Scientific American.com
What Google’s New AI Fruit Fly Can Teach Us about Real Behavior
To learn how to move, groom itself and flap its wings, a fruit fly AI devoured hours of video of real insects
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Is Already Rewriting Solar System History
Scientists have scarcely begun studying pristine material from asteroid Bennu brought back to Earth by the OSIRIS-REx mission, but have already found several surprises
Global Warming Is Slowing the Earth’s Rotation
Drastic polar ice melt is slowing Earth’s rotation, counteracting a speedup from the planet’s liquid outer core. The upshot is that we might need to subtract a leap second for the first time ever within the decade
First-Ever Magnetic Map of Milky Way’s Black Hole Reveals a Mystery
Polarized light from Sagittarius A*, our galaxy’s supermassive black hole, shows swirling magnetic fields that may hint at the presence of an unseen jet
Baltimore Bridge Collapse Wreaks Havoc on Coal, Car Supply Chains
The sudden destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the Port of Baltimore has implications for some of the largest U.S. energy industries
Why Do Colors Change during a Solar Eclipse?
When the moon fully eclipses the sun, it’s not just the sky that changes. Your eyes do, too
'Uncertain,' a New Podcast Series on the Joys of Not Knowing
Does the word "uncertainty" make you nervous? Would you say it kinda describes the state of the world these days? Enter Uncertain, a new limited podcast series from Scientific American, that will change the way you think about that word.
Does Long-Term Benadryl Use Increase Dementia Risk?
Benadryl, which contains diphenhydramine, is a drugstore mainstay and just one medication out of many that could possibly damage brain health
How Animal Brains Tell Friends from Strangers
A small section of the mouse brain’s hippocampus uses specific neural codes to denote social familiarity and identity
Solar Eclipse Experiment Will Fly a Kite to Avoid Cloudy Skies
A kite-borne experiment will observe the sun’s mysterious corona during the upcoming total solar eclipse
Viral Genetics Confirms What On-the-Ground Activists Knew Early in the Mpox Outbreak
Molecular biology could have changed the mpox epidemic—and could stop future outbreaks
How Visually Impaired People Can Experience Solar Eclipses
Scientists have created a guide to the 2024 total solar eclipse for the visually impaired that includes tactile graphics
Mucus Saves Your Life Every Day
The slimy substance is so powerful that doctors once made hog stomach mucus milkshakes to treat ulcers.
Orca Groups with Radically Different Cultures Are Actually Separate Species
“Resident” and “transient” killer whales, or orcas, have unique hunting habits and genetics, proving they are in fact separate species
7 Books SciAm Recommends So Far in 2024
Here are seven fiction and nonfiction books we recommend from the past few months. They involve broken hearts, killer robots and epic failed experiments
Why Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapsed after Strike by Container Ship
A large container ship “totally removed” a critical pier from Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge
How a Rare Islamic Astrolabe Helped Muslims, Jews and Christians Tell Time and Read Horoscopes
A rare Islamic astrolabe discovered in Verona, Italy, reveals how the instrument passed through different countries and cultures
How to Talk to Kids about Cancer
A social worker explains ways that parents can gently share news about their cancer diagnosis with their children
Why Some Songs Make Everyone Want to Dance
A syncopated rhythm may prompt our brain to find the beat
How Do Animals Respond to a Total Solar Eclipse?
Scientists are finally getting their hands on enough data to begin to understand how animals react to a total solar eclipse