Science & Technology

The future is in good hands with these innovators, and these stories of inventions, technology, and scientific ingenuity are changing not only the way we see the world, but also the world itself.

Image: A shark swimming near the surface of the ocean, one of the many sharks who inspired the Sharklet antibacterial pattern.

The World’s First Germ Resistant Material, Inspired by… Sharks?

Taking inspiration from sharks, we now have a technology that can help prevent the spread of Staph infections, E Coli, MRSA, and other superbugs that we don’t even have antibiotics for yet! Engineers have discovered that shark skin has a unique pattern that can be duplicated and applied to everything from door handles to medical equipment to prevent the spread of deadly diseases.

Image: The wing of an airplane, which may soon be using algae to fly

Airplanes May Soon be Using Algae to Fly

New uses for algae are becoming increasingly widespread. From eating healthier, to a natural fertilizer, and to being used in a bio-jet fuel, this aquatic plant’s popularity is soaring.

Image: A close up of a woman with eyes closed, listening intently to use echolocation and see the world with sound

Seeing the World with Sound: How Humans Can Learn to Use Echolocation!

Close your eyes and just take a second to listen to the world around you. Can you pick a single sound out of the noise and locate where it’s coming from? For those who are blind or vision impaired, the idea of “seeing” with sound isn’t far off. In fact, there is a growing community of people around the world who are using a technique called "FlashSonar" to train their brains to see the world around them in stunning detail using sound.

Image: HeroRAT Froome training to detect mines in Tanzania

These Heroic Rats Save Lives by Detecting Land Mines and Tuberculosis

Step aside Remy from Ratatouille and Templeton from Charlotte’s Web! These rescuer rats trained by nonprofit APOPO might not be nearly as famous, but their work sniffing out land mines and tuberculosis is saving many, many more lives.

Image: The tide rolling in on a beach from above.

Using the Moon to Power our Cities with Tidal Power

What if the moon could be our next renewable energy source? Okay, maybe not the moon itself, but a force that it’s controlled since the first oceans covered our planet: the tides. More consistent and constant than wild or solar, this energy source could be the next leap in renewable energy.

NASA’s Message to Alien Life Celebrates the Best of Humanity

Did you know that back in 1977, NASA launched a time capsule into outer space? This historic message in a bottle is called the Golden Record, and it is a feast for the eyes, ears, mind, and soul. Let’s discover how scientists described humanity to extraterrestrial life forms, and see if it still holds up today!

How to Invent Yourself with Innovative Thinking with Ann Makosinski

Ann Makosinski is our youngest guest in Happy[ness] Hour history but don’t let that fool you her accomplishments are much greater than your average 23 year old. Ann is an inventor, writer, global keynote speaker, and CEO of her own company! A person with aspirations this high who is able to achieve so much at a young age is someone we can all learn something from. She will show us the power of innovative thinking. How it has changed her life and how it has the potential to change all of ours.

Image: One of the mushroom slabs that is cut to create mushroom bacon.

Mushrooms Could Start Replacing Leather, Bacon, and Styrofoam in the Next 5 Years

Have you ever tasted bacon made of fungi? Received a package cushioned by mushrooms? My guess is not yet… but probably soon! New York-based company Ecovative has created an alternative to plastic, which can save water, time, money, and the planet, too!

Image: Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols, whose work on the show grew to a diversity campaign within NASA

Boldly Going Where No Black Woman Had Gone Before: How Star Trek Changed NASA

Star Trek's Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura) changed far more than the television game. As one of the only black women on the small screen at the time and with words of encouragement from Martin Luther King Jr., this champion for diversity changed not only the history of science fiction, but the history of space exploration. Her work became undeniable proof that if you can see it, you can be it.

Image: Two boys dressed as their favorite superheroes.

This App Lets Kids With Hearing Loss Enjoy Movies

This caring high school senior is improving accessibility for youngsters with hearing loss by creating an app that translates Disney movies into sign language.

Image: The Green Bank Observatory Telescope in the town with no WiFi

The Town with No Wi-Fi: Connecting With Others By Leaving Your Phone Behind

How could it be that a town with no Wi-Fi is more connected than the rest of us? Join us on a trip to West Virginia, where this tiny town is thriving without technology.

Are Automatons the Ancestors of Google? How Finding Inspiration in the Past Improves the Future

What can we learn from a mechanical humanoid that mesmerized people hundreds of years ago? Let’s see what the future can gain from peering into the past, at phenomenons known as automata.

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