Scientific American.com
Hollywood Should Give Brain Science a Star Turn
Movies and TV shows frequently depict physical and biological sciences well, but often depict psychological and brain sciences poorly. Here’s why, and what we can do about it
Earth’s Coral Reefs Face a New, Deadly Mass Bleaching. They Can Still Be Saved
“A mass bleaching event is, by definition, a mass mortality event,” a leading coral reef expert says
A Dengue Fever Outbreak Is Setting Records in the Americas
At least 2.1 million cases of dengue fever have been reported in North and South America, and this year 1,800 people have died from the mosquito-borne disease
Spiderlike Mars Robot Might One Day Crawl through Unexplored Volcanic Caves
This eight-legged probe would scour Mars’s underground lava tubes for places where explorers might camp—or for signs of past life
Milky Way's 'Sleeping Giant' Black Hole Lurks Shockingly Close to Earth
A black hole weighing as much as 33 suns lurks a mere 2,000 light-years away from our solar system
How Jeff Koons’s Lunar Artwork Could Outlast All of Humanity
How long can humanity’s artifacts endure on the lunar surface? A new installation from artist Jeff Koons is inadvertently putting this question to the test
NASA’s Artemis Astronauts Will Help Grow Crops on the Moon—And Much More
When astronauts return to the moon later this decade, they’ll bring along science experiments to study moonquakes, lunar water ice and extraterrestrial agriculture
AI Can Transform the Classroom Just Like the Calculator
AI can better education, not threaten it, if we learn some lessons from the adoption of the calculator into the classroom
The Evolution of a Big, Ugly Cry
Uncontrollable sobbing is uniquely human, and it may be our emotions running out of our faces, a way to connect us with other people
Neither Plants nor Animals, These Ocean Organisms Protect Their Ecosystems against Heat Waves
Mixotrophs, which have characteristics of both animals and plants, could help blunt the effects of marine heat waves on ocean ecosystems
How a New AI Model Helps Volcanic History Rise from the Ashes
Volcano detectives use artificial intelligence to sleuth out ancient secrets in Alaska.
Overconfidence Can Blindside Science and Society Alike. Here's How Not to Get Fooled
The tale of how the "backfire effect" ultimately, itself, backfired, and what scientists can learn from being wrong
Online Age Verification Laws Could Do More Harm Than Good
More U.S. states are requiring online ID checks. A proposed French strategy aims to balance child safety with users’ privacy rights
Prostate Cancer Advances Make Late-Stage Disease More Treatable
Major discoveries during the past 10 years have transformed prostate cancer treatment, enabling it to proceed even for the most advanced form of the disease
Turning Down the Noise Around You Improves Health in Many Ways
Experts describe ways to turn down the volume, from earbuds to smartphone apps that detect harmful noise levels
Everyone Will Have Fewer Relatives in the Future
Changing demographics mean shrinking families and more older relatives in future decades
May 2024: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago
Pavlov’s dogs; Mercury’s dark side
Fossil and Living Birds Reveal the Dazzling Biology of Feathers
Reducing noise improves health, JWST’s galaxies change astronomy, and there’s new hope for people with prostate cancer
The Dark Side of Nostalgia for Wild, Untouched Places
A novel about the tensions between nature and modernity, animal social networks, and more books out now
In Matters of Scientific Debate, Follow the Houdini Rule
Scientific expertise is typically limited and specific. When evaluating scientific claims, look to the relevant experts