Sex Redefined: The Idea of Two Sexes Is Overly Simplistic
Biologists now think there is a larger spectrum than just binary female and male
Biology9772 articles archived since 1845
Asocial Octopuses Become Cuddly on MDMA
Octopuses react to MDMA much like humans do. And not surprisingly, given their anatomy, the animals are excellent huggers. Annie Sneed reports.
When Sex and Gender Collide
Studies of transgender kids are revealing fascinating insights about gender in the brain
Beyond XX and XY: The Extraordinary Complexity of Sex Determination
A host of factors figure into whether someone is female, male or somewhere in between
Wild Songbirds Can Pick Up New Tunes
Researchers taught two dozen wild sparrows new songs, by playing them the recordings of sparrows that live thousands of miles away. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Health Care Let Neandertals "Punch above Their Weight"
By caring for their sick and injured, Neandertals were able to expand into more dangerous environments and pursue more deadly prey. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Tinder for Cheetahs; and an Unusual Blindness
Scientific American Assistant News Editor Tanya Lewis and Collections Editor Andrea Gawrylewski host a new podcast that takes a deeper look at short articles from the Advances news section of the magazine.
Revolutionary Microscopy Technique Nets Most Lucrative Prize in Science
The Breakthrough awards, each worth U.S. $3 million, honor advances in the life sciences, physics and mathematics
Solar Eclipse Was a Buzzkill for Bees
Bees suddenly fell silent when the sun disappeared during last year's solar eclipse—perhaps because they were tricked into night mode. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Seeing in the Dark
A twilight activity from Science Buddies
Same-Sex Mice Parents Give Birth to Healthy Brood
Gene editing and stem cell research have allowed for alternative rodent reproduction
Mom's Genes Make Some Giraffes Hard to Spot
Baby giraffes inherit aspects of their mothers' patterning—which could give them a survival advantage if good camouflage runs in the family. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Highway Crossings Protect Migrating Pronghorns—and Motorists
Twice a year, thousands of pronghorn antelope and mule deer migrate through Wyoming, and newly built highway crossings are sparing the lives of animals—and motorists. Jason G. Goldman reports.
World's Simplest Animal Reveals Hidden Diversity
The first animal genus defined purely by genetic characters represents a new era for the sorting and naming of animals
Beer Fermentation Hops Along
The bittering agents called hops have enzymes that chew up starch and unleash more fermentable sugar—which can boost alcohol and CO2 in the finished brew. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Better Living through Evolution: Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Frances Arnold, George Smith and Gregory Winter shared the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for using evolutionary principles to create highly efficient enzymes and antibodies, with numerous practical applications.
Nobel in Chemistry for New and Useful Chemical Entities via Evolutionary Principles
Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Gregory P. Winter share the 2018 chemistry Nobel for developing evolutionary-based techniques that lead to the creation of new chemical entities with useful properties.
Birds of a Feather Fight Germs Together
Tropical African birds have greater immunity to certain pathogens than northern or migratory ones
Unleashing Immunity against Cancer: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
James P. Allison and and Tasuku Honjo shared the Nobel Prize for their discovery of inhibition of negative immune regulation, the basis of new drugs against cancer.
Nobel Prize for Medicine Goes to Cancer Immune Therapy Pioneers
Two men are recognized for basic research that unleashed the immune system against cancer, becoming a new pillar of therapy