Latest Stories

Neuroscientists show how the brain weighs effort against reward when we're mentally fatigued

This quake, which has caused damage to several roads and buildings, occurred along a strike-slip fault

After decades of hints and speculation, scientists have at last unveiled the hidden companion to the iconic star Betelgeuse

In searches for past and present Martian life, some scientists say we’ve been too cautious to see what’s right in front of us

Magnetoreception is one of the most controversial animal senses. And several bee species might have it

From ecohorror to science-inspired poetry, discover the books Scientific American staffers are recommending this summer

Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli painted Simonetta Vespucci as Venus rising from the waves. Now scientists think they’ve solved how she died

When the roads get crowded, many drivers start changing lanes. Mathematics suggests this intuition is typically wrong

Starship demonstrated key abilities on its path to becoming a fully reusable transport to take astronauts to the moon

This biodegradable textile is alive and can host engineered microbes that can change its color or add UV protection

After fatal crashes in which occupants or rescuers could not open Tesla doors, federal regulators are considering rules that would require obvious mechanical releases—but any new standard could take years

Thousands of people have gotten sick from Cyclospora. Experts can’t agree whether the end is in sight