Stories by Alex Sugiura

Researchers are exploring whether magic mushrooms could offer a new treatment for anorexia

Moiya McTier explores what makes human creativity unique in the age of AI

From eclipse awe to vaccine debate, earthquake recovery and coffee’s benefits

What if artificial intelligence is used to amplify human creativity rather than replace it?

Linguists explain how a language built from musical notes could convey complex meaning and even support conversation

Scientists analyze an accidental SpaceX impact on the moon as cyberattacks target U.S. water systems and a new mRNA flu vaccine is approved by the FDA

Smoking rates remain low, but experts say social media, stress and shifting attitudes could be fueling a cigarette revival

An outbreak of Cyclospora infections tied to produce spreads across multiple states as new research challenges the protein maxxing craze

Historian Craig Fehrman unpacks the science, politics and human stories behind one of America’s most famous expeditions

SciAm books editor Bri Kane shares her favorite science books for every summer mood

From ecohorror to science-inspired poetry, discover the books Scientific American staffers are recommending this summer

Could sunlight actually improve your health? New research suggests we may need to rethink total sun avoidance

What’s going on with the Ebola outbreak, how the World Cup is dealing with rising temperatures, and how becoming a father can change your brain

Everyday viral infections may be quietly reshaping the body’s network of molecules that support cells and tissues in ways that can raise cancer risk over time

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

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

How scientists are engineering the perfect World Cup pitch—one so flawless that players never notice it

World Cup crowds spark outbreak tracking as AI tensions rise and ancient Rome’s roads get a stunning reboot

A physician involved in the long push to change the name PCOS to PMOS takes us behind the scenes of this subtle yet consequential change

From slow elevators to perfectly split pizza, math quietly explains the quirks of everyday life

A deadly Ebola outbreak is spreading fast—and U.S. cuts to foreign aid are making it worse

A new look at how everything from handwriting to AI quietly reshapes our bodies, habits and sense of connection

Author Jeremy Lent argues that human society runs on a flawed, exploitative worldview—and that embracing interconnectedness could enable a more sustainable future