Scientific American: Technology: Recent Episodes
Scientific American
We need to rethink the American love affair with the automobile and redesign cities to reduce car pollution
Engaging the fine motor system to produce letters by hand has positive effects on learning and memory
The effort to give robots AI brains is revealing big practical challenges—and bigger ethical concerns
A new technique to make electronic fibers could help solve wearable technology’s flexibility problem
The release of Apple’s mixed-reality headset raises questions about hours spent in a virtual replacement of our world
New materials would help the cars of the future survive cold snaps and other climate disruptions
AI-generated disinformation will target voters on a near-daily basis in more than 50 countries, according to a new analysis
Our research finds that language is often a barrier for people dealing with cybercrime issues and that it’s important to close this security gap
In January Taylor Swift became the latest high-profile target of nonconsensual deepfake images. It’s time for regulations that ban this kind of abusive AI content, cyberadvocates say
A leaked draft of the European Union’s upcoming AI Act has experts discussing where the regulations may fall short
When asked, ChatGPT declared that its training material—the language we humans use every day—was to blame for potential bias in stories it generated
A new kind of transistor allows AI hardware to remember and process information more like the human brain does
Amid rising numbers of cyber threats, safeguarding our satellites is no longer optional but a necessity for global security and reliability
Sean Kirkpatrick looked into the skies and deep into government archives for extraterrestrials. What he found is, to him, more concerning than little green men.
A materials scientist unravels the hype around research on high-temperature superconductor research like LK-99
Most machine-learning models rely on mountains of data to replicate human text, but new research suggests the recipe for learning language might be simpler
Sallie Pero Mead made major discoveries about how electromagnetic waves propagate that allowed objects to be detected at a distance
The word “open” is often thrown around in describing AI transparency, but the companies and groups calling for it must themselves be open about their practices
A Brookings Institution report warns that energy-hungry artificial intelligence tech will worsen the climate crisis
Experts are starting to plan for the moment when a quantum computer large enough to crack the backbone of the math that keeps things secret will be turned on.
A speculative survey about AI’s future may have been biased toward an alarmist perspective
An alleged voice recording of racist remarks exemplifies the challenges of our new AI normal
Artificial intelligence systems in health care must be trained on the data of lived experience to prevent bias and disparities
Don’t be annoyed if you fail at a certain level of the popular game Candy Crush Saga; computers also have their problems with it
The new field of digital bioacoustics is machine learning to try decipher animal speak, including honeybee toots and quacks and woops.
Telecommunications grids are vulnerable to worsening climate disasters—which highlights the importance of one age-old survival system
Self-driving cars are expanding their ranges in a handful of U.S. cities, but the reality doesn’t yet match the hype
Seemingly trivial differences in training data can skew the judgments of AI programs—and that’s not the only problem with automated decision-making
Amtrak will soon get 28 high-speed rail cars. But they won't operate at high speeds because Amtrak tracks are outdated
An electrode inspired by soft robotics could provide less invasive brain-machine interfaces
The Luddites did not hate technology—but they did fight the way it was used to exploit humans.
Physicists Ruth Howes and Caroline Herzenberg’s ten-year research project ensured a place in history for the female scientists, engineers and technicians who worked on the atomic bomb
A checklist derived from six neuroscience-based theories of consciousness could help assess whether an artificial intelligence system achieves this state
Standard AC units cool buildings but contribute to global warming. New technology aims to change that
Companies are recruiting black soldier flies and mealworms as a protein source in animal feed, fertilizer, biofuels and even as ingredients for burgers and shakes
Social media companies’ drive to keep you on their platforms clashes with how people evolved to learn from each other
After atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear physicist Katharine Way persuaded the world’s greatest physicists to contribute essays to a book opposing nuclear weapons
Language model AIs seem smart because of how they string words together, but in reality, they can’t do anything without many people guiding them every step of the way
An analysis of previous trials suggests blue-light-filtering lenses may not reduce eyestrain or sleep problems
One of the most in-depth catalogs of an animal’s brain-body connections ever compiled ties neural activity to roundworm behavior
To steal cars that rely on remotes and computer networks, thieves are trading their pry bars for laptops and wireless devices
Here’s the story of the Lilli Hornig, the only female scientist named in the film Oppenheimer.
