Top 100 Science Ideas in September

From Eco-Friendly Smart Bricks to Crop Yield Predictors

— September 24, 2016 — Tech
As the September 2016 science trends reveal, researchers are continuing to experiment with new technology as a way to remedy the effects of climate change, while also preventing further damage to the planet.

For many researchers, finding renewable sources of energy is key to protecting the environment. As a result, scientists all over the world are working on new and creative ways to generate power. Examples of these projects range from eco-friendly smart bricks to efficient solar steam generators.

Beyond cultivating new energy sources, the September 2016 science trends also reveal an emphasis on making modern agriculture more efficient. For instance, a startup called 'Descartes Labs' is currently working on technology that provides farmers with in-depth data on how their crops will preform. A more unusual agricultural project is the 'Pee Hive,' which turns urine into fertilizer.
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96
Sound-Based Malware Systems
Sound-Based Malware Systems
'DiskFiltration' Gathers Data By Listening to Hard Drives
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95
Communicative Quantum Satellites
Communicative Quantum Satellites
The QUESS Is The First Space Quantum Cryptography Experiment
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94
Saliva-Based Marijuana Tests
Saliva-Based Marijuana Tests
A New Test Can Detect the Presence of THC Through Saliva
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93
Energy-Efficient Engine Facilities
Energy-Efficient Engine Facilities
Ford's Dagenham Diesel Centre's Production Line Saves Water Use
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92
Wireless Warning Sensors
Wireless Warning Sensors
These Wireless Sensors Are Powered By Vibrations From Railway Tracks
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91
Genetic Doping Tests
Genetic Doping Tests
The World Anti-Doping Agency is Will Test for a Futuristic Doping Method
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90
Juridical Bail-Setting Algorithms
Juridical Bail-Setting Algorithms
San Francisco Courts are Testing an Algorithm to Modernize Bail
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89
3D Movie Screens
3D Movie Screens
Cinema 3D Will Allow Moviegoers to Watch 3D Films Without Glasses
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88
Protective ATV Accessories
Protective ATV Accessories
This Rollover Protection System Keeps
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87
Lightweight Lithium Car Batteries
Lightweight Lithium Car Batteries
The Lithium-Oxygen Auto Cells Provide a Quicker Charge
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86
Shoe-Based Tracking Robots
Shoe-Based Tracking Robots
A New Disney Patent Plans to Track Park Visitors with Pictures of Shoes
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85
Asteroid Mining Missions
Asteroid Mining Missions
'Deep Space Industries' Will Harvest Minerals and Metals from Asteroids
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84
Compact Water Microreactors
Compact Water Microreactors
This Water Treatment Solution Uses Ultraviolet Energy
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83
AI Software Hacking Battles
AI Software Hacking Battles
In DARPA's 'Cyber Grand Challenge,' Software Programs Hack it Out
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82
Urine-Based Fertilizers
Urine-Based Fertilizers
The 'Pee Hive' Fuels the 'Sustainable Fertilizer from Urine Project'
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81
Virtual Reality Certificates
Virtual Reality Certificates
Students at Cogswell Polytechnical College Can Now Specialize in VR
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80
3D Universe Maps
3D Universe Maps
The 'Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument' Will Measure Galaxies with Robots
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79
Weight-Shifting Airplanes
Weight-Shifting Airplanes
This Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Shifts Weights Within Its Wings
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78
Herbicide-Launching Guns
Herbicide-Launching Guns
This Paintball-Like Gun Allows You To Apply Herbicide In Difficult Areas
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77
Handwriting-Forging Software
Handwriting-Forging Software
'My Text in Your Handwriting' Creates Forged Text from Small Samples
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76
Optimal Traffic Light Detectors
Optimal Traffic Light Detectors
Audi's Traffic Light Information System Helps You Hit Green Lights
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75
Assistive AR Apps
Assistive AR Apps
The Rescue Assist App Helps Emergency Services Save Lives
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74
Bacteria-Killing Nanosurfaces
Bacteria-Killing Nanosurfaces
'Black Silicon' Kills Harmful Bacteria Without Damaging Human Cells
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73
Granular Health Sensors
Granular Health Sensors
The 'Neural Dust' Sensor Can Be Ingested to Monitor Organ Health
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72
Unmanned Military Vessels
Unmanned Military Vessels
This Vessel is Designed to Track Hostile Submarines
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71
Gigantic Low-Cost Airships
Gigantic Low-Cost Airships
This Huge Airship Could Be Used For Civilian & Industrial Applications
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70
Fluorescent Jellyfish Lasers
Fluorescent Jellyfish Lasers
The New Polariton Laser System Could Contribute to Advances in Optics
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69
Variable Compression Engines
Variable Compression Engines
This Petrol Engine Automatically Adjusts Its Compression As You Drive
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68
