Turning saltwater into tasty, drinkable H20 at desalination plants like this one is probably the biggest selling point of reverse osmosis, but let's back up a minute. What's osmosis, and why -- and how -- is reversing it useful to us?
Once upon a time, food was used for one thing: eating. Today, it has a much more complicated role. And one of those roles might be serving as an upstart in the world of plastics. See more »
When most people talk about nanotechnology, they're referring to tiny machines built by humans. Could any molecules found in nature qualify as natural nanotechnology? See more »
Wouldn't it be cool to blow past that swimmer in the next lane who always leaves you eating her watery dust? Could a bathing suit help you do it? See more »
Engineers have gotten good at making very small things. We're already talking about building at the nanoscopic scale. Is it possible to build tiny machines that can move even tinier atoms? See more »
One could safely say that we've built civilization itself on iron and it's seemingly infinite uses. From early tools to trains, iron is responsible for thrusting humanity into rapid advancement. But how much do you know about the extraction process? See more »
Although we've understood the usefulness of lead since ancient times, it's taken us until recently to fully understand the danger lead poses to our health. What else should we know about this metal? See more »
The unique elasticity and durability of rubber makes it ideal for scores of important uses. Although you may be familiar with the use of rubber, how much do you know about the history and processing of this special substance? See more »
Calling someone the "salt of the earth" is a compliment for a reason. Salt has been an immensely important and coveted substance throughout history. The more you learn about salt, the more you'll appreciate that shaker on your kitchen table. See more »
When European settlers arrived in North America in the 1600s, they found vast forests stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. Nearly 40 percent of the land north of Mexico lay beneath tree cover. So how much has changed? See more »
As an invention, Cold Heat seems to have everything. But reviewers -- both professionals and average users -- either love the tool or hate it, and some people question whether it's really "new" at all. See more »
