Robot dogs are hiking the Alps and preparing for space
A robot dog reached the summit of an Alps trail more quickly than the average human — and the mechanical K9s are just getting started.
Shape-shifting material morphs robot from driving to flying
A shape-shifting material lets multifunctional robots morph from one shape to the next quickly and without the use of motors.
Bionic pacemaker causes heart to beat irregularly — on purpose
A new bionic pacemaker improved blood flow in animal studies by using the lungs to reintroduce lost heart rate variability.
New breed of pig will provide organs for human transplantation
German researchers are breeding a new type of pig that’s been genetically modified to have organs ideal for human transplantation.
NASA gets first images from James Webb telescope
NASA has shared the James Webb Space Telescope’s first images, and so far, it looks like the epic spacecraft is working exactly as hoped.
How slime molds can design efficient subway networks without human help
A new computer models shows how slime molds may design efficient subways without our help.
NASA: Lockheed Martin will build the Mars Ascent Vehicle
NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle, a first-of-its-kind rocket capable of launching from the surface of Mars, will be built by Lockheed Martin.
MIT engineers invent surgical “duct tape”
MIT’s biodegradable surgical tape is designed to seal tears in the gastrointestinal tract, potentially preventing sepsis-causing leaks.
Why pumping water back into hydro dams beats batteries for renewable power
The U.S. has thousands of reservoirs that could be paired for pumped hydro storage without the need for rivers.
“Space tug” tows dead satellite into a new orbit
China has used a space tug to change the orbit of a defunct satellite, proving it’s a viable way to clean up some old space junk.
Clean offshore charging buoys can save city air
Shipping giant Maersk is building custom charging buoys that provide electricity to ships moored overnight. The first is set to launch this year at an offshore wind farm.
MIT’s new material is stronger than steel and as light as plastic
A new material out of MIT that’s stronger than steel and as light as plastic could one day coat smartphones, hold up bridges, and more.
Monkeys’ alcohol consumption drops 50% after hormone therapy
Heavy-drinking monkeys cut their alcohol consumption by 50% after researchers treated them with a hormone called “FGF21.”
Coffee mug company builds high-tech box to keep vaccines cold
Smart mug company Ember has created a shipping container to help bolster the medicine cold chain.
Hibernating squirrels hint at secret to surviving space travel
Astronauts lose muscle mass in space. The secret to how ground squirrels keep mass in hibernation may help future space travelers keep their own.
NFTs are extending the life of street art
To extend the life of their street art, creators are linking them to NFTs that can then live on the blockchain in perpetuity.
Smartphone COVID test is as accurate as PCR test
Researchers created a smartphone-based test kit that will test for the viruses that cause COVID and flu. Early research has shown that the kit is as accurate as standard lab-based testing but much faster.
NASA offers $1 million prize for prototypes to grow space food
NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge will give away $1 million in exchange for prototypes that could help feed astronauts on long-term missions.
Is metal 3D printing ready for the factory floor?
Metal 3D printing could potentially cut the cost of manufacturing cars, consumer tech, and more — if it can scale.
Bionic eye implants enable a blind person to see again
Doctors successfully implanted a microchip in a woman's retina, restoring some vision to her blind eye.
Magnetic “seed” heats and kills tumors in new cancer therapy
A novel cancer therapy uses a magnetic “seed” to precisely target and kill brain tumor cells without the need for open brain surgery.
New EV battery material promises to quintuple electric car range
Researchers have developed a battery membrane made of recycled Kevlar fibers that may potentially double the range of electric vehicles and last 1,000 cycles.
Scientists propose mechanical trees to soak up CO2
Can we combine our two best ways to remove CO2 from the air?
NASA plans to destroy the ISS in 2031
NASA will deorbit the International Space Station in 2031 by sending it plunging into the Pacific Ocean's “spacecraft cemetery.”
MIT tests pill to deliver RNA vaccines and therapies
A tortoise-inspired capsule designed by MIT can deliver RNA vaccines and other nucleic acid therapeutics without injections.
