2020 was a big year for the moon. Here’s a recap
Following a lull in interest after the moon landing in 1969, 2020 was proof positive that moon mania has taken hold of the world once again
Why do you see ads for stuff you’ve already bought?
Right now, you're probably seeing ads for all the stuff you already bought for Christmas. Curious why that happens? We did some digging to find out.
Martian dust is a big problem for astronauts. Here’s how NASA fights it
The biggest thing standing between humanity and colonizing the red planet is actually quite small. Martian dust creates tons of problems for astronauts.
A.I. hit some major milestones in 2020. Here’s a recap
Here's a rundown of the six biggest developments, shifts, and emerging themes that popped up in the world of artificial intelligence in the year 2020.
The plan to suck CO2 out of the atmosphere and use it to rebuild Earth’s coasts
Carbon capture and sequestration isn't necessarily a new idea, but scientists are currently mulling over a clever new way of doing it
These teachers aren’t just enduring the remote education era — they’re thriving
After adjusting to the new normal of pandemic-are education, many teachers have discovered not only how to survive, but how to thrive in a virtual classroom
How a hyperrealistic robo-dolphin is paving the way for animatronic aquariums
Ex-Hollywood practical effects artist Roger Holzberg is on a mission to revolutionize aquariums. How? By replacing the animals with hyperrealistic robots
Despite obvious dangers, autonomous killer robot tech is charging ahead
Thanks to the proliferation of lethal autonomous weapon tech, the world's military powers are now engaged in an arms race that's increasingly difficult to stop.
20 years in orbit: A video tour of the past two decades of life on the ISS
The space station celebrates 20 years of continuous human habitation on November 2, 2020. Here's what daily life is like on the orbiting outpost.
Feeding astronauts is hard, so this startup wants to grow steaks in space
Meat is a rarity in space. It's difficult to transport, and raising livestock in orbit is out of the question. But what if we could grow meat without animals?
How astronomers study dark matter, the most mysterious substance in the universe
Most of the universe is made up of dark matter and dark energy, two things scientists have never detected directly. How do we study what we can't detect?
Technology is easier than ever to use — and it’s making us miserable
Frictionless experiences have long been a top priority for interface designers, but the war on friction has led to some unintended consequences
The key to farming on Mars might be breeding parasitic space worms
Future space crops could require protection from insect infestations, just like on Earth. Parasitic worms could be the answer.
How Earth’s spacefaring nations are joining forces to build an asteroid defense system
If there's one thing that all of the world's governments can agree on, it's that we need a plan to avoid an Armageddon-level asteroid catastrophe
The time we almost nuked the moon
Near the middle of the Cold War, in the early days of the space race, the U.S. hatched a plan to detonate a nuclear bomb on the moon.
Giant weights, liquid air, and beyond: How we’ll store energy in the future
In order for the world to transition to clean, renewable energy, we first need more ways to store power. Here's an overview of the best methods.
Hispanic Heritage Month: Most influential Latinas in tech
Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States, beginning on September 15 and ending on October 15. Established in 1968, the celebration seeks to recognize the contributions and achievements of the Latin American community in this country.
Scotch, lasers, and the multimillion dollar battle against counterfeit booze
Counterfeit whisky is a bigger problem than you might think. Fortunately, laser spectroscopy is coming to the rescue. Here's how.
With coronavirus on campus, college freshmen face a disorienting orientation
Addison Cross is a college freshman at Texas A&M who's learning the ropes as she navigates her first year at school.
How NASA’s top illustrators use data to draw invisible interstellar objects
Even with super powerful telescopes, many interstellar objects are difficult to get a clear picture of. That's where NASA illustrators come in.
Keyboard warriors: How the internet can be a lifeline for disabled activists
While it's sometimes labeled as lazy or ineffective, online activism is a crucial accompaniment to physical protest -- especially for those with disabilities.
Privacy is dead, but it may not matter as much as we think
Digital Trends interviewed Firmin DeBrabander about his new book, Life after Privacy: Reclaiming Democracy in a Surveillance Society.
Meet the startup founder who combats climate change by canceling cow burps
Cows release methane into the atmosphere during their normal digestion. Adding seaweed to their food could help, says Symbrosia's Alexia Akbay.
Nerve-zapping earbuds could boost your ability to learn languages
Vagus nerve-stimulating earbuds could help wearers learn languages more effectively. Here's the experiment that's got researchers excited.
Facebook’s new privacy tool convinced me to delete my account
You already know Facebook tracks you but this tool will make you worry about your privacy like never before. Here's why it convinced me to delete my account.
Facebook’s new A.I. takes image recognition to a whole new level
Facebook is using cutting-edge artificial intelligence to extract valuable data from images. The company showed Digital Trends some of its ongoing work.
As coronavirus cases rise, a Miami mom struggles to keep up with distance learning
Norma Schwartz hasn't told her kids they aren't going back to the classroom this fall as their school district plans to continue with distance learning.
Texas teacher plans to be ‘overly cautious’ as schools reopen
Juliana Davila, a Spanish teacher located in Texas, plans to be 'overly cautious' as students return to school during the coronavirus pandemic.
Liftoff to splashdown: SpaceX’s historic Crew Dragon mission in pictures
SpaceX’s trailblazing Demo-2 mission wrapped up on August 2 when the Crew Dragon capsule carrying two NASA astronauts splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico.
How ‘The Last Stargazers’ are changing astronomy
Dr. Emily Levesque is an astronomer who looks for dying stars. In her new book, The Last Stargazers, she explores how technology is changing astronomy.
Building Proteus, the largest undersea observatory ever
Proteus is an enormous underwater habitat that aims to be an International Space Station for the ocean. Here's what you need to know.
Meet Ingenuity: The high-tech helicopter designed to fly on Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover isn't the only Martian exploration bot headed to Mars this week. Say hello to its flying friend, Ingenuity.
These are the delivery robots that will soon invade your city’s sidewalks
Delivery robots are coming to a sidewalk near you — if they're not there already. Here are six of the companies building these next-generation delivery bots.
How the next generation of space telescopes will hunt for habitable exoplanets
Modern astronomers have already made great progress in finding exoplanets, but in the next few years, that progress is poised to accelerate.