Climate Change
Space Has Better Internet Than Antarctica, but That Might Change
A proposed fiber-optic cable could make it easier for scientists to transmit crucial climate data
Engineering1410 articles archived since 1845
Engineering
Concrete Buildings Could Be Turned into Rechargeable Batteries
But for now, a square meter of the building material holds roughly the energy of two AA batteries
Climate Change
Concentrated Beer? Cutting Liquid before Shipping Also Cuts Its Carbon Footprint
Water is added back in before consumption
Engineering
Miami Building Collapse Could Profoundly Change Engineering
To pin down causes of the structure's failure, investigators will probably gather its original design drawings, test its remains and run simulations of how well it could withstand forces...
Climate Change
How to Prevent Air Conditioners from Heating the Planet
Manufacturers are competing to minimize power consumption and refrigerants as the machines multiply
Natural Disasters
AI Could Spot Wildfires Faster Than Humans
A prediction system undergoes testing as the U.S. West braces for another potentially devastating wildfire season
Engineering
New 3-D-Printed Material Is Tough, Flexible—and Alive
Made from microalgae and bacteria, the new substance can survive for three days without feeding. It could one day be used to build living garments, self-powered kitchen appliances or even window coverings that sequester carbon...
Engineering
Fraudulent Fish Foiled by Cancer-Catching Pen
Seafood is often falsely labeled, but a handheld device can tell tuna from tilapia in seconds
Engineering
Hacker Attack on Essential Pipeline Shows Infrastructure Weaknesses
Ransomware is steadily hitting harder. Could banks or subway systems be next?
Biotech
Using Light to Control Cells Holds Promise across the Body
Optogenetics could aid vision, blood glucose, and more
Engineering
50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: May 2021
When time began; superior bread baking
Engineering
Mississippi River Rescue Plan Called Too Big to Fail
Controversy surrounds the plan to cut the river’s massive levee in an attempt to save disappearing wetlands
Engineering
50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: March 2021
Lethal gas fights crime, 1921; baby energy powers cleaning, 1871
Engineering
50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: February 2021
New computer architecture in 1971; multistage rocket theory in 1921
Engineering
Spider Legs Build Webs without the Brain’s Help
Researchers decode spiders’ web-building behavior for application in future robots
Engineering
Alexander Graham Bell Goes and Flies a Kite—for Science
After patenting the telephone, the famous inventor turned his attention to giant tetrahedral kites capable of lifting people into the air
Engineering
Explosive Charges Protect Roads and Ski Areas
Controlled avalanches are a major safety effort during a year of outdoor activities
Engineering
Rotating Sails Help to Revive Wind-Powered Shipping
A century-old concept, Flettner rotors, gets a fresh look as shippers cut back fuel
Environment
Pandemic Leads Geoengineering Experiment to Move from U.S. to Sweden
The project aims to use a balloon to release particles into the atmosphere to tamp down warming
Engineering
2020’s Top 10 Tech Innovations
Scientific American and the World Economic Forum sifted through more than 75 nominations for the most innovative and potentially game-changing technologies in 2020. The final top 10 span the fields of medicine, engineering, environmental sciences and chemistry. And to win the nod, the technologies must have the potential to spur progress in societies and economies by outperforming established ways of doing things...
