Space & Physics
The Supercool Materials That Send Heat to Space
Paints, plastics and even wood can be engineered to stay cool in direct sunlight—but their role in displacing power-hungry air conditioners remains unclear
Stories by XiaoZhi Lim
Chemistry
The Fluorine Detectives
Researchers are battling to identify and assess a worrying class of persistent chemicals
Environment
How Heat from the Sun Can Keep Us All Cool
As demand for air conditioning climbs, some see a solution in the very thing that makes us sweat: the Sun
Environment
Vast Peat Fires Threaten Health and Boost Global Warming
Largest blazes on Earth smolder for months in Canada and Indonesia
Engineering
Mixed-Up Metals Make for Stronger, Tougher, Stretchier Alloys
Materials scientists are creating next-generation mixtures with remarkable properties
