Scientific American Magazine

Humankind has fundamentally altered the planet. But new thinking and new actions can prevent us from destroying ourselves

Experts tell Scientific American which actions will keep key processes in bounds

Society can safeguard its future only by switching from reckless economic growth to smart maintenance of wealth and resources

Society can safeguard its future only by switching from reckless economic growth to smart maintenance of wealth and resources

Neuroscience is revealing the malfunctioning connections underlying psychological disorders and forcing psychiatrists to rethink the causes of mental illness

Not just for gourmands, truffles play essential roles in the health of ecosystems

Artist Ron Miller takes us on a journey to eight of the most breathtaking views that await intrepid explorers of our solar system. The scale of these natural wonders dwarfs anything Earth has to offer. What might we see and feel if we could travel to these distant domains? The artist's eye—interpreting data from probes such as NASA's Cassini, which is now exploring the Saturnian system, and MESSENGER, which has flown by Mercury three times and goes into permanent orbit next March—allows us an early visit to these unforgettable locales.

Scientists have set thresholds for key environmental processes that, if crossed, could threaten Earth's habitability. Ominously, three have already been exceeded

Electronic implants in the inner ear may one day restore clear vision and equilibrium in some patients who experience disabling unsteadiness

Wireless networks that do not depend on a fixed infrastructure will allow for ubiquitous connectivity regardless of the situation