http://discovermagazine.com Science, Technology, and The Future http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/24-volcanoes-meteoroids-make-materials-harder-than-diamond http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/24-volcanoes-meteoroids-make-materials-harder-than-diamond Adam Hadhazy http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/24-volcanoes-meteoroids-make-materials-harder-than-diamond/key_image Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:10:00 -0500 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:10:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/18-what-is-this-close-look-at-pocket-lint http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/18-what-is-this-close-look-at-pocket-lint Hint: It dates back to 6th-century China but never really caught on until the mid-1800s, when it was introduced in its packaged, modern form. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/18-what-is-this-close-look-at-pocket-lint/key_image Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:30:00 -0500 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:30:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-forget-lightning-how-do-we-catch-sunshine-in-a-bottle http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-forget-lightning-how-do-we-catch-sunshine-in-a-bottle Renewable power is inspiring clever new ways to store electricity—and to uncork it exactly when and where it is needed. Maggie Koerth-Baker http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/18-forget-lightning-how-do-we-catch-sunshine-in-a-bottle/key_image Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:40:00 -0500 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:40:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/10-building-interstate-highway-system-for-energy http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/10-building-interstate-highway-system-for-energy Tomorrow’s smart grid will keep the lights on and factories humming with clean (but fickle) renewable energy. Peter Fairley http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/10-building-interstate-highway-system-for-energy/key_image Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:20:00 -0500 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:20:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/08-new-tech-could-make-nuclear-best-weapon-against-climate-change http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/08-new-tech-could-make-nuclear-best-weapon-against-climate-change Two new designs aim to make nuclear reactors safer and vastly more efficient. Elizabeth Svoboda http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/08-new-tech-could-make-nuclear-best-weapon-against-climate-change/key_image Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:10:00 -0500 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:10:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/05-how-to-see-inside-brain-in-motion http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/05-how-to-see-inside-brain-in-motion A new mobile EEG system now lets researchers probe the brain function while people move around naturally. Eliza Strickland http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/05-how-to-see-inside-brain-in-motion/key_image Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:30:00 -0500 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:30:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-when-life-gives-you-manure-make-clean-fuel http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-when-life-gives-you-manure-make-clean-fuel The simple step of drying out animal waste can help turn it into a safer, more practical energy source. Stephen Cass http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-when-life-gives-you-manure-make-clean-fuel/key_image Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:25:00 -0500 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:25:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-movies http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-movies 4) Some things never change: Edison’s early film loops included one showing “cooch” dancers; another reenacted the decapitation of Mary, Queen of Scots—the first porn and horror flicks. Rebecca Coffey http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-movies/key_image Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:40:00 -0500 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:40:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/06-thinktech http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/06-thinktech New gadgets that can help you enjoy, document, and survive the wilderness http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/06-thinktech/key_image Fri, 29 May 2009 10:15:00 -0500 Fri, 29 May 2009 10:15:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/24-building-very-wimpy-space-thrusters http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/24-building-very-wimpy-space-thrusters The ESA's new system is designed to counter the force of sunlight on a spacecraft—about the same as the force of gravity on a single human hair. Andrew Moseman http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/24-building-very-wimpy-space-thrusters/key_image Sun, 24 May 2009 20:35:00 -0500 Sun, 24 May 2009 20:35:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-life-after-silicon http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-life-after-silicon Will the next generation of computers, phones, and even energy storage be built on a form of carbon? Monica Heger http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jun/04-life-after-silicon/key_image Tue, 19 May 2009 13:30:00 -0500 Tue, 19 May 2009 13:30:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/13-pixels-by-yard-hp-prints-flexible-screens-like-newsprint http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/13-pixels-by-yard-hp-prints-flexible-screens-like-newsprint A flexible computer screen—one that you can roll up and stick in your pocket—is coming closer to reality. Stephen Cass http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/13-pixels-by-yard-hp-prints-flexible-screens-like-newsprint/key_image Wed, 13 May 2009 09:15:00 -0500 Wed, 13 May 2009 09:15:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/10-frontiers-of-astronomy http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/10-frontiers-of-astronomy DISCOVER's panel of top astronomers and astrophysicists discuss some of the biggest questions in the universe. http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/10-frontiers-of-astronomy/key_image Sun, 10 May 2009 23:55:00 -0500 Sun, 10 May 2009 23:55:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/07-inspiring-boom-in-super-earths