Technology
The Anthropause: How the Pandemic Gives Scientists a New...
A group of scientists argue that the Covid lockdown, what they're calling the “anthropause,” is an unprecedented opportunity to study...
In Lockdown, Mathematicians Crack a Stubborn Geometry Riddle
The rectangular peg problem asks a seemingly simple question: Does a closed loop include the corners of every kind of rectangle?
The Debate Over Burning Dead Trees to Create Biomass Energy
Critics worry about the risks of overcutting and wood smoke. But supporters say the practice will prevent megafires—which release...
Old Drugs Could Reveal a New Way to Attack the Coronavirus
Researchers found that SARS-CoV-2 hijacks tendrils that grow from infected cells and may ride them to infect others. But existing...
Covid-19 Vaccine Makers Turn to Microchip Tech to Beat...
We'll need millions of vials to distribute the vaccine. The US government thinks manufacturing methods from the semiconductor industry...
The Rocket Motor of the Future Breathes Air Like a Jet...
This theoretical engine could drastically reduce the cost of getting to space. Now two companies are trying to make it real.
Vaccine Makers Turn to Microchip Tech to Beat Glass Shortages
We'll need millions of vials to distribute the vaccine. The US government thinks manufacturing methods from the semiconductor industry...
Scientists Taught Mice to Smell an Odor That Doesn’t Exist
With direct brain stimulation, mice learned to recognize an imaginary scent—and helped researchers understand a key piece of the olfactory...
Why Massive Saharan Dust Plumes Are Blowing Into the US
Every summer, an atmospheric event propels desert dust thousands of miles across the Atlantic. This year is particularly bad, and...
Dexamethasone and the Recovery Trial’s High-Speed Science
In just three months, one British research team identified the first life-saving drug of the pandemic (and helped cancel hydroxychloroquine).
