Tech
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Computing
Year in review: AlphaGo scores a win for artificial intelligence
AlphaGo’s triumph over its human opponent provides a glimpse into the future of artificial intelligence.
- Tech
Caterpillar robot uses squishy, 3-D printed legs to inch and crawl
Squishy, 3-D printed legs help a caterpillar robot switch between inching and crawling, and offer sensory info about the world.
- Tech
Rise of reusable rockets signals a new age of spaceflight
Successful landings by SpaceX and Blue Origin raise the prospect of cheaper and more efficient spaceflight.
- Tech
Five challenges for self-driving cars
Scientific and technical experts weigh in on the biggest hurdles for autonomous vehicles, and how ongoing research will help.
- Materials Science
Graphene Silly Putty detects pitter-patter of spider footsteps
Sensor made of graphene and Silly Putty can detect pulse, breathing — and spider feet.
- Tech
Zippy new jumping bot catches air again and again
Leaping robot can bounce from floor to wall, parkour-style, and, like a bush baby, uses a “super-crouch” to get extra oomph out of jumps.
- Science & Society
Readers respond to the SN 10, and awards for Science News
The human side of science, cool cloth and more in reader feedback.
- Tech
Double-charging material makes a run in the sun extra powerful
Textile stores energy from the sun and a person’s movements to power devices.
- Tech
New technique shows cells’ molecules in color
A new electron microscopy technique reveals cellular details in multicolor
- Tech
Artificial intelligence needs smart senses to be useful
Editor in chief Eva Emerson discusses the future of artificial intelligence.
- Tech
For robots, artificial intelligence gets physical
Physical intelligence makes robots able to sense of the world around them.
- Genetics
Big biological datasets map life’s networks
Expanding from genomics to multi-omics means stretching data capacity, but it may lead to a future of early diagnosis, personalized medicine and hardy crops.
