Innovation is the source of economic prosperity and global progress, simplifying routines and enriching quality of life. The internet has fundamentally altered how the world works, communicates and thinks. The global information revolution has ushered in a new era of global conversations, cooperation and crowd-sourcing among researchers, speeding the spread of new ideas and technologies in every discipline. Researchers race to develop energy alternatives, synthetic biology, transportation improvements, environmental protections or cures for disease. Governments must keep up pace with funding of education and infrastructure as well as regulations on patents, immigration, intellectual property protections and more.

US Products Help Block Mideast Web

The tech companies that connect also disconnect
Paul Sonne, Steve Stecklow
March 31, 2011

Internet Alone Cannot Free the Middle East

Governments also use the internet to bait, trap and tame protesters
Evgeny Morozov
March 30, 2011

Turning Old Oil Into New Mileage

Fry, baby, fry, could become a new environmental slogan for Brazil
David L. Chandler
March 18, 2011

How Japan's Quake Disaster May Damage Tech Business

Ongoing power outages in Japan paralyze production of major high-tech goods
Kit Eaton
March 16, 2011

Last Defense at Troubled Reactors: 50 Japanese Workers

A few do battle for many
Keith Bradsher, Hiroko Tabuchi
March 16, 2011