Radical optimism is essential for progress through innovation in addressing global challenges.
NASA Retires Asteroid-Hunting Telescope
NASA is retiring its asteroid-hunting telescope NEOWISE, initially designed as an astrophysics surveyor, due to the telescope sinking low in Earth's upper atmosphere.
Don Pettit, NASA's Oldest Active Astronaut, Is Going Back to Space
Don Pettit, 69, set to become second-oldest NASA astronaut in space; emphasizes 'science of opportunity' during missions.
Baseball Mud Bath Has Scientific Backing
Radical optimism is essential for progress through innovation in addressing global challenges.
NASA Retires Asteroid-Hunting Telescope
NASA is retiring its asteroid-hunting telescope NEOWISE, initially designed as an astrophysics surveyor, due to the telescope sinking low in Earth's upper atmosphere.
Don Pettit, NASA's Oldest Active Astronaut, Is Going Back to Space
Don Pettit, 69, set to become second-oldest NASA astronaut in space; emphasizes 'science of opportunity' during missions.
No, You Can't See the Great Wall of China from Space
Resolution is crucial in distinguishing closely spaced objects when viewing from space, debunking myths like seeing the Great Wall of China from the moon.
Where Is Planet Nine? Its Hiding Places Are Running Out
Astronomers have narrowed down possible locations for Planet Nine but have not found conclusive evidence of its existence yet.
Tides Move Heaven and Earth More Than You Know
Tides are not just the ebb and flow of the ocean but a force causing water movement, linked to gravity, affecting various celestial bodies.
A Solar Eclipse Is Too Special to See Through Your Smartphone
Total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, expected to cover U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Articles explaining why, where, what to expect, how to participate, and watch safely are available.
Emotional experiences during a total solar eclipse are described vividly by observers.
To Ancient Maya, Solar Eclipses Signified Clashing Gods
Travel to a Dark Sky area to appreciate the beauty of celestial objects in the night sky.
Pre-modern societies accurately predicted lunar and solar eclipses, viewing the sky as orderly and cyclical.
Total Solar Eclipses Are Cosmic Coincidences That Won't Last Forever
Total solar eclipses are astronomically rare and rely on the unique relationship between Earth and the moon.
The dramatic effect of total solar eclipses is due to the precise proportions of the sun and moon and their distance from Earth.
No, You Can't See the Great Wall of China from Space
Resolution is crucial in distinguishing closely spaced objects when viewing from space, debunking myths like seeing the Great Wall of China from the moon.
Where Is Planet Nine? Its Hiding Places Are Running Out
Astronomers have narrowed down possible locations for Planet Nine but have not found conclusive evidence of its existence yet.
Tides Move Heaven and Earth More Than You Know
Tides are not just the ebb and flow of the ocean but a force causing water movement, linked to gravity, affecting various celestial bodies.
A Solar Eclipse Is Too Special to See Through Your Smartphone
Total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, expected to cover U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Articles explaining why, where, what to expect, how to participate, and watch safely are available.
Emotional experiences during a total solar eclipse are described vividly by observers.
To Ancient Maya, Solar Eclipses Signified Clashing Gods
Travel to a Dark Sky area to appreciate the beauty of celestial objects in the night sky.
Pre-modern societies accurately predicted lunar and solar eclipses, viewing the sky as orderly and cyclical.
Total Solar Eclipses Are Cosmic Coincidences That Won't Last Forever
Total solar eclipses are astronomically rare and rely on the unique relationship between Earth and the moon.
The dramatic effect of total solar eclipses is due to the precise proportions of the sun and moon and their distance from Earth.
This Researcher is on a Crusade to Correct Wikipedia's Gender Imbalance
Jess Wade focuses on updating Wikipedia pages for women in STEM to celebrate their achievements and ensure accurate representation.
Seventh Person Cured' of HIV After Stem Cell Transplant
Stem-cell transplant made a 60-year-old man HIV-free for six years, challenging the focus solely on CCR5 gene mutation for HIV cure.
NopeIt's Never Aliens
Growing up believing in UFOs and consuming related media can lead to a shift towards critical thinking and skepticism over time.
