Engineering
50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: May 2023
King Tut’s bountiful tomb; music from fire
Engineering1410 articles archived since 1845
Engineering
The NYPD’s Robot Dog Was a Really Bad Idea: Here’s What Went Wrong
Design, context and timing influence whether humans embrace a robot or reject it
Engineering
50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: April 2023
Artificial rain; a scientist lives on Vesuvius
Pollution
Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts Stirred Up Toxic Sediment
The Nord Stream pipeline explosions happened in a dumping ground for chemical warfare, but other contaminants proved most toxic to marine life
Food
Why Is It So Hard to Make Vegan Fish?
Futuristic food science technology could finally bring plant-based salmon filets and tuna steaks to the table
Engineering
New Color-Changing Coating Could Both Heat and Cool Buildings
A thin film can switch from releasing heat to trapping it, and wrapping the coating around buildings could make them more energy-efficient
Natural Disasters
How to Engineer Buildings That Withstand Earthquakes
Though deadly quakes can’t be prevented, science does have some ways to protect buildings—and the people inside them
Computing
New Exascale Supercomputer Can Do a Quintillion Calculations a Second
New “exascale” supercomputers will bring breakthroughs in science. But the technology also exists to study nuclear weapons
Engineering
Flavor-Enhancing Spoons and Chopsticks Could Make Food Taste Better
New types of cutlery can enhance flavors such as sweetness or saltiness for a more satisfying meal
Engineering
Mighty Morphin’ Turtle Robot Goes Amphibious by Shifting Leg Shape
A turtle-inspired robot can morph its legs to move from land to water and back
Engineering
How to Construct Buildings That Have a Positive Impact on Climate and Biodiversity
Making buildings part of a circular economy that minimizes the waste of materials could yield huge environmental rewards
Engineering
The 60-Second Podcast Takes a Short Break—But Wait, There’s More
Scientific American’s short-form podcast has been going for 16 years, three months and seven days, counting today. But it’s time for us to evolve.
Engineering
Video: How to Make the Construction Industry Circular
The world is running out of sand. Is circular thinking the solution?
Engineering
Outdoor Air-Conditioning Cools the World Cup. But Is It Sustainable?
In an ever warming world, the health benefits of stadium air-conditioning may not outweigh the climate risks
Culture
Twitter Is Not Rocket Science—It’s Harder
Elon Musk wants to run Twitter like SpaceX. But human behavior will make it much more difficult
Biotech
Tiny ‘Rover’ Explores Cells without Harming Them
A miniature antenna can transmit data from inside cells without using damaging microwaves
Engineering
This Black Female Engineer Broke through the Double Bind of Racism and Sexism and Directly Nurtured a Legion of STEM Leaders
Yvonne Y. Clark, known as Y.Y., had a lifetime of groundbreaking achievements. In the final episode of this season’s Lost Women of Science podcast, we see how Y.Y.’s more than five decades of teaching educated a new generation of mechanical engineers, who credit her with helping to change the industry...
Engineering
NASA’s Saturn V Rocket, the Moon Rock Box and the Woman Who Made Them Work Properly
Yvonne Y. Clark, known as Y.Y. throughout her career, had a lifetime of groundbreaking achievements as a Black female mechanical engineer. In the third episode of the third season of the Lost Women of Science podcast, we see how Y.Y.’s brilliance helped make Project Apollo a success...
Engineering
Frequent Breaks in Undersea Pipelines Mean Fixes Are Possible for Nord Stream
While international experts try to figure out what caused the ruptures in the Nord Stream pipeline, engineers have multiple options to try and fix it
Engineering
For the ‘First Lady of Engineering,’ Freedom Meant Facing Down Racism and Sexism—And Breaking Her Own Rules
Yvonne Y. Clark, known as Y.Y. throughout her career, had a lifetime of groundbreaking achievements as a Black female mechanical engineer. In the second episode of the newest season of the Lost Women of Science podcast, we see Y.Y.’s true grit as she fights for recognition and a place at the science table...
