I can calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people

— Sir Isaac Newton

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Updated: 13 hours 34 min ago

Why Do Allergens Make Us Cough and Sneeze?

Thu, 07/31/2025 - 12:00pm

The immune system senses damage to cell membranes caused by pore-forming proteins and mounts a response

Categories: Astronomy

Miniature Neutrino Detector Catches Elusive Particles at Nuclear Reactor

Thu, 07/31/2025 - 11:45am

A relatively small detector caught neutrinos from a nuclear reactor using a technique known as coherent scattering

Categories: Astronomy

Brains React to Signs of Illness—Even When It’s Not Real

Thu, 07/31/2025 - 11:15am

When people viewed virtual avatars with coughs or rashes, their brain triggered an immune response

Categories: Astronomy

How the Potato Got Its Start Nine Million Years Ago—Thanks to a Tomato

Thu, 07/31/2025 - 11:00am

About nine million years ago, a hybridization involving the lineage of another farmers market star gave rise to the modern-day cultivated potato

Categories: Astronomy

Lightning Strike Sets New Record for Longest Ever Measured

Thu, 07/31/2025 - 8:00am

A lighting flash that spanned from East Texas to an area near Kansas City in 2017 is officially the longest lightning strike ever measured, according to the World Meteorological Organization

Categories: Astronomy

Why Earth Is Rotating Extra Fast This Summer, Shortening Days by Milliseconds

Thu, 07/31/2025 - 7:00am

As Earth spins through space, its rate of rotation changes. Here’s why

Categories: Astronomy

Heatstroke and Extreme Heat Exposure Leads to Chronic Health Effects on Kidneys, Heart and Brain

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 2:00pm

The immediate harms of extreme heat are well documented, but a growing body of research suggests that heatstroke may have long-term health effects throughout the body

Categories: Astronomy

Why the Tsunami from Russia’s Earthquake Wasn’t as Large as Feared

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 12:00pm

Russia’s magnitude 8.8 earthquake spawned serious tsunami warnings, but waves have been moderate so far. Here’s the geological reason why

Categories: Astronomy

Why Dungeons and Dragons Is Good for Your Brain

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 11:20am

Researchers and therapists explore the mental health benefits of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.

Categories: Astronomy

Russia’s Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake Ranks among 10 Strongest

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 10:34am

Russia’s earthquake was estimated at magnitude 8.8, among the strongest since scientists began monitoring

Categories: Astronomy

U.S. Nuclear Energy Policy Could Accelerate Weapons Proliferation

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 9:30am

The White House has now fully embraced bomb-prone nuclear fuel technology. This should stop before an arms race, atomic terrorism or even nuclear war results

Categories: Astronomy

Hidden Greenland Lake Punches through Giant Blocks of Ice in ‘Extremely Surprising’ Event

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 9:29am

Water usually flows downward, but something strange happened under Greenland’s ice sheet when a deluge punched through the surface to scour an area nearly twice the size of New York’s Central Park

Categories: Astronomy

Jigsaws: SciAm Cover Art

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 9:00am

Explore Scientific American’s most fascinating magazine covers

Categories: Astronomy

Science Quiz: Doing a 180

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 9:00am

Put your science knowledge to the test with this week’s news quiz. Play now.

Categories: Astronomy

Neurotic Cats, One-Eyed Aliens and Hypnosis for Liars Are among the Historical Gems Reported in Scientific American

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 9:00am

Dive into the quirkiest and most fascinating tales from Scientific American’s 180-year archive

Categories: Astronomy

Why Ticks and Lyme Disease Are Soaring This Summer

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 7:00am

A vector ecologist explains the complexities of tracking tick-borne diseases like Lyme in a climate-changed world

Categories: Astronomy

This Summer of Extreme Weather Features Flash Floods and Corn Sweat

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 6:00am

Extreme weather is front-page news. But what are the phenomena behind the headlines?

Categories: Astronomy

Tsunami Warnings Issued after Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake off the Coast of Russia

Tue, 07/29/2025 - 10:01pm

Tsunami warnings and advisories were issued around the Pacific Ocean after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia, the largest earthquake since the 2011 earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan

Categories: Astronomy

Hurricane Forecasters Keep Access to Threatened Defense Department Satellite Data

Tue, 07/29/2025 - 12:22pm

Microwave satellite data that are key to capturing changes in a hurricane’s strength will not be taken from meteorologists as originally planned

Categories: Astronomy

Trump’s EPA Targets ‘Endangerment Finding’ Underlying Climate Change Policy for Reducing Carbon

Tue, 07/29/2025 - 12:20pm

The Trump administration is releasing its proposal to undo the “endangerment finding,” the long-standing rationale and legal imperative for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act

Categories: Astronomy