Drug-Producing Bioreactors
Drug-Producing Bioreactors
This Bioreactor Can Produce Numerous Bio-Pharmaceutical Drugs
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67
Virtual Space Engineering Contests
Virtual Space Engineering Contests
This Contest Requires Virtual Robots to Fix Specific Problems
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66
Robust Robotic Caterpillars
Robust Robotic Caterpillars
This Miniature Soft Robot Relies On Light As a Power Source
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65
Amputation-Preventing Bandages
Amputation-Preventing Bandages
This Special Bandage Speeds Up the Healing Of Diabetic Ulcers
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64
Modular Professional Drones
Modular Professional Drones
The L-A Series Of Drones Are Ideal For Agricultural and Industrial Use
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63
Gym-Simulating Video Games
Gym-Simulating Video Games
SymGym's Physical Video Games Combine Gaming and Strength Training
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62
Disorienting Symptom Simulators
Disorienting Symptom Simulators
This Hi-Tech Helmet Enables People to Experience Dementia
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61
Swing-Adding Music Tools
Swing-Adding Music Tools
The 'Swingify' App Modifies Any Song to Give it a Swing Beat
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60
Memory-Enhancing Devices
Memory-Enhancing Devices
The Tiny Device from 'Kernel' Improves the Function of the Hippocampus
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59
LEGO Particle Colliders
LEGO Particle Colliders
This Large Hadron Collider Model Takes Lego Engineering To the Next Level
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58
AI Co-Created Cars
AI Co-Created Cars
'Hack Rod' is Creating a Next-Generation Car with the Help of AI Tech
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57
Portable Power Generators
Portable Power Generators
The EStream Generates Energy From Water Sources
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56
Smog-Absorbing Plants
Smog-Absorbing Plants
A New Honeysuckle Plant Strain Could Drastically Reduce Pollution
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55
Crop Yield Predictors
Crop Yield Predictors
'Descartes Labs' Uses Satellites and AI to Estimate Crop Yields
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54
Online Vocabulary Tests
Online Vocabulary Tests
Ghent University's English Vocabulary Test Poses Real and Fake Words
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53
Hidden Face-Identifying Software
Hidden Face-Identifying Software
The 'Faceless Recognition System' Identifies Concealed Faces
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52
Energy-Efficient Electrochromic Glass
Energy-Efficient Electrochromic Glass
The University of Texas' Glass is Electronically Controlled
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51
Hospital-Sterilizing Robots
Hospital-Sterilizing Robots
This Robot Uses Ultraviolet Light to Clean Hospital Rooms
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50
Hypertension-Preventing Phone Cases
Hypertension-Preventing Phone Cases
This Blood Pressure Gauge Takes the Form of an iPhone Case
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49
Wearable Cloud Computing Systems
Wearable Cloud Computing Systems
This Leather Jacket is Equipped With 10 Raspberry Pi Computers
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48
Ocular Digital Cameras
Ocular Digital Cameras
The 'Dynamic Vision Sensor' Takes Inspiration from Eyes to Process Images
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47
Responsive AR Environments
Responsive AR Environments
'Interactive Dynamic Video' Lets Virtual Characters Move Real Objects
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46
Celebratory Mars Rover Games
Celebratory Mars Rover Games
'Mars Rover' is a Cute Simulation of the Curiosity Rover's Mission
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45
Infant MRI Machines
Infant MRI Machines
The New Machine from Aspect Imaging can Save Newborns' Lives
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44
Aerodynamic Fluorescent Paints
Aerodynamic Fluorescent Paints
NASA's 'Pressure-Sensitive Paint' Will Coat Aircraft
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43
Laser-Deflecting Lightsaber Patents
Laser-Deflecting Lightsaber Patents
This Disney Patent Would Let People Use Lightsabers on Lasers
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42
Minuscule Robotic Eyes
Minuscule Robotic Eyes
This New 'LIDAR' Sensor System is Tiny and Inexpensive
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41
Non-Invasive 3D Body Scanners
Non-Invasive 3D Body Scanners
Styku Captures Visual Data to Aid in Weight Loss Goals and Much More
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40
Avocado Ripeness Extenders
Avocado Ripeness Extenders
The 'Natavo Zero' Keeps Avocados Ripe Without the Use of Chemicals
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39
Efficient Solar Steam Generators
Efficient Solar Steam Generators
ANU's Solar Thermal Dish Converts 97 Percent of Sunlight to Steam
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38
Accent-Recognition Software Crowdsourcing
Accent-Recognition Software Crowdsourcing
Companies are Turning to Reddit to Get Accent Samples
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37
Solar-Powered Dust Barriers
Solar-Powered Dust Barriers
The Solar Dust Fence is a Self-Sustaining Dust Vacuum for Construction
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36
Comprehensive Weather Cameras
Comprehensive Weather Cameras
Bloomsky's Weather Cameras Broadcast Precise Data In Real-Time
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35
Space Taxi Parking Spots
Space Taxi Parking Spots
Astronauts Will Install a Port for Space Taxis on the ISS
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34
