Scientific American.com

Making schools more welcoming for all can make for a fair and just society

What makes a word survive or go extinct?

A rice-grain-size fish screams louder than a jackhammer—and we have a lot to learn from its minuscule brain

In a new book, the wisdom of plants is a balm for our changing planet

Writers, artists, photographers and researchers share the stories behind the stories

Fossil and living birds reveal the dazzling biology of feathers

Artificial DNA sorts images like a neural network does

New research examines the molecular machinery behind a beetle’s strange biological cycle

Letters to the editors for the January 2024 issue of Scientific American

Certain brain layers specialize in particular waves—which might aid understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders

Science in meter and verse

Social context shapes how fiddler crabs communicate by vibrating the ground underneath their burrows

As the Event Horizon Telescope pursues ambitious upgrades, the project’s latest results reveal the magnetic fields around our galaxy’s supermassive black hole

The emerging science of laying guilt through public messaging can help safeguard the planet and improve health behaviors

In cultures hostile to African hairstyles, so-called dreadlocks have long been a countercultural symbol for those who stand in opposition to oppressive ideals

Deadly bites could surge as venomous snakes migrate into unprepared countries as the climate changes

We need to do more to ensure older adults—including those living in long-term care facilities—are up to date on recommended vaccines

Family caregivers provide critical support and familiarity to patients, but can also experience burnout

Repairing a broken parent-adult child relationship is possible if both sides approach it earnestly and honestly

However much outdoor space you have, here’s how to use it for conservation