Smart News: Ideas & Innovations | Smithsonian Magazine

New Research

This Robotic Insect Can Jump on Water

Why? Because it’s cool

August 3, 2015

With the right code, hackers can control guns from afar

July 31, 2015

Cool Finds

Maine Brewers Are Selling Lobster-Infused Beer

Because of course they are

July 31, 2015

The 7 Line is currently undergoing a system upgrade from one that was installed in the 1930s to one run by computers.

Cool Finds

NYC Subway Technology Goes Way Back…to the 1930s

America’s busiest subway system relies on vintage machines

July 31, 2015

Dario, an eight-year-old Colombian boy who lost his arm due to a congenital malformation, tests out Torres' prosthetic arm design.

Cool Finds

Kids Can Build Their Own Lego Prosthetics

Prototype system brings a bit of fun to prosthetics

July 30, 2015

The Virgin Galactic SpaceShip2 (VSS Enterprise) glides toward Earth on its first test flight after being released from its WhiteKnight2 (VMS Eve) mothership over Mojave, California October 10, 2010. The craft was piloted by engineer and test pilot Pete Siebold from Scaled Composites.

Investigators say space plane didn’t have enough safeguards

July 29, 2015

The first known photograph of Drosera magnifica.

New Research

No One Knew This Plant Existed Until It Was Posted to Facebook

What’s the emoji for “scientific discovery”?

July 28, 2015

A helicopter being used to fight wildfire

Firefighters need to take to the air to fight fires, but sometimes that air is just too crowded

July 27, 2015

Cool Finds

These Drones Hunt Whale Snot

Snotbots will make mucus collection less stressful for whales

July 27, 2015

The vaccine isn’t as effective as hoped however, and needs several more approvals

July 25, 2015

The Scanadu Scout is just one of the many devices that attempt to act like a real-life tricorder

Cool Finds

A List of All the Times People Have Tried to Build a Working Tricorder

Star Trek-style scanning has been a bit more complicated than expected

July 24, 2015

Egg prices are hitting record highs, raising demand for substitutes

July 24, 2015

Two black rhinos, a mother and her calf, explore a watering hole at Etosha National Park in Namibia.

Cool Finds

Researchers are Fitting Rhinos With Hidden Horn Cameras

One non-profit wants to outfit the animals with cameras and heart rate monitors to save them

July 23, 2015

43 camps nationwide teach teens white hat hacking skills

July 23, 2015

Pets and livestock will soon travel in high style through JFK

July 22, 2015

More telescope time, better equipment could help scientists figure out what’s out there

July 21, 2015

Cool Finds

One Man Packed and Shipped Over 700 Pounds of Boston Snow This Year

But they refused to ship snow to anyone in Massachusetts

July 20, 2015

Bottling water divorces people from caring about keeping public water supply clean

July 16, 2015

Architects envision a rippling structure that takes a page from the singer’s famous look

July 16, 2015

Michael Fraley, a Vice President with Yulex Corporation, cuts a guayule plant that can be used to make natural rubber, in 2008

Cool Finds

Could This Shrub Overthrow the Mighty Rubber Tree?

Researchers are working to make a shrub found in southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico a viable natural rubber alternative

July 15, 2015

Smart News / Smart News Ideas & Innovations