Alex Sugiura is a Peabody and Pulitzer Prize–winning composer, editor and podcast producer based in Brooklyn, N.Y. He has worked on projects for Bloomberg, Axios, Crooked Media and Spotify, among others.
A Hobbit Mystery Is Solved, 2025 Nears a Climate Record, and More Parents Refuse Vitamin K for Newborns
This week’s science roundup covers 2025’s near-record heat, a new mpox strain and fresh clues about why hobbits vanished 50,000 years ago.
Inside the Empire of AI: Karen Hao on Power, Ideology and Environmental Costs
Journalist Karen Hao unpacks the rise of AI “empires,” their ideological roots, and the hidden environmental and societal costs of OpenAI’s quest for artificial general intelligence.
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Faces New Uncertainty on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover has gathered groundbreaking Mars samples, but the mission to bring them home is facing serious challenges.
Puppy Power, Vaccines under Fire, Satellite Warning
Vaccine controversies, space pollution and puppy power.
Scientific American Shares Its First-Ever Best Fiction and Nonfiction Books of the Year
Scientific American unveils its first-ever best fiction and nonfiction books of the year, spotlighting stories that blend science, imagination and unforgettable voices.
How Wild Turkeys Made a Comeback from Near Extinction
Wild turkeys once nearly disappeared, but today they’re thriving.
Tamer Raccoons, COP30 Recap, New Fluoride Research
Your Monday news roundup in audio form, including the cutest raccoons, COP30 takeaways and more on a new study on fluoride and cognitive decline.
How to Keep Your Gut Happy This Holiday Season
As holiday feasts and stress approach, an expert explains how to keep your gut healthy without skipping the stuffing.
The human network behind a digital time capsule
Scientific American’s editor in chief David M. Ewalt reflects on a 20-year experiment in e-mailing the future
How mRNA Vaccines Could Transform Cancer Treatment
From COVID shots to cancer therapy, mRNA is changing medicine.
How AI Is Transforming the Grieving Process
Science writer David Berreby shares his personal journey with griefbots and discusses how they can offer unexpected comfort, insight and connection in the wake of loss.
What Food Texture Teaches Us about Perception, Culture and Language
Kendra Pierre-Louis steps in as interim host and dives into the science behind why some foods—especially mayonnaise—can gross us out.
Why Headaches Remain One of Medicine’s Most Misunderstood Disorders
Migraine and cluster headaches affect millions—yet research remains surprisingly thin.
Why We Struggle to Say No—And How to Get Better at It
Why saying no is harder than it should be.
Hurricane Melissa Was One of the Strongest Atlantic Storms Ever. Here’s Why
Hurricane Melissa’s rare intensity and lasting impact reveal how storms are evolving in a warming world.
Gut Reactions to Your Favorite Halloween Candy
This Halloween discover how your candy choices can trick—or treat—the microbes in your gut.
Will American Ownership Change What TikTok Shows You?
TikTok’s U.S. spin-off could reshape its algorithm and the way culture is curated online.
Mosquitoes Invade Iceland, Earth Darkens, and Bird Flu Returns
Bird flu surges and a government shutdown collide, complicating efforts to track cases and protect flocks.
Why Pregnant People Are Left Out of Drug Safety Studies
Despite the widespread use of medication during pregnancy, a lack of clinical research leaves patients and doctors navigating treatment with dangerously few data.
Why Some Apologies Feel Hollow—And Others Don’t
The words we choose when apologizing—especially longer, effortful ones—can signal sincerity and make our apologies feel more authentic.
Global Superbugs Surge, Chikungunya Hits Long Island, and Satellites Leak Data
A new WHO report warns of rising antimicrobial resistance, and researchers uncover satellite data leaks and insect surprises.
How a Space Rock Became a Scientific Breakthrough—And a Black Market Commodity
A massive Somali meteorite containing never-before-seen-on-Earth minerals vanished into the black market, raising ethical questions about science and ownership.
A Surgeon Explains the Alarming Rise of Lung Cancer in Nonsmoking Women
Thoracic surgeon Jonathan Villena explains why early screening for lung cancer is critical—even for those without symptoms.
Nobel Prizes, COVID Vaccine Updates and Malnutrition in Gaza
The CDC updates COVID vaccine guidance and stirs controversy over childhood immunizations. And global health experts warn of rising child malnutrition in Gaza.