How Many Holes Does the Universe Have?
The shape of the universe may be more complex than previously assumed.
Lunar Landings Could Sandblast' Astronauts with Moon Dust
Rocket landings on the moon may fling significantly more dust than previously believed, posing serious hazards to crew and equipment.
How Bird Flu Slipped Past High-Tech Texas Dairy Farmers
Early detection of infectious diseases like bird flu is crucial to prevent widespread outbreaks.
How Did Cockroaches Reach Global Domination?
The German cockroach, a species widespread in the world, adapted to humans with incredible speed and specificity, tracing its origins and spread globally in recent research.
How Can You See' a Black Hole?
Black holes are captivating due to their mysterious and frightening nature.
Has Quantum Physics Determined Your Future?
Historical events result from interconnected and contingent causes, raising questions about free will and alternate outcomes.
Strangely Shaped Bubbles Tell the Story of Ice's Formation and Composition
Ice bubble shapes can reveal freezing speed and gas concentration, offering insights for researchers.
With Measles on the Rise, Here's How to Check If You Were Vaccinated or Have Immunity
Measles outbreak in the U.S. due to introduction by infected travelers
Importance of high vaccination coverage for preventing measles spread
What Do Brain Worms like the One RFK, Jr., Had Actually Do?
The article highlights the surprising revelation of a dead worm in Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s brain, bringing attention to the potential dangers of parasitic infections.
Bird Flu Detected in a Person in Texas: What We Know So Far
Avian influenza A (H5N1) found in a person in Texas exposed to infected cattle, showing eye redness but no other symptoms.
No evidence of human-to-human transmission for avian flu found in U.S. cases, with low risk to the public.
New FLiRT' COVID Variants Could Be Driving an Uptick in Cases. Here's How to Avoid Them
Public health experts are concerned about a potential summer spike in COVID cases as travel increases and heat waves drive people indoors.
With Measles on the Rise, Here's How to Check If You Were Vaccinated or Have Immunity
Measles outbreak in the U.S. due to introduction by infected travelers
Importance of high vaccination coverage for preventing measles spread
What Do Brain Worms like the One RFK, Jr., Had Actually Do?
The article highlights the surprising revelation of a dead worm in Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s brain, bringing attention to the potential dangers of parasitic infections.
Bird Flu Detected in a Person in Texas: What We Know So Far
Avian influenza A (H5N1) found in a person in Texas exposed to infected cattle, showing eye redness but no other symptoms.
No evidence of human-to-human transmission for avian flu found in U.S. cases, with low risk to the public.
New FLiRT' COVID Variants Could Be Driving an Uptick in Cases. Here's How to Avoid Them
Public health experts are concerned about a potential summer spike in COVID cases as travel increases and heat waves drive people indoors.
Neuroscience and psychology are often poorly depicted in cinema and TV despite the success of science-focused films like Interstellar and Jurassic Park.
The Evolution of a Big, Ugly Cry
Crying on planes can be intense and messy, not just picturesque droplets.
Overconfidence Can Blindside Science and Society Alike. Here's How Not to Get Fooled
Support science journalism to ensure impactful stories. People may get defensive and send hate mail when confronted with conflicting beliefs.
Why Some People Always Get LostAnd Others Never Do
Navigational abilities vary widely among individuals, from highly accurate to completely random pointing.
Technologies like virtual reality and GPS tracking are revolutionizing navigation research, allowing the study of large groups in complex spaces.
Yes, You Did Feel an Earthquake in New Jersey, New York State, Pennsylvania, and More
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck near Lebanon, N.J., felt across a broad area in cities like New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.
Shallow earthquakes like this one at nearly five kilometers in depth tend to generate more surface shaking, but damage and injuries are projected to be minimal.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect Shows that People Don't Know What They Don't Know
The Dunning-Kruger effect explains overestimation of knowledge in those with limited expertise.
The effect has become a popular meme and is invoked in various discussions and debates.
Three Times Eclipses Left Scientists More or Less Agog'
Excitement over eclipses at Scientific American.