We surveyed Canadian youth about science when it comes to making informed decisions. Their responses tell us that we need to work harder to help youth everywhere recognize misinformation
The use of artificial intelligence is so varied and industry-specific, no one federal agency can manage it alone
The rise and fall of LK-99 offers a lesson on how to consider technology’s role in urgently needed energy transitions
Effective regulation of AI needs grounded science that investigates real harms, not glorified press releases about existential risks
From college plagiarism to cybercrime scams, generative AI is eroding trust in online content. Digital watermarking is no quick fix for the problem
“One-size-fits-all” regulation will sideline medical and research benefits promised by the advent of artificial intelligence
The reason some homes feel hotter than their air temperature has to do with radiant heat. Here’s what to do about it
Naomi Livesay worked on computations that formed the mathematical basis for implosion simulations. Despite her crucial role on the project, she is rarely mentioned as more than a footnote—until now
Oppenheimer won’t bomb in the box office, but despite its director’s best efforts, the science in the film is a bit of a fizzle
More training and more data can have unintended consequences for machine-learning models such as GPT-4
A Nobel laureate in economics explains how artificial intelligence will affect inequality—and how solutions such as a shorter work week might mitigate its negative effects
Scientists used a smoking machine — complete with a 3d-printed mouthpiece — to figure out how to get the most cannabinoid per puff.
These simple sensors let a robot function by touch alone, allowing it to manipulate objects from a soup can to a rubber duck
As AI-generated content fills the Internet, it’s corrupting the training data for models to come. What happens when AI eats itself?
Researchers say they have discovered a new room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductor, but many scientists are unconvinced
Floy Agnes Lee came to Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1945 knowing nothing of the top secret work on the atomic bomb happening all around her—but she studied the blood of the researchers who did.
The U.S. ignored Oppenheimer’s warnings about nuclear weapons and rushed to build and deploy a dangerous technology. We must not make the same mistake with AI
Allegations of data fabrication have sparked the retraction of multiple papers from Ranga Dias, a researcher who claimed discovery of a room-temperature superconductor
Electronics that can bend, stretch and repair themselves could potentially work in applications ranging from tougher robots to smart clothes
Motion capture and detailed face scans allow TV and film production teams to replicate a performer’s likeness. Generative AI is making the process faster and easier
Here's what a historian who has studied J. Robert Oppenheimer for two decades has to say about the new Christopher Nolan film on the father of the hydrogen bomb.
Hundreds of the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project were women. They were physicists, chemists, engineers and mathematicians. Today we bring you the story of one of them.
It is possible to transform empty office buildings into residential ones—but remodeling these spaces won’t be easy
AI chatbots blur the line between intimacy and secrecy, posing risks for users with national security interests and access to sensitive information
The buzzy industry of robotic pollinators is setting its sights on indoor farms for urban—and extraterrestrial—environments
Just seeing nature in VR brings some health benefits—and helps scientists learn why we need the real thing
Hackers have already infiltrated electric vehicle chargers, usually for innocuous reasons, but bad actors could use that foothold to bring down the power grid
Artificial intelligence taps historical weather data in forecasting, but the changing climate is complicating such efforts
Russia and other nations are working on “sovereign Internet” systems that threaten digital rights—and the stability of the global Internet
Some fear that artificial intelligence will threaten humanity’s survival. But the existential risk is more philosophical than apocalyptic
As the threat of antibiotic resistance increases, new antibiotics are imperative—and AI could widen the pipeline
A replicability crisis threatens computational science without shared code, data and methods from studies. A new replication agreement system can mitigate this crisis.
