Building a Brain in the Lab

Scientists copy nature's most complex organ in the hope of solving the mysteries of brain disorders, from autism to Alzheimer's

Tangled Up in Spacetime

The collaborative project “It from Qubit” is investigating whether space and time sprang from the quantum entanglement of tiny bits of information

Could Gene Therapy Cure Heart Disease?

Harnessing the organ's own healing properties may help prevent heart attacks and lessen the painful effects of severely narrowed coronary arteries

Why Robots Must Learn to Tell Us “No”

Don’t worry about disobedient machines. Devious human masters and misunderstood commands are the real threat

How Birds Evolved from Dinosaurs

A remarkable fossil record of the dinosaurs that led to birds reveals how evolution produces entirely new kinds of organisms

Animal CSI: Forensic Scientists Catch Dog and Cat Abusers

Advances in veterinary forensic science are helping prosecutors convict people who abuse animals

Waging War on Wildlife Crime

Paleontologist-turned-politician Richard Leakey leads the charge in Kenya's war on poaching

How to Make Your E-Mail Really Secure

Brains in a Jar May Help Fight Disease [Video]

A leader in the technique of growing mini brains talks about their benefits for research

The Motor Vehicle, 1917 [Slide Show]

Greater utility and more luxury

More Book Recommendations for January

Books and recommendations from Scientific American