https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/tech-watch/RSS feed for Tech WatchenWed, 22 Apr 2026 19:27:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-humanoid-robot-just-beat-the-human-world-record-for-the-fastest-half-marathon-during-a-race-in-china-180988599/A self-navigating robot called Lightning, developed by Chinese electronics company Honor, won the 13.1-mile race. Its results and others mark significant advancements since last year's inaugural event, where only 6 of the 21 androids reached the finish lineWed, 22 Apr 2026 19:27:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-humanoid-robot-just-beat-the-human-world-record-for-the-fastest-half-marathon-during-a-race-in-china-180988599/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/curly-curling-robot-can-beat-pros-their-own-game-180975951/An AI-powered robot was able to beat professional curling teams 3-out-of-4 times, a new study showsWed, 30 Sep 2020 16:04:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/curly-curling-robot-can-beat-pros-their-own-game-180975951/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/year-half-world-went-online-180970987/In the past decade, there's been a huge spike in internet access though that number is beginning to slow downTue, 11 Dec 2018 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/year-half-world-went-online-180970987/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/vest-makes-search-and-rescue-dogs-remote-control-180970734/By aiming little spots of light, handlers can direct their fearless doggos through disaster areasTue, 06 Nov 2018 19:38:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/vest-makes-search-and-rescue-dogs-remote-control-180970734/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/why-funny-falling-soccer-playing-robots-matter-180964260/The 2017 RoboCup brings small changes and big competition to a broad technical challengeMon, 31 Jul 2017 16:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/why-funny-falling-soccer-playing-robots-matter-180964260/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mp3-format-music-historys-latest-casualty-180963317/The Institute that licenses MP3 tech recently stopped, but the format that began the digital music era may live on indefinitelyMon, 15 May 2017 19:49:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mp3-format-music-historys-latest-casualty-180963317/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-tech-writers-thought-about-iphone-when-it-debuted-10-years-ago-180961728/Not everyone thought the sleek phone/browser/music player would have mainstream appealMon, 09 Jan 2017 20:00:32 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-tech-writers-thought-about-iphone-when-it-debuted-10-years-ago-180961728/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-spinach-can-detect-bombs-180960981/Now more than Popeye’s favorite food, carbon nanotubes are turning the leafy green into a bomb detectorTue, 01 Nov 2016 19:58:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-spinach-can-detect-bombs-180960981/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-patch-could-help-reduce-peanut-allergies-180960930/A new study shows that a transdermal patch delivering tiny doses of peanut protein could help allergy sufferers tolerate larger exposure to peanutsFri, 28 Oct 2016 15:34:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-patch-could-help-reduce-peanut-allergies-180960930/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-use-diamonds-store-data-180960932/Scientists use lasers to probe the gem's flaws, creating data storage that could potentially last foreverThu, 27 Oct 2016 19:05:35 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-use-diamonds-store-data-180960932/