The Sciences
Of Survival and Science
From street waif in war-torn Italy to "knocking out" the genes of mice--Mario R. Capecchi shows how genius springs from the most unlikely beginnings.
Features1827 articles archived since 1845
Environment
The Physical Science behind Climate Change
Why are climatologists so highly confident that human activities are dangerously warming Earth? Members of the IPCC, the 2007 peace winner, write on climate change
The Sciences
No Nobel for You: Top 10 Nobel Snubs
As the 2008 laureates are announced, SciAm looks back at some of Nobel history's also-rans
The Sciences
Molecular Machines That Control Genes
What new Howard Hughes Medical Institute president Robert Tijan said about the activities of our genes in 1995: They are tightly regulated by elaborate complexes of proteins that assemble on DNA...
Environment
Birth of an Ocean: How It Works
Africa is splitting apart at the seam, making way for a new ocean.
The Sciences
Media Bias: Going beyond Fair and Balanced
Despite popular accounts, researchers found that Barack Obama got more negative press coverage than John McCain did in the early summer
Environment
Is Keeping Kosher Good for the Environment?
We run the numbers to see whether keeping kosher has any effect on your carbon footprint
Environment
To Drill or Not to Drill? Energy Policy Surfaces in Colorado's Senate Race
Politicians, environmentalists and industry clash over the leasing of public lands for natural gas drilling on Colorado's rugged Roan Plateau
Environment
Where Do the Presidential Candidates Stand on Environment and Energy?
From drilling for oil to climate change, the answers may surprise you
The Sciences
California's Political Environment May Prove Too Toxic for Green Energy Propositions
Myriad special interests combined with state budget woes mire two environmentally friendly ballot initiatives
Space & Physics
The Expanding Universe: From Slowdown to Speed Up
Distant supernovae are revealing the crucial time when the expansion of the universe changed from decelerating to accelerating
The Sciences
Trends In Economics: A Calculus of Risk
Mathematicians, physicists and economists can help mitigate the vagaries of running a global business through derivatives
The Sciences
How Fractals Can Explain What's Wrong with Wall Street
The geometry that describes the shape of coastlines and the patterns of galaxies also elucidates how stock prices soar and plummet
Environment
The Threat of Silent Earthquakes
A lack of rumbling does not necessarily make an earthquake harmless. Some of the quiet types could presage devastating tsunamis or larger, ground-shaking shocks
Environment
Can Offshore Drilling Really Make the U.S. Oil Independent?
Even if U.S. energy policy goes "drill baby drill," there will be no escape from the vicissitudes of the global oil market
