Greenland’s Ice Sheet Collapse Could Be Closer Than We Think
The collapse of the world’s second-largest ice sheet would drown cities worldwide. Is that ice more vulnerable than we know?
Scientific American by Jeffery DelViscio
Articles from: Scientific American
228 articles
Creating Bird Flu Vaccines for Humans at a Biosecure Laboratory
This San Antonio, Tex., lab takes biosecurity seriously. Suit up with its scientists and go behind the scenes of the science of vaccine creation.
Scientific American by Naeem Amarsy, Jeffery DelViscio, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura, Rachel Feltman
Russia’s Space Program Is Another Casualty of the War in Ukraine
To achieve its ambitious plans for missions to the moon and beyond, Russia needs other spacefaring nations as partners. But the war in Ukraine is making that help increasingly hard to find
Scientific American by Eugene Gerden
China’s Tianwen-3 Mission Could Beat the U.S. in the Race to Grab Mars Rocks
Launching in 2028, China’s Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission could bring Red Planet rocks back to Earth as early as 2031—years ahead of competing U.S.-European efforts
Scientific American by Andrew Jones
Addiction Risk Shows up in Children’s Brain Scans before Drug Use Starts
Brain differences in children and teens who experiment with drugs early show up before they take their first puff or sip
Scientific American by Maia Szalavitz
Science Makes the U.S. a Great Nation
History tells us what happens when great nations attack science
Scientific American by Paul M. Sutter
Attacks on Higher Education Are Attacks on All Americans
If Americans don’t fight back against efforts to dismantle higher education, the U.S. will lose lifesaving medical research, innovation that spurs our economy and the ability to freely study science and society
Scientific American by Matt Motta, Dominik Stecuła
What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency, Trump’s Blood Vessel Condition?
After photographs showed President Donald Trump with swollen ankles and bruised hands, the White House revealed he has chronic venous insufficiency—a blood vessel disease that affects circulation in the legs
Scientific American by Meghan Bartels
Can U.S. Math Research Survive NSF Funding Cuts?
A 72 percent reduction in federal funding is devastating to math research. The American Mathematical Society is offering $1 million in backstop grants—but it’s likely not enough.
Scientific American by Emma R. Hasson
Why I’m Suing OpenAI, the Creator of ChatGPT
My lawsuit in Hawaii lays out the safety issues in OpenAI’s products and how they could irreparably harm both Hawaii and the rest of the U.S.
Scientific American by Tamlyn Hunt
Trump Administration Changes at NIH, EPA, NASA, NSF Spark Internal Dissent
Hundreds of staffers at the National Institutes of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, NASA and the National Science Foundation have signed public letters to leadership opposing the direction in which the agencies are headed
Scientific American by Meghan Bartels
Gravitational Wave Science Faces Budget Cuts Just Years After Breakthrough Discoveries
Less than a decade since the first detection of gravitational waves—ripples in spacetime itself—proposed budget cuts threaten to silence this groundbreaking science
Scientific American by Lieke van Son
Polymetallic Nodules, a Source of Rare Metals, May Hold the Secrets of 'Dark Oxygen'
When researchers discovered evidence of “dark oxygen” last year, the news spread around the world, but the biggest challenge to the science comes from its funders
Scientific American by Clare Fieseler, Jason Jaacks
Trump’s EPA Targets ‘Endangerment Finding’ Underlying Climate Change Policy for Reducing Carbon
The Trump administration is releasing its proposal to undo the “endangerment finding,” the long-standing rationale and legal imperative for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act
Scientific American by Andrea Thompson
U.S. Nuclear Energy Policy Could Accelerate Weapons Proliferation
The White House has now fully embraced bomb-prone nuclear fuel technology. This should stop before an arms race, atomic terrorism or even nuclear war results
Scientific American by Alan J. Kuperman
Strong Support for NASA and Project Artemis Will Advance the U.S.
NASA needs clear support from the White House if we want to win the new space race
Scientific American by Matthew Beddingfield
NASA Boosts Plans for Nuclear Reactor on the Moon
Spurred by competition from China and Russia, the Trump administration is pushing for nuclear power on the moon by 2030
Scientific American by Lee Billings
mRNA Vaccine Tech Could Transform Medicine and Cure Diseases. RFK, Jr. Just Pulled Its Funding
Speed and flexibility have made mRNA a blockbuster technology
Scientific American by Stephanie Pappas
Why the EPA’s Latest Move Could Worsen the Climate Crisis
If the EPA abdicates its responsibility to address climate change, it will harm health and the planet in exchange for pandering to fossil fuel interests
Scientific American by Rachel Cleetus, Carlos Martinez
Proposed House Bill Would Weaken Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangering Whales, Dolphins and More
Proposed amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act would cut down protections to whales, dolphins, polar bears and other species
Scientific American by Ryan Green
NASA Budget Cuts Could Halt Space Missions, Climate Research, Experts Warn
NASA faces historic budget cuts that could shutter missions and stall vital research, prompting a bipartisan outcry from all of the agency’s living former science chiefs.
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Lee Billings, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura, Jeffery DelViscio
Congressman Eric Sorensen on Defending Climate Science, Depoliticizing Weather and Bringing Scientific Rigor to Capitol Hill
Representative Eric Sorensen of Illinois shares how his meteorology roots drive his fight to protect climate science and push back against political interference.
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Jeffery DelViscio, Alex Sugiura
Trump Cuts Could End U.S. Exploration of the Outer Solar System
The U.S. planetary science community is sounding the alarm about plans to discard a nuclear technology that has powered dozens of NASA missions over the past 50 years
Scientific American by Hannah Richter
U.S. Cuts Antarctica’s Only Research Icebreaker Ship under Trump Budget Squeeze
The National Science Foundation will stop operating the Nathaniel B. Palmer icebreaker and slash polar science funding by 70 percent, devastating Antarctic research
Scientific American by Douglas Fox
New Treatments Can Free Kids from the Deadly Threat of Peanut Allergy
Remarkable new treatments can free millions of kids and adults from the deadly threat of peanut allergy, tackling one of our fastest-growing medical problems
Scientific American by Maryn McKenna
Deep-Sea Nodules May Produce Oxygen—Raising Concerns over Ocean Mining
Deep-sea rocks packed with valuable metals may also be making oxygen in the deep, dark ocean—raising new questions about the cost of mining them.
