Engineering

A guide to the structures, machines, and systems that power and connect our world.

Latest in Engineering

Person underwater looking up at outer space to represent Blue Abyss training tank. Illustrated.

Energy

Inside Blue Abyss’ plan to build super-deep pools for astronauts and military bots Inside Blue Abyss’ plan to build super-deep pools for astronauts and military bots

By Sarah Scoles

Look inside London’s new Super Sewer, an engineering marvel for rubbish and poo

Conservation

Look inside London’s new Super Sewer, an engineering marvel for rubbish and poo Look inside London’s new Super Sewer, an engineering marvel for rubbish and poo

Air 4 All prototype wheelchair seat in airplane cabin

Aviation

Prototype airline seat would make the skies friendlier to passengers in wheelchairs Prototype airline seat would make the skies friendlier to passengers in wheelchairs

Apple Vision Pro being worn by someone typing

Engineering

Apple released a ‘spatial computer.’ Here’s what that means. Apple released a ‘spatial computer.’ Here’s what that means.

By Harry Guinness

Loxley Browne (right) CEO and founder of Club Athena in California with Akshaya Koramutla, the Student Advisory Board President.

DIY

This STEM club for girls turned a real BMW into a sweet racing simulator This STEM club for girls turned a real BMW into a sweet racing simulator

By Kristin Shaw

Ephemeral exhibit at London Design Biennale

Engineering

Bendy, eco-friendly wooden walls were inspired by guitar curves Bendy, eco-friendly wooden walls were inspired by guitar curves

Notre Dame de Paris cathedral on sunny day

Archaeology

Workers rely on medieval era tech to reconstruct the Notre Dame Workers rely on medieval era tech to reconstruct the Notre Dame

Blue sine waves on a black background. Sine waves, like these, are a way to envision how sound works.

Engineering

How do sound waves work? How do sound waves work?

By Brian S. Hawkins

the burj khalifa, the tallest building in the world in dubai

Engineering

The tallest building in the world remains unchallenged—for now The tallest building in the world remains unchallenged—for now

Large termite mound in the African Savannah

Animals

Termite mounds may one day inspire ‘living, breathing’ architecture Termite mounds may one day inspire ‘living, breathing’ architecture

Climate Change

Electric cars are better for the environment, no matter the power source Electric cars are better for the environment, no matter the power source

By Charlotte Hu

Concept art of water molecules passing through Air-gen material

Energy

A new material creates clean electricity from the air around it A new material creates clean electricity from the air around it

The Air Force used microwave energy to take down a drone swarm

Air Force

The Air Force used microwave energy to take down a drone swarm The Air Force used microwave energy to take down a drone swarm

By Kelsey D. Atherton

These massive, wing-like ‘sails’ could add wind power to cargo ships

Climate Change

These massive, wing-like ‘sails’ could add wind power to cargo ships These massive, wing-like ‘sails’ could add wind power to cargo ships

By Sara Kiley Watson

Wing's drone flying in the stadium

Aviation

Watch a Google drone deliver beer and snacks to Denver’s Coors Field Watch a Google drone deliver beer and snacks to Denver’s Coors Field

By Harry Guinness

SuperBIT high-altitude balloon with space telescope in the skies after its launch

Deep Space

A super pressure balloon built by students is cruising Earth’s skies to find dark matter A super pressure balloon built by students is cruising Earth’s skies to find dark matter

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma

Engineering

The new Tacoma’s shock-absorbing seats help you keep your eyes on the prize The new Tacoma’s shock-absorbing seats help you keep your eyes on the prize

By Kristin Shaw

Animals

Spy tech and rigged eggs help scientists study the secret lives of animals Spy tech and rigged eggs help scientists study the secret lives of animals

By Charlotte Hu

A digital rendering of the Green Mosque in Balkh, Afghanistan

Engineering

‘Extended reality’ will help preserve some of Afghanistan’s most endangered historical sites ‘Extended reality’ will help preserve some of Afghanistan’s most endangered historical sites

Close-up of children's diapers stacked in a piles

Engineering

Dirty diapers could be recycled into cheap, sturdy concrete Dirty diapers could be recycled into cheap, sturdy concrete

Sun setting behind an high voltage power line transformer

Climate Change

This summer could push US energy grids to their limits This summer could push US energy grids to their limits

Wendy's chain restaurant at night.

