Ages 13 to 14

The discoveries and inventions of today are poised to change the way you live in the near future. Today, we live and work in the real world. But computer scientists and inventors are creating a new virtual reality world where people can work and play in...

The discoveries and inventions of today are poised to change the way you live in the near future. Concerns about privacy and security are growing as the world becomes more dependent on computerized data and information. Soon, you may be able to secure...

The discoveries and inventions of today are poised to change the way you live in the near future. That includes solving some of the biggest problems facing the world. Today, climate change threatens the way of life for every person on Earth. New...

The discoveries and inventions of today are poised to change the way you live in the near future. New jet engine designs use cutting-edge materials and manufacturing techniques so passenger airliners and military jets can fly faster and farther than ever...

The benefits of technology require large amounts of resources to develop and spread. But modern living is already taxing Earth’s resources and the environment. To continue to improve human life on Earth, we may have to look to space for the...

Neptune, the last planet in our solar system, has barely been studied. But the planet and its giant moon Triton hold many secrets, Triton could even harbor life! Learn how engineer Mahmooda Sultana plans to send a probe to Neptune in a fraction of the...

Housing astronauts on the moon and Mars is a huge challenge for future space exploration. Learn how biologist Lynn Rothschild plans to use fungi as a construction technology to build bases for astronauts. Mush-rooms, anyone?The books in the Out of This...

Modern space suits are bulky, uncomfortable, and difficult to repair. If human beings are going to explore and colonize the moon and Mars, they will need something better to wear. Learn how engineer and astronaut Bonnie Dunbar is using her experience to...

The reflectors used in the world's largest telescopes are big and heavy. Instead of glass and metal, could they be made of reflective plastic? How big could a space telescope be if you could blow up the main lens like a balloon? Learn how astronomer...

Radio telescopes can help astronomers learn the secrets of the universe's birth. But, such telescopes must be huge, and radio signals from Earth and the sun interfere with their readings. Learn how engineer Saptarshi Bandyopadhyay plans to solve these...

What if we could take a picture of a planet orbiting a distant star light-years away? What would we find there? Learn how Nobel Prize-winning physicist John Mather is planning to pair a giant observatory on Earth with a huge unfolding satellite to take...

Venus's surface is a place of scorching heat and crushing pressure. But, in the clouds, conditions are a little less intense. Learn how engineer Javid Bayandor plans to build a flying probe, inspired by giant manta ray, explore the planet's atmosphere...