Eric Niiler - Seeker

Eric Niiler

Eric Niiler’s Recent Articles

Biotech

By Eric Niiler

Stem Cell Therapy Could Reverse Hearing Loss

Scientists develop a new method to regrow microscopic hair cells that pick up sound.

Climate

By Eric Niiler

Activists Race to Archive Climate Data to Protect It From the Trump Administration

Archivists and environmentalists have been gathering to collect and safeguard scientific research from government databases, with another meeting set to follow Scott Pruitt's confirmation as EPA chief.

Earth & Conservation

By Eric Niiler

Russia's Poisoners: Why They Do It

Poison allows perpetrators to deny involvement rather than create political martyrs, say experts.

Space & Innovation

By Eric Niiler

Russia Prepares as Warming Climate Thaws Ice-Free Superhighway

A warming climate is opening up the northern sea route connecting northern Europe and Asian and North American ports. Russia has Arctic icebreakers at the ready. The United States has one.

Animals

By Eric Niiler

Solar Flares in Space May Cause Whale Beachings on Earth

NASA scientists are studying the link between disruptions of the Earth's magnetic field and stranded whales and dolphins that use the field for navigation.

Robotics

By Eric Niiler

Remote-Controlled Cyborg Dragonflies Will Be Flown Like Drones

Sensors embedded in insects' brains would allow a pilot to direct them to pollinate crops — or track enemy forces.

Earth & Conservation

By Eric Niiler

Why We Fall for Fake News and How to Bust It

On many college campuses, students are being trained to identify fake news, while some are even learning how to write their own false stories as a way to understand the phenomenon.

Gadgets

By Eric Niiler

UK Contractors Want to Build a Laser Deflector Shield That Can Spy on Enemies

Still in the conceptual phase, this device would use a laser to heat the atmosphere, creating either a shield or a floating magnifying glass that could spy on enemy bases thousands of miles away.

Space & Innovation

By Eric Niiler

Forecasting the Future Is Becoming Big Business for Sci-Fi

More policy experts are using science fiction to spice up doom-and-gloom reports of the world's future.

Space & Innovation

By Eric Niiler

Will Trump Go After Vaccine Science?

Scientists worry that Trump's appointment of anti-vaccine crusader Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. could disrupt research and development of vaccines against Zika, malaria and other infectious diseases.

Space & Innovation

By Eric Niiler

The Pentagon Is Pouring $328 Million Into High-Tech Laser Weapons

A recent bill boosts the budget for directed energy weapons by 51 percent, but will size, weight and rainy weather get in the way of making these machines a reality?

Transport

By Eric Niiler

Eric Niiler’s Recent Articles

Stem Cell Therapy Could Reverse Hearing Loss

Scientists develop a new method to regrow microscopic hair cells that pick up sound.

Activists Race to Archive Climate Data to Protect It From the Trump Administration

Archivists and environmentalists have been gathering to collect and safeguard scientific research from government databases, with another meeting set to follow Scott Pruitt's confirmation as EPA chief.

Russia's Poisoners: Why They Do It

Poison allows perpetrators to deny involvement rather than create political martyrs, say experts.

Russia Prepares as Warming Climate Thaws Ice-Free Superhighway

A warming climate is opening up the northern sea route connecting northern Europe and Asian and North American ports. Russia has Arctic icebreakers at the ready. The United States has one.

Solar Flares in Space May Cause Whale Beachings on Earth

NASA scientists are studying the link between disruptions of the Earth's magnetic field and stranded whales and dolphins that use the field for navigation.

Remote-Controlled Cyborg Dragonflies Will Be Flown Like Drones

Sensors embedded in insects' brains would allow a pilot to direct them to pollinate crops — or track enemy forces.

Why We Fall for Fake News and How to Bust It

On many college campuses, students are being trained to identify fake news, while some are even learning how to write their own false stories as a way to understand the phenomenon.

UK Contractors Want to Build a Laser Deflector Shield That Can Spy on Enemies

Still in the conceptual phase, this device would use a laser to heat the atmosphere, creating either a shield or a floating magnifying glass that could spy on enemy bases thousands of miles away.

Forecasting the Future Is Becoming Big Business for Sci-Fi

More policy experts are using science fiction to spice up doom-and-gloom reports of the world's future.

Will Trump Go After Vaccine Science?

Scientists worry that Trump's appointment of anti-vaccine crusader Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. could disrupt research and development of vaccines against Zika, malaria and other infectious diseases.

The Pentagon Is Pouring $328 Million Into High-Tech Laser Weapons

A recent bill boosts the budget for directed energy weapons by 51 percent, but will size, weight and rainy weather get in the way of making these machines a reality?

Here's Why Uber Is Fighting a Push for More Driver Fingerprinting

Not everyone agrees that fingerprinting-linked databases are best way to screen new employees and volunteers.

Eric Niiler’s Recent Articles

Stem Cell Therapy Could Reverse Hearing Loss

Scientists develop a new method to regrow microscopic hair cells that pick up sound.

Activists Race to Archive Climate Data to Protect It From the Trump Administration

Archivists and environmentalists have been gathering to collect and safeguard scientific research from government databases, with another meeting set to follow Scott Pruitt's confirmation as EPA chief.

Russia's Poisoners: Why They Do It

Poison allows perpetrators to deny involvement rather than create political martyrs, say experts.

Russia Prepares as Warming Climate Thaws Ice-Free Superhighway

A warming climate is opening up the northern sea route connecting northern Europe and Asian and North American ports. Russia has Arctic icebreakers at the ready. The United States has one.

Solar Flares in Space ​May Cause Whale Beachings on Earth

NASA scientists are studying the link between disruptions of the Earth's magnetic field and stranded whales and dolphins that use the field for navigation.

Remote-Controlled Cyborg Dragonflies Will Be Flown Like Drones

Sensors embedded in insects' brains would allow a pilot to direct them to pollinate crops — or track enemy forces.

Why We Fall for Fake News and How to Bust It

On many college campuses, students are being trained to identify fake news, while some are even learning how to write their own false stories as a way to understand the phenomenon.

UK Contractors Want to Build a Laser Deflector Shield That Can Spy on Enemies

Still in the conceptual phase, this device would use a laser to heat the atmosphere, creating either a shield or a floating magnifying glass that could spy on enemy bases thousands of miles away.

Forecasting the Future Is Becoming Big Business for Sci-Fi

More policy experts are using science fiction to spice up doom-and-gloom reports of the world's future.

Will Trump Go After Vaccine Science?

Scientists worry that Trump's appointment of anti-vaccine crusader Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. could disrupt research and development of vaccines against Zika, malaria and other infectious diseases.

The Pentagon Is Pouring $328 Million Into High-Tech Laser Weapons

A recent bill boosts the budget for directed energy weapons by 51 percent, but will size, weight and rainy weather get in the way of making these machines a reality?

Here's Why Uber Is Fighting a Push for More Driver Fingerprinting

Not everyone agrees that fingerprinting-linked databases are best way to screen new employees and volunteers.

Solar Flares in Space May Cause Whale Beachings on Earth