Scientific American Content: Global: Recent Episodes
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Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.
Nobel laureate Shimon Sakaguchi reflects on the role of regulatory T cells in peripheral immune tolerance and how the cells could transform treatment for cancer, autoimmune disease and organ transplant rejection
Texas lawmakers want to move the Smithsonian’s retired space shuttle to Houston. It’s “a vanity project that is apt to destroy a near-priceless American treasure,” one historian says
Trees’ inner heartwood harbors methane-producing microbes adapted to oxygen-poor swamps and cow guts
The CDC updates COVID vaccine guidance and stirs controversy over childhood immunizations. And global health experts warn of rising child malnutrition in Gaza.
A decades-old technique from network science saw something in the papal conclave that AI missed
Despite early, and familiar, copyright growing pains, Sora may be the prelude to AI-generated on-demand TV and movies
Surgeons in China transplanted part of pig liver into a patient with an incurable cancerous tumor, and it functioned for more than a month
If you want to know where the best leaf peeping will be this year, climate science and weather can provide the answer
Samples from the seafloor reveal evidence of several earthquakes along the West Coast’s two major fault zones happening in quick succession over the past 3,000 years
If you pick the right time, our home world and our moon could be easily visible from the Red Planet
A former White House physician reveals the medical realities of caring for the president of the U.S.
The “Great North American Eclipse” of April 2024 was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study how birds and other wildlife respond to total solar eclipses
Scientists suspected that Europe’s largest bats snack on migrating songbirds when they can, but a stunning newly published observation proves it
A blizzard that trapped hundreds of trekkers on Mount Everest was truly “off the charts,” experts explain
By casting doubt on antidepressants and other well-studied drugs, our government health agencies are choosing minimal risk to a fetus over the major risk to the person carrying it
A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination
The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2025 honors scaled-up quantum physics—while sidestepping controversies swirling around quantum computing
Some researchers think artificial intelligence could produce Nobel-worthy research, but others question whether autonomous AI scientists are possible or even desirable
Space scientists look back on three decades of exoplanet discoveries—from rows of massive ‘super-Earths‘ to worlds with perfectly synchronized orbits
Millions of older adults lose their savings to scams every year. There are ways to reduce the risk
Three scientists, including one from the U.S., share the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing “metal-organic frameworks,” versatile molecular cages that can trap contaminants, store energy and possibly deliver drugs to specific areas of the body
Inspired by principles from traditional Chinese medicine, researchers used AI to analyze tongue color as a diagnostic tool—with more than 96 percent accuracy
Astronaut-turned-author Chris Hadfield discusses his new thriller Final Orbit, which weaves real cold war history, space race geopolitics and firsthand experience into a gripping work of fiction.
The U.S. Supreme Court will determine whether Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy, an ineffective and often harmful practice targeting LGBTQ+ youth, violates a therapist’s right to free speech
Babies process foreign languages they heard in utero much like their mother tongue, researchers find
A man diagnosed with brain death received a kidney that was modified to be type O, which is compatible with all blood types
John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis shared the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work showing how bizarre microscopic quantum effects can infiltrate our large-scale, everyday world
Human water management contributes to sinking land across the globe, and it may also be responsible for an unexpected rise
“I would never do that, as a scientist,” Susan Monarez says of being asked to approve changes to vaccine recommendations without knowing the details
Tim Flach captures his fascination with the science of cats in stunning photographs from his new book Feline
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi shared the Nobel prize for their work on peripheral immune tolerance, a process that is key to organ transplants and treatment of autoimmune diseases
Saturn’s moon Enceladus shows signs of life-supporting chemistry, fungi may have shaped Earth before plants, and repeat COVID infections raise long-term health risks for kids.
A controversial prediction about black holes and the expansion force of the universe could explain a cosmology mystery
Earth has breached a critical boundary for ocean acidification, with potentially grim effects for ocean ecosystems and human livelihoods
Learn the fundamentals of the burgeoning field of knot theory while solving some puzzles along the way
When space itself expands, weird things can happen—like galaxies breaking the universe’s ultimate speed limit
President Trump’s budget office lays out guidelines for mass federal lay-offs as the U.S. government grinds to a halt
Is it really possible that half of all people who have ever been age 65 or older are still alive today? We explore the amazing mathematics of demography to find out
The anthropologist was famous for her pioneering research with chimpanzees and her influence on conservation
After years of heartbreak, researchers have found an experimental treatment that can slow the progression of Huntington’s disease, according to early results from a small clinical trial
The Department of Defense funds biomedical research to ensure military and pandemic preparedness. This includes mRNA vaccine projects that RFK, Jr., recently defunded
Maria Branyas Morera was the oldest person in the world when she died. Scientists analysed her genes, metabolism, and more
The former director of a CDC center reveals how political ideology is undermining science, threatening vaccine policy and endangering public health across the U.S.
A fresh analysis of old data has found rich organic chemistry within the hidden ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus
President Trump says Tylenol is not safe for young children. Here’s what the science says about acetaminophen
Camels in ancient Arabia may have led hunter-gatherers through deserts once thought uninhabitable
Elon Musk has launched xAI’s Grok 4—calling it the “world’s smartest AI” and claiming it can ace Ph.D.-level exams and outpace rivals such as Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s o3 on tough benchmarks
Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has said she will hold a hearing on geoengineering as conspiracy theories have swirled around cloud seeding after the recent floods in Texas
Alexander Clapp, author of new nonfiction book 'Waste Wars,' tracks the world-wide blackmarket trade of our garbage
Words frequently used by ChatGPT, including “delve” and “meticulous,” are getting more common in spoken language, according to an analysis of more than 700,000 hours of videos and podcasts
Today’s large language models are hardly related to the kinds of machine intelligence we see in science fiction, according to Martha Wells, author of the Murderbot Diaries series
A new global overview of Mars suggests dust, rather than water, is the source of mysterious streaks there
Musicologists and neuroscientists have been trying to understand what turns speech into music.
The selection of Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to temporarily lead NASA adds to the deep political uncertainties already facing the space agency
Nanoplastics—particles smaller than a human hair—can pass through cell walls and enter the food web. New research suggest 27 million metric tons of nanoplastics are spread across just the top layer of the North Atlantic
A new analysis warns that AI facilities could be forced to stop operating because of water shortages and blackouts
Molecules from the 20-million-year-old teeth of a rhino relative are among the oldest ever sequenced, opening tantalizing possibilities to scientists
Tests in London and Singapore could reveal whether AI can improve the safety of air travel
If Americans don’t fight back against efforts to dismantle higher education, the U.S. will lose lifesaving medical research, innovation that spurs our economy and the ability to freely study science and society
Autism has at least four subtypes, an analysis of more than 5,000 children’s genes, traits and developmental trajectories has shown
A protest at a congressional office building highlighted future research findings that vast cuts to science will erase
Texas has identified more than $50 billion in flood control needs, but lawmakers have devoted just $1.4 billion to address them
Japan’s new earthquake-detection network lengthens warning times, and researchers in Wales have harnessed nuclear blast detectors to gauge tsunami risks. But the U.S. lags in monitoring the massive Cascadia megathrust fault
The underwater world relies on sound signals—so what happens when a noisy reef falls silent?
Babies lacking in key gut bacteria are at greater risk of developing asthma, allergies or eczema
Forecasts and warnings largely worked during the recent flooding catastrophe in Texas. Those systems are expected to degrade as President Donald Trump’s cuts to the National Weather Service, satellites and other key services take hold
An attosecond—or 0.000000000000000001 second—is no time at all for a person. That is not so for electrons, atoms and molecules, and laser-wielding scientists are revealing the action
A hydrologist explains why Texas Hill Country is known as Flash Flood Alley and how its geography and geology can lead to heavy downpours and sudden, destructive floods
Being conscientious will serve kids in the long run. Here are some tips to help them learn that trait
Flash floods happen when heavy rains unleash more water than the ground can absorb, causing that water to pile up and flow to low-lying areas
Brain differences in children and teens who experiment with drugs early show up before they take their first puff or sip
The National Weather Service issued timely alerts, meteorologists say, but few were listening in the hours before the early-morning flash floods along the Guadalupe River
Chemical fingerprints from volcanic rock offer hints of what’s happening in the mantle below the area where three rift zones meet in East Africa
We spoke with NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick in an exclusive, first-ever interview from the cupola of the International Space Station.
In principle, this impossible math allows for a glue-free bridge of stacked blocks that can stretch across the Grand Canyon—and into infinity
Climate change left its signature on the atmosphere early in the industrial revolution, reveals a thought experiment investigation
The June heat dome contributed to the deaths of at least three people. They have died as federal regulators have weighed whether to finalize the nation’s first heat protection rule for workers
When tested on their own and in mice, these bacterial strains from the human microbiome show promise in accumulating PFAS
The future is bright—too bright—for life as we know it once the sun transforms into a red giant star
Adult brains grow new neurons, and scientists have finally pinpointed where they come from
Forty years after the first effort to extract mummy DNA, researchers have finally generated a full genome sequence from an ancient Egyptian, who lived when the earliest pyramids were built
Evidence shows that Medicaid improves people’s health and is particularly vital for babies, older people in need of long-term care and people in rural communities
All eyes are on Comet 3I/ATLAS as astronomers worldwide chase the exotic ice ball through our solar system
Four research firms project that the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act will raise greenhouse gas emissions and likely put U.S. and global climate goals out of reach
Breakthroughs from two rival experiments, Germany’s Wendelstein 7-X and the Joint European Torus, suggest the elusive dream of controlled nuclear fusion may be within reach
Canceled grants and slashed budgets are disproportionately affecting junior health researchers, dealing a major blow to the future of science and society in the U.S.
AI could be used to comb through electronic health records and warn vulnerable people about dangerous heat waves
Launching in 2028, China’s Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission could bring Red Planet rocks back to Earth as early as 2031—years ahead of competing U.S.-European efforts
Here's a collection of exclusive book recommendations, from slithering snakes to a river's impact, for your summer reading lists, curated by Scientific American
Links to the U.S.’s most comprehensive climate reports—the National Climate Assessments—disappeared from the Internet on Monday, along with the official government website that houses them
GLP-1 drugs currently being tested in China target complications associated with obesity such as heart disease, fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security and its disaster agency has said people aren’t driving temperature increases and declined to accept federal climate money for disaster preparedness as governor of South Dakota
Damage to your environment can bring a profound sense of loss; that feeling, called solastalgia, can also provide inspiration
Expertise bulks up the brain’s ability to think deeply, a skill that may generalize across tasks
Violins, the ink on the Declaration of Independence and other ways that insects shaped human history
Today’s cannabis plant is highly cultivated and incredibly potent. Treating it like a commodity, and not a testable, regulated medicine, is hurting people
A fee created to push oil and gas companies to plug methane leaks could be axed by the incoming Trump administration, hampering efforts to curb the potent greenhouse gas
Jonny Kim—a former Navy SEAL and ER doctor—is now a NASA astronaut who will soon launch to the International Space Station as flight engineer for the crew of Expedition 72/73
The unexpected discovery of a geometric phase shows how math and physics are tightly intertwined
A Biden administration proposal that would require employers to provide cooling measures under extreme heat conditions may be scuttled by the incoming Trump administration
The 3.2-million-year-old human ancestor known as Lucy rose to fame through an incredible combination of circumstances
Two years of experimentation taught a Nashville guitarist not every musical myth makes sense
Droughts in 48 of 50 U.S. states, evidence of microplastics mucking up wastewater recycling and the science of a baseball mud bath in this week’s news roundup.
The new president-elect can go beyond just pulling out of the Paris Agreement. But it may be more difficult to roll back clean energy policies
Outside groups often offer their solutions for climate adaptation in Africa. But the best people to manage the climate crisis are the people in those communities themselves. For climate adaptation to succeed in Africa, let communities and local leaders show the way
The Martian new year arrives with the Red Planet’s vernal equinox. Explaining why requires a deep dive into celestial mechanics and Earth’s calendrical history
A mysterious electromagnetic mechanism may be more important than the firing of neurons in our brain to explain our awareness
The new Trump administration is likely to reduce subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance plans and roll back Medicaid coverage. Public health authorities worry that antivaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., will be empowered
A few dozen ChatGPT queries cost a bottle’s worth of water. Tech firms should consider simpler solutions, such as harvesting rainwater, to meet AI’s needs
It is difficult to disentangle Russian and Chinese scientists from international science cooperation. That is a good thing
This year won’t just be the hottest on record—it could be the first to surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Paris climate accord aims to keep warming below that level when looking over multiple years
Understanding the psychology of ambiguous loss can help people struggling with grief and depression in the wake of the 2024 election results
President-elect Trump vowed to promote fossil fuels, weaken pollution regulations and reverse Biden administration climate efforts
“Going viral” appears to be more than just a catchphrase when it comes to the rampant spread of misinformation
In medieval times, astrology was considered a serious science, a branch of astronomy. Curator Larisa Grollemond of the Getty Museum, walks us through the medieval zodiac and how someone’s sign decided their day-to-day life.
Several downballot races in the 2024 presidential election will carry implications for climate policy far beyond state lines
Famous people who die at age 27, such as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse, get even more famous because of the mythology surrounding that number—an example of how modern folklore emerges
Thousands of homes in Navajo and other tribal lands don’t have access to electricity. A $200-million federal funding effort aims to fix that problem with solar power and other clean energy
What was once fair under the law may become unfair when science changes. The law must react to uphold due process
The outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election could set the climate agenda, reshape public education and shift the dynamics of global science collaboration.
A galaxy cluster bends light from seven background galaxies around it, letting astronomers peer into space and time
Analysis of a strain of the virus circulating in Central Africa shows genetic mutations indicative of sustained human-to-human spread
People are really stressed about the U.S. presidential election. A psychiatrist offers several self-help methods to reduce feelings of despair
Long before it orbited Earth, the Hubble Space Telescope starred in a famous Superman comic
A heart attack unleashes immune cells that stimulate neurons in the brain, leading to restorative slumber
Pesky leaks on the International Space Station aren’t the most serious issue facing U.S. human spaceflight
The outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election could reshape policies from health care at home to nuclear proliferation abroad
Torrential rain, made worse by climate change, has lashed Spain, with Valencia bearing the brunt of the floodwaters
Humans and pigs could both serve as mixing vessels for a bird flu–seasonal flu hybrid, posing a risk of wider spread
When chemist Dora Richardson’s employer decided to terminate the breast cancer research on the drug Tamoxifen in the early 1970s, she and her colleagues continued the work in secret.
The 2024 presidential election will have enormous consequences for the climate, and the health and future of children
A strange supernova remnant first appeared as a “guest star” seen in 1181 by sky watchers in China and Japan
Scientific American staff and sleep experts share advice on how to get better sleep in the stressful days leading up to the U.S. presidential election—and those that come after
Global temperatures through September point to 2024 besting 2023 as the hottest year on record. How many future years set records depends in part on the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election
Experts say the effects of global warming are playing a greater role in where people decide to move
Claims of worlds orbiting Barnard’s star have been made before. But an advanced instrument could provide the breakthrough that finally confirms the star hosts a planetary system
A climate advocate learns firsthand on the price of climate change in our lives, and calls for voters to head off future disasters
Both U.S. presidential candidates voice support for innovation in AI, but Kamala Harris has been more outspoken about its risks to individuals
The night sky isn’t perfectly dark—instead it glows faintly, and the source isn’t exactly local
Today’s mathematicians grapple with higher-order mathematical questions and real-world applications.
People living near industrial facilities often have few details about the chemicals inside, which poses major risks when floods occur
Polls show an increased number of Black women voters back Kamala Harris. Her emphasis on maternal mortality, reproductive rights and gun control may be contributing
Only 2 percent of households in parts of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina that were flooded by Hurricane Helene can get insurance payments
FDA medical examiner Frances Oldham Kelsey saved American lives by refusing to approve thalidomide. But millions of pills had been sent to doctors in the U.S. for so-called clinical trials
Sooner or later a doomsday asteroid will wipe out most life on Earth—unless, that is, we prevent threatening space rocks from hitting us in the first place
A model suggests a massive uplift caused by a phenomenon called “river piracy” partly explains Everest’s impressive height
Whoever wins the 2024 presidential election will face heightened nuclear geopolitics, deadlines on nuclear deals with Russia and Iran and decisions on a $2-trillion weapons-modernization effort
Linguist and sociophonetician Nicole Holliday analyzes the language used by candidates in the recent presidential and vice presidential debates
Wiring diagram lays out connections between nearly 140,000 neurons and reveals new types of nerve cell
Hurricane Helene forced dozens of medical facilities across the southern U.S. to evacuate patients, underscoring the human costs of climate change
The average tropical cyclone in the U.S. ultimately causes about 7,000 to 11,000 excess deaths, new research finds
As Microsoft strikes a deal to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island to power AI, nuclear specialists weigh in on the unprecedented process
In a dense Republic of Congo rainforest, scientists have mapped a network of strangely open clearings where wild beasts go to eat and hang out
The presidential candidates have vastly divergent records on and plans for protecting access to reproductive health care, including abortion and IVF
Food science can explain why mozzarella melts like a dream while feta and ricotta don’t
A new class of drugs treats pain at the periphery. Here’s what that could mean for those with chronic pain.
The conservative Project 2025 playbook for a possible Trump presidency calls for cutting aid for disasters such as Hurricane Helene
Human anatomy is delightfully varied, but female athletes are heavily criticized for not conforming to socially accepted bodily norms
Myopia is projected to affect half of the world’s population by 2050. A new report says it needs to be countered by classifying it as a disease and upping children’s outdoor time
We are in a new and different kind of moon race, one the U.S. is losing. To win, says a former NASA official, we need new strategies
Physicists have detected a long-sought particle process that may suggest new forces and particles exist in the universe
Inland flooding from tropical cyclones, even at high altitudes, is a major worry—and one that scientists don’t know enough about
Physicists showed that photons can seem to exit a material before entering it, revealing observational evidence of negative time
Hurricane Helene fueled catastrophic flooding from Florida to Appalachia, leaving millions without power
“Fake news”-style misinformation is only a fraction of what deceives voters. Fighting misinformation will require holding political elites and mainstream media accountable
Here’s how misinformation and distrust in science are impacting global well-being. Plus, we present our regular roundup of this week’s science news.
The musical Lifeline tells the story of Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of antibiotics, as these revolutionary drugs continue to lose their efficacy
Neurons in certain brain areas integrate ‘what’ and ‘when’ information to discern hidden order in events happening in real time
Scientific American’s staff share their favorite sci-fi books, from beloved classics to overlooked gems and our modern favorites
Mathematics communicator and drag queen Kyne Santos guides you through the ongoing debate about what math really is.
FDA medical examiner Frances Oldham wanted data that would show that thalidomide was safe to use during pregnancy. It wasn’t
Experts call for greater testing of contacts of a person who was infected with the H5N1 bird flu strain before the virus causes a wider outbreak
A species of legged fish uses taste receptors to search for hidden prey, providing an ideal window for scientists to study the emergence of new evolutionary traits
Flawed implementation of a global eradication strategy brought poliovirus to Gaza, and wartime conditions let the infection spread
Why ordinary people will follow orders to the point of hurting others remains a critical question for scientists—though some answers have emerged
An office in the Pentagon investigated UFOs—and the paranormal—over a decade ago, segueing into a long saga leading to Congressional hearings and breathless news stories today. But the real story looks more like former defense officials pushing their personal mythology, rather than any cover-up of aliens
Category 4 Hurricane Helene is a large storm set to bring substantial storm surge to the coast of Florida, as well as wind and rain-driven flooding up into Tennessee and South Carolina
Looking silly when they run saves birds energy—and some dinosaurs may have done the same
A small asteroid, 2024 PT5, will spend the next two months alongside our planet as a mini moon before swooping back to deep space
Physicists report the first observations of quantum entanglement in top and anti-top quarks, the heaviest known fundamental particles and their antimatter counterparts, inside the Large Hadron Collider
Cases of deadly heatstroke of children in cars have remained stubbornly persistent—here’s why they happen and how we can prevent them
From spotless giraffes to secret squirrels, Janelle Shane probes the absurdity (and dangers) of generative AI
A study reports higher prevalence of eating disorders among people with polycystic ovary syndrome, regardless of their body mass index.
Experiment shows that a nuclear explosion could save the planet from a deadly asteroid impact
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo told Floridians to avoid mRNA vaccines, citing false safety concerns
Joint Nobel laureates aren’t necessarily direct scientific collaborators, and the prize money isn’t always split evenly
More and more climate scientists are supporting experiments to cool Earth by altering the stratosphere or the ocean
The incompleteness of the fossil record complicates efforts to figure out how life on Earth is faring today
The universe’s hidden mass may be made of black holes, which could wobble the planets of the solar system when they pass by
Quirky perspectives, separated lovebirds and a tobogganing penguin star in 2024 winners of the world’s largest bird photography competition
Uterus transplants are becoming more common, opening up the possibility of pregnancy and parenthood to people with certain health conditions
The new interconnected breed of autocrats gains and retains power by deception, globally undermining democracies through their own institutions
Cave fish develop taste buds on their head and below their chin—and even in humans, taste cells grow in truly unexpected locations
This week’s news roundup explores how the brain is affected by pregnancy, the way “scuba diving” lizards breathe underwater, and much more.
Mathematics communicator and drag queen Kyne will help you discover the beauty and power of math in this miniseries.
Three scientists are honored for developing a class of blockbuster weight-loss drugs. Is a Nobel prize on the way?
A long-awaited calculation of the W boson’s mass agrees with theory, contradicting a previous anomaly that had raised the possibility of new physics beyond the Standard Model
In the U.S. in the early 1960s the distributor of a thalidomide drug was impatient to get it on the market. But FDA medical examiner Frances Oldham Kelsey wanted more information to prove its safety
Some researchers dream of solving all mysteries with a common method—but a mathematical paradox may keep such solutions out of reach
Math’s “best-choice problem” could help humans become better decision-makers, at everything from choosing the best job candidate to finding a romantic partner
In online forums the term “cuck” has become synonymous with “sucker” and “loser.” But this use distorts its history and meaning, creating a baseless moral panic that harms both women and science
Neuroscientists at the University of Barcelona set about on a search for brain areas involved in chess-related tasks so that surgeons could avoid them when removing a tumor
Invasive spotted lanternflies are spreading across the metro areas of New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., despite professional and amateur attempts to reduce their numbers
According to the American Cancer Society, Black men are about 70 percent more likely than white men to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime and twice as likely to die from the disease.
A strange sound dubbed “biotwang” was first heard bouncing around the Mariana Trench 10 years ago, and scientists have finally figured out where it comes from
On opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, Central Europe and North Carolina have both been drenched by torrential rains
Rather than building an obsolescent, obscenely-over-budget jumbo rocket, NASA should turn to building truly innovative space technologies and plan a realistic lunar landing program
You have around 35 trillion red blood cells moving around your body at all times. Typically they are rounded and flexible. What happens when they aren’t?
A small study of transgender men taking testosterone revealed changes in immune pathways involved in responding to viruses and inflammation
A famous prediction that microchips improve exponentially over time can be applicable in unrelated developments, such as the technology used to discover colliding black holes
Reductions to American research at the South Pole could affect the politics of the southernmost continent
Understanding how racism affects aging and the timing of menopause could lead to better screening and preventive care.
The Federal Trade Commission is studying how companies use consumer data to charge different prices for the same product
Clean indoor air protects against diseases such as COVID and flu, but we’re not doing enough to ensure it
The octopus sex chromosome appears to have been maintained over hundreds of millions of years, making it the most ancient of such chromosomes in animals
Even Earth’s mightiest telescopes aren’t up to the task of imaging Apollo lunar landing sites. A lack of resolution is the biggest reason why
Infectious disease specialists explain whether vaccines will curb the mpox outbreak that was recently declared a global health emergency
From glacial ice cores extracted from the Tibetan Plateau, scientists recovered the equivalent of 1,705 viral species. Reading their genomes tells the story of 41,000 years of climate change
Two physicists have come across infinitely many novel equations for pi while trying to develop a unifying theory of the fundamental forces
Dolphin ecologist Tadamichi Morisaka discusses common dolphin behaviors that could explain instances of the animals biting people in Japan
Scientists re-create the last moments of a manateelike animal that was eaten by both a crocodilian and a shark
An expert explains the transmission and symptoms of eastern equine encephalitis, a rare mosquito-borne illness that has caused one death and two hospitalizations in northeastern states
The Oropouche virus, which causes a disease nicknamed “sloth fever” for one of the animals that can be infected, has seen its first cases in the U.S.
A survey of the Dolmen of Menga suggests that the stone tomb’s Neolithic builders had an understanding of science
“Prescribing” community resources and activities, like art classes and cycling groups, can improve our health and our health care
A long-running research endeavor reveals key chemical players that cement memories in place—and still more have yet to be discovered
A curator at the New York Botanical Gardens explains what we can learn about the past and the present from houseplant trends.
Most fatal drowning incidents in the U.S. involve adults, not children, and they often involve alcohol
Queen guitarist Brian May has spent a decade studying the science of bovine tuberculosis, which can be carried by badgers, and has identified a new method of spread
A new study suggests that waves of aging-related changes occur at two distinct points in our life
A heat wave is sending temperatures soaring in the Midwest, and “corn sweat” is pushing humidity sky-high
An easy-to-access rapid test could lower barriers to detecting syphilis, which is surging nationwide
Study participants felt time distortion, fewer negative thoughts and greater detachment from feelings with a noninvasive ultrasound intervention
We cover Mars mission updates, a new brain implant that shows promise for Parkinson’s, the latest on the mpox outbreak, and more in this week’s new roundup.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched to the International Space Station in June and expected eight days in space. Now these stranded astronauts finally have a ride home
We’re in a summer COVID surge, and updated vaccines are due soon. Here’s a quick update on what you need to know
Antarctica’s riskiest glacier is a disaster in slow motion. But in a rare bit of good news, the worst-case scenario for its collapse may be off the table
Until AI algorithms understand what words mean, they won’t be reliable for important decisions—especially those with money on the line
The Polaris Dawn mission—a partnership between SpaceX and billionaire Jared Isaacman—will soar to historic heights and attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk
Andromeda and the Milky Way may collide, or they may safely swing past each other. Time will tell
A sociophonetician explains presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s intonational patterns and the way that the properties of candidates’ speech influences how they are perceived.
New research suggests that remote Antarctica is more vulnerable to trash and invasive species washing up from longer distances than previously thought
Starting in the 1920s female writers pioneered the field of science writing for the mass market, making it their mission to help ordinary people understand everything from astronomy to venereal disease
Brain scan study hints that methods could be developed to detect the earliest stages of neurodegenerative disease
The search for extraterrestrial life has profound physical, mental and spiritual implications, says Nathalie Cabrol in The Secret Life of the Universe—and it belongs to everyone
A new study suggests a commonly used sugar substitute could increase the risk of blood clots, raising concerns for heart complications
Houston’s warm, wet spring, driven in part by climate change, was a boon for mosquitoes and West Nile virus
U.S. Senators and Representatives whose family had a history of enslaving others have greater present-day wealth
Understanding genetics, immunology and the microbiomes of people with inflammatory bowel disease could aid in finding the right treatments for the condition
Mathematicians reveal that tiling your multidimensional bathroom will lead to never-ending disorder
The U.S.’s first plastic pollution plan features better measuring standards, more responsibility for producers and an end to single-use products
A new explanation for the Wow! signal suggests it was a chance detection of a furious flare crashing into a hydrogen cloud. But some researchers doubt that this idea has truly cracked the case
Polymetallic blobs are producing “dark oxygen” from the depths of the ocean—and no one knows exactly how.
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer spacecraft took a shortcut to the giant planet by way of the Earth and the moon
Air-conditioning is uncommon for incarcerated people, and the heat index inside many of Texas’s 100 prison buildings can exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit
Paralympian and surgeon John McFall is redefining the astronaut image and proving that space travel is achievable for people with physical disabilities
A bioluminescent petunia led me to a world of radiant mushrooms, 19th century experiments and a modern rivalry between scientists in Russia and the Americas
Contrary to stereotypes of the doddering elderly, research shows that half of people older than age 70 stay mentally sharp
How we’ll learn more about dark matter, quantum gravity and substitutes for lab animals
New fossils and analytical tools provide unprecedented insights into dinosaur sensory perception
Replacing research animals with tools that better mimic human biology could improve medicine
The medication initially known as VX-548 blocks sodium channels in nerves, blocking pain signals before they reach the brain
Proposed experiments will search for signs that spacetime is quantum and can exist in a superposition of multiple shapes at once
Tech firms, oil companies and the U.S. government are investing billions of dollars in carbon capture technology to suck greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. Can it save the warming world?
A dishonest creationist debating tactic shouldn’t go unchallenged in American life. Or in national politics
As Democrats convene in Chicago to make official their presidential and vice presidential nominees, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz together are raising the prominence of health care as a 2024 election issue
Tanager-1 is the first in a series of satellites that aim to pinpoint major emitters of carbon dioxide and methane, major greenhouse gases
Dosing errors in the medication semaglutide, prescribed as Wegovy and Ozempic, can cause severe or prolonged gastrointestinal issues that require medical attention
As bird flu spreads in cats, cows and other animals, it has more opportunity to adapt to easily infect humans
Prevention is key to health and wellness. Don’t wait too late to have these simple, essential, medical devices on hand
Cosmic surveys suggest the force pulling the universe apart might not be constant after all
James Cameron takes us behind the scenes and beneath the waves in a discussion of the new National Geographic show OceanXplorers on today’s episode of Science Quickly.
Redistributing food to food banks before it’s tossed or wasted doesn’t just fight hunger—such efforts also fight climate change
More people than we thought who are in comas or similar states can hear what is happening around them, a study shows.
Global warming made hot, dry weather that fuels wildfires more likely in places such as Canada, Greece and the Amazon rainforest last year, new research says
A new type of mpox has infected thousands in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries, but vaccines and treatments are hard to come by
Why a mathematician thought this infinite series explained how God created the universe
Foodborne illnesses such as E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria and Norovirus can make you seriously sick. Here’s how to protect yourself
Surging solar activity means enormous sunspots are in the space-weather forecast. Here’s how to view them safely
Here’s what the team at Science Vs learned about prostates and pleasure in its quest to understand the “male G-spot.”
New evidence points to a carbonaceous asteroid from the outer solar system as the culprit for Earth’s most recent mass extinction
Internal records show the U.S. Postal Service has tried to get workers out of air-conditioned offices. The allegations come one year after the agency was accused of falsifying heat-training records
252 million years ago, tardigrades may have escaped extinction using this one weird trick
A barber shaves all men who don’t shave themselves. Does he shave himself? Mathematics offers explanations for this and other curious contradictions
Misconceptions that eating disorders mostly afflict white, affluent, young females have led to disparities in the treatment of these deadly diseases
A Google experiment to improve stoplights shows early positive results. But AI-assisted software won’t replace human traffic engineers just yet
Coronal mass ejections from the sun sparked dazzling auroras that were visible from the ground and from space
A highly robust brain-computer interface boasts low error rates and a durability that allows a user to talk all day long
New shipping regulations set limits on sulfur in maritime fuel, reducing harmful pollution but inadvertently ceasing a cooling effect on Earth’s climate
Launching in late 2024, the Fram2 mission will be the first human spaceflight to explore the planet's polar regions
A new analysis of Stonehenge’s “Altar Stone” suggests Neolithic people walked or sailed some 500 miles to transport the six-ton boulder
An underground Martian ocean could hold enough liquid to cover the Red Planet with a mile of water
The possibility of liquid water beneath the surface of Saturn’s moon Mimas may offer clues to how such seas form, and another spot to search for life
The novel physics of biomolecular condensates could explain how these droplets help cells do their jobs
The space junk polluting low-Earth orbit sometimes makes its way to Earth. Here’s how one astronomer responded when SpaceX debris fell on a nearby farm.
