How will we know when an AI actually becomes sentient?
Many scientists and technologists believe AI will eventually become sentient. But how will we know when that happens? Currently, there's no good way to tell.
Satire, subversion, and Sonic the Hedgehog: What a hit YouTube series reveals about web culture
By repurposing in-game Sonic cutscenes and overdubbing amusing new lines, this YouTuber has found a winning formula for satirizing online culture.
‘Wonder Woman’ goes airborne with giant 300-drone light show
How do you celebrate the giant hit movie that was Wonder Woman? With a giant light show comprising 300 drones, of course.
Finishing touch: How scientists are giving robots humanlike tactile senses
Giving robots sight and hearing is fairly straightforward these days, but equipping them with a robust sense of touch is far more difficult.
Be kind, rewind: How VHS shaped the way we watch movies
VHS may be obsolete now that we have BluRays and 4K video streaming, but those boxy old tapes of yesteryear had a huge impact on the way we consume media
Implantable payment chips: The future, or cyberpunk pipe dream?
Implantable payment chips are here -- enabling users to pay for things with a wave of their hand. Is this the wave of the future, or merely a flash in the pan?
Tiger steaks and lion burgers: Lab-grown exotic animal meat is on the way
Most cellular meat startups focus on growing familiar foods (like beef and chicken) in a lab, but Primeval Foods has its sights set on something more exotic.
NASA is teaming up with United Arab Emirates to gather data for a manned mission to Mars
NASA has announced a new agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) concerning research for a trip to Mars.
This NASA-backed startup is building a 3D bioprinter that makes human organs in space
Scientists have made history by 3D printing a heart structure
3D-printed satellite supports are enormous, yet incredibly lightweight
Europe’s two largest qualified 3D-printed metal parts have been successfully printed. Next stop? Space.
MIT is developing vibrating space boots that warn astronauts of tripping hazards
A team of researchers have developed vibrating boots which could sense obstacles and vibrate to warn their wearers.
NASA's EmDrive thruster just took an important leap forward
NASA's futuristic, physics-defying EmDrive thruster has just taken an important leap toward silencing its critics.
Bioengineered bacteria could be used to 3D print food and tools on Mars
A synthetic biology project called CosmoCrops wants to use bacteria to make it possible to 3D print everything needed for a space mission in space itself.
Innovative air conditioners could work by beaming heat into deep space
Researchers from Stanford University have come up with a new refrigeration method for providing cooling: simply beam the heat into space.
NASA has developed a futuristic 3D-printed ‘space fabric’
NASA has developed a smart, high-tech 3D-printed metallic "space fabric," capable of being used for a variety of functions in space.
Train like an astronaut in world’s first private facility
Want to be an astronaut, but don’t work for NASA? Then book a ticket to the world's first private astronaut training venue, opening 2019.
The future of satellite propulsion in space could be … water?
Purdue University researchers have developed a new water-based micropropulsion system for maneuvering satellites through space.
Artificial intelligence could help us see farther into space than ever before
New AI algorithm is 10 million times faster at analyzing images of so-called "gravitational lenses" in space.
Compare the gravity on different planets with the Space Museum desk toy
Space Museum is a Kickstarter desk display that let you compare gravity on different planets in our Solar System.
With 200,000 laser dots, this glass orb puts the Milky Way on your desk
Freshly arrived on Kickstarter, this awesome glass desk ornament compresses the entire Milky Way into an 8-cm sphere.
Prolonged time in space literally changes the structure of astronauts’ eyes
Optometrists have analyzed the pre- and post-flight data from astronauts. Their conclusion? That space changes the structure of their eyes.
Engineers want to 3D print stuff in space using recycled astronaut poop
Canadian researchers have developed a way to use astronaut poop as an ingredient for 3D printing in the stars.
Antarctic scientists are growing veggies without dirt, sunlight, or pesticides
Scientists in Antarctica have successfully grown the first crop of veg without the help of earth, daylight or pesticides.
‘Zero gravity’ champagne bottle lets you celebrate in outer space
What kind of champagne do astronauts pop on special occasions? No, it's not the setup for a joke, but the question answered by respected French champagne maker Mumm International with its new champagne, which is designed to be consumed in zero gravity. Coming soon to a space station near you.