Researchers can predict rats’ behavior by reading their brains
A team at the University of Oregon have decoded the patterns of brain activity to predict basic actions in mice.
Undersea cable laws have hardly changed since 1884 – Tonga shows they need modernizing
Cable-laying ships navigate complex but outdated maritime laws.
Cataract surgery associated with lower risk of dementia
In a new study of thousands of patients, those who had cataract surgery had a reduction in dementia risk.
Guinea worm disease is near eradication, Carter Center says
After decades of work, cases of human Guinea worm disease are in the double digits — putting elimination of the painful infection in sight.
Canada approves psychedelic therapy
A new amendment approving psychedelic-assisted therapies on a case-by-case basis has taken effect.
Drug that cleans up cholesterol may reduce post stroke dementia
Researchers look to an FDA-approved drug ingredient that can "scoop-up" and store cholesterol and possibly stave off post stroke dementia.
Open-source DIY heater helps unsheltered stay warm in winter
A DIY heater that is safe to use in tents and costs just $7 to make is helping unsheltered people across the U.S. stay warm this winter.
Toyota is building a “Lunar Cruiser” for Japan
Toyota's pressurized moon rover, the “Lunar Cruiser,” could help astronauts live on the moon — and help us combat climate change on Earth.
Brain implant translates thought to text
A paralyzed man used a brain-computer interface to send the first "direct-thought tweet."
Chile is making its own glaciers
Chilean climate experts will attempt to DIY their own glaciers in 2022, in hopes of supplying fresh water through the dry summer months.
New space plane would fly directly into orbit from a runway
Radian Aerospace is building a first-of-its-kind space plane that flies directly into orbit after taking off horizontally from the ground.
Surgery robot outperforms humans at “keyhole surgery”
Johns Hopkins' autonomous surgery robot, STAR, performed a tricky keyhole surgery on live pigs better than a human surgeon could.
“BioDome” triggers near-complete limb regeneration in frogs
A new limb regeneration treatment allowed adult African clawed frogs to regrow near-complete functional legs following amputation.
Boston Dynamics’ warehouse robots are taking over
DHL Supply Chain is paying Boston Dynamics $15 million for a fleet of its autonomous warehouse robots, which can each move 800 boxes/hour.
Flying “AirCar” cleared for takeoff in the EU
The AirCar — a car-airplane hybrid vehicle with a 600+ mile range — is now officially “airworthy” in the European Union.
Gene therapy shows promise at treating severe form of epilepsy
A new Dravet syndrome treatment that targets genes could help extend the lives of people with the rare, but severe form of epilepsy.
Harm reduction vending machines are coming to New York
New York City has announced a pilot program installing public health vending machines with overdose drugs and clean needles.
Green lights reduce bycatch in fishing nets by 63%
Adding green LEDs to gillnets can reduce bycatch of sharks, turtles, and other animals without affecting the catch of desired species.
Flexible device hugs pipes, turning waste heat into electricity
Penn State researchers have developed a thermoelectric generator that efficiently converts waste heat into electricity.
Mark Cuban launches online pharmacy to cut drug prices
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban has launched an online pharmacy designed to cut the cost of generic drugs by as much as 99%.
Ketamine therapy may help former drinkers stay abstinent
A new study has found evidence that ketamine, combined with therapy, can help people with alcohol addiction abstain longer.
The world’s largest vertical farm is opening in Pennsylvania
Upward Farms plans to build what will be the world’s largest vertical farm in Pennsylvania — and fish are going to fertilize its crops.
Are stem cells about to cure baldness?
Researchers have reprogrammed stem cells to successfully grow human hair on animals, hinting at a potential cure for baldness.
New biodegradable straws are made by bacteria
New biodegradable straws developed in China are as cheap as plastic, stronger than paper, and made from edible materials.
Former SpaceX engineers to turn freight trains into autonomous EVs
Three former SpaceX engineers have launched a startup to replace traditional freight trains with autonomous, battery-powered railcars.