New techniques are helping forecasters spot storms that could develop into dangerous hurricanes earlier than ever
Many experts criticize the FDA’s recent negative ruling on MDMA therapy for PTSD, saying the agency ignored solid overall results from clinical trials
Two renewable resources, wind and solar, together have produced more power than coal through July—a first for the U.S.
The Oura Ring and other smart rings forecast menstrual cycles by detecting changes in body temperature
Teens’ use of smartphones has been blamed for all manner of societal ills. So when should parents take the plunge and equip their kids with these devices?
Congress appears interested in passing mining legislation. But bills that would expand access to hard-rock minerals across the U.S. ignore supply chain standards and environmental consequences
A new generation of coffee concoctions on social media is putting the spotlight back on the drink’s possible weight-loss effects
West Nile is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. Here’s what to know about the infection
Do you think you are too young to get screened for cancer? Think again. It might save your life
We cover the science stories of the Olympics, concerns about artificial sweeteners and a new theory of how the pyramids were built in this week’s news roundup.
Compared with other arachnids, invasive Joro spiders are calm, cool and collected under stress, a new study shows
A recently adopted United Nations treaty could lead to invasive digital surveillance, human rights experts warn
Snot is one of the immune system’s efforts to ditch a virus, but how much we produce when sick is a slippery subject
Early risers get a double sky treat: a Mars and Jupiter conjunction and the Perseid meteor shower at once
An interview with Rob Jackson about ending climate colonialism, inspiring polluter-pay policies and taking a path to a cleaner climate
Reports of Earth-orbiting astronauts glimpsing the Great Wall of China and many other artificial structures are wildly exaggerated, but humanity’s planetary influence isn’t entirely invisible from afar
A mountaintop burial site offers a glimpse into Inka life—but raises ethical questions about unearthing ancient human remains.
Identifying asteroids with potential moons could aid researchers in understanding unique aspects of our solar system
Helen Edwards was a particle physicist who led the design and construction of the Tevatron, a machine built to probe deeper into the atom than anyone had gone before.
With the detection of a long-predicted “neutrino fog,” the search for particles of dark matter has entered a new age of both possibility and peril
Researchers wish to probe whether consciousness has a basis in quantum mechanical phenomena
Opioid use disorder treatment needs to take into account evolving cannabis policies, to help give people the best chances of recovery
In the search for less energy-hungry artificial intelligence, some scientists are exploring living computers
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stuck on the ISS since they launched to the station in early June. Now the space agency is close to deciding how to bring them back
Minnesota governor Tim Walz will promote climate action as Kamala Harris’s vice presidential pick, experts say
A tiny human relative called the Hobbit, or Homo floresiensis, may have evolved from a larger ancestor that shrunk upon arriving on the Indonesian island of Flores, a new fossil suggests
Several athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games have come down with COVID, but they are still allowed to compete
A new mathematical technique shows how to build small objects in any dimension that roll like a wheel, expanding our understanding of higher dimensional space
Some parts of the southeastern U.S. have seen more than a foot of rain from Tropical Storm Debby, and rain will keep moving up the coast in the coming days
An antitrust expert explains Monday’s landmark legal decision that Google illegally cemented its dominance in Internet search
The U.S. sorely needs a coordinated national research strategy, says Marcia McNutt, president of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
A politicized review into transgender medicine in the National Health Service has upended lives in the U.K.—and threatens to spread harm across the globe
Hurricane Debby flooded the Big Bend region of Florida a year after it was pounded by Category 4 Hurricane Idalia
During the 2024 International Mathematical Olympiad, Google DeepMind debuted an AI program that can generate complex mathematical proofs
Sharks provide multiple benefits for ocean ecosystems: their declining numbers threaten habitats for baby fish
We take you down below Iceland's erupting surface with the researchers who are trying to understand what's going to happen next.
Opioid overdoses have fallen since their pandemic peak, according to new data from the past few months
Scientists have identified more than 30 different pathogens that they fear could cause the next big pandemic in humans
By canceling congestion pricing for drivers in New York City, the governor of New York State will hurt many retirees, who need the mass transport investments the move promised
Warmer temperatures were supposed to make Arctic shipping easier. But thick floating ice created by local melting is a bigger risk than people realized
A single-celled organism’s pathfinding reveals connections in the universe’s vast “cosmic web”
Despite conflicting advice, letting your baby “cry it out” can help parents and babies alike
Privacy concerns were one of the most common reasons for seeking a self-managed abortion, a recent study found
A play celebrates the agreement that opened nations worldwide to accepting the science of climate change
A new blood test for cancer, helpful cat parasites, and a new kind of wood in this week's news roundup.
Damage from high-frequency storms is rising faster than losses from major disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires
Controversy surrounds whether the Olympic pool in the Paris La Défense Arena is not deep enough and slows swimmers. Is this contention true?
Scorching temperatures are further burdening an already-troubled infrastructure system across much of the U.S. in ways people are still learning to recognize
A former space agency official argues that cutting a robotic explorer pulls the scientific teeth from the Artemis program
When wildfire smoke is in the air some trees essentially shut their windows and doors and hold their breath
There’s more than one way for a star to die. Some go with a whimper, and some go with a very, very big bang
Archaeoastronomers piece together how people understood the heavens thousands of years ago.
The U.S. has been pumping sand onto eroding beaches for nearly a century. As climate change worsens, there’s no end in sight
Dairy workers in Texas show signs of prior, undetected bird flu infections in a new study
The amount of water and electrolytes needed for proper hydration vary from person to person
When heat hits, we talk about the heat index, the dew point and heat risk. But what do all these measures mean?
"Big data" and artificial intelligence are changing how elite American athletes train for the biggest competition in the world.
From lifesaving cancer treatments and frog “spas” to a view of the cosmos from your own backyard, science can keep you going through the long, hot days of summer
Inside giant, iridescent clams are algal farms that could inspire highly efficient bioreactors
Diagnosis of Alzheimer's, according to expert recommendations, can proceed by detecting the disease's underlying biology, even before the onset of cognitive decline
Climate change-driven heat endangers Olympians. Here’s how the Games are helping competitors cool down
The nerd culture powerhouse is rebranding its elves, dwarfs and orcs, previously referred to as races, and moving towards use of the term species
NASA’s NEOWISE telescope has searched for asteroids, brown dwarfs and luminous galaxies. The spacecraft will soon burn up in Earth’s atmosphere
Here’s the long history of sex testing in elite sports like the Olympics and where the science really stands.
Weather experts talk about why the film Twister is often such a favorite among tornado researchers and what they think of its new stand-alone sequel, Twisters
Scientists say efforts to tame methane in agriculture can spur the output of another greenhouse gas: nitrous oxide
An ambitious U.S. government program is working to detect and track millions of tiny space junk pieces—down to the size of a sand grain—throughout low-Earth orbit and beyond
A man in Germany is HIV-free after receiving stem cells that are not resistant to the virus
Physicist Jess Wade explains the importance of recognizing female scientists on Wikipedia. She’s created more than 2,000 Wikipedia articles to do just that
For thousands of years, scholars pondered the question of how anything can move in our world. The problem seemed to have been solved—until the development of quantum mechanics
The high court treating the children of a highly educated slice of the U.S. as equivalent to people who descended from the history of enslavement and Jim Crow is a dishonest ruse
Here’s what experts and former athletes have to say about dealing with post-Olympics mental health struggles
The EPA plans to propose a rule in 2025 that will tackle methane emissions from landfills, one of the country's largest sources of the greenhouse gas
Social media exploits our evolved need for information, feeding us fluff and outright misinformation. A new science of human collective behavior can help us retake control
Researchers combined the drug harmine with a medication similar to Ozempic to boost the number and function of human insulin-producing cells transplanted into mice
We cover extreme weather, cocaine sharks and komodo dragons with iron-tipped teeth in this week’s news roundup.
Mysterious “leopard spots” on a Martian rock could be evidence of extraterrestrial life—or of mere lifeless chemistry. Finding out the truth may require bringing the rock back to Earth
Flaws in the CDC's H5N1 test highlight the risks of relying on a single test supplier, some experts say
Hundreds of thousands of people die from extreme temperatures every year, more than any other type of weather disaster
The basic notes, rests and harmonies of Western music arose as humans heard how sounds traveled through the first large temples, built more than 2,000 years ago
A group on the islands of Penghu is restoring ancient fishing weirs, hoping to preserve the sustainable fishing practice and attract ecotourism.
The Jupiter-like world Epsilon Indi Ab is one of the coldest—and closest—exoplanets that astronomers have ever seen
Technological doping refers to the use of equipment—from swimsuits to super shoes—that provides an unfair athletic advantage. But the boundaries of what is allowed are somewhat arbitrary
Technicalities and hesitations softened the effect of Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement during his presidency, but a second attempt at a departure could be more serious
Pilot programs across the U.S., including new research funded by OpenAI, offer a glimpse of how a universal basic income could improve lives
Reptile teeth have long been considered simple and cheap because the animals replace them regularly. That isn't so, Komodo dragons show
Researchers are still working to understand the complicated and debilitating condition dubbed long COVID
The busy beaver function is unpredictable. But now, after more than 40 years, the fifth value of the function has been revealed
Despite progress, the long shadow of racial violence continues to undermine economic opportunities for African Americans today
The benefits of being polite to AI may include prompting better chatbot replies—and nurturing our humanity
Cocaine has been detected in sharks for the first time, but scientists aren’t sure of the impact
A 1972 law that allows states to avoid OSHA regulations for public-sector employees is undermining the nation’s first proposed worker safeguards for heat
A novel way of making superheavy elements could soon add a new row to the periodic table, allowing scientists to explore uncharted atomic realms
The U.S. and China are collaborating less on projects across scientific disciplines amid a culture of fear in both countries
The Olympics are a sustainability nightmare, and Paris, despite its efforts, is no exception
An athletic trainer explains why bodies need time to acclimatize to extreme heat and what risks to watch out for to avoid heat illness in student athletes
The VIPER lunar rover promised a revolution in our understanding of the moon’s precious deposits of ice. Then NASA cancelled the mission
Advanced meditation is changing how we think about consciousness. Hear neuroscience researcher Matthew Sacchet explain his journey to studying what happens to the brain during a deeper engagement with meditation.
A bizarre fossil of a Cambrian creature that looked like an “alien fish taco” reveals how a single group with jaws came to account for around 90 percent of all animal species on Earth
A California company says it has developed a novel way of making concrete that doesn’t contribute to global warming
As the daughter of a cancer researcher, Kamala Harris would bring a lifelong familiarity with science to the presidency, experts say
Scientists hope the incredibly rare beaching of a spade-toothed whale will help them learn more about this persistently elusive species
Temperatures in Fairbanks, Alaska, are predicted to reach a record-tying 90 degrees Fahrenheit because of a prolonged, unusually late heat wave
The current presidential race has ensured that age will be a key and likely fraught consideration in future elections. Can science help determine how old is too old for a candidate before politics does?
Almost all packaged food sold in the U.S. for the past three decades has sported a Nutrition Facts label, with major consequences for the food system
Trump’s language about immigrants “poisoning” the U.S. repeats past rhetoric that led to civilian detention camps, with horrific, tragic results
Companies and governments alike need to step up cybersecurity practices in the wake of massive technology failures associated with a CrowdStrike update
If Harris becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, reproductive rights will likely be a key focus of her campaign, experts say
Baffling new results show that rocklike mineral deposits in the deep sea can produce oxygen
A tall cactus found only in Florida’s Key Largo is the U.S.’s first species to go extinct from sea-level rise
Claims of alien starships visiting Earth always fall short, but people still fall for them
Windows devices go down, Twisters brings tornadoes to the big screen and COVID’s summer surge in this week’s news roundup.
The nonpartisan group Science Moms says its campaign of ads that show the harms that climate change brings to children is nonpartisan and meant to educate the public about climate impacts
Large language models may enable real-time communication with extraterrestrial civilizations despite the vast distances between stars. We need to start thinking about what to tell them about us
Hurricane Beryl exposed the dangers of what happens when a storm cuts off power and a heat wave follows in its wake
Three decades of tornado science research is now at play in the new summer flick Twisters
SpaceX will supercharge its Dragon capsule to send the International Space Station to a watery retirement
Project 2025 would jeopardize federal scientists’ independence and undermine their influence
An issue with a commonly used security software called Crowdstrike shuttered large technology systems around the globe, including airlines, transit systems and stock exchanges
Pugs, Boston terriers, bulldogs and boxers—dogs with less wolflike facial features are worse at conveying their feelings
In the run-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the French government has authorized wide-reaching use of AI software in security surveillance feeds
In search of snacks, stingrays' feeding technique supports ecosystems by rearranging the underwater geography
Material from the moon’s far side collected by China’s Chang’e 6 spacecraft could solve a long-standing lunar mystery
The Seine will be the stage for the Paris 2024 Olympics’ Opening Ceremony—and for its marathon swimming events. But this urban waterway is challenging to keep clean.
Ozempic, Wegovy and other GLP-1 drugs are being investigated as treatments for many health conditions—from dementia to addiction to kidney problems
Children at risk of dyslexia who played Space Invaders Extreme 2showed improvement at a word-identification task
Political violence has a different effect on people today than it did in the past because of social media and extreme partisanship
Repeated extreme weather events in states along the Gulf of Mexico such as Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi and Florida can erode a community’s ability to take care of itself
Astronauts still survive on freeze-dried meals. Could better food, aided by cooking gadgets designed to be used in microgravity, help them to thrive?
Puerto Rico is suing fossil fuel companies over climate damages, saying that the industry knew about the dangers of its products and that the island is paying the price
SpaceX has filed a request with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine whether the company can resume launches of its recently grounded workhorse rocket
It’s important that we use accurate terminology when discussing how AI chatbots make up information
Chasers will always be a vital part of tornado detection efforts, but now drones, artificial intelligence and supercomputers are all helping meteorologists figure out just how these terrible storms come together.
Virologists say that the bird flu strain that is infecting cattle in the U.S. is unlikely to cause a pandemic in humans, but countries are gathering vaccines and stepping up surveillance just in case
Sean Waugh, a professional storm chaser and meteorologist, talks about his role in advising Hollywood on tornado science and the awe-inspiring experience of chasing twisters
How falling cats, slithering snakes, burrowing prairie dogs and more exploit the laws of physics
Radiolab host Latif Nasser found and named a mysterious quasi-moon of Venus. Now you can help name one of Earth’s quasi-moons.
A new U.N. Environment Program report focuses on geoengineering’s potential dangers to the planet, from disease to unlivable places
ESA’s Ramses spacecraft will scout out Apophis before and after the asteroid’s super-close flyby of Earth in 2029
A combination of human behavior and immunity, the environment, and SARS-CoV-2 itself explains why the virus surges during both hotter and colder months
Poker players can now employ AI to find the optimal playing strategy, but they often don’t use it. Here’s why
Why we’re fascinated by solving mind-bending puzzles, pitching faster fastballs, embodying new characters, playing ancient games, and much more
Thousands of people around the world do live-action role-playing to learn and change themselves. I am one of them
From board games to solo puzzles to fantastical escapes to tricks for running faster, find a game for every mood
Find new ways to fill the long summer days with these quick primers on 10 ancient games
Images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope point to an elusive intermediate-size black hole in the star cluster Omega Centauri
A new approach uses language models to interrogate other language models and sniff out lies
From ancient clay tablets to TV shows to video games, the U.S. Library of Congress preserves far more than just books
Cultured meat that tastes and smells more appetizing could enhance public perception of artificial steaks
New regulations, and satellites like MethaneSat, very likely will not cut methane emissions. Natural gas industry economics will instead continue delaying their needed reduction
It’s been 55 years since the Apollo 11 mission, innovative “stillsuits” designed to recycle astronaut pee could enhance spacewalks, and a surprising case of the plague has occurred in Colorado.
The gooey, chocolatey s’more couldn’t have been popularized without the technological advances of the Industrial Revolution, which brought cheap sweets to the masses
Miami and New York City officials say they need more insight into how searing temperatures affect homeless people and other vulnerable populations
Beach sand is beautiful—and even more so when you understand the story it tells about our planet
Warm-blooded island species tend to evolve a slower metabolic rate compared with their mainland counterparts, making it harder for them to bounce back when under stress
Finland has decided to vaccinate farmworkers against bird flu—and experts say the U.S. should do the same
A damaging downpour struck Vermont on the anniversary of last year’s flooding disaster, filling streets with mud and basements with water
The neurons that produce a sick feeling and food aversion are distinct from those that induce a feeling of fullness
The U-shaped curve that pegged youth and old age as the happiest times of life has changed
People are reluctant to reach out to contacts with whom they have lost touch—but gratified when they do
New research suggests the Great Red Spot we see on Jupiter today is an entirely different giant storm from the one astronomers observed more than three centuries ago
Researchers on a multimonth Antarctic expedition describe how the climate crisis intertwines with their work.
Nancy Hopkins used a commitment to justice and a tape measure to take M.I.T. to task for discrimination. The impacts of her fight are still being felt today.
Days after Hurricane Beryl hit Houston and left millions without power, the city was hit with a dangerous heat wave
For the first time, researchers have reconstructed the 3D structure of ancient genetic material, in this case from a 52,000-year-old mammoth
Belief in witchcraft and sorceryis deeply rooted in Papua New Guinea's culture and history, but it can lead toviolence, particularly against women. Local public health experts are working to end this violence through education.
A Saskatchewan farmer’s near miss with potentially lethal debris falling from orbit highlights the skyrocketing risks and murky politics of space junk
The cosmos is dark. The Lilly-Madau diagram reveals that it will become much darker still
Acase about Atlantic herring has resulted in SCOTUS ending a 40-year policy to defer to expert agencies when considering regulations. The effects will likely be felt far beyond fishing
By learning exploits from adversarial AI, people could defeat a superhuman Go-playing system
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is requiring any construction project it funds to be elevated above local flood levels
With the confirmation of gravitational waves less than a decade old, scientists are barreling ahead with new detectors to pick up ever more elusive ripples in spacetime
The Supreme Court majority’s recent decisions about homelessness, public health and regulatory power, among others, undermine the role of evidence, expertise and honesty in American democracy
Researchers are investigating changes in cancer risks among young people as new data predict that rising rates of leading cancers, such as colon cancer, will overtake improvements
Claims that Przewalski’s horses were discovered in the U.S. are unverified. But the conservation story behind the last truly wild horse is worth your time.
Extreme heat can cause train tracks to expand and buckle. That’s forcing rail operators to adapt as the climate warms
During the lockdown phase of the COVID pandemic, we indulged our toddler son. Years later, we wonder if his current behavior is normal or a result of that early isolation
Scientific American sat down with Nicola Fox, head of NASA science, to talk about her LEGO-building hobby, the agency’s massive Space Launch System rocket and the NASA science she’s most excited about
As drones get less expensive and computer vision systems improve, rescuers are getting help from artificial eyes in the sky
I watched United Nations delegates debate AI-based weapons that can fire without human initiation. Humans cannot be taken out of that decision-making
In the Paris 2024 summer, Olympic swimmers will be guided by their digital twin. Here’s how they work to help the fastest swimmers break records
Scientists, pilots and even a Jesuit priest have tried over decades to understand some of the most ferocious storms on Earth, but climate change is making such efforts to avert damage more difficult
A low-tech immune boost may help some species of frogs survive a brutal fungal disease that’s already ended 90 species
While most Americans enjoy access to marijuana, barriers to research and knowledge expansion persist—with dangerous consequences. Unlimited research access is needed
It’s well known that petrochemicals are toxic to our health. Here’s how to steer clear of these by-products of the fossil fuel industry.
The extent to which people experience “inner speech” varies greatly, and the differences matter for performing certain cognitive tasks
The EEG has shaped researchers’ understanding of cognition for everything from perception to memory
Almost everything we know about the cosmos is conveyed by photons traveling across vast distances
Mosquitoes carry a pair of hormones, one of which drives bloodlust while the other signals satiation, scientists say
Przewalski’s horses, once extinct in the wild, are revitalizing Kazakhstan’s “Golden Steppe”
Under the scorching summer sun, pavement can reach temperatures hot enough to cause second-degree burns
The rise in infant mortality in Texas shows that in states with strict abortion bans, forcing people to carry non-viable pregnancies to term codifies cruelty and unnecessary pain
Four recent Supreme Court decisions will together make it much harder for the federal government to take action on climate change
It took 50 years and skyrocketing temperatures before the government proposed heat protections for workers. The Biden administration is trying to speed up the process
When scientists exposed people to the virus that causes COVID, only a subset got sick. Studying them could offer clues to immunity
Heat and mood are closely linked, which may explain summertime depression—and how to treat it
The first large trial of a COVID and flu vaccine combo suggests it boosts immune protection even more than single-target shots
A Stanford anesthesiologist deconstructs the component parts of what it means to undergo a psychedelic trip
Heat waves are costly and kill more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes and floods combined, but because FEMA doesn’t count them as disasters, communities miss out on important resources
The CDC’s new Heat and Health Index looks at the vulnerability of 32,000 neighborhoods to extreme heat using demographic and health statistics
The Supreme Court kicked two cases challenging social media moderation laws in Florida and Texas back to lower courts
Flash pasteurization destroyed H5N1 viral particles that were highly concentrated in raw milk, confirming that standard techniques can keep dairy products safe from bird flu
The withdrawal after 22 years of a controversial stem cell paper highlights how perverse incentives can distort scientific progress
Hurricane Beryl exploded in strength from a tropical depression to a Category 4 major hurricane unusually early in its development in part because of exceptionally warm ocean waters
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on “Chevron deference” could affect federal regulations of everything from power plant emissions to electric vehicles to transmission lines
Number theorists have been trying to prove a conjecture about the distribution of prime numbers for more than 160 years
False cures and dangerous misinformation, from the misguided to the exploitative, surround cancer patients, with the capacity to do serious harm
Large language models lack emotion and self-consciousness, but they appear to generate reasonable answers to moral quandaries
Emergency access to abortion is preserved—for now. Also, NASA postpones the return of Starliner astronauts, and we’re tracking the spread of bird flu, dengue and mpox.
At least 230 new climate cases were filed in 2023, but researchers noted the growth of such cases was slower than in prior years
It turns out there’s little good evidence that pets benefit our physical or mental health
A wine still liquid after two millennia turned up at a construction site near Seville, Spain
California is launching a heat wave ranking system, but it’s unclear how well such efforts actually inform people about heat risks
This year’s first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump featured clashes over insulin costs, inflation, abortion, immigration, and January 6
Wealth and well-being go together in many studies, but certain communities complicate this link
During the first presidential debate, Biden alluded to the Inflation Reduction Act while Trump went on an incoherent rant about “H2O”
Mitochondria appear to ratchet up their activity when life is going well and tamp it down during hard times
A recent Supreme Court decision rules that the U.S. government can talk to scientists and social media companies to curb online falsehoods
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how researchers live and work on a U.S. icebreaker making its way through the waters of West Antarctica.
Florida family files claim against NASA to compensate them after space debris crashed through their home in March
The world will be watching—literally—as SpaceX tackles possibly what might be its highest-stakes endeavor to date: safely destroying the beloved International Space Station
In its decision in Idaho v. U.S. the Supreme Court has decided to uphold the ability of emergency medicine providers like me to use abortion to stabilize or save a life
Scientists finally know how a gelatinous deep-sea creature keeps its cells from paralysis under pressure
A Supreme Court decision allows emergency abortion care despite a state ban in Idaho while the case works its way through lower courts
The skeletons of scribes from ancient Egypt show deterioration from sitting and kneeling
The James Webb Space Telescope’s search for the earliest stars and black holes has yielded a very weird, very red, puzzle
Older people are increasingly becoming the targets of fraudsters. Here’s how to stay safe and what to do if you think you’ve been scammed
We discovered a strange rock in the Sahara we thought was a meterorite. Figuring out what it was grounded me back to Earth
Amid the pandemic, the Pentagon ran a conspiracy campaign to discredit vaccines–just so it could score points against China. The revelation is a worst-case scenario for global public health
On its first crewed flight, troubling technical glitches with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft have left two astronauts in limbo onboard the International Space Station
Climate-related highway fixes and electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses are among the projects getting federal help in a new round of funding
Extreme wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity globally, data show for the first time
Wind shear and atmospheric instability have combined to create a brutal tornado season this year
Despite an eye-watering price tag, bringing pieces of Mars back to Earth promises to revolutionize our understanding of life’s place in the early solar system
Politicians and nonprofit groups have blamed offshore wind turbines for whale deaths, but the science doesn’t support those claims—at all
Heat waves are getting hotter, more frequent and longer. But there are ways to keep yourself and your community cool.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development long refused to pay cooling costs for public housing, but climate-change-fueled heat waves have underscored the public health need
The Supreme Court is considering the fate of Chevron deference, a 40-year legal principle that has shaped the role of government agencies. The outcome could affect medication approval, pollution regulation, and more
China’s Chang’e 6 mission has successfully returned samples from the moon’s far side, opening a new phase of the nation’s lunar space race with the U.S.
Beneath the Antarctic ice, scientists find remnants of a giant river system that flowed for thousands of miles
Nutrition influencers claim we should eat meat-heavy diets like our ancestors did. But our ancestors didn’t actually eat that way
“Heavy and healthy” can be a rare or common condition. But either way it may signal that some excess weight is just fine
Blockbuster weight-loss drugs are revealing how appetite, pleasure and addiction work in the brain
Spotted lanternflies are sometimes drawn to power line vibrations—and scientists are taking notice
A riveting quest to map the world; quantum physics in a four-act drama; climate solutions that show what we’re doing right
Volunteering in community programs can reduce youth depression and anxiety, researchers are beginning to learn
An emerging science of advanced meditation could transform mental health and our understanding of consciousness
Pollution from skyrocketing numbers of satellites burning up in Earth’s atmosphere could threaten our planet’s protective ozone layer
An image of interstellar dust moving through the Milky Way’s magnetic field may help scientists learn more about the origin of galaxies
A new book about tree collectors shows how arboreal curation is an outlet for art and activism
As the climate warms, mangroves are migrating farther poleward, transforming the coast as they go
Quantum observers, migrating mangroves, the deep history of an asteroid and understanding appetite in this issue of Scientific American
Mysterious nerve structures called Krause corpuscles respond to specific low-frequency vibrations, scientists finally confirm
From microbes to mammoths, life has transformed Earth into one big living system, says Ferris Jabr, author of Becoming Earth: How Our Planet Came to Life
Each year in the U.S. lightning strikes 37 million times and kills 21 people on average. Here’s how to stay safe during lightning storms
One of Europe’s most common birds, the great tit, show an amazing adaptability to human-made habitats. There seem no limits for this species when it comes inventing new ways of acquiring food from people
Claims of artificial general intelligence are increasingly common. But can anyone agree on what it is?
Scientists recently discovered giant viruses infecting algal blooms that dot the Greenland ice sheet
A recent study found that eating ultraprocessed plant-based foods was linked to heart attack and stroke risk. But the devil is in the details
Brawls over the honesty of online and cable news today owe their origins to World War I and a debate that divides us still
Tai Chi, yoga, water exercises and other low-impact workouts may help prevent severe falls among older adults
We still expect children to express emotions in gendered ways. It’s harmful and needs to stop
A new film details the history of Ed Dwight and NASA’s first Black astronaut candidates
Microplastics are everywhere, the Seine’s Olympic ambitions are complicated by poop, and the Starliner spacecraft delays its return to Earth.
Education and enforcement can only go so far in reducing crashes when badly designed roads are filled with large cars
A botched geoengineering experiment to limit the amount of sunlight hitting Earth hasn’t dimmed donors’ enthusiasm for funding the research
Lucy, a 3.2-million-year-old fossilized hominin, may have been much less hairy than we imagine—a perhaps shocking revelation for our modern sense of nakedness
Lynn Conway, a trans woman and advocate for LGBTQ rights, was underappreciated and often underrecognized for her work in chip design
Scientists observed leeches jumping like striking snakes, resolving long-standing debate
With a heat dome baking the eastern U.S., emergency departments in New England and the Midwest have seen a spike in heat-related cases
Sizzling summer days can be a dangerous time to be outside. Here’s what to think about before heading into the heat and how to stay safe
Analyzing 1,504 supernovae into the distant universe, astronomers have shown the clearest evidence yet for cosmological time dilation as predicted by Einstein
As the patents on various weight-loss drugs near expiration, companies in India and China are vying to make lower-cost versions that will widen access to such treatments
A container port the Indian government plans for this remote island threatens unique Indigenous cultures and biodiversity
The land, water and air around us are chock-full of DNA from fungi that scientists can’t identify
Cosmic happenstance and biological evolution come together to create a road map to the stars
To unravel the effects of melting sea ice, researchers drill the frozen waters around Antarctica and receive a surprise visit from a group of penguins.
An ancient shipwreck lost in deep waters has yielded its first clues: amphorae from a lost age of international trade and civilization
How does astronomical summer differ from meteorological summer? And how is climate change affecting how long summer lasts?
The president of the Chicago Teachers Union explains how climate change became a pillar of the union’s contract demands
These cohousing communities are fighting an epidemic of loneliness with radical neighborliness.
Gene-cutting diagnostic tests could be as easy as a rapid COVID test and as accurate as PCR
A completely fabricated condition, crafted from racist medical biases, still corrupts the criminal justice system today
Mathematicians picked the most dazzling, thought-provoking and compelling equations they know
A Doctor Who superfan explains how the unusual cardiovascular system of the alien Time Lords could evolve and function
Places beset by heat waves should receive FEMA disaster funds just as those hit by hurricanes or flooding do, labor unions, green groups and public health advocates argue in a new petition
The face of summer is transforming, as people today face more frequent, longer-lasting and hotter heat waves than they did several decades ago
The simplicity of the recycling symbol belies its complicated role in corporate America’s quest to sell ever more plastic
Gray whales in a small group that sticks close to the shores of the Pacific Northwest appear to be shrinking—and shockingly quickly
Negotiations over a global pandemic treaty broke down at WHO this year. The legacy of the world's unreadiness for COVID means that it is essential to adopt the accord in 2025
Nature still outdoes the machine, says a photographer whose real image won an AI photography competition
A nuclear explosion in space would cause stunning auroras—and wreak havoc on satellites and space stations.
China wants to build a next-generation particle collider that would be cheaper and more powerful than Europe’s planned successor to the Large Hadron Collider
Employees are working remotely, and office buildings are standing empty, inspiring some cities to work through the challenges of converting these structures into new apartments
“It would be foolish to declare victory” for abortion rights, one expert says of the recent Supreme Court challenge to medication abortion access
We are living through a terrible time in humanity. Here’s why we tend to stick our heads in the sand and why we need to pull them out, fast
Students should learn about both the natural world and human-made—or engineered—one we live in
Replacing two 50-car trains with a single 100-car train increases the odds of derailment by 11 percent, according to a new risk analysis
The advent of “cumulative culture”—teaching others and passing down that knowledge—may have reached an inflection point around the time Neandertals and modern humans split from a common ancestor
Australian conservationists introduced juvenile cane toads ahead of invasions to help prepare native monitor lizards
Is baby Skynet already here? We need robust laws now to withstand eliminating humans from nuclear decision-making
Sweltering heat in Greece, ozone-damaging chemicals on the decline and an investigation of what space does to our body are all in this week’s news roundup.
The first two years of Russia’s war in Ukraine have produced 175 million tons of carbon dioxide
Breakdancing will hit the global stage at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, and this physicist is excited to break down the science
NASA’s venerable Voyager 1 spacecraft has resumed normal science operations with all four functioning instruments for the first time in more than six months
From hiking to barbecuing and gardening to swimming, the opportunities for summer fun can also pose health risks. Here’s how to stay safe this summer
New electric-powered, vertical-lift aircraft are rising to the challenge of delivering clean and cheap air taxi services
Massive blobs of sargassum seaweed are taking over Caribbean beaches. The seaweed explosion is fueled by pollution washing into the ocean from rivers in the Americas and Africa
A microbe can grow a neck that is 30 times as long as its body in just a few seconds. Origami folding explains how
The latest images from Euclid, a European mission studying dark matter and dark energy, are spectacularly beautiful—and scientifically promising
Researchers are investigating how an iron infusion from glacial meltwater might change Antarctica’s seas and the climate.
