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.

A group of people sleeping on a train.
Lucid dreamers may have “privileged access to their inner world,” with “heightened awareness… to the outside world.”
A drawing of a cell highlighting various organelles.
Scientists agree that eons ago, a bacterium took up residence inside another cell and became its powerhouse, the mitochondrion. But there are competing theories about the birth of other organelles such as the nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum.
A person in a protective suit working in a mRNA vaccine factory.
AI was key to making Moderna's COVID mRNA vaccine. Its role in mRNA therapeutics will rapidly grow in the coming years.
A man consuming capsaicin-rich chili peppers in a vibrant red field.
Capsaicin is already used to treat nerve pain. Early research hints it could do more.
ancient technology
These astounding inventions show that civilizations of the past were a lot more advanced than we might have thought.
A cluster of black holes in space.
For the first time, astronomers have created a data-driven estimate for how many black holes are in our Universe: more than anyone expected.
A painting of a group of men examining a cadaver
"Burke's the butcher, Hare's the thief, and Knox the man who buys the beef." Read the story of 19th-century Scotland's corpse dealers.
An image of a rocket taking off.
See the 3 biggest space stories from October 16-22, 2023.
The rocky horror show poster.
"Time Warp" all the way back to 1800s spiritualism, magic performances, and spook shows.
An image of the Martian surface.
Sophisticated rovers have found the conditions for Martian life, as well as the building blocks of life, but never life itself. AI can help.
Friedmann equation
If you said "with the Big Bang," congratulations: that was our best answer as of ~1979. Here's what we've learned in all the time since.
A white rat with long hair standing on a black background.
A new study provides the first proof-of-principle that genetic material transferred from one species to another can increase both longevity and healthspan in the recipient animal.
An image showcasing the captivating shape of space featuring a mesmerizing red and blue nebula.
Einstein's theory of general relativity introduced the concept of space having a shape. So, what is the shape of space?
Two people laying down in a field, reflecting on their habits and contemplating their battles with depression.
A healthy lifestyle even protects those who are genetically predisposed to depression.
A little alien talking on a telephone.
"If we find just one other example of biology out there, then life is not an accident."
A treacherous winding road on the side of a mountain in the worst weather conditions.
A combination of factors make the weather at New Hampshire's Mount Washington arguably the most brutal in the world.