The Psyche spacecraft flew by Mars earlier this year on its way to a metal-rich asteroid, capturing the images along the way
Scientific American
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A 23-year-old student overturned an ancient conjecture about one of math’s simplest operations
In an episode of the cartoon, a machine lets characters swap bodies, but they can’t switch back with the same person. Math helps all the characters return to their original bodies
A new skull-based analysis of Neanderthal brains suggests that these ancient hominins’ range of intelligence largely overlapped with our own
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Are GLP-1s for life? What we know about getting older on weight-loss drugs
For the first time ever, astronomers have found two sibling stars that each exploded as a supernova, giving us a new view of these epochal cosmic cataclysms
These findings challenge a long-held belief about weapons found in female burial sites
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
Our subscribers support more than 180 years of science journalism. You get the facts, and you help us ensure that science is shared with rigor and independence.
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What’s the secret to prompting an AI to solve math problems that have left humans stumped? Tell it to believe in itself
The Arctic Ocean is one of the most extreme environments on Earth, but that’s not stopping this cephalopod
More sunlight in the evenings doesn’t always equate to better health
The Young American Scientists
American science is at a crossroads, but these extraordinary people, with their passion for knowledge and their dedication to our competitive future, are building its next chapter.
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Most adults have levels of a dangerous type of cholesterol that are above 100, but this new drug can reduce levels to around 50
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.
Wildfire smoke may be as much as 10 times more dangerous than other forms of air pollution, research suggests
The “hero’s journey” narrative structure seen in the ancient Greek story can help people make meaning in their own lives
Spoonerisms are among the most well-known speech errors, and for linguists and psychologists they offer a glimpse into how our brains produce speech
A controversial new ruling from the Federal Communications Commission leaves no one responsible for regulating light pollution and other ill effects from skyrocketing numbers of satellites
The nation’s first statewide moratorium on new hyperscale facilities gives officials up to one year to work out how to measure their environmental effects amid the AI building boom
New, never-before-seen images provide a glimpse into the secretive lives of a clouded leopard species found in the dense rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra
A new breakthrough pushes the limits of randomness, bringing a decades-old mathematical mystery closer to resolution
Discussions
“Firstly, this was a great article. Secondly, as a distance runner who runs 1-2 marathons per year, a shoe that makes someone 4-6% more efficient in their stride is incredible. More runners should use available technology. I feel so lucky to be a runner at this point in history. Because I over pronate when I step, I run with stability…”
— Bnkh
Duration, location, aviation: What makes the best possible view of a total solar eclipse?
U.S. officials have traced an explosive-diarrhea-causing parasite outbreak in five states to shredded lettuce served at this popular fast-food chain
Case numbers of this parasite-caused illness have exploded in the last week. An expert explains how to try and stay safe
SpaceX’s first attempt to launch the company’s Starship megarocket on the vehicle’s 13th flight test ended before it could properly begin, aborting just before liftoff
The planet LHS 1140 b lies in its star’s habitable zone, which already made it a prime candidate as a possible host for life
The signature of Sak Tahn Waax, or “White-Chested Fox,” was found inscribed in a 1,000-year-old chamber beneath present-day Guatemala
July/August 2026 Issue
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
Shaving under a minute off our daily commutes costs Americans $22 million daily
SpaceX is launching the latest version of its Starship megarocket for a test flight that—if all goes to plan—should look a lot like the last one
Erythrulose—a sugar found in raspberries—is also prevalent in a giant molecular cloud close to our galaxy’s core, scientists have discovered
Scientific American Travel
2026 Solar Eclipse Mediterranean Cruise
Totality in the Mediterranean with Clara Moskowitz
Cyclosporiasis case numbers have skyrocketed from several dozen nationwide in June to now more than 1,000 in the state of Michigan alone
A recent study in the journal Nature carries cosmos-quaking implications for our understanding of the universe—except a new preprint says that it’s wrong
Alpha-gal syndrome is increasing across the U.S., driven by lone star ticks
New research identifies five distinct sleep subtypes, revealing links between brain patterns, behavior and health
A best-yet measurement of one of general relativity’s most mind-boggling effects is “another feather in Einstein’s cap”
An ancient sample shows calcite threading through this material’s cracks and pores, offering possible lessons for making modern concrete last longer
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is an independent group that offers guidance on what health screenings and medications health insurance should cover
During World War II, statistics helped the Allies estimate the number of enemy tanks, which proved essential in the decisive move against Nazi Germany
This climate system is tied to more powerful typhoons, as well as famine and wildfires
The sport supplement is popular among health influencers and athletes, who say creatine can help build stronger muscles and sharper brains—but is it legit?
Steel support columns in the Midtown building, which is being converted from offices into apartments, may have been overloaded, experts say
To align Coordinated Universal Time with Earth’s rotation, a second occasionally gets added to the year. That may change in 2027