Scientific American

Cicadas - Making Sense of the 17-Year Emergence

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:39:45 EST

In this video, we break down the complex science of periodical cicadas, one of nature's most intriguing creatures. Top image: tlindenbaum/Flickr.

Hovering "Home Drone" Puts Burglars on Display

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:35:17 EST

Japanese security firm Secom has a warning for would-be robbers - keep your eye on the sky because a soon-to-be-launched security drone will track you down.

Penitent Hacker Aims to Protect World's ATMs

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:34:01 EST

A Romanian hacker serving a prison term for manipulating ATMs says he has invented a device that can make the world's cash dispensers impregnable even to tech-savvy criminals.

'Apps for Asia' Offers Solutions to Poverty-Related Problems

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:35:43 EST

Tech innovators and app designers attending the recent "Apps For Asia - Redesigning Development" program in India, say technology holds the answer to many of Asia's poverty-related problems.

Audubon's Birds Live On Long After His Death

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:20:36 EST

An exhibit at the New-York Historical Society showcases John James Audubon's original watercolors for his Birds of America.The naturalist's work remains a significant contribution to art and science.

Why Barns Are Red - The Countdown #22

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:31:56 EST

The Countdown is a biweekly video show highlighting the best stuff in space news. In this episode: Why Barns Are Red, Light Pollution Gets Crowded, An X-Classy 'Af-flare', The Moon and Earth's Common Water Source and An Ancient Underground Oasis

Autonomous Attack Drone Flies into History

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:33:56 EST

The US Navy's first sea-based, unmanned attack aircraft has been launched from an aircraft-carrier at sea for the first time. The pilotless X-47B, developed by the navy and Northrop Grumman, is designed to take off, fly and land autonomously.

The World's Lightest Material

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:35:27 EST

A scientist in China has produced the lightest substance ever recorded, which he says could provide solutions to heavy problems, like cleaning up oil spills.

Bursting Bubbles Governed by Mathematics in Motion

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:38:10 EST

The evolution and disappearance of foamy bubbles are governed by linked mathematical equations that two Berkeley researchers say could aid in the manufacture of foams such as those used in cushions and bicycle helmets.

Mosh Pit Physics Shed Light on Crowd Control

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:33:49 EST

Mosh pits at heavy metal concerts may seem chaotic but, according to researchers at Cornell University, they are governed by the same laws of physics that govern the behaviour of gas particles.

Gemini's Paraglider Landing System

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:28:57 EST

It's often left out of the history books, but NASA wanted to land the Gemini spacecraft on a runway with a paraglider.

Bat's Bristly Tongue Mops Up Nectar

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:35:12 EST

Researchers at Brown University have unravelled the secrets of the fruit bat's efficiency in collecting nectar from plants. Using a high speed camera, the scientists have shown that the bat's tongue becomes engorged with blood and changes shape.

Unmanned Combat Jet Passes Flight Test

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:37:20 EST

The US Navy's first sea-based attack drone, the X-47B, has passed its first arrested landing test, ahead of sea trials expected later this month.

A Koala Comeback for Private Refuge

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:37:18 EST

Koala populations have been in decline for decades, listed as "vulnerable" throughout Australia. But at a private wildlife refuge located in the state of New South Wales, the iconic marsupial is is being restored to health.

Scarlet Macaws Go Wild in Mexico

Mon, 06 May 2013 08:33:57 EST

Mexico's Xcaret Ecological Park is reporting progress in its efforts to revive the country's struggling population of scarlet macaws. Human activity has led to a precipitous decline of the species in its natural jungle habitat.

Tapping Into Thin Air

Sun, 05 May 2013 06:37:40 EST

Hand gestures in the air could soon simplify the operation of smart phones, say German computer scientists working on a so-called "air writing" device.

Antarctica's Supernova Sand - The Countdown #21

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:30:47 EST

The Countdown is a biweekly video show highlighting the best stuff happening in space, astronomy and physics. In this episode: Virgin Galactic Powers Up, One-Way Ticket to Mars, Canadian Space Antics, Saturn Hurricane, Antarctica's Supernova Sand.

The First Flight of the Robobee

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:35:15 EST

Scientists at Harvard University have demonstrated the first controlled flight of an insect-sized robot drone. Called Robobee, the machine was designed to mimic flying insects for use in a number of fields including environmental research.

Decades-Old Stroke Damage Reversible with Oxygen Therapy

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:33:56 EST

Up to 20 years after suffering a stroke, patients in Israel are reporting remarkable improvements in brain function with callibrated oxygen treatments inside hyperbaric chambers.

The World's Smallest Movie

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:35:47 EST

A movie with atoms as actors has been named by the Guinness World Records organisation, as the "world's smallest movie." Called "A Boy and his Atom", the stop-action film was produced by IBM to introduce students to the world of mathematics.