Hard Tech

Clean Energy
3D-printed “superalloy” could make power plants more efficient
The material is both stronger and lighter than those used to make conventional turbines.
Sam Jarman
a flat, clear piece of rubber in a spiral shape with thin wires running through it
Brain
This soft brain implant unfurls its arms under the skull
A soft brain implant that unfurls under the skull could make implantation surgeries less costly and risky.
Kristin Houser
a closeup of a tiny LED in the middle of a microchip
Computer Science
MIT breakthrough creates world’s smallest holographic microscope
The world’s smallest holographic microscope foreshadows a future in which smartphones could be used for high-res microscopy.
Kristin Houser
a close up of a piece of white fish on a plate with vegetables and chopsticks
Food
Startups serve “world’s first” lab-grown fish filets
Kristin Houser
an image of the back of a man's head. he is wearing a headset device. a robot dog is in the background.
Brain
Graphene sensor could let you control robots with your mind
Kristin Houser
Illustration of a brain
Brain
Our new brains: neurotechnology advances that could change everything
Allison Duettmann
a neon green circle with a black dot in the center
CRISPR
New CRISPR tool reversed blindness in mice — permanently
Kristin Houser
Big Tech
Technology over the long run: See how dramatically the world can change within a lifetime
Max Roser | Our World in Data
a gif of a fish tail with dark lines appearing under the skin
Neuroscience
Cyborg fish grow electrodes in their brains and fins
Kristin Houser
Diagram of sound waves forming an object
3D Printing
German scientists 3D print objects with “acoustic holograms”
B. David Zarley
Inventions
5 things you didn’t know GPS could do
Alexandra Witze | Knowable Magazine
speech bcis
Neuroscience
New brain implant breaks record for turning thoughts into text
Kristin Houser
risc-v
Computer Science
An open-source option is shaking up the microchip industry
Kristin Houser