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Jeffery DelViscio, Alex Sugiura
20 Years after Hurricane Katrina, Major Forecasting Advances Could Erode
Hurricane forecasts have made huge leaps since Katrina hit 20 year ago, but that progress is threatened by Trump administration cuts to research
Scientific American by Andrea Thompson
The Science behind Hurricane Katrina: What Researchers Knew before the 2005 Disaster
Two decades after Katrina, we revisit the storm and discuss the evolution of hurricane preparedness since then.
Scientific American by Mark Fischetti, Andrea Thompson, Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Jeffery DelViscio, Alex Sugiura
EPA Fires 5 Employees Who Signed ‘Dissent’ Letter
The EPA fired five agency employees who signed a June declaration decrying moves that contradict science and undermine public health, alongside four more served removal notices
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Inside the CDC’s Breakdown—Legal Battles, Staff Exodus and Public Health Concerns
With the CDC in disarray and its future uncertain, this episode explores what’s driving the exodus of agency staff and what this means for national health security.
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Lauren J. Young, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
A ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Report Goes Easy on the Food Industry
A childhood health report led by RFK, Jr., links poor diet, chemicals, inactivity and “overmedicalization” to worsening U.S. pediatric health
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Trump’s Health Cuts Make States Struggle to Spot Disease Outbreaks
AI now scans for bird flu and measles news, but public health officials say outbreaks can go undetected as the U.S. guts national and global tracking
Scientific American by Charles Schmidt
U.S. ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Shield Is Short on Details—but Not on Cash
A sweeping U.S. missile defense program comes with many risks, costs and uncertainties, analysts say
Scientific American by Ramin Skibba
Autism Has No Single Cause, Research Shows
Scientists will not find a simple answer to how autism arises, despite Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s promise to announce its causes sometime this month. Here’s what makes the condition so staggeringly complex
Scientific American by Allison Parshall
Magic Mushroom Edibles Found to Contain No Psilocybin
Researchers tested 12 “magic mushroom” edibles. None contained psilocybin, but most contained undisclosed ingredients, including synthetic drugs whose safety hasn’t been tested in humans
Scientific American by Allison Parshall
Forensic Expert Explains How 3D Laser Scanning Could Reconstruct the Charlie Kirk Shooting
Forensic scientist Michael Haag explains how laser scanners could be used to lock down the crime scenes where Charlie Kirk was fatally shot, letting investigators revisit angles, trajectories and vantage points long after the fact.
Scientific American by Deni Ellis Béchard
Vaccines Are at Risk, Fired CDC Director Warns Senators
Former CDC chief Susan Monarez testified that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., had demanded she rubber-stamp recommendations from his remade vaccine panel
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Climate Change Fuels Record Summer Heat, Killing Thousands
Climate-fueled heat has caused thousands of excess deaths over the past three summers, which were the three hottest on record
Scientific American by Andrea Thompson
How a Contentious CDC Vaccine Meeting Will Affect Public Health
Three vaccines are on the agenda for this week’s meeting of ACIP, the CDC’s key advisory panel on immunization: the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine, the hepatitis B vaccine and COVID vaccines
Scientific American by Meghan Bartels, Andrea Tamayo
Does Tylenol Use during Pregnancy Cause Autism? What the Research Shows
Trump and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. plan to tie Tylenol use during pregnancy and folate deficiencies to rising autism rates—but the evidence is thin
Scientific American by Allison Parshall
How Indigenous Storytelling Is Transforming RSV Care in Native Communities
Abigail Echo-Hawk, a preeminent Native American public health expert, discusses RSV, “data genocide” and positive change driven by Indigenous storytelling
Scientific American by Suzette Brewer
Endangered Sharks Caught in Rare Mating Ritual beneath the Waves
The Food and Drug Administration plans to update the safety label for acetaminophen products, and the strongest storm on Earth this year struck several countries in East and Southeast Asia.
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Allison Parshall, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
Is Tylenol Safe for Children? What Research Shows About Acetaminophen
President Trump says Tylenol is not safe for young children. Here’s what the science says about acetaminophen
Scientific American by Tanya Lewis
Are We Alone? NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory Aims to Find Out
The Habitable Worlds Observatory is poised to tell us whether Earth-like planets are common—if it can get off the ground
Scientific American by Nadia Drake, Lee Billings
Demetre Daskalakis on RFK, Jr., Vaccine Schedule Changes and CDC’s Future
The former director of a CDC center reveals how political ideology is undermining science, threatening vaccine policy and endangering public health across the U.S.
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
Inside the Medical Challenges of Presidential Health Care
A former White House physician reveals the medical realities of caring for the president of the U.S.
Scientific American by Lauren J. Young, Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
Moving NASA Space Shuttle to Texas from DC Could Damage It, Experts Say
Texas lawmakers want to move the Smithsonian’s retired space shuttle to Houston. It’s “a vanity project that is apt to destroy a near-priceless American treasure,” one historian says
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
2025 Nobel Prize Winners in Medicine, Physics and Chemistry Explained
The CDC updates COVID vaccine guidance and stirs controversy over childhood immunizations. And global health experts warn of rising child malnutrition in Gaza.
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
CDC Cuts Threaten Public Health Nationwide, Fired Employees Say
A quarter of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff is gone after the Trump administration’s latest reductions in force and earlier layoffs
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
NASA Is Crucial to the U.S. Winning the New Space Race
The U.S. wants to remain a superpower in space. It can’t without supporting NASA
Scientific American by The Editors
‘No Kings’ Protesters Reject Political Violence, Survey Shows
Massive marches nationwide in the U.S. marked a turn against an increasing acceptance of political violence among protesters, report sociologists
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
What Medications Are Safe to Take While Pregnant? Studies Are Lacking
Less than 1 percent of clinical trials include pregnant or breastfeeding people. Experts say that needs to change
Scientific American by Tanya Lewis
Why Bird Flu Is Surging Again—And What It Means for Public Health
After a quiet summer, bird flu cases are rising again. Scientists expected the development, but what happens next is still uncertain
Scientific American by Meghan Bartels
The Dangerous Data Gap in Pregnancy Drug Research
Despite the widespread use of medication during pregnancy, a lack of clinical research leaves patients and doctors navigating treatment with dangerously few data.
