FastCompany RSS

research

Need A Lab In Outer Space? Try ScienceExchange, The Airbnb Of Weird Science

Want to grow crystals aboard the International Space Station? ScienceExchange is fast becoming the go-to marketplace for extreme laboratory environments. READ»

Human Lie Detector Paul Ekman Decodes The Faces Of Depression, Terrorism, And Joy

Since he experienced tragedy at age of 14, the real-life psychologist who inspired the show "Lie To Me" has searched for signs of hidden human emotion in faces. New applications based on his findings are getting attention from Apple, Pixar, Google, the Army, and others. READ»

7 Recent Discoveries That Could Revolutionize Medicine

Since scientists released a rough draft of the human genome to the public in 2000, the impact of science and technology on medicine has been more salient than ever.READ»

An "Ebay For Science" Promises To Transform The Business Of Research

Instead of being held captive by massive startup and infrastructure costs, Science Exchange allows anyone to have an experiment performed for them--for a fee.READ»

Cancer Patient Effectively Donates A Life-Saving Organ--To Himself

Surgeons have transplanted an entirely engineered artificial trachea made from his own cells to save the life of a cancer patient. It's the future of organ donation, but it's here right now.READ»

How NASA, DARPA Are Keeping Kids Interested In Space

NASA is considering student-designed experiments for its SPHERES robots, the best of which will get tested aboard the International Space Station. How's that for good PR?READ»

BOOKS   |  Comment

Pulp, Non-Fiction: On The British Library's Book-Digitizing Deal With Google

The British Library is making 250,000 texts available through Google's Books system, which is an admirable way to make historic books useful to the world again. Could this actually help shape the future of publishing?READ»

3 Ways Intel Is Changing The Energy Landscape

At this week's Research@Intel event, Fast Company had the chance to see some of the tech giant's freshest research-stage projects--from cheap power for the developing world to simple plug-and-play home energy monitoring.READ»

Best Of Both Worlds: Geothermal Energy That Sucks CO2 From The Atmosphere

Clean power from the Earth used to use a lot of water. But a new discovery means that water can be replaced with CO2, which gets left in the ground and doesn't alter the climate.READ»

TWITTER   |  Comment

Grown-ups Use Twitter! Apple May Soon, Too

Pew's latest survey shows Twitter is growing up, getting used more, and appealing to more older users. It's also a mobile affair for everyone half the time. With rumors Apple's about to integrate it, this could all become more significant.READ»

If You Doze During A Meeting, Microsoft's Got Your Back

Do you have low-grade narcolepsy, or a low threshold for boredom? Do you want to keep your job? Then Microsoft has just the thing for you.READ»

Douse Your Duvet: Bedbugs Can't Stand Their Own Smell

Turning bedbugs' own pheromones against them may be a new way to keep the creepy crawlers out of our mattresses.READ»

Robotic Snakes On a Plane With Aerial Drones?

Yep, the next generation of mechanical heroes comes in all shapes and sizes.READ»

New Twitter Research: Happy Tweeting Could Win Business

A new report is adding a Twittery flavor to the adage "birds of a feather flock together." It suggests happy twitterers tend to aggregate. You listening, PR tweeters?READ»

Today in Nanotech Developments: The Pretty and the Powerful

Brigham Young University pushes the boundaries of carbon nanotube tech and shows how to "grow" complex structures from the stuff. The Navy, meanwhile, is interested in using nanotech robots to produce new nanotech robots.READ»

ROBOTS   |  Comment

Will the Human, Non-Geminoid Henrik Scharfe Please Stand Up?

How would you feel if you met Danish Professor Henrik Scharfe and then moments later were introduced to another Henrik Scharfe, this time an almost identical android? A new Geminoid bot makes this possible.READ»

Microsoft Wants You to Control Your Phone by Touching Yourself

Keyboards and computer mice are so '99. The interface of the future will be your own body.READ»

Fluorescent Tattoo Alert! MIT's Latest Trick for Embedded Medical Sensors

The technology could have a huge impact on the process of diagnosing medical conditions. READ»

DARPA   |  Comment

Defense Dept. Research Arm DARPA Tackles Storytime

Co-incidental with political upheaval in Egypt, DARPA's trying to find out how narrative stories affect human thinking--with questions like "What role do stories play in influencing political violence and to what extent?"READ»