Technology & Innovation

Spontaneous talk on surprise topics. Novelist and essayist Gish Jen on how fundamental East-West differences in the sense of self play out in art, culture, business, education, and more. 

New Zealand is enticing people to join their growing tech scene by offering an expenses-paid trip to check out the country, get interviewed, and make a giant career move.  

Handle, the latest robot from Google-backed Boston Dynamics, elicits both excitement and anxiety. The company’s founder has described it as “nightmare-inducing.” 

Self-driving hobbyists and researchers can now build a self-driving vehicle for around $700. Utilizing free software and hardware plans from George Hotz’s startup Comma, brave enthusiasts are crowdsourcing solutions as we move towards more autonomous vehicles.  

Risks abound for those plucky few willing to put their lives on the line to populate the Red Planet.   

Meet the Cornell scientist who figured out the link between fracking disposal wells and Oklahoma’s earthquakes.

Author Tony Dokoupil predicts a Liberal backlash against grass now that it’s becoming legal.

Facebook knows about your past, present, and likely future. But how do they know this information? Data Selfie is a creepy new tool that will give you an answer. The free plugin provides a gateway into the data mining and predictive analytics that is used by Facebook to create your online identity. 

The world’s largest social network now has a feature, Jobs on Facebook, that is free for both job posters and job seekers. For millions of underemployed workers already on Facebook, it may be a welcome feature. 

The 1971 cult classic Harold and Maude is an unlikely love story between a depressed 18-year-old Harold and a lively 79-year-old Maude who meet at a funeral. Given the rise is online dating and its impact on how couples unite, it is fair to ask: If Harold and Maude was set in 2017, would Harold pick Maude on Tinder? 

Should political preference be a deal-breaker when looking for love? There are now dating sites for progressives, Trump fans, and Americans looking to escape the Trump presidency by marrying a Canadian. In an age of deep political polarization, dating sites based on ideology may exacerbate the problem and prevent a star-crossed love from blossoming. 

DARPA, the U.S. Department of Defense military research agency, whose work has resulted in staples of modern life such as the Internet and GPS systems, is now working with a […]

Do we really care about privacy? An interview with Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC’s Note to Self, about The Privacy Paradox campaign. She discusses an ethical code needed for technologists, why the typical ad-based business model online is not sustainable, and why it’s time for internet users to be “digitally woke.”  

UPS avoids left-hand turns because SCIENCE, also increased risk of accidents and delays.

A debate rages over whether brick-and-mortar or online retail will ultimately claim the greater share of consumer hearts and wallets. While that debate continues, however, a new channel has emerged – the home robot. Your home robot is more than just a little helper; it (often referred to by some as she or he) is a new and powerful influential link between consumers and businesses.

A new generation of tabletop physics devices may be the next forefront for breakthrough discoveries.

New Here One earbuds aim to bring enhanced human hearing to market.

Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders announced last week that the company plans to test a prototype of a “flying car” by the end of the year.

Important new research on the right amount of screen time for teens. A Large-Scale Test of the Goldilocks Hypothesis: Quantifying the Relations Between Digital-Screen Use and the Mental Well-Being of Adolescents, tested the theory that instead of a linear relationship between teen screen-time and harm, there was an amount that was just right. 

Researchers not only looked at biological evidence but contextual factors as well.  

Some companies have set up a progressive program to help their employees pay off their student loans, offering up to $10,000 in assistance over the course of employment.

Is Facebook making you unhappy? A recent Danish study found that a one-week break from Facebook had positive effects concerning life satisfaction and increasing positive emotions.

Its unique method of creating energy is likely to be employed elsewhere in the space program.   

“No government is prepared,” The Economist reports.   

This could open allow for the exploration of nearby exoplanets, solar systems, and other parts of the galaxy.   

Jonathan Coulton’s song “The Future Soon” is a sly commentary on our romantic dreams of a better future.

Could life on Earth have spawned more than once?   

In honor of John Glenn, here are some of the most badass things that happened in space that you might not know about — but totally should. 

Amazon announces a new type of smart brick-and-mortar shopping with no checkouts.

The necessity yet utter inconvenience of wearing and carrying around a bike helmet has always posed an interesting design challenge – creating a helmet that is light, compact and ideally […]