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A water treatment expert on what could actually fix the Reflecting Pool
The Trump administration wanted the surface of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to be “American flag blue.” A water-treatment expert explains why the pool is still algal green and why the bloom could keep coming back
Which World Cup cooling methods really protect players from extreme heat?
From booed hydration breaks to cooling-gel vests, teams are trying everything to keep their players from overheating. Physiologists—and one World Cup team doctor—say feeling cooler is different than cooling the body
Scientists pop the cork on the hidden chemistry inside wine bottles
A new study captures how cork, wine and air interact over time
Scientists discover remnants of Jellyfish Nebula’s ‘sibling’ supernova
Astronomers may have found the remains of two long-dead stellar siblings
In world first, a man living with HIV received a lung transplant from an HIV-positive donor
This operation opens the door to treating more people living with HIV who have end-stage organ disease
Ancient human ancestors may have first used fire 1.79 million years ago
A new method that detects whether bones have been burned reveals Homo erectus brought fires into caves far earlier than previous evidence had suggested
JWST catches cosmic imposters spoofing faraway galaxies
The James Webb Space Telescope has found nearby brown dwarfs masquerading as far-distant galaxies. The discovery reinforces how, in astronomy, what you see isn’t always what you get
Why some irrational numbers are more irrational than others
The quest to approximate irrational numbers with fractions reveals hidden patterns, surprising hierarchies and enduring mathematical mysteries
Scientists are uncovering how common viruses may quietly increase cancer risk
Everyday viral infections may be quietly reshaping the body’s network of molecules that support cells and tissues in ways that can raise cancer risk over time
Ancient worshipers gathered at a ‘prototype’ Stonehenge to celebrate the solstices, new analysis reveals
These ruins, located just five kilometers from Stonehenge, likely laid the groundwork for religious rites celebrating the longest and shortest days of the year
Japan’s 2011 earthquake was so powerful that it shifted the entire country’s location
This “extraordinary” event was likely caused by seismic waves bouncing off Earth’s core, researchers found
NASA’s Lucy mission reveals an asteroid’s hidden history
Next summer, NASA’s Lucy spacecraft will start sidling up to several asteroids near Jupiter. On its way there, it has studied another space rock up close
Trump administration reverses course on plan to dismantle ocean monitoring network
The effort to pull some 900 ocean-monitoring buoys and sensors from the water drew backlash from scientists and lawmakers
Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s Relativity Space selected for upcoming NASA Mars orbiter mission
This partnership marks the latest foray into space exploration for Relativity Space, which aims to build cheap, reusable rockets
How to watch August’s total solar eclipse live with Scientific American
Even if you aren’t going to be within the path of totality, you can still watch the solar eclipse as it happens with Scientific American
Salty clouds discovered on pink puffball planet
A cold, cherry-blossom-hued exoplanet supports bizarre clouds chock-full of salts
How one new telescope is going to change astronomy forever
Construction of the Deep Synoptic Array is about to start in rural Nevada. It will reveal untold galaxies in stunning detail and help explain how they form and grow
1 in 3 psychologists say their patients use AI as a second therapist
People are increasingly turning to AI for mental health support—but its design is “antithetical” to mental health care, experts say
The surprising science history behind New York City’s ticker-tape parades
On Thursday Knicks fans are flocking to Manhattan for a ticker-tape parade. But where did ticker tape even come from?
The first Atlantic tropical storm of 2026 is here—and it used to be a Pacific cyclone
Tropical Storm Arthur is the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and will bring heavy rains and potential flash flooding to the Southeast
