Jet engines are relatively simple in their basic design, but advancements in gas turbine engine technology have mostly done away with the cool-looking bucket-type reverse thrust systems. These thrust ...

Assuming we hand-wave all of the scaling questions (!!), what this really looks like is a step towards real electrically-power airplanes. If I read this correctly, this system is considerably more ...

One of the great things about technology nowadays is how quickly an idea can get out there and take off. That’s because concepts are now able to get the funding they need in order to get their ...

A new plasma thruster could scale up to compete with traditional jet engines. The plasma is magnified by high-intensity microwaves and pressurized air. Researchers had to invent a way to measure the 1 ...

Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Engineers at NASA ...