Stanford boffins' remarkable cladding produced Miracle-'lectrode

By unleashing a genetically modified virus onto microscopic electrode wires, researchers from MIT have shown that the performance of lithium-air batteries can be significantly improved - a remarkable breakthrough that could revolutionize the way our electric devices are powered.

There are concept cars and then there are concept cars. Toyota’s new lineup of possibilities for tomorrow, unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, shows the broad range, from the conceivable to the almost unimaginable, of one manufacturer’s innovative thinking.

In 1940 Henry Ford famously said: "Mark my word: A combination airplane and motorcar is coming. You may smile, but it will come." Just nine years later Moulton Taylor had designed and flown his Aerocar, proving the viability of Ford's fantastical concept. But only three models were ever built, and the dream of a viable vehicle that can offer freedom both in the air and on the road has remained frustratingly elusive.

This week, the future USS Zumwalt left dry dock in Maine and floated into the waters of the Kennebec River. When completed, it will be the largest and most technologically advanced destroyer in the Navy's fleet. Of course, for $3.5 billion (about three times the cost of other destroyers), it better be pretty impressive.

Two years ago video footage of a wind turbine catching fire and breaking up in Ardrossan, Ayrshire, was widely circulated. So what does happen to wind farms on a very windy day?

Electronic devices that biodegrade to order could lead to huge medical advances. And the Pentagon is investing in 'born-to-die' technology too, writes Mark Piesing.

An epic, two-year thread on the Home Model Engine Machinist boards documents Keith5700's astounding journey to scratch-build a working, 1/4 scale V8 engine.

Almost every day it seems there's a new use for 3-D printing. In medicine, the printers are already making prosthetic hands, hearing aid cases and parts of human ears. But the materials used in some 3-D printing processes could be toxic to humans, particularly if the products get inside the body. So researchers have been looking for ways found a way to replace some of the bad stuff with naturally occurring riboflavin, or vitamin B2.

Absolutely beautiful dance of a liquid droplet. In scientific terms, an ultrasonic field is used to levitate a drop of liquid. Increasing and decreasing the strength of the field alters the droplet's shape. Here is the scientific paper: "Shape oscillation of a levitated drop in an acoustic field," by W. Ran & S. Fredericks (Clemson University, Department of Mechanical Engineering)"

Why did it take so long to invent the wheelbarrow? Have we hit peak innovation? What our list reveals about imagination, optimism, and the nature of progress.

Technology has transformed the theme park thrill ride, fuelling a global arms race to create the fastest, tallest, scariest roller coasters the world has ever known. Alton Towers in Staffordshire has just opened the world's first 14-loop roller coaster, called The Smiler, while in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World claims to have the world's fastest coaster.

Bill Gates recently wrote the foreword for Edison and the Rise of Innovation, a new book about one of the great inventors ever. Read the foreword and view photos of some of the Edison-related items he owns.

A US company says it will have a nuclear-powered prototype vehicle on the road within two years. Laser Power Systems from Connecticut is developing a method...

When the BMW i8 official debuted, I was a bit surprised by, well, its lack of power. Carefully sculpted from carbon fiber and aluminum, the i8 has the looks and price tag of a much more powerful car. Turns out, my feelings were on the money, as BMW had toyed with three other powerplants for the i8, including a V10, V8 and a six-cylinder.

Among Twitter Inc's highest-paid executives, Christopher Fry's name stands out. The senior vice president of engineering raked in $10.3 million last year, just behind Twitter Chief Executive Dick Costolo's $11.5 million, according to Twitter's IPO documents. That is more than the paychecks of executives such as Chief Technology Officer Adam Messinger, Chief Financial Officer Mike Gupta and Chief Operating Officer Ali Rowghani.

This is an overview of the Liftware spoon (www.liftlabsdesign.com), an actively stabilized spoon that can help people with Essential Tremor and Parkinson's.

The invisible touchscreen may be close to reality. Researchers have created a device that allows users to experience haptic feedback (feelings of vibrations etc. that help one gain information) without touching or holding anything.

Belaz debuted its latest dump truck last month, and the Belarusian company claims it to be the biggest in the world. The 75710 can carry a staggering 496-ton (equivalent to 450 metric tons) payload, and will be used in open mines on temporary roads. To put the size of the truck into perspective, take a look at one of its eight tires, which is twice as tall as an average-size person!

3D printers are being used to create some amazing things, many of which were on display at last week's Inside 3D Printing Conference and Expo in San Jose. Here are 18 3D printed items that really stood out.