Technology Innovation
Prepare to Go Underground
Upside down skyscrapers. Vacuum tubes whisking away trash. Welcome to the future of cities as they begin exploring the next urban frontier.
June 26, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
Robots Enter the Job Market
In some cases, they're learning to work with humans. In others, they're taking over the whole plant
June 21, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
Are You Chatting With a Human or a Computer?
Converse with some of the world's most sophisticated artificial intelligence programs—and decide how human they seem
June 21, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
The Long History of the Espresso Machine
In the 19th century, coffee was big business in Europe. As inventors sought to improve brews and reduce brewing time, the espresso was born
June 19, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Deconstructing Dad
Fatherhood remains a ripe subject for scientific research. Here are 10 recent studies on the transformation from man to dad
June 14, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
The Unnatural History of the Dixie Cup
The product was a life-saving technology that avoided the transmission of disease from communal "tin dippers"
June 13, 2012 |
By Peter Smith
The Rise and Fall of Ken-chan, the $43,000 Robot Waiter
The spaghetti-slinging robot drew crowds at Grazie’s Italian Restaurant in Tokyo
June 12, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
It’s a Long Story
In a Facebook world, you'd think there wouldn't be much of a future for nonfiction storytelling. But several startups are trying to keep the long narrative alive.
June 11, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
Roiling in the Deep
It's World Oceans Day and here are 10 things scientists know about what's happening under the sea that they didn't a year ago.
June 08, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
Saab Reinvents Air Traffic Control With a Digital Panorama
With Saab's new digital panorama, the local air traffic controller may soon go the way of the technical support specialist.
June 04, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Taking Control of Your Dreams
Not a lot of research has been done on lucid dreaming, but new devices are now helping people influence what's going on in their heads while they sleep.
June 04, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
Talking With Machines
Apple's Siri is far from perfect, but It's shown the potential of voice recognition software and artificial intelligence. Coming soon: Real conversations with our cars.
June 01, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
Quick and Cheap DNA Sequencing On the Horizon?
A new technique reads DNA base by base by threading it through a tiny pore
May 29, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
The Genome That Keeps on Giving
When scientists mapped the human genetic blueprint, people said it would change medicine because we'd be able to get clues about our future health
May 29, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
Big Things Ahead… But Keep Your Shirt On
Americans in the 1940s had wondrous expectations about the post-war world. Meet one author who advised them to curb their enthusiasm
May 25, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
What’s Going On With Ice Cream?
Not only is it now available in once unimaginable flavors, like salted caramel and prosciutto, but scientists also are trying to make it good for you.
May 24, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
New Coating Gets Ketchup Out Lickety-Split
A substance developed at MIT sends viscous condiments pouring out of bottles with ease
May 23, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
What Sunken Sandwiches Tell Us About the Future of Food Storage
The sinking of the Alvin was an accident that demonstrated the promise of a novel food preservation method
May 23, 2012 |
By Peter Smith
Maps of the Future
A 1989 prediction about portable GPS devices was right on the money
May 22, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
When Cities Run Themselves
We're moving toward an "internet of things," where machines talk to machines and there's little need for human involvement. A lot of experts think it's the key to ensuring that cities of the future don't fall apart
May 21, 2012 |
By Randy Rieland
