As we look back at 2015, we see a year where science and technology were in the news or hidden behind the scenes in many major news stories. From a Pluto fly-by nine years in the making, to the discovery of liquid water on Mars, science and technology had a major impact. Closer to earth, drones made the news for both good and bad, including crashing into the White House lawn. Scientists discovered new planets, developed nanomaterials for antibiotic resistance, and made incredible advances in neuroscience, including a brain to brain interface. Self-driving cars are touring our roads and companies are working to bring the internet to rural areas with satellites, planes and balloons.

Beyond the headlines, technology helped locate and rescue survivors of the Nepal earthquake. It was used to create 3-d models of hearts for surgical planning.  In 2015, a solar powered plane successfully completed the longest leg of its attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Through its use of green technology, an island in central Denmark called Samsø now produces more renewable energy annually than it uses.

What do these stories have in common?

While scientific breakthroughs and technological advances make the news, it’s the scientists and engineers that make the breakthroughs. Scientists and engineers are tackling problems that seemed unsolvable just a few years back.

At MathWorks, our goal is to support the engineers and scientists in their work. We are continually amazed at their accomplishments, and are happy to say that MATLAB and Simulink played a role. We  have a history of sharing these milestones internally with our coworkers, and now are able to share this information with you in our new blog.

Looking forward, big data will become an important part of everyone’s life. Data collection and analysis are becoming the standard, extending to new applications including RFID chips in football players’ pads to track stats on each player. Cities use data to improve services and forecast problems for their constituents. We see new technology advancing healthcare and how food is produced. Machines are changing the way we work.  The way we travel is evolving. Science and engineering are also advancing our global quest to fight climate change with new breakthroughs in green technology.

This blog will focus on highlighting the role of MATLAB and Simulink in today’s most visible news stories, and the scientists and engineers that make them happen.

We can’t wait to see what 2016 brings! Check back to see how MATLAB and Simulink help accelerate the pace of the engineering and science beyond the headlines.