Scientific American.com

NASA Begins Mass Firings ahead of Trump Team’s Deadline
Top advisers in NASA’s Office of the Chief Scientist are among the first to go amid a government-wide downsizing effort
How to Help Butterflies That Are Disappearing
A new report finds that butterfly populations in the continental U.S. declined by one fifth between 2000 and 2020—but it’s not too late
Strong Scientific Leaders Must Speak Out against the Trump Administration’s Science Denial
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences should denounce the antiscientific policies of the Trump administration
How COVID Shaped Education and Mental Health Outcomes for Kids
COVID’s emotional and educational strain on children still lingers, but educators and mental health specialists say they are far from a “lost generation”
The Secret to Understanding Animal Consciousness May Be Joy
Animal emotions—including joy—may be key markers of conscious beings
Food Recalls Are Down, but Food Poisoning Deaths Are Up
Despite headlines, there were fewer food recalls in 2024 than in 2023, but more people died from food poisoning linked to outbreaks
Microplastic Pollution Is Messing with Photosynthesis in Plants
Microplastics can cut a plant’s ability to photosynthesize by up to 12 percent, new research shows
Athena Lunar Lander Declared Dead on the Moon
For the second time in two years, a commercial lunar lander built and operated by Intuitive Machines has fallen over on the moon
9 Unsolved Mysteries in Mathematics
Mathematicians discuss some of the most compelling unsolved problems in the field
Our Narrow View of Masculinity Is Hurting Boys
Masculinity isn’t “toxic” by itself, but the strain boys feel from society and parents to meet unrealistic expectations is
Earth May Soon Get Early Solar Flare Warnings
Flickering loops in the sun’s corona may appear before dangerous solar activity
Measles Misinformation Sparks Concern, Supreme Court Limits EPA Power, and Scientists Create Woolly Mice
In this week's news roundup, we dig into measles misinformation, ozone recovery and new findings on using nasal cartilage to treat knee injuries.
Earth’s Oldest Impact Crater Discovered in Australia
Scientists with a new theory about how Earth’s early continents formed predicted where a superold impact crater should be—then found it
Stand Up for Science Rallies Draw Crowds Protesting Trump Cuts
Scientists and supporters rallied in cities across the U.S. and Europe to protest dramatic funding cuts and other attacks from the Trump administration
Daylight Saving Time and Early School Start Times Cost The Economy Billions
The current system of daylight saving time and early school start times wastes billions while causing more car accidents, workplace injuries and health issues
Trump Administration Likely to Drop Chloroprene Lawsuit. Here’s What That Means
Trump could drop a federal lawsuit against a petrochemical plant that emits chloroprene. Here’s a look at the cancer-causing chemical
Trump's FEMA Disaster Aid Freeze Threatens 'Acute Harm,' Judge Rules
The Federal Emergency Management Agency must show in one week whether it is complying with a judge’s ruling that blocks the Trump administration disaster aid freeze
Why Is the Trump Administration Politicizing Weather?
Climate change is real. Dismantling our federal weather agency won’t change that
Leading a Meaningful Life through Storytelling Skills
People who are rated as good storytellers exhibit a purpose-oriented mindset and big-picture thinking more often than others
Five Years after the COVID Pandemic Began, Fatigue and Frustration Remain
The “quarantine fatigue” of 2020 became an ongoing “pandemic fatigue,” a complex set of emotions that continues to affect the nation