Scientific American

Seasonal changes have more effects on your biology and behavior than you might realize

The Roman Space Telescope will spend more than a quarter of its time staring at the Milky Way’s bulge, a star-packed central region of our galaxy that may swarm with small, rocky exoplanets

When fully grown, the octopuses that survive could eat up to four blue crabs per day in the Mediterranean Sea

Seven Rasmussen, an astrobiologist and author of the new book Cloudy with a Chance of Starships, gives readers a tour of the astonishing science behind modern searches for alien life

NASA’s newest major observatory will include the most advanced planet-imaging tech ever flown in space. Here’s how it works

A pair of new studies point to the role of early menopause and hormone treatment in cognitive decline, but more research is needed, experts say

School districts are banning AI, states are limiting educational technology in classrooms, and Meta will set new “school mode” restrictions — here’s what to know

In a near-total lunar eclipse, the moon turned red-orange for viewers in North America, Europe and Africa

New research shows that water becomes electrified as it slides down smooth surfaces, leading to corrosion

The fast-growing private-school network is handing much of instruction over to artificial intelligence. Researchers say the science is far from settled

Astronomers are lining up to leverage NASA’s soon-to-launch Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which boasts capabilities unlike any previous off-world observatory

Here are four reasons solar energy has seen a meteoric rise in recent years

Reading hasn't been around for long, evolutionary speaking. Instead, the brain recruits systems evolved for other purposes

The disaster has claimed hundreds of lives, and at least 1,400 people are missing

Trauma can distort how memories are stored and retrieved in the brain

The evidence in favor of and against video games promoting aggressive behavior is murkier than you might think

Spirals, ellipticals, irregulars, oh my!

In a clinical trial, people with obesity saw clear health benefits on the keto diet that they didn’t see on two other popular eating regimens

Recent changes to the implementation of the Endangered Species Act could put wildlife at risk

Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the hardest to treat and most serious forms of cancer

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will soon launch to unravel the mysteries of dark energy and dark matter

It’s a weird meteorological coincidence on the heels of Dolly Parton’s death

Jaw-dropping patient videos and miraculous testimonials ignited a frenzy in China over a technique that aims to improve drainage from the brain in dementia patients. Now it is entering trials worldwide

Fossilized Galápagos corals show clear evidence that today’s El Niños are much stronger than those in the past

The Nepal disaster appears to be a “cascading event,” where one hazard seems to have triggered another, experts say

Two robots beat Usain Bolt’s 100-meter-dash record—but likely couldn’t survive in the real world

A massive flood potentially caused by a chunk of ice breaking off from a glacier has swept away bridges, schools, and other buildings and killed at least 160 people

On the 20th anniversary of Pluto’s infamous demotion, Mike “Pluto Killer” Brown explains why any reversal of that decision would be driven more by nostalgia than science

This near-total eclipse will be visible from the Americas, Africa and Europe—here’s how to see it

The more scientists try to understand dark energy, the more its mysteries seem to grow. NASA’s newest space telescope is custom-built to crack the case

Meta agreed to implement new safety measures, including a default two-hour daily limit for using Facebook and Instagram, for users under the age of 18

The world’s oceans hit 21.10 degrees Celsius last Saturday, breaking a record set in 2024

According to a new poll, more Americans also think they have seen a UFO now than they did in the past 53 years

The Red Planet’s global geography of low-lying northern plains and rugged southern highlands seems to have surprisingly deep roots, with profound implications for Mars’s ancient habitability

Even as cases of diseases such as measles rise, childhood vaccinations are declining, thanks to changes in public health policies and antivaccine sentiment, experts say

An investigation into the incomprehensibly, unfathomably large amount of money the U.S. owes

A strengthening El Niño may surpass any seen since the 19th century and will usher in another record hot year or two

After a spike in infections in July, this explosive-diarrhea-causing outbreak may be coming to an end