Historian and ecologist Laura J. Martin rediscovers the female scientists who established ecological restoration in her book Wild by Design
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observed an unusually large and highly luminous galaxy at a record-breaking 290 million years after the big bang
The drug donanemab slows progression of symptoms in people with early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, but questions linger about the durability of its effect
A philosophy department chair arrested at a campus protest offers university presidents a lesson in democracy
Russia may be planning to put a nuclear weapon in orbit. We have known since the 1960s why that is a bad idea
The FDA has authorized just one type of avian flu test, and it is only available to livestock workers
Investments in carbon-free energy will be twice as large as fossil fuel spending in 2024, the International Energy Agency predicts
Japan’s LignoSat will test wood’s resilience in space and could lead to a new era of more sustainable, less polluting satellites
Chemists are hard at work figuring out how to make tattoos last—and ensure they’re safe.
Promethium, one of the rarest and most mysterious elements in the periodic table, has finally given up some crucial chemical secrets
Following Mexico’s election of a woman with a scientific pedigree, Nature reviewed the legacy of well-known politicians with backgrounds in science and engineering.
Greater awareness is needed around auto-brewery syndrome, which can cause dangerous accidents and trigger social ostracism if it is not correctly diagnosed
By performing tricks for birds, monkeys and other creatures, researchers hope to learn how they perceive and think about their world
Google is bringing AI answers to a billion people this year, but generative AI requires much more energy than traditional keyword searches
Portland, Ore., Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles have all explored charging car commuters to fund public transportation and reduce traffic
Teens are sending deepfake nude images of classmates to each other, disrupting lives. Schools, technology developers and parents need to act now
Drought is facilitating the devastating spread of spongy moth caterpillars across U.S. forests
A number of whole-body deodorants are coming to market. But are they safe and effective?
Baked-in news practices cover only the worst moments of protests and neglect telling people what protesters are asking for, extensive research shows
The Hubble Space Telescope’s woes, moon rocks and antibiotic candidates discovered with AI are all in this week’s news roundup.
World leaders must make plans to remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a new report says
Prospective memory is a skill that can be practiced, making it more likely that someone can remember an appointment or meet a deadline
Fields Medalist Terence Tao explains how proof checkers and AI programs are dramatically changing mathematics
This week U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for bans on fossil fuel ads, but legal challenges would make nationwide restrictions difficult to implement in the U.S.
A space technology company CEO explains how growing competition in the commercial space industry may help boost climate science
More countries must recognize how gender affects exposure to pathogens, finds a review by the World Health Organization
You say you haven’t slept all night. Brain scans say you have. New science says both inferences may be right.
Thirty-year-old Noland Arbaugh says the Neuralink chip has let him “reconnect with the world”
The next time you snap a selfie, consider thanking an astronomer for your phone’s camera
Zoë Schlanger’s new book The Light Eaters explores the surprising science of plant intelligence.
Scientists say it’s likely that at least one of the next five years will exceed an average increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial temperatures
Why are bears both adorable and deadly? Scientific American investigates why these apex predators are “friend-shaped”
Elon Musk’s SpaceX made a much-anticipated fourth test flight of the world’s most powerful rocket, Starship, a vehicle designed to power human flight to the moon and Mars
Blood pressure guidelines are the same for men and women despite important sex differences in hypertension risk
Most pregnant people take prenatal supplements, but weak regulation means these products don’t necessarily provide the needed nutrients
Failing hardware on NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope may lead to less science, officials say, but the space agency isn’t ready to pursue a private repair mission
After multiple delays, the first crewed launch of Starliner marks a milestone for U.S. human spaceflight
Scientific advisers vote overwhelmingly that the risks of MDMA treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder outweigh the benefits
AI apps can help autistic people practice social skills. But algorithms are no substitute for human relationships, experts say
Americans don’t like being told what to do, and many don’t trust government. These stubborn attitudes might turn H5N1 bird flu into a pandemic
A 25-year study shows that teens who receive empathy from their parents give more empathy to their peers and, later, their own children
COVID numbers are low, but some evidence suggests they could be rising. Here’s how to protect yourself this summer, according to experts
Make the best of the “double brood” of cicadas with insect kimchi and tempura-fried bugs.
Molecular Bose-Einstein condensates could help to provide the answers to fundamental questions or form the basis of new quantum computers
Attacks on Anthony Fauci over guidance on masking and social distancing ignore the science on viral spread
Ada Lovelace’s wisdom about the first general-purpose computer can be found buried in the appendix of another paper
Poorer households face climate-related dangers during heat waves amid climbing electricity costs, a report by state energy officials warns
Congressional representatives grilled Anthony Fauci, former head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, about the government’s early response to the COVID pandemic
Cuckoos are “nest pirates” that lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, setting off an evolutionary arms race that leads to the development of new species
Personality measures suggest Donald Trump exerts a cult of personality over his followers, people who are psychologically susceptible to his appeal. This could help explain how he has succeeded in U.S. politics while other populists have not
Enormous engraved rock art of anacondas, rodents and other animals along the Orinoco River in Colombia and Venezuela may have been used to mark territory 2,000 years ago
The Chang’e 6 mission is China’s second to touch down on the lunar far side and will retrieve samples for analysis on Earth
A small South Pacific fern boasts more than 50 times as many base pairs as the human genome
Anthony Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases early in the COVID pandemic, is facing a congressional committee about questionable e-mails from agency officials
Three U.S. dairy workers have been infected with H5N1 after contact with sick cows, and all of them developed eye symptoms
Regulating chemicals one-by-one has allowed the tobacco industry to skirt menthol bans by creating new additives with similar effects but unclear safety profiles
Conspiracy thinking about autism drives anti-vaxxer presidential candidate RFK Jr.’s pick for vice president
Vaccine misinformation on social media, smartphone addiction in teens and more are discussed in this week’s news roundup.
A new approach to calculating wildfire risk shows that more people and places in the U.S. are in harm’s way than previously thought
Nations aren't required to report their military climate pollution under the Paris Agreement. Experts say that should change
Fossils from an ice age “spa” reveal a cluster of hot springs kept trees alive in the frozen Alps
Emerging AI services present scenarios that could challenge the laws over rights to a persona
Mathematicians are working on ways to use their field to tackle major social issues, such as social inequality and the need for gender equity
Skin-care experts break down dangerous misconceptions about tanning and suggest healthy ways to enjoy summertime sunshine
Just watching someone scratch themselves on social media switches on the brain network that initiates the physical sensation of itch
A technology meant to help severely premature infants raises questions of inequity and may someday threaten parents’ rights to make decisions
The iconic star Polaris appears to be much younger than its true age. The secret: it’s eating another star
NASA’s head of heliophysics explains how we weathered the worst solar storm of a generation—and discusses the challenges we face in preparing for the next one
Scientists have found signs of fresh flowing lava on Venus in decades-old data from NASA's Magellan spacecraft
The massive sunspot region that gave Earthlings stunning auroral displays earlier in May is back from its trip around the far side of the sun
Avocados are marketed as a superfood, but growing them for an expanding world market has turned a rural Mexican state into an unsustainable monoculture
A new study shows that hundreds of thousands more Black people in the U.S. would qualify for a lung disease diagnosis and disability payments if lung-function measurements weren’t adjusted for race
Both expertise and the ability to release one’s focus can help people enter a state of effortless attention
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season could be disastrous. Experts warn that a storm’s Saffir-Simpson category misses many storm dangers
Inspired by headphone technology, silk sewn with a vibrating fiber acts as a lightweight sound barrier
When teachers and parents talk to kids about having ADHD, autism or learning disabilities, they set them up for success
Instruments may fail, but humanity’s most distant sentinel will keep exploring, and inspiring us all
Solar storms that create auroras affect Earth’s magnetic field and may cause migratory species, such as many whales and birds, to lose their way
Warming waters are reaching several miles into Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier—nicknamed the “doomsday glacier” because of its potential impact on sea-level rise
Wearing earplugs, hearing aids and earphones can make your own voice sound booming, but a new design dampens the din
Queer people’s behavior squashed the U.S. mpox outbreak in 2022. We shouldn’t have to rely on that to stop future outbreaks here or abroad
Retroviruses, some of which predate the human species, are tied to a genetic susceptibility to major psychiatric disorders
Semaglutide, the same compound in obesity drug Wegovy, slashes risk of kidney failure and death for people with type 2 diabetes
Extreme heat caused by climate change can exacerbate a variety of neurological ailments, from Alzheimer’s disease to migraines to epilepsy, new research shows
A new theory tested on Apollo-era data suggests that high-speed moon dust could pose engineering hazards—and diplomatic headaches
Despite their performance, current AI models have major weaknesses: they require enormous resources and are indecipherable. Help may be on the way
Astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan predicted that black holes can form without the help of stars. New observations support her theory
Experiments with optical illusions have revealed surprising similarities between human and AI perception
Two countries—Slovenia and Venezuela—have lost all of their glaciers. It is a grim benchmark showing the progression of climate change
The most common test of statistical significance originated from the Guinness brewery. Here’s how it works
The National Hurricane Center’s hurricane season outlook for the Atlantic Ocean forecasts 17 to 25 named storms in 2024 because of an expected combination of warm ocean temperatures and a La Niña climate pattern
Vermont's “Climate Superfund Act”would use attribution science to force oil, gas and coal companies to cover damages associated with their emissions
Vermont's “Climate Superfund Act”would use attribution science to force oil, gas and coal companies to cover damages associated with their emissions
Warming temperatures are likely to mean that more of your plane ride will have rocky conditions, creating potentially dangerous situations
Warming temperatures are likely to mean that more of your plane ride will have rocky conditions, creating potentially dangerous situations
Plainfin midshipmen migrate from the deep sea to the intertidal zone to spawn, and that’s when things really get loud
Plainfin midshipmen migrate from the deep sea to the intertidal zone to spawn, and that’s when things really get loud
Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4, a top-priority project for U.S. astrophysics, was designed to make breakthrough observations of the universe’s very earliest moments. Now the U.S. government says it can’t currently support the project’s construction at the South Pole
Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4, a top-priority project for U.S. astrophysics, was designed to make breakthrough observations of the universe’s very earliest moments. Now the U.S. government says it can’t currently support the project’s construction at the South Pole
Exposing the antiscience playbook reveals the antiregulatory motives of its deep-pocketed bankrollers
Exposing the antiscience playbook reveals the antiregulatory motives of its deep-pocketed bankrollers
A supernova showering Earth with radioactive debris is a surprisingly common cosmic occurrence
A supernova showering Earth with radioactive debris is a surprisingly common cosmic occurrence
Toxic algal blooms are forcing Cape Cod communities to consider expensive sewer and septic system projects.
Detecting bird flu signs in dairy cows sooner could have helped staunch the virus's spread
Electric trucks and sedans have proven popular with municipal fleets, but cities have also bought niche vehicles such as an electric Zamboni
The radioactive unit will help to deliver Europe’s first Mars rover to the planet’s surface
For the first time, scientists observed matter’s freefall into a black hole’s “plunging region”
Autonomous and AI-enabled systems increasingly rely on optical and radio frequency sensors and significant computer power. They face growing vulnerabilities from directed-energy laser and microwave weapons
A first-of-a-kind AI system enables a person with paralysis to communicate in two languages
Evidence shows microplastics can end up in many different organs and may harm reproductive health
The cost of new gene-based sickle cell treatments isn’t the only barrier to access. Coming up with new ways to treat the whole disease—and person—could make treatment more equitable
Northern and southern lights produced by a recent bout of severe space weather may rival the most intense auroras of the past 500 years
In its first climate change case, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea determined that a global ocean convention extends to greenhouse gases, meaning countries have an obligation to reduce them
Cooperation theorist Athena Aktipis talks about zombies, game theory, go bags and more in her new book, A Field Guide to the Apocalypse.
Lumina Probiotic has said a genetically modified microbe could prevent cavities. Experts, though, have safety concerns
People may someday have a surprisingly familiar tool to prevent viral infections: one of the antibiotics found in a common ointment
Skyrocketing temperatures are colliding with a lack of planning in Phoenix that is contributing to a rise in heat-related deaths
The 90-year-old finally realized his dreams of spaceflight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle, which also carried five other crew members on a short suborbital voyage
Author and science journalist Deborah Blum describes how an Indiana chemist kicked off the first major food regulation in the U.S.
A common species of cockroach hails from Asia, according to new research that tracks its spread around the globe
Misinformation solutions target a rational, ethical ideal who doesn’t exist; to combat misinfo, we need to start with a richer concept of the human
The CPORT algorithm, commonly used to estimate the risk that a child pornography offender will offend again, hasn’t been validated for use in the U.S.
Although studies are still mixed and products are often inconsistent, many scientists have hope that cannabidiol can help furry patients with arthritis, allergies and anxiety
A rare geomagnetic storm lit up skies, eerie AI demonstrations and a cautionary word about raw milk.
President Biden’s climate law is funding “green ammonia” projects in hopes of using the chemical to more cleanly power the grid, fuel cargo ships and make fertilizer
The pasteurization process was invented in the 1860s and continues to keep people safe from a range of foodborne illnesses
Nearly half of residents lost income after a hurricane, a new study shows. Most were low-paid hourly workers in storefront shops
Debris from spacecraft threatens the burgeoning space economy. We need a global agreement to keep space clean
The H5N1 virus is a long way from becoming adapted to humans, but limited testing and tracking mean we could miss danger signs
A law proposed in New York State seeks to reduce plastic packaging, ban certain plastic chemicals and mandate that producers of packaged consumer goods fund the recycling or disposal of what they sell
Researchers are striving to reverse-engineer artificial intelligence and scan the “brains” of LLMs to deduce the how any why of that they are doing
Earth is shifting into a La Niña period, changing climate patterns all around the globe
A new AI-based analytical technique reveals that specific language phrasing in Reddit misinformation posts foretold people rejecting COVID vaccinations
Cape Cod’s water is turning “pea-soup green”—and after decades of scientific detective work, we know why.
A former stretch of the Nile River, now buried beneath the Sahara Desert, may help scientists understand how Egyptians built the pyramids and adapted to a drying landscape
Technology that enables researchers to interpret brain signals could one day allow people to talk using only their thoughts
The U.S. government has a stockpile of H5N1 vaccines, and several companies could make millions more if needed. But scaling up the supply could take time
Across the globe, singing traditions are vast and varied. Their commonalities may help explain how music evolved
Years of careful planning helped safeguard against last weekend’s severe space weather, but we still don’t know how we’d cope with a monster event
Eurasian Jays use something similar to humans’ episodic memory to remember where they stored their food
We need to tell a new story about AI, and fiction has that power, humanities scholars say
Activists who seek to revive this antiquated law share with Anthony Comstock, the Comstock Act’s namesake and progenitor, a similar view of women as subordinate to the decisions of men and God
Google scientists have modelled a fragment of the human brain at nanoscale resolution, all 150 million connections
Veteran spacefarer Don Pettit is set to launch this summer on a half-year mission to the International Space Station to perform novel science experiments, snap unique orbital photos, and much more
Heat seems to trigger a sweep of changes in immune system molecules, although researchers disagree on what they might mean
Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser is set to make its inaugural trip to orbit to deliver supplies to the International Space Station
New research into weed reveals how a lemon-scented terpene can ease anxiety without reducing the high.
Orcas have once again attacked and sunk a boat near the Strait of Gibraltar, a behavior that has scientists stumped
From Gaza to India to the Philippines, climate change exacerbated often record-breaking extreme heat over the past month
Floods, wildfires, droughts and earthquakes forced more than 26 million people to leave their homes in 2023
The same massive sunspot cluster that gave Earth multiple nights of stunning aurora displays has now produced the largest flare of the current solar cycle
Ancient tree rings show that the summer of 2023 was the hottest in the past 2,000 years because of human-caused climate change
Conspiracy theories are everywhere. Here's how you can figure out when you're being fooled
Scientists think they’ve cracked the long-standing mystery of attraction among particles with a similar charge
Scientists are putting together a catalog of communications from belugas’ forehead “melon”
Explore the new science of weird chemistry, anthropogenic evolution and near-death experiences
With few states tracking who is being homeschooled and what they are learning, an untold number of U.S. children are at risk of a poor education or even abuse
Rats as you’ve never seen them; the journey of restoring a garden; stories from a “post-Impact” future
Rather than relying on bacteria, whiteflies cut out the middleman and acquired their own genes to process nitrogen
Though sometimes overstated, the benefits of cold-water swimming are slowly becoming clearer
Research on the developing brain points to new ways to help young people with anxiety disorders
Moths and other insects aren’t drawn to nighttime illumination for the reasons we think they are
This beer-making by-product could offer a sustainable way to isolate metals for recycling electronic waste
Our overreliance on the simplicity of game logic explains why capitalism got out of control
Scientists have recently discovered thousands of active RNA molecules that can control the human body
The carcinogenic effects of asbestos have been known for decades. We should have banned it long ago
The Mississippi River has been manipulated for decades. A new book considers alternative forms of control
We face a moment of opportunity—and competition—in bringing digital twin technology to patients
An active hurricane season could be in store because of ocean temperatures in the North Atlantic that broke records for more than a year
Certain adults may need to get an additional dose of the measles vaccine. Here’s how to know if you have adequate immunity to measles
Developmental milestones help us understand when a child needs help, but meeting them early doesn’t necessarily predict long term success
Costs are skyrocketing to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Instead of turning a blind eye, Congress should demand fiscal oversight and make hard decisions balancing costs with deterrence
The lack of a safety net in the U.S. is a big factor that explains why Americans feel lonelier than Danes or Swedes
Deepfake images, a delayed spaceflight, the troubles with space junk and a blast from our past for your Monday review of science news.
New CDC guidance encourages clinicians to start conversations with patients about dangerous heat
Both climate-driven disasters and the clean energy transition pose risks for the world’s largest financial institutions
Therapy chatbots are increasingly popular and may benefit some people, but it's dangerous to trust AI during a mental health crisis
Experts explain how certain worms can infect the brainand why they are an important global public health problem
A giant sunspot cluster rivaling the one that caused the Carrington Event in 1859 could trigger a cannibal coronal mass ejection. But this is unlikely to cause major problems
A stunning photograph collection underlines how climate change is altering the world’s coastal and lakeside environments
Three factors determine whether a society experiences disease outbreaks—and how we can fight them
More huge cities are facing Day Zero—the date water taps go dry—just as Cape Town, South Africa, did
An exploding star is a catastrophe on a cosmic scale, but here on Earth we’re safe from such astral disasters—for now
Milestone observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal signs of an atmosphere on the inhospitably hot super-Earth 55 Cancri e
Understanding how avian influenza jumped into cows can help shape the path to stopping the virus’s spread
A mysterious 12-sided object called a dodecahedron discovered in England has archaeologists both excited and baffled
Alien worlds that glow like lightbulbs or harbor molten-rock rain are revealing planets’ profound cosmic diversity—and pointing the way toward finding those that truly resemble our own familiar Earth
The far side of the moon holds the keys to the future of radio astronomy. We must maintain its pristine silence to benefit everyone
A competition to develop carbon-removal technology that is run by XPRIZE and backed by money from Elon Musk has announced 20 finalists. A winner will be announced next year
After the spectacular success of the first-ever “Marscopter,” mission planners have soaring ambitions for follow-up flying machines
A decade after Congress told the FDA to expedite the approval of more effective sunscreens, the federal government still has not approved sunscreen ingredients that are safely being used around the world
Using forests to prop up carbon markets can lead to “perverse effects” on land management, such as cutting out local communities
Media coverage of university students speaking up against the war in Gaza, just like coverage of other protest movements, has fallen prey to some serious weaknesses
An infinite number of random events can produce just about anything if you have quintillions of years to wait
Every now and then, tiny particles of antimatter strike Earth from cosmic parts unknown. A new balloon-borne experiment launching this spring may at last find their source
WHO now admits the COVID virus and other germs spread “through the air.” This plain language may help improve research and action to fight disease
A study of mice starts to unravel how the brain gets tricked by a particular optical illusion
Starliner’s first crewed launch will mark just the sixth time ever that NASA astronauts have flown in a brand-new spacecraft
The eyebrows of the African wild dog have scientists wondering whether other canine species besides domestic dogs can make the irresistible “puppy-dog eyes” expression
Homes that survive wildfire flames but that are still affected by smoke, soot and ash is a growing issue for homeowners and insurers, as is the question of how to best remediate the problem
String theory could provide a theory of everything for our universe—but it entails 10500 (more than a centillion) possible solutions. AI models could help to find the right one
Fraudsters are using AI voice-cloning services to steal identities. Code words can thwart this deception
We shouldn’t be afraid of AI taking over humanity; we should fear the fact that our humanity hasn’t kept up with our technology
The autonomous trucking industry says its self-driving vehicles can cut carbon emissions by reducing fuel use, though some groups have raised safety questions
Hydrogen could help make flying greener, but switching away from fossil fuels poses some hefty challenges
Requiring FDA approval for laboratory developed tests would be an overreaction to the Theranos debacle and would ultimately harm patients
The environment shapes stereotypes and biases, but it is possible to recognize and change them
Lobbyists’ and politicians’ campaigns against lab-grown meat appeal to emotion, not logic and reason
Gas stoves spew nitrogen dioxide at levels that frequently exceed those that are deemed safe by health organizations
The way we think about time, aging and sickness may influence our health, behavior and general well-being in surprising ways
“We should not make it harder for people to access abortion,” says a researcher who has studied the impacts on people who seek the procedure and are denied
A multimillion-dollar digital camera could revolutionize astronomy. But first it needs to climb a mountain halfway around the globe
Superstitions linger into the modern era, in part, because they may be holdovers from a time when they provided a measure of protection from predators and other mortal dangers
You can thank yeast and bacteria cultivated over generations for the distinctive taste and smell of the oldest leavened bread in history
Black Americans face higher hurdles in diagnosis and treatment of frontotemporal dementia, the most common form of dementia for people under 60
The hit sci-fi show’s adviser and two other researchers discuss its portrayal of scientists and their technologies
When poet Jessy Randall saw that so many female scientists weren’t getting their due, she got mad. And then she decided to write poems for as many as she could
Researchers say this may be the first observation of a nonhuman animal purposefully treating a wound with a medicinal plant
Domain walls, long a divisive topic in physics, may be ideal explanations for some bizarre cosmic quirks
Famine is affecting an increasing number of people in Gaza, Sudan, Haiti and elsewhere around the globe, and its development follows a clear pattern
Scientific American asked experts whether sleeping on a hard surface is actually beneficial for back pain
Basketball, baseball, tennis and soccer leagues are starting to use AI to help call the shots
As climate change brings more intense heat waves, scientists are trying to understand how certain medications interact with the body’s thermoregulation system
A physicist, a philosopher and a psychologist are working together to bring better, smarter decision-making to the masses
A Dutch man with lymphoma and other blood disorders was infected with the COVID-causing virus for nearly two years, during which time the pathogen evolved numerous mutations
As climate change warms the poles, precious Antarctic meteorites will melt their way down out of scientists’ reach
Instead of just asking questions about how exercise helps our bodies, let’s also consider how it helps our brains
One percent of scientific articles published in 2023 showed signs of generative AI’s potential involvement, according to a recent analysis
Some practical advice for how to sit, happily, joyfully, with uncertainty—and in doing so, grow and learn from it.
The G7 group of wealthy, developed economies has agreed to phase out coal-fired power, the most polluting form of energy, by 2035
Myopia is becoming so common some people deem it “epidemic.” Here’s why getting kids outside and treating nearsightedness early is crucial for healthy eyesight
A declaration signed by dozens of scientists says there is ‘a realistic possibility’ for elements of consciousness in reptiles, insects and molluscs
Four years after a mysterious respiratory virus jumped from animals into humans and launched the COVID pandemic, wary epidemiologists are keeping a close eye on a strain of avian influenza that is spreading among U.S. dairy cows
A new book by Penn and Kim Holderness seeks to correct misconceptions about ADHD and accentuate the plus side of the condition
Genomic analysis suggests that the outbreak probably began in December or January, but a shortage of data is hampering efforts to pin down the source
Lethal autonomous weapons might reduce civilian casualties—or make catastrophic mistakes
Almost half of the world population heads to elections in 2024. To counter disinformation activities aimed against the voters on social media, we must first understand how they work
For some parents, bed-sharing is the only way their baby can sleep. Rather than talking to parents about how to do it safely, we try to pretend it doesn’t exist
The Geologic Atlas of the Lunar Globe doubles the resolution of Apollo-era maps and will support the space ambitions of China and other countries
Amid Earth’s fourth global coral bleaching event, a leading expert says tackling climate change is the key to fighting back.
A new U.N. program highlights the disconnect between climate messaging and the growing possibility of overshooting a key global warming threshold
Inexpensive Chinese solar panels are pitting Americans who want cheap equipment against those who want to make it
H5N1 influenza virus particles have been detected in commercially sold milk, but it’s not clear how the virus is spreading in cattle or whether their milk could infect humans
Research suggests that people tend to exaggerate how critically they will be viewed if they reveal negative information about themselves to others
Processed foods have been blamed for many health problems, but dietary research is tricky and nuanced
Here’s what a chef, a vet and two anthropologists have to say about eating periodical cicadas
Someday an unlucky outburst from our sun could strike Earth and fry most of our electronics—and we’ve already had some too-close-for-comfort near misses
Ahead of a project to spray carbon dioxide into jungle plots, researchers contemplate what its results might signal about the forest’s future.
In the 1970s a young psychologist challenged a popular theory of how we acquire language, launching a fierce debate that continues to this day
The EPA has released four new pollution rules, most focusing on coal-fired power, as the final pieces of Biden’s push to clean up the power sector
People understand how saving tropical forests is good for the planet, but temperate forests are equally indispensable in fighting climate change
How “heart-centered” archaeology is helping to find the Indigenous children who never came home from residential schools
An environmental engineer provides a glimpse of the magnitude of the challenge to remove PFAS from water supplies and ways you can reduce these “forever chemicals” in your own drinking water
Research on personality types in the middle of the extroversion-introversion scale is limited—yet the majority of people fall into this category
A woman with life-threatening heart and kidney disease became the second person ever to receive a genetically modified pig kidney and the first person to receive a heart pump and a transplanted organ together
Several marsupial species, including sugar gliders, independently evolved a way to make membranes that allow them to glide through the air
Long confined to regions with volcanic activity, geothermal promises to become a much more versatile energy source thanks to new technologies
Dodgy studies and fantastic claims have long powered a belief in devious Russian brain weapons, from mind control to microwave devices
After years of delay, researchers are ready to inject carbon dioxide into jungle plots.
The incentives in science don’t always encourage openness—but being wrong might just be the key to getting it right.
California has hit record-breaking milestones in renewable electricity generation, showing that wind, water and solar are ready to cover our electricity needs
Ancestors of so-called soft corals may have developed bioluminescence in the earliest days of deep-ocean living
People in the U.S. will be able to see where extreme heat is a threat to health with a new interactive tool created by the National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Is consciousness nothing more than an illusion? That idea defined the work of Daniel Dennett (1942–2024)
When human labor is hidden under the veneer of a robot or AI tool, that’s “fauxtomation”
By cutting trees in response to international demand for tobacco, farmers induced wildlife to start eating virus-laden bat guano
NASA scientists spent months coaxing the 46-year-old Voyager 1 spacecraft back into healthy communication
The Biden administration is marking Earth Week with announcements of solar power funding for lower-income communities, an expansion of the Climate Corps and Clean Air Act rules
Extracting, freezing and retransplanting slices of hormone-producing ovarian tissue could postpone menopause, but some experts say it’s not effective enough—or necessary
Millions of human-made objects travel at high speeds in low-Earth orbit, polluting space and increasing the chance of collision with satellites and other spacecraft
The birth of a cloned black-footed ferret named Elizabeth Ann, and her two new sisters, has sparked a new pilot program to preserve the tissues of hundreds of endangered species “just in case”
Years in the making, a project in the Amazon rain forest is finally set to determine whether a rise in carbon dioxide could save one of the world’s largest carbon sinks.
The U.S. is paying hundreds of millions of dollars to replenish storm-ravaged beaches in a losing battle against rising seas and erosion
A new video game puts climate solution tools in the hands of up to 80 million Minecraft players
Fossils and stone tools show that a cave in Saudi Arabia has been used as shelter by humans for millennia, up to the present day
The state supreme courts in Florida and Arizona both recently ruled that strict abortion bans could go into effect. But ballot measures may give voters a chance to weigh in
Many researchers think that Wegovy and Ozempic should be taken for life, but myriad factors can force people off the drugs
Three types of misinformation are being used against transgender people: oversimplifying scientific knowledge, fabricating and misinterpreting research and promoting false equivalences
The telescope's studies could help end a long-standing disagreement over the rate of cosmic expansion. But scientists say more measurements are needed
Brain size in one Massachusetts community has steadily increased since the 1930s, possibly explaining why dementia is trending lower nationwide
Perspective and subtle motion allows us to peek over the moon’s edge and into its far side
Cows and at least one person in the U.S. have been sickened by avian influenza. We asked experts about the risk to humans.
Two medical devices that mechanically pump blood to the heart have caused hundreds of injuries and more than a dozen deaths
Scientists say extreme temperatures that reached 119 degrees Fahrenheit and killed at least 100 people in parts of West Africa would only occur every 200 years in the absence of climate change
Hurricane Lee is no longer a Category 5 storm but has grown in size as it has trekked farther north
Scientists analyzed nine so-called planetary boundaries and found humans are currently transgressing six
The decision to send hominin bones on a commercial spaceflight has raised eyebrows among paleontologists
Only 1.1 percent of autistic adults in the U.S. access key publicly funded employment services. A broken disability service system is why
A recent examination of Vivitrol’s clinical trial data uncovered many hidden overdoses. Its preferential use in the criminal justice system must stop
A honeybee swarm has as much electric charge as a thundercloud, and the insects’ mass movements in the atmosphere might even have some influence on the weather.
Despite efforts to make a planned city in the Saudi Arabian desert sustainable, its layout could create problems
Here’s what to know about the fall COVID boosters, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended for all people aged six months and older
Schools are a growing battlefield in climate politics as conservative states reshape their curriculum to downplay people’s contribution to rising temperatures
Artificial intelligence systems in health care must be trained on the data of lived experience to prevent bias and disparities
The discovery of a hole in Earth’s protective ozone layer in 1985 led to a worldwide effort to heal it, but are there lessons that can be applied to today’s treaty talks on climate change?
Don’t be annoyed if you fail at a certain level of the popular game Candy Crush Saga; computers also have their problems with it
The new field of digital bioacoustics is machine learning to try decipher animal speak, including honeybee toots and quacks and woops.
Historical bad practices have left a legacy of pollution in the fragile ecosystem of Antarctica, but efforts are underway to chart a better future
Telecommunications grids are vulnerable to worsening climate disasters—which highlights the importance of one age-old survival system
Reintroducing large herbivores into fire-prone areas can help combat the global rise in megafires
Are you working really hard to learn something? Remember this counterintuitive fact, and you might improve your learning curve.
Within days of each other, Hurricane Jova in the Pacific and Hurricane Lee in the Atlantic rapidly ballooned into Category 5 storms
A newly described fossil is as old as the “first bird,” Archaeopteryx, and represents a birdlike dinosaur that might have specialized in running or wading instead of flying
A newly described fossil is as old as the “first bird,” Archaeopteryx, and represents a birdlike dinosaur that might have specialized in running or wading instead of flying
A newly described fossil is as old as the “first bird,” Archaeopteryx, and represents a birdlike dinosaur that might have specialized in running or wading instead of flying
Generative AI has made giant strides toward machine intelligence. Can machine consciousness be far behind?