A space film studio is launching into orbit in 2024
A new space module designed for the recording and livestreaming of movies and sporting events is expected to attach to the ISS in 2024.
Web 3.0 vs. the metaverse: What’s the difference?
Web 3.0 and the metaverse both describe the internet of the future, but they aren’t the same thing — this is your guide to each.
Pig kidneys transplanted into body of brain-dead man
A brain-dead man was the recipient of two pig kidneys — a groundbreaking transplant that could help bring the organ shortage to an end.
Beet juice “blood” is a potent way to kill mosquitoes
Molecular Attraction plans to kill mosquitoes transmitting malaria by tricking them into drinking beet juice “blood” laced with toxins.
Scientists discover possible precursor to a Parkinson’s drug
Scientists have optimized a peptide known to prevent the “protein misfolding,” that causes Parkinson’s disease. This could be a precourser to a disease treatment.
Delivery robots get airbags to protect you in case of collision
Autonomous vehicle maker Nuro has added external airbags to its autonomous delivery robots to protect pedestrians.
You can finally order free COVID-19 tests online
Every American household can now request four free COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government using a newly launched website.
See a futuristic flying car’s first untethered flight
A prototype of a futuristic flying car developed by Bellwether Industries has completed its first untethered test flights.
Morning glories may be a source of new psychedelics and medicines
Researchers have found that the symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a morning glory holds the potential for new psychedelic compounds and medicines.
Clay from kitty litter pulls methane emissions from air
A new technology for reducing methane emissions in the atmosphere relies on zeolite, a cheap, abundant clay found in cat litter.
Chinese lander finds first onsite evidence of water on the moon
The first onsite evidence of water on the moon suggests that subterranean lunar rock contains larger stores than can be found on the surface.
New personal robot carries stuff around your house
A personal robot that carries items between different parts of a home is helping people with mobility issues live more independently.
Surgeons transplant pig heart into Maryland man
A pig heart is now beating in the chest of a man in Maryland, marking a huge step forward for xenotransplantation research.
Here is how your brain understands one voice in a crowd
Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center have discovered fresh insight into how the brain might deliberately hear one speaker while shutting out or ignoring another.
China builds “artificial moon” on Earth
China’s artificial moon, which uses magnets to mimic lunar gravity, could help with the creation of future moon colonies.
These solar panels are thinner than a piece of paper
Stanford University researchers announced they had achieved record efficiencies in a promising class of new materials for solar cells — which can be thinner than a piece of paper.
Microsoft posts video of DIY laptop teardown
In response to pressure from right-to-repair advocates, Microsoft has released a new teardown video for its Surface Laptop SE.
Startup will send prized artifacts to the International Space Station
Uplift Aerospace will transport valuable goods to the ISS and house them in their Constellation Vault starting this year.
Traditional Thai cannabis cooking is back on the menu
Cannabis cooking has long simmered in Thailand. With the ruling junta’s new drug policies, the traditional dish is now making its way onto restaurant plates.
Using robotic fish to harness the “ecology of fear”
To fight an invasive fish threatening Australia’s critically endangered freshwater natives, researchers are looking to robotic predators — and the “ecology of fear” they create.
Cities are using beets to deice streets this winter
Cities across the U.S. are exploring less damaging rock salt alternatives — and beet juice is one of the most promising.
Researchers are testing neural stimulation as a long COVID treatment
Small pilot trials of two different types of external electrical brain stimulation suggest the technique may work as a long COVID treatment.
Disney creates “Virtual World Simulator” for its theme parks
Disney’s new “Virtual World Simulator” would let theme park visitors interact with 3D digital elements without the use of AR goggles.
Smart food packaging keeps food fresh and reduces waste
A new "smart" type of food packaging promises to eliminate food poisoning by emitting chemicals that reduce harmful bacteria like E.coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, allowing meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables to last longer.
