Glenn McDonald

author

Articles by Glenn McDonald

Tech

The Future of Sustainable Fashion: Mushroom Leather and Synthetic Spider Silk

Bolt Threads is bringing sustainable materials out of the labs and onto the runways.

Tech

AI App Helps Songwriters Mine Music History for the Perfect Sounds

Amadeus Code uses machine learning to generate tunes based on music dating as far back as the 16th century.

Tech

It's Not a ‘Mind-Reading Machine,’ But a New Neuroprosthesis Gets Pretty Close

An experimental neuroprosthetic device monitors the brain waves of test subjects and identifies the sentences that they hear.

Medicine

New Bioengineering Method Could Change the Way Essential Medicines Are Produced

Stanford University researchers boosted production of a cough suppressant 18,000-fold by using brewer’s yeast and engineered genes from poppies and rats.

Robotics

MIT’s Biomimetic Soft Robot Swims With the Fishes

The lifelike movements of the robot mean it can navigate aquatic environments without triggering any discernible alarm among marine life.

Artificial Intelligence

Finding Common Ground With the Help of an Artificially Intelligent Debater

MIT's Collective Debate asks users to argue with an AI bot designed to moderate their views.

Mind

Genetic Sequencing Helps Explain the Phenomenon of Seeing Sounds and Hearing Colors

New research reveals the biological origins of synesthesia — the mysterious condition that causes a person to 'see' sounds or even 'taste' words.

Health

The Global Virome Project Is Hunting Hundreds of Thousands of Deadly Viruses

An estimated 600,000 to 800,000 viral species could jump from animals to humans, and researchers hope to identify and counter them before they become the next pandemic.

Behavior

Firearm Injuries Drop 20 Percent During NRA Conventions

A new study shows a statistically significant decline in gun injuries across the country during the National Rifle Association's annual convention.

Materials

Brightly Colored Bacteria Engineered Into Living Paint

A new, organic technique produces non-toxic, biodegradable paints that shine as brilliantly as peacock feathers and butterfly wings.