Health-damaging PFASs are nearly impossible to break down—but a new hot-water technique can destroy them
Researchers used a smoking machine to test the intensity of marijuana rolled into joints
Clear-air turbulence is becoming more frequent and more intense as the atmosphere warms
A new study suggests AI can analyze cardiac activity to predict whether a song will be a hit before it’s released. But some hit song scientists are skeptical
More than 42,000 highway bridges across the country are in “poor” condition, according to national bridge inspection standards
With the Titan vessel's fate yet to be determined, an expert explains the safety features that should be onboard such a submersible
If the missing Titan submersible were near the Titanic, it would experience pressure higher than that of a great white shark bite
In steganography, an ordinary message masks the presence of a secret communication. Humans can never do it perfectly, but a new study shows it’s possible for machines
Large language models such as ChatGPT tend to make things up. A new approach now allows the systems to explain their responses—at least partially
Therapy apps are incorporating AI programs such as ChatGPT. But such programs could provide unvetted or harmful feedback if they’re not well regulated
With AI threatening to overtake the world of work, at least one pretty good job will always be in demand
In the guise of collecting scientific data, data brokers are running a massive privacy invasion. Researchers should stop helping them
Indigenous groups are developing data storage technology that gives users privacy and control. Could their work influence those fighting back against invasive apps?
A “more-is-merrier” approach to computer chipmaking would create the vibrant and fast breakthroughs that America needs to succeed
Nuclear fusion won’t arrive in time to fix climate change, but it could be essential for our future energy needs
A state of torpor might rescue oxygen-starved brain cells or aid extended human space missions
Advanced tools for tracking people’s eye movements and facial expressions can be used to design better places
As more researchers document the potential harms of social media use, especially for youngsters, both Republicans and Democrats are pushing legislation to rein in platforms
A device provides a connection between the brain and spinal cord, allowing thought to control movement
Artificial intelligence algorithms will soon reach a point of rapid self-improvement that threatens our ability to control them and poses great potential risk to humanity
Is generative AI bad for the environment? A computer scientist explains the carbon footprint of ChatGPT and its cousins—and how to reduce it
Politically polarized Google users are not steered to partisan sites by the search engine’s algorithm but generally decide to go there on their own
A flexible, conductive membrane that can pass sensory information to the brain and muscles is a step towards artificial skin
From the technology upsetting jobs and causing intellectual property issues to models making up fake answers to questions, here’s why we’re concerned about generative AI.
Using artificial intelligence like ChatGPT to trade stocks and other financial instruments could have benefits—and perils
Facing Russia’s nuclear threats, the U.S. and its G7 allies must not whitewash their own
A new study reveals why handmade fermentation vessels called onggi stand the test of time
At 25 days old, these specimens could be the oldest primate embryos ever grown outside the womb
Laser-based optical frequency combs, originally developed to time atomic clocks, can also perform fast, noninvasive tests for COVID—and potentially other diseases as well
Researchers are still struggling to understand how AI models trained to parrot Internet text can perform advanced tasks such as running code, playing games and trying to break up a marriage
Flavor is a tricky target, but technology and powerful genetic techniques are making it more feasible to improve the taste of vegetables
A wireless device worn on the face or lip can produce fragrances such as lavender and green tea in a virtual world
Bioengineers are drawing on rapidly evolving machine-learning tools, deep reservoirs of data and the firepower of a program called AlphaFold2 to pursue more sophisticated de novo protein designs
A new bill in California proposes making electric vehicles a backup power source for the electric grid—an idea that has promise but has to overcome several technological hurdles, experts say
Humans are building meaningful relationships with AI chatbots. What will the consequences be?
Boris Eldagsen submitted an artificial-intelligence-generated image to a photography contest as a “cheeky monkey” and sparked a debate about AI’s place in the art world
Researchers used an artificial tongue to understand how chocolate changes from a solid to a smooth emulsion
The 1934 puzzle book Cain’s Jawbone stumped all but a handful of humans. Then AI took the case
Ground-mounted microphones could pick up ultralow-frequency sound waves produced by clear-air turbulence, the leading cause of in-flight injuries and fatalities
The Environmental Protection Agency has released draft regulations that set the stage for a huge transition to electric vehicles
A new material was used in a simple snail robot, but it could one day make artificial nervous systems for more complex machines
Can researchers create AI algorithms that are ethical today—and will be safe in the future?
