Scientific American Magazine

Its contraceptive effect is increasingly forgotten in the worldwide trend toward bottle feeding. In many developing nations the result is a rise in the rate of population growth and poorer infant health

Radio observations show that the giant clouds of molecules where stars are born are distributed in various ways in spiral galaxies, perhaps accounting for the variation in their optical appearance

This ingenious device makes it possible to replicate the pressure near the core of the earth by turning a thumbscrew. Its widespread application has revolutionized the study of high-pressure phases

This intense whirlwind has been one of the most elusive phenomena in meteorology. New observation techniques are now revealing how it is spawned by a thunderstorm and promise to uncover the flow inside

How does an animal see? How might a computer do it? A study of stereo vision guides research on both these questions. Brain science suggests computer programs; the computer suggests what to look for in the brain

Molecules mediating cell-to-cell adhesion appear dynamically during development. They may regulate cell movements and tissue placements that govern both the shape of the embryo and the formation of organs

The discovery of large numbers of dinosaur eggs and skeletons of young dinosaurs at two sites in Montana has led to a novel interpretation of the social relations of these extinct reptiles

Recent archaeological work in the region demonstrates that the domestication of the grain led to the rise of city-states and the development of trade contacts with India and China