HS-ETS1-2

Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.

  1. Agriculture

    Dew collector brings water to thirsty plants

    This invention grabs water from the air at night. All it needs is the sun’s warmth the next day to release that moisture to growing plants.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    What kids need to know about getting a COVID-19 shot

    COVID-19 vaccines are already being administered to some adults. Here’s what that means for kids and teens.

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  3. Chemistry

    Bye-bye batteries? Power a phone with fabric or a beacon with sound

    New piezoelectric systems produce electricity in unusual ways, such as when a certain nylon bends or underwater ceramics vibrate.

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  4. Brain

    A taste map in the brain is a scattering of tiny flavor islands

    Some senses are highly organized in the brain. Taste is not. And that points to just how important it is.

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  5. Chemistry

    A soil-based ‘concrete’ could make buildings green, even on Mars

    A new soil-based material offers an alternative to concrete for 3-D printing environmentally friendly buildings.

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  6. Environment

    Old clothes soon may be recycled, not trashed

    One day, clothes may be recycled almost as much as plastics and glass are now. See how chemists are moving us in that direction.

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  7. Space

    Star of science and movies, the Arecibo radio telescope is dead

    Broken cables led to catastrophic damage of its history-making dish. The U.S. National Science Foundation will now dismantle what remains.

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  8. Space

    Why Arecibo’s loss is such a big deal for astronomy

    Damage to the radio telescope in Puerto Rico has robbed scientists of a special tool for studying everything from asteroids to galaxies.

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  9. Chemistry

    Here’s how to make flip-flops biodegradable

    Innovative flip-flops made from an algae-based plastic decompose in soil or compost. The comfy shoes also avoid use of fossil fuels.

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  10. Computing

    New device tells smiles from frowns — even through a mask

    Most facial-recognition software has to see the whole face to work. The new type can reconstruct an entire expression from just viewing your cheeks.

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  11. Animals

    Around the world, birds are in crisis

    Human activities around the world are threatening bird species. Numbers of even some of the most common species are starting to fall.

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  12. Materials Science

    This artificial skin feels ‘ghosts’ — things you wish were there

    Engineers have developed a wearable device that simulates the sense of touch. It may benefit robotic surgery and deep-sea exploration.

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