Plasmobots
Slime molds can be coaxed to assemble or transport small objects and perform basic computations.
Ancient Fibers
Ancient flax fibers found in a cave suggests humans may have been turning the plant into clothing or rope as far back as 36,000 years ago.
Podcast
AMAZING ORGANISMS: Assessing the developmental level of canines, the origin of malaria, powerful bacteria, and more.
Rammed Earth
The right amount of water can make a green building material super-sturdy.
Color Change Roundup
Color-changing plastics could indicate when they've been structurally damaged.
Spider Silk
Treating spider silk with a chemical process makes it strong and tough.
Online Antiquities
Online auction sites have transformed both legal and illegal antiquities markets.
Pavement Markings
Painted road markings reflect better in one direction than the other.
Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles aren't any more toxic to cells than larger particles.
Fingerprint Purpose
New research suggests our fingerprints help us feel finely detailed surfaces.
Feather Fabric Roundup
Chicken feathers could be processed into a soft, wearable fabric.
Electronic Cotton
Electrically conductive cotton could be used to make clothes that monitor your health.
Podcast
CLIMATE CHANGE: A listener asks: How can it be "global warming" when it's so cold outside? And the chilling effects of deadly disease on the climate of the past.
Podcast
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE: Could sunscreens be more than skin deep? Why headphones and pacemakers don't mix and a new use for electric cars.
Nanoparticles & Skin
Nanoparticles are common ingredients in cosmetics, but scientists are finding that they're more than skin deep.
Podcast
Antifreeze from fleas, silk optics for food safety, plants head for the hills, heavy metals that won't go away, and more.
Germ-Resistant Kevlar
A new coating could make Kevlar fabrics resistant to biological agents.
Solar Concentrators
New technology could make solar panels far more cost-effective.
Podcast
DANGEROUS MICROORGANISMS: Diseases of the Crusaders unearthed. New mosquito repellents on the horizon. And is your moldy basement a health hazard?