Fonda Mwangi is an award-winning multimedia editor at Scientific American and producer of Science Quickly. She previously worked at Axios, the Recount and WTOP News. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and public affairs from American University in Washington, D.C.
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.
From Vaccines to Gender-Affirming Care: What New Policy Shifts Mean for Kids
A look at how evolving national health policies could reshape the future of kids’ care, from vaccines to essential treatments.
Want to Make Your Resolution Stick This Year? Behavioral Science Has the Answers
Behavioral economist Katy Milkman explains why most New Year’s resolutions fail and shares how science-backed strategies can build habits that last.
Fighting Drought and Heat: The Science of Growing Climate-Resilient Christmas Trees
As Christmas trees face mounting challenges from climate change, researchers explore solutions to help ensure that a beloved holiday tradition endures in a warming world.
From Agency Chaos to Dark Energy Shocks: How Politics, Health, Climate Policy and Space Science Defined 2025
A look back at 2025’s biggest science stories—from federal upheaval and public health setbacks to climate policy reversals and groundbreaking discoveries in space.
The Secret Voices of Hawaiian Monk Seals: Scientists Uncover 20 New Underwater Calls
Researchers uncover 20 new underwater calls from Hawaii’s endangered monk seals.
Orcas on the Brink—What a Dog Named Eba and a Team of Scientists Are Fighting For
A scientist, a journalist and a remarkable scent‑detecting dog race to learn what’s endangering the last southern resident orcas
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.
Is There New Hope for Treating Postpartum Depression?
Journalist Marla Broadfoot discusses zuranolone, a drug that may help people whose postpartum depression hasn’t responded to traditional antidepressants.
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.