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

Hey Alexa, quit eavesdropping

Researchers at the University of Chicago have developed an ultrasonic audio jammer that doubles as a fashion accessory.

B. David Zarley

Building an artificially intelligent, open-source prosthetic leg

We've come a long way since the first prosthetic leg, and "smart" limbs, equipped with computing capabilities and...

Teresa Carey

Music

This algorithm just generated 68 billion unique melodies

Two musicians built an algorithm that could write every melody in the popular music range — and then released the melodies into the public domain.

Kristin Houser

Drones

New tech could finally change drone regulations for the better

FAA drone regulations require pilots to have a visual line of sight of their aircraft, but new detect-and-avoid systems could change that.

B. David Zarley

Bionics

Run faster, think better: Hugh Herr on the future of bionics

Hugh Herr, head of Biomechatronics research at MIT and hailed as a bionic pioneer, is working to close the gap between synthetic limbs and the brain.

Teresa Carey

Bionics

Scientists engineered “cyborg grasshoppers” to sniff out bombs

By implanting electrodes into the brains of grasshoppers, scientists were able to harness the insects’ sense of smell for the purpose of explosive detection.

Kristin Houser

Computer Science

We’re one step closer to a super-secure quantum internet

Scientists have successfully entangled photons across a 52-mile-long quantum loop in Chicago, a major milestone along the path to a quantum Internet.

Kristin Houser

Art

Robot artist challenges our definition of art

5:52

Artists have a history of subverting expectations and mainstream culture, but the world’s first humanoid robot artist is taking it to a new level. So far, she has sold over $1 million worth of art.

Cars

Back to the future: Classic cars go high tech

7:18

This boutique auto shop is crafting quality, custom cars that combine vintage designs with the latest technologies. And perhaps more importantly, they’re challenging the widely accepted concept that we live in a disposable world.

Accessibility

Smart cane gives the blind freedom to explore

3:33

WeWALK’s smart cane uses ultrasonic sensors and GPS navigation to help the visually impaired navigate the world around them safely and independently.

Sections

Video

Freethink

We focus on solutions: the smartest people, the biggest ideas, and the most ground breaking technology shaping our future.