The 10 best new technologies coming out of CES 2020

CES is the world's gathering place for all those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Here are the this year's highlights including robots and wearable devices.

The Mystery of the Worldwide Humming Noise Uncovered

In 2018, a large number of seismic alerts had been detected everywhere. They created a weird buzzing sound. Now the mysterious hum is identified as rumblings of a magma-filled reservoir deep under the Indian ocean where the new volcano is forming. 

Australia had its hottest and driest year on record

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has released its annual climate statement for 2019, and found that last year was both the hottest and driest on record for the continent.

Neuroscientists Discover New Kind of Signal in the Human Brain

Scientists have uncovered a new kind of electrical process in the human brain that could play a key role in the unique way our brains compute.Researchers have discovered that certain cells in the human cortex transmit signals in a way not seen before.

UK's first zero-emissions street to be trialled in London

Beech Street, much of which runs under the Barbican Estate, will now be restricted to zero emission vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians by Spring 2020. The experiment will run for 18 months, during which time the impact on air quality and traffic will be monitored.

Zero carbon electricity in the UK surpassing fossil fuels in 2019

2019 was the cleanest year on record for Britain as, for the first time, the amount of zero carbon power surpassed fossil fuel generation for a full twelve months.

Mexico City's Ban on Plastic Bags Officially Takes Effect

Mexico City has joined a growing number of cities in banning single-use plastic bags. Mexico City has had problems with excessive amounts of trash for years now. Plastic only recently became recyclable in the city.

Astronomers create first global map of Saturn's moon Titan

A team of astronomers has created the first global map of Titan by using the Cassini probe's over 100 fly-bys to stitch together both imagery and radar measurements. 

The Future of Aviation Will Be Greener and Faster Than Ever Before

Companies large and small are working on cleaning up the skies with electric airplanes, bringing back supersonic travel, and even flirting with the edge of space to transport passengers across the world.

Researchers build a particle accelerator that fits on a chip

For the first time, scientists have created a silicon chip that can accelerate electrons - albeit at a fraction of the velocity of the most massive accelerators - using an infrared laser to deliver, in less than a hair.

Heat energy leaps through empty space

A new study shows that heat energy can leap across a few hundred nanometers of a complete vacuum, thanks to a quantum mechanical phenomenon called the Casimir interaction. It could have profound implications for the design of computer chips.

Palau is first country to ban 'reef toxic' sun cream

The Pacific nation of Palau has become the first country to ban sun cream that is harmful to corals and sea life. From now sun cream that includes common ingredients, including oxybenzone, is not allowed to be worn or sold in the country.

Barcelona's car-free smart city experiment

Superblocks is a radical plan to reclaim the streets from the noise and pollution of traffic, one that could save hundreds of lives that might otherwise be lost because of heavily polluted air. It also hopes to act as a blueprint for other cities.

Australian bushfires point to an ominous pattern

Apocalyptic scenes are playing out across Australia as bushfires have burned millions of acres and ravaged more than 1,000 homes in New South Wales alone. The new normal is not only more lethal, it's also harder to predict.

Kansas City’s Free Transit Experiment Matters

Kanzas is the first major one in the U.S. to offer no-cost public transportation.  Most of the world’s fare-free transit systems are in Europe, including a number of towns in Poland, France and Estonia's capital Tallinn.