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Tanya Lewis, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
Russia’s Burevestnik Nuclear-Powered Missile Is a Very Bad Idea
Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed his nation conducted a successful flight of a nuclear-powered cruise missile. Here’s how that missile might work
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
What TikTok’s U.S. Spin-off Means for Its Algorithm and Content Moderation
TikTok’s U.S. spin-off could reshape its algorithm and the way culture is curated online.
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
FDA Is Investigating the Abortion Pill Mifepristone despite Decades of Studies Showing It’s Safe
Some scientists are concerned that the Trump administration will use “junk science” when reviewing mifepristone’s safety record
Scientific American by Liz Szabo
Trump’s Baffling Call for Resuming U.S. Nuclear Tests
“The only countries that will really learn more if [U.S. nuclear] testing resumes are Russia and, to a much greater extent, China,” says Jeffrey Lewis, an expert on the geopolitics of nuclear weaponry
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
COVID During Pregnancy May Raise Autism Risk, Study Suggests
A new study adds to the evidence that viral infections during pregnancy might contribute to a child’s likelihood of having autism
Scientific American by Tanya Lewis
NASA Chief Pick Jared Isaacman Renominated to Head Agency
Ahead of Jared Isaacman’s renomination for the position of NASA’s administrator, a dispute between him and its acting chief Sean Duffy spilled into the open, with potentially profound consequences for the U.S. space agency
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Jeffrey Epstein E-mails Reveal Ties to Prominent Scientists
A trove of e-mails from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was released by a congressional committee on Wednesday
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Amelia Earhart Records Released by U.S. Spy Agency
The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence released long-promised records related to vanished pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart. More records are promised on a rolling basis
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
New Glenn Rocket Launch Tests Jared Isaacman’s Commercial Space Vision for NASA
NASA’s presumptive next leader wants to outsource more of the space agency’s interplanetary science. The newly launched ESCAPADE mission to Mars offers a sanity check for those plans
Scientific American by Morgan McFall-Johnsen
A New Kind of Vaccine Offers Hope for Surviving Pancreatic Cancer
From COVID shots to cancer therapy, mRNA is changing medicine.
Scientific American by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Rowan Moore Gerety, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura, Jeffery DelViscio
Can We Find Cleaner Ways to Extract Rare Earth Elements?
These valuable but difficult-to-extract metals are increasingly important to modern life
Scientific American by Clara Moskowitz, Studio Terp
NASA’s Mars Sample Return Mission in Jeopardy as U.S. Considers Abandoning Retrieval
NASA spent years and billions of dollars collecting Martian samples to bring home. Now they might be stranded
Scientific American by Jonathan O'Callaghan
How Fossil-Fuel Companies Are Driving Plastic Production and Pollution
To keep profits rolling in, oil and gas companies want to turn fossil fuels into a mounting pile of packaging and other plastic products
Scientific American by Beth Gardiner
Personalized mRNA Vaccines Will Revolutionize Cancer Treatment—If Federal Funding Cuts Don’t Doom Them
Vaccines based on mRNA can be tailored to target a cancer patient’s unique tumor mutations. But crumbling support for cancer and mRNA vaccine research has endangered this promising therapy
Scientific American by Rowan Moore Gerety
CDC to End Monkey Research Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s decision to end its monkey research program will affect studies involving some 200 macaques, and the fate of the animals is unclear
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
The Paris Climate Agreement Is Turning 10—These 5 Charts Show What Progress We’ve Made
The 2015 Paris Agreement forged a path for the world to stave off the worst climate change scenarios. Here’s where we stand 10 years later
Scientific American by Meghan Bartels
Trump Orders Genesis Mission to Advance AI Breakthroughs
A new federal initiative aims to accelerate scientific discovery by uniting artificial intelligence with large federal datasets
Scientific American by Deni Ellis Béchard
NASA’s Next Chief, Jared Isaacman, Gives Answers in Senate Grilling
Jared Isaacman—the presumptive next leader of NASA—answered questions about his plans for the future of U.S. space exploration on Wednesday
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
AI Chatbots Shown to Sway Voters, Raising New Fears about Election Influence
Chatbots can measurably sway voters’ choices, new research shows. The findings raise urgent questions about AI’s role in future elections
Scientific American by Deni Ellis Béchard
Vaccine Controversies and Measles Outbreaks, Space Pollution, Puppy Power
Vaccine controversies, space pollution, and puppy power.
Scientific American by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Lauren J. Young, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
Human Missions to Mars Must Search for Alien Life, New Report Finds
A major new study lays out plans for crewed missions to Mars, with the search for extraterrestrial life being a top priority
Scientific American by Lee Billings
NASA Loses Signal from Critical Mars Orbiter
NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft didn’t phone home as expected on December 6
Scientific American by Meghan Bartels
Can NASA Bring Mars Rocks Back to Earth?
NASA’s Perseverance rover has gathered groundbreaking Mars samples, but the mission to bring them home is facing serious challenges.
Scientific American by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Lee Billings, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
Measles Outbreaks Accelerate as U.S. Inches Closer to a Disease Tipping Point
More than 1,900 people, mostly children, have been sickened by measles in the U.S. in 2025. The outbreaks are moving the country toward losing its measles-free status by early next year
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Trump Officials Keep Comparing the U.S.’s Vaccine Schedule to Denmark’s. They’re Missing the Point
The U.S.’s and Denmark’s health systems are starkly different, so it makes sense that their vaccination schedules would differ, too
Scientific American by Tanya Lewis
Getting a COVID Vaccine while Pregnant Slashes Risk of Premature Birth, Major New Study Finds
Pregnant people who receive a COVID vaccine are 60 percent less likely to experience severe disease and around 30 percent less likely to give birth prematurely, according to new research
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
How Rising Rates of Uninsured Children Will Increase Pediatric Cancer Deaths
A recent analysis showed the rate of uninsured children in the U.S. grew from 2022 to 2024. Experts say this could lead to more pediatric cancer deaths.
