Scientific American.com

Wildfire Smoke from Canada Reduces Air Quality in U.S. Midwest
Winds from the northwest are blowing cool, dry air—but also wildfire smoke—into the U.S. Midwest from Canada
U.S. Science Has Weathered Attacks Before and Won
Federal officials seized 3,000 copies of Scientific American in 1950 in a “red scare” era of attacks on science. The move backfired, and offers lessons for today
Why Do Black Holes Spin?
Scientists are uncovering how spinning black holes launch jets, warp spacetime and shape the cosmos
Anthropic’s Claude 4 Chatbot Suggests It Might Be Conscious
A conversation with Anthropic’s chatbot raises questions about how AI talks about awareness.
4 Science Book Recommendations We Loved Reading in July
Check out Scientific American’s fiction and nonfiction book recommendations for July
Why Do Allergens Make Us Cough and Sneeze?
The immune system senses damage to cell membranes caused by pore-forming proteins and mounts a response
Miniature Neutrino Detector Catches Elusive Particles at Nuclear Reactor
A relatively small detector caught neutrinos from a nuclear reactor using a technique known as coherent scattering
Brains React to Signs of Illness—Even When It’s Not Real
When people viewed virtual avatars with coughs or rashes, their brain triggered an immune response
How the Potato Got Its Start Nine Million Years Ago—Thanks to a Tomato
About nine million years ago, a hybridization involving the lineage of another farmers market star gave rise to the modern-day cultivated potato
Lightning Strike Sets New Record for Longest Ever Measured
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
Why Earth Is Rotating Extra Fast This Summer, Shortening Days by Milliseconds
As Earth spins through space, its rate of rotation changes. Here’s why
Heatstroke and Extreme Heat Exposure Leads to Chronic Health Effects on Kidneys, Heart and Brain
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
Why the Tsunami from Russia’s Earthquake Wasn’t as Large as Feared
Russia’s magnitude 8.8 earthquake spawned serious tsunami warnings, but waves have been moderate so far. Here’s the geological reason why
Why Dungeons and Dragons Is Good for Your Brain
Researchers and therapists explore the mental health benefits of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.
Russia’s Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake Ranks among 10 Strongest
Russia’s earthquake was estimated at magnitude 8.8, among the strongest since scientists began monitoring
U.S. Nuclear Energy Policy Could Accelerate Weapons Proliferation
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
Hidden Greenland Lake Punches through Giant Blocks of Ice in ‘Extremely Surprising’ Event
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
Jigsaws: SciAm Cover Art
Explore Scientific American’s most fascinating magazine covers
Science Quiz: Doing a 180
Put your science knowledge to the test with this week’s news quiz. Play now.
Neurotic Cats, One-Eyed Aliens and Hypnosis for Liars Are among the Historical Gems Reported in Scientific American
Dive into the quirkiest and most fascinating tales from Scientific American’s 180-year archive