Since our ancient human relatives began using stone tools to perform tasks, humans have harnessed scientific knowledge and new technologies to expand the boundaries of our understanding of the natural world. From quantum computing and microplastics to artificial intelligence and memory, explore these topics and more with our concise yet informative overviews and expert-curated resources.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
A "cosmic fog" of elementary particles in the early universe prevented light from traveling far before being absorbed. Only 380,000 years after the big bang, when the first atoms formed, was light free to travel and reach telescopes for study.
This roundup highlights major tech milestones at CES, including the launch of the Nintendo NES in 1985, the DVD in 1996, and the virtual reality headset Oculus Rift in 2013.
At IFA 1963 in Berlin, Philips introduced the compact cassette tape. This new standardized audio format replaced bulky reel-to-reel tape and would go on to dominate home recording and music listening for decades.
Using Penrose diagrams—mathematical structures that compress all of space and time—physicists can observe the path of light and which events can affect one another. The space-time maps help visualize the structure of black holes and describe what happens when objects fall in.
This behind-the-scenes video shows crews assembling the sprawling CES show—filling more than 2.5 million square feet of exhibition space with booths, lights, and tech from around the world ahead of the event’s opening.
Unlike E3’s consumer- and media-driven focus on video games—before the event’s cancellation in 2023—Computex centers on computer and gaming hardware, with a focus on business-to-business meetings and industry partnerships.
Held annually in Taiwan, Computex Taipei brings together global tech leaders to debut innovations in processors, GPUs, AI, and next-gen computing—making it a key event for the IT and hardware industry.
Watch Jensen Huang’s 2025 CES keynote, where he unveiled major advances in AI and GPU technology. His presentations now draw global attention, blending product reveals with sweeping visions of the future of computing.
Since moving to Las Vegas in 1978, CES has attracted nearly 5 million attendees and generated more than $6B in local economic impact—boosting hotels, restaurants, transportation, and the city’s global profile.
During a live Windows 98 demo at a computer trade show, Bill Gates watched as the system crashed with the infamous “Blue Screen of Death”—a critical Windows error screen signaling a system failure—midway through the presentation.
