Scientific American.com
The Comstock Act Originated with Disregard for Women’s Lives. It Still Does Today
Activists who seek to revive this antiquated law share with Anthony Comstock, the Comstock Act’s namesake and progenitor, a similar view of women as subordinate to the decisions of men and God
A Cubic Millimeter of a Human Brain Has Been Mapped in Spectacular Detail
Google scientists have modeled all 150 million connections of a fragment of the human brain at nanoscale resolution
Don Pettit, NASA’s Oldest Active Astronaut, Is Going Back to Space
Veteran spacefarer Don Pettit is set to launch this summer on a half-year mission to the International Space Station to perform novel science experiments, snap unique orbital photos, and much more
The Immune System May Struggle to Handle Hotter Summer Temperatures
Heat seems to trigger a sweep of changes in immune system molecules, although researchers disagree on what they might mean
The New ‘Dream Chaser’ Spacecraft Prepares to Visit the International Space Station
Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser is set to make its inaugural trip to orbit to deliver supplies to the International Space Station
A Citrus-Scented Cannabis Compound Reduces Anxiety for Weed Users
New research into weed reveals how a lemon-scented terpene can ease anxiety without reducing the high.
Orcas Just Sank Another Yacht
Orcas have once again attacked and sunk a boat near the Strait of Gibraltar, a behavior that has scientists stumped
April Heat Waves from Gaza to the Philippines Were Made Worse by Climate Change
From Gaza to India to the Philippines, climate change exacerbated often record-breaking extreme heat over the past month
Disasters Displaced More Than 26 Million People in 2023
Floods, wildfires, droughts and earthquakes forced more than 26 million people to leave their homes in 2023
Sun Erupts with Largest Flare of This Solar Cycle, but Auroras Unlikely to Follow
The same massive sunspot cluster that gave Earth multiple nights of stunning aurora displays has now produced the largest flare of the current solar cycle
The Summer of 2023 Was the Hottest in 2,000 Years
Ancient tree rings show that the summer of 2023 was the hottest in the past 2,000 years because of human-caused climate change
How to Disprove a Conspiracy Theory in 7 Steps
Conspiracy theories are everywhere. Here's how you can figure out when you're being fooled
Superheavy Elements Are Breaking the Periodic Table
Extreme atoms are pushing the bounds of physics and chemistry
Strangely Shaped Bubbles Tell the Story of Ice’s Formation and Composition
Bubbles shaped like teardrops, flattened eggs and worms reveal ice’s inner life
Book Review: Imagining a Radical New Relationship with the Mississippi River
The Mississippi River has been manipulated for decades. A new book considers alternative forms of control
Asbestos Is Finally Banned in the U.S. Here’s Why It Took So Long
The carcinogenic effects of asbestos have been known for decades. We should have banned it long ago
Lifting the Veil on Near-Death Experiences
What the neuroscience of near-death experiences tells us about human consciousness
Readers Respond to the February 2024 Issue
Letters to the editors for the February 2024 issue of Scientific American
Revolutionary Genetics Research Shows RNA May Rule Our Genome
Scientists have recently discovered thousands of active RNA molecules that can control the human body
Book Review: Your Life Is Ruled by Games You Don’t Even Know You’re Playing
Our overreliance on the simplicity of game logic explains why capitalism got out of control
