Hard Tech

Collage of a close-up human eye and abstract digital graphics symbolizing artificial vision with lines and light effects on a vibrant orange and black background.

Brain implant for “artificial vision” is still working after 2 years

A new type of brain implant technology has given a man with total blindness a kind of “artificial vision.”

Silhouette of jagged cybersecurity rock formations against a vibrant yellow sky at dusk.

“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

A person holding a complex, 3d-printed metamaterial with a lattice structure

Engineering

3D-printed “metamaterial” is stronger than anything in nature

Australian scientists used an advanced 3D printing technique to create a super strong, super lightweight new “metamaterial.”

Kristin Houser

Activism

Starlink turns on coverage over Iran to bypass censorship

Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet is active over Iran, but the terminals to access it must make it inside the country.

B. David Zarley

How do DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and other forms of generative AI work?

DALL-E and other types of generative AI can produce images that look like photographs, paintings, or drawings that were created by humans.

Tom Hartsfield

Transportation

The surprising history of how electric vehicles have played the long game and won

The electric vehicle’s environmental credentials might give them a final push to win the long game over traditional cars.

Timothy Minchin

Robotics

Target is now offering the world’s first “robot manicure”

A robot that uses AI and 3D cameras to paint fingernails is now giving Target customers 10-minute manicures for just $8.

Kristin Houser

Inventions

New wireless charging works from nearly 100 feet away

A compact wireless charging system uses harmless infrared light to power devices from nearly 100 feet away.

Kristin Houser

Series| Operation: Reimagine Surgery

The visionaries bringing you the future of surgery

Watch

In partnership with Intuitive

Here’s what it’s like to use a robotic surgical system.

Robotic surgery is a game changer for minimally invasive surgery

In partnership with Intuitive

More and more surgeons are using robotic surgical systems. Here’s why.

Marianne Hayes

Transportation

Optimized charging powers EV batteries to 90% in 10 minutes

Tomorrow's electric vehicles could charge far more quickly thanks to optimized charging methods and innovative battery designs.

Kristin Houser

How AI could learn from Aesop’s fables

When USC researchers tried to teach an AI simple fables, they discovered that the process is a lot harder than it sounds.

Sam Jarman

Cars

On the road to autonomous cars, driver fatigue will be a problem

New research from Waymo points the way to overcoming driver fatigue in cars that are almost — but not quite — self-driving.

B. David Zarley

Sections

Video

Freethink

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