The new forensic science of proving what’s real
As deepfakes blur the line between truth and fiction, we’ll need a new class of forensic experts to determine what’s real, what’s fake and what can be proved in court
AI’s next battleground is your body
Tech giants are betting that we are finally ready to invite a persistent digital device into our lives
AI isn’t conscious—but we may be bringing it to life
In rethinking whether AI is sentient, we are asking bigger questions about cognition, human-machine interaction and even our own consciousness
The next AI revolution could start with world models
Why today’s AI systems struggle with consistency and how emerging world models aim to give machines a steady grasp of space and time
The White House Wants an AI Fast Lane
The Trump administration’s top science adviser urged the adoption of a single national AI rule book as lawmakers pressed him on who would pay for the build-out
Wikipedia at 25: Science’s Front Page Faces a New Era
Wikipedia had to fight to establish its legitimacy—and now it faces a new existential threat posed by generative AI
How Woodpeckers Peck with Power, Why Flu Is Spiking, and What AI and Robots Mean for Tech’s Future
Why flu cases are spiking, how AI predicts disease from your sleep, and what surprising biomechanics lie behind woodpeckers’ powerful pecks.
Stevie Wonder’s Rule for AI at CES: ‘Make Life Better for the Living’
At CES 2026, Stevie Wonder offered a simple test for tech. And in the smart glasses boom, the most persuasive tools aren’t about perfect sight but day-to-day independence
At CES 2026, AI Leaves the Screen and Enters the Real World
Humanoids, robotaxis and industrial bots dominate the year’s biggest consumer technology show. Their usefulness remains an open question
7 Important Health Stories to Watch in 2026
From immune cell therapies to measles outbreaks to federal attacks on public health, these are some of the health topics we’ll be watching next year
AI Video Streaming Is Coming. Will It Be Watchable?
Disney and OpenAI’s agreement hints at a future in which viewers don’t just choose what to watch but generate it on demand
Science Carries On. Here Are Our Top Topics for 2026
Whether space, health, technology or environment, here are the issues in science that the editors of Scientific American are focusing on for 2026