Culture

A data designer explains the art and science of analyzing and charting text from 5,107 issues of this magazine

New science book recommendations from the editors of Scientific American

A classic data visualization brought an astronomical curiosity to music lovers

An orientation to our special issue

Science in meter and verse

How the words we use have evolved over the past 175 years

We look back at some highlights, midlights and lowlights of the history of Scientific American, featuring former editor in chief John Rennie. Astrophysicist Alan Guth also appears in a sponsored segment.

“Baking is applied microbiology,” according to the book Modernist Bread. During pandemic lockdowns, many people started baking their own bread. Scientific American contributing editor W. Wayt Gibbs talks about Modernist Bread, for which he was a writer and editor.

A statistical study of more than 8,000 compositions shows how the flow of time distinguishes music from noise

Search a 4,000-word database to see how language in the magazine evolved over time 

Enjoy some surprising history and the most dizzying discoveries

Former Scientific American editor Mark Alpert talks about his latest sci-fi thriller The Coming Storm, which warns about the consequences of unethical scientific research and of ignoring the scientific findings you don’t like.