Why Japan Is Building a Fleet of ‘Robot Taxis’
Hopefully in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
How Many Photographs of You Are Out There In the World?
Now that cameras are ubiquitous, photographs of ordinary people are everywhere, too.
Genetic Testing for Your Hot Dog
How one company is using genomic analysis to combat food fraud
The Car-Free City
Oslo officials pledge to ban cars from the city's downtown area by 2019.
Tasting a Flavor That Doesn't Exist
Scientists and food companies are experimenting with “phantom aromas,” in which a smell tricks the brain into manufacturing a taste.
The Ethics of Exercise Pills
Medications designed to mimic the health benefits of exercise could help the disabled or immobile—but they might also keep the rest of us on the couch.
Machines That Can See Depression on a Person's Face
Facial-recognition technologies can discern muscle-by-muscle differences in how men and women emote when they're depressed.
One Thing Baby Boomers and Millennials Agree On: Self-Driving Cars
People are still split on whether driverless vehicles are the future, but differing attitudes have little to do with age.
The Crowdsourcing Site That Wants to Pool Our Genomes
A new non-profit site aims to open up genetic data for scientific research.
The Most Mysterious Star in Our Galaxy
Astronomers have spotted a strange mess of objects whirling around a distant star. Scientists who search for extraterrestrial civilizations are scrambling to get a closer look.
Playing Defense Against the Drones
We’ve managed to create armies of flying robots. Can we control them?
Can Google Succeed as Alphabet?
Most conglomerates fail. Will this venture be any different?
What Science-Fiction Gadget Would Be Most Valuable in Real Life?
Lightsabers, TARDIS, teleportation, and more
Getting Ready to Move to Mars
Scientists are hard at work preparing to create humanity’s second home.
When Humans and Robots Share the Roads
When self-driving cars first hit the roads, safety may actually worsen before dramatically improving.