Scientific American Magazine

This controversial drug is now used widely in France to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Yet the compound was not invented for that purpose and actually has many possible applications

The ninth planet has a huge moon, a surface covered with frozen methane and a wispy atmosphere that may fall as snow periodically.. It may be a relic from the formation of the solar system

Bats extract remarkably detailed information about their surroundings from biosonar signals. Neurons in their auditory systems are highly specialized for performing this task

It is the longest mountain chain, the most active volcanic area and until recently the least accessible region on the earth. New maps reveal striking details of how segments of the Ridge form and evolve

Masters of aggressive mimicry, these voracious carnivores can gulp prey faster than any other vertebrate predator

The curious properties of this millikelvin liquid show quantum mechanics operating on a macroscopic scale. At nanokelvin temperatures even more bizarre liquids may exist

Traditional conservation-minded methods combined with modern technology can reduce farmers' dependence on possibly dangerous chemicals. The rewards are both environmental and financial

An eminent Victorian mathematical physicist who despised mathematical rigor, a shy man who pilloried his enemies in print, Heaviside laid the foundations of modern electric-circuit design