A new hair-washing system creates a luxurious lather with less water, a spin on steelmaking spits out a mere fraction of the carbon, a clever AI plans airline routes for maximum efficiency, and a simple riff on a remote control zaps the need for disposable batteries. But what we found instead inspired quite the opposite reaction: Faced with the challenges of limited resources, a chip shortage, and an ongoing pandemic, engineers, developers, and scientists did a lot with what they had.Īcross all our 10 categories, gains in efficiency showcased our collective drive to optimize our world. So, as we gathered to debate the winners, we were well prepared to be, well, underwhelmed. COVID-19 vaccines on their way into the public’s arms sparked hope, but signs of a looming supply-chain pinch left us wondering about the potential of the year in innovation to come. When we wrapped last year’s Best of What’s New awards, the PopSci staff wasn’t certain about what lay ahead.
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