Photo of author Glenn McDonald
Glenn McDonald

Glenn’s Recent Articles

DeepSqueak, A.I., mice chatter, artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
By Glenn McDonald

‘DeepSqueak’ A.I. Decodes Mice Chatter

Researchers have created neural network technology to analyze and interpret rodent vocalizations.

climate change, rising seas, warming ocean
Climate
By Glenn McDonald

Our Oceans Are Going ‘Nuclear' Because of Climate Change

New research suggests that ocean warming due to climate change is equivalent to one atomic bomb per second.

Dracula ant, madibles, fastest animal movement
Animals
By Glenn McDonald

Dracula Ant Sets New Record for Fastest Animal Movement

The spring-loaded mandibles of the ant with the coolest name move at speeds up to 200 mph.

MIT Media Labs, Elowan, cyborg plant
Space & Innovation
By Glenn McDonald

This Cyborg Plant Moves Toward Light on Its Own

The maker of a plant-robot from MIT Media Labs has some radical ideas about the future of technology.

gribbles, wood, renewable energy, Limnoria quadripunctata
Energy
By Glenn McDonald

Sea Crustaceans Could Help Us Turn Wood Into Sustainable Biofuel

The unique digestive system of wood-eating gribbles could solve a major renewable energy problem.

Transport
By Glenn McDonald

New Space-Age Ion Propulsion Plane Has No Moving Parts

MIT engineers achieved sustained flight with an aircraft that uses no fossil fuels, no turbines, and no propellers.

Eyeball, nanorobots
Robotics
By Glenn McDonald

Tiny Robots Swimming in Your Eye Could Provide Radical New Treatments

Researchers have developed a new class of propeller-shaped nanorobots that can swim through the eyeball's dense tissue.

SPARC, MIT, fusion power
Energy
By Glenn McDonald

Will Nuclear Fusion Energy Arrive in Time to Mitigate Climate Change?

The space-age alternative energy source may be on the verge of a breakthrough.

Milky Way
Astronomy
By Glenn McDonald

The Milky Way Devoured Another Galaxy 10 Billion Years Ago

New data from the European Space Agency explains why some stars are going the wrong way, galactically speaking.

religious violence, religious conflict, St. Bartholomew's Day massacre
Artificial Intelligence
By Glenn McDonald

This ‘Psychological' AI System Mimics Religious Violence to Understand It

An international team of scientists has studied the causes of religious conflict using a modeling system based on cognitive psychology.

Refillable bottle, drinking water, fountain
Earth & Conservation
By Glenn McDonald

The ‘Tap' App Is a Drinking Water Search Engine for Refillable Bottles

This startup is creating a worldwide map for water bottle-filling stations and drinking fountains.

Microplastics, marine debris, plastic pollution
Health
By Glenn McDonald

There's Plastic in Your Poop: Microplastics Invade the Human Body

A new global study finds that tiny plastics from water bottles and food packaging are making their way into our bodies.