Kelso Harper is an award-winning senior multimedia editor at Scientific American. As a producer, editor and host, they work on short documentaries, social videos and Scientific American’s podcast Science Quickly. They have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s degree in science writing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Previously, they worked with Wired, Science, Popular Mechanics, and MIT News. Follow them on LinkedIn and Instagram.
NASA gears up for a historic lunar flyby, AI gives stroke patients hope, and researchers discover the oldest known cave art
What’s on the road to the launch of NASA’s Artemis II, how scientists are using artificial intelligence to help stroke patients speak, and what an Indonesian cave art discovery says about early human migration
Tired of an Old-Fashioned Yule Log Video? Try These Scientific Alternatives Instead
Happy holidays from all of us at Scientific American
The Protectors: Inside the Desperate Rush to Save an Orca Community
As endangered southern resident killer whales fight for survival, federal funding cuts threaten the scientists working to save them.
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
These Orcas Are on the Brink—And So Is the Science That Could Save Them
Inside the desperate rush to save the southern resident killer whales
Go Inside a Room That Lets You Hear Your Nervous System
Step into a room so quiet you can hear your own heartbeat—and your nervous system.
Why Dungeons and Dragons Is Good for Your Brain
Researchers and therapists explore the mental health benefits of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.
The Surprising Science of Dungeons and Dragons
Dropout.tv’s Brennan Lee Mulligan talks about the emotional and cultural importance of Dungeons and Dragons.
This Astronaut’s Space Photography Puts Fireworks to Shame
We spoke with NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick in an exclusive, first-ever interview from the cupola of the International Space Station.
The Only Particle Collider in the U.S. Will Be Replaced with an Upgrade
Brookhaven National Laboratory is pushing the boundaries of particle physics.
How to Find Hidden Nature in Any Urban Park Near You
Take a walk through Prospect Park with Wild NYC writer Ryan Mandelbaum and learn to connect with nature no matter how urban your environment is.
It’s Not in Your Head—Why 50-Degree-F Days Feel Warmer in Spring Than in Fall
There are real, physiological reasons why the same temperature feels different in April and October
There’s Nothing Small about this Nanoscale Research
We’re taking you inside MIT.nano, a clean laboratory facility that is critical to nanoscale research, from microelectronics to medical nanotechnology.
Turning Outdoor Enthusiasts into Community Scientists
The founder of Adventure Scientists explains how community science is the ultimate civic engagement
How Menstrual Periods Can Affect ADHD Symptoms and Treatment
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms worsen right before and during a period, a new study finds, and this could affect treatment
Debate Linguistics Reveals the Politics at Play in the 2024 Election
Linguist and sociophonetician Nicole Holliday analyzes the language used by candidates in the recent presidential and vice presidential debates
See the Skies Differently with Astronaut and Photographer Matthew Dominick
NASA flight engineer Matthew Dominick’s astrophotography helps us see our world—from space
Watch the First-Ever Interview from the ISS Cupola
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick speaks with Science Quickly host Rachel Feltman about how he captures jaw-dropping images from space
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Ascends, Ozempic Is Linked to Depression, and Mpox Cases Spread Rapidly
We cover Mars mission updates, a new brain implant that shows promise for Parkinson’s, the latest on the mpox outbreak, and more in this week’s new roundup.
What a Linguist Hears when Kamala Harris Speaks
A sociophonetician explains presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s intonational patterns and the way that the properties of candidates’ speech influences how they are perceived.
A Survey of 16,000 Changes the Story of Prostates and Pleasure
Here’s what the team at Science Vs learned about prostates and pleasure in its quest to understand the “male G-spot.”
A Close Encounter with SpaceX Debris Teaches an Astronomer about Space Junk
The space junk polluting low-Earth orbit sometimes makes its way to Earth. Here’s how one astronomer responded when SpaceX debris fell on a nearby farm.
Olympic Athletes Swim the Murky Seine, and Astronauts Are Stuck on the Space Station
We cover the science stories of the Olympics, concerns about artificial sweeteners and a new theory of how the pyramids were built in this week’s news roundup.
Scientists Sound Alarms on New Surge in Cancers, and a Private Spacewalk Is Pushed Back
A new blood test for cancer, helpful cat parasites and a new kind of wood are featured in this week’s news roundup.