Humans are feeding the invisible world of ocean microbes a punishing diet of pollutants, boosting the impact of climate change, and hastening the destruction of life as we know it
Self-driving cars are expanding their ranges in a handful of U.S. cities, but the reality doesn’t yet match the hype
Earth is bombarded by millions of bits of cosmic debris every day. Here’s how to distinguish between the different types
U.S. census tracts with high exposure to climate impacts will get extra federal funds to build resilience
Lise Meitner, an Austrian-born Jewish physicist, never received the Nobel Prize she deserved for her pioneering work on nuclear fission
Nearly every person on the planet saw high temperatures that were made at least twice as likely by climate change this summer
Anscombe’s quartet and the datasaurus dozen demonstrate the importance of visualizing data
Discovered only last month, Comet Nishimura is drawing attention before close approaches to the sun and Earth in the coming weeks
Seemingly trivial differences in training data can skew the judgments of AI programs—and that’s not the only problem with automated decision-making
Often nicknamed “making biscuits,” kneading is a good sign that your cat is happy, experts say
A new technique for analyzing modern genetic data suggests that prehumans survived in a group of only 1,280 individuals
Many states prioritize using money from a federal energy assistance program for low-income people to defray energy costs for heating rather than cooling bills
What dermatologists say about sun sensitivity, cancer risk and the products they use for sun protection
The bite of the lone star tick makes people allergic to a sugar found in mammal products, and many doctors don’t know about it.
The full death toll from extreme heat waves, hurricanes and other climate-related disasters often isn’t revealed until weeks, months or even years after an event occurs
Amtrak will soon get 28 high-speed rail cars. But they won't operate at high speeds because Amtrak tracks are outdated
Doom and gloom, or realism and hope? Here’s how six climate experts describe the future to their young children
A new interpretation of Isaac Newton’s writings clarifies what the father of classical mechanics meant in his first law of motion
A “Darwinian paradox” is that homosexual activity occurs even though it does not lead to or aid in reproduction. But if you visit three capuchin monkeys in Los Angeles, they’ll show you how beneficial their liaisons are.
Extreme heat is becoming more common across the U.S. The federal government and employers owe workers better safety measures
The simple and fun act of reading for pleasure in early childhood produces better cognition, mental health and educational attainment in adolescence
Researchers will inseminate female ocelots in zoos with sperm from the few remaining wild ocelots, then train kittens for the wild
There are talented scientists worldwide who do not speak fluent English. We have to accommodate the language barrier or risk losing their potential
An updated COVID vaccine will be available soon, but certain groups may benefit more than others
Denial of climate change is driven by ideology, leaving its consequences to harm us all—especially the world's poorest
New research suggests that blood clotting from COVID infections could contribute to long-term brain fog and other cognitive issues
An experiment at the University of Cambridge highlights the environmental cost of a well-manicured lawn
An electrode inspired by soft robotics could provide less invasive brain-machine interfaces
A new technique for sending hidden messages is mathematically proven to escape detection
The Luddites did not hate technology—but they did fight the way it was used to exploit humans.
Researchers in Hawaii are studying the effects of the deadly blazes on its island of Maui, including how they have impacteddrinking-water quality and might affect local marine ecosystems
A study of 27,500 patients in the U.K.’s health system suggests that getting people into mental health treatment faster is a huge boon of online therapy
Olive trees in Spain and neighboring countries have little fruit, which itself could wither away
Physicists Ruth Howes and Caroline Herzenberg’s ten-year research project ensured a place in history for the female scientists, engineers and technicians who worked on the atomic bomb
The long-awaited discovery of oxygen 28 might prompt physicists to revamp theories of how atomic nuclei are structured
Ten medications, costing tens of billions of dollars, will be the first to be subject to Medicare price negotiations
Floodwaters from hurricanes, sea-level rise, a burst dam or other causes can contain a nasty mix of pathogens, chemicals and debris
A checklist derived from six neuroscience-based theories of consciousness could help assess whether an artificial intelligence system achieves this state
Xenotransplants could help to solve the organ transplant crisis—if researchers can get the science right
Understanding the ancient past is critical to responding to challenges we face in the future
Does the prevalence of same-sex encounters in a group of Puerto Rican monkeys enhance their ability to pass along their genes?
After avian influenza killed 21 endangered California Condors, government officials are testing a vaccine that could protect the massive scavengers from infection
Abundant warm ocean waters are set to cause Hurricane Idalia to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane before striking the Gulf Coast of Florida and bringing significant impacts
People want swift punishment and will even penalize perpetrators for delays outside their control
Scientists debate what the future of the cosmos looks like and whether space will ever stop getting bigger and bigger
Standard AC units cool buildings but contribute to global warming. New technology aims to change that
An expedition has discovered a remote Fijian cave with thousands of microbats thought to be nearly extinct
Light is a very dangerous, if not so obvious, threat to birds who migrate at night. But researchers are using weather radar to track birds and provide “lights out” forecasts to help keep their paths clear of visual distraction.
Data show that mass-shooting deaths behave as a “species” different from other gun deaths
Companies are recruiting black soldier flies and mealworms as a protein source in animal feed, fertilizer, biofuels and even as ingredients for burgers and shakes
After years spent languishing in obscurity, proposals for a muon collider are regaining momentum among particle physicists
Social media companies’ drive to keep you on their platforms clashes with how people evolved to learn from each other
Identifying wildfire victims through DNA is difficult, but archaeological methods can help
There is a long U.S. legacy of plutocrat-funded pseudoscience. Congress just embraced it
Science is turning to machines to unlock the secrets of the vast, mysterious pulse-of-the-planet phenomenon that is nocturnal migration.
Even supposed “climate havens” in the U.S. face a riskier future, and infrastructure often isn’t built to handle climate change. But there are steps cities can take to prepare
From dim red to brilliant blue, stellar colors span the spectrum—and reveal how much any star brings the heat
Two studies report considerable improvements in technologies designed to help people with facial paralysis to communicate
The Human Brain Project wraps up in September after a decade. It had notable achievements and a troubled past
After atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear physicist Katharine Way persuaded the world’s greatest physicists to contribute essays to a book opposing nuclear weapons
Though Republican presidential candidates aimed to set themselves apart from Donald Trump at Wednesday’s debate, none are seizing on climate policy or support for renewable energy manufacturing and jobs as a way to stand out
Record-low sea ice caused Emperor Penguin chicks to die across Antarctica last year. This year could be just as bad
As climate change increases the number and severity of natural disasters, an investment in updated building codes will save billions in repairs
By treating Earth as a topological insulator—a state of quantum matter—physicists found a powerful explanation for the twisting movements of the planet’s air and seas
Language model AIs seem smart because of how they string words together, but in reality, they can’t do anything without many people guiding them every step of the way
Many young adults, facing the largest student loan burden in history, report depression, anxiety and an overhanging sense of dread
Fears of “social contagion,” used to support anti-transgender legislation, are not supported by science
An analysis of previous trials suggests blue-light-filtering lenses may not reduce eyestrain or sleep problems
August and September will bring tens of millions of public school students back to class. Many face health risks from rising temperatures
Thousands of usually solitary octopuses gather to brood eggs in a special spot off California
The successful lunar landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission makes India only the fourth country to achieve the feat
If you really want to challenging your bird identification skills, try using them at night, when bird calls are less than 100 milliseconds long.
Hundreds of communities across the U.S.—many in unexpected places—are at risk from an urban wildfire like the one that tore through the Hawaiian town of Lahaina
A surge in battery storage is helping Texas beat the heat without additional fossil fuels
A new study reveals the absorbency of pads, tampons and other menstrual products is significantly different than labels suggest
A hogfish may provide the first example of a vertebrate with light-detecting receptor molecules that reside outside the central nervous system
Minuscule amounts of uranium detected in the shells of turtles point to a new way to track such materials’ impacts on people and ecosystems
Researchers have discovered a pattern where diamonds spew from deep beneath Earth’s surface in huge, explosive volcanic eruptions
Research is under way to determine whether the mutation-laden lineage BA.2.86 is nothing to worry about — or has the potential to spread globally
New habitats that are emerging as mountain glaciers melt away represent huge ecological shifts and present new challenges for conservation
One of the most in-depth catalogs of an animal’s brain-body connections ever compiled ties neural activity to roundworm behavior
Climate change is making wildfires more likely and more intense, exposing more people to dangerous wildfire smoke. Scientists are continuing to learn how much damage that smoke can do to the environment and human health
Luna-25, Russia's first moon mission in nearly a half-century, was the vanguard of a planned series of lunar probes
Global efforts to eradicate the poliovirus were recently described as unsuccessful—yet Afghanistan and Pakistan are now on the verge of eliminating it
For thousands of years, no one trulyknew how birds migrated—that is until a few unlikely pioneers sat, with hundreds of pounds of kludged together recording gear, in an empty field waiting to hear sounds that no one had ever captured
From the moment a male lion is born it faces a gauntlet of challenges, ranging from snakebite to infanticide
Horror stories from Indigenous writers, a plea for better road ecology, and more books out now
As waters off Florida hit abnormally hot temperatures, volunteer divers are rescuing corals to ride out the heat wave in giant tanks on land
Ancient poop pathogens in Israel, Peru’s millennia-old El Niño preparations, a halt to Icelandic whale hunting, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits
Physicists are on an ever urgent quest to find a fuller understanding of what makes the cosmos tick, which they call a theory of everything
Hurricane Hilary is set to cause torrential rains and flooding in the desert Southwest. It could even potentially bring California its first direct hit from a tropical storm since 1939
Soaring temperatures fueled by climate change are contributing to buckling highways, ruptured tires and impaired visibility from wildfire smoke
In October 2021 a national emergency in child mental health was declared. Since then the crisis has only gotten worse
In the latest chapter of an ongoing “moon rush,” Russia’s Luna-25 mission will attempt the nation’s first lunar landing in nearly 50 years
On any given night, dense clouds of dark, ghostly figures pass over your head as you sleep. Maybe you never knew they were there, but there are people out there who are deciphering all the unseen movement that happens amid the darkness
Here’s what the hairiest problem in math can teach us about wind, antennas and nuclear fusion
At Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits, scientists found they could watch large mammals disappear from the fossil record—and could trace the ecosystem through the catastrophe
Magnetars possess magnetic fields that are trillions of times stronger than those of ordinary stars. Now we might have seen one of these extraordinary objects about to form
Extreme temperatures across the U.S. have put the elderly, outdoors workers and people with no access to cool air at the greatest risk of severe heat-related illnesses or even death
To steal cars that rely on remotes and computer networks, thieves are trading their pry bars for laptops and wireless devices
Here’s the story of the Lilli Hornig, the only female scientist named in the film Oppenheimer.
When criminal behavior overlaps with degenerative cognitive disease, the justice system often falters
Researchers are still struggling to understand how AI models trained to parrot Internet text can perform advanced tasks such as running code, playing games and trying to break up a marriage
Although Arecibo Observatory is slated to become an education center, astronomers hope research might one day return to the site
Hearing aids may help maintain better brain functions in older people, and better health overall.
A new study finds that heat-related illness incidents will soar alongside temperatures inside the famed Grand Canyon National Park
Luigi Palmieri, at times reckless, persevered on Vesuvius for 40 years, solidifying the nascent field of volcanology
We surveyed Canadian youth about science when it comes to making informed decisions. Their responses tell us that we need to work harder to help youth everywhere recognize misinformation
Ethical and social implications of brain science and neural engineering raise many questions
As extreme heat worsens, cities are exploring ways to reach isolated individuals before it’s too late
Recovery-oriented cognitive therapy helps people getting out of prison to reengage with society and build a new life
The use of artificial intelligence is so varied and industry-specific, no one federal agency can manage it alone
This 150-year-old tree has been a cultural hub for Hawaii’s town of Lahaina for centuries
Artificial intelligence has turned the brain’s electrical signals into somewhat garbled classic rock
This child was buried 400 years ago in what is now Poland, face-down and with an iron padlock on their foot
Mining the seafloor could boost global production of clean energy technology—and destroy the ocean in the process
More traditional land use and better data dissemination could help to prevent future tragedies
A new type of chemistry performed at very cold temperatures on very small particles enables quick, precise reactions
Climate activists say the ruling in favor of youth who sued Montana sends the signal that the courts can provide a “viable and powerful” strategy for battling climate change
Smoke from wildfires that have been exacerbated by climate change is complicating the picture of air pollution in the U.S.
Clinical-trial data suggest that semaglutide, sold under the name Wegovy, slashed risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular incidents in a trial
The U.S. Forest Service faces criticism for projecting that forests could become carbon emitters by 2070 instead of continuing as carbon sinks
False claims about racial susceptibility to COVID by RFK, Jr. and others are dangerous and reveal a widespread misunderstanding of our shared vulnerability to disease
Apothecaries founded this famous garden — one of the most ancient botanical gardens in Europe — to teach their students which plants poison, and which plants cure.
The rise and fall of LK-99 offers a lesson in how to consider technology’s role in urgently needed energy transitions
The world’s best TB drug was too expensive for sufferers—until advocates and a YouTube star changed almost everything
COVID hospitalizations are slowly rising again this summer, causing scientists and clinicians to rethink if or when the disease will become a seasonal illness
Effective regulation of AI needs grounded science that investigates real harms, not glorified press releases about existential risks
This first-of-its-kind federal funding is meant to jump-start a new industry that can siphon climate pollution from the air
The deadly wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, has killed dozens of people so far. Here’s how fires threaten human health
The Luna 25 spacecraft will attempt to land at the lunar south pole for the first time in a hunt for valuable water ice
A new view of a record-shattering distant star shows it to be twice as hot as our sun, and likely accompanied by a stellar companion
Enormous hailstones raise the question of whether global warming will intensify hailstorms
All you need to see one of the year’s best meteor showers is a clear, dark sky—and patience
The world’s oldest moss has survived Earth’s shifting landscapes for more than 400 years, but climate change is happening faster than it can adapt
Human exposure to wildfires in the U.S. more than doubled in the past two decades. A climate scientist looks at who is at risk and why
The latest data from the Muon g−2 experiment corroborates previous results, but clashing theoretical predictions leave physicists without a clear conclusion
The Martingale betting strategy has led many gamblers to ruin when the Kelly criterion could have brought them riches
A perfect storm of factors has led to huge racial disparities in maternal healthcare. In the USA, as abortion clinics continue to close, this inequity is projected to widen. In this podcast from Nature and Scientific American, we hear from leading academics unpacking the racism at the heart of the system. From the historical links between slavery and gynaecology to the systematic erasure of America’s Black midwives. What is behind the Black maternal mortality crisis, and what needs to change?
An expedition using a deep-sea remotely operated vehicle has uncovered a hidden underground ecosystem below hydrothermal vents on the seafloor
Dry conditions and strong winds set the stage for the disastrous wildfires that tore through the historic town of Lahaina and other areas of Hawaii
Archaeologists say the ornate ruins of Nero’s theater were found near the Vatican at a site earmarked for a luxury hotel
Here's how scientists are planning on getting underground fungi data from space, using satellites.
President Biden is declaring a national monument around the Grand Canyon, protecting lands important to a dozen Native American tribes and prohibiting new uranium mining claims in the region
From college plagiarism to cybercrime scams, generative AI is eroding trust in online content. Digital watermarking is no quick fix for the problem
Researchers set out to calculate how much of Earth’s life dwells in the planet’s least admired environment
The FDA approved zuranolone, a short-term oral medication that could help new parents who are struggling with depression after giving birth
Florida’s Department of Education has approved classroom use of videos that spout climate disinformation and distort climate science
At least 15 million people worldwide live in the flood paths of lakes that form as mountain glaciers melt and that can abruptly burst their banks
Atmospheric carbon is a currency that plants use to “buy” nutrients from fungi in the soil. To find out where this economy will go next, the devil is in the details. And the details are in the dirt.
“One-size-fits-all” regulation will sideline medical and research benefits promised by the advent of artificial intelligence
The bite of the lone star tick can cause an allergy to red meat, as well as to dairy and some medications
On this date 78 years ago, the first atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima. Survivors involuntarily provided key medical data for years, without receiving any help
As summers get hotter and longer, experts provide advice on how to survive heat-related emergencies
Rising heat could debilitate mosquitoes bred to slow the transmission of viruses such as yellow fever and dengue
The reason some homes feel hotter than their air temperature has to do with radiant heat. Here’s what to do about it
Like us, plants and fungi have complex economies. By burning fossil fuels, we’ve been devaluing their currency.
Marvel for a moment at the Milky Way’s night-sky spectacle—and the scientific revolutions it has sparked
Astronomers are now seeking to pinpoint the origins of an exciting new form of gravitational waves that was announced earlier this year
Construction has begun on the Vineyard Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts. It could provide enough clean energy to power 400,000 homes per year
The European Space Agency's ambitious Euclid space telescope is on its way to decoding the secrets of dark matter and dark energy
Naomi Livesay worked on computations that formed the mathematical basis for implosion simulations. Despite her crucial role on the project, she is rarely mentioned as more than a footnote. Until now
Breaking down “toxic masculinity” is complicated, especially amid fears of a masculinity crisis. Just look at one video game’s attempt
An artist, a programmer and a scientist have created a simulation of extraterrestrial communication to test Earthlings’ ability to understand it
The number of extreme wave events—when crests are taller than 13 feet—have doubled along California since the mid-20th century
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” says a paleontologist not involved in the discovery of a 40-million-year-old fossilized whale
Oppenheimer won’t bomb in the box office, but despite its director’s best efforts, the science in the film is a bit of a fizzle
Our financial systems need to be overhauled to avoid the kind of social-media-fueled bank run that killed Silicon Valley Bank
More training and more data can have unintended consequences for machine-learning models such as GPT-4
Drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic might help people tackle substance abuse as well as shedding pounds.
Scientists altered the genomes of female fruit flies, allowing them to reproduce without any contribution from a male
A glitch may have silenced NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft until mid-October—but a “heartbeat” signal offers hope for reestablishing contact earlier
A resurfaced idea for solar geoengineering imagines a sunlight-blocking space shield tethered to an asteroid
What does it take to correct the scientific record? And who—and what—stands in the way? The answer to both questions is: everyone
We need satellites and rocket bodies designed with an end-of-life plan to keep space uncluttered and navigable
When it’s time to rebuild, we must prioritize more sustainable and resilient infrastructure in Ukraine
New research identifies genome areas linked to dietary patterns and our taste for things such as tea, tobacco and grapes
A Nobel laureate in economics explains how artificial intelligence will affect inequality—and how solutions such as a shorter work week might mitigate its negative effects
All routes out of the landlocked country touch China or Russia, presenting diplomatic and physical challenges
Scientists used a smoking machine — complete with a 3d-printed mouthpiece — to figure out how to get the most cannabinoid per puff.
A clinical health psychologist talks about Barbie’s influence on how women and girls view their body
The genus of uni-sexual salamanders appear to be the only creatures in the world that reproduce the way they do. Researchers know how, but the why is still being figured out.
Physicists finally understand why heating a supercold quantum fluid freezes it into a solid
At least some of our planet’s water was carried here by hydrogen-rich space rocks, but it’s not yet clear how much
As “zombie” fires become more common, new research shows they arise from an unexpected source
Here’s how food loss and waste threaten the planet at every stage, from harvest to consumption
These simple sensors let a robot function by touch alone, allowing it to manipulate objects from a soup can to a rubber duck
Explorers of space and the deep sea face similar dangers, but some differences make one realm safer than the other
Malaria grabs headlines, but U.S. residents are more likely to encounter West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses
Scientists have developed a new model to predict how much “gravity waves” could alter a star’s brightness
An expert on aging thinks humans could live to be 1,000 years old—with a few tweaks to our genetic “software”
All who testified before a congressional subcommittee claimed that UFOs pose a threat to national security, so why are the reports not made public?
The attentive and endearing doggy head tilt might indicate your pup is trying to process what you’re saying
By inhibiting part of rats’ brain stem, scientists may have found the play center of the brain
An alarming study predicts an imminent collapse of a mega ocean current, but some experts say the evidence is insufficient
New measurements from Japan’s Subaru telescope have helped researchers study the matter-antimatter asymmetry problem
The “magnitude scale” for measuring stellar brightness also reveals the limits of naked-eye stargazing
The founder of a Japanese media company has offered a large cash prize to anyone who can find a flaw in an unusual proof
As AI-generated content fills the Internet, it’s corrupting the training data for models to come. What happens when AI eats itself?
Women in the U.S., India and Nigeria are losing money, economic opportunities and their health as temperatures rise
Researchers say they have discovered a new room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductor, but many scientists are unconvinced
An international team of scientists says nematodes found in Siberian permafrost are 46,000 years old and survived using techniques similar to those of a modern lab favorite
Floy Agnes Lee came to Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1945 knowing nothing of the top secret work on the atomic bomb happening all around her—but she studied the blood of the researchers who did.
Preliminary analyses show that this July is virtually certain to be the hottest month on record for the planet by a wide margin, largely because of global warming
The U.S. ignored Oppenheimer’s warnings about nuclear weapons and rushed to build and deploy a dangerous technology. We must not make the same mistake with AI
Limited data on adults age 60 and older raise questions on whether high-priced weight-loss drugs will really help with lowering rates of chronic illness and disability
Experts weigh in on the most shocking, paradigm-shifting and delightful findings in the history of physics
Scientists are gearing up for a high-stakes finale to OSIRIS-REx, the first U.S. mission to snare a sample from an asteroid
Allegations of data fabrication have sparked the retraction of multiple papers from Ranga Dias, a researcher who claimed discovery of a room-temperature superconductor
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, headed for its closest encounter with the sun next year, has started to heat up, leading to a cinematic outburst of icy volcanism
With their stealth, speed and serrated teeth, sharks are predators to be reckoned with. And that’s before factoring in the cocaine some sharks may be eating
Attempts to understand the psychopathology of romantic infatuation and sexual predation are still in their infancy
Some of the most vulnerable communities in the U.S. live in places that are particularly prone to frequent, prolonged power outages
Electronics that can bend, stretch and repair themselves could potentially work in applications ranging from tougher robots to smart clothes
Rip currents pose a danger to swimmers at the beach, but they also play an important ecological role in the ocean
Longer, more intense heat waves fueled by climate change could make it harder for planes to get off the ground
“Cell atlases” offer an unprecedented look at how kidney cells become diseased and how fetal cells invade and remodel the placenta’s blood vessels
Young people do not fall into neat categories of race, sexual orientation or gender identity. Research into LGBTQ mental health must take that into account
Young people can counter social media messaging that promotes thinness by bringing a skeptical take to their viewing habits
Motion capture and detailed face scans allow TV and film production teams to replicate a performer’s likeness. Generative AI is making the process faster and easier
A new study shows U.S. maternal mortality rates are increasing, and health care providers and advocacy groups are racing to build better care for new parents
Climate change made heat waves in the U.S. Southwest, Europe and China hotter and more likely
A sleep researcher who studies what dreams can tell us about the possible onset of some mental disorders believes lucid dreamers might hold a lot of answers in their heads.
Traits in psychopaths may be present to some extent in all of us. New research is reframing this often maligned set of attributes and finding some positive twists
A Federal Emergency Management Agency analysis of New York City’s inadequate storm drainage system shows that many urban areas can’t handle more intense rainfall
Revisiting the precious lunar samples on Earth suggests that some areas of the moon’s surface might be older than scientists once thought
Astrophysicist Aomawa Shields recounts her alternative career path in a new memoir about life, space and motherhood
Archaeologists found evidence of spices such as turmeric and cloves from ancient Vietnam, suggesting South Asians shared their culinary traditions via an ancient maritime trade route
The top-secret Manhattan Project resulted in the atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945
We can run from hurricanes, hide behind seawalls and buy wildfire insurance. Here’s how we can try to live with heat waves
Here's what a historian who has studied J. Robert Oppenheimer for two decades has to say about the new Christopher Nolan film on the father of the hydrogen bomb.
Using concepts from theoretical physics and explorations of the multiverse, here’s what we can understand about Barbie and the world she lives in
Before leading the Manhattan Project, J. Robert Oppenheimer co-authored a paper explaining that the most massive stars must eventually become what we would now call a black hole
Around half a million excess cesarean births occur every year in the U.S., putting mothers’ lives at risk
Astronomers are piecing together the final moments of supernova 2023ixf and learning more about it than any other in recent history
This week—and any time there’s a new crescent moon—the lunar night is a little less dark, thanks to the bright reflected light of Earth
Researchers have found a subtle signal that occurs two hours before major quakes, hinting that earthquake prediction is inching closer to possibility
The president is close to fulfilling his promise to cut carbon pollution in half, but everything has to go right
Hundreds of the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project were women. They were physicists, chemists, engineers and mathematicians. Today we bring you the story of one of them.
Stars fueled by the self-annihilation of dark matter might have been spotted for the first time by JWST
It’s not just the soaring temperatures of day that make heat waves dangerous. High nighttime temperatures add to the stress on human bodies
Researchers have decoded more than half of the characters in the so-called Kushan script by comparing them with inscriptions in a known ancient language called Bactrian
A concept for reducing car traffic in European cities, called the “15-minute city,” is being falsely described by far-right opponents of the idea as a communist-style lockdown on personal freedoms
It is possible to transform empty office buildings into residential ones—but remodeling these spaces won’t be easy
Experts are more concerned about a lack of activity in older adults who are somewhat overweight than about weight loss
A dispute centers on whether burning more calories through exercise makes you burn less afterward
Voracious black holes feeding on matter in the early universe display the curious spacetime phenomenon known as time dilation
An Alzheimer’s drug that attacks the protein amyloid does not work as well in people with more advanced disease
A trio of solar flares from a departing sunspot include one major flare that lasted several hours
Earth-based analogs are opening new frontiers in studies of the superdense interiors of neutron stars
Even small deep-sea mining operations can have a significant effect on marine life, a new study has found, just as such mining operations are poised to begin with no industry rules in place
The Supreme Court undermined affirmative action at prestige universities. We need a new science and technology agenda at every school, one that includes historically underserved people
As the 2023 Women’s World Cup kicks off, repeated concussions and head injuries in the sport raise discussion about the lifelong consequences on the brain
Researchers across Europe have found bizarre nests bristling with the sharp metal stakes cities use to repel birds
The Manhattan Project wouldn’t have been possible without the work of many accomplished female scientists
The Phoenix area has withered for a month under triple-digit temperatures that experts say will become more common with climate change
Scientists have discovered that once mammals, such as dolphins or orcas, have become fully aquatic, they pass a threshold that makes a return to terrestrial landscapes almost impossible
AI chatbots blur the line between intimacy and secrecy, posing risks for users with national security interests and access to sensitive information
The buzzy industry of robotic pollinators is setting its sights on indoor farms for urban—and extraterrestrial—environments
The temperature in Death Valley could rise above 130 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend. If it does, it would set a record for the hottest temperature ever reliably measured on Earth
A new report says flooding and heat waves exacerbated by climate change could complicate U.S. nuclear launches
With an unprecedented marine heat waves sweeping the globe, we need better solutions for ocean sustainability
Vegetarian and especially vegan diets can promote better health, help mitigate climate change and reduce inhumane factory farming
Just seeing nature in VR brings some health benefits—and helps scientists learn why we need the real thing
Get to know the stellar trio behind one of the most iconic sights in summer’s night sky
United Nations groups say the artificial sweetener poses a possible risk of liver cancer—but there’s no evidence for harm under the current daily limit
As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of flooding, aging dams across the U.S. are becoming more in danger of breaching or overtopping
The world’s oceans are becoming greener with climate change, possibly because of changing amounts of plankton or other organic material in the water
Hackers have already infiltrated electric vehicle chargers, usually for innocuous reasons, but bad actors could use that foothold to bring down the power grid
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the oral contraceptive Opill without a prescription, increasing access to birth control at drug stores and online retailers
Here’s how to make newly approved over-the-counter birth control pills affordable and easy to get
Recent news of complex embryo models revived debates over stem cells and human cloning. But biology says there’s nothing to worry about
After a failure in 2019, India’s second attempt to land on the moon comes as the nation signs on to a U.S.-led plan to shape future global lunar activities
There are infinite real and natural numbers—yet real numbers exceed natural numbers thanks to the mind-bending logic of infinities
Artificial intelligence taps historical weather data in forecasting, but the changing climate is complicating such efforts
Russia and other nations are working on “sovereign Internet” systems that threaten digital rights—and the stability of the global Internet
Was a teenager named Alessandra Giliani the western world’s first female anatomist? In 14th century Italy, women were strictly barred from medical research. One flouted that rule – disguised as a man.
Some fear that artificial intelligence will threaten humanity’s survival. But the existential risk is more philosophical than apocalyptic
New insight comes from zapping a region, known as the anterior precuneus, that causes people to feel dissociated from their body
Ozempic and similar medications may target brain circuitry involved in addiction as well as appetite control
Yet another heat dome will send temperatures skyrocketing across the U.S. Southwest just after the planet saw its hottest week on record
Tens of thousands of people died during intense heat waves in Europe last summer, indicating that heat prevention plans aren’t protecting vulnerable populations
A federal rule would require companies to disclose whether their products contain chemicals known as PFASs
As the threat of antibiotic resistance increases, new antibiotics are imperative—and AI could widen the pipeline
Satellites and other technologies are spurring a new revolution in volcanic activity monitoring
Astronomers found two colliding galaxies dating back to less than 500 million years after the big bang
Hotspots beneath cities deform the ground, causing important infrastructure to crack under stress
An experiment tests whether our ears hear silent intervals in the same way they hear music or noise
About eight in 10 people in the highest-risk fire areas of the U.S. live in Western states, notably California. But other states such as Florida face threats, too
A replicability crisis threatens computational science without shared code, data and methods from studies. A new replication agreement system can mitigate this crisis.
At a stay in Biosphere 2, I went in skeptical but learned to understand why analog astronauts love what they do
New research has discovered that wildfire smoke hurts these primates’ voice—and health.
Kids don’t typically advance academically during the summer, but the research isn’t clear on whether they forget what they’ve already learned
A tight labor market offers financial hope to many low-income workers but only if our government rethinks its hard limits for benefit programs
What a patient and family members can expect from the recently approved drug lecanemab—and what more is needed to help stop Alzheimer’s dementia
Health-damaging PFASs are nearly impossible to break down—but a new hot-water technique can destroy them
States will get less funding for childhood vaccines, a move linked to the recent debt ceiling deal
A new supercomputer is helping climate scientists determine whether injecting human-made, sun-blocking aerosols into the stratosphere would also alter thunderstorms and rainfall
Along with the Stop WOKE Act and bills banning diversity efforts, the Supreme Court’s “affirmative action” decision is part of a larger effort to pretend racism doesn’t exist
“If, by some chance, there’s another being out there that might connect to it, I wanted them to know that regardless of how it may seem sometimes, we love this Earth,” says poet Ada Limón about her poem
The Biden Administration approves a third big project, this one near the Atlantic City gambling hub, expanding power capacity and jobs
Summer heat is increasingly breaking records as the climate warms. As we describe in our roundup, heat can be deadly. Make sure that you take extra precautions to stay cool
The Supreme Court’s actions on affirmative action are a setback to justice and equality in the U.S.
