Technology

Cosma / Communication / Knowledge / Form / Innovation / Technology & Engineering
—————————

technology : (1) the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area : engineering (2) a capability given by the practical application of knowledge (3) a manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes, methods, or knowledge (4) the specialized aspects of a particular field of endeavor — Merriam-Webster See also OneLook

Thesaurus

Roget’s II (Thesaurus.com), Merriam-Webster Thesaurus, Visuwords

Encyclopedia

Technology is the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, methods of organization, in order to solve a problem, improve a preexisting solution to a problem, achieve a goal or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, modifications, arrangements and procedures. Technologies significantly affect human as well as other animal species’ ability to control and adapt to their natural environments. The term can either be applied generally or to specific areas: examples include construction technology, medical technology, and information technology. — Wikipedia

Technology (Encyclopædia Britannica)

Search

Technological World (Wolfram Alpha)
Science & Technology (Wolfram Alpha)

———————–

Adventures

Explore related posts on Cosma …

Exoplanet Junket - This week NASA released a new project that they’ve dubbed the Exoplanet Travel Bureau. The core of the project consists of a set of interactive 360° images that show “imagined” surfaces of five exoplanets (TRAPPIST-1e, Kepler-16b, Kepler-186f, PSO J318.5-22 and HD 40307 g). Here are three articles about the experience. This Brilliant Interactive From NASA … Continue reading Exoplanet Junket
Gone Beaching! - It’s high summer here in North America, and it’s also the time for “official” national holidays, so a lot of people are hanging up their proverbial gone fishing signs. However, I tend to be more the type to hang up a gone beaching sign. Since I live in the Boston area, and I’m also a … Continue reading Gone Beaching!
Great Views of Earth - April 22nd is Earth Day! In honor of that, here are some great ways to see the honoree. First, you can get a nice view from this neat 360° Video from Seeker. It essentially shows you what it would feel like if you could just fly straight up and see the Earth from space. Seeker … Continue reading Great Views of Earth
Hike, Wander & Walk-in the Web! - Welcome to Web Worlds@Cosma! The pages of Cosma have links to many thousands of the best resources on the Web. Immersive 3D and 360° experiences are among the most valuable types of resources, and so there are links to thousands of them distributed across the hundreds of pages on the Web site. The Web Worlds@Cosma … Continue reading Hike, Wander & Walk-in the Web!
Moon’scapes - There’s no denying that it’s been a rough week for many Earthlings. On the other hand, it’s been a great week for anyone who spends their time more preoccupied with the Moon than with more earthly concerns. That’s because there’s a treasure trove of news about our lunar realm. For example, NASA’s Goddard Media Studios … Continue reading Moon’scapes
Perspectives on Earth - Last week NASA released this fascinating video entitled Our Living Planet based upon 20 years of data from satellites that observe all plant life at the surface of the land and ocean. NASA Goddard (YouTube Channel) Goddard Space Flight Center (Official Website) You can find out more about the video from this article. The Changing … Continue reading Perspectives on Earth
Smart Crows - Note This content is not very elaborate as well as a bit dated, but it is important for historical purposes. It was the first adventure (a.k.a. Post) on this iteration of the Cosma website way back in September 15, 2016. Sometimes news just catches your eye. Here’s a video got me today — enjoy! Nature … Continue reading Smart Crows
Space Cadet Academy - Confession — I’m a major space cadet! I mean this in an older, positive sense of the word, which is that I’m a “space enthusiast.” That’s why I really get into updating the pages on Cosma having to do with space. Things got a little out of hand this time, though. I began just like … Continue reading Space Cadet Academy
Touch the Sun - Remember how Icarus wanted to touch the Sun, but met his demise instead? Well, scientists at NASA wanted to touch the Sun too, but unlike Icarus, they succeeded! Better yet, they are beginning to share what they learned by doing it! Before we get into all of that, let’s go back and start at the … Continue reading Touch the Sun
TRAPPIST-1 - You’ve probably heard that NASA has found a trove of “Earth-like” planets circling the TRAPPIST-1 system roughly 40 light years away, but just in case you haven’t, here’s a short video from NASA/JPL about the discovery. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (YouTube Channel) NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Official Website) Most entertainingly, here’s a 360° YouTube video … Continue reading TRAPPIST-1
Umbraphiles - umbraphile : One who loves eclipses, often travelling to see them. You’ve probably heard about the April 8th solar eclipse (Wikipedia), and if you live near the path of totality, then you’ve probably also seen news stories like this one. Party in the Path of Totality at These Solar Eclipse Getaways Across New England (Kristi … Continue reading Umbraphiles

———————–

Inspiration²

BuzzFeed Multiplayer (YouTube Channel)

24 Of The Most Mesmerizing Machines (Andrew Ilnyckyj, BuzzFeed)

Crazy Engineering (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, YouTube Playlist)