Antidrone technology is combatting “flying IEDs” in the air over Ukraine—with implications beyond the war with Russia
Artificial-intelligence-powered image-generating systems are making fake photographs so hard to detect that we need AI to catch them
As more people turn to chat-based AIs for medical advice, it remains to be seen how these tools stack up against—or could complement—human doctors
Researchers recovered lithium from batteries on a small scale by using mechanical force
This novel injection system could help advance gene therapy by nimbly inserting gene-editing enzymes into a variety of cell types
The chatbot was the ideal test taker—it exhibited no trace of test anxiety, poor concentration or lack of effort. And what about that IQ score?
Music made with artificial intelligence could upend the music industry. Here’s what that might look like.
Google’s new AI model can generate entirely new music from text prompts. Here’s what they sound like.
Machine-learning algorithms are getting so good that they can translate Western instruments into Thai ones with ease.
In the inaugural episode of Cosmos, Quickly, we blast off with Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno of Space Force who is charged with protecting our space in space, particularly from Russia and China.
An MQ-9 Reaper drone is sitting at the bottom of the Black Sea. Will the U.S. or Russia recover it?
The Nord Stream pipeline explosions happened in a dumping ground for chemical warfare, but other contaminants proved most toxic to marine life
Image-generating AI is getting better at re-creating what people are looking at from their fMRI data. But this isn’t mind reading—yet
The burgeoning field of "digital bioacoustics" is helping us understand animals like never before.
OpenAI just released an updated version of its text-generating artificial intelligence program. Here’s how GPT-4 improves on its predecessor
Bailouts mean customers’ deposits are safe, but the Silicon Valley Bank’s demise has sparked concern about future investment in small tech companies
Top universities are finally bringing the excitement of the quantum future into the classroom
Will a possible breakthrough for room-temperature superconducting materials hold up to scrutiny?
The Lucy spacecraft and its target asteroids show that the way that we name discoveries matters
We needs a permanent national nuclear waste disposal site now, before the spent nuclear fuel stored in 35 states becomes unsafe
“Xenobots” are living, swimming self-powered robots that measure less than a millimeter across. They are evolved by artificial intelligence and built out of frog stem cells—and they could open new medical frontiers.
Congress and the airline industry must reassess how they approach and fund air transportation modernization
Futuristic food science technology could finally bring plant-based salmon filets and tuna steaks to the table
A thin film can switch from releasing heat to trapping it, and wrapping it around buildings could make them more energy-efficient
From aliens to foreign surveillance, we spoke to experts to find out what's really going on.
Researchers demonstrate for the first time that using more qubits can lower the error rate of quantum calculations
Gonzalez v. Google seeks to hold tech giants accountable for recommendation algorithms in a complicated case that could see the Supreme Court meddle in more than 25 years of Internet policy
The new ngRADAR at the Green Bank Telescope offers unprecedented Earth-based views of the solar system
Google, Microsoft and Baidu are using tools similar to ChatGPT to turn Internet searches into a conversation. How will this change humanity’s relationship with machines?
Every question we have about the airborne objects that might or might not be spying on the U.S.
Individual atoms trapped by optical ‘tweezers’ are emerging as a promising computational platform
A professor explains why he is allowing students to incorporate ChatGPT into their writing process instead of banning the new technology
A temporary Twitter block after the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria shows how vital the platform has become for responding to disasters
New “exascale” supercomputers will bring breakthroughs in science. But the technology also exists to study nuclear weapons
A new era in Scientific American audio history is about to drop starting next week—get ready for a science variety show guaranteed to quench your curiosity in under 10 minutes.
An expert explains why it’s so odd that the suspected Chinese spy balloon can change course
A mysterious portrait of the Virgin Mary and Jesus may have been painted by the master Raphael, facial recognition finds. But many art historians reject the claim
Scientific American's short-form podcast has been going for 16 years, 3 months, and 7 days, counting today, but it's time for us to evolve.