Scientific American by Eve Lu
RFK, Jr.–Backed Lyme Disease Conspiracy Theory May Be Probed under New Bill
President Donald Trump is expected to sign a defense bill this week that orders an investigation into whether the U.S. military bioengineered Lyme disease.
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Science Carries On. Here Are Our Top Topics for 2026
Whether space, health, technology or environment, here are the issues in science that the editors of Scientific American are focusing on for 2026
Scientific American by The Editors
These Orcas Are on the Brink—And So Is the Science That Could Save Them
Inside the desperate rush to save the southern resident killer whales
Scientific American by Kelso Harper
Jared Isaacman Confirmed to Head NASA at Pivotal Moment for the Space Agency
Billionaire Jared Isaacman is taking the reins at NASA at a challenging time for the space agency, as it faces budget cuts and technical hurdles that could scuttle its most ambitious missions
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Scientists Denounce Trump’s Plan to Kill Crucial Atmospheric Science Center
The U.S. government is dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research, jettisoning key climate science projects in the process
Scientific American by Andrea Thompson
Why a Critical Orca Community Is Slipping toward Extinction
A scientist, a journalist and a remarkable scent‑detecting dog race to learn what’s endangering the last southern resident orcas
Scientific American by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Kelso Harper, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura, Jeffery DelViscio
Trump Administration Moves to Severely Curtail Access to Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
Health officials on Thursday announced a slew of measures that will restrict access to gender-affirming health care for transgender young people in the U.S.
Scientific American by Lauren J. Young, Dan Vergano
U.S. Plan to Drop Some Childhood Vaccines to Align with Denmark Will Endanger Children, Experts Say
The U.S. reportedly plans to overhaul the country’s childhood vaccine schedule. The move could set public health back decades, experts say
Scientific American by Lauren J. Young, Tanya Lewis
Trump Administration Targets Offshore Wind Farms, Citing National Security Concerns
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced it would “pause” leases for five large offshore wind farms, imperiling the fast-growing clean energy industry
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
12 of the Best Interviews Scientific American Did In 2025
From an interview with author Mary Roach to a chat with cardiologist Eric Topol, here are 12 of the most eye-opening conversations we had this year
Scientific American by Brianne Kane
China’s Plans for Human-Like AI Could Set the Tone for Global AI Rules
Beijing is set to tighten the country’s rules for human-like artificial intelligence, with a heavy emphasis on user safety and societal values.
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
7 Important Health Stories We’ll Be Following in 2026
From immune cell therapies to measles outbreaks to federal attacks on public health, these are some of the health topics we’ll be watching next year
Scientific American by Tanya Lewis
NIH Agrees to Evaluate Stalled Scientific Grants
Health officials have agreed to assess pending medical research grants after a Trump administration antidiversity purge put them on ice
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
NASA’s New Chief Hints Iconic Space Shuttle Might Not Be Moving to Texas After All
NASA’s new boss Jared Isaacman hinted that he could break with Texas lawmakers’ push to move iconic space shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian to Houston
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
U.S. Axes Number of Recommended Childhood Vaccines in Blow to Public Health
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reducing the recommended number of vaccines for children to those that protect against 11 diseases instead of the protections against 17 illnesses that it recommended previously
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
Wegovy Weight-Loss Pills Hit U.S. Pharmacies—Costs and Treatments Explained
The first GLP-1 pills for weight loss are hitting U.S. pharmacies. But how will they be prescribed?
Scientific American by Lauren J. Young
How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions—Behavioral Science Tips That Work
Behavioral economist Katy Milkman explains why most New Year’s resolutions fail and shares how science-backed strategies can build habits that last.
Scientific American by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Sushmita Pathak, Fonda Mwangi
Doctor Visits for Flu Hit Highest Level in Almost 30 Years
Almost one in 10 people who visited a doctor in the U.S. in the week ending on December 27 were there for flulike symptoms, according to new data
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
Trump Wants Venezuela’s Oil. Why Does It Have So Much?
Trump has cited Venezuela’s oil resources as motivation for capturing the nation’s leader—here’s the geology behind the news
Scientific American by Meghan Bartels
How New Public Health Changes Could Leave Vulnerable Children Behind
A look at how evolving national health policies could reshape the future of kids’ care, from vaccines to essential treatments.
Scientific American by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Dan Vergano, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Are Rising for the First Time in Two Years—They Could Climb Far Higher
The skyrocketing electricity demands of AI data centers—and a cold snap—are driving up America’s emissions after years of declines, a new report finds
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
2025 Wasn’t the Hottest Year on Record. Earth Is Still Barreling to the Climate Brink
Global warming surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius for the past three years, meaning Earth is currently on track to breach the Paris climate agreement by the end of the decade
Scientific American by Andrea Thompson
NASA Commits to Plan to Build a Nuclear Reactor on the Moon by 2030
The U.S. space agency and the Department of Energy will work together to build a fission reactor on the lunar surface in the next four years
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
Americans Overwhelmingly Support Science, but Some Think the U.S. Is Lagging Behind: Pew
A new report finds that a majority of Americans think the U.S. should be a world leader in science, but Democrats increasingly believe other countries are catching up
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
In Venezuela, Big Oil Collides with a Hotter Planet
A break down of why Venezuela’s oil boom is clashing with a hotter, more fragile planet
Scientific American by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
Why did Jeffrey Epstein cultivate famous scientists?
The Epstein files revive questions of whether the disgraced financier sought to merely cultivate famous scientists, or to shape science itself
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
RSV is surging, but antibody shots and vaccines can protect babies
Cases of respiratory syncytial virus are increasing, but vaccines and antibody shots can keep young children out of the hospital
Scientific American by Lauren J. Young
As the U.S. marks a year of measles outbreaks, is the disease back for good?
