Six ways satellites make the world a better place

Satellites impact our lives in many different ways, and some of these may surprise you.

Ciara McGrath, Research Fellow, Electronic And Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde • conversation
Feb. 8, 2021 • ~8 min

How law enforcement is using technology to track down people who attacked the US Capitol building

Facial recognition, social media and location tracking give law enforcement a leg up in a monumental investigation.

James Byrne, Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies, University of Massachusetts Lowell • conversation
Jan. 20, 2021 • ~9 min

How to hide from a drone – the subtle art of 'ghosting' in the age of surveillance

Avoiding drones' prying eyes can be as complicated as donning a high-tech hoodie and as simple as ducking under a tree.

Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick, Associate Professor of Political Sociology, University of San Diego • conversation
July 28, 2020 • ~7 min

Pairing lasers with microwaves makes mind-bogglingly accurate electronic clocks – a potential boon for GPS, cell phones and radar

Researchers have made some of the most accurate clocks imaginable in recent years, but the trick is harnessing those clocks to electronics. Using lasers to tune microwaves bridges the gap.

Franklyn Quinlan, Physicist, National Institute of Standards and Technology • conversation
May 22, 2020 • ~7 min

Balloon releases have deadly consequences – we're helping citizen scientists map them

Releasing balloons at weddings and other celebrations is festive, until they break into pieces and become plastic pollution. A citizen science project is spotlighting the problem.

Shannon Brines, Applied Geographer, Lecturer and Manager, Environmental Spatial Analysis Laboratory, University of Michigan • conversation
March 18, 2020 • ~8 min

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