Culture
Color Photography Relies on Potato Starch
Originally published in July 1907
Culture1079 articles archived since 1845
EARTH
Science News Briefs from around the Planet
Here are a few brief reports about science and technology from around the planet, including one about the discovery of an intact chicken egg dating to Roman Britain.
Culture
Recommended Books, March 2020
Saving the Florida panther, cornfield espionage and racial profiling, and more
Culture
Is This Indonesian Cave Painting the Earliest Portrayal of a Mythical Story?
Archaeologists have dated figurative rock art from Sulawesi to at least 43,900 years ago
Space & Physics
The New Cosmos: A Conversation with Ann Druyan
Emmy and Peabody Award–winning science writer, producer and director Ann Druyan talks about Cosmos: Possible Worlds, the next installment of the Cosmos series.
Culture
Diving Suit Stops Workers from Playing Cards under Water
Originally published in April 1866
Culture
Fencing Competitions for Blind People Grow
Originally published in April 1916
Culture
Computers Confirm Beethoven’s Influence
By breaking 900 classical piano compositions into musical chunks, researchers could track Ludwig van Beethoven’s influence on the composers who followed him. Christopher Intagliata reports. ...
Culture
Ann Druyan Is Reimagining the Future
Cosmos co-creator discusses communicating her dream for humanity
Biology
Science News Briefs from around the World
Here are a few brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one from off the California coast about the first heart rate measurement done on a blue whale.
Biology
Thoroughbred Horses Are Increasingly Inbred
Inbreeding in Thoroughbreds has increased significantly in the past 45 years, with the greatest rise occurring in the past 15 or so of them.
Culture
The Eclectic Works of Scientific American's Founder Rufus Porter
The latest science book recommendations from our editors
Culture
Wasp Nests Help Date Aboriginal Art
Art created by Australian Aboriginal people used organic carbon-free pigments, but wasp nests above or below the art can be used for radiocarbon dating that supplies boundaries for the age of artworks...
Culture
Poem: Mathematics Sets Sail
Science in meter and verse
Space & Physics
Espresso May Be Better when Ground Coarser
A very fine grind can actually hamper espresso brewing, because particles may clump more than larger particles will.
Evolution
Kirk, Spock and Darwin
Duke University evolutionary biologist Mohamed A. F. Noor talks about his book Live Long and Evolve: What Star Trek Can Teach Us about Evolution, Genetics, and Life on Other Worlds ...
Evolution
Neandertals Tooled Around with Clams
Neandertals ate clams and then modified the hard shells into tools for cutting and scraping.
Chemistry
Fingering Fake Whiskeys with Isotopes
Whiskeys claimed to be from the 19th century are revealed to be made with much more recently grown barley, thanks to the unique isotopic fingerprint of the nuclear-testing era.
How Do You Write Compellingly about Science?
A new book entitled The Craft of Science Writing explains how to help readers understand the science that underlies so many of the issues that touch our lives
Culture
School Teaches Lions How to Star in Movies
Originally published in May 1914
