From unheard-of battery tech to electronics woven into fabric, engineers are making smaller devices more powerful as well as softer, stretchable, and washable. How do they do that, and why does it matter?

Prepare for a future where you and your doctor track your health markers 24/7, manage chronic conditions in real time, and predict incoming illness with incredible precision – all from tiny sensors you’ll wear on your skin and in your clothing.

Recent data shows differences in lifestyles and other factors are linked to big gaps in life expectancy between residents of various states.