The U.S. has held its measles-free status for more than 25 years. Experts say unrelenting outbreaks in the past year may change that
Scientific American by Lauren J. Young
California wildfire smoke linked to increased autism diagnoses, new study finds
Children born to mothers who were exposed to smoke in southern California showed increased rates of autism, although the reason why is unclear
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
NIH ends fetal tissue research
The National Institutes of Health’s move to end support for research using fetal human tissue is “clearly a political decision, not a scientific one,” one expert says
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Weaker radiation limits will not help nuclear energy
Relaxing radiation safety standards could place women and children at higher risks of health issues
Scientific American by Katy Huff
States and medical societies are stepping up to fill the CDC’s data void
Dozens of routinely updated CDC databases have gone quiet. Here’s what states and medical societies are doing to preserve U.S. public health
Scientific American by Lauren J. Young
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show highlighted Puerto Rico's power grid. Here's why
Bad Bunny performed part of the Super Bowl halftime show from a powerline set, drawing attention to the problem of widespread blackouts in Puerto Rico
Scientific American by Stephanie Pappas
Top medical groups join forces to review vaccine science as CDC faces criticism
The American Medical Association is launching an effort to evaluate vaccine safety and effectiveness independently of U.S. government health agencies
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
EPA set to scrap the ‘endangerment finding’ that climate change harms human health
The Trump administration is expected to rescind the 2009 “endangerment finding,” ending regulation of greenhouse gases from cars and trucks
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
What repealing the ‘endangerment finding’ means for public health
The EPA has scrapped a rule stating that climate change harms human health. Here’s what that could mean
Scientific American by Andrea Thompson
How a year of RFK, Jr., has changed American science
After a year of RFK, Jr., heading the Department of Health and Human Services, the “Make America Healthy Again” movement has upended science and medicine
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Trump rejects climate science, winter goes haywire, and ‘Penisgate’ rumors arise at the Olympics
We take a look at President Trump’s decision to reject a landmark climate finding, the cause of an unusual winter in the U.S. and the physics behind a bizarre ski jumping scandal
Scientific American by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Andrea Thompson, Sushmita Pathak, Alex Sugiura
Key NIH research institute told to remove references to 'pandemic preparedness'
Staff members have been instructed to scrub this topic and ‘biodefense’ from the agency’s website, a Nature investigation finds
Scientific American by Max Kozlov, Nature magazine
Why privatizing public land won’t solve the housing crisis
An environmental scientist’s analysis reveals who will win and who will lose in the push to put federal land into private hands
Scientific American by Kyle Manley
Polyamory isn’t all about sex
An anthropologist’s detailed research shows polyamorists focus on intimacy and honesty, not sleeping around
Scientific American by Rebecca J. Lester
EPA faces lawsuits over climate endangerment finding withdrawal
Medical and environmental groups are challenging the EPA’s decision to break with the long-standing scientific evidence that climate change endangers human health
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
FDA agrees to review Moderna mRNA flu vaccine in dramatic reversal
After initially rejecting Moderna’s application for review, the FDA will now consider the company’s mRNA flu shot
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Trump administration slashes mercury regulations from coal plants
Mercury pollution from coal plants has been tied to serious neurological problems, especially in children and babies
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
Online influencer faces confirmation hearing for surgeon general in U.S. Senate
The U.S. Senate is holding a confirmation hearing today for wellness influencer Casey Means, the Trump administration’s pick for surgeon general
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Trump’s State of the Union speech made no mention of Make America Healthy Again
On Tuesday the U.S. president largely steered clear of his administration’s health care agenda amid a broader push to downplay antivaccine efforts ahead of upcoming midterm elections
Scientific American by Tanya Lewis
Glyphosate is driving a rift in MAHA. Here’s what the science says about its effects on health
The Trump administration wants to boost manufacturing of glyphosate, the world’s most common weed killer. Here’s what that could mean for health
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
U.S.’s and Israel’s war with Iran leaves uranium stockpiles uncertain
The Trump administration’s war with Iran over its nuclear ambitions raises new questions about the country’s uranium stockpile
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Bill Gates-backed nuclear startup TerraPower just got cleared to start building its first power plant
TerraPower, a start-up founded by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, is set to build a new kind of nuclear power plant in Wyoming
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Stand Up for Science will hold second rally against Trump administration
Public health chaos and research funding cuts are inspiring nationwide pro-science protests against the Trump administration
Scientific American by Meghan Bartels
Americans trust federal scientists more than RFK, Jr., poll suggests
When it comes to health advice, more people trust the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association than they do federal health agencies, according to a new poll
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Stand Up for Science protests spread to more than 50 cities
Speakers at the Stand Up for Science rally in Washington, D.C., criticized the politicization of science and cuts to research that serves the public
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
RFK, Jr.’s overhauled autism advisory board cancels first public meeting
The cancellation of a meeting of the committee that guides federal autism research funding follows an announcement that an independent group of autism scientists would meet the same day
Scientific American by Allison Parshall
A measles surge, AI in warfare and accelerated global warming
Why measles cases are rising in the U.S., how artificial intelligence is shaping warfare, and what accelerated global warming means for the world
Scientific American by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Sushmita Pathak, Joseph Howlett, Alex Sugiura
A $1.3-billion river dredging in North Carolina by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could unleash ‘forever chemicals’
A proposed $1.3-billion U.S. Army Corps of Engineers port expansion in North Carolina threatens to unearth decades of “forever chemicals.” The government’s initial plan: don’t test the mud
Scientific American by Patrick Sisson
The FDA approves leucovorin for rare genetic condition and not for autism
The FDA on Tuesday approved leucovorin as a treatment for a rare genetic condition, not for autism, as the Trump administration had suggested
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Iran was nowhere close to a nuclear bomb, experts say
Although President Trump has claimed Iran was weeks away from developing a nuclear weapon, much more work was needed for the country to do so
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Landmark offshore wind farms come online in the U.S.
