Science and Tech

Science and Tech

Abstract digital art featuring geometric shapes, circuitry patterns, and a central star motif on a blue and red background.
The cat-and-mouse game between China and the world’s semiconductor companies is already having enormous consequences.
Abstract image of a dark central circle surrounded by radial green and yellow light streaks resembling an eye or vortex.
The race to find dark matter could grow more complex with high-energy neutrino interference.
pulsar orbiting a low-mass star in an X-ray binary system
In astronomy, a star's initial mass determines its ultimate outcome in life. Unless, that is, a stellar companion alters the deal.
Colorful, blurry streaks of red, blue, and green converge towards the center on a black background, creating a dynamic and radiant starburst effect that illustrates how we see color in all its vibrant glory.
The color of the shirt you're wearing right now depends on many factors, from your eye shape to what language you speak.
Stacks of colorful shipping containers are seen in the background, with out-of-focus people holding signs in the foreground.
A prolonged strike could cost the economy between $500 million to $4.5 billion per day.
Bright cosmic explosion with flames and smoke surrounded by stars against a dark, starry background.
Black holes are the most massive individual objects, spanning up to a light-day across. So how do they make jets that affect the cosmic web?
A detailed, colorful brain visualization with intricate patterns of green, blue, and yellow on a dark background.
Scientists have created a magnificent portrait of every connection among neurons in a fruit fly’s brain.
wormholes
Humans, when we consider space travel, recognize the need for gravity. Without our planet, is artificial or antigravity even possible?
Collage with a rocket launch, raised hand, SpaceX text, blueberries, and circuitry against a gray background with "THE NIGHT CRAWLER" text—echoing the intense atmosphere of chip wars.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
A Rubik's cube with a red X floats in space, next to a planet and moon—each marked with green checkmarks—that boast their perfect round shape.
All the stars, stellar corpses, planets, and other large, massive objects take on spherical or spheroidal shapes. Why is that universal?
A robotic prosthetic arm with visible internal mechanisms, wires, and a mechanical hand. Labels such as "SFU" and "BESOM" are visible on the arm casing.
In the international competition, people with physical disabilities put state-of-the-art devices to the test as they race to complete the tasks of everyday life.
A white lab mouse sits in a glass petri dish, cradled gently by hands clad in blue gloves. The captivating scene underscores the crucial role of lab mice in scientific research and discovery.
Can laboratories become more humane, or is it time to end animal research altogether?
A robotic hand and a human hand reach towards each other, with a glowing DNA helix in the background, symbolizing humanity's last exam in the intersection of technology and biology.
A crowdsourced "final exam" for AI promises to test LLMs like never before. Here's how the idea, and its implementation, dooms us to fail.
Two individuals examine a large panel of wires and components. Overlaid on the right is a chart with arrows and symbols, possibly depicting a scientific process or experiment.
Why hasn’t matter fallen apart over billions of years? The mystery might start with protons.
Comparison of a star's image, Vega, as taken by the Hubble Telescope (left, with starburst pattern) and the JWST (right, with clear circular halo).
The 5th brightest star in our night sky is young, blue, and apparently devoid of massive planets. New JWST observations deepen the mystery.
A digitally stylized image of four individuals, each in a different colored filter—blue, green, red, and blue—capturing the essence of an innovation strategy. The individuals are smiling and wearing glasses.
The successful tactics of big-name leaders — including Bob Iger, Mary Barra, and Satya Nadella — reveal key approaches to innovation.
Close-up of a colorful microchip wafer with geometric patterns and reflective surfaces.
Hang on to something — or ride the wave — because three big tech trends are about to converge.
A rocket launches into the sky against a sunset backdrop, with "T-MINUS" text overlay in bold letters.
Reusable rockets, moon landers, civilian astronauts, and more.
A group of five people stands in front of a brown van, channeling their inner Richard Feynman. The background features a wall adorned with lush plants, setting the perfect scene for these everyday heroes.
One of the 20th century's most famous, influential, and successful physicists is lauded the world over. But Feynman is no hero to me.
Spacecraft with solar panels orbits Europa, Jupiter's icy moon, with Jupiter visible in the background.
MIT Scientist Jason Soderblom describes how the NASA mission will study the geology and composition of the surface of Jupiter’s water-rich moon and assess its astrobiological potential.
A collage featuring a partial face overlaid with "I Voted" stickers alongside the text "The Night Crawler," embodying the relentless drive reminiscent of a Zuckerberg mantra.
Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.
Comparison of early Mars with abundant water and a thicker atmosphere versus the dry and arid Mars of today, much like Venus, which also died in terms of its potential to support life.
Mars and Earth were sister planets in many ways, with early similar conditions. Why did Mars die? The leading explanation isn't universal.
Amidst the chaos of natural disasters, a man pulls a child in a small boat through a flooded street lined with houses.
A deep dive into missing data and the limitations of disaster databases.
Open book with an abstract pattern on the left page and a black-and-white photo of a smiling woman on the right, reflecting themes of digital wellbeing through its serene and balanced design.
Rather than allowing technology to exacerbate stress and disconnection, we can use it to actively support our wellbeing.
A vivid cosmic scene reveals colorful nebulae and stardust in vibrant shades of blue, purple, and orange, set against a backdrop of space. NASA observatories capture this celestial beauty, unveiling hidden holes in the vast tapestry of the universe.
NASA's space telescopes and observatories bring humanity unrivaled science images and scientific discoveries. Here's what should be next.
Overlay of hands with abstract purple and black lines in the background.
“The field is endless, but my life is limited, as are all of ours. But you do what you can with your time,” says CSO Mart Saarma.
Three white autonomous cars drive down a city street lined with trees.
The best autonomous car may be one you don’t even need to own.
Diagram of the expanding universe concept with cosmic inflation, light cone, and time axis.
Almost everyone asserts that the Big Bang was the beginning of everything, followed by inflation. Has everyone gotten the order wrong?
Orange spherical cell with elongated extensions against a black background.
Some go gently into the night. Others die less prettily in freak accidents or deadly invasions, or after a showy display.