Knowable Magazine

Knowable Magazine is an independent journalistic endeavor from Annual Reviews, a nonprofit publisher dedicated to synthesizing and integrating knowledge for the progress of science and the benefit of society. Sign up for Knowable Magazine’s newsletter.

Wed, 06/20/2018 - 12:02
Deep Underground, Robotic Teamwork Saves the DayDeploying a motley crew of robots that can roll, walk, and fly is a smart strategy for search-and-rescue operations
Wed, 08/23/2023 - 12:02
When a Manhattan parking garage collapsed in April 2023, rescuers were reluctant to stay in the damaged building, fearing further danger. So they used a combination of flying drones and a doglike walking robot to inspect the damage, look for…
Handing the Surgeon’s Scalpel to a RobotAfter decades of merely assisting doctors, are sophisticated machines ready to take charge?
Tue, 10/25/2022 - 12:03
In 2004, the United States’ Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) dangled a $1 million prize for any group that could design an autonomous car that could drive itself through 142 miles of rough terrain from Barstow, California, to Primm…
Gallium: The Liquid Metal That Could Transform Soft ElectronicsBend it. Stretch it. Use it to conduct electricity.

Wed, 05/25/2022 - 12:03
Every time you sit down with your phone in your back pocket, you’re reminded of a fundamental truth: Human bodies are soft and flexible. Electronics aren’t. But soon there may be devices that can stretch, bend, and even repair themselves when they’…
Let’s Change How We Pay for HospitalsMaryland’s innovative and sound approach could be the solution for rescuing systems nationwide
Mon, 11/15/2021 - 12:02
This story was originally published by Knowable Magazine. The way the United States typically finances hospitals isn’t working. The coronavirus laid this bare, along with many other long-standing societal problems. Before Covid-19, most hospitals…
The Two Sides of Envy at WorkCan organizations harness the green gremlin to boost productivity?
Wed, 10/06/2021 - 12:02
This story was originally published by Knowable Magazine. Back when she was in college, Alaina G. Levine used to envy fellow students who seemed to have their entire lives mapped out. A physics and astronomy student at the University of Arizona, her…
Foods of Abuse? Nutritionists Consider Food AddictionCookies, chips, hot dogs, and other ultraprocessed fare raise risk of runaway eating
Tue, 08/24/2021 - 12:02
This story was originally published by Knowable Magazine. From the earliest days of their evolution, guts and brains have been the best of friends. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Guts prepare nourishment for delivery to the brain. And…
It’s Time for a Government Reset, and the Ideas Are FlourishingNew tools and approaches have inspired a radical rethinking of the machinery of government
Thu, 08/19/2021 - 12:02
This story was originally published by Knowable Magazine. If the cascading upheavals of the past year have done nothing else, they’ve spurred widespread calls for reform and renewal in just about every institution we have. A mishandled public-…
Let’s Keep Meetings Virtual After CovidVirtual meetings are cheaper, more accessible, and better for the planet
Thu, 07/15/2021 - 12:02
This story was originally published by Knowable Magazine. In 2020, the annual committee meeting of the journal we edit was a bit of a mess. It took place in March, just days before the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic, so some…
The Promise and Perils of Life Lived OnlineIt’s a disrupted, sometimes exhausting world—but shifting both the tech and our expectations might make it a better one
Mon, 07/12/2021 - 12:02
This story was originally published by Knowable Magazine. I am sitting in a darkened room, listening to upbeat music of the type often used at tech conferences to make attendees feel they are part of something big, waiting in eager anticipation for…
Remote Work Can Be a Lot Better Than ThisUnder the right conditions (i.e., not during a pandemic), telework can be great for both employers and employees
Thu, 05/20/2021 - 12:03
This story was originally published by Knowable Magazine. Working from home—formally known as telework—is here to stay. A 2021 survey of approximately 30,000 Americans concluded that, after the pandemic, 20 percent of all work days may continue to…