Engineering

Wendy’s wants underground robots to deliver food to your car Wendy’s wants underground robots to deliver food to your car

By Harry Guinness

Navy SEALs will finally stay dry in a cozy new submarine

Engineering

Navy SEALs will finally stay dry in a cozy new submarine Navy SEALs will finally stay dry in a cozy new submarine

By Kelsey D. Atherton

McLaren's F1 race car

AI

An inside look at the data powering McLaren’s F1 team An inside look at the data powering McLaren’s F1 team

By Charlotte Hu

A Labrador retriever smelling for explosives with a member of a bomb squad at the trial of the 2015 Boston Marathon bomber

Animals

No machine can beat a dog’s bomb-detecting sniffer No machine can beat a dog’s bomb-detecting sniffer

Illustration of a submarine communications cable.

Engineering

Why the EU wants to build an underwater cable in the Black Sea Why the EU wants to build an underwater cable in the Black Sea

By Charlotte Hu

How an innovative battery system in the Bronx will help charge up NYC’s grid

Energy

How an innovative battery system in the Bronx will help charge up NYC’s grid How an innovative battery system in the Bronx will help charge up NYC’s grid

What happened to Google Glass?

Engineering

All the products that Google has sent to the graveyard All the products that Google has sent to the graveyard

By Harry Guinness

This soft robotic skull implant could change epilepsy treatment

Engineering

This soft robotic skull implant could change epilepsy treatment This soft robotic skull implant could change epilepsy treatment

By Sara Kiley Watson

A new mask adds ‘realistic’ smells to VR

Engineering

A new mask adds ‘realistic’ smells to VR A new mask adds ‘realistic’ smells to VR

By Sara Kiley Watson

centipede robot

Engineering

To build a better crawly robot, add legs—lots of legs To build a better crawly robot, add legs—lots of legs

By Charlotte Hu

A rendering of Proteus.

Conservation

An ambitious underwater ‘space station’ just got a major research collaborator An ambitious underwater ‘space station’ just got a major research collaborator

By Charlotte Hu

Australia wants a laser weapon powerful enough to stop a tank

Army

Australia wants a laser weapon powerful enough to stop a tank Australia wants a laser weapon powerful enough to stop a tank

By Kelsey D. Atherton

John Deere farm equipment

Agriculture

How John Deere’s tech evolved from 19th-century plows to AI and autonomy How John Deere’s tech evolved from 19th-century plows to AI and autonomy

By Kristin Shaw

shock waves from supersonic jet

Air Force

How fast is supersonic flight, and why does it create sonic booms? How fast is supersonic flight, and why does it create sonic booms?

Two seals laying on shore near water.

Animals

Seals provided inspiration for a new waddling robot Seals provided inspiration for a new waddling robot

airplanes at different gates in an airport

Engineering

How a quantum computer tackles a surprisingly difficult airport problem How a quantum computer tackles a surprisingly difficult airport problem

By Charlotte Hu

NASA Ingenuity helicopter lost in a Mars crater in a photo taken by Perseverance rover

Engineering

Name a better duo than NASA’s hard-working Mars rover and helicopter Name a better duo than NASA’s hard-working Mars rover and helicopter

By Briley Lewis

tsunami warning sign in Israel

AI

New AI-based tsunami warning software could help save lives New AI-based tsunami warning software could help save lives

By Jamie Dickman

a computer chip from Intel

Engineering

Cloud computing has its security weaknesses. Intel’s new chips could make it safer. Cloud computing has its security weaknesses. Intel’s new chips could make it safer.

By Harry Guinness

northern lights over the Arctic ocean

AI

Arctic researchers built a ‘Fish Disco’ to study ocean life in darkness Arctic researchers built a ‘Fish Disco’ to study ocean life in darkness

By Charlotte Hu

Ancient Maya idol in Copán, Guatemala

Archaeology

Ancient Maya masons had a smart way to make plaster stronger Ancient Maya masons had a smart way to make plaster stronger

This robot dog learned a new trick—balancing like a cat

Animals

This robot dog learned a new trick—balancing like a cat This robot dog learned a new trick—balancing like a cat

By Sara Kiley Watson

A xenobot, or a living robot, in culture, under a microscope.

