Engineering

Trending Today

China Just Opened the World’s Largest Water Diversion Project

An unprecedented engineering project sends water to China’s parched North

December 12, 2014

Anthropocene

Why Engineering Will Be Vital in a Changing Climate

Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough offers personal insights on the realities of climate change and the best ways for society to adapt

December 11, 2014

Designing a Smaller, Lighter Airplane Tail

With engineers from Caltech, Boeing and NASA, Israel Wygnanski is ushering in a new era of fuel-efficient airplane design

December 1, 2014

Cool Finds

Nicaragua Is Going Ahead With a Massive Canal That Will Bisect the Country

According to experts, the project will likely wreak havoc on both Nicaraguans and the country’s environment

November 24, 2014

Cool Finds

How to Protect the Lincoln Memorial From Crazy Flooding

The capital city’s decades-old system of levees to keep water back during storms and flooding is getting an upgrade

November 3, 2014

Trending Today

It’s Still Possible to Stop the Worst of Climate Change

Say so long to fossil fuels

November 3, 2014

Cool Finds

Finally, a Working (Though Limited) Hoverboard!

If you have a huge aluminum or copper sheet, this hoverboad looks pretty fun

October 21, 2014

2014 Ingenuity Awards

The 2014 Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award Winners

These 10 innovators in science, history, society and the arts are a testament to the imagination and hard work that define the nation’s spirit

October 16, 2014

Trending Today

The Aral Sea Is Pretty Much Gone

The fourth largest lake in the world is less than a tenth of its former size

October 2, 2014

New Research

Deadly Chinese Earthquake May Have Been Man-Made

More than 600 people died in the August 3 Yunnan earthquake

September 10, 2014

Cool Finds

Scientists Are Actually Talking About Building Giant Space Lasers to Control the Weather

This is what happens when you refuse to do things the easy way

August 22, 2014

New Research

Geckos Can Control the Movement of Their Toe Hairs

Geckos take advantage of van der Waals forces to run across ceilings, but a simple shift allows them to drop to the ground

August 21, 2014

New Research

Lack of Workplace Support Keeps Women Out of Engineering Careers

Aspiring female engineers say that they perceive little chance of advancing in their field

August 11, 2014

Shark Week

Why Are Scientists Trying To Make Fake Shark Skin?

Faux marine animal skin could make swimmers faster, keep bathrooms clean and cloak underwater robots

August 11, 2014

Trending Today

The Wrecked Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Is Finally Being Towed Away

The ship’s remains will be broken down for scrap metal

July 14, 2014

New Research

Humans Have Been Messing With China’s Yellow River for 3,000 Years

When humans try to tame nature things rarely go according to plan

June 20, 2014

Cool Finds

These Nice, Safe Bike Lanes Will Make You Want to Jump on a Bike

Protected intersections already exist in the Netherlands. Could they ever come to the States?

June 20, 2014

Cool Finds

Tweaking the Banana’s Genome Could Save the Lives of Thousands of Children in Uganda

But not everyone agrees that GMO crops should be used to solve food and nutrition problems

June 16, 2014

New Research

When Fire Ants Build Rafts, There Are No Free Loaders

When fire ants form floating balls, not a single leg or antennae goes to waste

June 13, 2014

New Research

Spiders Get Information From the Vibrations of Their Webs

Depending on the frequency, a vibrating thread of silk can tell a spider if it needs to repair its home or go collect a snared snack

June 6, 2014