Scientific American Magazine

Two nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan 50years ago this month. The author, a member of the Manhattan Project, reflects on how the nuclear age began and what the post-cold war future might hold

The storms that spawn twisters are now largely understood, but mysteries still remain about how these violent vortices form

A plausible hypothesis suggests the immune devastation that underlies AIDS stems from continuous -- and dangerous -- evolution of the human immunodeficiency virus in the body

Stochastic resonance, the phenomenon by which background noise boosts weak signals, is creating a buzz in physics, biology and engineering

For more than a century, researchers have known that exposure to high pressure can injure or kill. Gradually, they are beginning to understand the underlying mechanisms

In striving to be heard by rivals and mates, these amphibians have evolved a plethora of complex strategies

Images of a comet that broke apart and plummeted into Jupiter continue to dazzle astronomers a year afterward

Many researchers in the developing world feel trapped in a vicious circle of neglect and -- some say -- prejudice by publishing barriers they claim doom good science to oblivion