Revolution Wind and Vineyard Wind are two of several wind farm projects that have come under fire from the Trump administration in recent months
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
Oil shock, nuclear doubts, climate‑change-driven hail, and new insights on the aging-gut-brain connection
From emergency oil reserves to nuclear scrutiny, bigger hail, and research on a connection between the aging gut and the brain
Scientific American by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Dan Vergano, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
Judge temporarily blocks key parts of RFK, Jr.’s effort to overhaul U.S. childhood vaccines
A federal judge on Monday issued a stay on the CDC’s move to reduce the number of routinely recommended childhood vaccines
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Americans’ trust in the CDC’s vaccine recommendations declines markedly under Trump
One in three Americans trust childhood vaccine guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics more than the CDC’s recommendations, a new poll finds
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
The Pentagon is backing nuclear waste recycling for long-lasting military power sources
A Rhode Island start-up is working to recycle spent nuclear fuel into long-lasting power systems for the military
Scientific American by Sarah Scoles
Influential vaccine advisory panel ACIP may be ‘disbanded’ after lawsuit, says former vice chair
For years, ACIP has advised U.S. vaccine policy. But after changes to its membership made by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., were challenged in court, the Trump administration is apparently changing tack
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Rival ‘shadow’ group to RFK, Jr.’s autism science committee meets in D.C.
Autism researchers are working to counter a federal autism advisory panel that has vaccine skeptic members and, they say, a “striking absence of scientific expertise”
Scientific American by Allison Parshall
U.K.’s deadly meningitis outbreak shows importance of vaccination
Infectious disease experts say shots against meningococcal meningitis can be lifesaving during an outbreak, but U.S. regulators have attempted to roll back recommendations of such a vaccine for children
Scientific American by Lauren J. Young
Top climate scientist Kate Marvel just resigned from NASA. Here's why
Climate scientist Kate Marvel talked to Scientific American about her decision to leave NASA amid federal government turmoil and funding challenges
Scientific American by Andrea Thompson
How do mRNA vaccines work, and why are they safe and effective?
The COVID pandemic ushered mRNA vaccines into the spotlight, and the technology has even greater potential. Here’s what to know about the way that they work, their safety, and more
Scientific American by Meghan Bartels
NASA’s nuclear mission to Mars isn’t as crazy as it sounds
The U.S. space agency’s Skyfall project calls for sending robotic helicopters to Mars on a nuclear-powered spacecraft before the end of Donald Trump’s presidency
Scientific American by David W. Brown
RFK, Jr. and EPA announce plan to track microplastics in tap water and humans
The Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency announced a joint effort to track microplastics in drinking water—but experts say doing so will be difficult
Scientific American by Lauren J. Young
NASA’s Artemis II, endangered species and oil, low western U.S. snowpack
An update on NASA’s historic moon mission, alarm over the low snowpack in the western U.S. and a move that could endanger wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico
Scientific American by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Andrea Thompson, Sushmita Pathak, Alex Sugiura
Trump speaks with NASA's Artemis II astronauts after historic moon flyby
On Monday night, the president of the United States called the crew aboard the Orion spacecraft to congratulate them on their moon mission
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Lee Billings
NASA’s Artemis II astronauts celebrate epic lunar flyby with stunning new images
Artemis II’s sixth day was a whirlwind of science and awe, with the mission’s astronauts glimpsing parts of the moon never before seen by any human—and talking to the U.S. president
Scientific American by Lee Billings, Joseph Howlett
What is the quantum ‘Ghost Murmur’ purportedly used in Iran? Scientists question CIA’s claim of long-range heartbeat detection
Ghost Murmur was described as a futuristic CIA tool that could detect a heartbeat from vast distances. Physicists say the public story clashes with the basic limits of magnetic sensing
Scientific American by Deni Ellis Béchard
NASA’s Artemis moon missions are a game changer for astronomy
After decades of planning, NASA’s Artemis program is giving astronomers their long-awaited moonshot
Scientific American by Joseph Howlett
Why bombing Iran's nuclear power plant could cause an environmental disaster
Strikes to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant could release long-lasting radioactive cesium 137 into the Persian Gulf, causing environmental calamity and threatening drinking-water supplies for millions
Scientific American by Stephanie Pappas
The baffling ecological disaster that's killing America’s freshwater mussels
Biologists are racing to save America’s freshwater mussels—the water-filtering keystone species that once filled the country’s rivers and streams—from extinction
Scientific American by Robert Kunzig
The Trump administration is looking to experts to weigh in on peptides
Peptide-based substances are largely unproven and risky, experts say, but they’re gaining popularity among influencers and athletes—and the U.S. secretary of health
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
NASA needs nuclear power for its moon base. Here’s the White House plan to get it
If the U.S. is ever to set up a permanent outpost on the moon, it will need nuclear power. The White House just released a road map to get it as soon as 2028
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Former deputy surgeon general Erica Schwartz nominated as new CDC chief
The White House has nominated Erica Schwartz to replace NIH director Jay Bhattacharya as CDC chief. Bhattacharya has been leading the CDC on an acting basis since February, after the public health agency’s director was fired in 2025
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Congress grills RFK, Jr., about vaccines and cuts to health budget
The HHS secretary defended proposed budget cuts to science, his vaccine moves and health care costs on Capitol Hill on Thursday
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
FBI investigating possible links between deaths and disappearances of at least 10 scientists
This announcement from the FBI came after President Donald Trump highlighted the recent deaths of several scientists and government workers who may have had access to sensitive information
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
RFK, Jr., set to overhaul key committee that issues disease screening recommendations
Lawmakers grilled Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., on cuts and changes to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which focuses on preventive health screening
Scientific American by Tanya Lewis
This Earth Day, three experts share tips on how to feel hopeful about the environment
This Earth Day three environmental experts share stories about times when environmental action succeeded in saving the planet—and explain why this can be done again
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Sushmita Pathak, Alex Sugiura
Whatever happened to the ozone hole, acid rain and DDT?
The environmental crises of the past often seem to disappear—have problems like acid rain and smog been solved?
