Every December, Popular Science honors the 100 greatest innovations of the year. Brilliant, revolutionary, and bound to shape the future—these are the Best of What's New.
By Popular Science Staff | Published Oct 23, 2015 7:09 PM
HTC Vive: Walk in a Virtual World
ZTE Spro 2: A Wireless Projector and Hotspot
GoPro Hero4 Black: The Smallest 4K Action Camera
Meccano Meccanoid G15 KS: A DIY Robot You Can Talk To
Philips Fidelio B5: Surround Sound in a Sound Bar
Red Epic Dragon: A Camera Built for the Future
Nvidia Shield: Blazing-Fast Media Console
IMAX Laser: Best Way To Watch A Movie
Sphero BB-8 A Star: A Star Wars Droid You Can Own
Samsung SUHD Series: A 4K Television For The Masses
Sling TV: TV For Cord Cutters
Star Wars Battlefront : Biggest Videogame Space Battle
Boeing 777X: Ultra-Efficient Folding Wings
Rosetta: Comets Finally Get Their Closeup
Sikorsky Aircraft S-97 Raider: Fastest Helicopter
DHI Parcelcopter: Real-World Drone Delivery
New Horizons: Voyage To Pluto
X-Avionics Xavion: The App That Will Make Emergency Landings
TriFan 600: Vertical Takeoff In A Civilian Airplane
New Shepard: A Manned Rocket For Tourists
Solar Impulse 2: Longest Solar-Powered Flight
August Home Smart Lock: Never Lose Your Keys Again
Turing Phone: Hack-Proof And Shatter-Proof
Inrad Optics Stilbene Crystals: A Crystal That Detects Nuclear Radiation (No, Really)
Malloy Aeronautics: A Freakin’ Hoverbike
Drone Shield: Ears, Not Eyes, In The Sky
BaDx: Smallest, Safest Anthrax Detector
Anti-Theft Dots: Get Your Stuff Back
NYPD DAS Mobile: The App That Keeps Cops Safe
Tesla Motors Powerwall: Now You Can Supercharge Your Home
Windstream Technology Solar Mill: An Alternative-Energy Powerhouse
Bosch Power-Ready Wireless-Charging System: Tools Leading A Wireless Revolution
Stack Downlight: A Bulb That Gets To Know You
Dyson Humidifier: The Ultimate Clean Machine
Leatherman Tread: First Wearable Multitool
Briggs & Stratton EXi Series Engine: Never Change Your Oil Again
Channellock Rescue Tool: React Like A First Responder
Whirlpool HybridCare Heat-Pump Dryer: A Hybrid For Your Hamper
DeWalt Carbon-Fiber Composite Level: A Level That Won’t Give In To Pressure
Micra: The World’s Smallest Pacemaker
Biostamp: Health Stats That Stick
Fitguard: A “Check Engine” Light For Your Brain
Eargo: The Most Comfortable Hearing Aid
Teixobactin: First New Antibiotic In Nearly 30 Years
Xoft: Targeted Cancer Radiation In One Go
Medtronic Closed-Loop System: A Savior For Diabetics
Aim: A Monitor With Muscle
Periscope: A Broadcast Network Of Your Own
Windows 10: The Windows We’ve Been Waiting For
Be My Eyes: A Smartphone App That Gives The Gift Of Sight
Google Photos: Adding Google Smarts To Your Photo App
IBM Watson: Team Up With A Supercomputer
Pixar RenderMan: Create Your Own Toy Story For Family And Friends
Albedo100 Light-Reflective Spray: Paint That Can Save Your Life
Stower Candle Charger: Charge Your Phone With A Flame
Voormi Fall Line Jacket With Core Construction
Epson M-Tracer Golf Swing Analyzer: Golf Coach In Your Phone
Dainese D-Air Racing Misano Suit: Failproof Motorcycle Airbag Suit
Uvex Snowstrike VT Goggles: Fighter-Pilot Goggles For Skiers
Torquing Group Zano Self-Tracking Drone: A Drone That Snaps Your Selfies
MSR Guardian Purifier: Drink Water From A Mud Puddle
Avatech Avanet Cloud Platform/Mobile App: An App That Helps You Avoid Avalanches
BMW 2016 7 Series: A New Wave In Driving
Oshkosh Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle: A Blast-Proof Truck
Cadillac CT6 Rear Camera Mirror: A Rear View That Sees It All
Volvo XC90: Safest Car On The Road
Tesla Motors Model X: Fastest SUV Ever
Acura 2017 NSX: A 190-MPH Hybrid
Kawasaki Ninja H2: First Supercharged Street Motorcycle
Divergent Microfactories Blade: A 3-D-printed Supercar
Android Auto: Best Smartphone Interface
Audi RS 7 Race Pilot: Fastest Autonomous Car
Amazon Echo: HAL For Your Home
SUSIBA2: Rice That Fights Global Warming
Wind+Wing Technologies: A Fuel-Free Commuter Ferry
University Of Washington: A Camera Powered By Wi-Fi
Durst Organization, Port Authority of NY and NJ: The Most Secure Skyscraper Ever
ETH Zurich: Yarn Made From Slaughterhouse Waste
Hiroshima University: The World’s Fastest, Strongest, Lightest Temporary Bridge
Pierre And Marie Curie University: A Robot Survivor
Onyx Solar: A Floor That Can Charge Your Phone
Surf Snowdonia Wavegarden: The Most Radical Indoor Surf On Earth
Arizona State University: A Laser So Pure, It’s White
Siemens: Hydrogen Energy’s Green Giant
The good news: They have butts. The bad news: They’re losing genes.
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, in the order the universe intended.
Mountains and other natural obstacles can make talking to one another hard. Drones and other aircraft could help.
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