Tag archives for technology
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We’ve written about artificial intelligence (AI) a fair amount in the past, from IBM’s Watson supercomputer, to AI-controlled space probes, and swarm theory. As futurist Ray Kurzweil pointed out in his book The Singularity Is Near, the public has a number of misconceptions about AI. Kurzweil argues that AI is proceeding much faster than people…
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This battery-powered rover has all the toughness of an abominable snowman, surveying undetected hazards at scientific-research sites in Greenland and Antarctica.
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Knowing whether to call it Burma or Myanmar was just one of the many questions I had as the tug guided our 25,000 ton ship gingerly up the Yangon River. The dredging that had taken place earlier that morning had turned the open water from a cool bubble-bath blue to a murky brown, although I…
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Big data is helping to paint a more distinct picture of today’s eco-criminals, pinpointing links between seemingly unconnected criminal groups and illegal activities. It can cover trading in the skins and bones of endangered Asian big cats such as tigers, the trafficking of illegal timber, and uncover trends that were previously obscured, or suggest new approaches to combating the escalating worldwide onslaught on endangered species and biodiversity.
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A massive study seeks to find the source of newborn deaths in South Asia. It’s as broad as it is deep, stretching more than 1,500 miles and two unfriendly borders across sites in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.
National Geographic has long been known for photography, and National Geographic magazine has published its fair share of iconic images over its long, storied history. Of course, photography itself has a long, storied history. Did you know the first color photograph appeared in 1861? That 70% of activity on Facebook revolves around photos? Or that…
We recently learned that the teenage brain may develop through a unique pathway, which gives some parents reassurance that there may be some method to the seeming madness. But we also hear a lot of chatter about Internet addiction. If you or a loved one thinks there may be a problem, there is even an…
Tenacious Whimbrels Can Handle Hurricanes, Not Habitat Loss
Posted by Jeff Wells on September 25, 2012 Hurricane Isaac captured the country’s attention last month as it lumbered across Florida and raked over New Orleans, impacting millions of people. But before Isaac had even reached land, indeed while it was still not even a hurricane, many in the birding world were watching a single bird struggling against its high winds. I…
Artists Make Music You Can See and Touch
Posted by Youth Radio Investigates on September 24, 2012 When it comes to modern music, listening is only half the experience. From MTV special effects eye-candy to this year’s audio/tactile winner of the Google Science Fair, sound has become something not only to hear, but to see and touch. Youth Radio invited sound artist Sudhu Tewari to our studios for an exciting Brains and Beakers event…
Apart from being four-legged animals, what do a cheetah and a pack mule have in common? They’ve both inspired what may be the next generation of war machines.
Verizon Wireless partnered with the National Park Service and the National Geographic Society to produce the 2012 BioBlitz in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park this weekend. For the largest wireless network provider in the U.S. it is an opportunity to connect thousands of people with nature in real time. For John Johnson, Verizon Wireless’ executive director…
Ocean Space Habitat: A new concept is born
Posted by Fabio Esteban Amador of National Geographic Waitt Grants Program in Explorers Journal on August 10, 2012 
Dawning of a New Era I recently had the opportunity to interview explorer and NGS/Waitt grantee Michael Lombardi, following a successful deployment of a newly designed underwater portable habitat. Habitats have been used since the 60′s as inner space stations to conduct experiments and evaluate human behavior and physiology while spending long stays underwater. These…
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Breaking Orbit guest blogger Marc Kaufman describes the joyful atmosphere, relief and pride inside the NASA Jet Propulsion Jet Laboratory a few hours ago, when scientists, engineers and technicians got confirmation from Mars that after years of hard work and a nail-biting descent their roving science laboratory Curiosity had been placed on the Red Planet apparently exactly as planned.
Maker Lab Teaches Rockets, Circuits, and Soldering
Posted by Youth Radio Investigates on May 15, 2012 Bicycle pump-powered rockets, lunch box speakers, and paper airplanes are just a few of the projects students have tackled in an after-school program launched by MAKE, a leader in the DIY movement that celebrates the “right to tweak, hack, and bend any technology to your will.”
Should Robots Be Treated Like People? Kids Say “Yes” – Sort Of
Posted by Alyson Foster on April 10, 2012 
As robots improve and develop the capability to perform social tasks, questions are raised about how humans view and interact with them. A new study examines children’s perceptions of robots as emotional and moral beings.
When I think of luminosity I think of the brightness of the sun or associate it with technology, light bulbs, light emitting diodes, and of course, the energy sources that make it possible. In many ways, creating light has promoted the “nightlife” or our ability to see, signal, and interact in darkness. Just a trip…
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In Namibia, I visited a foundation with their ear to the ground on the latest technological developments in conservation. From cyber-stalking their GPS collared cheetah via Google Earth and Sirtrack to scanning footprints (spoor) into an analytical database, N/a’an ku sê Foundation is combining new tech with on-the-ground analogue (so to speak) work in the…
Technology is often a double-bladed sword. It can enhance our lives in many amazing ways, of course, but it can also cause unintended consequences in the form of pollution, energy use, and inequality. The latest gadgets from Apple are no exception, especially when it comes to rare earth materials like coltan. This infographic provides a…
We’ve written before about the growing problem of e-waste (electronic waste), which threatens to pollute our soil and water with toxic materials (we even have a handy quiz about e-waste). Fortunately, electronics manufacturers, recyclers, and governments are increasingly taking notice, and are taking steps to reduce and mitigate the problems. At the same time, the…
Watson, the IBM machine that proved its “Jeopardy!” dominance on national TV one year ago, remains a bright example of the way that research can make our future better, writes U.S. Congressman Rush Holt in this guest post. But it is up to us to make that future real by making the necessary investments in R&D, he adds.
From: Top Masters in Healthcare (Click the image above for a larger version) Hospitals in the developed world rely on increasingly advanced technology, which is helping practitioners to treat a wide range of maladies and extend our lives. Of course, technology is often a double-bladed sword. New genetics tests can help screen for metabolic disorders that…
National Geographic photographer Nick Nichols is working on a new project in Africa, photographing Serengeti lions. But this assignment is something new, even for a magazine known for pushing the boundaries of photography. Backed up by a team of National Geographic experts, Nichols is deploying a remotely operated miniature helicopter to dangle a camera above a pride of predator, and a toy car to drive a camera within a paw swat of the big cats. The results he hopes for: pictures of Africa’s wild lions such as no one has ever seen.
Posted by Read the full “Overfishing 101″ series here. Atlantic bluefin tuna are one of the most popular fish in the world. Anglers fight for them, and love to tell tales of their epic battles. Scientists are enthralled by them, making this species one of the most studied in the ocean. And sushi lovers crave bluefin for…
In this installment of Digital Diversity we take a temporary departure from mobile phones to look at how nature can be used to inspire some of our own modern day technological solutions. Digital Diversity is a series of blog posts about how mobile phones – and technology more broadly – can be used throughout the…
National Geographic Emerging Explorer Ken Banks is an anthropologist, conservationist, and mobile technology innovator who built a communications platform to empower grassroots organizations throughout the developing world. Frontline SMS solves critical communication problems by enabling cell phone users to exchange mass message information without access to the internet–or even constant electricity. His kiwanja.net organization strives…
