
The federal funding system for scientific research in the U.S. is crumbling. Here’s how it can be rebuilt

The federal funding system for scientific research in the U.S. is crumbling. Here’s how it can be rebuilt

The first participant has been treated in a landmark clinical trial of cellular reprogramming, which aims to rejuvenate aging cells

Early research suggests that some mental health conditions could stem from metabolic disorders. If so, the findings could change how we treat mental illness

Mikhail Verbitsky was detained at an Armenian airport last Thursday on charges of inciting terrorism

Dogs spontaneously aid struggling humans the way young children do—whereas cats wait until they stand to benefit

Neuroscientist Kauê M. Costa talks about surprising results that are changing how we think dopamine works and how the brain really learns

This young researcher’s unlikely journey into academia will change the way you think about science, failure and belonging

Presenting our inaugural class of Young American Scientists: 28 researchers who are redefining the future of science. For early-career scientists, it's a tumultuous time of funding cuts and general uncertainty. Their dedication and optimism, however, provide plenty of reason for hope.
Elsewhere in the issue: Labs That Run Themselves | How to Fix Science | Craig Venter's Final Interview

How did we get here?

The great American brain drain could define science for a generation

If the supernova remnant is confirmed, it would be one of the closest to the supermassive black hole that lies in the center of the Milky Way

Famed AI wins in Go let human players rethink their moves in a whole new way

Start your morning with today’s Spellements. Create as many words as you can from our daily selection of letters—including one tied to recent science news. Play now.

Extremely curved spacetime can warp cause and effect, creating channels for backward communication

Some mathematicians have predicted when humanity’s downfall might occur—though the circumstances are unspecified

Galapagos sharks have been spotted scrubbing off parasites with help from manta rays

As Ebola rages, Moderna and others are racing to develop an mRNA vaccine for the rare Bundibugyo virus driving the current outbreak

Billions of emerging insects will likely trigger predator population surges—but some species mysteriously opt out of such bounties

The Trump administration is mulling new rules that would give political appointees final say on research grants

Researchers have created the first high-resolution global map of the extent of one of Earth’s largest—and least visible—living networks
“I am a professor emeritus of Mathematical Sciences, University of Memphis, TN. In my early career, 1969-1970s) I frequently taught "math for liberal arts" courses and tology courses and assigned the (attempted) construction of such objects as homework. An excellent example is Lewis' Carrol's construction of a projective plane: take three pocket handkerchiefs, sew two together to make a mobius…”
— ETOrdman

A step-by-step guide to the “Doginburgh Inventory,” a new pawedness test developed by dog behavior researchers

Novo Nordisk said this security incident affected patient data, including health information and birth year

What does it take for an insect or worm to live full-time on a glacier?

The 24 alien books the Scientific American staff love, from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to Contact and beyond

This sparkling galaxy is home to a set of supernova remnants that showed variable brightnesses over 14 years of data

Mathematicians have considered how to watch every corner of a space—but soccer adds moving players, blocked views and constant action

Totality in the Mediterranean with Clara Moskowitz

Fable 5 was built to help with advanced cybersecurity work. Its sudden shutdown highlights a dilemma at the heart of AI security: the same tools can aid both defenders and attackers

Scientists have modeled the potential size of this current outbreak, which some experts think could become one of the worst Ebola epidemics on record

Angine de Poitrine don't abide by the usual rules of Western music, using their own custom-built guitar to strike notes that shouldn't exist

Find the lengths of the sides of the square in this math puzzle

In his final interview, the “swashbuckling” geneticist pointed the way for science

The ability to run “mental marathons” is a skill children can learn through simple, but dedicated, practice

Understanding the behavior of supermassive black holes

A meditation on life and the von Neumann–Wigner interpretation of quantum mechanics

The fossilized remains of more than 450 whales have amassed along a 750-mile-long stretch of the Indian Ocean floor

Play this crossword inspired by the July/August 2026 issue of Scientific American

The Department of Energy bills Genesis as an AI push for scientific discovery. Its first public challenges tell a different story

When asteroids slam into Earth, they can create hydrothermal vent systems

Natural fission reactor uncovered; geometry of soap bubbles

Letters to the editors for the March 2026 issue of Scientific American

Dermatologists and skincare aficionados are excited for the U.S. to finally get a new, more protective sunscreen filter after more than 20 years of regulatory roadblocks. Here’s how bemotrizinol works

On reclaiming America’s edge in research and public health

Exploring ice cores to foresee the effects of climate change

Weight lifting and other forms of resistance training can increase bone density, lower diabetes risk and boost mental health

These young scientists are making waves in their own ways. Keep an eye on them—great things are ahead

Using viruslike particles to deliver therapies safely and effectively

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit the Philippines happened at a subduction zone. Such places are capable of producing the largest earthquakes possible

NASA’s X-59 research aircraft reached its target speed and altitude for the first time on Friday

The new movie Disclosure Day is all about a big alien secret. But SETI researchers behind the updated postdetection protocol say they aren’t in the business of secrets

A linguist lays out what communicating with aliens could actually involve—and what that tells us about human language

Reusable rockets and Starlink made Elon Musk’s company dominant in spaceflight. Its record valuation leans on making Starship flights routine and orbital AI data centers real

Fossilized poo harbors remains from mammoths, bison and big cats, including some of the oldest DNA ever reconstructed

A study finding that even one drink a day causes health risks was deliberately sidelined by the Trump administration, a former federal public health official alleges

An experiment with 2,520 participants backs Richard Feynman’s answer to every diner’s dilemma: Do I want to try something new?