Discussions of dinosaur brainpower spark larger questions around the nature of intelligence
Ascientist claims elephants’ cancer-preventing genes may have evolved to protect their sperm from the scorching hot habitats the pachyderms’ live in
Early warning about impending weather disasters is almost impossible across large, low-income regions of the world
Hormone mimics offer advantages even beyond those of the potent weight-loss shots on the market now
A new misinformation quiz shows that, despite the stereotype, younger Americans have a harder time discerning fake headlines compared with older generations
When sleep feels elusive, getting out of bed can calm your mind and help you avoid bad sleep habits
A leading medical society says that the commonly used body mass index falls short, and it is time for alternative measures
Tiny spheres of once-molten metal magnetically dredged from the seafloor could be pieces from IM1, a potential interstellar meteor that struck Earth in 2014
Scientists are beginning to understand what kind of thunderstorm produces so-called megaflashes of lightning that stretch more than 60 miles
The famous climate pattern could usher in a new hottest year on record and will have domino effects on the world's weather
The sun is quickly approaching a major peak in solar activity. Experts warn it could potentially begin by the end of 2023, years before initial predictions suggested
Researchers used a smoking machine to test the intensity of marijuana rolled into joints
The vagus nerve is the key information expressway between the brain and most internal organs. Researchers are now studying how stimulating it might improve mental and physical health
The Kashmir region of Asia is due for another major earthquake, and its modern architecture is ill-prepared to withstand such an event
Understanding why going without sleep eases depression in some people may lead to less taxing methods to boost mood
Elated researchers watched baby octopuses hatch en masse near Pacific Ocean hydrothermal vents
Here’s why older adults naturally lose muscle mass over time and how regular physical activity and resistance training can help
Cape Cod has quickly become one of the largest white shark hotspots in the world and the first ever in the North Atlantic
Zero-knowledge proofs allow mathematicians to prove claims without explaining why they’re true
Clear-air turbulence is becoming more frequent and more intense as the atmosphere warms
Cultured meat, grown from real animal cells, will soon be available in restaurants in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Major climate models agree that the Inflation Reduction Act was a “huge step forward” in cutting U.S. emissions
The new leader of the CDC should prioritize the people it serves, people in the agency itself and people who exert power over public health
Manufacturers of a class of food-derived supplements called nutraceuticals often make statements about their health value that are hard to verify, which can cause safety and efficacy issues
Our planet’s not-quite-circular orbit means that on July 6 we’ll be about 2.5 million kilometers farther from the sun than average—but we won’t feel any colder
A new study suggests AI can analyze cardiac activity to predict whether a song will be a hit before it’s released. But some hit song scientists are skeptical
The Euclid mission will probe dark energy and dark matter like never before, setting the stage for an international, multiobservatory push to solve some of the universe’s deepest mysteries
President Joe Biden has been using a CPAP machine to treat his sleep apnea, according to White House officials. What does that mean?
John O’Keefe shared The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience in 2014 for discovering that neurons in the hippocampus encode an animal’s location and create a cognitive map for navigation.
This podcast was produced for The Kavli Prize by Scientific American Custom Media, a division separate from the magazine’s board of editors.
Scientists hypothesize that coiled channels inside a cat’s nose may function like a gas chromatograph
The disk of our galaxy was long thought to produce these ghostly high-energy particles, but they haven’t been detected until now
Researchers say understanding differences in when menopause starts in racial and ethnic groups can help with screening and preventive care
Extreme rainfall is increasing in the Northern Hemisphere’s mountain ranges as global temperatures rise, raising the dangers of floods and landslides
Humans prey on more vertebrate species for use as pets and in medicine and other products than we do for food
Staged arguments with anti-vaccine cranks or other science deniers gets scientists nowhere. Trust me, I tried
Wildfires can have mental health impacts, both among those who are directly affected and those who find themselves under a blanket of smoke
Older people show significant cognitive benefits from learning, provided they have the opportunity to do so
Researchers, using the galaxy as a detector, believe they have detected gravitational waves from monster black holes for the first time.
Astrophysicists are tuning in to a never-before-seen type of gravitational waves spawned by pairs of supermassive black holes
The cold and mysterious Oort cloud at the edge of our solar system may be hiding a rogue planet
Heat Wave Yago is baking Seville, Spain, the first city in the world to introduce a heat wave naming and ranking system
A “heat dome” is parked over Texas and Mexico and is sending temperatures soaring to record—and potentially deadly—levels
Computer modeling explains a key facet of bees’ decision-making skills—something only seen previously in humans and other primates
NOAA precipitation estimates that engineers and planners use to design bridges, roads and other infrastructure are decades out of date because of climate change
For most of us, aliens are a source of mystery and fun, which keeps them forever in vogue
A brain scientist and a philosopher have resolved a wager on consciousness that was made when Bill Clinton was president
Solar power has been crucial to keeping the power on in Texas while the state experiences a major heat wave, even as some politicians have attempted to make it more difficult to connect renewable energy to the grid
Privately owned space colonies are more likely to be totalitarian nightmares than libertarian utopias
Professional and amateur astronomers alike are hoping that Comet C/2023 A3 will sparkle in Earth’s skies in the fall of 2024, although comets are notoriously difficult to predict
A vast expanse of the Indian Ocean is a staggering 100 meters lower than the global average sea level because of a major dip in Earth’s gravity. Scientists now think they know the cause
Toxic dust plagues marginalized communities on the shores of this disappearing salt lake
The Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade is impacting health care well beyond abortion in states that have banned the practice
Radiation in water from Fukushima will be diluted to almost background levels, but some researchers are not sure this will be sufficient to mitigate the risks
Young Montanans put their state on trial for its contributions to climate change. Here are five takeaways from the proceedings as we await the judge’s ruling
Desert ants living in the featureless salt pans of Tunisia count their steps and erect tall entrances at their nests to find their way back home.
More than 42,000 highway bridges across the country are in “poor” condition, according to national bridge inspection standards
The massive search for a missing submersible was a stark contrast to the treatment of a ship packed with people fleeing conflict
Stanford University researchers found high levels of the carcinogen benzene in California and Colorado homes that used gas stoves
Astrophysicist Farhad Yusef-Zadeh has spent decades peering into the center of the Milky Way galaxy, discovering hundreds of enigmatic filaments in the process
The drug metformin cut long COVID risk by 41 percent in both people who were overweight and those with obesity. But treatments remain elusive
With the Titan vessel's fate yet to be determined, an expert explains the safety features that should be onboard such a submersible
A 1943 paper highlighted a “Donald T”—Case 1 of 11 children with “autistic disturbances of affective contact”
The discovery that life on Earth looks a lot like information propagating itself offers new clues, and new directions, to the hunt for life elsewhere
Nearly 100 years ago a young astronomer named Cecilia Payne changed the way we see the stars in the sky because she was able to look into their burning heart and see something no one else ever had
Physicists knew black holes eventually disappear particle by particle. Now they think everything else does, too
If the missing Titan submersible were near the Titanic, it would experience pressure higher than that of a great white shark bite
Many generic drugs for cancer and ADHD, blood thinners and antibiotics are in short supply, in part because there is little profit in making them
Record ocean temperatures in the Atlantic are causing storms to form much farther east than usual
Statistics show that, despite some progress toward smoking cessation, tobacco continues to place an extraordinarily heavy burden on global health
The January 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcano generated a thunderstorm with more than 192,000 lightning flashes, including 2,600 flashes per minute at its peak
El Niño has arrived, bringing potentially major effects on weather around the world, such as drought and flooding, and possibly setting a new record for the hottest year
Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope suggest that TRAPPIST-1 c, the second world in a seven-planet system, lacks an atmosphere
Human depletion of groundwater has shifted the global distribution of water so much that the North Pole has drifted by more than four centimeters per year
Genetic susceptibilities, the environment and the body’s response to inflammation all influence our odds of falling ill
A new pill could be the first to help the more than 14 million people in the U.S. who struggle to control their marijuana use
A tourist submersible lost communications while diving to visit the wreckage of the Titanic, which sank in 1912
The coin rotation paradox flummoxed SAT test writers even though we encounter this math problem every day
The American Lung Association says a proposed EPA rule to curtail tailpipe pollution, which would bolster electric car adoption, could help the country avoid premature deaths and millions of asthma attacks
A new history of the deep ocean, seeking truth through math, a space opera about self-identity, and more books out now
Tornados are moving east, OSIRIS-REx’s asteroid sample is coming to Earth soon, and there’s fresh treasure under the seafloor
Smart, adaptable and loud, parrots are thriving in cities far outside their native ranges
Research shows that disrupting the body’s circadian rhythm raises cancer risk, and resetting it may bring that risk down
Bold new simulations suggest the James Webb Space Telescope might be able to distinguish between competing dark matter models by studying primordial dwarf galaxies
We should pay less attention to children’s weight and more to their overall health by encouraging outdoor play
A link between endometriosis and bacterial infection suggests a potential way to treat the painful disorder
New work suggests four distinct star system types—and finds our own in the rarest category
Scientists have used quantum technology to track individual particles of light as they begin the process of photosynthesis
A wildfire rages against the Alberta tar sands, aliens induce existential crises for people (and cats), the hype and potential of MDMA, and more books out now
Experiments that imitate solid materials with light waves reveal the quantum basis of exotic physical effects
The greyhound racing industry has been implicated in the rise of drug resistance in hookworms—which can infect dogs and humans
The OSIRIS-REx mission will return samples from the asteroid Bennu that could rewrite our solar system’s history
It takes a lot of water and energy to make negronis, manhattans and margaritas. Could we do with less ice?
Researchers are discovering freshwater reservoirs below the coastal seafloor that might someday save dry regions from drought
To better understand early pregnancy loss without using actual human embryos, scientists employed stem cells to create models that mimic this stage of development
Magnetic fields help to explain why some stars are spinning more slowly than astronomers thought they should
Young people suing Montana to take action on climate change are ready to wrap up their arguments in a first-of-its-kind trial. The state takes the stand next week
Insects have surprisingly rich inner lives—a revelation that has wide-ranging ethical implications
Satellite monitoring of air quality could help reduce premature death from smoke exposure
Animals have been catching z’s for at least half a billion years. Here’s the first evidence of an animal sleeping
The wildfire smoke that smothered the U.S. Northeast last week has surprising connections to astrophysics—and to the historic search for our place in the cosmos
The James Webb Space Telescope is giving us our first glimpse of stars in the early universe
There is no evidence for Republican claims that considering the environmental impacts of investment is bad for the poor—part of the party’s growing opposition to environmental, social and governance investments
In steganography, an ordinary message masks the presence of a secret communication. Humans can never do it perfectly, but a new study shows it’s possible for machines
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is already billions of dollars over budget and decades behind schedule. How much more money and time it will take to complete, not even its leaders can say
Scientists are specifying how much damage climate change is adding to extreme weather events, potentially influencing court cases, insurance claims and public policy
Formerly “adjacent” wetlands in more than half of all states may be dredged or filled now that their federal protections have been stripped
Large language models such as ChatGPT tend to make things up. A new approach now allows the systems to explain their responses—at least partially
A fish species recognizes its own face digitally edited onto another fish’s body. What does this mean for self-awareness?
In some states, punitive drug laws require physicians to report a pregnant person with a substance use disorder, leading to the removal of their child after birth
New research finds that the area burned by wildfires during summer in California has increased fivefold since 1971 because of more arid conditions caused by climate change
Therapy for dissociative identity disorder has aimed to meld many personalities into one. But that’s not the only solution, a caring therapist shows
Therapy apps are incorporating AI programs such as ChatGPT. But such programs could provide unvetted or harmful feedback if they’re not well regulated
An endangered language family suggests that early humans used their bodies as a model for reality
With AI threatening to overtake the world of work, at least one pretty good job will always be in demand
Experts explain why tick-borne illnesses are increasing in the U.S. and offer tips to prevent bites
Though you might not be able to significantly rev up your metabolism, there are ways to boost the energy your body burns while doing nothing
In 2013 a new user took an online math forum by storm with unproved answers. Today they’re an urban legend. But who were they?
Fat-like compounds in ancient rocks point to a vast array of previously unknown microbes that once dominated complex life on Earth
Ontario and Quebec could see wildfires grow more intense and frequent as a changing climate brings unusually hot and dry conditions
Men and women often disagree on how much support women receive from male colleagues. The differences hurt women’s well-being at work
The MAPLE experiment was able to wirelessly transfer collected solar power to receivers in space and direct energy to Earth
Telltale evidence gathered by the James Webb Space Telescope suggests we’re closer than ever before to finding elusive Population III stars
Rainbow lorikeets are Australia’s most abundant native bird. What is paralyzing thousands of them every year?
Wind and solar produced more U.S. power than coal during the first five months of this year, as several coal plants closed and gas prices dropped
In the guise of collecting scientific data, data brokers are running a massive privacy invasion. Researchers should stop helping them
Here’s how the winners of NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge are making food out of thin air
New research shows surprising activity levels in dying brains and may help explain the sudden clarity many people with dementia experience near death
Wildfire smoke not only contains dangerous-to-breathe particles but also can react with urban air pollution to create toxic ozone
The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam threatens both agriculture and nature reserves, a Ukrainian conservationist says
A female crocodile birthed a fully formed, stillborn fetus despite living in isolation for 16 years
Arousal without orgasm isn’t dangerous, so why are people pressured to engage in unwanted sexual activity to avoid it?
Most of the eastern U.S. has been swathed in smoke billowing off more than 400 wildfires across Canada
The nation’s first climate trial, led by kids, will open on Monday in Montana but could have ramifications outside the state’s borders
Where is it coming from? How long will it last? What's in the smoke? Whose health is at risk? How do you clean your own air?
Supporting the health and safety of community violence street workers is urgent and imperative
More and better data are required to solve the mystery of strange apparitions in the air, the sea and space, according to NASA’s Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Independent Study team
Hyperintelligent octopuses just got weirder, when scientists found they can recode their brains when temperatures change
For lung cancer patients who have a specific genetic mutation, taking a pill called osimertinib after surgery greatly reduced the risk of lung cancer recurrence
Courts and the public are skeptical of sexual assault survivors who didn’t react violently to assault, placing a double burden on them. “Why didn’t you fight back?” is an impossible standard to demand, research shows
Researchers have gained a new view of the journey ahead for the twin Voyager spacecraft and other probes bound on one-way trips into interstellar space
The ability to conjure up possible futures or alternative realities is the flip side of memory. Both faculties cohabit in the brain region called the hippocampus
As giant plumes from fires in Canada billow over the U.S., experts explain what smoke does to your health—and how to protect yourself
Wildfire smoke from Canada is causing poor air quality along the East Coast. Here’s what those air quality alerts mean
A new study finds that Arctic sea ice could disappear in the summers as early as the 2030s, a decade earlier than previously thought
Smoke from record-setting wildfires in Canada has blanketed parts of the eastern U.S., but shifting summer weather patterns should bring relief
Scientific American will be rounding up some of the most striking images and notable updates about the smoke blanketing the Northeast from wildfires raging across Canada
Indigenous groups are developing data storage technology that gives users privacy and control. Could their work influence those fighting back against invasive apps?
Terror birds were the grizzly bears of birds, the great white sharks of the land, Jack the Ripper but with feathers. They were also truly fascinating.
A cluster of U.S. residents who traveled for surgery have developed severe fungal infections in the spine and brain. Here’s what you need to know about the disease
The most comprehensive census yet of the hippos in Colombia that are descended from several imported by drug-cartel leader Pablo Escobar reveals that there could be twice as many of the invasive animals as previous estimates indicated
Researchers calculated that high-emitting countries, including the U.S., should pay $192 trillion in compensation to low-emitting nations
The COVID pandemic put mRNA technology, long in development, to the test. Here’s a look at how it might fight cancer and when it might reach patients
Hvaldi, a juvenile beluga whale likely used as a Russian spy, has become so accustomed to human interaction that he’s putting himself in danger and urgently needs our help
Perfectly wrapping spherical objects together seems trivial, but it’s a task that has stumped mathematicians for centuries
The combination of a massive seaweed bloom, plastic in the ocean and climate change is increasing the risk of dangerous infections
Scientists are using satellite observations of a massive volcanic eruption’s impact to better understand Earth’s atmosphere
Extraordinary claims about the small-brained human relative Homo naledi challenge prevailing view of cognitive evolution
A new tool that tracks military deployments to climate disasters could shed light on how the traditional war-fighting mission is evolving under a warming climate
In an interview with Scientific American, author Melissa Sevigny discusses her book Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon
A “more-is-merrier” approach to computer chipmaking would create the vibrant and fast breakthroughs that America needs to succeed
Nuclear fusion won’t arrive in time to fix climate change, but it could be essential for our future energy needs
Examining dream content can assist in the diagnosis of psychiatric and neurological illnesses. What does fighting off a lion mean?
A state of torpor might rescue oxygen-starved brain cells or aid extended human space missions
Officially, these prehistoric birds are the dromornithids, but everyone who studies them calls them thunderbirds--and for good reason.
Mass shootings are causing widespread anxiety among Americans. A new screening tool could identify those who are impacted enough to need mental health support
Chernobyl’s adaptable canines, sewage sea spray in the U.S., hibernating germs on Everest, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits
Analysis of more than 100 studies of non-invasive electrical brain stimulation probes whether the controversial technology works
A key FEMA disaster fund and state insurance programs could run out of money to finance disaster recovery and pay claims, respectively, as hurricane and wildfire seasons begin
Astronomers recently identified asteroid 2023 FW13 as a quasi-moon, a space rock orbiting the sun nearly in tandem with Earth
Boeing's first Starliner flight for NASA astronauts was scheduled for July 21, but is now delayed—perhaps indefinitely
Our planetary neighbor Venus becomes a brilliant beacon in the sky each time it reaches its greatest orbital distance from the sun
Advanced tools for tracking people’s eye movements and facial expressions can be used to design better places
Medical boards and task forces recommend mammogram screenings for breast cancer begin at age 40. But people in high-risk groups may want to consider getting tested even earlier
The elephant bird was the heaviest bird to ever walk the earth. Also, its eggs were 150 times the size of chicken eggs, and thick as a dinner plate.
The periodic table, as well as evolution, won’t be taught to under-16s in India as they start the new school year
Crablike bodies are so evolutionarily favorable that they’ve evolved at least five different times
Good news: the world is discussing a treaty to stem plastic pollution. Bad news: fossil-fuel interests are trying to weaken it
Some of the most violent cosmic collisions occur silently in the vacuum of space, but with the right instrumental ears, we can still hear it happen. Here's how.
Nyswanderweg, a pinky-sized residential street in Hamburg, Germany, is easy to miss. Yet it’s a rare and significant monument to Marie Nyswander.
Human intelligence may be just a brief phase before machines take over. That may answer where the aliens are hiding
Warm ocean waters are primed to provide plenty of fuel for the 2023 hurricane season, but a possible El Niño could quash storms
Recent efforts to weaken labor protections for minors are linked to the social Darwinist notion that people are inherently unequal
Some studies have found marked drops in sperm count, whereas others have not, and it’s surprisingly hard to measure
Hurricane forecasters are debuting a new model they hope will better predict when some storms will suddenly and explosively intensify
A new analysis finds that dry air and record-breaking temperatures linked to climate change have led to more frequent severe fires in California
Allergies on the rise, the political power of dried plants, your brain on music, and more books out this month
Fake claims that Social Security is broken and that climate action isn’t urgent all come from flawed free-market ideology
The emerging field of synthetic morphology bends boundaries between natural and artificial life
The fossil was a prehistoric bird is called Pelagornis sandersi, and its wings stretched out twice as wide as those of the great albatross.
James Rothman shared The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience in 2010 for discovering the molecular basis of neurotransmitter release. How did a biochemist come to win such a prestigious prize in neuroscience?
Rising temperatures could increase global inflation by as much as 1 percent every year until 2035
If Martian microbes were like those in this Earth lagoon, they could have survived the Red Planet’s primordial desiccation
A new study found more than 5,000 new species in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a mineral-rich area of seafloor that companies aim to mine for critical materials
The World Health Organization has declared that COVID is no longer a “public health emergency of international concern” but cautions that it is still an ongoing health issue
Vernal Pools are safe havens for creatures like the fairy shrimp, who have lived through the end of the dinosaurs, the breakup of Pangea, and multiple ice ages, but humans are paving them over.
High temperature records have been set from Portugal to Thailand as heat waves fueled by climate change have arrived early this spring
Much of the open-source intelligence (OSINT) community ignores ethical questions and the safety risks of reporting discoveries from the war in Ukraine
A curious mathematical phenomenon called Benford’s law governs the numbers all around us
A tiny, orange Brazilian tree frog may be the first known amphibian pollinator, further broadening our understanding of which animals perform this crucial biological function
A huge Danish study shows that up to 30 percent of psychosis diagnoses in young men could have been prevented if these individuals hadn’t used marijuana heavily
Findings suggest that the amyloid-targeting drug candidate slows cognitive decline in some people, but questions remain over its potential side effects
A new program looks to replant warm weather trees in northern Minnesota to help them adjust to a rapidly warming world
Young children are taking melatonin gummy supplements, but experts say they should be a last resort to help with sleep
New mask studies relying on a medical paradigm do not erase decades of engineering and occupational science that show they work
Researchers figured out how the flow of microplastics flattens ocean waves, letting satellites paint a clearer picture for future policy and cleanup efforts
Inside a vault at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles lies a microscopic population of immense value—the repository for vernal pool fairy shrimp.
The number of people facing acute food insecurity shot up for the fourth year in a row in 2022
Hidden beneath the surface of the treasured strawberry is a unique branch of the evolutionary tree, where eight sets of chromosomes are better than two
A dying star swallowing a giant planet hints at the fate awaiting our solar system some 5 billion years from now
Gas stoves produce emissions that can harm human health and the environment. Experts answer questions about the dangers and how to limit them
The country's largest estuary is under critical threat from pollution and climate change. The question is—can it be saved?
Lañilawal, a Patagonian cypress that may be one of the oldest trees on Earth, needs greater protection if scientists are to understand its secrets of survival, an environmental scientist says
’Tis the season for hordes of blue jellyfishlike creatures to wash up on California beaches
Carpets of gold, burrowing toads and fairy shrimp all depend on vernal pools—habitats that, most of the time, do not exist.
An increase in activity in dying brains might be associated with last-minute conscious experiences, but scientists don't know for sure
Many bird species are producing fewer offspring as global temperatures rise, and larger migratory species are particularly affected
New results from a U.A.E. orbiter suggest Mars’s moons may be pieces of the planet. A Japanese mission will tell us for sure
Decades of data support the use and safety of puberty-pausing medications, which give transgender adolescents and their families time to weigh important medical decisions
Melting sea ice is opening new pathways through the Arctic such as the famed Northwest Passage. But it is also reducing visibility and potentially causing delays
New technology gleans the gist of stories a person hears while laying in a brain scanner
Vernal pools are home to spectacular residents such as fairy shrimp, but these unusual natural wonders are under threat.
The Archimedes experiment will weigh the void of empty space to help solve a big cosmic puzzle
Bioengineers are drawing on rapidly evolving machine learning tools, deep reservoirs of data, and the firepower of a program called AlphaFold2 to pursue more sophisticated de novo protein designs
Communities in certain spots around the world, such as Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Central America, are likely to experience record-breaking heat events but may not be prepared
NASA is again sending people to the moon; the agency must revamp its safety reporting procedures to protect everyone involved
Here’s what’s next after the U.S. National Ignition Facility’s breakthrough on nuclear fusion last year
An unusual semiconductor is making physicists rethink the science of extreme conditions
Information theory can help people mathematically calculate the best starting guess for the popular online game
The Comstock Act is part of a federal case over access to abortion pills. A historical science-fiction writer weighs in on the legacy of 19th-century prudishness
The genome of the 1920s Siberian husky Balto suggests that greater genetic diversity and less inbreeding contribute to better health
These elements, dubbed “UNICORNs,” sit close to genes that affect smell, sleep and ways that people and other mammals interact with their surroundings
California blackworms make a contribution to the math and physics of knot tying by demoing twisting motions that help them escape a tangled worm ball
A mutant human influenza found in two dogs shows the importance of viral surveillance in companion animals
A new bill in California proposes making electric vehicles a backup power source for the electric grid—an idea that has promise but has to overcome several technological hurdles, experts say
The prevalence of autism and other developmental disorders is rising. Changing who teaches early-career pediatricians about these issues will negatively affect children’s health
New research attempts to discern how bizarre particles of strange matter form in the nuclei of atoms
A severe drought that has led to near-famine conditions in the Horn of Africa would not have happened without the influence of climate change, a new analysis finds
A federal ruling on ACA is threatening lifesaving medical services, and prioritizing anti-LGBTQ+ bias over scientific evidence
The laws of physics allow time travel. So why haven’t people become chronological hoppers?
Afghanistan’s rare and majestic woodlands can’t shake the echoes of war, desperation and poverty
The Goldman Environmental Prize has announced its 2023 awards. Three winners speak about their efforts to protect wilderness and fight polluters
With an apparent crash, the HAKUTO-R mission from the private space exploration company ispace has joined a long list of failed moon landers
The first timekeeping devices were probably natural materials lost to the ages, but the ancient Egyptians were the first to leave records of their timekeeping methods
We think about what a penguin is like in dozens of different ways—one reason why we often talk past each other
Courts hand down conflicting decisions often. Here’s how this has played out with mifepristone
The gas giant planet’s youthful glow could explain major differences between its four largest satellites
Humans are building meaningful relationships with AI chatbots. What will the consequences be?
Influenza D is only known to sicken cattle and pigs, but it “has everything it needs” to jump into people
Imaginary numbers—the square roots of negative numbers—are an inescapable part of quantum theory, a study shows
We only have a few clues about where the sun was born. Some new ones point to a crowded origin story for our nearest star
A single whale can lock up as much carbon as 1,000 trees. By turning them into carbon credits, a new project hopes to save the climate and the whales
Virtual visits surged in the pandemic, and studies show they maintain high-quality medicine
Through “bike buses,” more pedestrian-friendly streets and electric vehicles, some cities are making strides in decarbonizing transportation
The nation’s highest court paused a lower court’s decision to nullify approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, keeping the medication available while an appeal moves forward
Boris Eldagsen submitted an AI-generated image to a photography contest as a “cheeky monkey” and sparked a debate about AI’s place in the art world
A pillar of every neuroscience textbook, the classic “homunculus” has just gone through a radical revision
The president is creating an Office of Environmental Justice and expanding federal protections for communities that have been historically overburdened by pollution
Requiring a prescription for all forms of naloxone holds the overdose-reversing medication hostage, kept from millions of Americans who should carry it in their purses and back pockets
Researchers used an artificial tongue to understand how chocolate changes from a solid to a smooth emulsion
Biodiversity loss and climate change are two sides of the same coin. Why can’t we treat them that way?
The 1934 puzzle book Cain’s Jawbone stumped all but a handful of humans. Then AI took the case
Renewable energy has seen considerable growth in recent years, but there is a long way to go to achieve a clean energy future that averts the worst effects of the climate crisis
Greenland’s Steenstrup Glacier doubled its annual ice loss in just a few years, thanks to warm ocean water
Starship, a super powerful launch system that could revolutionize access to space, soared for mere minutes—but its test flight is still being hailed as a success
Amid a warming world, these conservationists have brought back a very old and very low-tech drought-busting practice and they are getting results.
Compared with landslides, volcanoes and hurricanes get a lot more attention, as well as research funding
Using “slow water” methods can make the Colorado River Basin and its people more resilient
In the 1970s Marie Nyswander thought that she had finally found a long-term treatment for heroin addiction, but not everyone agreed—including some of the people she was trying to help
Lengthening days set off a cascade of events in migratory birds that culminates in the birth of a clutch of chicks
To pull power from the waves, you need a high tidal range or strong currents. Sea-level rise threatens to mess with both
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) and Europa Clipper will search for signs of habitability on three of Jupiter's potentially ocean-bearing moons
Iceberg B-22A, which first broke off from Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier in 2002, is finally moving away from the South Pole after being freed from its seafloor tether
New research shows that people are drawn to others with more extreme versions of their own political views
Researchers close in on a taxonomic home for one of paleontology’s weirdest wonders, the Tully Monster
For centuries, scientific discoveries have suggested humanity occupies no privileged place in the universe. Now, however, studies of worlds beyond our solar system could place meaningful new limits on our existential mediocrity
A promising combination of exoplanet-finding methods pinpoints details about its first world
Hibernating brown bears avoid the blood clots that can develop in even temporarily immobile people. Scientists now think they know how the animals do it
Aggressive restrictions will affect carbon, smog and soot emissions from compact cars all the way up to long-haul trucks
In the early 1960s a trio at the Rockefeller Institute started a bold experiment to change the way heroin addiction was treated, and they did so using a drug originally created by “the devil’s chemist”
The CDC and FDA have decided that one updated COVID booster is enough for now, in contrast to recommendations from other countries and global health organizations
Using machine learning, researchers have now created a much sharper portrait of the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy M87
We now know that the first galaxies in our universe formed shockingly fast, thanks to the latest results from the James Webb Space Telescope
The Environmental Protection Agency has released draft regulations that set the stage for a huge transition to electric vehicles
A federal judge in Texas ruled to withdraw the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, potentially making medication abortion less accessible nationwide
A new material was used in a simple snail robot, but it could one day make artificial nervous systems for more complex machines
Recently released data from samples of the COVID-causing virus SARS-CoV-2 at the market where many early cases of the disease occurred suggest animals were present but stop short of proving that they were infected and transmitted the virus to humans
A careful new study reveals coffee is generally safe for your heart and may boost your daily step count.
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, physical and legal attacks against clinics that provide abortions have increased
Sea levels off the southeastern U.S. have risen more than a centimeter a year over the past decade—about triple the global average—and the effects on communities near the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean already are being observed
A judge’s bad decision about the abortion pill rests on stigma about abortion that harms health care
Killer whales rip open the bellies of sharks to snag the liver. Other predators also have dietary preferences for organs, brains and additional rich body parts
A recent Food and Drug Administration decision that makes naloxone available without a prescription may increase the drug’s accessibility. But cost could be a barrier
A candidate “rogue” supermassive black hole may weigh as much as 20 million suns and has sparked a trail of star formation that is 200,000 light-years long
As atmospheric temperatures rise with climate change, baseballs can travel farther through the air, allowing for more home runs
A new shape called an einstein has taken the math world by storm. The craggy, hat-shaped tile can cover an infinite plane with patterns that never repeat.
Women with dense breasts are at higher risk of breast cancer and are underdiagnosed, but other factors also play an important role
These two researchers journey toward the center of the earth–via windows to the crust–to find bacteria that can breathe iron, arsenic and other metals that would kill us pretty quick.
Ancient Maya cities in laser focus, chickens gone wild in Singapore, high-tech drug research in the U.S., and much more in this month’s Quick Hits
The greenhouse gas intensity of offshore oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico could be twice as much as government estimates
The imagery offers a rare view of the ice giant’s ring system, bright moons and dynamic atmosphere
Moves in Florida to control public education mirror past fascist strategies in ways that are disquieting for American democracy, a historian argues
A small, bizarre-looking fish was found more than five miles beneath the sea and is considered the deepest fish ever recorded
The real-life fungi that inspired The Last of Us hijacks the bodies of ants, wasps, cicadas, and more.
Evidence that ancient glaciers retreated more than a quarter-mile a day is a worrisome sign that glaciers today could melt—and contribute to sea level rise—faster than was thought
A young psychoanalyst specializing in sexual issues starts getting calls for help—about something else entirely
Do efforts to create life—by cooking up imitations in computers, robots and molecules—point toward a universal definition of biology?
Mathematician Abba Gumel uses calculations and models to prepare for future disease outbreaks
A way of life nurtured for hundreds of years in the U.S. Southeast guards coastlines from climate change
A new index that rates 70,000 U.S. communities on their climate vulnerability finds that parts of the Gulf Coast subject to flooding and economic and racial inequities are most under threat
A new review finds that only some methods to counteract conspiracy beliefs are effective. Here’s what works and what doesn’t
The hunt for dark matter is in crisis, and it’s time for radical new ideas to explain our universe
With millions of people affected and at least $1 trillion of economic value at stake, long COVID is our next national health emergency
Some countries have used up far more of the world’s carbon budget—the amount we can emit and still avoid more extreme climate disruption—than others
A half-kilogram’s worth of samples gathered by NASA’s Perseverance rover for eventual return to Earth holds weighty implications for life on Mars
Studies show that people may experience enormous variability in personality traits throughout the course of the day
Our first known interstellar visitor is now long gone, but new research has some ideas about why it moved the way it did while it was in our cosmic neighborhood.
