Science & Tech

Science & Tech

Explore the discoveries that reveal how the world works, alongside the technologies that extend, reshape, and sometimes challenge what’s possible.

dark energy
Dark energy is one of the biggest mysteries in all the Universe. Is there any way to avoid "having to live with it?"
Partial skeleton of a small animal embedded in dirt, with visible spine, ribcage, and skull, accompanied by three stones.
A poignant, 2,000-year-old burial in northern Italy could be the latest evidence of an ancient friendship.
Two images of shark embryos against a black background, showing developmental stages with visible internal structures.
A study of spinal development took a strange turn and made a surprise discovery.
universe temperature
In the 20th century, many options abounded as to our cosmic origins. Today, only the Big Bang survives, thanks to this critical evidence.
A realistic illustration of earth in space, bathed in sunlight with a visible blue glow from the GaiaSignatures atmosphere.
"I hope we take a mindset where we are willing to look for weird life in weird places."
how many planets
For some reason, when we talk about the age of stars, galaxies, and the Universe, we use "years" to measure time. Can we do better?
A technician in a clean suit inspects a large, segmented, hexagonal mirror inside a circular gray structure.
The JWST's observations of well-developed galaxies early in universal history may coincide with accepted astronomical theory after all.
wolf rayet wr 31a
The most common element in the Universe, vital for forming new stars, is hydrogen. But there's a finite amount of it; what if we run out?
first contact
Life arose on Earth very early on. After a few billion years, here we are: intelligent and technologically advanced. Where's everyone else?
Profile of a person's face with science fiction inspired shadow stripes pattern projected onto it, against a dark background.
Six visionary science fiction authors on the social impact of their work.
An image of a glass jar containing a brain on a textured background.
Even with the best technology imaginable, you'd probably never be able to exist as a consciously aware brain in a vat.
A sequence showing the phases of a solar eclipse, culminating in totality, against a dark background.
Total eclipses are a product of a strange and almost eerie cosmic coincidence — one that makes Earth an even rarer world in the galaxy and, by proxy, in the Universe.
cosmic ray blazar
Our Universe requires dark matter in order to make sense of things, astrophysically. Could massive photons do the trick?
Transparent perfume bottle surrounded by floating pink spheres with intricate patterns on a dark background.
Vaccines targeting some of our deadliest cancers are showing promise in early trials.
A person holding a complex metallic lattice structure in focus, with a blurred individual in the background.
It’s 50% stronger than comparable materials used in aerospace.
atom quantum
Practically all of the matter we see and interact with is made of atoms, which are mostly empty space. Then why is reality so… solid?
Do you live in a new desert?.
Most counties in the U.S. have only one local newspaper, often one that publishes weekly instead of daily.
Split image with the empire state building on the left and a stylized graphic of a wi-fi router on the right, both against a purple background.
When Google runs a smart city, who owns the data?
Illustration of a young woman with closed eyes, smiling, next to a large, detailed eye and surrounded by vibrant, abstract elements and smiley faces.
A recent study suggests that exposure to visual stimuli can diminish the effects of psychedelic drugs.
symmetric
If the electromagnetic and weak forces unify to make the electroweak force, maybe, at higher energies, something even grander happens?