Tag Archives: Technology

Building the Transcontinental Railroad

View the photo gallery and read the captions for an overview of the settlers and workers affected by the transcontinental railroad. Explore the links on the left for more information on the topic.

Using data from social networks to understand and improve systems

Researchers at MIT are looking at how data collected from individuals and groups can be used for functions such as predicting sociopolitical change or measuring the effectiveness of policies in the developing world.

Hawking backs interstellar travel project

In April, physicist Stephen Hawking and a Russian billionaire announced plans for mankind’s furthest-ever exploration.

WI-Fi-enabled school buses leave no child offline

Superintendent Darryl Adams decided that every student in his California school district would have access to the internet. Read about how he put school buses to work at night to get students connected to their schools.

All Systems Go for NASA’s Mission to Jupiter Moon Europa

In the 1990s NASA sent Galileo to Jupiter and as a result believe strongly that there is an ocean beneath the frozen crust of Jupiter’s moon Europa. Another mission is planned for the 2020s to discover more about Europa’s potential to host life.

Robber barons and silicon sultans

This article compares the entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley to the Robber Barons of the Gilded Age.

Ada Lovelace, the First Tech Visionary

Nearly two centuries ago, the daughter of the poet Byron pursued a very different line of interest, one that has led to her being called the world’s first computer programmer.

Top 10 Civil War Innovations: Slide Show

One overlooked positive aspect of the deadly Civil War was the large number of inventions and innovations the conflict spurred.

Infographic: Curiosity Rover’s “Seven Minutes of Terror”

You don’t have to be in a space shuttle to feel fear during a landing. NASA scientists felt terror as the Laboratory rover “Curiosity” attempted its landing on Mars.

How the Pacific Northwest is preparing for a catastrophic tsunami

Scientists calculate that the Cascadia fault is overdue for a major quake and resulting tsunami. Find out how coastal communities are preparing for such a disaster.

Explorer Vasco da Gama’s Shipwreck Found

Vasco da Gama, a 16th century Portuguese explorer, was the first European to reach India by sea. In 1998 archaeologists first discovered a shipwreck that is believed to be from da Gama’s second voyage to India. Browse through the photos of treasures found on the wreck and when you’ve finished reading the article click on the link How Satellites Find Shipwrecks From Space.

How social media affects protest movements: It’s complicated

According to research by sociologist Zeynep Tufekci, the power of social media in protest movements is a double-edged sword.

How Andy Serkis is bringing holographic magic to Shakespeare’s The Tempest

The Royal Shakespeare Company will use sophisticated technology to re-tell The Tempest in an exciting new way in a late 2016 production.

The Many Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies

Philosopher and scientist Nayef Al-Rodhan acknowledges ethical questions raised by emerging technologies, and he argues that we must welcome innovation while maintaining a commitment to human rights and inclusiveness.

Why Are Millennials Narcissistic? Blame Income Inequality

Researchers have found that the shift from blue-collar jobs to white-collar jobs has probably triggered a more individualistic society.

SETI Reborn: The New Search for Intelligent Life

Perhaps the most ambitious and far-flung quest humans have yet undertaken—the search for intelligent life elsewhere in the universe—recently received renewed support. It’s no science fiction tale.

Personal submarine brings ocean exploration to all

The oceans are still relatively unexplored, not to mention inaccessible to the majority of people. In this video you’ll see a glimpse of how it could be possible for us all to “fly” underwater.

‘Back to Bed’: The Creepy, Addictive Game About Sleepwalking

Imagine a dreamlike-world where things are not quite what they seem! The concept for the beautifully hand-drawn game “Back to Bed” was inspired by surrealist artists like Dali and M.C. Escher.