Scientific American by Andrea Thompson
Trump administration officially reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as Schedule III
The Trump administration said this move, which does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law, is just the start of a process to reclassify the drug more broadly
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
Trump wants Iran's 'nuclear dust.' Here's how the U.S. could remove the uranium
President Trump keeps promising to secure Iran’s nuclear “dust,” which is actually a gas
Scientific American by Stephanie Pappas
RFK, Jr., praises ibogaine for depression treatment. Is the psychedelic a magic bullet?
At a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., referred to ibogaine as the most promising treatment for PTSD and depression “that anybody’s ever seen.” Does the science hold that up?
Scientific American by Stephanie Pappas
RFK, Jr., puts psychedelics on fast track to FDA review and approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is seeking to accelerate the review process for three companies that are studying psilocybin and an MDMA-like drug as treatments for depression and PTSD
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
988 crisis hotline linked to drop in young adult suicide rates
The states with the greatest increases in 988 crisis hotline use since 2022 experienced the greatest decrease in suicide mortality, but the hotline alone may not explain the drop
Scientific American by Allison Parshall
People trust vaccine scientists as much as other researchers, poll shows
Roughly seven in 10 people still trust vaccine researchers, a new poll finds. The number is in line with trust for other scientists
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
NASA chief Jared Isaacman hints at campaign to make Pluto a planet again
The NASA administrator’s latest remarks in support of reexamining Pluto’s status come 20 years after the orb was downgraded to a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
Humanity may be doomed to die in nuclear war—unless we act soon, physicist David Gross says
After winning a Breakthrough Prize, the world’s most lucrative science award, theoretical physicist David Gross is using the moment to warn of nuclear war’s existential threat—and how we can escape it
Scientific American by Lee Billings
DOJ indicts former Fauci adviser David Morens on charges related to COVID pandemic
Former National Institutes of Health official David Morens is accused of evading record requests related to the COVID pandemic’s origins and gain-of-function research
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
Trump withdraws wellness influencer and MAHA activist Casey Means as surgeon general nominee
On Thursday the president announced he is nominating Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and Fox News contributor, as the nation’s top doctor
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
Trump, ibogaine and the science behind the psychedelics boom in the U.S.
Tracing how psychedelics have undergone a revival in the U.S. and what the White House’s new psychedelic push means for research
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Sushmita Pathak, Alex Sugiura
Why the FDA rejected a ‘breakthrough’ melanoma drug
The FDA rejected the promising skin cancer drug RP1 twice, leaving many puzzled and worried about what this means for other drug approvals
Scientific American by K. R. Callaway
Metallic scorpion stingers, preeclampsia hope, canceled wind energy projects
A look at what makes scorpions so deadly, why there’s hope for preeclampsia and how President Trump is gutting wind energy
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Andrea Gawrylewski, Sushmita Pathak, Alex Sugiura
Does a psychedelic trip change your brain? A new study offers a tantalizing clue
Scientists gave people a “heroic” dose of psilocybin and then looked at their brain. Here’s what happened
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
The Trump administration is bringing back flavored vapes. Advocates and lawmakers say the risks outweigh the benefits
The president had vowed to 'save vaping' on the campaign trail in 2024, but the decision is already drawing fire from anti-nicotine advocates and a bipartisan group of lawmakers
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
The return of the Presidential Physical Fitness Award likely won’t improve children’s health, experts say
Researchers say that President Donald Trump’s resurrection of widely maligned fitness testing in schools is “half-baked” and unlikely to move the needle on youth physical activity alone
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Trump administration cut funding to study hantavirus, the virus behind deadly cruise ship outbreak
The Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases were designed to study viruses that could jump from animals to people, including hantavirus, but in 2025 the National Institutes of Health said the work wouldn’t continue
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
Pentagon releases trove of new UFO files, but skeptics aren’t impressed
The Pentagon’s first UFO file release includes photographs, videos and documents gathered as part of an effort that spans several governmental offices and agencies, including the FBI, the White House and NASA
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
See the Pentagon’s new UFO image release
The Pentagon has started releasing files related to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), also called UFOs. Here are the images released so far
Scientific American by Jeanna Bryner
National Academy of Sciences experts denounce Trump’s NSF board purge
In an open letter, thousands of researchers criticized the White House’s firing of the research agency’s board as ‘an alarming attack’ on U.S. science
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Inside NASA’s ‘very ambitious’ moon base plan
NASA’s moon exploration plans call for nearly 80 launches, nearly 75 landers, 10 moon buggies and one nuclear reactor
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Trump’s FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigns
Makary, a face of Trump’s Make America Healthy Again agenda, oversaw the embattled agency as it dealt with vaping, abortion and other issues
Scientific American by Tanya Lewis
Is the U.S. in a new era of political violence? Experts say it’s complicated
Researchers who study political violence say that the U.S. is in a period of more intense political rhetoric, but there have been far darker periods in the nation’s history
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
Gemstones on Mars—why the Red Planet could be harboring rubies, opals, and more
NASA’s Mars rovers have found traces of minerals akin to those that make up precious gems on Earth. But their appearance and abundance on Mars is likely very different, experts say
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
WHO: The world is falling short of and even reversing its health targets
Malaria incidence is increasing, progress on maternal mortality is stalling, and some childhood vaccine rates are plateauing or have dipped below the threshold for herd immunity
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Americans are increasingly open to using psychedelics for medical reasons
A survey found that more than 60 percent of respondents “strongly support” making psychedelics easier to study, reflecting a growing consensus that some could have therapeutic use
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
U.S. Supreme Court allows mifepristone by mail—for now
The nation's top court extended a stay on a lower court order banning telemedicine access to mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortions—but the order sets up a longer legal fight
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
The world is less prepared for a pandemic than before COVID. Here’s why
As world health leaders face deadly outbreaks of hantavirus and Ebola, a major pandemic preparedness report finds we are less safe from viral outbreaks than before COVID
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
How marijuana rewires the teenage brain
A growing body of research suggests cannabis poses risks to the developing brain
Scientific American by Sara Novak
NASA dreams of a nuclear power plant on the moon. Here’s why
To build its moon base, NASA needs a lot of power
Scientific American by Robin George Andrews
Screen time limits can protect children’s health, U.S. surgeon general advisory says
The Trump administration warned that too much screen time for children is linked to poor sleep, bad behavior and less physical and social activity
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
What is E15 fuel? Why higher-ethanol gasoline could raise summer smog levels
In an effort to reduce prices at the pump, an EPA wavier allows the sale of fuel with 15 percent ethanol content
Scientific American by Stephanie Pappas
NASA’s Jared Isaacman unveiled the first moon base rovers and landers
At an event at NASA Headquarters event, space agency officials unveiled the first rovers and landers headed to the future site of its planned lunar south pole outpost
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Trump plan to give start-ups plutonium harvested from Cold War–era nuclear weapons is risky, experts say
Weapons-grade plutonium can fuel nuclear reactors known as mixed oxide reactors, but none of these exist in the U.S.
