Science news and technology updates from Scientific American
How Squishy Math Is Revealing Doughnuts in the BrainTopology, sometimes called rubber sheet geometry, is finding patterns in the brain, drugs and evolution
09/26/22
Moth Wings Are Beautiful in Infrared LightDrab brown moths’ infrared glittering could be key to tracking different species through the night
09/26/22
The Race to Stop a Plastics Plant Scores a Crucial WinIn Louisiana, home to miles of polluting industries, slowing the progress of Formosa Plastics is critical to social and environmental justice
09/23/22
How the Montreal Protocol Helped Save Earth from a Climate Time BombThe landmark Montreal Protocol treaty, agreed to 35 years ago this month, has reduced the use of chemicals that not only thinned the ozone layer but also warmed the planet
09/23/22
'New Execution Method Touted as More 'Humane,' But Evidence Is Lacking'A legal battle over nitrogen hypoxia, a new potential method of execution, raises ethical questions
09/23/22
These Spiders Use Their Webs Like Huge Silky EarsA study of orb-weaving spiders shows that the arachnids' webs pick up a range of sounds--and they are always "listening" for vibrations coming in over them.
09/23/22
Strange Tree Fern Has a Surprisingly Enormous GenomeA new study explores how the flying spider-monkey tree fern might hoard chromosomes
09/23/22
The Purpose of Dolphins' Mysterious Brain Net May Finally Be UnderstoodDolphins and whales experience a lot of pressure while swimming, and a “wonderful net” of blood vessels may protect their brain, new research shows
09/22/22
Extreme Heat Saps Billions in Worker ProductivityAnnual worker productivity losses from extreme heat amounted to $44 billion on average across 12 cities and are projected to rise to $84 billion by 2050
09/22/22
AlphaFold Developers Win $3-Million Breakthrough Prize in Life SciencesDeepMind’s system for predicting the 3D structure of proteins is among five recipients of science’s most lucrative awards
09/22/22
Sparkly Image of Neptune's Rings Comes into View from JWSTSee a stunning new view of Neptune’s rings and oddball moon Triton from the James Webb Space Telescope
09/22/22
How Gaslighting Manipulates RealityGaslighting isn’t just between people in a relationship—it involves social power, too
09/22/22
Quantum Tech Titans Win Breakthrough Prize in PhysicsThis year’s Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics honors some of the pioneers of quantum information science
09/22/22
Quantum Physics Titans Win Breakthrough PrizeThis year’s Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics honors some of the pioneers of quantum information science
09/22/22
The First Lady of Engineering: Lost Women of Science Podcast, Season 3, Episode 1Yvonne Y. Clark, known as YY throughout her career, had a lifetime of groundbreaking achievements as a Black female mechanical engineer. Season 3 begins at the start of her story, during her unconventional childhood in the segregated South.
09/22/22
People of Color with Long COVID Face Uphill Battle to Be HeardMedical discrimination and a lack of data make it difficult for people of color to get help for post-COVID problems
09/22/22
JWST's First Exoplanet Images Forecast a Bright FutureThe James Webb Space Telescope’s snapshots of a giant world orbiting another star show that the observatory is performing even better than expected and that its best exoplanet images are yet to come
09/22/22
Climate Polluters Should Pay a Tax for Damages, U.N. Chief SaysU.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has decried fossil-fuel companies receiving subsidies and investment “while household budgets shrink and our planet burns”
09/21/22
Chewing Consumes a Surprising Amount of EnergyChomping on food takes so much energy that it shaped human evolution. Our ancestors spent many hours a day chewing, which may have shaped our teeth and jaws.
09/21/22
How Census Data Put Trans Children at RiskThe Census Bureau must improve its data anonymization methods to protect vulnerable groups