Innovation
New ideas and scientific and technological advancements
Scientists Invent Electronic Circuits That Dissolve in Water
The new type of temporary electronics could be implanted in the body or used to monitor the environment without a need for cleanup afterward
September 27, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Hope and Change: 5 Innovation Updates
Here's the latest on robots that work with humans, a revolutionary camera, home 3-D printers, mobile wallets and Google's driverless car.
September 25, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
Orlon! Dacron! Antron! The Great American Knits of Fall 1965
As this old newspaper ad supplement shows, in the heydey of synthetic knits, DuPont advanced its chemically made fibers as a key to "Better Living"
September 24, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Recapping “The Jetsons”: Episode 01 – Rosey the Robot
Meet George Jetson! The first installment of our 24-part series on the show that would forever change how we view the future
September 24, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
The Copper King’s Precipitous Fall
Augustus Heinze dominated the copper fields of Montana, but his family's scheming on Wall Street set off the Panic of 1907.
September 20, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Getting Smart About Traffic
Thanks to GPS, sensors, artificial intelligence and even algorithms based on the behavior of E. coli, it's possible to imagine the end of commuting madness.
September 20, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
50 Years of the Jetsons: Why The Show Still Matters
Although it was on the air for only one season, The Jetsons remains our most popular point of reference when discussing the future.
September 19, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
How Dogs Fight Cancer
Man's best friend is becoming a key player in fighting cancer, allowing scientists to speed up the process of connecting the dots between genetics and disease.
September 17, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
Scientists Manipulate Brainwaves of Cocaine-Addled Monkeys to Improve Decision-Making
By stimulating neural activity with electrodes, researchers boosted the mental skills of rhesus monkeys under the influence of cocaine
September 14, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Wearable Tech Makes a Fashion Statement
When models wore Google's goggles on the runway, it signaled that the next wave of digital devices may actually go post-geek.
September 13, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
Honoring Bill Moggridge
From designing the first laptop to defining human-computer interaction, Bill Moggridge spent his career breaking new ground in design and technology
September 10, 2012 |
By Sarah C. Rich
10 Inventions You Haven’t Heard About
Apple's iPhone 5 will get all the attention this month, but here are some lesser-known innovations whose time has also come
September 10, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
NASA Sparks Its Imagination
Rovers that ride winds on Venus, robots that roll like tumbleweeds and other wild ideas for exploring space.
September 07, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
Rare People Who Remember Everything
Scientists are taking a closer look at the extremely rare people who remember everything from their pasts. And yes, their brains are different.
September 04, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
How Biomimicry is Inspiring Human Innovation
Creative minds are increasingly turning to nature—banyan tree leaves, butterfly wings, a bird's beak— for fresh design solutions
September 2012 |
By Tom Vanderbilt
How the Pogo Stick Leapt From Classic Toy to Extreme Sport
Three lone inventors took the gadget that had changed little since it was invented more than 80 years ago and transformed it into a gnarly, big air machine
September 2012 |
By Ariel Sabar
Why is Rem Koolhaas the World's Most Controversial Architect?
Age has not tempered the Dutch architect, who at 67 continues to shake up the cultural landscape with his provocative designs
September 2012 |
By Nicolai Ouroussoff
How Steve Jobs' Love of Simplicity Fueled A Design Revolution
Passionate to the point of obsessive about design, Steve Jobs insisted that his computers look perfect inside and out
September 2012 |
By Walter Isaacson
Is Geoengineering the Answer to Climate Change?
A new study looks directly at the immediate expenses of intentionally cooling our climate, but what are the long-term costs?
August 31, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Attack of the Superbugs
Gene detectives tracking a deadly outbreak at the National Institutes of Health were reminded of how much we don't know about how infections spread through a hospital.
August 31, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland

