Innovations

A split screen shows three images of corals - one of two hands holding a coral, one of the corals under water on the land farm, and one of a coral reef in the ocean.

What if protecting coral reefs means growing them on land?

A split screen shows a half-constructed brick wall (left) and one of the automated construction robots (right). Caption reads "Robo builders"

Brick by brick, this autonomous robot is transforming construction

SLIM moon lander imaging lunar surface

Japan's moon lander snaps eerie photo — and it could be its last

More Innovations

CES 2024: Control your Apple devices with the wave of your hand

Touchscreen who?

01/12/2024

By Emmett Smith and Teodosia Dobriyanova

Close up of wrist shows a user wearing the Mudra while pinching their fingers. In the background, connected devices show the neural activity triggered by the hand gesture.

Close up of wrist shows a user wearing the Mudra while pinching their fingers. In the background, connected devices show the neural activity triggered by the hand gesture.

Pioneering spacecraft reaches moon's orbit, beams back images

Robotic explorer delivers new photo gifts on Christmas.

12/26/2023

By Elisha Sauers

the surface of the moon

the surface of the moon

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City gets a digital twin

Architectural preservation is in its 3D mapping era. 💅

12/26/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A split screen shows a photograph of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican city (left), juxtaposed with a B&W 3D render (right). Caption reads: "Digital twin"

A split screen shows a photograph of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican city (left), juxtaposed with a B&W 3D render (right). Caption reads: "Digital twin"

The 3D printed buildings we loved in 2023

From space homes to building in war zones, 3D printing pushed the limits this year.

12/12/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A render image shows parts of a grey 3D printed lunar habitat resting on the moon's surface against the dark space surrounding it.

A render image shows parts of a grey 3D printed lunar habitat resting on the moon's surface against the dark space surrounding it.

An entire country ran on renewable energy for six days straight

Portugal's plans for the future are even more ambitious.

11/29/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A picture shows the top of a typical portuguese house, yellow walls, dark green shutters, and a red rooftop. Behind it, against the blue sky a win turbine is peeking in the background.

A picture shows the top of a typical portuguese house, yellow walls, dark green shutters, and a red rooftop. Behind it, against the blue sky a win turbine is peeking in the background.

Tiny wireless wearables now monitor health by capturing sound

The human body generates all sorts of sounds that can give out information about our health.

11/21/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A split screen shows some graphs on a tablet (left), and tiny wearables devices attached to a patient's skin (right). Caption reads: "Wearable health tracking"

A split screen shows some graphs on a tablet (left), and tiny wearables devices attached to a patient's skin (right). Caption reads: "Wearable health tracking"

Iceland’s seismic waves sound awfully eerie. You can listen.

If people in Iceland could hear the seismic activity beneath their feet, it would sound like this.

11/17/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A split screen shows a hole caused by an earthquake is Grindavík, Iceland on the left. On the right, there's a picture of a recently erupted Icelandic volcano, with lava and smoke coming out of the crater.

A split screen shows a hole caused by an earthquake is Grindavík, Iceland on the left. On the right, there's a picture of a recently erupted Icelandic volcano, with lava and smoke coming out of the crater.

Greenland’s glaciers are melting twice as fast this century, study shows

Satellite images and newly discovered historic photographs show a dramatic loss of ice over the last century.

11/16/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A split-screen shows an aerial photograph of a Greenland glacier in the 1930's, next to one from 2023, making the loss of ice in the region particularly visible. Caption reads "Rapid ice loss"

A split-screen shows an aerial photograph of a Greenland glacier in the 1930's, next to one from 2023, making the loss of ice in the region particularly visible. Caption reads "Rapid ice loss"

How a flying hospital is helping fight preventable blindness

Peek inside the 'classrom in the sky' training eyecare professionals across the world.

11/09/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A long shot shows the side of Orbis's Flying Eye Hospital plane. Caption reads "traveling eyecare."

A long shot shows the side of Orbis's Flying Eye Hospital plane. Caption reads "traveling eyecare."

NASA may get houses on the moon in our lifetimes

We’re not sure about Mars, but there may soon be life on the moon.

11/02/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A render of an astronaut overseeing a building being 3-D printed on the moon surface. Caption reads "Building on the moon."

A render of an astronaut overseeing a building being 3-D printed on the moon surface. Caption reads "Building on the moon."

Artificial reefs could offer a new climate solution

As rising ocean temperatures lead to coral bleaching, projects like this can bring a level of resilience to marine life.

10/31/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

An underwater photograph shows marine organisms attached to the artificial reef. Caption reads: "Artificial reef"

An underwater photograph shows marine organisms attached to the artificial reef. Caption reads: "Artificial reef"

How the Sydney Opera House changed the world of architecture

The iconic performance venue was the first major building project to use computer analytics.

10/25/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A split-screen shows a B&A photographs of the Sydney Opera House' during its buildng (left) juxtaposed with an aearial shot of the Opera House now. The Sydney Harbour bridge emerges in the background. Caption reads: "Building the house."

A split-screen shows a B&A photographs of the Sydney Opera House' during its buildng (left) juxtaposed with an aearial shot of the Opera House now. The Sydney Harbour bridge emerges in the background. Caption reads: "Building the house."

Google's flood forecasting tool is now out in the U.S. and Canada

Flood Hub is free and and can help people adapting to the changing climate.

10/11/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

Bird's-eye view shot shows suburban houses submerged by floods. Caption reads "Flood alert."

Bird's-eye view shot shows suburban houses submerged by floods. Caption reads "Flood alert."

Google Maps can now tell exactly where solar panels should be installed

Taking the guesswork out.

10/03/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

An aerial satellite map of a suburban neighbourhood show orange 'hot zones' on the houses' rooftops, indicating their solar energy potential

An aerial satellite map of a suburban neighbourhood show orange 'hot zones' on the houses' rooftops, indicating their solar energy potential

New microscope footage brings us closer to understanding the central nervous system

Peek at the micro cosmos that makes and breaks us.

09/28/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A collage shows different cells and organisms under a microscope. Caption reads "Micro worlds'

A collage shows different cells and organisms under a microscope. Caption reads "Micro worlds'

In a race against extreme floods, some cities look to nature

Meet the architects igniting a green city revolution.

09/26/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

Split screen: on the left, an image shows cars stranded by a urban flood, while the image of the left is of a thriving city with a lot of green space. Caption reads: sponge cities.

Split screen: on the left, an image shows cars stranded by a urban flood, while the image of the left is of a thriving city with a lot of green space. Caption reads: sponge cities.

New implant can track the health of organ transplants in real time

This minuscule device could change the future of organ transplants.

09/13/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A close-up shows the small yellow device held on a researcher's finger for scale

A close-up shows the small yellow device held on a researcher's finger for scale

The JBL 1300 soundbar is actually multiple speakers in one

Create surround sound or portable bluetooth players.

08/28/2023

By Warren Shaw

3-in-1 soundbar system

3-in-1 soundbar system

Video game technology helped a woman regain her speech

The scientific success story has raised hopes that the tech could soon help more people.

08/24/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

How can we adapt cities to extreme heat?

"We need to go back to the understanding of how you design a building more naturally to keep cool."

08/10/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A black and white illustration explains the heat island effect. In the middle, there's a dense city emitting heat where temperatures are at 35 degrees Celsius (95 F), while the surrounding countryside is much cooler, at 25 degrees Celsius (77 F)

A black and white illustration explains the heat island effect. In the middle, there's a dense city emitting heat where temperatures are at 35 degrees Celsius (95 F), while the surrounding countryside is much cooler, at 25 degrees Celsius (77 F)

This pocket SSD is a 2TB storage device the size of two bottlecaps

The tiny Sharge Disk has lots of storage and a speed of up to 1000Mb/S.

08/07/2023

By Warren Shaw

Pocket SSD

Pocket SSD

The Yeelight modular light cubes will transform your space

Build a unique setup with the matrix cube, panel cube, or spotlight cube.

08/04/2023

By Warren Shaw

Yeelight Smart Cube

Yeelight Smart Cube

This smart outlet can control your appliances

It automatically monitors CO2 levels, temperature and more.

08/03/2023

By Warren Shaw

InvisOutlet Smart Outlet

InvisOutlet Smart Outlet

How 3D modelling helped the Greek shipwreck investigation

Hi-tech collaborative research has found new evidence.

07/12/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A 3D model of a ship's journey seen on a laptop.

A 3D model of a ship's journey seen on a laptop.

Lightning trackers in space may help us prepare for extreme weather

The first images coming from the satellites are mesmerising.

07/06/2023

By Teodosia Dobriyanova

A render of a satellite in space appearing to scan the Earth. Caption reads: Storm Detector

A render of a satellite in space appearing to scan the Earth. Caption reads: Storm Detector

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