Firefighting Amphibious Aircraft
Firefighting Amphibious Aircraft
The AG600 is the World's Largest Amphibious Plane
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33
Computer Molding Experiments
Computer Molding Experiments
Computational Thermoforming Could Disrupt Fabrication Design
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32
Endurant Combat Submersibles
Endurant Combat Submersibles
These Submersibles Can Manage Greater Depths and Distances
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31
Character-Creating Neural Networks
Character-Creating Neural Networks
A Researcher Used Google's 'Deep Dream' to Create New Pokemon
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30
Omni-Directional Cubic Drones
Omni-Directional Cubic Drones
The 'Omnicopter' Drone Can Fly Through All Six Degrees of 3D Space
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29
Waterproof Reconnaissance Drones
Waterproof Reconnaissance Drones
The Skylark C Drone Can Monitor and Track Targets
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28
Levitating Quantum Race Cars
Levitating Quantum Race Cars
The QMR Offers a Futuristic Vehicle That Hovers Around the Race Track
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27
Self-Assembling Smartphones
Self-Assembling Smartphones
MIT's 'Self-Assembly Lab' is Reimagining the Manufacturing Industry
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26
Robot-Crafted Concrete Molds
Robot-Crafted Concrete Molds
'Mesh Mould Metal' Enables Plasticity in Concrete Shaping
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25
Eco-Friendly Suspension Systems
Eco-Friendly Suspension Systems
This Audi System Harnesses Electricity For a Comfortable Ride
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24
Sleep-Inspired Workouts
Sleep-Inspired Workouts
NordicTrack is Partnering with iFit for Workouts Based on Sleep Patterns
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23
Vibrating Astronaut Footwear
Vibrating Astronaut Footwear
These Space Shoes Help Prevent Astronauts From Suffering Falls
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22
Levitating Styrofoam Balls
Levitating Styrofoam Balls
Researchers are Levitating Polystyrene Balls Using Sound Waves
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21
Radio Wave Phone Charging
Radio Wave Phone Charging
Radient Micro-Tech Uses RF Waves for Truly Wireless Phone Charging
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20
Eco-Friendly Smart Bricks
Eco-Friendly Smart Bricks
The 'LIAR Project' is Creating Living Bricks That Generate Power
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19
Space-Expanding VR Structures
Space-Expanding VR Structures
'Unlimited Corridor' Creates the Illusion of Walking Long Distances
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18
Futuristic Farm Pavilions
Futuristic Farm Pavilions
The 'Area of the Future' Will Emphasize Hydroponic Plant Cultivation
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17
Accurate Virtual Paintbrushes
Accurate Virtual Paintbrushes
'Project Wetbrush' Tracks Each Bristle for Virtual Oil Paintings
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16
3D-Printed Anatomy Kits
3D-Printed Anatomy Kits
Researchers are Using Lifelike Models for Medical Teaching
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15
Glowing Drawing Pads
Glowing Drawing Pads
'LumoPad' is Like an Etch-a-Sketch That Uses Light to Make Drawings
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14
Planted Wireless Speakers
Planted Wireless Speakers
The 'Nalo' Speaker Forces Listeners to Connect with the Environment
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13
Digitally Generated Fractal Art
Digitally Generated Fractal Art
Joseph Pollack Writes Code to Create His Artwork
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12
3D-Printed Ear Prosthetics
3D-Printed Ear Prosthetics
A Scottish Doctor is Using 3D Technology to Help Children With Microtia
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11
Alcohol-Tracking Tattoos
Alcohol-Tracking Tattoos
This Transdermal Alcohol Monitor Tracks Blood Alcohol Levels In Real Time
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10
Touchscreen Temporary Tattoos
Touchscreen Temporary Tattoos
DuoSkin Tattoos Look Like Gold Leaf and Function as Touchscreens
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9
Martian Desert Colonies
Martian Desert Colonies
Prototypes for the 3D-Printed Mars Colony Will Be Tested in the Mojave
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8
Fantasy Map Generators
Fantasy Map Generators
'Generating Fantasy Maps' is a Coding Project That Creates Fictional Worlds
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7
Corporeal Product Design Systems
Corporeal Product Design Systems
The 'Digital Hand' Uses a Kinect to Create Furniture and Objects
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6
Strong Bendable Concrete
Strong Bendable Concrete
ConFlexPave is a New Material from Nanyang Technological University
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5
Hypersonic Space Planes
Hypersonic Space Planes
This Chinese Design Will Take Off from a Runway and Enter Earth's Orbit
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4
Miniature Wind Turbines
Miniature Wind Turbines
The Micro Wind Turbine Offers Unbeatable Portability and Efficiency
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3
Fungal Leather Products
Fungal Leather Products
The "Leather" Products from MycoWorks are Made from Mushroom Plant Waste
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2
Printed 3D Hologram Cards
Printed 3D Hologram Cards
Lumii Technology Lets Users Create 3D Holograms with Consumer Printers
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1
Cancer-Detection Apps
Cancer-Detection Apps
The Dermofit App Assists Early Stage Skin Cancer Detection Efforts
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