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

Animals

AI can find endangered elephants from space

A breakthrough technology uses artificial intelligence to track large animals from space, even in complex terrain.

Teresa Carey

Blockchain

Can we decentralize the internet?

A decentralized internet could make the internet faster and less vulnerable to censorship.

Amanda Winkler

Neuroscience

New brain implant can be charged wirelessly

A new brain implant contains wireless charging tech that could eliminate the need for surgeries to remove and replace drained batteries.

Kristin Houser

Series| Coded

Combating conspiracy in the disinformation age

6:41

What can we do about troll farms, deepfakes, and phoney headlines in the disinformation age?

Jack Berning

Agriculture

Lab-grown wood is taking shape at MIT

A newly demonstrated technique for making lab-grown wood could overcome several shortcomings of traditional logging, if it's scalable.

Kristin Houser

Robotics

Sophia the Robot will be mass-produced this year

Hanson Robotics is going to begin mass-producing Sophia the robot in 2021, making the social robot available to help combat the pandemic.

Kristin Houser

DIY

Scientists hack kombucha for new materials

Scientists are using a modified kombucha SCOBY to create materials that sense pollutants, purify water, or make damage-sensing packaging materials.

Teresa Carey

Series| Coded

Hacking satellites with $300 worth of TV gear

6:19

There are nearly 3,000 satellites in orbit, and all of them are subject to a breach in satellite security. Here’s how white hat hackers can help.

Jack Berning

Hacking

Interactive map puts Capitol Hill riot videos into context

The developer Patr10tic has used metadata from Parler to create an interactive map linking each of the Capitol Hill riot videos to its exact location.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

New mask design from Beats by Dre designer

6:29

The designer of the original Beats by Dre headphones is working on a next-generation face mask that combines fashion and functionality.

Doug Dais

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