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
Back-to-back chemical accidents raise alarm over EPA push to reduce oversight
A near-miss incident and a deadly chemical accident in a single week have affected thousands and drawn scrutiny to federal rules around risk management at chemical plants
Scientific American by Stephanie Pappas
White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final approval on research grants
These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Trump administration takes aim at crucial ocean monitoring network
The Ocean Observatories Initiative has been collecting data on physical, chemical, geological and biological conditions in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for the past decade
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
Trump’s new AI executive order drastically shifts the administration’s stance on the tech
This order asks artificial intelligence companies to give the U.S. government up to 30 days to assess frontier models before they are released
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
U.S. science must innovate or die, National Academy of Sciences president says
The past year has been “filled with turmoil” for science, National Academy of Sciences president Marcia McNutt said during her State of the Science address
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
Trump invokes Defense Production Act to keep U.S. coal plants running
Coal is the most significant fossil fuel contributor to climate change
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Report: FDA just launched a study on the abortion pill
The FDA’s ongoing review of mifepristone could skip over established science, health experts warn
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
World Cup begins under health watch as new AI rules spark debate and ancient Rome’s road network expands
World Cup crowds spark outbreak tracking as AI tensions rise and ancient Rome’s roads get a stunning reboot
Scientific American by Rachel Feltman, Lauren J. Young, Andrea Gawrylewski, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura
Americans’ trust in the CDC has plummeted since 2025, new poll finds
A mere 12 percent of Americans say they trust the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations “a great deal”
Scientific American by Jackie Flynn Mogensen
The U.S. stockpiles oil in huge underground salt caverns. Here’s why
Salt, with its ability to seal liquid in, is uniquely suited to storing the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Scientific American by Cody Cottier
Former U.S. health official explains why the Trump administration ‘ignored’ a key alcohol study
A study finding that even one drink a day causes health risks was deliberately sidelined by the Trump administration, a former federal public health official alleges
Scientific American by Claire Cameron
Proposed White House regulations could kill 5,000 clinical trials, analysis finds
The Trump administration is mulling new rules that would give political appointees final say on research grants
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Science is under pressure again. Here’s what that means for young researchers
It’s a complicated time to be a young scientist in America. Lessons from history can tell us what the future might hold
Scientific American by Deborah Blum
US Limits on Anthropic Fable AI Could Hurt Cybersecurity
Fable 5 was built to help with advanced cybersecurity work. Its sudden shutdown highlights a dilemma at the heart of AI security: the same tools can aid both defenders and attackers
Scientific American by Chris Stokel-Walker
Geoffrey Hinton
The machine-learning guru discusses how politics is undermining U.S. science
Scientific American by K. R. Callaway
Why U.S. science funding needs reform
The federal funding system for scientific research in the U.S. is crumbling. Here’s how it can be rebuilt
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
Inside U.S. labs at a moment of fear—and unexpected promise
Despite funding woes, American scientists are finding reasons for optimism
Scientific American by Rebecca Boyle
Robert Langer
The M.I.T. professor and expert on innovation on why science is worth celebrating
Scientific American by Megha Satyanarayana
Gavin Newsom
The governor of California, where science and technology are large parts of the economy, on finding the balance in innovation between taking risks and being reckless
Scientific American by Megha Satyanarayana
U.S. scientists are being lured abroad—and they aren't looking back
The great American brain drain could define science for a generation
Scientific American by Sarah Scoles
America’s compact between science and politics is broken
How did we get here?
Scientific American by Adam Rogers
Trump’s Genesis Mission is putting AI to work on nuclear weapons
The Department of Energy bills Genesis as an AI push for scientific discovery. Its first public challenges tell a different story
Scientific American by Sarah Scoles
Autonomous labs are running science experiments 24/7
Robots and AI are running experiments around the clock, from battery chemistry to cancer therapies. But can they be trusted to get it right?
Scientific American by Patrick Sisson
Trump administration reverses course on plan to dismantle ocean monitoring network
The effort to pull some 900 ocean-monitoring buoys and sensors from the water drew backlash from scientists and lawmakers
Scientific American by Dan Vergano
A water treatment expert on what could actually fix the Reflecting Pool
The Trump administration wanted the surface of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to be “American flag blue.” A water-treatment expert explains why the pool is still algal green and why the bloom could keep coming back
Scientific American by Emma Gometz
Why the paint is peeling off the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool—experts explain
Poor preparation and a failure to properly apply the coating may be just a few of the reasons why the Reflecting Pool’s new paint job appears to be peeling off
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
NASA announces Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines and Firefly to build lunar landers for a future moon base
Three companies will receive a total of $600 million to executive four moon landings, laying the groundwork for a planned crewed outpost on the surface
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
The White House goes all in on aliens with new UAP Science Advisory Council
This new group, which is led by Harvard professor Avi Loeb, aims to advise the Trump administration and the U.S. intelligence community, as well as to publish its findings in peer-reviewed journals
Scientific American by Adam Kovac
How could loosened radiation exposure rules affect public health?
A proposed rule change could expose more Americans to higher doses of radiation from nuclear facilities
Scientific American by Stephanie Pappas