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Explaining the software, tech, and design behind military tools, whether they're deployed on land, at sea, in the sky, or in space.

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Here’s China’s massive plan to retool the web
Technology

Here’s China’s massive plan to retool the web

By P.W. Singer and Emerson Brooking

How to build a tabletop catapult
DIY

How to build a tabletop catapult

By Sophie Bushwick

book cover accessory to war
Science

The double-hinged door between astrophysics and the military

By Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis Lang

Of course semi-automatic guns are deadlier. Here’s why scientists took so long to say so.
Technology

Of course semi-automatic guns are deadlier. Here’s why scientists took so long to say so.

By Sara Chodosh

Another AI winter could usher in a dark period for artificial intelligence
Technology

Another AI winter could usher in a dark period for artificial intelligence

By Eleanor Cummins

Guess which two countries account for a third of all gun deaths
Technology

Guess which two countries account for a third of all gun deaths

By Sara Chodosh

Space Force logo concepts Lisa Frank
Science

Professional designers explain why the Space Force logos are no good

By Eleanor Cummins

rocket launch at night
Technology

Trump’s Space Force aims to create ‘American dominance in space’ by 2020

By Mary Beth Griggs

ACRT sled drag
Technology

Here’s what the U.S. Army’s new gender-neutral fitness test will look like

By Sara Chodosh

Quantum Radar China
Technology

China’s latest quantum radar could help detect stealth planes, missiles

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

Power-multiplying exoskeletons are slimming down for use on the battlefield
Technology

Power-multiplying exoskeletons are slimming down for use on the battlefield

By Eric Adams

Immigrant children in U.S. detention camps could face yet another health hazard: contaminated water
Technology

Immigrant children in U.S. detention camps could face yet another health hazard: contaminated water

By Jennifer Lu

Space Force isn’t the first time the US has tried to send the military into orbit
Technology

Space Force isn’t the first time the US has tried to send the military into orbit

By John Wenz

The cockpit of a hurricane hunter flight
Technology

These U.S. Air Force pilots are ready for hurricane hunting season

By Lexi Krupp

Marine Capt David Gooch hiking
Technology

Some 83,000 members of the U.S. military are missing. This group tries to bring them home.

By Vince Beiser

Your forearm is a great place to grow a new ear
Technology

Your forearm is a great place to grow a new ear

By Neel V. Patel

Tengyun China Hypersonic Spaceplane
Technology

China’s opening a factory to build engines for hypersonic missiles and spaceplanes

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

And now, a ship that can mine 39,000 tons of ore from a mile under water
Technology

And now, a ship that can mine 39,000 tons of ore from a mile under water

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

H-20 Stealth Bomber H-X China
Technology

China has big plans for a modern bomber

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

Human thigh bones apparently make excellent weapons in close combat
Technology

Human thigh bones apparently make excellent weapons in close combat

By Neel V. Patel

Can you pass the U.S. Army’s World War I-era intelligence test?
Technology

Can you pass the U.S. Army’s World War I-era intelligence test?

By Eleanor Cummins

It’s not just Syria—chemical weapons still pose a global threat
Technology

It’s not just Syria—chemical weapons still pose a global threat

By Eric Adams

China is building drone planes for its aircraft carriers
Technology

China is building drone planes for its aircraft carriers

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

China rainmaking weather control
Technology

China is using furnaces to manufacture 10 billion tons of rain

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

How missiles got smart
Technology

How missiles got smart

By Sophie Bushwick

China’s new stealth fighter uses powerful materials with geometry not found in nature
Technology

China’s new stealth fighter uses powerful materials with geometry not found in nature

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

With Operation Popeye, the U.S. government made weather an instrument of war
Environment

With Operation Popeye, the U.S. government made weather an instrument of war

By Eleanor Cummins

Type 003 Aircraft Carrier China
Technology

A Chinese shipbuilder accidentally revealed its major navy plans

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

China hypersonic I plane biplane Cui Kai
Technology

China’s hypersonic aircraft would fly from Beijing to New York in two hours

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

China’s J-20 stealth fighter jet has officially entered service
Technology

China’s J-20 stealth fighter jet has officially entered service

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

Is China’s space laser for real?
Technology

Is China’s space laser for real?