Interesting Engineering (YouTube Channel)

Talks about Technology (TED: Ideas Worth Spreading)
Talks about Engineering (TED: Ideas Worth Spreading)

Technology Quotes (BrainyQuote)

———————

Foundation

Philosophy

Philosophy of Engineering (PhilPapers)
Philosophy of Engineering (American Society for Engineering Education)
Philosophy of Engineering (Wikipedia)

Process

Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline encompasses a broad range of more specialized fields of engineering, each with a more specific emphasis on particular areas of applied mathematics, applied science, and types of application. — Wikipedia

Engineering (Wolfram Alpha)

———————-

Innovation

Technology

TopTenz (Simon Whistler, YouTube Channel)
10 Technologies That Might Save the World Ian Fortey, TopTenz)

Nuclear fusion (Wikipedia)
Seabin Project (Official Site)
The Ocean Cleanup (Wikipedia)
Organisms breaking down plastic (Wikipedia)
Nanotechnology (Encyclopædia Britannica)
Cultured meat (Wikipedia)
Carbon capture (Wikipedia)
Passive house (Wikipedia)
Graphine (Encyclopædia Britannica)
Mycelium (Encyclopædia Britannica)
Artificial intelligence (Cosma)

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship, then, is behavior rather than personality trait. And its foundation lies in concept and theory rather than in intuition. — Peter F. Drucker, Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Practice and Principles

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation (American Society for Engineering Education)

Technology Campaigns (Kickstarter)

Product

Engineering Items (Etsy)
Engineering Gifts (Zazzle)

————————–

Preservation

History

The human species’ use of technology began with the conversion of natural resources into simple tools. The prehistorical discovery of the ability to control fire increased the available sources of food and the invention of the wheel helped humans in traveling in and controlling their environment. Recent technological developments, including the printing press, the telephone, and the Internet, have lessened physical barriers to communication and allowed humans to interact freely on a global scale. However, not all technology has been used for peaceful purposes; the development of weapons of ever-increasing destructive power has progressed throughout history, from clubs to nuclear weapons. — Wikipedia

Roman Engineering (Crash Course, History of Science, YouTube Video)

Marvels of Engineering (The History Guy, YouTube Playlist)

Technology (Dictionary of the History of Ideas)

Society for the History of Technology (SHOT)
Engineering and Technology History Wiki (ETHW)
History of Technology News & Articles (IEEE Spectrum)
Engineering (World History Encyclopedia)

Museum

Engineering Online Exhibitions (Smithsonian)

Amazing Machine (The Franklin Institute)

The Tech Interactive (San Jose, CA)
The Tech Interactive (Wikipedia)

Museum of Obsolete Objects (YouTube Channel)

Museum Of Obsolete Technology (YouTube Channel)
Museum Of Obsolete Technology (Official Website)

Museum of Obsolete Media (Official Website)

Library

General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen Library

DDC: 600 Technology (Library Thing)
Subject: Technology (Library Thing)

DDC: 620 Engineering (Library Thing)
Subject: Engineering (Library Thing)

Subject: Technology (Open Library)
Subject: Engineering (Open Library)

LCC: T Technology (UPenn Online Books)
LCC: TA Engineering (UPenn Online Books)

LCC: T Technology (Library of Congress)
Subject: Technology (Library of Congress)

LCC: TA Engineering (Library of Congress)
Subject: Engineering (Library of Congress)

Subject: Technology (WorldCat)
Subject: Engineering (WorldCat)

—————————

Participation

Education

Technological literacy is the ability to use, manage, understand, and assess technology. — Wikipedia

Engineers and Educators Collaborate to Reach Solutions for Technological Literacy Enhancements (Arthur Winston)
Technological Literacy Counts Workshop Summary (IEEE)
Technological literacy counts: outcomes of a workshop to enhance technological literacy of K-12 students (IEEE)

Technically Speaking: Why All Americans Need to Know More About Technology (National Academy of Engineering & National Science Foundation)
Technological and Engineering Literacy (American Society for Engineering Education)

Engineering is Elementary (Boston Museum of Science)
Engineering is Elementary (YouTube Channel)
National Center for Technological Literacy (Museum of Science, Boston)

TryEngineering (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

Applied Math and Science Education Repository (AMSERL)

Engineering (The Franklin Institute)
Technology Quizzes (Encyclopædia Britannica)

The Engineering Process (Crash Course Kids, YouTube Playlist)

MERLOT Engineering Community Portal
MERLOT: Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching
OER Commons: Open Educational Resources

