirting snot. It’s time to place data in context and figure out how to take my boogers to the next level.
- Genetics
World’s tallest corn towers nearly 14 meters
Short nights and a genetic tweak helped novel corn reach record heights.
- Space
Movie, book illuminate Hidden Figures from the space race
A new movie and book showcase the hidden heroes of the space race — the mathematicians who crunched the numbers.
- Tech
Speedy, springy robot ‘Salto’ catches some serious air
A lightweight robot nicknamed “Salto” can bound from floor to wall and back. Such fast and agile bots may someday aid in search-and-rescue operations.
