The SciencesJuly 1, 2012
Nobel Pursuits: Decades of Wisdom from Prizewinning Physicists
The tools of science have changed since the golden age of physics, but many of the same questions remain
Stories by Ferris Jabr
Ferris Jabr is a contributing writer for Scientific American. He has also written for the New York Times Magazine, the New Yorker and Outside.
Mind & BrainJune 30, 2012
A Contemplation of Chattering Minds
Mind & BrainJune 28, 2012
New Brain-Machine Spelling Device Could Help the Paralyzed Communicate
Assigning unique patterns of brain activity to each letter of the alphabet lets people answer questions with their thoughts, which might help patients with locked-in syndrome communicate
The SciencesJune 28, 2012
Physics Nobelists Tell of Their Prizewinning Discoveries
In selections from the archives of Scientific American, physicists give firsthand accounts of their groundbreaking work
Mind & BrainJune 26, 2012
What the Supercool Arctic Ground Squirrel Teaches Us about the Brain's Resilience
During hibernation, the ground squirrel's brain loses many vital neural connections, but it has evolved a way to recuperate. Understanding that process might help scientists treat Alzheimer's
EvolutionJune 18, 2012
The Mysterious Brain of the Fat-Tailed Dwarf Lemur, the World's Only Hibernating Primate
Mind & BrainJune 13, 2012
Know Your Neurons: What Is the Ratio of Glia to Neurons in the Brain?
June 7, 2012
How Nuclear Fallout Casts Doubt on Renewal of Some Adult Brain Cells
A unique form of carbon dating, made possible by the Cold War, suggests that new neurons rarely survive in the human olfactory bulb after birth
June 5, 2012
On a Tiny Caribbean Island, Hermit Crabs Form Sophisticated Social Networks [Video]
Hermit crabs have evolved sophisticated social strategies to exchange resources so that everyone benefits
The SciencesJune 1, 2012
Van Gogh's Sunflowers Were Genetic Mutants
Researchers discover the genetic secret behind van Gogh's famous sunflowers
HealthJune 1, 2012
Microbial Mules: Engineering Bacteria to Transport Nanoparticles and Drugs
Scientists are engineering bacteria to transport nanoparticles and drugs
BiotechMay 31, 2012
With Willpower, and a Jolt of Electricity, Paralyzed Rats Learn to Walk Again
A new kind of rehabilitation restored voluntary movement to rats with severely damaged spinal cords
May 30, 2012
Scents and Senescence: "Old Person Smell" Is Real, but Not Necessarily Offensive
A new study confirms that people, like many animals, easily recognize a unique—but not unpleasant—eau de elderly
May 24, 2012
Dollars and Scents: The Chemistry of a Delicious Tomato
Overlooked aromatic compounds make huge contributions to tomato flavor, which suggests a new way to improve the taste of high-yield crops
Mind & BrainMay 23, 2012
Mind-Pops: Psychologists Begin to Study an Unusual form of Proustian Memory
Sudden, unannounced memories might help people make connections between disparate ideas more quickly—but they might also be the building blocks of hallucinations
EvolutionMay 21, 2012
Researchers Engineer Rewriteable Digital Data Storage in the DNA of Living Bacteria
EvolutionMay 18, 2012
Know Your Neurons: Meet the Glia
EvolutionMay 16, 2012
Know Your Neurons: How to Classify Different Types of Neurons in the Brain's Forest
Mind & BrainMay 14, 2012
Know Your Neurons: The Discovery and Naming of the Neuron
EvolutionMay 9, 2012
The Biology of the Translucent Jewel Caterpillar, the Nudibranch of the Forest
HealthMay 6, 2012
Field Tests for Revised Psychiatric Guide Reveal Reliability Problems for 2 Major Diagnoses
HealthMay 3, 2012
APA Announces New Changes to Drafts of the DSM-5, Psychiatry's New "Bible"
HealthMay 3, 2012
Tiny Electronic Chips Restore Sight to 2 Blind British Men
Mind & BrainMay 1, 2012
Psychiatry's "Bible" Gets an Overhaul
Psychiatry's diagnostic guidebook gets its first major update in 30 years. The changes may surprise you