http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/07-inspiring-boom-in-super-earths At last we are finding rocky planets like our own. But some are pretty weird: The smallest may have a mineral-vapor atmosphere that condenses as lava rain or rock snow. Stephen Battersby http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/07-inspiring-boom-in-super-earths/key_image Thu, 07 May 2009 23:55:00 -0500 Thu, 07 May 2009 23:55:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-next-source-of-green-energy-your-car-itself http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-next-source-of-green-energy-your-car-itself A new MIT invention turns shock absorbers into electric generators. Andrew Grant http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-next-source-of-green-energy-your-car-itself/key_image Sun, 03 May 2009 14:25:00 -0500 Sun, 03 May 2009 14:25:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-tools-trade-multi-axis-crystal-spectrometer http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-tools-trade-multi-axis-crystal-spectrometer Jamie Dalessio http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-tools-trade-multi-axis-crystal-spectrometer/key_image Sun, 03 May 2009 14:10:00 -0500 Sun, 03 May 2009 14:10:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/30-the-pentagons-beetle-borgs http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/30-the-pentagons-beetle-borgs With the mind of a machine and the nimble body of an insect, this bug-bot may be the perfect scout: inexpensive, expendable, and capable of surreptitious reconnaissance. Stephen Ornes http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/30-the-pentagons-beetle-borgs/key_image Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:05:00 -0500 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:05:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-tunnels http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-tunnels New York has a forgotten one, Texas has a $2 billion wasted one, and Switzerland's building the longest. Jocelyn Rice http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-tunnels/key_image Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:15:00 -0500 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:15:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/27-bringing-dead-tree-misfits-into-digital-world http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/27-bringing-dead-tree-misfits-into-digital-world A new Fujitsu scanner merges business cards, receipts, and other important pieces of paper with the rest of your data. http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/27-bringing-dead-tree-misfits-into-digital-world/key_image Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:00:00 -0500 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:00:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/23-achilles-heel-on-michelangelo.s-david-his-shin http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/23-achilles-heel-on-michelangelo.s-david-his-shin 3-D scanning shows where the statue is most stressed—and where it will probably fail. http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/23-achilles-heel-on-michelangelo.s-david-his-shin/key_image Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:35:00 -0500 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:35:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-great-uses-of-twitter-according-cofounder-jack-dorsey http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-great-uses-of-twitter-according-cofounder-jack-dorsey 1) Throwing parties 2) Lifeline during a terrorist attack 3) Staying connected with mom Boonsri Dickinson ("@boonspoon" on Twitter) http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/03-great-uses-of-twitter-according-cofounder-jack-dorsey/key_image Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:30:00 -0500 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:30:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/78-exabytes-of-facebook-porn-and-more http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/78-exabytes-of-facebook-porn-and-more The big numbers behind Internet use in the U.S. For example, 5.47: the number of subscriptions to adult-content sites per 1,000 households with broadband access in Utah, the state with the highest rate of subscriptions. Montana has the lowest rate, with 1.92 per 1,000 households. Adam Hadhazy http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/78-exabytes-of-facebook-porn-and-more/key_image Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:50:00 -0500 Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:50:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/17-twitters-greatest-hits2014and-misses http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/17-twitters-greatest-hits2014and-misses Courtney Love's tweet to fashion designer Dawn Simorangkir: "oi vey don't f--k with my wardrobe or you will end up in a circle of corched earth hunted til your dead." Barack Obama's tweet to the world: "We just made history. All of this happened because you gave your time, talent and passion. All of this happened because of you. Thanks" Melissa Lafsky http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/17-twitters-greatest-hits2014and-misses/key_image Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:24:13 -0500 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:24:13 -0500 Web Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/20-things-you-didn.t-know-about-money http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/20-things-you-didn.t-know-about-money 11) In a study last year, researchers found more cocaine residue on U.S. bills than on any other currency. Also found on money: staphylococcus bacteria and fecal matter. 17) The world’s first ATM accepted only checks laced with identifying traces of radioactive carbon-14. The inventor claimed users “would have to eat 136,000 checks” for the radioactivity to have any dangerous effects. Jason Stahl http://discovermagazine.com/2009/apr/20-things-you-didn.t-know-about-money/key_image Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:45:00 -0500 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:45:00 -0500 Print Article http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/10-worlds-biggest-tornado-hunt http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/10-worlds-biggest-tornado-hunt Next month, 100 meteorologists will try to finally understand the dynamics of tornadoes—like the one that killed three people in Mena, Arkansas, last night. Leora Frankel http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/10-worlds-biggest-tornado-hunt/key_image Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:25:00 -0500 Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:25:00 -0500 Print Article