The transformative impact of solar eclipses on science.
My Synesthesia Transforms Speech into Text I See' in My Head
Living with ticker-tape synesthesia, where spoken words are automatically translated into written ones in the mind's eye.
Ticker-tape synesthesia is a distinctive way of perceiving the world, where speech-to-text conversion happens involuntarily for the individual.
The accidental discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming started by adding nasal mucus to a petri dish of bacteria in 1921.
Support for science journalism is crucial for sharing impactful stories about discoveries shaping our world.
11th-Century Astrolabe Helped Muslims, Jews and Christians Tell Time and Read Horoscopes
Astrolabe's history and significance
Multilingual annotations reveal Islamic influence
Functionality of the astrolabe
Magical Mucus: On the Benefits of Getting Slimed by a Hagfish
Slime serves as a crucial survival mechanism for hagfish due to its ability to deter predators like sharks.
Support for science journalism is vital to continue sharing impactful stories about scientific discoveries.
How Much Energy Would It Take to Blow the Earth to Smithereens?
Destruction of Earth requires immense energy
Gravitational binding energy formula for total destruction
The Cognitive Neuroscientist Who Helped Unravel the Mysteries of Language
Sign language has specific building blocks and rules like spoken language.
Ursula Bellugi's discoveries about sign language complexity deepened understanding of communication.
Contributors to Scientific American's April 2024 Issue
Road trips help in processing experiences
Personal experiences influence artistic work
Support for impactful journalism is crucial
Hunger in Gaza Could Affect Survivors' Health for Decades
Hunger crisis in Gaza is severe, affecting children and breastfeeding women.
Support for impactful science journalism is crucial for covering global issues.
CRISPR Will Likely Not Solve Bird Flu
CRISPR/Cas9 used to make chickens resistant to avian flu.
Avian flu's challenges include quick mutation and spread.
Meet the Real-life Versions of Dune's Epic Sandworms
Sandworms are central to the fictional planet Arrakis in Dune, where they excrete spice crucial to the ecosystem.
Real-life worms can grow up to several meters in length, similar to Dune's sandworms.
Here's Why We Might Live in a Multiverse
The concept of a multiverse is a real possibility in modern physics, explored by scientists in various branches such as quantum mechanics.
The many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics suggests that different physical states play out in separate universes, each with a unique version of the observer.
Asexuality Research Has Reached New Heights. What Are We Learning?
Asexual and aromantic communities introduce new language for self-identification.
Scientists are catching up with people's existences, shifting the way asexuality is perceived.
How to Close the 'Orgasm Gap' for Heterosexual Couples
OMGYES offers guidance on sexual pleasure
Heterosexual women have fewer orgasms than male partners
Science journalism has its Defector moment
Science journalists face challenges due to industry-wide layoffs and cuts to freelance budgets.
Defector, a cooperatively owned publication, provides a model for stability in the industry.
Popular Science Shuts Online Magazine in Another Sign of Decline
Popular Science has stopped publishing its online magazine, three years after shutting its print edition.
The digital magazine's last issue, titled Fake, was published in September.
Recurrent Ventures, the parent company, has also made cuts to the magazine's staff.
Fauci Calls COVID Cover-Up Claim Preposterous'
Fauci denied allegations of funding COVID-19 creation and coordinating a cover-up at Capitol Hill hearing.
Ada Lovelace's 180-Year-Old Notes Foretold the Future of Computation
Ada Lovelace, through her annotations, laid the foundation for computer science by envisioning the universal capabilities of computers.
Auroras Are on the Horizon, and Bird Flu Is on the Menu
Remembering Alan Turing's contributions to modern computing and impact on science journalism.
Find the Perfect Game for You with This Interactive Quiz
Find a game for every mood based on experience level and preferences.
Europe's New Ariane 6 Rocket Launches at Last
The successful launch of Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket marks a significant milestone for the continent's space program.
Sometimes You Find A Meteorite, Sometimes You Find A Meteor-wrong
A peculiar rock found in the Sahara desert sparks curiosity and imagination about its origin and significance.