Julie Shapiro

Recent Articles

A Kids' Toy That Teaches Coding

Kickstarter’s latest craze is Cubetto, a $195 robot and game system designed to spark young kids’ interest in coding. Here’s how it works.1 A series of colored blocks indicate directions for Cubetto to turn or...

By Julie Shapiro

The Sunken Museum

To see this sculpture, you’ll need a scuba mask–because it’s in Europe’s first underwater museum, Museo Atlantico, which opened March 2 off Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. The concept came from British artist Jason deCaires...

By Julie Shapiro

Quiz: Can You Answer These New SAT Questions?

The College Board has revamped the math, reading and writing exam

By David Johnson and Julie Shapiro

See What People in Every State Are Giving Up for Lent

Sex in California, alcohol in Arkansas and meat in Minnesota. See what every state wants to give up most during Lent, according to Google

By David Johnson and Julie Shapiro

The Robot Lifeguard

In 2010, Arizona-based tech firm Hydronalix debuted EMILY (Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard), a robotic lifeguard that has helped swimmers caught in California riptides. Now a new version of the remote-controlled float–which includes a camera and...

By Julie Shapiro

The Floating Bonsai

Air Bonsai, a miniature tree that rotates in space, has raised more than $600,000 in less than two weeks on Kickstarter--more than quintuple its goal. Here's how it works, according to its Japanese creators, Hikaru Hoshi and Masanori Imayoshi.

By Julie Shapiro

The Airplane 'Skylight'

Imagine looking up from your cramped airplane seat and seeing a galaxy of stars. That’s the vision of engineers at Boeing, who are developing a system that aims to relax passengers by illuminating the plane’s...

By Julie Shapiro

The Ice Hotel

Imagine a resort with every luxury–except heat. That’s the idea behind Hôtel de Glace, Quebec City’s annual take on the ice hotels popular in Scandinavia. This year, 30,000 tons of tightly packed snow were used...

By Julie Shapiro

Chicago's Urban Farm

Cold winters aren’t known for cultivating fresh vegetables–but that may be changing thanks to a groundbreaking greenhouse that recently opened atop a soap factory on the Windy City’s South Side. At 75,000 sq. ft., the...

By Julie Shapiro

Steve Harvey Embraces Miss Universe Flub With Christmas Post

The comedian poked fun at his now-infamous mistake

By Julie Shapiro

These Are the Most Popular Secret Santa Gifts in Every State

From Hawaiian shirts to Beatles pajamas

By Julie Shapiro

See Which Airlines Charge the Most in Fees

Save some money the next time you fly

By Julie Shapiro

See Which Airlines Are Most Likely to Be On Time

And which are often delayed

By Julie Shapiro

See Which Airlines Get the Most Baggage Complaints

Customers complain the most about these airlines

By Julie Shapiro

Find Out Which Airline Is Best for You

Based on what matters most to you

By Julie Shapiro

American Student Among the Dead in Paris Attack

Nohemi Gonzalez, a Cal State student, reportedly one of at least 129 killed

By Julie Shapiro

7.0-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Near Japan

There were no immediate reports of injuries

By Julie Shapiro

The Twisted Tower

Skyscrapers usually start off bulky at ground level and become slim as they rise. Vancouver House, a twisting condo tower by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, does the opposite. The lower floors of the 59-story building,...

By Julie Shapiro

Cups That Trick Your Taste Buds

When you sip a drink, the flavor you experience is based mostly on smell: as aromas waft into the nasal cavity, they cue your brain to conjure specific tastes (in tandem with your tongue). That’s...

By Julie Shapiro

The Cardboard Car

At a recent design show, Lexus debuted a working version of its IS sedan made almost entirely of cardboard. Here's how it came about.

By Julie Shapiro
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