Tech
- Artificial Intelligence
AI shouldn’t be trusted with your mental health, teen finds
Her research suggests that ChatGPT and similar AI systems are not suitable replacements for human therapists.
- Materials Science
Spooky! Grooved surface sends ice sailing — no outside push needed
Boulders that have mysteriously moved across Death Valley’s landscape inspired the work. The new surface can slingshot ice in a chosen direction.
- Humans
Scientists Say: Artifact
Take note: This term might describe ancient pottery shards in the field of archeology. But in statistics, it’s a misleading pattern in data.
- Animals
Ripple bugs’ frilly feet inspired a water-striding robot
The insects’ nimble movements on the surface of water inspired a robot with automatically unfurling fans on its feet.
- Health & Medicine
Floss delivers flu vaccine to mice needle-free
The creative solution may one day allow people to vaccinate themselves — no injection needed.
- 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.
- Physics
Could we ever build the tech to shrink ourselves?
The atoms that make us up couldn’t be shrunk or smashed closer together — at least, not without catastrophic consequences.
- 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.
- Space
This astronomer searches for alien chemistry and tech
At the SETI Institute, Chenoa Tremblay uses radio telescopes to look for molecules and emissions given off by alien technology.
- 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.
- Physics
This device creates rainbows of sound
A plastic structure separates the pitches in mixed sounds like white noise, much like a rainbow spreads out colors of light.
- Tech
Pickleballs inspire a new way to reduce drag on vehicles
Dimples in a skin can be adjusted on demand to reduce drag or to steer where a vehicle goes.
