Readers Respond to the September 2019 Issue
Letters to the editor from the September 2019 issue of Scientific American
Policy & Ethics16076 articles archived since 1845
The Peril and Power of Following the Evidence
The author, a climate scientist, faced a political controversy, along with a personal crisis, more than two decades ago, bringing lessons that resonate today
Democratic Candidates Agree on Climate Change, Except for Role of Natural Gas
Whether to allow fracking and the use of natural gas as a transition fuel emerged as a rare point of contention in last night’s debate
Should We Alter the Human Genome? Let Democracy Decide
We need greater scientific and moral clarity on germ line editing
Don’t Fact-Check Scientific Judgment Calls
They’re not meant to be taken as gospel truths
Truly Secure Voting Is on the Way
Unfortunately, it won’t be here by 2020
Introducing the February 2020 Issue
The mind’s social maps, the mystery of aerodynamic lift, killer robots, and more
Female Surgeons Are Still Treated as Second-Class Citizens
The profession is rife with sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination—and that needs to change
Purdue Pharma Should Become a Public Trust
It would be a huge win in fighting the opioid crisis
A Nationwide Ban Is Needed for “Anti-Gay Therapy”
Most states still allow this damaging practice targeting young teens
50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: January 2020
Entertainment technology over the past 175 years
Trump Administration Moves to Limit Climate Reviews for Federal Projects
The changes would underestimate the true contributions to global warming of fossil fuel infrastructure and other projects
Twenty People Needed to Make a Pin
Originally published in January 1856
CRISPR-Edited Babies Arrived, and Regulators Are Still Racing to Catch Up
One year after the world learned of He Jiankui’s editing of twins, gaps in rules remain
Fishing Can Be Profitable for Emerging Economies, but ...
People who live in developing nations don’t just need income; they also need nourishment
The “China Threat” and the Future of Global Science
Restrictions on U.S.-China collaborations could undermine research without enhancing security
The Most Important Scientific Problems Have Yet to Be Solved
If certain areas of science appear to be quite mature, others are in the process of development, and yet others remain to be born
What CRISPR-Baby Prison Sentences Mean for Research
A Chinese court sent a strong signal by punishing He Jiankui and two colleagues
My Top 10 Columns of the Decade
Cross-Check began a decade ago. Here are columns that the author liked, even if readers didn’t...
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