Tech

Archaeology

Pyramids’ blocks: Possibly rock ‘n’ rolled

No one knows how the ancient Egyptians moved the big stones needed to build their pyramids. A new study suggests they could have rolled them, by attaching wooden posts to the sides.

Tech

Soaking up oil spills — with cotton

Natural, low-grade cotton could help clean up oil spills better than synthetic materials, a new study finds. And unlike synthetics, cotton breaks down naturally.

Tech

Plants ‘listen’ for danger

Scientists used lasers to show that plants can “hear” insect pests. Those leafy plants then mount a chemical attack in response to the bug’s chewing sounds — but not toward harmless noises such as a gentle breeze or a bug’s mating call.

Tech

Invisible plastic ‘ink’ foils counterfeiters

Hidden images make a new label virtually counterfeit-proof, thanks to a combination of chemistry and nanotechnology.

Tech

Fashioning inks to ‘print’ tissues

3-D printing may one day create life-saving tissues and organs for transplants. But first researchers are learning how to tailor cell-filled “inks” for use in inkjet printers.

Tech

Biometrics: New IDs that are uniquely you

Fingerprints are so last century. Computers soon may start identifying people by their eyebrows, heartbeats or even networks of blood vessels under the skin.

Tech

A homemade bungee cord could save kids in hot cars

Babies left in hot cars are in serious danger. A middle-school student invented a simple reminder to help parents keep their children safe.

Space

What to wear on Mars

NASA released details of the new, more flexible apparel being designed for long-distance travelers — such as those bound for another planet.

Tech

Digital displays get flexible

Flexible and unbreakable digital displays could soon be for sale, thanks to a new organic transistor made from plastic.

Tech

New plane wheels land teen at big research competition

Landing a plane in high winds can be a risky business. Intel ISEF finalist Emerson Burkard designed a new swiveling plane wheel to make the process safer.

Tech

Digital lighting goes organic

An environmentally friendly lighting technology promises not only to save energy but also to transform our indoor environment.

Earth

Nifty science

Inspired research put select high school seniors on the path to the 2014 Intel Science Talent Search finals.