"Professor Goddard does not know the relation between action and reaction and the need to have something better than a vacuum against which to react. He seems to lack the basic knowledge ladled out daily in high schools."
--1921 New York Times editorial about Robert Goddard's revolutionary rocket work.

"Correction: It is now definitely established that a rocket can function in a vacuum. The 'Times' regrets the error."
NY Times, July 1969.

— New York Times

Scientific American.com

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Updated: 9 hours 29 min ago

How a New AI Model Helps Volcanic History Rise from the Ashes

Wed, 04/17/2024 - 6:00am

Volcano detectives use artificial intelligence to sleuth out ancient secrets in Alaska. 

Categories: Astronomy

Overconfidence Can Blindside Science and Society Alike. Here's How Not to Get Fooled

Wed, 04/17/2024 - 5:00am

The tale of how the "backfire effect" ultimately, itself, backfired, and what scientists can learn from being wrong

Categories: Astronomy

Online Age Verification Laws Could Do More Harm Than Good

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 10:00am

More U.S. states are requiring online ID checks. A proposed French strategy aims to balance child safety with users’ privacy rights

Categories: Astronomy

Prostate Cancer Advances Make Late-Stage Disease More Treatable

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Major discoveries during the past 10 years have transformed prostate cancer treatment, enabling it to proceed even for the most advanced form of the disease

Categories: Astronomy

Turning Down the Noise Around You Improves Health in Many Ways

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Experts describe ways to turn down the volume, from earbuds to smartphone apps that detect harmful noise levels

Categories: Astronomy

Everyone Will Have Fewer Relatives in the Future

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Changing demographics mean shrinking families and more older relatives in future decades

Categories: Astronomy

May 2024: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Pavlov’s dogs; Mercury’s dark side

Categories: Astronomy

Fossil and Living Birds Reveal the Dazzling Biology of Feathers

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Reducing noise improves health, JWST’s galaxies change astronomy, and there’s new hope for people with prostate cancer

Categories: Astronomy

The Dark Side of Nostalgia for Wild, Untouched Places

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

A novel about the tensions between nature and modernity, animal social networks, and more books out now

Categories: Astronomy

In Matters of Scientific Debate, Follow the Houdini Rule

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Scientific expertise is typically limited and specific. When evaluating scientific claims, look to the relevant experts

Categories: Astronomy

‘Smart Gloves’ Teach Piano Playing through Touch

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

A high-tech pair of gloves can help make learning instruments and other hands-on activities easier

Categories: Astronomy

We Need to Make Cities Less Car-Dependent

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Reducing the need for car travel is better for health, the environment and public safety

Categories: Astronomy

Walks in Green Parks Mean Stronger Immune Systems and Better Mental Health

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Contact with nature improves physical and mental health, but greenery is not easily reached by all

Categories: Astronomy

How Schools Can Help Kids Reduce Racism and Prejudice

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Making schools more welcoming for all can make for a fair and just society

Categories: Astronomy

How Our Thoughts Shape the Way Spoken Words Evolve

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

What makes a word survive or go extinct?

Categories: Astronomy

This Tiny Fish Makes an Ear-Blasting Screech for Love

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

A rice-grain-size fish screams louder than a jackhammer—and we have a lot to learn from its minuscule brain

Categories: Astronomy

How Plant Intelligence Can Soothe Climate Anxiety

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

In a new book, the wisdom of plants is a balm for our changing planet

Categories: Astronomy

Contributors to Scientific American’s May 2024 Issue

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Writers, artists, photographers and researchers share the stories behind the stories

Categories: Astronomy

Why Feathers Are One of Evolution’s Cleverest Inventions

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Fossil and living birds reveal the dazzling biology of feathers

Categories: Astronomy

A ‘Computer’ Built from DNA Can Find Patterns in Photographs

Tue, 04/16/2024 - 9:00am

Artificial DNA sorts images like a neural network does

Categories: Astronomy