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Science and technology in the United States

US Navy officers with the laser weapon on the USS Ponce.

Is that a US Navy ship or a Star Destroyer?

Technology

For the first time, the US Navy has deployed a laser weapon on the high seas, ready to fry any drones or speedboats that might dare to attack. It’s still a prototype for now, but it could be a first step in a new, lethal — and relatively cheap — era of naval combat.

The World

Exploring the science and ethics behind the first man-made cell

Global Politics

Author argues U.S. must lead way on bioengineering

Arts, Culture & Media

The legacy of Bell Labs

Environment

Obama’s rock star science team

Environment

Google Alerts Users to Suspected State-Sponsored Attacks

Conflict & Justice

Google announced this week that they would provide online security warnings for users they believe are the target of government spying.

Mr. Hornaday’s War

William Temple Hornaday was an early environmental
crusader. His new biography explores how the 19th century taxidermist and hunter changed into an outspoken defender of the natural world.

The Next Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was fueled by coal and cheap print, and Jeremy Rifkin says oil and the telephone powered a second revolution. The author also believes we are on the brink of a new upheaval driven by the Internet and alternative energy. Living on Earth’s Steve Curwood spoke with Rifkin about his book, The Third Industrial Revolution.

The World

Adam G. Riess on his Nobel Prize

Environment

Adam G. Riess discusses the honor and explains what dark energy is, and why it’s important to the universe.

President’s Science Advisor Discusses Energy R&D

At the request of Presidential Science Advisor John Holdren, the US Department of Energy charts a new direction to a more efficient technology future.