Scientific American.com

From job interviews to dating, we subconsciously judge one another based on sound quality when we interact digitally

A previously undisclosed FEMA review could block disaster assistance to millions of undocumented people and deter legal immigrants from seeking help in extreme weather

Programming devices with parental controls may seem daunting, but they can help parents ensure what their kids find on TV and the Internet is age-appropriate

A test for abnormal fetal chromosomes can also detect maternal cancers—and physicians are struggling to incorporate that knowledge into routine care

In this week’s news roundup, two NASA astronauts finally return to Earth after nine unexpected months in space, gray seals hold their breath for more than an hour, and penguin poop panics krill.

A calving iceberg exposed a region that never before had been seen by human eyes, revealing a vibrant, thriving ecosystem

The Defense secretary aims to purge climate work from the Pentagon. But critics say his carve-out for weather resiliency misses the point

About 20 people die every day in the U.S. after being hit by a car. To make walking safer, we need a big cultural shift in how we view pedestrian safety

Experiments suggest an unusual magnetic material could help harness energy from Earth’s rotation. But not everyone is convinced

Most movies follow one of six emotional arcs. Which one sells the most tickets?

President Donald Trump is threatening steep tariffs on virtually all imports. Here’s what that means and what economics research suggests would be the impact

Defining the word “moon” is harder than you might think

A neurosurgeon who has acted as a consultant for Severance explains the science behind the show’s brain-altering procedure—and whether it could ever become reality.

What we learned about ape and human cognition from Kanzi the bonobo, who died this week

A new Trump administration health initiative called Operation Stork Speed aims to improve the safety of infant formula and reduce contamination risk, but budget and staffing cuts may hinder that

As the world gets closer to the mark 1.5 degrees Celsius in Paris climate agreement, scientists are racing to establish a single way to monitor current warming

Measles continues to spread in Texas and other states and has caused the first reported U.S. death from the virus in a decade. Vaccination data over time reveal vulnerabilities in protection

Andrea Evangelina Rodríguez Perozo, the Dominican Republic’s first female doctor, raised the funds to set sail for Paris so that she can learn about the latest advances in women’s health

From China to Brazil to Germany, huge numbers of people are addicted to shopping, driven in part by companies that use gaming strategies

Elon Musk and Donald Trump have announced ambitious plans to send a mission to Mars in 2026 and 2028. It’s not going to happen