Scientific American.com
After 286 Days in Space, NASA Astronauts Return to Earth with a Splash
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams had been “stuck” at the International Space Station since June 6, 2024, after Boeing’s Starliner, the vehicle they rode to get there, ran into multiple hardware problems
Best-Yet ‘Baby Pictures’ of the Universe Unveiled
The final results from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope offer the sharpest, most sensitive view of the early cosmos that anyone has ever seen
RFK, Jr. Silent as EPA Weakens Mercury Pollution Rules
RFK, Jr. fought mercury pollution for years, but he is now in an administration that wants to make it easier for industries to dump it into the air and water
April 2025: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago
Mysterious gamma rays; snake-eating snake
Newfound Exoplanets around Barnard’s Star Resolve Long-Standing Astronomical Quest
Four small, newly discovered worlds are less than six light-years away from Earth, and their discovery reinforces a cautionary tale from planet hunting’s prehistory
New Drugs, and Diets, Soothe Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Several medications now calm painful inflammation in the intestines. Diets free of ultraprocessed foods also help
A Neurodivergent Journey, Armored Dinosaurs and the Dark Sector
In the April issue of SciAm, follow a man’s journey to a diagnosis, learn about exciting new schizophrenia treatments, and more
Readers Respond to the December 2024 Issue
Letters to the editors for the December 2024 issue of Scientific American
See How Drought Whiplash Led to California Wildfires
California is experiencing wider swings between wet and dry spells
Contributors to Scientific American’s April 2025 Issue
Writers, artists, photographers and researchers share the stories behind the stories
AI Needs to Be More Energy-Efficient
Artificial Intelligence uses too much energy. Developers need to find better ways to power it or risk adding to the climate crisis
Is ChatGPT a Drug? Metaphors Show What Students Think of AI
Analyzing the metaphors we use to talk about ChatGPT can reveal how we’re thinking about the new tech
How I Diagnosed My Rare Neurological Condition after Decades of Hiding It
A personal quest and progress in brain science finally put a name on baffling behaviors
Science Crossword: Blacked Out
Play this crossword inspired by the April 2025 issue of Scientific American
A New Picture of Schizophrenia Emerges, and So Do New Ways to Treat It
As a complex picture of schizophrenia emerges, so do new ways to treat the disorder
‘Dark Matter’ May Be a Whole Shadow World of Mysterious Atoms and Forces
Dark matter could be an entire dark sector of the universe, with its own particles and forces
Smarter Flood Protection Is Inspired by Nature
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has uncharacteristically been working with nature instead of bulldozing it into submission. Will this enlightened approach prevail?
Dinosaur Armor and Weaponry Was Even More Impressive Than Researchers Thought
Studies of the horns, spikes, plates and clubs of dinosaurs could help settle a long-standing debate over their function