Systems like ChatGPT are enormously entertaining and even mind-bogglingly human-sounding, but they are also unreliable and could create an avalanche of misinformation
Artificial intelligence can improve health, protect biodiversity and even write wine reviews
A river’s “gut” revived, snake-saving social media, an intragalactic donut, and more success stories of the year
In an ever warming world, the health benefits of stadium air-conditioning may not outweigh the climate risks
I’ve been working on space elevators for almost 20 years, and though we still have issues to solve, we are getting closer to making them reality
Social media companies need to give their data to independent researchers to better understand how to keep users safe
Elon Musk wants to run Twitter like SpaceX. But human behavior will make it much more difficult
A miniature antenna can transmit data from inside cells without using damaging microwaves
Twitter is a crucial communication tool during disasters, but impersonators and other problems under Elon Musk’s leadership have emergency managers on edge
Under Elon Musk’s leadership, extremists could flock back to Twitter under the guise of “free speech,” and researchers are gearing up to study their impact
Growing swarms of spacecraft in orbit are outshining the stars, and scientists fear no one will do anything to stop it
Scientific American tech editor Sophie Bushwick explains how Iran is using surveillance tech against vulnerable citizens.
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis explains how its AlphaFold AI program predicted the 3-D structure of every known protein
By offering or ceasing services, Internet and telecommunications companies offer a glimpse of a future in which the tech sector takes sides in warfare, with far-reaching effects
A new computer model “maps” odor molecules to differentiate among those that have meaty, powdery, sweet and many other scents
AI models for health care that predict disease are not as accurate as reports might suggest. Here’s why
The Iranian government is taking advantage of Internet shutdowns to push citizens onto a local intranet that is vulnerable to surveillance and censorship
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
As USGS takes over operations of a Landsat satellite, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland explains how the data gathered will help the Biden administration’s climate change plans
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
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
A study of gamer behavior finds they shy away from gay characters, regardless of their strengths
An expert explains how numbers can mislead and what she’s doing to help people understand them better
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
Drab brown moths’ infrared glittering could be key to tracking different species through the night
DeepMind’s system for predicting the 3D structure of proteins is among five recipients of science’s most lucrative awards
Yvonne Y. Clark, known as Y.Y. throughout her career, had a lifetime of groundbreaking achievements as a Black female mechanical engineer. The third season of the Lost Women of Science podcast begins at the start of her story, during her unconventional childhood in the segregated South
The Census Bureau must improve its data anonymization methods to protect vulnerable groups
For humanity’s brightest future, the blue-sky, lofty thinkers in AI need the help of the muddy-boots pragmatists
Acquaintances, more than close friends, show the strength of “weak ties” when it comes to employment
In a field in Oklahoma, researchers are using new technology to spot deadly munitions built to maim and kill
Dragon flight in Game of Thrones comes from wing area, weight, speed and hints of a different atmosphere than that of Earth
Flexible organic circuits that mimic biological neurons could increase processing speed and might someday hook right into your head
Engineers at the company DeepMind built a machine-learning system based on research on how babies’ brain works, and it did better on certain tasks than its conventional counterparts.
A new resin can hold fiberglass wind turbines together for years and then be recycled into valuable products, making green energy even greener
A new technique destroys persistent PFAS without requiring high pressures and temperatures
Last-mile delivery by a small drone takes much less energy per package than delivery by diesel truck
Nongovernment satellites are vulnerable to attack, and calling them critical infrastructure would make it easier for the U.S. to fight back
The CHIPS and Science Act aims to support domestic semiconductor production, new high-tech jobs and scientific research—even NASA
Commercial spacecraft are vying to land on the lunar surface, but can they jump-start a new space economy?
Over two years, a machine-learning program warned thousands of health care providers about patients at high risk of sepsis, allowing them to begin treatments nearly two hours sooner
A new stick-on ultrasound patch can record the activity of hearts, lungs and other organs for 48 hours at a time
A new disposable battery is made of paper and other sustainable materials and is activated with a few drops of water
Protons, muons, neutrinos and other particles are moving beyond the realm of physics to help in a myriad of ways
It’s not that they aren’t interested; it’s the culture of these fields and how they exclude women and girls
Fiery tests can assess new prototypes of portable shelters, the last line of defense for wildland firefighters
Advances in robotics, sensing and genomics are accelerating findings of sophisticated life throughout the ocean depths