Hugh Herr lost his lower legs as a teenager. He has since gone on to become a leading light in the development of artificial limbs
Energy: The idea of recycling paper, glass, metal and plastics has become commonplace. New technologies allow heat to be recycled, too
Consumer electronics: Tiny semiconductor crystals, called quantum dots, enable new forms of energy-efficient lighting
Inside story: A recent wave of advances is enabling oil companies to detect and recover offshore oil in ever more difficult places
Military technology: Elaborate new devices designed to defeat makeshift explosives struggle to gain the upper hand in Iraq and Afghanistan
Photography: A promising new class of digital cameras is emerging between small, basic compact models and bulky, elaborate single-lens reflex ones
Technology and society: Is it really helpful to talk about a new generation of “digital natives” who have grown up with the internet?
Innovation Awards: We invite nominations for our annual prizes recognising successful innovators
Telecommunications: Making antennas from liquid metals should mean robust reception
Video on the internet: Why are public broadcasters experimenting with the “peer-to-peer” technology beloved of online pirates?
Biotechnology: A new way to determine the sex of a chicken embryo before it hatches should save money and improve animal welfare
Aviation: How a collapsible mechanical cushion, borrowed from a space capsule, could help protect a crashing helicopter
Energy: Turbines equipped with sensors can now “see” the wind before it arrives, and then take appropriate action
The internet: New combinations of human and computer translation are making web pages available in foreign languages
Transport: A collapsible shipping container could help reduce the environmental impact of transporting goods
Transport: Manufacturers are using a variety of chemical additives and new materials to reduce the environmental impact of tyres