Goodyear puts airless tires on Starship delivery robots
Goodyear’s airless tires are now being used by a fleet of Starship's autonomous delivery robots on a college campus in the U.S.
Astronomers have found the biggest group of rogue planets yet
Using ground telescopes and satellite observations taken over decades, researchers have identified the largest number of wandering rogue planets yet.
Earthships: The sustainable buildings made from trash
Interest in Earthships, a type of off-the-grid home built from old tires, is picking up as people look for ways to live more sustainably.
John Deere unveils its first fully autonomous tractor
John Deere has just debuted an autonomous tractor it plans to sell in 2022 — bringing the self-driving tech into the mainstream.
Researchers find a new target for a universal flu vaccine: the “anchor”
There’s a new target in the battle for a universal flu vaccine: the "anchor,” a part of the virus’ proteins less likely to mutate.
This battery may solve renewables’ energy storage problem
Flow batteries are a type of liquid battery that has the potential for large-scale, long-term energy storage. Researchers have found a new material for flow batteries and it looks a lot like molasses.
SpaceX’s Starship is ready for its first trip into space
SpaceX's Mars-bound Starship — the largest spacecraft ever built — is expected to undergo its first orbital test flight in March 2022.
Diminished reality flips the script on AR
Fittingbox’s Frame Removal uses diminished reality to help people pick out new eyeglasses — but the tech’s potential extends far beyond the bridge of your nose.
What HIV & Amish DNA can tell us about staying healthy longer
Northwestern University has launched a new longevity research center where scientists will look for ways to combat biological aging.
Habitat for Humanity builds 3D-printed home in 28 hours
Habitat for Humanity has turned over the keys to its first 3D-printed home, which was built more quickly and cheaply than its typical houses.
India authorizes “world’s COVID-19 vaccine,” created in Texas
India has just become the first nation to authorize a cheap and easy to manufacture new COVID-19 vaccine called Corbevax.
MIT is testing a levitating space rover
MIT engineers have designed a levitating space rover that could allow us to explore parts of the moon that are too rough for rolling rovers.
HIV prevention injection approved by FDA
The FDA has approved Apretude, an HIV prevention injection that replaces daily PrEP pills with a single shot every 60 days.
Batteries of the future could be made from trees
To improve battery life and safety, while maintaining ionic conductivity, researchers aim to replace the liquids commonly used in batteries with a solid material made from trees.
Chatting with my own HereAfter
HereAfter AI’s Legacy Avatar is an AI-powered digital twin. But what’s it like to talk to yourself?
The plans to generate electricity on the moon
Scientists at TalTech are working on solar cell technology using microcrystals that are only about the size of a grain of sand — hoping to power a moonbase.
Are colleges necessary?
Student debt, sticker price, a pandemic, and economic uncertainty has Gen Z rethinking education.
This robotics lab wants to develop the dream surgery
Chicago’s Surgical Innovation Training Lab is developing the robots, surgeons, and digital surgeries of the future.
The return of sail power
Airseas, a French startup, has just revealed a prototype automated Seawing kite. It is fitted onto a giant Airbus cargo ship and is meant to reduce carbon emissions.
How buildings can adapt to the seasons
Scientists have invented an all-season smart-roof covering that keeps homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It uses a phase-shifting material that doesn’t require additional electricity.
The most anticipated space missions of 2022
2022 will be a big year for space missions, with huge rocket launches, several rover rollouts, and a first-of-its-kind asteroid collision.
Reasons to be optimistic in 2022
It can be tough to feel positive after the past two years. But a closer look at the recent past provides reasons for optimism in 2022 and beyond.
5 clinical trials may bring new hope in 2022
Vaccines, gene therapies, and even an anti-aging pill: These are the clinical trial results we are looking forward to in 2022.
Top 4 biotech breakthroughs of 2021
New biotechnology breakthroughs took on viruses, parasites, and genetic diseases this year.
The future of clothing could save your life
Smart textiles may not be gaining ground with fitness gurus, but they are helping patients manage chronic conditions and preventatively monitor their health from home.