Engineering

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

Latest in Engineering

inside of large airplane engine

Technology

The metallic guts of GE’s massive jet engines, in photos The metallic guts of GE’s massive jet engines, in photos

By Christopher Payne, Rob Verger

humvees in Kuwait in 2005

Technology

The Pentagon wants to retrofit vehicles to drive themselves The Pentagon wants to retrofit vehicles to drive themselves

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Agent Smith clones from The Matrix to show the concept of singularity in AI and AGI

Science

What happens if AI grows smarter than humans? The answer worries scientists. What happens if AI grows smarter than humans? The answer worries scientists.

Spotted lanternfly adult on leaf

Technology

This lanternfly-egg-hunting robot could mean fewer bugs to squish This lanternfly-egg-hunting robot could mean fewer bugs to squish

By Charlotte Hu

a tunnel in a sewer system

Technology

Taiwan sent mosquito-fighting robots into its sewers Taiwan sent mosquito-fighting robots into its sewers

By Charlotte Hu

a drone flies over the water

Technology

Watch a ‘flying fish’ drone hover in the air and then swim underwater Watch a ‘flying fish’ drone hover in the air and then swim underwater

By Harry Guinness

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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.

Technology

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

Environment

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

Technology

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.

Science

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Science

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

‘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

Technology

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

Technology

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.

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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.

Technology

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

Technology

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?

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

By Sara Kiley Watson

centipede robot

Technology

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.

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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.

Technology

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

airplanes at different gates in an airport

Technology

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

Science

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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

Science

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

Technology

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.

Technology

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

Technology

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.

Science

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

Seagreen's offshore windfarm in Scotland

Technology

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

Technology

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

Technology

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.

Environment

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

silent speech-recognizing glasses

Technology

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.

Technology

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

Technology

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

Science

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

Technology

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.

Environment

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

Technology

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

plant leaf up close

Technology

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

By Charlotte Hu