Biology

Meet xenobots, tiny machines made out of living parts Meet xenobots, tiny machines made out of living parts

By Charlotte Hu

A new kind of Kevlar aims to stop bullets with less material

Army

A new kind of Kevlar aims to stop bullets with less material A new kind of Kevlar aims to stop bullets with less material

Satellite image of the powerful eruption.

Engineering

How the Tonga eruption rang Earth ‘like a bell’ How the Tonga eruption rang Earth ‘like a bell’

Seagreen's offshore windfarm in Scotland

Energy

At 441,000 pounds and 192 feet underwater, this is the world’s deepest wind turbine At 441,000 pounds and 192 feet underwater, this is the world’s deepest wind turbine

By Harry Guinness

Pin-tailed sandgrouse in a body of water

Engineering

How a dumpy, short-legged bird could change water bottle designs How a dumpy, short-legged bird could change water bottle designs

By Charlotte Hu

Strait between Sicily and Italy, view from Messina, Sicily

Engineering

After 2,000 years of debate, Italy’s massive suspension bridge to Sicily may finally happen After 2,000 years of debate, Italy’s massive suspension bridge to Sicily may finally happen

Ocean waves crashing on rocky shoreline on cloudy day.

Climate Change

Pendulums under ocean waves could prevent beach erosion Pendulums under ocean waves could prevent beach erosion

silent speech-recognizing glasses

AI

These glasses can pick up whispered commands These glasses can pick up whispered commands

By Charlotte Hu

Key components of shake testing structure being installed.

Engineering

Can this 10-story wooden building survive a seismic shakedown? Can this 10-story wooden building survive a seismic shakedown?

By Colleen Hagerty

Google Sycamore processor for quantum computer hanging from a server room with gold and blue wires

Black Holes

Quantum computers can’t teleport things—yet Quantum computers can’t teleport things—yet

Artemis II astronauts in orange NASA and Canadian Space Agency spacesuits

Deep Space

Meet the first 4 astronauts of the ‘Artemis Generation’ Meet the first 4 astronauts of the ‘Artemis Generation’

By Purbita Saha

The new Lamborghini Revuelto is a powerful hybrid beast

Electric Vehicles

The new Lamborghini Revuelto is a powerful hybrid beast The new Lamborghini Revuelto is a powerful hybrid beast

Complete collapse of tall apartment building after Turkey Syria earthquake. Seen from aerial view.

Engineering

Why most countries don’t have enough earthquake-resilient buildings Why most countries don’t have enough earthquake-resilient buildings

Intel co-founder Gordon Moore laughing in 2015 during 50th anniversary of Moore's Law

Engineering

Gordon Moore, modern computing pioneer, dies at 94 Gordon Moore, modern computing pioneer, dies at 94

plant leaf up close

Engineering

Tiny, fast lasers are unlocking the mysteries of photosynthesis Tiny, fast lasers are unlocking the mysteries of photosynthesis

By Charlotte Hu

Superconductor cuprate rings lit up in blue and green on a black grid

Energy

Room-temperature superconductors could zap us into the future Room-temperature superconductors could zap us into the future

Upper portion of Relativity Space's 3D printed Terran rocket at night prior to launch

Engineering

The first 3D printed rocket launch was both a failure and a success The first 3D printed rocket launch was both a failure and a success

The secret to Voyagers’ spectacular space odyssey

Deep Space

The secret to Voyagers’ spectacular space odyssey The secret to Voyagers’ spectacular space odyssey

By Tatyana Woodall

the nissan ariya

AI

The tricky search for just the right amount of automation in our cars The tricky search for just the right amount of automation in our cars

By Kristin Shaw

Two hands holding pile of potatoes

Engineering

Our homes on Mars could be made from potato-based ‘StarCrete’ Our homes on Mars could be made from potato-based ‘StarCrete’

paper airplanes

Engineering

Engineers created a paper plane-throwing bot to learn more about flight Engineers created a paper plane-throwing bot to learn more about flight

By Charlotte Hu