Stories by The Editors

The Four Most Pressing Science Priorities for the Next President

No One Should Have Sole Authority to Launch a Nuclear Attack

Leaving the decision to strike to the president alone is dangerous

A Federal Law That Protects Competition but Permits Hate and Harassment Online Must Be Revised

Fixing a flawed Internet free speech regulation requires input from more than just tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter

Take Racism Out of Medical Algorithms

Tools used in health care are harming people of color. It’s time to fix them

Facial-Recognition Technology Needs More Regulation

Algorithms that can recognize people are too often biased or inaccurate—and they can easily invade our privacy

Repairing Earth once the Pandemic Is Over

COVID-19 has highlighted how we’ve damaged the planet—and also harmed poor and marginalized people

On November 3, Vote to End Attacks on Science

Choosing Donald Trump for president is choosing fiction over fact—a fatal mistake

Scientific American Endorses Joe Biden

We’ve never backed a presidential candidate in our 175-year history—until now

Welcome to 175 Years of Discovery

An orientation to our special issue

Too Many Black Americans Are Dying from COVID-19

The pandemic exposed a glaring health gap caused by systemic racism. Here’s how to narrow it

Rape Kits Are Sitting on Shelves, Untested

Evidence gathered in sexual-assault cases could catch more criminals—if anyone bothered to look

The President Alone Should Not Be Able to Start a Nuclear War

The U.S. should require a second assent for a strike and pledge to never strike first

5G Could Disrupt Accurate Weather Forecasts

Storm tracking could be scuttled by interference from next-gen wireless communications

The New Coronavirus Outbreak: What We Know So Far

A virus that originated in Wuhan, China, has sickened thousands in the country and spread to numerous other nations

Doctors Need to Focus Less on a Patient’s Weight 

Extra pounds can lead to health problems, but dwelling on fat itself can increase stigma and shame  

A Nationwide Ban Is Needed for “Anti-Gay Therapy”

Most states still allow this damaging practice targeting young teens

Adapt or Mitigate? Both

To cope with climate change, we need every strategy we’ve got

The U.S. Congress Has Started to Revive Gun Violence Research—and Must Follow Through

A new bill promises millions of dollars for lifesaving studies, and scientists should use it wisely

China Needs Stronger Ethical Safeguards in Biomedicine

As the country seeks to become a research powerhouse, it must rectify worrisome practices

The U.S. Should Tighten Vaccination Mandates

Existing religious and philosophical exemptions endanger public health