Edd Gent

A team has created a new 4D printing process that makes soft, bendable polymers that respond to heat, which could be used in origami robots or drug-delivery devices.

Fluorescent proteins from jellyfish that were grown in bacteria have been used to create a laser for the first time, according to a new study.

What exactly is an email server, and how does it work?

Could an immersive virtual-reality environment like the fictional Holodeck in "Star Trek" help people tackle global problems like climate change or drug policy?

Would you ride in a self-driving car that has been programmed to sacrifice its passengers to save the lives of others, in the event of a serious accident?

Archaeologists in the United Kingdom are using 3D printing to bring two historical shipwrecks to life for history enthusiasts and experts alike.

Using inkjet printers, scientists have made laser devices cheap enough to be thrown out after a single use.

Your smartphone could one day be replaced by an electronic display laminated to the back of your hand, if the inventors of a new ultrathin "e-skin" have their way.

Artificial intelligence has had its share of ups and downs recently.

Electronics such as solar panels and flexible gadgets may someday be able to heal their "wounds," thanks to tiny, self-propelled nanoparticles that detect and repair damage.

Apple's forthcoming iOS update promises to incorporate a feature called Night Shift that could help people sleep better. But what is it about smartphones that can mess with our slumber?

A novel method for "plucking" individual particles of light out of a laser pulse could lead to major breakthroughs in quantum computing, researchers say.

How do you build the world’s lightest metal? Make it mainly from air, according to scientists.

"X-ray vision" that can track people's movements through walls using radio signals could be the future of smart homes, gaming and health care, researchers say.

Origami-inspired graphene paper that can fold itself could be used to create anything from miniature robots to artificial muscles, according to a new study.

The future of drones is here, but are we ready?

Mantis shrimp have developed a form of ritualized combat that lets individuals compete without bludgeoning each other to death, a new study suggests.

An artificial intelligence (AI) system has solved a puzzle that has eluded scientists for more than 100 years: how a tiny, freshwater flatworm regenerates its body parts.

A robotic arm inspired by octopus tentacles could make it easier for surgeons to access hard-to-reach parts of the body.

A drone that mimics the way birds fold and flap their wings could improve the design of future unmanned autonomous vehicles, and could even help the machines withstand midair collisions.