SNS - Invention and Innovation

SCIENCE INSPIRES

The Society for Science & the Public is dedicated to public engagement in scienti ic research and education. We support teachers and students with: Science News for Students —our award- winning free online publication dedicated to students, parents and teachers connects the latest in scienti ic research to in- and out-of-classroom learning. Science News in High Schools —  creates a more scienti ically literate society by bringing Science News along with an educator guide and a support network to high schools across the U.S. and worldwide. World Class Science Competitions —the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS), the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and the Broadcom MASTERS recognize young scientists and teach them how to conduct best-of-class, inquiry- based scienti ic research. Advocate Program —provides supportive individuals with a stipend to serve as a mentor for underrepresented students to encourage them to enter their research into prestigious science competitions. Research Teachers Conference s —two annual conferences bring together high school and middle school teachers from across the country for an all-expenses-paid weekend of professional development. STEM Action and Research Grants —support innovative nonpro it organizations led by social entrepreneurs and teachers with small grants to provide STEM opportunities to young people.

Innovation brings the world better options From landmine detectors to drones that can gauge a whale’s weight while hovering above, each year researchers harness science in clever ways to tackle real-world prob- lems. With generous support from the Lemelson Foundation, Science News for Students reported on 18 of these advances in 2019. Several projects work on a very small scale. There are tiny capsules that can safely move through the blood, releasing toxic cancer drugs once they reach a tumor. Another project uses nano-scale building blocks to protect plants from the harmful effects of the sun. Graphene is a nanomaterial with lots of uses. One group is using that graphene to fashion super-thin fabrics that can keep mosquitoes from biting us. Like robots? When new plastic, magnet-studded disks collect into a group, they turn into a “smart” robot that now can move on its own, responding to its environment. Mother Nature inspired plenty of inventions. A sunflower-like solar cell automatically follows the sun to maximize its collection of energy. New super suction cups are based on the weird clingfish. Snail goo pointed researchers to a better superglue that holds when it needs to—and lets go when you want it to. A new bionic mushroom can make small amounts of electricity. Larger electrical zaps can now in minutes perform painless surgery on the ears, nose and possibly eyes. These stories and more than a half-dozen others showed readers the impacts that an inventive mindset can deliver. And for even more cool research daily, all delivered free on our mobile-friendly site, visit www.sciencenewsforstudents.org. —Janet Raloff

SCIENCE NEWS MEDIA GROUP publisher Maya Ajmera editor in chief Nancy Shute SCIENCE NEWS FOR STUDENTS editor Janet Raloff managing editor Sarah Zielinski staff writers Bethany Brookshire, Carolyn Wilke web producer Lillian Steenblik Hwang SCIENCE NEWS editor , special projects Elizabeth Quill news director Macon Morehouse digital director Kate Travis features editor Cori Vanchieri managing editor , magazine Erin Wayman SOCIETY FOR SCIENCE & THE PUBLIC president and ceo Maya Ajmera chief of staff Rachel Goldman Alper chief marketing officer Kathlene Collins chief design officer Stephen Egts chief program officer Michele Glidden chief , events and operations Cait Goldberg chief communications officer Gayle Kansagor chief advancement officer Bruce B. Makous chief technology officer James C. Moore chief financial officer Dan Reznikov

Science News Media Group (SNMG) is a program of Society for Science & the Public. It offers readers bold, trustworthy, award-winning journalism, informative imagery, educational products and access to archives going back to 1924. A part of the SNMG, Science News for Students is a free digital resource serving students, parents and teachers. Our series on technology and innovation and this special compilation are both made possible with generous support from the Lemelson Foundation.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES  chair Mary Sue Coleman vice chair Martin Chalfie treasurer Hayley Bay Barna secretary Paul J. Maddon at large Christine Burton

UNIVERSAL MAP This diagram, made up of stitched together NASA imagery, is essentially a map of the observable universe. The solar system is at center. The scale changes as you move outward so that the distances depicted toward the edge of the circle are enormous. UNMISMOOBJETIVO†WIKIMEDIA COMMONS ‰CC BY‹SA 3.0‘

members Craig R. Barrett, Tessa M. Hill, Tom Leighton, Alan Leshner, W.E. Moerner, Dianne K. Newman, Thomas F. Rosenbaum, Gideon Yu, Feng Zhang, Maya Ajmera, ex officio

Society for Science & the Public is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1921. The Society seeks to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement: to inform, educate, inspire. Learn more at societyforscience.org. Copyright © 2020 by Society for Science & the Public. Title registered as trademark U.S. and Canadian Patent Offices. Republication of any portion of Science News for Students without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For permission to photocopy articles, contact permissions@sciencenews.org.

JIM WEBB

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