EngineeringSeptember 27, 2023
Streetlights Are Mysteriously Turning Purple. Here’s Why
Newly purple streetlights might seem innocuous, but they could affect driver and pedestrian safety
Stories by Karen Kwon
Karen Kwon is a science journalist and editor based in the Washington D.C. area. She was a 2020 AAAS Mass Media Fellow at Scientific American.
ElectronicsAugust 24, 2023
Do Blue-Light Glasses Help with Eyestrain?
An analysis of previous trials suggests blue-light-filtering lenses may not reduce eyestrain or sleep problems
BiologyJanuary 1, 2021
Queen Bee Sperm Storage Holds Clues to Colony Collapse
Analyzing fluid from queen bees’ specialized sperm sacs can expose stressors
BiotechNovember 1, 2020
Metal-Breathing Bacteria Synthesize High-Tech Material
Bacterial breathing helps to build a futuristic “2-D” semiconductor
The SciencesOctober 1, 2020
Science Pinpoints Global Metal Deposit Locations
Miners can find new deposits with less effort
ElectronicsSeptember 1, 2020
Cheap, Self-Powered Fire Sensor Could Sound an Early Alarm
A new sensor printed on an ordinary piece of paper can send a wireless alert
EnvironmentAugust 18, 2020
Warbler Species Fires Up Song Diversity
Hermit warblers in California have developed 35 different song dialects, apparently as a result of wildfires temporarily driving them out of certain areas.
EnvironmentAugust 5, 2020
Weird Mystery Seeds Arriving by Mail Sprout Biodiversity Concerns
An invasive plant expert explains what could happen if enigmatic seeds shipped from China are released
Space & PhysicsJuly 24, 2020
Scientists Unveil First Ever Pictures of Multiple Planets around a Sunlike Star
The two giant worlds, each much larger than Jupiter, constitute only the third multiplanet system ever imaged
NeuroscienceJuly 23, 2020
The Beautiful Things inside Your Head: Winners of the 10th Annual Art of Neuroscience Contest
The top works—and our favorites—range from interactive pieces to a pen-and-paper drawing
Space & PhysicsJuly 20, 2020
The Best Way to Watch Comet NEOWISE, Wherever You Are
Astronomer Jackie Faherty shares her tips for an ideal viewing experience
Public HealthJuly 16, 2020
Second Coronavirus Strain May Be More Infectious—but Some Scientists Are Skeptical
Researchers question whether a mutated viral strain that infected more cells in a lab dish is necessarily more transmissible among humans
Public HealthJune 26, 2020
How to Protect Yourself during Protests
Demonstrators face tear gas, flash bangs, coronavirus and surveillance
Space & PhysicsJune 25, 2020
Black Astronomers Highlight Achievements and Obstacles
One of the forces behind #BlackInAstro week shares her optimism for the future
The SciencesJune 25, 2020
China Reaches New Milestone in Space-Based Quantum Communications
The nation’s Micius satellite successfully established an ultrasecure link between two ground stations separated by more than 1,000 kilometers