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

China shot down another missile in space
Technology

China shot down another missile in space

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

Ehang 184 China Passenger Drone
Technology

This people-moving drone has completed more than 1,000 test flights

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

China’s working on the next generation of military exoskeleton. Here’s what it can do.
Technology

China’s working on the next generation of military exoskeleton. Here’s what it can do.

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

Robert Afzal is developing powerful laser blasters for the U.S. military
Technology

Robert Afzal is developing powerful laser blasters for the U.S. military

By Eric Adams

Tengoen Super Cargo Drone
Technology

China’s new drone company is building a UAV with a 20-ton payload

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

Yes, UFOs exist. But they’re probably not what you think.
Technology

Yes, UFOs exist. But they’re probably not what you think.

By Eleanor Cummins

Beidou Launch Long March 3
Technology

China’s future satellite navigation will be millimeter-accurate

By Jeffrey Lin

a gun and bullets
Technology

Gun research could save lives, but America won’t fund it

By Lacey Wallace/The Conversation

Marie Curie mobilized an army of women to help win World War I
Technology

Marie Curie mobilized an army of women to help win World War I

By Timothy J. Jorgensen/The Conversation

China Jilin Spy Satellite
Technology

China plans to launch rockets into space from massive freighters and planes

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

North Korean Missile Flies Upward
Technology

No one wants another H-bomb test in the Pacific

By Kelsey D. Atherton

MRE Meal Kit Supply
Technology

Military-style meals are scarce, because last month was just awful

By Rob Verger

Kim Jong-un inspects what appears to be a thermonuclear warhead
Technology

North Korea wants the world to know it has a working thermonuclear bomb

By Kelsey D. Atherton

North Korea’s missile test over Japan was a threatening proof of concept
Technology

North Korea’s missile test over Japan was a threatening proof of concept

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Hunley submarine painting
Technology

The mystery of a spooky Confederate submarine might finally be solved

By Rachel Feltman

GL-5 Active Protection System China Norinco
Technology

For sale: China’s lineup of brand new, souped-up tanks

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

China Floating Nuclear Reactor ACPR50
Technology

These are China’s plans for floating nuclear reactors

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

China’s making major progress with its aircraft carrier tech
Technology

China’s making major progress with its aircraft carrier tech

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

As a drill and potential warning, China’s navy just fired dozens of missiles near North Korea
Technology

As a drill and potential warning, China’s navy just fired dozens of missiles near North Korea

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

Rodong Sinmun front page, March 9, 2016.
Technology

North Korea’s miniaturized nuclear warheads were a long time coming

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Consumer drones are causing problems for the military
Technology

Consumer drones are causing problems for the military

By Kelsey D. Atherton

PLA China 90th Anniversary Parade Zhurihe DF-31AG ICBM
Technology

China’s army is showing off its new tanks, stealth fighters, and missiles

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

North Korea’s new ICBMs can reach most of the United States
Technology

North Korea’s new ICBMs can reach most of the United States

By Kelsey D. Atherton

China Hexacopters
Technology

Come see China’s new hexacopters and self-detonating drones

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

Smoke from ammunition depot explosion
Technology

Something scarier than a grenade-toting drone

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Donghaidao Chinese Navy PLAN Djibouti
Technology

China just deployed to its first overseas base

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

Meet KJ-600, the aircraft that could help China’s navy rival America’s
Technology

Meet KJ-600, the aircraft that could help China’s navy rival America’s

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

Type 055 Renhai Destroyer DDG Cruiser China
Technology

China launches Asia’s biggest post-WWII warship

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

AH-64D Apache Helicopter Fires Flares
Technology

Here come the helicopters with weaponized lasers

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Don’t believe the hype about Russia’s hypersonic missile
Technology

Don’t believe the hype about Russia’s hypersonic missile

By Kelsey D. Atherton

SR-72 Lockheed Martin Scramjet Hypersonic
Technology

American and Chinese aircraft could be flying 4,000 miles per hour by 2030

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

China J-31 Stealth Fighter PL-15 Missile
Technology

This new ramjet engine could triple the range of Chinese missiles

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

North China Institute of Vehicle Research Amphibious Vehicle
Technology

China is building the world’s fastest amphibious fighting vehicle

By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer