Researchers in California have produced a cheap plastic capable of removing large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. Down the road, the new material could enable the development of large-scale batteries and even form the basis of “artificial … Continue reading
In 2007, as the world worried about a possible avian flu epidemic, Laurie Garrett, author of “The Coming Plague,” gave this powerful talk to a small TED University audience. Her insights from past pandemics are suddenly more relevant than ever. … Continue reading
A leading researcher says digital technologies are about to make health care more effective. But is so much data really beneficial? Nanosensors patrolling your bloodstream for the first sign of an imminent stroke or heart attack, releasing anticlotting or anti-inflammatory … Continue reading
Ultrabooks demoed at CES show the company has put a considerable effort into making the notebook fresh again. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today, chip maker Intel refreshed the familiar notebook computer with ideas borrowed from more … Continue reading
This YouTube video tells a story about the penny, from its humble copper beginnings to where they stand today. And why, in a rational and efficient world, we should no longer manufacture these anymore as pennies are bad for people … Continue reading
Light warp: This is the largest sheet ever made of a metamaterial that can bend near infrared light backward. Tiny crystals called quantum dots emit intense, sharply defined colors. Now researchers have made LED displays that use quantum dots. Five years … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) — In a move that has angered Republicans, President Obama on Wednesday announced he’s making a recess appointment of Richard Cordray to be the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, sidestepping the Senate confirmation process. “Today, … Continue reading
Editor’s note: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon is a fellow and deputy director of the Women and Foreign Policy Program at the Council of Foreign Relations. She writes extensively about women entrepreneurs in conflict and post-conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Bosnia and Rwanda. She … Continue reading
By Leah Germain and M.J. Deschamps A new metal structure developed by U.S. scientists, so light it dramatically cuts down drag and improves fuel efficiency one hundredfold, could find its way into vehicles someday. Claiming it is 100 times lighter … Continue reading
A flexible electronic device stuck on the skin could provide irritation-free monitoring of heart, brain, and muscle activity. Researchers have made stretchable, ultrathin electronics that cling to skin like a temporary tattoo and can measure electrical activity from the body. … Continue reading