A new study documents the mysterious presence of five banned chlorofluorocarbons, chemicals that not only deplete the ozone layer but also contribute to global warming
Looming gaps in astronomers’ views of the heavens could undercut the revolutionary potential of NASA’s latest, greatest space telescope
Can researchers create AI algorithms that are ethical today—and will be safe in the future?
The strange phenomenon of quantum tunneling has been observed in a chemical reaction that defies classical physics
The four astronauts will fly around the moon in preparation for the first human landings there since 1972
A new study debunks the idea that solar geoengineering is a temporary measure to reduce warming and meet climate targets
Antidrone technology is combatting “flying IEDs” in the air over Ukraine—with implications beyond the war with Russia
Safe access to the world’s tallest peaks could disappear as temperatures rise in the Alps
Insights from Deaf and autistic communities could finally make office spaces better for everyone.
The "Mother of Dark Matter" was a force of nature—and a forceful advocate for other women who also wanted to dedicate their careers to the cosmos.
A federal judge’s ruling that invalidates part of the Affordable Care Act could mean people will have to pay for certain types of preventive care, though likely not immediately
A linguistic puzzle, ancient DNA, the origins of bipedalism, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits
An extensive system of air sacs, evolved over and over, let dinosaurs grow larger without sacrificing strength
Functional neurological disorders are very real, and medical compassion is an important part of treatment
Artificial-intelligence-powered image-generating systems are making fake photographs so hard to detect that we need AI to catch them
As more people turn to chat-based AIs for medical advice, it remains to be seen how these tools stack up against—or could complement—human doctors
Vera Rubin went from a teenager with a cardboard telescope to the "mother of dark matter." Some of her colleagues and mentees weigh in on her fascinating life, and how she was a champion for women in astronomy.
A severe geomagnetic storm created auroras that were visible as far south as Arizona in the U.S.
The U.S. is in a better place to reach its climate goals after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure bill, but the implementation of pollution rules and the outcome of the 2024 election could pose major hurdles
Multiple obstacles might make it hard for NASA to turn its dream of ice giant exploration into a reality any time soon
Researchers recovered lithium from batteries on a small scale by using mechanical force
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned about the dangers of xylazine, but Narcan (naloxone) can still save people’s life during an overdose
Tens of millions of people who hunt and fish are witnesses to climate change, and they are a critical constituency in efforts to reduce global warming
In the first episode of season five of the Lost Women of Science podcast, we meet a young doctor who, in 1946, was posted to Kentucky’s "Narcotic Farm."
A new international study finds that the growth and development benefits of children living in cities may have diminished in the past three decades
As part of its effort to prod the construction industry to go green, the Biden administration is providing new funding for rebuilding with low-carbon materials after disasters
This novel injection system could help advance gene therapy by nimbly inserting gene-editing enzymes into a variety of cell types
The asteroid Didymos witnessed its companion get slammed by NASA’s DART spacecraft, and Didymos itself may have interesting activity
Wherever we dig and however deep we dig we find microscopic living organisms. Could they eat the carbon we're pumping into the air?
The end of Roe reshaped abortion access across the U.S. What does it take to track those changes?
TRAPPIST-1b is probably an airless rock, but the same may not be true for its six Earth-sized siblings
The firearm as a totemlike symbol of personal identity emerged from the psychological insecurities of former enslavers after the Civil War
Post-COVID symptoms can linger for months or years, and more and more evidence points to problems with the nervous system.
The chatbot was the ideal test taker—it exhibited no trace of test anxiety, poor concentration or lack of effort—and what about that IQ score?
Unlike other senses, smell is not something doctors routinely test for—but some scientists think that should change
Stress on health care facilities might have accelerated outbreaks of the hard-to-treat yeast Candida auris
Firearms now exceed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of injury-related death for people ages one to 24, a new analysis shows
Population density and a prevalence of mobile homes make the region a hotspot for tornado deaths
A new era of neurotechnology means we may need new protections to safeguard our brains and mental experiences
Being infected with HIV is no longer a terminal diagnosis, but researchers are looking to fill the gaps that remain to ensure treatment reaches all who need it
Music made with artificial intelligence could upend the music industry. Here’s what that might look like.
Hundreds of unfilled residency spots in emergency medicine are telling us that critical care is in trouble
After recent earthquakes, Türkiye and Syria continue to grapple with a mass of rubble that could pollute, poison and alter the lives of everyone around it
Scientists say countries need to cut emissions far deeper to prevent catastrophic warming. That fact will hang over delegates when they meet later this year at the annual U.N. climate talks
East Palestine residents are looking to independent researchers to fill gaps left by authorities about the toxic chemicals that could be affecting people after a train derailment
Google’s new AI model can generate entirely new music from text prompts. Here’s what they sound like.
Here’s how to tell whether your eye drops are safe to use and how to recognize a potential infection
While it may seem daunting, there are still many things we can do individually to slow climate change
Insurers face a “crisis of confidence” as global warming makes weather events unpredictable and increases damage
Argentine mathematician Luis Caffarelli has won the 2023 Abel Prize for making natural phenomena more understandable and eliminating dreaded “infinities” from a calculation
Hundreds of millions of people lack access to safe water and sanitation. Will the first U.N. conference on water in nearly 50 years make a difference?
Luis Caffarelli’s work includes equations underpinning physical phenomena, such as melting ice and flowing liquids
A new study suggests that ’Oumuamua, the mysterious visitor that whizzed through our solar system in 2017, may have been merely a small comet from another star
A mass of moving material on Mars called a mantle plume may be causing marsquakes and volcanism
Now is the time to protect the health and safety of civilians who will be traveling, living and working in the dangerous environment of space
Birds are heading north before their insect prey emerge. Bees are missing out on early blossoms. Ticks and other pests have more time to feast and spread disease
Machine-learning algorithms are getting so good that they can translate Western instruments into Thai ones with ease.
These pathogens already kill 1.6 million people every year, and we have few defenses against them
The IPCC’s latest climate assessment says the world must cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2035, but the U.S. is already behind on a less ambitious target
To keep warming below levels that scientists say will bring extreme climate impacts, nations must act quickly to make deep cuts in carbon emissions, according to the final installment of the IPCC’s latest climate report
Open-office designs create productivity and health problems. New insights from Deaf and autistic communities could fix them
In Key Largo, Fla., scientists are looking to protect endangered native rodents and slow the invasion of massive Burmese pythons
Decades of failed attempts have given way to several successful vaccines and treatments for the respiratory disease RSV
Hairiness is the perfect way to demonstrate the math underlying the “pigeonhole principle,” first conceived in 1622
In the inaugural episode of Cosmos, Quickly, we blast off with Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno of Space Force who is charged with protecting our space in space, particularly from Russia and China.
Venture capitalists and start-ups don’t mind losing money, but dealing with a bank run is a whole different story
Genetic sequences show evidence of raccoon dogs and other animals at the Wuhan market sites where SARS-CoV-2 was found in early 2020, adding to evidence of a natural spillover event
An MQ-9 Reaper drone is sitting at the bottom of the Black Sea. Will the U.S. or Russia recover it?
Before exploding as supernovae, massive Wolf-Rayet stars spew gas and dust into space, seeding the formation of future stellar and planetary systems
Satellites that can better predict extreme weather and location-based text messaging systems can warn at-risk communities of storms and other climate-related threats to help save lives, the U.N. says
The tech industry is rushing headlong into the chatbot gold rush; we need prompt, focused regulation that keeps pace
Florida beaches are already receiving hefty batches of brown seaweed, kicking off a year that could break records
The Nord Stream pipeline explosions happened in a dumping ground for chemical warfare, but other contaminants proved most toxic to marine life
Image-generating AI is getting better at re-creating what people are looking at from their fMRI data. But this isn’t mind reading—yet
The burgeoning field of "digital bioacoustics" is helping us understand animals like never before.
Texas education officials adopted changes to internal guidance on textbooks that could steer schools to buy books that misinform students about global warming
OpenAI just released an updated version of its text-generating artificial intelligence program. Here’s how GPT-4 improves on its predecessor
Bailouts mean customers’ deposits are safe, but the Silicon Valley Bank’s demise has sparked concern about future investment in small tech companies
A first-of-its-kind probe brings physicists one step closer to solving the proton radius puzzle
Quantum bursts of light could help examine minute chemical reactions and reveal the quantum properties of mysterious materials
A spider that caught and devoured a much larger shrew for its meal adds to evidence that more spiders aren’t strangers to dining on vertebrates
Collisions between moons and planets may be a regular danger for possible extraterrestrial life
A coalition of environmental and Indigenous groups is suing the Biden administration over the approval of the Willow oil- and gas-drilling project in Alaska, arguing the government failed to consider the climate risks, as well as harm to wildlife and subsistence hunting
Top universities are finally bringing the excitement of the quantum future into the classroom
Flu and COVID symptoms are easily confused. A new home test—the first for flu—tells them apart in minutes
The research offers a tantalizing glimpse at a future in which two men can have biological children together, but any human applications remain in the distant future
A vaccine pioneer tells us that shots to protect against RSV—a dangerous virus for babies and older people—are finally nearing approval.
The EPA has proposed the first nationwide limits for toxic chemicals called PFAS in the U.S. water supply
Experts hope that with the incoming Biden administration, the federal government will finally regulate a class of chemicals known as PFASs
The so-called winter vomiting disease has been closing schools and hitting long-term care facilities this year. Here’s what you should know
The evolution of terrestrial plant roots could have kicked off large-scale extinctions by throwing the planet’s mineral cycle into disarray
Every year on Pi Day, we have a reason to celebrate one of math’s most famous symbols. But this year we speak to someone who has captured it in song.
The World Health Organization declared the COVID outbreak a pandemic three years ago. Here’s what’s changed since then
A social psychologist found that showing people how manipulative techniques work can create resilience against misinformation
Scientists are on a mission to save parasites—not to kill them. Climate change is already doing an increasingly good job at the latter, and that could be a big problem for the world.
Despite the stream of “good news” about vitamin D, the supplement’s prospects to prevent mental health disorders in adults remain dim
A neurologist explains why our bodies fare better when aligned with the natural light of standard time
Will a possible breakthrough for room-temperature superconducting materials hold up to scrutiny?
Macaques using stones to open oil palm nuts can accidentally create stone flakes that look like early human tools
Interest is building in using solar geoengineering to combat climate warming, but experts warn it could have broad—and inequitable—impacts
Smoke from the catastrophic 2019–2020 fires in Australia unleashed ozone-eating chlorine molecules into the stratosphere
House Republicans have kicked off an investigation into how the pandemic began with witnesses who largely favor a lab origin
Preeclampsia is a common pregnancy disorder, but doctors lacked a decisive way to predict its severity until now
We slammed a $330 million spaceship the size of a dairy cow into an asteroid the size of a great pyramid. Here's what we're learning about how our first step in planetary defense could save us in the future.
Preliminary estimates suggest that a 50-meter space rock called 2023 DW has a roughly one-in-600 chance of colliding with our planet in 23 years
Booming exploration and commercial activity could ruin the quiet, astronomy-friendly environment of the lunar far side
There is no cure for FTD, the disease that actor Bruce Willis was recently diagnosed with, but new research suggests some future therapies
Millennia ago, early humans walked out of Africa and spread across the world in a way that few other species have. In this eBook, we examine how and why this happened, tracing insights from genome analyses as well as studies of footprints, tools, cave art and oral histories. We also look at the forces driving current human migration and where our journey might take us in the future.
The historic High Seas Treaty aims to preserve marine biodiversity in what has been considered the “Wild West” of the oceans while still encouraging research
The vast and deep Southern Ocean complicates efforts to single out the role of climate change in declining sea ice
The Lucy spacecraft and its target asteroids show that the way that we name discoveries matters
A team of moth and butterfly scientists decided to go from a restaurant bar to the lab bench to understand mescal’s iconic “worm”
A glaring disparity exists between the biomass of humans and that of both terrestrial and aquatic mammals
Some animal's babies physically relax when their parents whisk them away from danger. The same thing works for tiny wailing humans.
Like chimpanzees, bees can learn specific strategies for opening a puzzle box and accessing a reward inside by mimicking the behavior of their trained mates
NOAA will use a converted Air Force bomber to search the upper atmosphere for substances that could help the U.S. reflect sunlight away from Earth
The results of a test involving dozens of employers and thousands of employees suggests that working only four days instead of five is good for workers’ well-being—without hurting companies
A near-record amount of snow in California could ease some water restrictions after years of climate-change-fueled drought
A multiyear project studying stray dogs around Chernobyl aims to uncover the health effects of chronic radiation exposure
The Havana syndrome saga is an epic failure of science, one with severe consequences both for patients and for international relations
We needs a permanent national nuclear waste disposal site now, before the spent nuclear fuel stored in 35 states becomes unsafe
Xenobots are living, swimming, self-powered robots less than a millimeter across, evolved by artificial intelligence and built out of frog stem cells—and they could open new medical frontiers.
A fresh analysis of tree-ring data suggests barrages of cosmic radiation that washed over Earth centuries ago may have come from sources besides our sun
Plastic coverings, gravity snow guns and painted rocks could slow ice melt in high mountains
Scientists partnered with tiger sharks to map seagrasses—the unsung hero of ocean conservation.
The grasslands of India and elsewhere do not need to have economic value to be worth studying and preserving
Archaeologists have found a handful of human skeletons with characteristics that have been linked to horseback riding and are a millennium older than early depictions of humans riding horses
Scientists may have spotted two pairs of merging dwarf galaxies, each pair with a duo of soon-to-collide black holes
That prime numbers and powers of 2 fascinate many people comes as no surprise. In fact, all numbers split into two camps: interesting and boring
Some caterpillars have evolved with antifreeze in their body cavities, allowing them to become caterpopsicles to survive cold winters. But climate change could threaten that.
Congress and the airline industry must reassess how they approach and fund air transportation modernization
Researchers worry the Colombian environmental ministry will side with animal-rights activists rather than curb the spread of invasive hippos once kept by drug-cartel leader Pablo Escobar
Climate change is likely at least partially to blame for an uptick in the size and frequency of algal blooms in parts of the world’s oceans
New studies have revealed the spacecraft’s final moments and the remarkable aftermath of its impact
Although most experts say bird flu is not an immediate threat to humans, efforts are underway to produce vaccines for H5N1 or another potential pandemic virus
Russia’s war in Ukraine has caused widespread power cuts, spurring a rise in demand for residential solar power units
Smart U.S. leadership and international pressure on Russia can prevent an unconstrained global nuclear arms race
Conservatives tend to believe that strict divisions are an inherent part of life. Liberals do not
Gigantic tsunamis have been decimating coastlines since time immemorial and hold warnings for our present and future
As U.S. president, Jimmy Carter championed renewable energy, conservation and other then fringe efforts that are powerhouses today
A global survey of predator attacks on humans shows that South Asia is the world’s most dangerous spot
Hosts Josh Fischman and Tanya Lewis explore the pandemic's mental health toll on teens and young adults. They also delve into the effectiveness of telehealth, which has been booming since the start of the pandemic.
A panel of independent experts urged international leaders to set rules for the stratosphere and solar geoengineering
Sharpshooter insects use a physics phenomenon called superpropulsion to efficiently fling away droplets of pee at extremely high speeds
Futuristic food science technology could finally bring plant-based salmon filets and tuna steaks to the table
The idea that wolf packs are led by a merciless dictator, or alpha wolf, comes from old studies of captive wolves. In the wild, wolf packs are simply families
Instead of sucking planet-warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, some scientists are looking to capture it from the oceans
A judge’s decision could ban mifepristone across the country and weaken the Food and Drug Administration’s authority
Researchers who study aphantasia, or the inability to visualize something in your “mind’s eye,” are starting to get a sense of how to accurately measure the condition and what it may mean for those who have it.
Scientists are deciphering how the brain choreographs immune responses, hoping to find treatments for a range of diseases
A thin film can switch from releasing heat to trapping it, and wrapping the coating around buildings could make them more energy-efficient
The damaging effects of accidents like the Ohio train derailment would be minimized if industry would commit to developing safer chemical processes and products
A massive storm shocks southern California with cold temperatures, strong winds and abundant moisture, causing extremely rare blizzard conditions and potentially unprecedented snowfalls
After Pearl Harbor, 9/11 and other major tragedies, the U.S. has examined itself to see how to prevent the next catastrophe. We need to do the same for the COVID pandemic
By tuning the enzymes that control the breakdown or storage of sugars, hummingbirds and cavefish adapt their metabolism to meet the demands of the vastly different environments in which they live
From space aliens to foreign surveillance, we spoke to experts to find out what’s really going on with the balloon brouhaha.
The Biden administration is eyeing a 70 percent cut in the cost of floating offshore wind power by 2035
Successfully mitigating the impacts of climate change will rely heavily on innovation in science and technology.
JWST has discovered giant mature galaxies that seem to have filled the universe shortly after the big bang, and astronomers are puzzled
The risks associated with a bone marrow transplant used to treat HIV mean the procedure is unlikely to be widely used in its current form
Researchers demonstrate for the first time that using more qubits can lower the error rate of quantum calculations
Surging numbers of small research balloons increase the odds of airborne mistaken identity—and harsher regulations
Though deadly quakes can’t be prevented, science does have some ways to protect buildings—and the people inside them
The U.S. installed more battery storage last year than ever before, with California and Texas leading the way
Gonzalez v. Google seeks to hold tech giants accountable for recommendation algorithms in a complicated case that could see the Supreme Court meddle in more than 25 years of Internet policy
By using one of the most complicated and powerful machines on the planet, scientists have found a way to glimpse back to the very beginning of time itself.
New experiments can re-create the young cosmos, when it was a mash of fundamental particles, more precisely than ever before
Pregnant people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit or die than those who are uninfected, but vaccination significantly reduces the risk
Home buyers are paying excessive prices after ignoring flood risk and the costs of insurance and repairs, a new study finds
Improvements in how scientists measure plate movement and detect places where stress is building allow them to recognize areas where the likelihood of an earthquake is high
Not only can snakes hear sounds traveling through the air, researchers find, but different species react differently to what they hear
A psychiatrist who has studied the effects of previous devastating quakes explains how the Turkey-Syria earthquake could impact survivors’ mental health
In fair zoo...ona, a pair of star-cross'd pandas take their life. And we learn about whether or not animals can fall in love.
By shunting pilot observations aside, the Pentagon likely fostered a UFO fad and overlooked Chinese intelligence technology entering U.S. airspace
A train carrying toxic and combustible materials derailed recently in Ohio. Here’s what we know about the situation—and what we can’t know yet
When the U.S.’s national public health emergency for COVID expires on May 11, some costs will shift to the private sector and consumers
Science has long overlooked the clitoris, but the organ’s diversity in the animal kingdom reveals its importance
Antarctica’s massive Thwaites Glacier is melting more slowly than previously thought but also may be more susceptible to even small amounts of ice loss
Google, Microsoft and Baidu are using tools similar to ChatGPT to turn Internet searches into a conversation. How will this change humanity’s relationship with machines?
A soon-to-launch European mission is the first of two spacecraft—the other from NASA—that will hunt for signs of habitability on Jupiter’s icy moons
The Chelyabinsk asteroid slammed into Earth’s atmosphere 10 years ago, the largest impact in over a century
Are you “anxious,” “avoidant” or “disorganized?” So-called attachment styles have taken the Internet by storm. But it turns out there’s a lot more to unpack than people think.
Many repeat infections are mild, but some studies suggest people who have been infected with COVID more than once are at a greater risk of severe disease or long COVID
The U.S. government must fund water-saving efforts in Mexico if it wants to quell Mexico’s drug violence
Tiny flies that pollinate cacao are struggling, and this could affect our supply of chocolate
Every question we have about the airborne objects that might or might not be spying on the U.S.
The Energy Department grant aims to cut the cost of new geothermal systems that generate electricity from heat miles underground
The causes of long COVID, which disables millions, may come together in the brain and nervous system
Trees communicate and cooperate through a fungal web, according to a widespread idea. But not everyone is convinced
Studies of prairie voles are providing surprising new insights into how social bonds form
To improve workers’ health, research shows, companies need to support “transformational” leaders and weed out “destructive” actors, not just tout wellness programs
Individual atoms trapped by optical ‘tweezers’ are emerging as a promising computational platform
Host Shayla Love dives into the true story behind the now infamous 36 questions that lead to love.
Despite years of evidence that starting school later promotes better health and improved grades, too few schools have adopted this measure
Astronomers are puzzled by a ring around the icy dwarf planet Quaoar that is much farther from its parent body than thought possible
India is at an energy crossroads: if it chooses fossil fuels, it could undermine global climate targets
A professor explains why he is allowing students to incorporate ChatGPT into their writing process instead of banning the new technology
A temporary Twitter block after the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria shows how vital the platform has become for responding to disasters
The pandemic fungus in the television program The Last of Us is real. But an expert says other fungi are much more threatening to humans
A start-up called Living Carbon is planting millions of “photosynthesis enhanced” poplar seeds across the U.S. with the aim of providing carbon credits
One in three cases of maternal sepsis can be prevented with a single dose of antibiotic, a study in low- and middle-income countries shows
Resins used by ancient Egyptians to prepare bodies for the afterlife are found in vessels in a 2,500-year-old workshop
An expert explains why it’s so odd that the suspected Chinese spy balloon can change course
President Joe Biden named an expert on paleoclimatology to a White House intelligence panel
New research links bat habitat destruction with the spillover of their viruses to humans
A mysterious portrait of the Virgin Mary and Jesus may have been painted by the master Raphael, facial recognition finds. But many art historians reject the claim
The transformative social change needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius isn’t happening fast enough, experts say in a new report
Some scientists say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s suggestion of updating COVID vaccines each year, as happens with influenza vaccines, could boost uptake. But others are less convinced
The strong force holds our atoms together. Scientists may have observed its small-scale fluctuations for the first time
A study of more than 3,000 dogs finds that larger breeds, males and purebred animals tend to be diagnosed with cancer at a younger age
A growing number of U.S. airports are trying swoop landings rather than staircase descents, a method that saves fuel, cuts emissions and reduces noise
What really happens to our bodies when we age — and could we find a way to slow it down?
Urinary tract infections are increasingly becoming resistant to first-line antibiotics, and this may be a warning for our ability to treat other microbial infections
Does this all feel a little familiar? Called déjà vu, that sensation may be your brain correcting its own errors
Mammal species that live in groups seems to live longer than those that lead solitary lives
SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, is deploying machine-learning algorithms that filter out Earthly interference and spot signals humans might miss
A de-extinction company known for its plans to resurrect the mammoth and Tasmanian tiger has announced it will also bring back the dodo
New research from artificial intelligence projects that global warming will hit the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius somewhere between 2033 and 2035
Citizen scientists and researchers found that we are losing our view of the sky at an astonishing rate of almost 10 percent each year
A collaboration helped convince policy makers at COP27 to finally prioritize water as a critical resource affected by climate change. It was a win long in the making
Love in the brain, how dreams predict disease and better words for climate change in this month’s issue of Scientific American
An AI-generated conversation between Werner Herzog and Slavoj Žižek is definitely entertaining, but it also illustrates the crisis of misinformation beginning to befall us
New research findings, combined with philosophy, suggest free will is real but may not operate in the ways people expect
Scientists working for the oil giant Exxon in the 1970s and 1980s estimated temperature increases with remarkable accuracy. Those findings could now be used as evidence in climate litigation
Scientists cannot always differentiate between research abstracts generated by the AI ChatGPT and those written by humans
A new technology could wipe out whole species. Is it a magic bullet or a genetic atom bomb?
The world’s oceans hit their warmest levels on record for the fourth consecutive year in 2022, fueling sea-level rise and contributing to climate disasters
A rare flower encased in amber is the largest one ever found and dates from around 40 million years ago
Scientists have long known that ancient people living in Siberia made their way into what is now North America. Mounting DNA evidence suggests migration also happened in the opposite direction
In the first Lost Women of Science Shorts podcast, host Katie Hafner dives into the life and work of Leona Zacharias—a brilliant researcher who, before reporting this story, Hafner only knew as her grandmother
Racism and overstressed teachers help explain high expulsion rates for Black preschool boys
California has been hit by repeated storms fueled by torrents of moisture called atmospheric rivers that will only intensify in a warming climate
A newly discovered interaction related to quantum entanglement between dissimilar particles opens a new window into the nuclei of atoms
Though renewable energy surpassed coal generation for the first time in 60 years, causing U.S. power emissions to decline, emissions from buildings and transportation went up in 2022
In good news, our reactions to stressful events improve as we age. But living in uncertain times will still take a toll
Boosting vaccination rates, continuing widespread mask use and reimposing some restrictions on movement could reduce the number of deaths
Systems like ChatGPT are enormously entertaining and even mind-bogglingly human-sounding, but they are also unreliable and could create an avalanche of misinformation
Increasing demand for natural gas and oil has offset emissions reductions associated with coal and pushed U.S. energy emissions higher for a second consecutive year
In one species of mason wasp, “pseudo stings” on males’ genitals let them mimic females and scare predators
RSV is the number one reason children are admitted to hospitals. Progress in developing preventatives raises hopes of changing that
Quantum telepathy, laser-based time crystals, a glow from empty space and an “unreal” universe—these are the most awesome (and awfully hard to understand) results from the subatomic realm we encountered in 2022
Gene therapy has come a long way. Early tragic failures led to sweeping change, and in this eBook, we look at how the definition of and approach to gene therapy have evolved. We examine the latest therapies, the pursuit to minimize risks, the problems of overexpectation and more.
Lightning-resistant trees in Panama, an Australian avian arms race, hydrogen-powered trains in Germany, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits
Sustainable aviation fuel is poised for exponential growth thanks to increased investment and policy support, according to industry officials
Public health leader Anthony Fauci advises early-career researchers “not to be deterred” by vitriol
In 2015 the moon’s wobble and an El Niño teamed up to kill off tens of millions of Australian mangroves
Neural circuits that label experiences as “good” or “bad” and the emotional meaninglessness of facial expressions are some standouts among 2022’s mind and brain breakthroughs
The vulva has long been ignored in anatomical study. But scientists and doctors are making strides in mapping its pleasure center, the clitoris, and improving sensation for survivors of genital cutting.
Events like the World Cup can emit millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide, but it doesn’t have to be that way
Artificial intelligence can improve health, protect biodiversity and even write wine reviews
The Biden administration launched a historic effort on Tuesday to commercialize direct air capture technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Fusion devices for clean, safe, and affordable electricity and industrial heat are making advances and need a push
Deaths from heart disease, cancer and COVID are all higher in rural areas than urban ones in the U.S., and the gap is only widening
From COVID to space exploration, graphics helped tell some the year’s most important stories
Across the Arctic, rain is replacing snow, melting sea ice is leading to coastal erosion, and increased ship traffic is putting fragile ecosystems at risk
Fusion researchers at the U.S. National Ignition Facility created a reaction that made more energy than they put in
Officials say climate change is driving an increase in dry wells in drought-stricken California
Metabolism studies reveal surprising insights into how we burn calories—and how cooperative food production helped Homo sapiens flourish
Gravitational waves, the evolution of human metabolism, theodiversity and quantum entanglement in this month’s issue of Scientific American
Here’s how companies and other organizations are trying to make plastics more sustainable
A river’s “gut” revived, snake-saving social media, an intragalactic donut, and more success stories of the year
A new study that looked at U.S. Census data found that migration patterns are putting more people in the way of wildfires and hot summers
People who engage in random acts of kindness may not fully recognize the impact of their behavior on others
Hate speech from the far right is increasing the risk of violence against LGBTQ+ people such as the Club Q shooting
Math made a splash this year. Here’s a look at the fascinating discoveries, mind-bending quests and important events in mathematics in 2022
Two-million-year-old DNA, the world's oldest, reveals that mastodons once roamed forests in Greenland’s far northern reaches
Negotiators have gathered in Montreal for a United Nations summit aimed at hammering out a Paris-style agreement to halt and reverse global biodiversity loss by 2030
Key genes that are active in the brains of older people are also active in the brains of people who developed serious COVID
Octopus outbursts, evading sexual cannibalism, and a human-cockatoo arms race—here are strange animal behaviors we learned about in 2022
In 2022 the world’s population hit the eight-billion mark. But such milestones could top out by the end of the century
Heavy rains may have set off an outpouring of ash and gases from Indonesia’s volcano Semeru “like uncorking a soda bottle”
Languages from Hindi to Korean tone down swear words by inserting gentler consonants into speech. Here’s how “Let’s go Brandon” got started
As part of the push to electrify government fleets, employees at three national forests will test out Ford F-150 Lightnings for field operations in rugged and remote areas
Two giant telescopes—one in Australia, the other in South Africa—will comprise the supersensitive Square Kilometer Array
Researchers are convinced the James Webb Space Telescope has glimpsed an unexpected population of galaxies in the early universe. Now they’re trying to decide what this means for our understanding of the cosmos
Vaccines saved New York City billions of dollars, and China faces public fury over its strict virus-control policies.
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously on Friday to ban new oil and gas wells in the city and eventually close existing ones
Reduced population immunity resulting from COVID precautions, and a phenomenon called viral interference, may have influenced this flu season’s early start
By releasing astronomers’ data before they’ve had a chance to analyze the information, NASA will make research less fair and equitable
Recordings of more than 50 species of turtles and other animals help scientists reassess the origins of acoustic communication in vertebrates.
Grants to Indigenous tribes in the U.S. totaling $75 million are the first from a new voluntary relocation program aimed at climate risks
A nutritious fluid secreted by pupating ants helps to feed the rest of the colony and could play a part in the evolution of social structures
A total of 32 U.S. embassies, including some of the most strategic, ranked in the highest category for climate disaster risk, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office
Eisai and Biogen share clinical trial data confirming that lecanemab slows mental decline amid reports of potentially related deaths
The magma that is fueling the first eruption of Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano in nearly 40 years is less likely to cause explosive effusions than magma at other volcanoes
Compared with other diseases with similar economic burdens, research on endometriosis is severely underfunded, in large part because we don’t talk about periods.
There are different ways to be happy and function well, even if your brain is not typical
The Gaia satellite is making the most detailed and complete map of the stars in our galaxy
The sweeping influence of one weird rodent, an ecological thriller, tender essays on deep-sea creatures, and more books out this month
The brain of a new father goes through transitions analogous to the neural changes experienced by a pregnant woman
I helped develop a plan to support youth living with HIV and would like to see more educational institutions prioritize our needs
The World Meteorological Organization warns that climate-related shortages in water resources could affect two thirds of the world’s population by midcentury and will be felt unevenly
Much of North America can witness a delightful astronomical event on the evening of December 7 as the moon blocks out Mars
The Ads/CFT duality conjecture suggests our universe is a hologram, enabling significant discoveries in the 25 years since it was first proposed
People who prioritize “meaning” when they shop may unwittingly convince themselves to buy cheaper goods, services and experiences
In an ever warming world, the health benefits of stadium air-conditioning may not outweigh the climate risks
I’ve been working on space elevators for almost 20 years, and though we still have issues to solve, we are getting closer to making them reality
“Intentionally added microplastics” in pesticides and cosmetics could be made from silk instead
Elon Musk’s Starlink and other satellite sources of light pollution and orbital debris should face an environmental review, the U.S. Government Accountability Office finds
Watching fish rot for more than two months disproves a long-standing fossilization theory
Health care workers in Uganda will be among the first people to receive candidate Ebola vaccines in a clinical trial that could expand the available tools for the control of Sudan ebolavirus outbreaks
A woman during pregnancy shows changes in a key brain network that may be important for bonding with hernov.
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Two epidemiologists explain how three viral illnesses are straining health care systems
Large sporting events often claim to be carbon neutral. But often this assertion is greenwashing, and it hides the incredible amount of pollution they actually create
From the ashes of the giants of Big Basin Redwoods State Park arise a history of fire suppression and real questions about what happens to the forests in a drought-stricken West Coast going forward.
