Engineering Design

  1. Physics

    Discoveries behind quantum computers win the Nobel Prize in physics

    John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis turned up quantum effects in an electric circuit. This 1980s find underlies today’s quantum computers.

    By Emily Conover
  2. Materials Science

    Scientists transform pee into a golden opportunity

    By transforming urine into a valuable medical product, scientists hope to change how we view this human waste.

    By Katie Grace Carpenter
  3. Tech

    Get a sneak peek at the tech you may use in the future

    Holograms, 3-D printed clothing, personal robots — these technologies and more might one day transform your daily life.

    By Kathryn Hulick
  4. Health & Medicine

    New study links chemical in plastics to fatal heart disease

    More than one in eight deaths from heart disease in older adults is being linked to DEHP. The plastic chemical appears to play a role in many other health issues, too.

    By Skyler Ware and Janet Raloff
  5. Space

    35 years on, Hubble continues to revolutionize astronomy

    The Hubble Space Telescope is an icon in astronomy. Here are some of its most out-of-this-world images.

    By Katherine Kornei
  6. Tech

    Lasers can eavesdrop on microbes, including viruses

    They can sometimes identify not only the types, but also how many there are. One day, lasers might be able to keep track of what germs are around us.

    By Anna Rogers
  7. Physics

    How polarized and UV-blocking sunglasses protect our eyes

    Their filters can cut glare to help us see more clearly. The best ones also filter out the sun’s UV rays — even on cloudy days — to limit eye damage.

    By Tejasri Gururaj
  8. Health & Medicine

    TikTok skincare routines may cause more harm than good

    Many videos used lots of costly skincare products full of potential irritants. And most left out the most important way to care for your skin: sun protection.

    By Andrea Tamayo
  9. Planets

    Here’s how future Martians might take their first breaths 

    Mars would need an atmosphere thick enough to hold heat and with enough oxygen for people to breathe. This is how we might terraform Mars.

    By Aaron Tremper
  10. Tech

    Scientists Say: Prototype

    These rough draft models help engineers test how a concept translates from theory to reality.

    By Katie Grace Carpenter
  11. Artificial Intelligence

    This researcher investigates the risks of digitally cloning the dead  

    Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basińska investigates the risk of AI-driven grief bots — while commuting between Poland and England.

    By Aaron Tremper
  12. Tech

    This 3-D printed robot runs on air, not electricity

    The soft, flexible robot can cover uneven ground and even walk underwater.

    By Skyler Ware