New device blends secrets of beetles and cacti to pull water from fog
Engineers learned from unique surfaces in nature to create an aluminum foil that harvests water from the air
What engineers can learn about infrastructure from predatory army ants
Ants can teach us how to design strong networks resilient to individual failures
Melted ice cubes create a playground for food germs. Gelatin ice cubes could be safer
Researchers tested how "jelly ice cubes" compare for food safety
The twisted math of knot theory can help you tell an overhand knot from an unknot
It's knot always easy to tell if two knots are the same
Titanium studded with silver and copper makes harvesting energy from the Sun more efficient
Incorporating metal ions into titanium dioxide creates better semi-conductor plasmonics
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Scientists capture the inner workings of the click beetle's explosive jumps
Jumps like this would shatter your bones. Click beetles use soft materials instead
People of the Tiahuanaco civilization engineered their own rocks to build temples and monuments
The discovery illustrates the great ingenuity of ancient construction workers
Scientists engineer a sustainable plastic made of tiny building blocks
The new plastic is just as strong as polyethylene and can be 3D printed into objects
The Ever Given and the physics of big ships clogged the Suez Canal
Wider and wider container ships carry more cargo but are extremely difficult to steer in tight spaces like a canal
Octopus-inspired robot can climb ladders and walls
New research highlights how mimicking nature makes for great design
Animal "construction workers" rebuild natural landscapes more efficiently than humans ever could
Ecosystem engineers like beavers and tortoises help restore water cycles and tree cover to degraded habitats
Susan Schwerin, M. Budde, M. Shindell, J. Munasinghe, S. Juliano, L.G. Cohen, National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health
Two mini microscopes watched a mouse’s brain move its body in real time
The NINscope will help researchers uncover how neurons in different regions of the brain interact with each other
Meet Hertha Ayrton, the mathematician who cleared WW1 trenches of poisonous gas
Ayrton was the first woman to recieve the Hughes Medal for outstanding research in the field of energy, but still the Royal Society refused her membership
Day or night, retroreflective and light-up gear can save pedestrians' and cyclists' lives
Flashing headlamps, retroreflective clothing, and gear with LED lights increase invisibility even when car headlights are used
Hands-on learning makes STEM students more scientifically creative
Free-form makerspaces help young scientists develop skills not found in traditional classrooms
Robotic skins might enable the next generation of space exploration
Light and adaptable robotic skins can turn inanimate objects into multifunctional robots
Forget Google Glass, you may be able to wear smart contact lenses sooner rather than later
The future of smart contact lenses is looking up
You live in a mostly 2D world, but the map in your brain charts the places you've been in 3D
Place cells in the brain light up in familiar places, both on the ground and climbing in the air
Exosuits can restore mobility in stroke patients and soldiers alike
And they're customizable for different types of bodies, gaits, and speeds
Scientists have shown the perfect way to make pancakes, and that has huge implications
Some science is labeled "silly" by the media and politicians, but don't be fooled — simple research is extremely important