Social media companies need to give their data to independent researchers to better understand how to keep users safe
Devices using shorter UV light could keep indoor air free of viruses without harming human health
The question of how to preserve athletic performance amid extreme heat, including at the World Cup in Qatar, is pressing as climate change bites
Lessons from climate modeling could be used to help prepare for future disease outbreaks
How, and whether, to keep atomic time in sync with Earth’s rotation is still up for debate
As travel ramps up again, our data show that many pilots refuse to seek health care out of fear they will be pulled from flying
A standard diagnostic test may be one reason autism research includes so few female participants
In this new episode of our coronavirus podcast, we discuss a study that looked at the effects of Paxlovid on long COVID symptoms, and we also talk new bivalent boosters and immunity.
A virologist explains what it takes for a virus to leap from an animal host into humans
It may sound counterintuitive, but a warming climate can actually lead to bigger snowstorms
Cephalopods living unusually close together have been filmed throwing shells, algae and silt—sometimes at another octopus
Some voting districts are tilted intentionally toward one party or another—a factor in the midterms. Geometry plays a critical role in gerrymandering
Voters chose to protect abortion rights in all five states with abortion-related measures on their ballots
November hurricanes and tropical storms such as Nicole are relatively rare, but they can—and do—form
Seven races help illustrate how the landscape for climate action may change in Congress and in several states
The country’s highest court will decide whether Americans who rely on public assistance can sue states when they believe their rights have been violated
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says he’ll stop illegal destruction of rainforests allowed under former president Jair Bolsonaro. Will Brazilians support him?
A coalition of businesses and local leaders claim that climate progress under the Biden administration will continue if Republicans control the House
Under Elon Musk’s leadership, extremists could flock back to Twitter under the guise of “free speech,” and researchers are gearing up to study their impact
Women are leading the climate revolution. At COP 27, speakers should cede their time to hear what they have to say
As the COP27 climate summit begins, emissions reduction pledges are still far behind where they need to be to meet the goals to limit global warming
Mathematician Frank Ramsey showed how to discover coherent patterns among a multitude of number groupings
Science applies to every important social issue. Saying so doesn’t make us “unscientific”
For the first time, the formal agenda of the U.N. climate talks will include discussion on how rich nations should pay poorer nations for the unavoidable impacts of climate change
Growing swarms of spacecraft in orbit are outshining the stars, and scientists fear no one will do anything to stop it
Hospitals and health care workers are making voter engagement a part of whole-person health care
For most of human evolution, multiple species with different ways of walking upright coexisted
The beginnings of agriculture in Turkey, the bitter origins of watermelon, a giant deep-sea isopod found in Mexico and more in this month’s Quick Hits
Scientific American tech editor Sophie Bushwick explains how Iran is using surveillance tech against vulnerable citizens.
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
Set against a backdrop of severe weather disasters, the COP 27 climate summit is colliding with soaring energy costs, food insecurity and a looming recession
At the COP 27 climate summit, countries will grapple with how to pay for loss and damage from global warming and how to bolster pledges to cut emissions
Your questions answered about what RSV is, how it spreads, what vaccines are on the way and who is most at risk
A century after archaeologist Howard Carter’s momentous discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, questions and controversy still swirl around Egypt’s most famous king
A trial of how government, NASA and local officials would deal with a space rock headed toward Earth revealed gaps in the plans
Climate adaptation—and funding to support it—will be a major focus of the COP 27 climate meeting set to start on Sunday in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
China’s Tiangong orbital outpost will host more than 1,000 experiments, some of which will augment results from the International Space Station
Middle Eastern governments are ramping up their green ambitions ahead of the COP27 climate summit but show few signs of reining in fossil-fuel exports
SpaceX and the entrepreneur Jared Isaacman are pursuing a plan to rescue the iconic Hubble Space Telescope from a fiery plunge into Earth’s atmosphere
Learning how to adapt to global warming will save lives and economies, yet most of the funding for climate change in Africa goes to outside research on mitigation
Scientists demonstrate that crows are capable of recursion—a key feature in grammar. Not everyone is convinced
California is experiencing more wildfires, illness and drought as the impacts of climate change accelerate
If the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the first over-the-counter birth control pill, pharmacists and pharmacies could play an ever-increasing role in reproductive health care
FDA Chief Medical Officer Hilary Marston explains the importance of getting a booster shot, considers why so few people have gotten them and answers other questions
A New York University professor advocates “prebunking”—sounding the alarm before a conspiracy theory spreads too widely
Aye-ayes use their long middle finger to pick their noses, a first for this lemur species. But scientists aren’t sure why these animals picked up the habit
Beginning next week at the COP 27 meeting, global climate negotiators will try to put decades of bureaucratic bargaining into practice in areas where rising temperatures are hitting people the hardest
The way we see and describe hues varies widely for many reasons: from our individual eye structure, to how our brain processes images, to what language we speak, or even if we live near a body of water
The variants appear to sneak past the immune system, but vaccines will likely continue to hold strong
The midterm elections have high stakes for issues such as abortion rights, pandemic funding, climate change and other fundamental policies
As voters head to the polls in November, supporting those who deny this human right also supports oppression
Scientists say drought and other climate change impacts are undermining their ability to protect and document important sites before they degrade or disappear
Why on Earth would you try to "brew" anything using parasitic fish that slurp the blood and guts out of other fish?
Befriending someone in the opposite party does not lessen anti-democratic attitudes, a study finds
Social scientists, using haunted houses to understand our experiences of fear, have learned that friends make things very scary
The Supreme Court could destroy affirmative action in higher education, and STEM professionals must stand against the white supremacy and scientific racism that fuels arguments against it
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis explains how its AlphaFold AI program predicted the 3-D structure of every known protein
The large utility PacifiCorp is studying the viability of turning five fossil-fuel plants into nuclear-energy-and-storage facilities
As recent advances improve the prospects of detecting and catching lung cancer early, a new challenge arises: how to ensure people worldwide, regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances, benefit from new clinical tools.
Prizewinning great pumpkins are approaching 3,000 pounds as growers perfect the process
As the InSight lander reports the largest-ever meteorite strikes on Mars, scientists wish it a fond farewell
Researchers have identified a rare baby mummy as the firstborn son of a count of Austria, and rickets may have led to the child’s death
A new study suggests that billions of years ago microbes may have thrived on Mars before succumbing to freezing temperatures of their own making
Going out of your way to get grossed out might seem to contradict human nature. But it serves a strong evolutionary purpose
By offering or ceasing services, Internet and telecommunications companies offer a glimpse of a future in which the tech sector takes sides in warfare, with far-reaching effects
The British royal family once led an empire based on white supremacy that caused suffering that continues today
New books on the power of doubt, 1970s science-fiction icons, consciousness, interstellar travel, and more
Many retirees put their savings into real estate in the parts of southwestern Florida that Hurricane Ian severely damaged
Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, and those most affected by their pollution must drive miles to access care
An exquisite dinosaur mummy called Dakota shows evidence it was feasted on by ancient predators
Rats kept awake after exploring novel objects remembered the original items, but not where they’d seen them, raising interesting questions about human sleep.
Poor sleep impairs brain areas that are key to social engagement, but more zzz’s can boost kind behavior
A spike in diabetes during pregnancy, worsened by the pandemic, raises the risk of chronic diabetes, heart disease and birth complications
Researchers and tire companies hope drought-tolerant guayule can provide a sustainable economic boost to the water-stressed Southwest
Meltwater from Greenland churns the ocean, speeding the loss of glaciers like stirring ice cubes in a glass of water
With cases declining in the U.S. and Europe, here are some scenarios of how the outbreak might play out
The Iranian government is taking advantage of Internet shutdowns to push citizens onto a local intranet that is vulnerable to surveillance and censorship
A scientist who has been developing male birth control since the 1970s says safe, reversible and affordable options are possible
Yvonne Y. Clark, known as Y.Y., had a lifetime of groundbreaking achievements. In the final episode of this season’s Lost Women of Science podcast, we see how Y.Y.’s more than five decades of teaching educated a new generation of mechanical engineers, who credit her with helping to change the industry
Uganda’s Ebola incident commander talks with Scientific American about the outbreak’s spread, the country’s response and the risk of cross-border transmission
Fresh data from the Juno probe’s flyby of Europa could help scientists learn whether this icy moon of Jupiter is habitable—or even inhabited
Flying robots help researchers identify and protect threatened plants and other species in places that are inaccessible to humans
Revised calibrations for the James Webb Space Telescope’s instruments are bedevilling researchers studying the distant universe
This Scottish woman’s hypersensitive nose picked up a chemical signature of Parkinson’s disease that has been used to develop a skin-swab diagnostic
In this episode of the podcast, we talk about why we've had years shaved off our average collective lives since 2020. And also, we talk about "mabs" and why you might want to know what they are.
Crystal Lee grew up the granddaughter of Navajo medicine men. As Covid wreaked havoc on her community, she decided to act
As USGS takes over operations of a Landsat satellite, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland explains how the data gathered will help the Biden administration’s climate change plans
Early-stage lung cancers are not only difficult to diagnose—they’ve also proven difficult to curatively treat.
An ideal federal marijuana policy would reduce arrests while supporting a highly regulated marketplace
Elegant experiments with entangled light have laid bare a profound mystery at the heart of reality
Global warming made drought that has gripped the Northern Hemisphere, from China to Europe to the U.S., 20 times more likely to occur
The Motor City is, perhaps, the only large city in the country with groups of the beautiful, non-native fowl running around its fields and lots.
Yvonne Y. Clark, known as Y.Y. throughout her career, had a lifetime of groundbreaking achievements as a Black female mechanical engineer. In the third episode of the third season of the Lost Women of Science podcast, we see how Y.Y.’s brilliance helped make Project Apollo a success
The psychological construct of mattering gauges the risk of depression, suicide and other disorders
A surprising new gene discovery in coyotes may help conserve the critically endangered wolf.
While controversial, safe injection sites help people who need them, and applying moral foundations theory to others’ hesitations could help sway the public
A youth-led climate change lawsuit against the state of Montana is scheduled to be heard in June and could be the first of its kind in the U.S.
The secret of whether your cat feels bonded to you lies in behavioral signals they would show to feline friends
While international experts try to figure out what caused the ruptures in the Nord Stream pipeline, engineers have multiple options to try and fix it
Reducing human threats could unlock important connections between protected animal habitats
Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless share the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering an easy way to “click” molecular building blocks together
A study of gamer behavior finds they shy away from gay characters, regardless of their strengths
As the new term begins, the Supreme Court debates what wetlands should be protected under one of the EPA’s most successful and controversial efforts
A house built from geodesic domes off the coast of Florida was designed to withstand gale-force winds and powerful storm surges but not sea-level rise
Geneticist Svante Pääbo reconstructed the genome of long-extinct human relatives, showing we have more in common with Neandertals than previously thought
Climate change is worsening Alaskan wildfires, which, in turn, are worsening climate change. Here’s how to break this vicious cycle
Some mathematicians have sought a logical proof for the existence of God. Here’s what they discovered
Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work using entangled photons to test the quantum foundations of reality
The record-smashing temperatures in the Pacific Northwest last year were an extraordinarily rare occurrence even in the age of climate change
Thousands of tumor samples provide the clearest link yet between cancer and fungi, but more research is needed
Researchers are perplexed as to why inner feelings about life and love predict our actions better than the best social science
Some office seekers have positions based on research and facts, whereas others stand on assumptions and bias
Svante Pääbo’s work on sequencing the DNA of Neandertals and Denisovans, which won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, revealed surprising interbreeding among human species
A surge of new research underscores the growing global problem of light pollution—as well as the urgent need for public awareness and action
Researchers are rushing to calculate the greenhouse-gas emissions resulting from mysterious leaks in major gas pipelines that connect Russia to Europe
Florida hospitals are among the most vulnerable to flooding during hurricanes, but others along the East Coast and Gulf Coast are at risk, too
Researchers are cautiously optimistic following companies’ announcement of positive results for lecanemab
The celestial crash between NASA’s DART spacecraft and the asteroid Dimorphos is yielding spectacular pictures and data
An expert explains how numbers can mislead and what she’s doing to help people understand them better
A controversial new theory suggests the Milky Way galaxy’s arms sent comets hurtling toward early Earth, where impacts built new continental crust
Yvonne Y. Clark, known as Y.Y. throughout her career, had a lifetime of groundbreaking achievements as a Black female mechanical engineer. In the second episode of the newest season of the Lost Women of Science podcast, we see Y.Y.'s true grit as she fights for recognition and a place at the science table
For nearly two months, the Atlantic had no hurricane activity. Then September arrived with a flurry of storms
One megafauna extends its nerve fibers at an astonishing rate of five centimeters per day
Hurricane Ian poses catastrophic risks to the Gulf Coast of Florida as climate change exacerbates the storm’s effects
A relatively new type of snooping—we will call it poop snooping—could help us all react more quickly to new coronavirus variants or to future pandemics.
Energy experts say localized solar plants could strengthen Puerto Rico’s dangerously fragile grid
Radar images from the Zhurong rover reveal clues to the history of a largely unexplored region
A new formation method for rare “lonsdaleite” diamonds may illuminate a better way to produce them on Earth
A moral movement called longtermism, which focuses on protecting humanity’s future, dwells too much on artificial intelligence and not enough on war
Hurricane Ian will bring heavy rains and storm surge to Florida, potentially exacerbated by its size
Now is a good time to get both your COVID and flu shots, according to a nurse and public health expert
Storms like Hurricane Ian may become more common because hurricanes are expected to rapidly intensify more often as the world warms
Older prisoners will make up a third of the prison population in a decade, and many of them will develop dementia
The DART spacecraft has purposefully crashed into the asteroid Dimorphos, hopefully changing its orbit by a few minutes, in a milestone test of future planetary defense techniques
Sept. 26 marks an unmissable chance to view the massive planet Jupiter, whose opposition and perigee very rarely coincide
A new contest aims to jump-start U.S. production of floating wind turbines to place in ocean waters too deep for standard designs
Our planet is vulnerable to thousands of “city-killer” space rocks. If—when—one is found on a collision course with Earth, will we be ready to deflect it?
A diamond contains the only known sample of a mineral from Earth’s mantle—and hints at oceans’ worth of water hidden deep within our planet
Topology, sometimes called rubber sheet geometry, is finding patterns in the brain, drugs and evolution
Drab brown moths’ infrared glittering could be key to tracking different species through the night
In Louisiana, home to miles of polluting industries, slowing the progress of Formosa Plastics is critical to social and environmental justice
The landmark Montreal Protocol treaty, agreed to 35 years ago this month, has reduced the use of chemicals that not only thinned the ozone layer but also warmed the planet
A legal battle over nitrogen hypoxia, a new potential method of execution, raises ethical questions
A study of orb-weaving spiders shows that the arachnids' webs pick up a range of sounds--and they are always "listening" for vibrations coming in over them.
Dolphins and whales experience a lot of pressure while swimming, and a “wonderful net” of blood vessels may protect their brain, new research shows
Annual worker productivity losses from extreme heat amounted to $44 billion on average across 12 cities and are projected to rise to $84 billion by 2050
DeepMind’s system for predicting the 3D structure of proteins is among five recipients of science’s most lucrative awards
See a stunning new view of Neptune’s rings and oddball moon Triton from the James Webb Space Telescope
This year’s Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics honors some of the pioneers of quantum information science
Yvonne Y. Clark, known as YY throughout her career, had a lifetime of groundbreaking achievements as a Black female mechanical engineer. Season 3 begins at the start of her story, during her unconventional childhood in the segregated South.
Medical discrimination and a lack of data make it difficult for people of color to get help for post-COVID problems
The James Webb Space Telescope’s snapshots of a giant world orbiting another star show that the observatory is performing even better than expected and that its best exoplanet images are yet to come
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has decried fossil-fuel companies receiving subsidies and investment “while household budgets shrink and our planet burns”
Chomping on food takes so much energy that it shaped human evolution. Our ancestors spent many hours a day chewing, which may have shaped our teeth and jaws.
The Census Bureau must improve its data anonymization methods to protect vulnerable groups
The DART mission to redirect an asteroid could be just the beginning of a robust planetary-defense program
A new fossil-fuel tracker tallies global oil, gas, and coal reserves and projects to show how current production could drive the world above the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius
For humanity’s brightest future, the blue-sky, lofty thinkers in AI need the help of the muddy-boots pragmatists
Vultures get a bad reputation for their carrion-scavenging ways, but their dietary habits prevent the release of greenhouse gases
The first test flight of the space agency’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft is plagued by delays decades in the making
Though conservatives have attacked California officials for asking electric vehicle owners to unplug during a heat wave, experts say more electric cars won’t topple the power grid
Typhoon Merbok heavily damaged Alaskan communities, many of which are Indigenous and rely on subsistence hunting that residents would normally be doing right now
NASA’s Perseverance rover has collected four rock samples from an ancient river delta where organisms might have thrived
Multiple strategies—including speech therapy—can help those whose voice and gender identity are not aligned and can improve their quality of life
The first image of the behemoth at the center of our galaxy opens new avenues for understanding the nature of black holes
A new potential rule from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission would set a five-year deadline for defunct satellites to be removed from space
A specific kind of trauma results when a person’s core principles are violated during wartime or a pandemic
By ruling in favor of two doctors accused of running pill mills, SCOTUS is clarifying opioid prescription practices
Snake-identification groups on social media are turning serpent haters into appreciators
Why evolutionary biology and social justice belong together, the Silicon Valley fatalism that’s ruining our planet, and more
A new analysis finds that extreme rainfall has intensified across Pakistan and could become even more severe as the planet heats up
New research has discovered the first case of acoustic mimicry between a mammal and an insect--an acquired skill that could just save their skins.
New COVID booster vaccines built for the latest variants are here and should be more effective. But there are still some unknowns
Acquaintances, more than close friends, show the strength of “weak ties” when it comes to employment
A combination of rapid growth in battery storage and efforts to reduce power demand helped California avoid blackouts during an intense heat wave
Most of the people mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II were not close to her—research can shed light on the nature of their grief
A new technique can measure the thickness of Arctic sea ice even during the difficult summer months
Fish fossils from Western Australia preserve the oldest 3-D hearts, livers, stomachs and intestines in a jawed vertebrate
Cloth from Viking and medieval archaeological sites shows that women literally made the money in the North Atlantic
Learn about Viking women, doughnuts in the brain, nuclear weapons, and more in the October issue of Scientific American
The MICROSCOPE mission tested the weak equivalence principle with free-falling objects in a satellite
Austrian veterinarian Michael Leschnik explains why high temperatures put a strain on pets. Pugs, bulldogs and Persian cats have a particularly tough time
Early-warning systems for heat waves, floods and other hazards can save lives and property across the planet
Drake’s curiosity and ambition turned the search for extraterrestrial intelligence into the scientific venture it is today
The James Webb Space Telescope’s first images of the distant universe shocked astronomers. Is the discovery of unimaginably distant galaxies a mirage, or a revolution?
A new U.S. government website keeps a running tally of climate-juiced hazards and the number of residents facing these threats
How the flesh and blood of the brain is able to formulate a self-aware mind remains a mystery. One new area of neuroscience is shedding light on how brain regions interact to give rise to who we are, and in this eBook we explore the latest studies in consciousness, cognition and perception. This includes the neural mechanisms of decision-making, memory formation, navigating social relationships, recognizing faces and much more.
Editor's Note: This Collector’s Edition was published as Secrets of the Mind*. The eBook adaptation contains all of the articles, but some of the artwork has been removed to optimize viewing on tablet devices.
Skeleton missing lower left leg and dated to 31,000 years ago provides the earliest known evidence for surgical limb removal.
The fossil-filled volcanic crater Foulden Maar was almost destroyed. A new book documents its ancient-ecosystem wonders
This is our second back-to-school special episode. Today, we talk about two big issues—the low vaccination rates among the littlest kids, and how long you should quarantine after being sick (actually).
A huge aerial campaign seeks to understand the effects of biomass smoke on human health
An innovation arms race may rage between birds and humans on the suburban streets of southeastern Australia
Children as young as seven years old may hesitate to ask questions in school because they worry classmates will think they are “stupid”
Countries are struggling with how to share genetic code from myriad ocean creatures, which could lead to billion-dollar drugs
Local governments in coastal states will lose billions of dollars in local tax revenue as rising seas claim developed land
It turns out that making new views of the Universe accessible to those with vision impairment has required some deep thought–and carefully chosen words.
The Jackson, Miss., disaster rings alarm bells about myriad problems lurking in water systems across the country
The Greenland ice sheet just experienced one of its strongest late-season melt events on record
Chronic pain is biochemical, but it’s also psychological, and treatment needs to address how we think and feel about it
Over 10 days, researchers participating in the once-a-decade “Snowmass process” attempted to build a unified scientific vision for the future of particle physics
It turns out that hoverflies may fly hundreds or even thousands of miles—all to help pollinate our flowers and vegetables.
HIV has taught us how to care for children who have lost a parent, but more countries need to step up
In a field in Oklahoma, researchers are using new technology to spot deadly munitions built to maim and kill
Only a fraction of young children in the U.S. are vaccinated against COVID. Parents cite concerns about safety and a lack of worry about the disease itself
One-third of the country is under water, following an intense heat wave and a long monsoon that has dumped a record amount of rain
U.S. lung cancer screening guidelines miss people who have never smoked, as well as many women and Black people. Expanding outreach and eligibility could help
Remembering Frank Drake, who led science in listening for an extraterrestrial “whisper we can’t quite hear”
Bacterial predators fight like wolves, torpedoes and vampires, and they could provide the next antibiotics
Dragon flight in Game of Thrones comes from wing area, weight, speed, and hints of a different atmosphere than Earth
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized updated COVID booster shots that target the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. Here’s what experts know
The hormone GnRH may have potential for improving language, memory and other intellectual functions in people with Down syndrome, according to a pilot study
Here are solutions to improve students’ emotional, physical, and mental health and to boost educational outcomes
Data show that smoking, drinking alcohol and having a high body mass index are the biggest contributors to cancer worldwide
If you can find ways to make an activity appear safer, you can also make it more morally acceptable to some people
Technical glitches and questionable weather forecasts continue to delay liftoff for NASA’s landmark lunar mission
The American Museum of Natural History recently received the life’s work of a professor in Minnesota—1,274 jars of crabs collected over decades from around the world.
Although recent spikes in temperature affect all of us, our urban critters have had to find their own ways to beat the heat. Sometimes they “sploot.
A small, speedy, omnivorous dinosaur was a forerunner of Brachiosaurus and other giant plant-eaters
Facing more sizzling summers, Colorado tests a new risk formula that raises the likelihood of health warnings
Heat waves broke temperature records around the world this past summer, but it will still be one of the coolest summers of the next few decades
The result offers a sneak peek at the observatory’s transformative potential for studying worlds beyond the solar system
Pittsburgh’s Black residents are at high risk of contracting COVID. A Black-led coalition is trying to reduce it
This is our back-to-school special episode. We’ll talk about why COVID testing is about to become a school problem — and about whether or not kids have risk for long Covid.
Teaching simple basics in school about masks, handwashing and ethics can stave off misconceptions in adulthood
Why do we pay attention to the quality of our drinking water, but not to our indoor air? Scientific American's Senior Health Editor, Tanya Lewis, explains how and why this matters.
A problem with one of the Space Launch System’s main engines has postponed the test flight until at least September 2
Flexible organic circuits that mimic biological neurons could increase processing speed and might someday hook right into your head
Compounds that marine creatures make to defend themselves could yield lifesaving medicines
Two research teams grew synthetic embryos using stem cells for long enough to see some organs develop
Engineers at the company DeepMind built a machine-learning system based on research on how babies’ brain works, and it did better on certain tasks than its conventional counterparts.
Van Gogh and Ramón y Cajal, like you’ve never seen them before, in the annual Art of Neuroscience Competition
The antiviral Tecovirimat (TPOXX) shows promise against monkeypox, but human data and supplies are limited
Medical schools have neglected suicide, one of the leading causes of death. Teaching specific skills, including empathy, can help doctors save lives
A new resin can hold fiberglass wind turbines together for years and then be recycled into valuable products, making green energy even greener
Conny Aerts is an astrophysicist and a pioneer of asteroseismology. This year she shared the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics for her research and leadership that has laid the foundations of solar and stellar structure theory, and revolutionized our understanding of the interiors of stars.
No child should have to die of a preventable disease. Getting pediatric vaccine numbers back to what they used to be will take money, time and cooperation
Cases of paralysis in the United States and Israel suggest vaccine-derived poliovirus has infected many people
Although the risk of long COVID is not insignificant, it is much lower than previously thought—allowing parents to breathe a sigh of relief
A former NASA deputy administrator speaks candidly about the troubled history and radical potential of the space agency’s lunar return
Our puppies’ eyes well up, a reaction caused by oxytocin, which makes us want to take care of them even more.
Researchers say Indigenous “silvopasture” practices of raising livestock in naturally forested areas could be a critical tool to protect cows from climate change
“Normalizing” infants’ and children’s genital appearance to match a sex assigned in early age isn’t medically necessary and can negatively impact quality of life
From the AIDS epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iconic medical chief has advised seven presidents on numerous outbreaks
A vivid look at Iceland’s recent resurgence of volcanic eruptions—and why the country could be in for 300 years of renewed volcanic activity
Recognizing those who are making a meaningful impact in the lives of cancer patients, the Cancer Community Awards, sponsored by AstraZeneca, presents an individual or organization with the President’s Award. We reconnected with Margaret Stauffer, the 2021 winner, to hear more about what’s happened since she received the award.
The launch of NASA’s Artemis I mission will also be the start of the first deep-space rendezvous to be conducted by a solar-sail-propelled spacecraft
When humans return to the moon, they’ll likely visit one of these thirteen regions near the moon’s south pole
Scientists are working on ways to better anticipate the pathways—and health dangers—of drifting wildfire smoke
“False social reality” obscures widespread U.S. support for climate protection measures
Surprisingly, some worlds can survive being engulfed by a sunlike star when it swells to become a red giant
A host of different retinal exams are being evaluated as potential Alzheimer’s screening methods
Coastal flood zones where development is restricted will be based on future climate change projections, not past floods
In-school clinics improve well-being and educational outcomes and serve children who need them most
Unlike in adults, suicide risk among children is lowest during the summer and higher during the school year. Understanding these patterns can help prevent and treat suicidality
Mysterious “islands” help to explain what happens to information that falls into a black hole
A new technique destroys persistent PFAS without requiring high pressures and temperatures
For the first time, researchers have sequenced all 3,117,275,501 bases of our genetic code
Researchers worry about being branded as partisan, but people want to hear from experts
Trillions of tiny animals may be coordinating their movements in ways that affect every organism on the planet
Celebrating those who enhance the ability to provide the right treatment for the right patient at the right time, the Cancer Community Awards sponsored by AstraZeneca presents an individual or organization with the Catalyst for Precision Medicine Award. We prepared for this year’s awards by reconnecting with the 2021 winner, Dr Colin Pritchard, to hear more about what’s happened since he received the award.
In a new study, participants who consumed sugar substitutes showed an altered microbiome and spikes in blood glucose
We do not have a theory to tell us everything about how a black hole works, but new research is shedding a least some light on one of their many mysteries.
New laws make it harder for teachers to discuss racism and inequality, but psychological evidence shows these conversations dispel causes of bias and distress
An unvaccinated person in New York State’s Rockland County developed paralysis from a polio infection, emphasizing the need to target vaccination efforts to vulnerable communities
A greyhound in Paris was infected with monkeypox from its owner, underscoring the possibility of a viral reservoir in animals
Cuts to states’ use of Colorado River water are needed to prevent levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell from dropping below a critical point
The Space Launch System rocket could lift-off on its voyage to lunar orbit as early as late August
Scientific Americanco-presents a discussion about the past, present and future of the James Webb Space Telescope
In the U.S., Black and Latino men who have sex with men are most vulnerable to monkeypox
A respiratory therapist and former Army medic shares what we need to learn from the COVID pandemic
Although Betelgeuse is currently a red giant star, astronomers millennia ago reported it as yellow
Climate scientists are excited for the billions of dollars the Inflation Reduction Act will pour into fighting climate change but urge further action
Smoke from burning cities would engulf Earth after a nuclear war, causing worldwide crop failures and starvation, models show
Frequently asked questions about how monkeypox spreads, who’s most at risk, and what vaccines and treatments are available
Loss of wild species has reached a crisis level. Artificial intelligence can help, but only if Indigenous partners have secure land rights
Catastrophic megafloods formerly happened about once every 100 to 200 years in California, but climate change has increased those odds
Black holes, wormholes, entanglement, Einstein, mysterious islands and new science that sees how the inside of a black hole is secretly on the outside.
Recent theoretical and observational results have revealed new secrets about these shadowy objects, with deep implications for more than just black holes themselves
These fun stories show progress from the scale of quantum effects to that of snakes and from Earth to the edge of the universe
The scientists who want to bring back mammoths now hope to revive the marsupial carnivore thylacine
Industry-related groups say plastic is a safe material to replace lead pipes, but some researchers and health advocates are not so sure
On this episode of the podcast, we take a few minutes to talk about the other virus making headlines—and then return to long COVID.
Celebrating those who significantly improve access to cancer care for underserved populations, the Cancer Community Awards sponsored by AstraZeneca presents an individual or organization with a Catalyst for Change Award. We spoke with the 2021 award winner, Tomma Hargraves, to learn more about what’s happened since she received the award.
New research points to underwater waves that create cooler ocean areas in which coral can survive global warming
A new investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena could have bigger impacts on atmospheric science than on astrobiology
Hybridization isn’t as rare as you think, and it’s a tactic some animals can use to weather global warming
One study after another is coming to the same conclusion: the Arctic is heating up much faster than earlier research suggested
Climate experts praise the Inflation Reduction Act for focusing on emissions, clean energy and environmental justice but caution that much work remains
A single whiff of oxytocin, a chemical that some call the “love hormone,” promotes tolerance among lions at a wildlife sanctuary.
Offering mental health services across state lines can aid children and families struggling to find gender-affirming services
This molecule tells the brain whether to put a positive or negative spin on events. Mental disorders may result when the up/down labeling goes awry.
Emissions models can understate the difficulty of rapidly reducing carbon dioxide this decade
Scientists and medical experts weigh in on how to recognize the signs of heat-related illness and avoid the worst health impacts from increasingly intense heat waves
The Langya virus, which is related to the Nipah and Hendra viruses, has infected at least 35 people in China in the two years before 2021
Piping in audio of snapping shrimp could help the oysters reestablish long-lost ecosystems
Celebrating those who strive to overcome disparities in cancer care to bring quality services to their patients, the Cancer Community Awards, sponsored by AstraZeneca, created the Catalyst for Equity Award. We spoke with Dr Anne Marie Murphy, the Executive Director of Equal Hope and winner of the award in 2021, to learn more about what’s happened since her organization received the award.
Mentally rotating an object in your head might improve thinking in words, a finding that could improve teaching methods
Only 2.3 percent of households in the 10 Kentucky counties that suffered devastating floods last month have flood policies, records show
“Decolonizing” the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) could boost its chances of success, says science historian Rebecca Charbonneau
Last-mile delivery by a small drone takes much less energy per package than delivery by diesel truck
A pair of studies show that male bottlenose dolphins rely on wingmen when wooing mates—and that they cultivate these friendships by being vocal.
The inventor who introduced the Gaia hypothesis to environmental science leaves behind a rich legacy
July 2022 became one of the planet’s top three hottest Julys amid a summer of record-shattering heat for the Northern Hemisphere
The Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade has put medical providers in the tough position of deciding when emergency abortions and other life-saving procedures are necessary
Nongovernment satellites are vulnerable to attack, and calling them critical infrastructure would make it easier for the U.S. to fight back
Jumping spiders have REM-like twitches when they sleep, suggesting dreams may be much more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously realized
A virologist explains how they work, who can get them and how well they prevent infection
President Biden is part of a minority of people who have experienced Paxlovid rebound, but experts say the drug should still be prescribed for those who need it
Making decisions off complex information is frustrating and stressful, but a change in mindset can help
The Senate’s passage of a monumental climate bill comes after decades of legislative defeats, but it is still an early step indrastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The CHIPS and Science Act aims to support domestic semiconductor production, new high-tech jobs and scientific research—even NASA
Restoring eye tissue postmortem could pave the way for reviving other types of brain tissue
Risks for Black, Hispanic and Asian Americans start at lower weights and younger ages than risks for white people
Detailed data about a host of physical and chemical forces are shaping a new view of the sea
What the virus is, how it spreads, and how it is being handled. Here's what you need to know about monkeypox.
