The History of Opium, Facing Up to Quantum Mechanics and Other New Science Books
Book recommendations from the editors of Scientific American
Arts & Culture522 articles archived since 1845
Including Indigenous Voices in Genomics
A program at the University of Illinois trains indigenous scientists in genomics—in hopes that future work will be aimed at benefiting those communities. Christine Herman reports. ...
West Point Uniforms Signify Explosive Chemistry
U.S. Military Academy cadets wear the colors black, gray and gold for reasons found in gunpowder’s chemistry.
Jacks-of-All-Trades Make the Grade
Journalist and author David Epstein talks about his new book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.
Real Laughs Motivate More Guffaws
Honest, involuntary laughter cued people to laugh more at some really bad jokes than they did when hearing forced laughter.
A Global Profile of Air Pollution, on the Frontlines of the Ebola Epidemic and Other New Science Books
Book recommendations from the editors of Scientific American
Why Two Moonships Were Better Than One
Engineer John Houbolt pushed for a smaller ship to land on the lunar surface while the command module stayed in orbit around the moon.
Why Baseballs Are Flying in 2019
An analysis of the 2019 edition of the Major League baseball points to reasons why it's leaving ballparks at a record rate.
Her Nobel Research Outshines Her Star Turn
Nobel Laureate Frances H. Arnold talks to Scientific American editor-in-chief Mariette DiChristina about her work, which takes advantage of the evolution algorithm to make entirely new enzymes that can perform useful chemistry...
Art Meets Science in These Dazzling Lamps Made of Microbes
Swedish designer Jan Klingler has garnered attention for his stunning lighting featuring bacteria
A Saturn V LEGO Set, a Moon Images Exhibit and New Science Books
Special Apollo 11–themed recommendations from the editors of Scientific American
Remembering Murray Gell-Mann
Murray Gell-Mann, 1969 Nobel Laureate in Physics who identified the quark, died May 24th.
An Intimate Portrait of Asian Elephants, A Case for Math-Driven Physics, and Other New Science Books
Book recommendations from the editors of Scientific American
Unread Books at Home Still Spark Literacy Habits
Growing up in a home filled with books enhances enhances intellectual capacity in later life, even if you don't read them all.
Ancient Whiz Opens Archaeology Window
The residue of ancient urine can reveal the presence of early stationary herder-farmer communities.
Uncovering the Sacrificial Puppies of the Shang Dynasty
A new study suggests young dogs were frequently buried with humans in China some 3,000 years ago, but the precise reasons remain elusive
Chemists Investigate Casanova’s Clap
In his memoirs, the womanizing writer Giacomo Casanova described suffering several bouts of gonorrhea—but researchers found no trace of the microbe on his handwritten journals. Karen Hopkin reports...
Watching Apollo 11 with NASA Historian Bill Barry
The agency’s chief historian discusses the film and what the moon missions can teach us about global challenges today
Naturally Occurring High Testosterone Shouldn't Keep Female Athletes out of Competition
It is unscientific and unfair to bar female athletes with elevated testosterone
Humanity’s Golden Record, Bubonic Plague in the U.S., and Other New Science Books
Book recommendations from the editors of Scientific American
