Innovations

When Cameras Trick Us and We Love It

Technological wizardry is allowing us to see the natural world in stunningly new ways

March 20, 2012

Is There More to Obesity Than Too Much Food?

Recent research suggests that chemicals used to protect, process and package food could be helping to create fat cells

March 15, 2012

Need a Little Social Discovery in Your Life?

The buzz at the SXSW conference this year is about mobile apps that tell you when there are people nearby you really should meet

March 12, 2012

Building a Human Brain

Could supercomputers create an artificial brain that can learn new behavior and develop cognitive skills? Some scientists say not if, but when

March 9, 2012

Somebody’s Tracking You

Technology now allows companies to follow your behavior on the Web and customize ads for you based on that data. When does that become invasion of privacy?

March 7, 2012

Welcome to the Feel Good Future

At TED and other geek gab events, the focus is not on what is, but rather what’s possible. Here are five inventions whose time may soon be coming

March 1, 2012

Will High Gas Prices Jolt Electric Cars?

This is the year we should find out if plug-in cars are for real. And it doesn’t hurt when gas goes over $4 a gallon

February 27, 2012

Pain and the Brain

Our nervous system can hold on to pain memories for a long time. But scientists may have found a way to make pain go away for good

February 24, 2012

Is the U.S. Out of Love with Cutting-Edge Transit?

It feels like it. But there is plenty of innovative thinking shaping the future of public transportation. You just need to look elsewhere to find it

February 21, 2012

What’s Science Got to Do With It?

Can anyone really make sense of romance? Researchers keep trying because, frankly, we want answers

February 13, 2012

How Smart Does a TV Need to Be?

Sure, they’re big and they’re flat. But TVs still aren’t that bright. This, however, could be the year they start acting more like smart phones

February 9, 2012

10 Bright Ideas to Get You Through February

It’s not easy to think happy thoughts this time of year. But here are some examples of innovative thinking that remind us it will get better

February 6, 2012

The Super Bowl Goes Social

February 2, 2012

Going to the Moon…Or Not

Is that what it will take for NASA to get its mojo back? Or are there better ways to spend its money?

January 30, 2012

Teacher’s Got a Brand New Bag

Whether it’s iPads replacing textbooks or college courses being offered free around the world, education is moving into some uncharted territory.

January 26, 2012

So What Do We Do With All This Data?

Scientists think all the personal information now being shared on social networks or collected by sensors could help them predict the future

January 23, 2012

Are Your Eyes Also a Window to Your Brain?

Research shows you can learn a few things about a person by watching where they’re looking.

January 18, 2012

Innovators to Watch in 2012

Here are young entrepreneurs whose innovative thinking has them poised for big things this year

January 17, 2012

10 Innovators to Watch

January 16, 2012

Can This Invention Save Cameras?

With the Lytro camera, you no longer have to bother with focusing an image. Plus, your photos become interactive

January 12, 2012