Culture
New Books on Memes, Mental Time Travel, Manufactured Emotions and Tech Addiction
Scientific American Mind weighs in on recent titles from neuroscience and psychology
Stories by Lindsey Konkel
Culture
New Books about Motivation, Memory, Happiness and More Relaxed Parenting
Scientific American Mind weighs in on recent titles from neuroscience and psychology
Neuroscience
New Books Explore Breaking Habits, AI, Productivity and Enlightenment
Scientific American Mind considers five recent popular titles from neuroscience and psychology
Culture
Review: Originals
Management guru Adam Grant explains how nonconformists are more ordinary than we think
Behavior
Positive Reinforcement Helps Surgeons Learn
Teaching physicians implement dog-training techniques to impart complex surgical skills
Mind & Brain
Scientific American MIND Reviews First Bite
Bee Wilson's book explores “How We Learn to Eat”
Health
Are Algae Blooms Linked to Lou Gehrig's Disease?
Medical researchers are now uncovering clues that appear to link some cases of ALS to people’s proximity to lakes and coastal waters
Environment
Black Wind from Coal Keeps Pregnant Women Away
In parts of India, pregnant women are advised to keep away from areas near coal yards
Mind & Brain
Children's Attention Deficit Linked to Air Pollution
New York City children exposed in the womb to high levels of pollutants in vehicle exhaust had a five times higher risk of attention problems at age 9, according to new research
Health
Plastic Chemical Linked to Changes in Baby Boys' Genitals
Boys exposed in the womb to high levels are born with slightly altered genital development
Environment
Country Ham Scrambles for Greenhouse Gas Replacement
For decades, makers have used methyl bromide to keep ham free of pests but the chemical is being phased out
Health
Disinfectant Causes Reproductive Problems in Mice
Mice exposed to disinfectants in commercial-grade cleaning products took longer to get pregnant, had fewer pups and suffered more miscarriages and distressed fetuses
Health
Newborns Commonly Are Exposed in Womb to Germ-Killing, Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals
The antibacterial compound triclosan may be common in pregnant women and infants
Health
Autism Risk Higher Near Pesticide-Treated Fields
Babies whose moms lived within a mile of crops treated with widely used pesticides were more likely to develop autism, according to new research
Health
Infants Exposed to Hormone-Disrupting Chemical
A study of 125 babies in Finland found exposure to phthalates "at a potentially harmful level," according to new research. The sources of the chemicals are unknown
Health
Mothers' Lead Exposure Could Affect Newborns' Brains
Pregnant women exposed to lead had newborns who scored slightly lower on tests measuring reflexes and other skills tied to brain development, according to a new study from China
Environment
Space Shuttle Blast-Offs Spewed Metals, Chemicals into Wildlife Refuge
But what does such pollution mean for alligators, sea turtles and other endangered animals?
Health
Weight Gain During Pregnancy May Protect Babies from Chemicals
Gaining more weight during pregnancy can substantially reduce a baby’s exposure to pesticides that accumulate in a mother’s body, according to new research
Climate Change
Hidden in Old Paintings, A Clue to Past Climate [Photo Essay]
Deep red sunsets offer more than just a backdrop, they also reveal how dirty the air was when the painter picked up the brush
Energy
Energy Industry Hogs the Rails, Shutting Out Farmers
Western farmers trying to get grain to market fear rising transport costs as oil companies increasingly turn to rail
