Invention & Innovation | Science News for Students

Invention & Innovation

A series made possible with generous support from the Lemelson Foundation

a photo of a person writing "Bye" on rewritable paper

A special pen heats the blue ink on this rewritable paper. As the ink warms, it turns clear. The white paper beneath reveals a written message.

Luzhuo Chen

Chemistry
 
Dec 31, 2018
This rewritable paper depends on disappearing ink
robo-jellyfish

A soft and squishy robo-jellyfish pumps its way gently through the ocean, providing little or no disturbance to local sea life.

Jennifer Frame, Nick Lopez, Oscar Curet and Erik D. Engeberg/IOP Publishing

Robotics
 
Dec 18, 2018
This robotic jellyfish is a climate spy
A microscopic image showing Naegleria fowleri, also known as brain-eating amoebas

Parasites belonging to the species Naegleria fowleri, sometimes known as brain-eating amoebas, can destroy brain tissue — and kill human victims within a week.

Govinda S. Visvesvara/CDC

Health
 
Dec 17, 2018
Silver nanoparticles help fight brain-eating amoebas
an image of a smoke detector on the ceiling and smoke wafting below it

It took over two minutes for high-pitched smoke alarms to wake kids up. It took a motherly voice just two seconds.

nikkytok/iStockphoto

Science & Society
 
Dec 11, 2018
New smoke alarm tests a mother’s touch
cell-tweezers

These so-called tweezers can take out single molecules or structures from individual cells — such as mitochondria from nerve cells (illustrated here).

IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

Technology
 
Dec 10, 2018
Electro-tweezers let scientists safely probe cells
a photo of eight tubes of small plastic, each a different color, poured onto a white surface

Polymers are an important ingredient in many materials, including the colorful plastics shown here. Scientists have developed a new polymer material to help repair small cracks that might develop in such polymer-based products.

XXLPhoto/iStockphoto

Materials Science
 
Dec 3, 2018
Some plastics learn to repair themselves
860_Lem_braille_graphics.png

A computer can read aloud as someone touches different parts of a raised-dot diagram. The text can be read in braille, too.

ViewPlus Technologies, Inc

Computers & Electronics
 
Nov 27, 2018
This printer makes ‘visual’ aids for people with sight problems
860_hydrophobic_power.png

When water droplets bead up on a surface, it’s because that surface has features that repel the water. The water doesn’t penetrate the surface or flatten out across it like a pool. This concept is key to a new energy technology.

Antonistock/iStockphoto

Technology
 
Nov 13, 2018
Super-water-repellent surfaces can generate energy
860_Lem_tree_tape.png

Tape is convenient but not environmentally friendly. A new adhesive for tape comes from trees instead of crude oil.

angintaravichian/iStockphoto

Materials Science
 
Sep 24, 2018
Adhesive from trees could make tape more eco-friendly
Tarzan the robot swinging over a field of crops

Tarzan, shown here, travels over crop fields with an energy-efficient swinging motion. One day, such robots might help with farm work.

Georgia Tech Research Institute

Robotics
 
Aug 31, 2018
Tarzan the robot was actually inspired by a sloth