Stories by The Editors

Whether space, health, technology or environment, here are the issues in science that the editors of Scientific American are focusing on for 2026

When anyone can forge reality, society can’t self-govern. Borrowing Denmark’s approach could help the U.S. restore accountability around deepfakes

The U.S. wants to remain a superpower in space. It can’t without supporting NASA

A more circular economy in textiles is a good look for the planet

The U.S. is a global powerhouse. Public education is one of the main reasons why

One hundred years after the Scopes trial, religious ideologues are still trying to supplant evidence-based curricula with myths, to the detriment of a well-informed society

Extreme heat is becoming more prevalent. We need to protect people who work and play outside

Climate change is everywhere. Moving to a new place because it seems less affected is a fool’s errand

Artificial Intelligence uses too much energy. Developers need to find better ways to power it or risk adding to the climate crisis

The U.S. will need more than one million STEM workers in the next 10 years to stay competitive. Immigrants are critical to that future

Renewable energy is crucial to the U.S. economy and the environment

Astronomy is a bright spot amid turbulence on Earth

Censoring what children read deprives them of reality and the chance to feed their curiosity and develop empathy

Kamala Harris has plans to improve health, boost the economy and mitigate climate change. Donald Trump has threats and a dangerous record

Your vote matters. But so does your involvement in civic actions

The Supreme Court majority’s recent decisions about homelessness, public health and regulatory power, among others, undermine the role of evidence, expertise and honesty in American democracy

Without global regulations to mandate the cleanup of Earth’s orbit, debris from defunct spacecraft and collisions threatens the burgeoning space economy

With few states tracking who is being homeschooled and what they are learning, an untold number of U.S. children are at risk of a poor education or even abuse

Reducing the need for car travel is better for health, the environment and public safety

Capital punishment must come to an end. It does not deter crime, is not humane and has no moral or medical basis

We need to rethink the American love affair with the automobile and redesign cities to reduce car pollution

Too many hospice providers in the U.S. are run by private equity and for-profit corporations. A lack of regulation allows them to provide abysmal end-of-life care

The wealthy countries that are most responsible for greenhouse gas pollution must compensate the poorer nations that bear the greatest burden

The U.S. should back away from updating its obsolescent nuclear weapons, in particular silo-launched missiles that needlessly risk catastrophe