Smart News Ideas & Innovations

The Mary Rose undergoing restoration.

Cool Finds

Explore Skulls and Artifacts From a 16th-Century Warship

The <i>Mary Rose</i> was the pride of Henry VIII’s fleet before it sank at sea

Put down your pencil—convincing computer-generated handwriting is here.

New Research

This Algorithm Lets You “Write” Like the Greats

Your words, their handwriting

Meet Octobot.

New Research

This Robot Is Soft and Squishy Inside and Out—No Wires or Batteries Necessary

"Octobot" uses a deceptively simple fuel source and inspiration from the depths of the sea

Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the parks featured in the virtual reality tours.

Virtual Travel

Explore Some of America's Greatest National Parks in Virtual Reality

The next best thing to celebrating the Centennial in person

A street scene in Kigali. The city's population is expected to nearly triple by 2020.

Cool Finds

Why This Rwandan City Bans Cars Once a Month

Kigali’s #CarFreeDay is a first for Africa

The TEB "elevated bus"

Trending Today

Not So Fast: Here's Why That Chinese Elevated Bus May Not Be Quite What It Seems

The TEB is the latest iteration of a concept that's been "floating" for decades, but it has some big problems

"Portrait of a Woman" being scanned by the synchrotron.

New Research

Scientists Uncover a “Hidden” Portrait by Edgar Degas

A powerful X-ray unveiled one of the painter’s rough drafts

The viewing pod slides up and down the tower, which has been acknowledged as world's most slender by Guinness World Records.

Cool Finds

New Observation Tower Is World's Thinnest

Brighton's West Pier comes back to life...as a crazy vertical viewing tower

An artist's concept of Moon Express's MX-1 Micro Lander, which may head to the moon as soon as next year.

Trending Today

The First Private Lunar Landing Was Just Approved

Moon Express will head to Earth’s nearest neighbor in 2017

Checkpoint "Dityatki," an entrance to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Future of Energy

Chernobyl Might Get a Second Life as a Solar Power Plant

From nuclear disaster to renewable energy

Sojourner Truth, tech pioneer.

Cool Finds

How Sojourner Truth Used Photography to Help End Slavery

The groundbreaking orator embraced newfangled technology to make her message heard

Trending Today

Why VHS and Five Other Formats May Live Forever

The final VCRs will ship later this month, but if recent history is any indicator, it doesn't mean the VHS format will vanish for good

Athletes with Down Syndrome compete in the first-ever Olympic-style competition for people with the condition.

Cool Finds

Italy Just Hosted the First Olympics-Like Competition for People With Down Syndrome

The unique competition drew 1,000 athletes

Avi Avital is the featured performer in "InstaConcerto for Mandolin and Orchestra," a 75-second concerto written for Instagram.

Cool Finds

This Classical Mandolinist Makes Music With...Instagram?

“InstaConcerto for Mandolin and Orchestra” plays with a genre known more for its selfies than its chamber music

A 3D view of the console of the Apollo 11 "Columbia" command module.

Cool Finds

Explore the Apollo 11 Command Module in 3D

For the first time, you can peek inside the craft that enabled “one giant leap for mankind”

Pure Human features clothing made from leather that is produced from the DNA of designer Alexander McQueen—and that includes freckles, realistically placed tattoos and even sunburns.

Trending Today

Alexander McQueen Is Being Turned Into Leather

The late designer's DNA is part of a bizarre experiment in fashion ethics

An up close view of coral

Cool Finds

Watch Corals in Action With New Underwater Microscope

The Benthic Underwater Microscope opens up a whole new age of ocean exploration

Awaroa Beach

Cool Finds

New Zealanders Just Crowdfunded a New Addition to this National Park

Over 40,000 people donated to buy Awaroa Beach and gift the site to Abel Tasman National Park

Baa.

Cool Finds

Impatient Islanders Create Google "Sheep View"

Ewe won’t forget this unique look at the Faroe Islands

Cool Finds

Give Me a Drink, HAL: Artificial Intelligence Helps Design New Beer

IntelligenceX uses AI to guide its brewmaster's tweaks

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