The first mobile phone call was 75 years ago – what it takes for technologies to go from breakthrough to big time

The ubiquity of mobile phones is a defining feature of the 21st century, but it's been possible to place a phone call on the go since shortly after World War II.

Daniel Bliss, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Arizona State University • conversation
June 16, 2021 ~7 min

New ‘recipe’ could lead to better COVID-19 vaccines

Next-generation COVID-19 vaccines could stimulate another arm of the immune system to offer better protection against coronavirus variants.

Kate McAlpine-Michigan • futurity
June 15, 2021 ~9 min


Shipping is tough on the climate and hard to clean up – these innovations can help cut emissions

If shipping were a country, it would rank between Japan and Germany as the sixth-largest contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions.

Jing Sun, Professor and Department Chair, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of Michigan • conversation
June 11, 2021 ~10 min

Doping trick removes hurdle for next-gen solar cells

Using carbon dioxide instead of oxygen in a key point in creating perovskite solar cells could remove a stumbling block to making them more widespread.

Karl Greenberg-NYU • futurity
June 7, 2021 ~7 min

Tiny implant cures diabetes in mice

When researchers used a tiny device about the width of a few strands of hair to implant insulin-secreting cells into mice, it cured their diabetes.

Jim Dryden-WUSTL • futurity
June 4, 2021 ~6 min

Growing human embryos in the lab and why scientists just tweaked the rules – podcast

Plus, how a new wave of South African romcoms is reimagining Johannesburg. Listen to episode 17 of The Conversation Weekly podcast.

Daniel Merino, Assistant Editor: Science, Health, Environment; Co-Host: The Conversation Weekly Podcast • conversation
May 27, 2021 ~6 min

Bio-inspired scaffolds could aid injured skeletal muscle

Tunable electrospun scaffolds, made from decellularized skeletal muscle, may promote the regeneration of injured skeletal muscle.

Mike Williams-Rice • futurity
May 17, 2021 ~6 min

Uterine fluid model could help prevent pregnancy complications

A new way to study uterine fluid could one day could one day stave off pregnancy complications such as miscarriage or birth defects.

Austin Fitzgerald-Missouri • futurity
May 14, 2021 ~5 min


Blocking 1 healing gene cuts down on scarring

Blocking a gene involved in the healing process reduced scarring in a new study with animals. The work could have implications for burn patients.

U. Queensland • futurity
May 11, 2021 ~4 min

‘Molecular glue’ makes perovskite solar cells tougher

A "molecular glue" strengthens a key weak point in perovskite solar cells. The advance makes them tougher, more efficient, and more reliable.

Kevin Stacey-Brown • futurity
May 7, 2021 ~9 min

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