Mars research is experiencing scientific breakthroughs with the help of a Washington University researcher and his laboratory. Because of this lab’s role with NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover “Opportunity”, a Martian crater has been appropriately named “Spirit of St. Louis”, as Opportunity completed a remarkable journey of its own.

A team of biomedical engineers at Washington University, led by Dr. Lihong Wang, has developed the world’s fastest receive-only 2-D camera. The device can capture events up to 100 billion frames per second. The camera tracks light, capturing images of a single laser pulse, opening the door for scientific exploration and new discoveries.

Utilizing a sleeper ship, on which the spacecraft crew is put into deep sleep while they travel, is one way to theoretically send people to Mars. NASA has backed a study by aerospace engineering firm, SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc., that is exploring how humans can be put into a prolonged deep sleep using therapeutic hypothermia. Therapeutic hypothermia is standard of care at hospitals for some trauma patients, including patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Photo is provided by...

Researchers at the University of Missouri are teaming up with a professor of plant molecular genetics in Brisbane, Australia, to work on soybean research that could lead to an extraordinary breakthrough in the way corn is raised around the globe.

World-class scientists, innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs are all part of an emerging culture of intellectual achievement in the St. Louis area. Innovations offers in-depth stories on groundbreaking technology and scientific discoveries.

A St. Louis tech startup's facial recognition software is experiencing success! Blue Line Security Solutions has developed facial recognition technology for security and surveillance, as well as consumer advertising and rewards programs. Blue Line's cameras are already in use in the St. Louis area and interest for the high-tech system is growing!

NASA awarded Boeing $4.2 billion to build and fly the United States' next passenger spacecraft. Boeing is building the CST-100 for NASA, but it hopes to one day take commercial passengers and other governments to space. A division of Boeing in St. Louis is developing the technology and design for the CST-100 simulator for astronaut training. (Photo courtesy of Boeing)

Everyone knows that playing football carries the risk of concussions. But did you know that female soccer players are high risk for traumatic brain injuries from head-butting soccer balls? A St. Louis based tech startup, Jolt, has created a concussion sensor that will alert athletes to the risks of brain injury during games. Jolt hopes to revolutionize the way we play sports, but are we ready for this kind of change?

A unique laser treatment offers new hope for patients with inoperable brain cancer. Doctors at Washington University’s Center for Innovation in Neuroscience and Technology are among a handful in the country using the innovative laser probe. HEC-TV's Victoria Babu shares one cancer patient's experience undergoing the procedure.

Innovations is St. Louis' only science and technology news show. World-class scientists, innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs are all part of an emerging culture of intellectual achievement in the St. Louis area. Innovations offers in-depth stories on groundbreaking technology and scientific discoveries. We'll also introduce you to St. Louis' leading innovators in our segment, "People to Watch".

Facial expressions are essential to social interactions and self-confidence, so imagine not having the ability to smile. Thanks to an innovative surgery being done at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, a lovely young lady has gone from being unable to smile, to sharing her smile with the world! St. Louis Children's Hospital is only one of a handful of pediatric centers across the country that focus on facial reanimation surgery.

Commander of NASA’s last shuttle flight, Chris Ferguson, is now in a commanding role of Boeing’s Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Program. As Director of Crew & Mission Operations, the former astronaut reveals the CST-100's new technology and he gives his thoughts on the future of space travel.

IT Entrepreneur Network (ITEN) previews the ITEN Tech Startup Report, 2014 Year in Review. This includes a glimpse at the ITEN Top Ten and ITEN Fast Ten lists for 2014. Leaders of ITEN and members of the audience give their predictions for the 2015 tech startup ecosystem in Greater St. Louis.

A Washington University graduate student develops new technology that may one day pinpoint minor strains and tiny injuries in the body's tissues, predicting a more serious injury before it occurs. The same technology may also be developed to predict failures in buildings and bridges.

Is it beneficial for the patient? That one question is foremost n the minds of researchers and doctors at Washington University’s Neurofibromatosis Center. Dr. David Gutmann started the Washington University Neurofibromatosis center over 10 years ago. NF1 is a disorder caused by a gene mutation and NF1 affects patients differently based on age. Dr. Gutmann established a research lab and a clinical program to care for NF patients. From the beginning, the NF center has sought input from...

Pixel Press is one of St. Louis' fastest growing tech startups. The company has an app that allows anyone to create and share video games, simply by drawing them! This winter, Pixel Press is publishing a new app for Cartoon Network's Adventure Time show.

GlobalHack is a 48-hour programming competition where teams from all over the country compete for $50,000 in cash. Follow a team from Washington University to see if they have what it takes to win it all, or go home empty handed.

The invention of 3-D printing has given the world a new reality of customizable, 3-D objects. We take a look at this revolutionary technology from the perspective of an 18-year-old entrepreneur. Then on to Washington University’s Biomedical Engineering Lab where students printed a functional, prosthetic arm for a lovely young lady.

Washington University is leading research to improve computational models for predicting turbulence in aircraft flow fields. The models would be used to optimize aircraft and engine designs, creating environmentally responsible aircraft.

A St. Louis tech startup creates technology to computerize license plates. The electronic plates, called Proof Smart Tags, would validate auto insurance and vehicle registration. Find out how International PROOF Systems could turn the electronic plate into a multi-million dollar innovation.

From Saint Louis University School of Medicine to the International Space Station, scientists are hoping experiments in space will help people suffering from cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Find out about SLU's launch to space and hopes for a future launch.