COVID-19 Dreams, Synchronicity and Visitors from Another Solar System
Welcome to the October issue of Scientific American
Latest Stories
Scientific American Endorses Joe Biden
We’ve never backed a presidential candidate in our 175-year history—until now
The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Changing Our Dreams
Anxiety about social distancing and infection is altering how much we dream and the nature of our dreams themselves
Fluttering Feathers Could Spawn New Species
Fork-tailed flycatchers make a fluttering sound with their wings—but separate subspecies have different 'dialects' of fluttering. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bird Brains Are Far More Humanlike Than Once Thought
The avian cortex had been hiding in plain sight all along. Humans were just too birdbrained to see it
Migrating Tornadoes Bring Heightened Danger to the Southeast
Social vulnerabilities in the region, such as the prevalence of mobile homes, highlight the need for educating residents about storm risks
What Research in Antarctica Tells Us about the Science of Isolation
Over the past few months, the phrase “social distancing” has entered our lexicon. Many of us have found ourselves separated from family and friends—or at least from our normal social lives...
Does ‘Brain Training’ Actually Work?
An online citizen science project is recruiting 30,000 volunteers to assess whether exercises to improve memory and attention are valid—and if so, for whom
When and Why You Should Get a Flu Shot
Experts explain why getting vaccinated is important every year—and especially during a pandemic
The First Ever Image of a Black Hole Is Now a Movie
Pictures created from old observations show the void’s stormy evolution over the past decade
