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.

Some of the most popular "anti-aging" diets show promise in rodent studies. But are they effective for humans?
extraterrestrial
Finding out we're not alone in the Universe would fundamentally change everything. Here's how we could do it.
DeepMind
“This will be one of the most important datasets since the mapping of the Human Genome.”
miller-urey
The Miller-Urey experiment showed that the building blocks of life could form in the primordial soup. But it overlooked one key variable.
scientific pluralism
Scientific pluralism is the notion that some questions must be approached from many angles. How can we integrate these scientific models?
resurrecting the sublime
Using DNA from samples of extinct flowers, synthetic biologists managed to approximate long-lost floral scents.
music therapy
Music therapy might boost memory, but the benefits are small. Just in case, tell your grandparents to listen to their favorite 1960s tunes.
axions
The majority of the matter in our Universe isn't made of any of the particles in the Standard Model. Could the axion save the day?
interstellar travel
There are a few possible solutions to the problem of interstellar travel, but they largely remain within the realm of science fiction.
isolation
Communication with home will be difficult on long-haul space flights. The longer this isolation goes on, the more detached a crew becomes.
Space junk illustrating the effects of the Russian anti-satellite weapons test.
On Nov. 15, 2021, U.S. officials announced that they had detected a dangerous new debris field in orbit near Earth. Later in the day, it was confirmed that Russia had […]
wires of war
In his new book, "The Wires of War: Technology and the Global Struggle for Power," Jacob Helberg outlines the brewing cyberwar between Western democracies and autocracies like China and Russia.
Plastic anatomical torsos in a classroom.
An evolutionary biologist explains why you probably won't grow a tail.
parasitic plants
Parasites aren’t limited to just worms and ticks. Even some plants like to feed off others — and they perhaps could help fight invasive species.
lunar horizon glow clementine
We once thought the Moon was completely airless, but it turns out it has an atmosphere, after all. Even wilder: It has a tail of its own.
orb weaver
Despite the wide diversity of spider species, most orb-weavers seem to follow the same playbook when building their webs.
singularity
Are we really only a moment away from "The Singularity," a technological epoch that will usher in a new era in human evolution?
spooky action quantum
Many still cling to the idea that we live in a deterministic Universe, despite the nature of quantum physics. Now, the "least spooky" interpretation no longer works.
Social conflicts can leave molecular marks on animals, according to recent research on the ant species Harpegnathos saltator.
lunar eclipse
We haven't seen a partial eclipse lasting this long since 1440, and won't again until 2669. North America is perfectly positioned for 2021's.