"Japan. March 11, 2011. 2:46 P.M. The biggest earthquake in Japan's history-and one of the world's five most powerful since 1900-devastated the Tohoku region, 320 kilometers (200 miles) northeast of Tokyo. It triggered a huge tsunami that left crippling damage in its wake. More than 13,000 people drowned, and thousands of buildings and homes were reduced to rubble. As people assessed the damage, they made the most frightening discovery of all:...

Materials scientists and engineers transform natural resources into human-made materials. Without their work, most ofhter technologies would not even exist. Modern examples of techno-matter include plastics, semiconductors, superconductors, metallic alloys, ceramics, superadhesives, and supermagnets.

Astrobiologists compare life on Earth to signs of life on other planets, study space mission photos, and listen for signals from alien civilizations. Learn all about this cool and amazing research in this fast-paced peek into future life!