Recent News from Science Daily …

Quantum breakthrough could revolutionize...
on May 13, 2026 at 7:55 am
Scientists in Japan have developed a new way to instantly detect elusive quantum “W states,” a major milestone for quantum technology. The breakthrough could help unlock faster quantum communication, teleportation, and powerful new computing systems.
The hidden atomic gap that could break...
on May 9, 2026 at 10:48 pm
A major obstacle may be standing in the way of the next generation of ultra-tiny computer chips. Researchers discovered that many promising 2D materials lose their advantages because an invisible atomic-scale gap forms when they are combined with insulating layers. That tiny gap weakens electronic performance and could prevent further miniaturization. The team says new “zipper materials” that lock together more tightly may offer a path forward.
Stanford’s new chip boosts light 100x with...
on May 5, 2026 at 8:21 pm
Researchers at Stanford have developed a compact optical amplifier that dramatically boosts light signals using very little power. By recycling energy inside a looping resonator, the device achieves strong amplification with minimal noise and wide bandwidth. Its efficiency and small size mean it could run on batteries and be integrated into consumer electronics. This breakthrough could enable faster communications and more powerful optical technologies.
MIT scientists finally reveal the hidden...
on May 4, 2026 at 1:14 pm
For decades, relaxor ferroelectrics have powered everything from medical ultrasounds to sonar systems, yet their inner atomic structure remained a mystery—until now. Researchers have finally mapped their three-dimensional structure in unprecedented detail, uncovering hidden patterns in how electric charges are arranged at the nanoscale. The breakthrough not only challenges long-standing assumptions about how these materials behave but also allows scientists to refine the models used to design […]
New “optical tornado” technology could...
on April 25, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Scientists have created tiny “optical tornadoes” — swirling beams of light that twist like miniature whirlwinds — using a surprisingly simple setup based on liquid crystals. Instead of relying on complex nanotechnology, the team used self-organizing structures called torons to trap and manipulate light, causing it to spiral and rotate in intricate ways. Even more impressively, they achieved this effect in light’s most stable, lowest-energy state, making it far easier to generate […]

Scientists put a tiny lump of metal in two places...
on May 11, 2026 at 12:48 pm
Scientists have pulled off a mind-bending quantum experiment that sounds almost impossible: they showed that tiny metal particles made of thousands of atoms can exist in multiple places at once. Using advanced laser techniques, researchers at the University of Vienna observed quantum interference in sodium nanoparticles far larger than the kinds of particles usually seen behaving this way. The finding pushes quantum mechanics into a new realm, suggesting that even surprisingly “large” […]
“Cannot be explained” – New ultra stainless...
on May 10, 2026 at 11:39 am
A team at the University of Hong Kong has developed a new “super steel” that can survive the harsh conditions needed to make green hydrogen from seawater. The material uses an unexpected double-protection mechanism that resists corrosion far better than conventional stainless steel. Even more impressive, it could replace costly titanium parts used in today’s hydrogen systems.
The hidden atomic gap that could break...
on May 9, 2026 at 10:48 pm
A major obstacle may be standing in the way of the next generation of ultra-tiny computer chips. Researchers discovered that many promising 2D materials lose their advantages because an invisible atomic-scale gap forms when they are combined with insulating layers. That tiny gap weakens electronic performance and could prevent further miniaturization. The team says new “zipper materials” that lock together more tightly may offer a path forward.
NASA just tested a powerful new thruster that...
on May 6, 2026 at 9:00 pm
A powerful new electromagnetic thruster has taken a major step forward after a successful high-energy test at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Fueled by lithium vapor and driven by intense magnetic forces, the experimental engine reached record-breaking power levels—far beyond anything currently used in space. Glowing hotter than molten lava and firing inside a specialized vacuum chamber, the thruster hints at a future where spacecraft could travel farther and more efficiently than ever […]
MIT scientists finally reveal the hidden...
on May 4, 2026 at 1:14 pm
For decades, relaxor ferroelectrics have powered everything from medical ultrasounds to sonar systems, yet their inner atomic structure remained a mystery—until now. Researchers have finally mapped their three-dimensional structure in unprecedented detail, uncovering hidden patterns in how electric charges are arranged at the nanoscale. The breakthrough not only challenges long-standing assumptions about how these materials behave but also allows scientists to refine the models used to design […]

——–

Here are links to pages about closely related subjects.

Knowledge Form

Innovation Mathematics
Science Research, Discovery
Technology Invention, Intellectual Property
Commerce Entrepreneurship, Product

——

Notes

1. The resources on this page are are organized by a classification scheme developed exclusively for Cosma.

2. The content on this page was partially inspired by serving as Project Manager for the Engineering Career System as well as designer and instructor of a special experimental section of ENGR 195C: Engineering Career Development for Engineering Research and Information Systems in Freshman Engineering at Purdue University. That content came in handy and was expanded upon while redesigning and teaching the course Introduction to Educational Robotics while serving as a core faculty member in the graduate Technology in Education program at Lesley University.