Innovation

Horizons

HORIZONS

Chatbots Could Transform Medical Care — But Not in the Way You Think

“It has the potential to allow for more humane care — for the right kind of doctors.”

ByMolly Glick
HORIZONS

European Countries Are Racing Toward the Continent's First Satellite Launch

Norway, Sweden, and Scotland are entering the space race with their own launch pads. But only one will be first.

ByNathaniel Scharping
HORIZONS

Half the World Cooks With Toxic Solid Fuels — But That Could Change

The Sun’s rays could make for safer, more sustainable meals.

ByRahul Rao
HORIZONS

Can We Rebuild the Spinal Cord? These Scientists Are Redefining What's Possible

Cutting-edge therapies could restore movement in people with decades-old spinal cord injuries.

ByMolly Glick
Science

New Self-Driving Car Tech Could Make U.S. Roads More Dangerous

“I would say, don't do it — because now you've just opened Pandora's box.”

ByAndrew Moseman
The Future of Love

Why Artificial Intelligence Could Make Dating Better — And Duller

“I think in the long run, it’ll become a mutually accepted social lie that we tell ourselves.”

ByMolly Glick
Science

A Biotech Company Wants to Resurrect an Iconic Species — Will It Work?

“The dodo is the icon of human-caused extinction.”

ByMolly Glick
HORIZONS

Lab-grown chicken could hit store shelves soon — here's how it tastes

It’s a whole new kind of poultry.

ByJohn Wenz
HORIZONS

A robot choreographer reveals why M3GAN — and all robots — should dance

“I think roboticists should become dancers.”

ByMolly Glick
HORIZONS

Government-issued digital currencies could bring about a dystopian future, security experts warn

A cashless future may mean more surveillance and less freedom with our funds.

ByMolly Glick and Rahul Rao
HORIZONS

Here are the 5 biggest innovations to expect in 2023

Cheap EVs, new mRNA jabs, wind farm wins, and more.

ByMolly Glick
HORIZONS

Space junk, robot chefs, Star Wars clones: The 6 best innovation stories of 2022

Our favorite futuristic reads from this year.

ByMolly Glick
HORIZONS

Is Planet Nine out there? This new telescope could finally settle the long-standing mystery

Its shiny new camera will capture the night sky like never before.

ByJohn Wenz
HORIZONS

An electric jumbo jet could arrive in a decade with the help of hydrogen

Giant e-planes could take off relatively soon — if engineers figure a few things out first.

ByMolly Glick
HORIZONS

Human-free farms could solve a major food problem

This isn’t your mother’s agriculture.

ByMolly Glick
HORIZONS

CRISPR could help bacteria destroy cancer and gulp up methane

It all comes full circle.

ByAbe Musselman
HORIZONS

Chatbots Could Transform Medical Care — But Not in the Way You Think

ByMolly Glick

“It has the potential to allow for more humane care — for the right kind of doctors.”

Science

Insect Smart Homes Could Help Save One Critical Creature From Climate Peril

ByJoanna Thompson

The robotic hive could also offer new insights into the buzzing insects.

News

Did Raccoon Dogs Spread Covid-19? What the New Genetic Reports Really Tell Us

ByMiriam Fauzia

To know where we are going, it helps to know where we’ve been.

Science

Can We Destroy "Forever Chemicals"? Plasma or Nanoparticles Could Do the Trick

ByMax G. Levy

Emerging tech could wipe out tiny toxic substances from drinking water.

Science

AI Bots May Have Defeated CAPTCHA Tests for Good

ByJoanna Thompson

They’re also getting tougher for humans.

HORIZONS

European Countries Are Racing Toward the Continent's First Satellite Launch

ByNathaniel Scharping

Norway, Sweden, and Scotland are entering the space race with their own launch pads. But only one will be first.

The Reboot Issue

The Cellular Reset: Inside the Scientific Pursuit of a Universal Cure

ByPeter Ward

Why cure just one disease if you could cure them all?

Science

Scientists Just Found a Way to Make Living on Mars Easier

ByUniverse Today and Andy Tomaswick

Mars is a long way from Earth, making it challenging to communicate with.

Science

Why We Can’t Just Send Our Trash Into Space

ByThe Conversation and Kate O'Neill

It’s probably best to cut down on terrestrial trash in the first place.

Science

Some Stars Chew Up and Spit Out Their Planets — But It’s Not a Death Sentence

ByUniverse Today and PAUL M. SUTTER

That’s some tough parenting.

Science

In a First, Scientists Used a Lightsaber-like Technique to Play Catch With Atoms

ByMolly Glick

Subatomic baseball could speed up tomorrow’s quantum computers.

HORIZONS

Half the World Cooks With Toxic Solid Fuels — But That Could Change

ByRahul Rao

The Sun’s rays could make for safer, more sustainable meals.

Health

Breastmilk Can Boost the Microbiomes of C-section Babies, New Research Shows

ByMiriam Fauzia

It seems breastmilk does a microbiome good, especially for cesarean-born babies.

Science

A Promising Breakthrough Could Save This Controversial Climate Tech

ByJoanna Thompson

Direct air carbon capture could get a much-needed makeover.

Science

Scientists Claim a New Invention Could Make Nuclear Fusion a Practical Reality

ByCharles Q. Choi

But it isn’t clear if it works.

Science

Scientists Want to Burst Underground Gas Bubbles To Access More Helium — Will It Work?

ByJoanna Thompson

The noble gas could get a lot greener.