Scientific American.com
Stunningly Hot Galaxy Cluster Puts New Spin on How These Cosmic Behemoths Evolved
Scientists detected gas at least five times hotter than previous theories had predicted inside a galaxy cluster from the early universe
Longest-Ever Look at Stormy Region on the Sun Offers New Clues to Space Weather
Scientists observed an active region on the sun for a record 94 days, marking a “milestone in solar physics”
Why Does Life Keep Evolving These Geometric Patterns?
A global catalog shows how creatures across the tree of life balance rigidity with flexibility in remarkably consistent ways
How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions—Behavioral Science Tips That Work
Behavioral economist Katy Milkman explains why most New Year’s resolutions fail and shares how science-backed strategies can build habits that last.
Earliest Human Ancestor May Have Walked on Two Legs
A fossil belonging to an ancient hominin that lived seven million years ago bears the hallmarks of bipedalism, according to a new study
How Woodpeckers Turn Their Entire Bodies into Pecking Machines
These birds’ drilling approach is more like extreme tennis playing than weight lifting
The Pleiades Star Cluster Has a Secret Stellar Family
The “Seven Sisters” of the Pleiades are part of a much larger complex that can help reveal our galaxy’s deep history
Scientists Just Clocked a ‘Rogue’ Planet the Size of Saturn
Astronomers just measured the mass of a free-floating planet without a star for the first time
How to See the First Fiery Meteor Shower of 2026
The new year has arrived, and the Quadrantid meteor shower is coming in hot. Here’s how to see this often-spectacular shower at its peak
The Push to Make Semiconductors in Space Just Took a Serious Leap Forward
Space Forge plans to manufacture semiconductors from space—without the need for humans
Cheers! NASA Rings in the New Year with Sparkling ‘Champagne Cluster’ Image
A galaxy cluster discovered on New Year’s Eve in 2020 shines in a new image from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory
NASA Telescopes Capture Colliding Spiral Galaxies in Sparkling Detail
Astronomers combined data from NASA’s JWST and Chandra X-ray Observatory to create a stunning new image of two merging spiral galaxies
Whooping Cough Deaths Rise in U.S. as Surge in Infections Continues
The brutal respiratory infection has infected tens of thousands and killed at least 13 people in the U.S. in 2025
NIH Agrees to Evaluate Stalled Scientific Grants
Health officials have agreed to assess pending medical research grants after a Trump administration antidiversity purge put them on ice
NASA’s New Chief Hints Iconic Space Shuttle Might Not Be Moving to Texas After All
NASA’s new boss Jared Isaacman hinted that he could break with Texas lawmakers’ push to move iconic space shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian to Houston
What Makes Ultraprocessed Foods Addictive?
A neuroscientist explains how highly processed foods may be key to “food addiction.” She also reveals some solutions
Could Next-Generation Medicines Help Solve the Opioid Crisis?
New medications are in the pipeline that could help people win their battles against addictive substances, including opioids
These Are the Most Exciting Space Science Events for 2026
From crewed lunar voyages to flight tests of fully reusable rockets and launches of new orbital telescopes studying the outer limits of the cosmos, 2026 should be a banner year for space science and exploration
15 Million Years before the Megalodon, This Giant Ancient Shark Prowled the Oceans
A humungous shark that lived 115 million years ago surpassed the size of modern-day great whites, paleontologists discovered
China’s Plans for Humanlike AI Could Set the Tone for Global AI Rules
Beijing is set to tighten China’s rules for humanlike artificial intelligence, with a heavy emphasis on user safety and societal values