Children ‘are not little adults’—they have more trouble regulating temperature than adults do
Disasters so extreme that communities have not experienced anything like them before show the shortcomings of current preparedness plans
Webb sees through dust and gas into regions out of reach of optical telescopes such as Hubble, revealing new galaxy views.
A machine-learning algorithm predicts that more than half of the thousands of species whose conservation status has yet to be assessed are probably in danger of disappearing for good
Members of the public are helping professional astronomers identify nascent planetary systems
Some studies suggest that the risk of cardiovascular problems, such as a heart attack or stroke, remains high even many months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection clears up
Learning from past failures in the development of staph vaccines may inform how other vaccines for common bugs should be developed
Celebrating those who are making a patient’s experience as easy as possible during an extraordinarily difficult time, the Cancer Community Awards, sponsored by AstraZeneca, presents an individual or organization with a Catalyst for Care Award. We spoke with the 2021 winner, Unite for HER’s founder and CEO Sue Weldon, to hear more about what’s happened since her organization received the award.
A law would make it illegal to share abortion information on the Internet and raises serious concerns about freedom of speech nationwide
A warming climate, a unique topography and the legacy of coal mining have increased the odds of extreme flooding in Appalachia
We’ve swung between fear and denial for too long, and need to talk about this disease from a different perspective
The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade means that prenatal advice to patients can suffer and that counselors can face lawsuits and criminal charges
Although modest in scope, a NASA research project reflects shifting attitudes toward the formerly taboo subject of UFOs
Flash flooding occurs in a short time frame after a precipitation event and is exacerbated by paved surfaces and already saturated soil
Scientists say the current drought in the West is the region’s driest 22-year stretch in more than 1,200 years
Particles of sea salt in the air could stop clouds from charging up for a lightning strike
Commercial spacecraft are vying to land on the lunar surface, but can they jump-start a new space economy?
On this episode of the podcast, we talk about getting reinfected with coronavirus just a month or two after an earlier bout—and the difference that trusting others can make in a pandemic.
A study to counter the lack of evidence for handwriting analysis shows it is effective if an examiner has the right training
The surprise climate bill's electricity provisions would help the country surge toward its emissions reduction goals
Evidence-based solutions to firearm safety range from banning assault weapons to increasing green spaces
Over two years, a machine-learning program warned thousands of health care providers about patients at high risk of sepsis, allowing them to begin treatments nearly two hours sooner
A new stick-on ultrasound patch can record the activity of hearts, lungs and other organs for 48 hours at a time
A smallpox antiviral that’s effective against monkeypox is tied up in red tape, and gay-health advocates are pushing to make it easier to access
A new disposable battery is made of paper and other sustainable materials and is activated with a few drops of water
A recent lawsuit claims a chemical called titanium dioxide, used in Skittles candies, harms people. It’s hard to find strong evidence for that, however
Animals learn especially well from surprising events, and the hormone noradrenaline may be one reason why
Long considered trivial, the effects of rocket launches and reentering space debris on global warming and ozone loss could soon become too large to ignore
Protons, muons, neutrinos and other particles are moving beyond the realm of physics to help in a myriad of ways
Incomplete viral genomes can quell disease and, with further research, could be turned into treatments
Jacob Sagiv is a chemist who studies properties of self-assembled monolayers. This year, he shared The Kavli Prize in Nanoscience for his research.
Small marine critters ferry around seaweed sex cells, the first recorded example of “pollination” in algae
A surprise breakthrough on climate and energy legislation revives President Biden's environmental commitments by outlining large emissions reductions
Seismology has been a long-overlooked tool in planetary exploration, but the success of NASA’s InSight lander has reignited the field
Lung cancer is the number-one cause of cancer deaths in the world. But how many lives would be saved if doctors could diagnose and treat it before it progresses?
The announcement comes as NASA and Roscosmos are laying plans to transition to other orbital habitats
It’s not that they aren’t interested; it’s the culture of these fields and how they exclude women and girls
Organisms on Earth produce a wide array of durable “biofluorescent” materials. If those on other planets do, too, the Compact Color Biofinder should be able to detect them
Protein-packed diets add excess nitrogen to the environment through urine, rivaling pollution from agricultural fertilizers
Earlier action by the World Health Organization and Western countries could have helped control monkeypox in Africa
Blistering temperatures ranked as a Category 3—the most severe tier—in Seville, Spain’s new heat wave system
Sharks need our help, but many widespread conservation messages are not based on scientific evidence
Physicists have devised a mind-bending error-correction technique that could dramatically boost the performance of quantum computers
An unvaccinated person became infected with the virus, which can be traced to a live, weakened virus commonly used in the oral polio vaccine abroad
Founded to carry out the genocide of Indigenous people, they created conditions that killed thousands of children
Nutrition levels and taste should be considered along with traits such as higher yields
Fiery tests can assess new prototypes of portable shelters, the last line of defense for wildland firefighters
Scientists are uncovering more about an eerie phenomenon that has bewildered seafarers for centuries
The celebrated nurse improved public health through her groundbreaking use of graphic storytelling
An infectious disease doctor explains what Biden’s medical team will be doing to treat the president’s case of COVID
As Americans have increasingly experienced extreme weather events, their perception of climate change has shifted, survey results show
A new subpopulation of Greenland polar bears offers insights into how this species might hang on as Arctic ice disappears.
As heat waves become longer and more common, communities have to prepare—and prepare to fail
Two presidents’ contrasting COVID experiences illustrate the moonshot-caliber medical achievements that let many patients be treated at home instead of in an ICU
Astronomers and the public alike are delighting in the glittering depths of the universe revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope
President Joe Biden announced plans to expand offshore wind development and climate resilience funding for communities
After a mass algal die-off in the Pacific, researchers used satellites, undergrads, artificial intelligence and people wading in tide pools figure out what was lost—and how it might come back
Possible biomarker for long COVID suggests some people with the condition never fully cleared the virus
People who are unlikely to develop severe COVID-19 have no widely approved medications to ease the illness
A night photograph taken from a sailboat near the island of Java validates a satellite image of a giant, glowing “milky sea”
Nanotubes may provide a cunning answer to the mystery of how the virus that causes COVID infects neurons and produces long-lasting neurological symptoms
Extreme heat events such as the record-setting conditions in Europe are growing more frequent and more intense as the climate warms
The virus circulating in the current outbreak has mutated 50 times in the past four years
As the world warms, forests are becoming less resilient in the face of fires, droughts and other disruptive events
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Mammoth redwood trees have evolved along with fire, but humans are disrupting that delicate balance
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Just because you can spot falsehoods doesn’t mean you won’t share them
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Deep-field images of “empty” regions of the sky from Webb and other space telescopes are revealing more of the universe than we ever thought possible
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From symptoms, vaccines and treatment, here are some fast facts about Monkeypox
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The Clean Air Act, now undermined by the Supreme Court, exemplifies how the U.S. government once tackled “major questions”—and could again
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New experiments show simulated robotic limbs can feel like a part of our own body with a little practice
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Starting in 2023, control of the summit will shift from the University of Hawaii to an 11-member oversight authority that includes Native Hawaiian voices
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These avian tree drillers do tricks to protect their noggin. Meanwhile snapping shrimp avoid the problem with external eye goggles
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The suits, supplied by Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace, will be used in NASA’s upcoming Artemis lunar missions and will protect space travellers from micrometeoroids, moon dust and even vomit
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Rising temperatures and more frequent wildfires are taking a grim toll on human health
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The pathological buildup of a protein known as TDP-43 can lead to an Alzheimer’s-like disorder
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With infections still surging, the United States needs to invest in this technology to prepare for the next variants
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The future of these guardians of the forest, some thousands of years old, is not assured
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Is it possible for an artificial intelligence to be sentient?
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On this episode of the COVID, Quickly podcast, we talk about the increase in new Omnicron subvariants. Should fall vaccine boosters contain standard Omnicron, or some of those new subvariants...
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Decades of work, $10 billion in spending and nearly 14 billion years of cosmic history have brought us to this moment: the first science from the largest and most powerful observatory ever built.
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A computer model simulating how objects react to physical forces approximates how babies understand their surroundings
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A new cilia-covered chip could revolutionize portable medical diagnosis
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Developing nations that desperately need these more effective vaccines are virtually locked out
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Jane Rigby, Webb’s operations project scientist, discusses how NASA plans to wring as much science as possible from the $10-billion observatory
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Graphics show how the two weather extremes will more often pair up
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A combination of biological and social factors most likely explain the strong connection
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Greenhouse gas emissions from research damage climate
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A technique that detects coronavirus strains circulating in a community could become an early-warning system
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The Supreme Court’s recent ruling and legislative hurdles will make it difficult to reach President Biden’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
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Most of the $13 billion appropriated in the new legislation Congress recently passed focuses on mental health programs
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Christine Todd Whitman says the Court is pushing a political agenda
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Their efforts could benefit countless others in need of an end-of-life measure
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A “replication crisis” in mathematics raises questions about the purpose of knowledge
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The court’s use of the “major questions” doctrine is likely to spur challenges to climate and energy regulations
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Thousands of lightning strikes and a warming climate have contributed to the fires burning around the state
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The FDA has called for updating COVID vaccines to address the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. But will the shots keep up with the virus?
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Scientists scramble to forecast where and when the disease-carrying arthropods pose the most danger
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The most powerful observatory ever made promises to produce some of the most incredible discoveries of our lifetime, and beyond
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Economic fears can make fossil-fuel workers oppose shifts to greener energy. But a “just transition” can offer them a secure future
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An atmospheric scientist explains how large, persistent bends in the jet stream can bake a region for days
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The endangered wild dog has shifted its breeding season by 22 days, resulting in fewer pups living through their first year
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Reframing erroneous beliefs alleviates the emotional upheavals that beset young people on the cusp of adulthood
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Global warming fueled rampant overgrowth of microbes at the end of the Permian period. Such lethal blooms may be on the rise again
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Video analysis in 3-D shows the tiny creatures’ swarming rules
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The Large Hadron Collider recently reopened after upgrades and is ready to explore new territory
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Studies are ‘decades behind,’ owing to a lack of funding, but research is picking up
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Carbon capture and storage technology, low-carbon fuels, and state energy policies are all avenues the EPA could pursue to rein in greenhouse gases
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Maryna Viazovska, who works on the geometry of spheres, is one of four winners of the coveted prize this year
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Widely used gowns, intended to protect people, can let too much liquid seep through, new studies suggest
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From the depths of the ocean to the peaks of mountains, species are moving out of their historical homes in search of cooler conditions
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Western states’ “atmospheric thirst” means more fires and strained water supplies
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Drugs such as mifepristone and misoprostol end a pregnancy, whereas the “morning-after pill” works by preventing one
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This Supreme Court often ignores science when handing down decisions, and it affects far too many lives
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Geologic evidence for a freezing arctic suggests dinosaurs could have weathered an epoch-ending volcanic winter
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The agency can still impose stronger limits on other air pollutants that coal plants produce, which could also reduce greenhouse gas emissions
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Doctors must get more involved in the public health crises that climate change will bring
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The spacecraft will arrive in lunar orbit in mid-November to help prepare for a future moon-orbiting outpost
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The International Energy Agency projects that spending on renewables in 2022 will exceed the record $440 billion invested last year
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After a chaotic week in which gun safety measures were struck down by the Supreme Court and enacted by Biden, the time to act is now
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The model, which uses machine learning to track the fitness of different viral strains, accurately predicted the rise of Omicron BA.2 and Alpha
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An intriguing question about drums kicked off decades of inquiry
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States that outlaw abortions after a certain number of weeks could make it difficult or impossible to terminate a pregnancy because of a serious genetic disorder
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The project will retrofit older homes and apartment buildings to be more energy efficient
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But those that do form have a greater chance of becoming intense storms
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Incentives and remodeling need to be more straightforward and equitable if we expect people to convert their homes away from fossil fuels
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On this episode of the COVID, Quickly podcast, (some) parents breathe a collective sigh of relief, and the paradox of how effective vaccines can make it harder to create new drugs to...
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Crowdsourced vehicle data trace the contours of dangerous city temperatures
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Tracking how misinformation campaigns begin and amplify can give scientists tools to combat them
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Oil and gas representatives influence the standards for courses and textbooks, from kindergarten to 12th grade
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Adverse experiences can change future generations through epigenetic pathways
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From figuring out how often you go to the bathroom to potentially being used to prosecute you, your trusty smartphone might not be so trusty in a post-Roe world.
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After last year’s heat crisis, Pacific Northwest emergency managers, doctors and even transit systems are using lessons learned to prepare for this summer
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Famed seismologist Lucy Jones explains how building methods and quake dynamics interact—and what to do about the problem.
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With reproductive rights being dismantled, social media companies need to stop propagating lies
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As abortion access becomes more limited in the U.S., primary care providers can and should provide these services to people who need them
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Researchers tricked out conventional camera traps to snap headshots of Puma concolor, revealing a better way to track the elusive species.
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The coating deters microorganisms to fight both food waste and foodborne illness
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A new biography of the physicist and the particle he predicted reveals his disdain for the spotlight
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We need to make firearms safer, and to do that, we need more robust research funding
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But the technique must remain in the firefighting toolbox, a new U.S. Forest Service report says
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The detected strain can sometimes cause severe disease in people who are not vaccinated against polio
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A study of more than 11,000 felines reveals the benefits of genetic testing before breeding
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Will governments apply lessons learned from COVID to this latest viral outbreak?
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Planetary scientists are eager to bring Red Planet rocks, soil and even air to Earth, but critics fear the risk of contaminating our world’s biosphere
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The rapid expansion will have significant impacts on ecosystems and the people and animals who rely on them
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An emergency medicine physician remembers witnessing the carnage of more than one mass shooting
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The launch comes after the hottest first two weeks of June ever recorded in Spain
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A cone snail’s poison helps to form a fast-acting insulin
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The latest data release from the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission is sparking a frenzy of exciting new astrophysics research
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Small nations that have done little to cause global warming stand to suffer immeasurably and are increasingly vocal about receiving compensation
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The war in Ukraine shows the urgency of nuclear arms control
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These organisms’ private “mucospheres” play an outsize role in the planet’s carbon cycle
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Recommendations from the editors of Scientific American
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The risks associated with hormonal contraception are lower than the risk of pregnancy itself and comparable to those of other over-the-counter drugs
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Research suggests platform designs make us lose track of time spent on them and can heighten conflicts, and then we feel upset with ourselves
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The question is not whether we'll experience such an event; it’s whether we'll be ready when it strikes
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Doctors may accept spurious claims about medical treatments, and invalid studies wrongly influence public policy
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Knees and other joints regrow some lost cartilage with some outside aid, research suggests
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This leading cancer affects some populations and regions much more than others
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High-profile celebrities have to meet the impossible expectations of being compassionate and competitive while seamlessly projecting a sexual persona
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Department of Energy researchers say gasoline might have to be substituted with biofuels to ensure that climate targets are achieved
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Images from Japan’s Himawari-8 spacecraft shed light on the red supergiant star’s remarkable fading
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The discovery provides a glimmer of hope for the iconic white bears
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Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect on the wildlife linked to a people’s transformation
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Huda Zoghbi is a clinician-scientist who studies the molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. This year, she shared The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience for discovering the genetic...
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Survey finds that most people think poverty is why pollution disproportionately affects Black people, despite evidence that racism is the major cause
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The success of vaccines has reduced the pool of people available for studies, among other factors
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Here’s how they choose the right leaf for the job
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An algorithm-aided analysis of satellite images reveals the size, distribution and sources of oil slicks at sea
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Appointing women to leadership positions renders organizations more likely to describe all women as being powerful, persistent, and bold
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More products are being added to a proposed carbon border fee, affecting billions of dollars of American goods
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Recommendations from the editors of Scientific American
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In some members, a longing for “simpler” times is giving rise to deadly activities
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The pioneering probes are still running after nearly 45 years in space, but they will soon lose some of their instruments
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Fieldwork shows white men fighting against equality gains by women and minority groups in the U.S.—and longing to return to a past that nullifies such changes
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The weirdest subatomic particles require enormous equipment to study
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A medieval cemetery yields DNA evidence of the deadly pandemic bacterium’s Central Asian ancestor
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A new demonstration of these exotic constructs could help bridge classical and quantum physics
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But smarter communications from health agencies can improve the road ahead
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Common chemicals sprayed on many crops each year are cloaked in bureaucratic uncertainties
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The Department of Energy is helping to fund 11 projects that are designed to harness the power of moving water
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The design’s origami pattern creates the flexibility needed to deliver compounds to specific areas of the body
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Older patients are underrepresented in clinical trial research. Here’s how we can change that.
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A global look reveals contamination by antibiotics, antidepressants and other medications
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The psychiatric syndrome called derealization raises profound moral and philosophical questions
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A new seals’-eye view shows these specialized hairs in motion at sea
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The numbers of lives lost and dollars spent would have been significantly lower if universal health care had been in place, a new study says
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A group of teenagers in rural Utah are training to become sex educators so that they can teach their peers what they do not learn in the classroom
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On this episode of the COVID, Quickly podcast, we clear up some data misconceptions, get to the bottom of the booster uptake issue, and talk Novavax.
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Were mitochondria a driving evolutionary force or just a late addition?
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Broad-webbed feet help them glide through rain-forest canopies
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The findings of a new study call into question whether businesses are truly meeting climate goals
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In remote communities in the U.S., Ecuador, and Zimbabwe, these health care workers are fighting much more than the virus
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Infants can form memories, just not the kind that recalls specific experiences
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Identifying the gut microbes in plastic-munching beetle larvae illuminates bacteria that could help degrade plastic waste
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The companies are asking the justices to step in once again in a sprawling legal fight over the industry’s climate liability
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The impact has slightly degraded one of the observatory’s mirror segments, but NASA says the telescope has sustained no significant damage
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Lessons from HIV/AIDS and SARS-CoV-2/COVID for harm reduction
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Genetic mutations related to production of the stress hormone cortisol may have played a role in the process of canine domestication
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A study shows that first responders who are not police can be more effective for low-level incidents
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The placenta’s invasion of the uterus holds clues to cancer resistance
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A two-part competition aims to spark innovation and connect the groups trying to redesign high-quality masks that protect against COVID
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Bacteria resistant to methicillin emerged in hedgehogs long before the drug was prescribed to treat infections.
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“Blackwater” divers photograph the largest migration of animals on the planet
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Scientists say the agency’s analyses do not capture the full extent of how bad exhaust is for segments of the population
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As states move to limit access to abortion, some are taking aim at the popular form of emergency contraception
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Avion Simon and his siblings, C.J. and Momo, lost their mom to COVID-19. Science has some ideas about the health hurdles that they and other COVID orphans could face in the future.
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Vast reaches of mostly empty space could offer superior odds for detecting the invisible substance thought to make up more than 80 percent of the material in the universe
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Upgrading buildings’ ventilation, filtration and other factors would not only decrease COVID transmission but also improve health and cognitive performance in general
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Reviving peatlands in the San Joaquin River Delta could prevent levee failure and lock away carbon
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Invoking the Defense Production Act could help reshape the economics around building decarbonization
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Paid parental leave and high-quality child care improve children’s brain development and prospects for a better future
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Rolling up an ancient river delta in Jezero Crater, the rover starts crucial rock sampling.
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The death rate among unvaccinated people is still far higher than that among the vaccinated even though vaccinated people now make up a significant proportion of deaths
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The storm is the first of what is expected to be a very active season, with six to 10 hurricanes
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Tragedies such as the ones in Uvalde, Tex., and Buffalo, N.Y., can lead to major depression, PTSD and other lingering mental distress among survivors
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A close look reveals that the newest systems, including DeepMind’s much-hyped Gato, are still stymied by the same old problems
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Four innovators are finding new solutions for the problem of injustice
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Event attribution is one of the fastest developing areas of climate science since it began 20 years ago
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Tuberculosis is preventable and curable, yet it afflicts one quarter of the world’s population—mostly because of poverty
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Space agency officials promise to deliver geology results from worlds dozens of light-years away
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For meerkats in the Kalahari Desert, rising temperatures spark deadly outbreaks of tuberculosis.
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The first known male appendage from trilobites has been found in a 508-million-year-old fossil
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The test facility is helping engineers design safer homes—but it’s not powerful enough to mimic the stronger hurricanes fueled by climate change
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It’s not government Americans don’t trust with their data; it’s the opposite political party
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Weirdly shifting colors may serve dual evolutionary purposes, providing both camouflage and conspicuous warning
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Letters to the editor from the February 2022 issue of Scientific American
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Thoughts and prayers do not stop bullets. We must do better for our children
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Natural selection propels the giraffe family to absolute extremes—and it is not just about the absurdly long necks
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SpaceX and other companies are still struggling to make their satellites darker in the night sky
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The need to use coal to boost power supplies illustrates the challenge of quickly increasing renewable energy to avoid bigger climate impacts
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Heart attacks, strokes and other consequences of cardiovascular disease are particularly dangerous for people who face inequity
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When we first started researching Klára Dán von Neumann, we thought she was “the computer scientist you should thank for your smartphone’s weather app.” It turns...
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We now know that plants survive but fail to thrive in lunar soil
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A top U.S. commander wants to test technology that can better defend domestic targets
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Researchers are racing to understand the latest monkeypox outbreaks—from their origins to whether they can be contained
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This Pride Month discover the science supporting equality and antidiscrimination
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NOAA’s Annual Greenhouse Gas Index finds that greenhouse gases trapped nearly 50 percent more heat last year than they did in 1990
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The stress of COVID fractured a system that was already cracked
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Innovation and discovery as chronicled by Scientific American
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The test could help ensure a successful pregnancy but still leaves hopeful parents with some difficult decisions
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Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh...
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Mass infections in wild birds pose a significant risk to vulnerable species, are hard to contain and increase the opportunity for the virus to spill over into people
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Diseases such as endometriosis would have a cure if we could talk about them and study them without shame
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To protect personal information from companies that sell data, some individuals are relying on privacy guides instead of government regulation or industry transparency
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Some over-the-counter medications can help symptoms, and there are ways to ease isolation
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Without the cooling effect of aerosols, warmer oceans have provided more fuel to storms
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It took hundreds of researchers and many telescopes to capture an image of the black hole at the middle of our Milky Way.
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The country has reached an unthinkably grim milestone. Nearly 200,000 children have lost parents, many more elderly have been killed, and family well-being has been ripped apart
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It took hundreds of researchers and many telescopes to capture an image of the black hole at the middle of our Milky Way.
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The historic image of Sagittarius A* is the culmination of a decades-long astronomical quest—and a crucial step toward a new understanding of black holes, gravity and spacetime
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Laws that ban gender-affirming treatment ignore the wealth of research demonstrating its benefits for trans people’s health
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The physics Nobelist and author has not exactly found religion—but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped looking
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Patient history, context and a few symptoms may help distinguish between the conditions
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Gender discrimination multiplies the challenges women face from climate change, a new U.N. report says
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Researchers looked back at more than 100 years of research and found that a fascination with annelids with mixed up appendages was strong—and that research still has relevance...
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La Niña, climate change and an increasing human presence are all raising wildfire risks
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We need to protect vulnerable people from killer heat without destroying the environment
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THESAN—the largest, most detailed computer model of the universe’s first billion years yet made—is helping set expectations for observations from NASA’s James Webb Space...
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There is debate about whether the agency will rely on carbon capture to achieve emissions reductions
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Safe and accessible reproductive health care is a basic right that is supported by science, medicine and respect for human dignity
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For the first time, researchers have used this bacterial tool to edit genes in human cells
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The two countries must put aside their mistrust in order to establish rules for the peaceful use of outer space
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
From giant land-based salmon tanks to submersible shellfish platforms, experiments in aquaculture are dotting Maine’s coasts
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
A landmark study of women who were turned away from getting the procedure found that being forced to have a child worsened their health and economic status.
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
How to tell the different versions of SARS-CoV-2 apart, and how well vaccines protect against them
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Jalonne White-Newsome went from being a Dow Chemical devotee to a leading injustice advocate
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Birds seem to pay more attention to fine acoustic details that humans cannot hear than to the melodies that captivate us
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
An expert in emerging technologies warns that software designed to summarize, translate and write like humans might exacerbate distrust in science
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Data from the CHIME radio observatory are a milestone in the quest to discover the hidden origins of universal structure
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The right combination of variables is needed to achieve a blazing success—one explanation for why there was never a “Kinksmania”
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The researcher who led the Turnaway Study explains how being denied an abortion had lasting negative effects on those who were forced to carry their pregnancies to term and on their children
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Sustained temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit threaten people, wheat crops and power supplies
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
NASA and the German space agency ground the telescope on a plane, citing the astronomy community’s concerns over cost and productivity
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Three nasal spritzes, now in advanced trials, could trigger stronger immunity than shots in the arm
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Complex social information can be felt through a virtual touch
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Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the...
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A modeling study is the first to project how global warming will increase animal encounters and virus swapping between species
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Cities are sinking as they guzzle groundwater—and oil and gas—from below
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Scams and volatility plague this market, and the Biden administration is still trying to decide where the federal government fits in
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
But the U.S. must probe even further to catch up with China’s access to the ocean’s deepest reaches
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
If greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed, temperature spikes could bring the first such mass extinction in 250 million years
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
People working together often scheme to put profits ahead of telling the truth. New research points to ways to stop this behavior
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Recommendations from the editors of Scientific American
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A new algorithm writes wine and beer reviews that sound like they were penned by human critics. Is that a good thing?
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Toxic algae blooms found could have helped destabilize society
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
A new genetic study shows generalizing breeds as affectionate or aggressive doesn’t hold up
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The dramatic loss of tree cover in the tropics and northern boreal forests is releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
New technology is enabling neuroscientists to make increasingly detailed wiring diagrams that could yield new insights into brain function
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Klára Dán von Neumann encounters a new home, a new husband and a new project
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These events can cause devastating landslides and flash floods
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Gender bias turns up in the way we think of the most neutral of words
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the...
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes in December
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Radical reconstruction in Seattle is bringing nearly dead urban streams back to productive life
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
An International Space Station project is “one small step” for off-world fieldwork
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
This “keystone” variant of a gene could make or break a food web in an experimental system
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The Telomere-to-Telomere consortium just sequenced the tricky final 10 percent of the essentially complete human genome
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Blazes burned more than 3 million acres last year—nearly the size of Connecticut
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
I am a future psychiatrist hoping to care for transgender people. But I fear these laws will make it difficult to do so
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Small flies’ extreme clamping feet let them walk on a flying bee
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Citizen science data reveal how the declining species travels from its southern wintering site to its northern breeding grounds
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Before she entered a world of secrecy, computers and nuclear weapons, who was Klára von Neumann?
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The Biden administration’s Test to Treat program aims to make the treatments available at pharmacies, yet it requires a medical provider to prescribe the drugs
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The General Services Administration oversees $75 billion in annual contracts
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Called Earendel, the star is nearly 13 billion light-years from Earth
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Florida manatees are “talking” up a storm, and a team that has been recording those sounds for seven years is starting to understand the chatter.
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Humans have shifted the weight of life in the sea
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The weapons are error-prone and could hit the wrong targets
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
An updated communication could be beamed out for space alien listeners in hopes of making first contact
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Even after four years away from a release site, pigeons took similar paths home
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Researchers have sighted only a handful of these odd radio circles, and are trying to pin down what causes them
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
More than $11 billion would go toward international initiatives such as the Green Climate Fund
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Recent measures in Florida, Texas and elsewhere serve to traumatize trans children and their families, uphold ideas that trans children are inherently troubled, and go against medical advice
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Scientists are less enthusiastic than the U.S. Senate about DST year-round
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Researchers are looking to identify areas facing saltwater intrusion on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Samples collected by Chang’e-5 are revealing exciting insights into the Moon’s evolution
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Building on lessons learned from SARS-CoV-2, pandemic preparedness has taken on renewed urgency
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The eminent astrophysicist changed the way we view our home star
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
International cooperation could stem and redirect some of the $2 trillion the world wastes each year in the global arms race
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The homunculus of textbook fame still does not take into account the relevant locations in the cerebral cortex that process touch for the sex organs
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Russia’s invasion is halting the delivery of wheat to areas suffering from drought and other climate impacts
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
There are tools that hospitals can use to reduce the number of firearm injuries that come through the doors. We are piloting one such project
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Scientists are just starting to unravel the disease’s long-term cardiac effects
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Addressing the climate crisis is a crucial aspect of maintaining the security of member states, a former official writes
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
New research shows that detecting digital fakes generated by machine learning might be a job best done with humans still in the loop.
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The Putin regime has a portfolio of digital tools to control information and crack down on protests within the country
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The COVID research infrastructure will help fight all sorts of pathogens
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Most children have a unique profile of both sensitivity and resilience to outside pressures, responding with different degrees of vulnerability to difficult or beneficial circumstances
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New research hints at the biophysical underpinnings of their ability to use Earth’s magnetic field lines to find their way to their breeding and wintering grounds
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Highlights from the April 2022 issue of Scientific American
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A well-preserved fossil introduces a new species that lived in what is now California around 42 million years ago
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Reimagining calculus has changed several schools’ success rates. Here’s how
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The likelihood of attending a naturalization ceremony is lower for Black people, men and people from Muslim-majority countries
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
People should be skeptical of big claims based on only one study and dig a little deeper
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Health security is as important to a nation as a standing army
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Experts worry tensions could spill into the polar region and potentially affect science and security
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More than 100 employees at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center were surprised when a test project allowing them to add their pronouns to their agency identifiers was abruptly canceled
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Historians of the 1918 influenza pandemic discuss lessons for what the future of COVID might look like
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Mass media and policy makers are pushing for a return to pre‐COVID times while trying to normalize a staggering death toll
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New research leverages old physics to turn ice pucks into hovercraft
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A new analysis shows that people born later will experience vastly more severe weather events
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The $25-million facility in Namibia will be the continent’s first millimeter-range astronomical observatory
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Our much maligned cousins made sophisticated ornaments and probably had language
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Blockchain and other technologies could help improve data collection worldwide
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A falsified video would be an update on the traditional use of propaganda campaigns during warfare
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Some communities may run out of fresh water faster than expected
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The basic concept of quantum spin provides an understanding of a vast range of physical phenomena
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The colony thrives in a frigid ocean covered by ice year-round
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There is more to the bobsled, luge and skeleton events than merely sliding down steep, icy slopes
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Hamsters are only the second species known to have spread SARS-CoV-2 to humans
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The formulas describe the complex behavior of a liquid when it meets a boundary
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Without enough capacity to meet demand, energy utilities may have to stage rolling blackouts during heat waves
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MDMA, known as Ecstasy in the clubs, gained high marks in a clinical trial for PTSD
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A new system that targets specific spinal nerves restored motor function quickly in three patients unable to move their legs or trunk
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As the country rebuilds, its leaders need to plan for natural disasters and climate change
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Hamsters eating Cocoa Krispies reveal inflammation pathways from the olfactory system to the brain
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Our current innovation policies aim to preserve the way we live now, rather than what would do the least damage
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Dams mop up debris that would otherwise kill fish and other downstream wildlife, new observations suggest
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Government agencies are tapping a facial recognition company to prove you’re you
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Despite growing popularity, the fundraising strategy will never be social safety net
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This new guest podcast from Undark takes up the case of Pervis Payne, and why his death penalty case reveals the convoluted relationship between science and the courts.
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