
Hints of Atmosphere on Earth-Sized Exoplanet Raise Hopes for Life
A monumental sign of an atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1e could be the precursor to finally finding a living world around another star

Hints of Atmosphere on Earth-Sized Exoplanet Raise Hopes for Life
A monumental sign of an atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1e could be the precursor to finally finding a living world around another star

What’s the Plan for ‘Golden Dome’? Even Experts Aren’t Sure
A sweeping U.S. missile defense program comes with many risks, costs and uncertainties, analysts say


Marsquakes, Vaccine Politics and Mammoth Microbiomes
A common nasal spray shows promise in reducing COVID risk, but vaccine access remains tangled in policy in the U.S.

How Big Can a Black Hole Be?
Some black holes get extremely massive. Is there an upper limit to their growth?

What’s the Smallest Particle in the Universe?
The answer to this supposedly simple particle physics question isn’t so simple

This Sneaky Spacecraft Bacteria Can Play Dead to Survive
A type of bacteria found in clean rooms has an unexpected method of survival, with implications for planetary protection

A Cosmic Void May Be Skewing Our Understanding of the Universe
Our understanding of cosmology hinges on how well we know our own local universe, which remains poorly mapped and poorly understood

A Forgotten Math Idea Could Supercharge Quantum Computers
Scientists have revived an ignored area of math to envision a path toward stable quantum computing

Quantum Physics Is Bizarre. So Why Have We Loved It for 100 Years?
A survey of Scientific American’s century of quantum coverage helps explain the enduring popularity of strange physics

How to See Faster-Than-Light Motion
Superluminal velocities are common but illusory

SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Spacecraft after String of Mishaps
Overcoming three recent failed tries, Elon Musk’s rocket company successfully flew its reusable jumbo booster and upper-stage Starship spacecraft

New Instrument Checks on Proxima Centauri’s Planets
Fresh results from near-infrared instruments foretell a bright future for finding life elsewhere in the Milky Way