Hard Tech

A close-up of an engine test firing, showcasing various connected hoses and cables, with the engine emitting blue flames from the nozzle, reminiscent of a powerful jet engine.

Ian Brooke wants to revolutionize flight as we know it

This Y Combinator-backed startup has invented a new kind of jet engine, radically more efficient and versatile than anything before it.

Ross Pomeroy

A gloved hand holds a pair of tweezers gripping a small black square object against a background with concentric circles.

Batteries

Solid-state batteries are finally making their way out of the lab

Solid-state batteries could soon challenge lithium-ion as the dominant tech for powering smartphones, EVs, and more.

Kristin Houser

Silhouette of jagged cybersecurity rock formations against a vibrant yellow sky at dusk.

Employment

“Cybersecurity shortage” could reach 85 million workers by 2030

The global talent shortage could reach 85 million workers by 2030, causing approximately $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenue.

Michelle Meineke | Senior Writer | World Economic Forum

Aerospace

Radical new “Flying-V” plane aims to transform flight

The Flying-V airplane doesn’t look like anything you’ll find at today’s airports, but it could be the future of aviation.

Kristin Houser

Robotics

MIT’s “Mini Cheetah” teaches itself to run 8.7 mph, breaking speed record

The four-legged robots learn how to move through experience — both in the real world and in simulations.

Stephen Johnson

Engineering

Swiss scientists are making jet fuel from sunlight and air

The fuel's reliance on sunlight makes desert areas prime land for production sites, leaving valuable agricultural land available for food.

Johnny Wood | World Economic Forum

Wearables

A fabric that “hears” your heart’s sounds

An MIT team has designed an “acoustic fabric" to convert sound vibrations into electrical signals.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office

Inventions

What is 3G and why is it being shut down? An electrical engineer explains

3G networks are built using completely different equipment and algorithms than its newer replacements.

Mai Vu

How AI is shaping the cybersecurity arms race

Defending against cyberattacks increasingly means looking for patterns in large amounts of data – a task AI was made for.

Sagar Samtani

Hacking

International army of hackers joins Ukraine’s cyberwar

An estimated 400,000 volunteers have joined Ukraine’s IT army, helping the nation attack Russia from the digital realm.

Kristin Houser

Transportation

Steering wheels now optional for driverless cars in US

Driverless cars no longer need to have manual controls, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s safety standards.

Kristin Houser

Transportation

Oculus exec bets $10,000 we'll have fully autonomous cars by 2030

An Oculus exec has publicly bet $10,000 that vehicles with Level 5 autonomy will arrive on city streets by 2030.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

Elon Musk: Europe should revive nuclear energy

The Ukraine crisis has highlighted Europe's dependence on Russia for fossil fuels. Is more nuclear energy the solution?

Stephen Johnson

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