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Brooke Becher Brooke Becher
Updated on June 30, 2025

Green Steel Aims to Clean Up One of the World’s Dirtiest Industries

Steelmaking is a major climate offender. Green steel is working to fix that by replacing coal with cleaner alternatives. But is it ready for mass adoption?

Rolls of galvanized steel stacked in a factory. Image: Vladimir Mulder / Shutterstock
Brooke Becher Brooke Becher
Updated on June 26, 2025

Subtractive Manufacturing, Explained

First used in Ancient Egypt, subtractive manufacturing methods are now being used to cut, drill, mill and shape materials for cutting-edge industries like aerospace and medical devices. Here’s how it works.

Image: Pixel B / Shutterstock
Ellen Glover Ellen Glover
Updated on June 26, 2025

Facial Recognition, Explained

Facial recognition uses AI and biometric data to identify individuals by their unique facial features. Learn how the technology works, where it’s used and the benefits and disadvantages — including its ethical concerns.

Image: Shutterstock
Sara A. Metwalli Sara A. Metwalli
Updated on June 24, 2025

What Is Grid Computing?

Grid computing is a distributed computing model that connects multiple computers across different locations to work together on shared tasks. It relies on a central control node and specialized middleware to execute large-scale computations efficiently.

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Brooke Becher Brooke Becher
Updated on June 23, 2025

What Is Graphene?

Graphene is the thinnest material in the world — and one of the strongest — with the potential to transform semiconductors, sports equipment and more. But moving this breakthrough from the lab to the real world remains a challenge.

Image: Shutterstock
Adam Thomas Adam Thomas
Updated on June 18, 2025

What Is Binary? (Definition, vs. Decimal, Importance)

Binary is a numerical system that uses the digits 0 and 1 to represent data in a computer. It is a fundamental concept in computer science, programming and data storage. Here are the binary basics.

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Nicholas Rossman Nicholas Rossman
Updated on June 18, 2025

Is Your Phone So Smart That You Don’t Trust It?

As users worry about digital privacy and the mental effects of always-on, always-connected smartphones, many are opting to return to basic models. Our expert analyzes this trend.

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Anthony Corbo Anthony Corbo
Updated on June 16, 2025

What Is Linux?

Linux is a free, open-source operating system that is used to power various applications, ranging from mobile devices to a majority of the internet. Here’s how Linux works, how it’s used, its upsides and how to get started with Linux.

Image: Shutterstock / Built In
Brooke Becher Brooke Becher
Updated on June 11, 2025

What Are Spaceplanes?

These hybrid aircraft provide reusable means to access space. 

Image: Shutterstock
Anders Indset Anders Indset
Updated on June 11, 2025

Are You Ready to Be Replaced?

The era of widely available humanoid robots is closer than you think. Our expert shares his vision for the future.

Image: Shutterstock / Built In