Parrot "Giggles" Trigger Play
Kea parrots have a special call that makes nearby parrots burst into play.
Stories by Lydia Chain
How to Calculate a Bigger Slice of Pi
For thousands of years people have struggled to pin down pi. Watch how mathematicians from Archimedes on have wrapped their heads around the math of circles.
This Itch Is Infectious
Many social animals start to feel itchy after watching one of their fellows scratch, and scientists now have a better understanding of why an itch can spread through a group.
This Beat-Bot's Got Groove!
Could the drummer robot lead its cyber brethren to march in sync—or maybe someday even start a band?
![Why a Cat's Tongue Is Like No Other [Video]](https://static.scientificamerican.com/blogs/cache/file/767C3757-7430-4A18-AA760CBFC62D30F9_agenda.jpg?w=275&h=154&fit=crop)
Why a Cat's Tongue Is Like No Other [Video]
It's embedded with tiny, spiky structures that let the animal both comb its fur and lap up water
A Tasty Trove of Exoplanets at TRAPPIST-1
A baker’s half-dozen of Earth-size worlds is orbiting a (relatively) nearby star—and some could be habitable
Planet Formation out of Black Hole Belches
New studies suggest lonely planets flying through intergalactic space were formed by star-destroying supermassive black holes.
Jumping Spiders See with Rose-Colored Glasses
Human suitors may woo with red wine and roses, but these jumping spiders come courting with fancy dress and choreography. Now scientists know more about how spiders perceive their admirers' flamboyant displays...
Earth-Size Telescope Will Make Black Holes Say "Cheese!"
Nobel laureate Robert Wilson discusses how a network of telescopes might illumine a black hole, after the 92nd Street Y’s Bang! Bang! event.
This Bra Offers Emergency Support
Ig Nobel Prize creator Marc Abrahams shows off this unusual disaster-preparedness device before a night discussing humor and science at the 92nd Street Y.
Soft, Sticky Frog Tongues Slurp Supper
Scientists discovered a frog’s ability to nab an insect in a fraction of a second depends on the fluid mechanics of its spit.
The Universe in a Cup of Coffee
You think it's just a beverage, but it's a whole lot more
Is It Time to Give Up on Dark Matter?
There is still good reason to think undiscovered fundamental particles act as gravitational glue for galaxies.
How the Military Surveils Santa
In a Christmas tradition, the defense organization NORAD helps us keep track of Santa as he zips around the world delivering toys.
![Global Warming? Ha! What about Global Cooling? [Video]](https://static.scientificamerican.com/blogs/cache/file/1800A378-15DF-4D71-8F95D3CD80756C90_agenda.jpg?w=275&h=154&fit=crop)
Global Warming? Ha! What about Global Cooling? [Video]
This myth has been debunked many times—but rarely in such a fun way
The Year in Planetary Science
Take a light-speed trip through the solar system to catch up on 2016’s biggest stories from our celestial neighborhood. Produced with support from Explore Scientific
The Math behind the Polls
When polls try to tease out what a group of people is thinking, what are they measuring and how can they go wrong?
Eavesdrop on Ultrasonic Rat Giggles
Scientists used special microphones to let us listen in on a tickled rat’s titters.
Bribery and Double-Crossing among Peruvian Insects
Young inga trees give ants nectar in exchange for guard duty against ravenous caterpillers—but sometimes the ants get a better offer
Math Puts a New Twist on Solving a Rubik's Cube with the Fewest Moves
For this puzzle with over 43 quintillion permutations, author Ian Scheffler explains how players have found the most efficient route to resolving a Rubik’s cube.
