Scientific American.com
Run, Lucy, Run! Human Ancestors Could Jog but Not Very Far or Fast
3D models of Australopithecus afarensis hint at the muscular adaptations that made modern humans better runners
Ancient Moon Melt Event May Explain 150-Million-Year Gap in Age Estimates
The moon may have melted 4.35 billion years ago—explaining a lunar age mystery
Bird Flu Has Spread Out of Control after Mistakes by U.S. Government and Industry
As the bird flu virus moved into cows and people, sluggish federal action, deference to industry and neglect for worker safety put the country at risk
Tech Stereotypes Discourage Girls from Computing and Engineering as Early as Age 6
Early cultural exposure can influence kids’ ideas about gender and STEM in significant ways
What Gives Christmas Trees Their Crisp, Cozy Scent?
Learn which molecules are responsible for giving Christmas trees their distinct, crisp-yet-spicy scent
The Winter Solstice Is Here. How Dark Days Affect the Human Body
The winter solstice is the culmination of a period every year when each cell in our body literally craves more light
The Human Brainwaves Centennial Exposes a Darker Science History
The centennial of the discovery of brain waves in humans exposes a chilling tale involving Nazis, war between Russia and Ukraine, suicide and the vicissitudes of history
How Do We Name the Stars?
With billions of stars in the Milky Way, some nomenclature standardization is necessary
Conservation Efforts Save Pandas, Wolves and Panthers from Extinction
There are so many species facing extinction—but today we’re telling stories about the animals making a comeback and the conservationists working hard to help.
This Year’s Nobel Prizes Are a Warning about AI
Unless we pursue AI carefully, the Nobel committee will one day give a Peace Prize to the people cleaning up its terrible consequences, just as it did with nuclear physics
The UnitedHealthcare Tragedy Is Why Insurance Needs to Change Now
I am a trauma surgeon and gunshot survivor who has experienced byzantine health insurance coverage firsthand. I understand why people are furious
Biden Pledges Huge Climate Emissions Cuts He Can’t Enforce. Here’s Why It Still Matters
President Biden strengthened the U.S.’s commitment to slash climate pollution under the Paris Agreement knowing that President-elect Donald Trump could abandon it, but states and cities could still use it as a guide
Trump’s Pick for NIH Director Could Harm Science and People's Health
With a possible bird flu outbreak looming, Donald Trump’s choice of Jay Bhattacharya, a scientist critical of COVID policies, for the NIH is the wrong move for science and public health
How Dartmouth’s Sexual Harassment Scandal Transformed the Lives of These Women in Science
In 2017, a group of students at Dartmouth College filed a lawsuit that revealed an entrenched culture of power and abuse, and in doing so, they sparked a wider conversation about sexual violence in science.
Most Expensive Dinosaur Fossil Ever Could Reveal Stegosaurus Secrets
The huge Stegosaurus fossil Apex, bought at auction for $44.6 million, has debuted on loan at the American Museum of Natural History
Earth Life Found inside Ryugu Asteroid Samples
Material from asteroid Ryugu riddled with earthly microbes provides a cautionary tale for scientists seeking signs of alien life
Mysterious Constant that Makes Mathematicians Despair
The proof that the Apéry constant is irrational remains one of the most bizarre events in the history of mathematics
Genetic Testing Is a Gift. But It Shouldn’t be a Present
Think Twice before Giving Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Kits to Friends and Loved Ones
9 Space Images from NASA and Beyond That Stunned in 2024
See the year’s most striking images from the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes, NASA’s Mars rover and the best sky watching on offer
U.S. Has First Case of Severe Bird Flu, CDC Confirms in H5N1 Update
Louisiana reported a person hospitalized with a severe case of H5N1, and the USDA has begun bulk milk testing