Science

For most of the 20th century, the model of human origins was a tree: with the trunk dividing into branches, and then twigs. Each species of human relative (hominin) was…

May 17, 2026 2 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm These ants navigate with a compass tuned to the moon A newfound nocturnal navigation system challenges what entomologists thought…

Rice is one of the most widely grown staple crops, providing around 20% of the daily calorie intake for more than half of the world’s population. However, the rice we…

In the 2008 Iron Man movie, a fictional miniature fusion energy device powers Tony Stark’s metal suit and protects his heart. A much larger version of the Arc Reactor powers…

Ian A. Wright, Amy-Marie Gilpin, & Katherine Warwick, Western Sydney University / The Conversation The fresh air, picturesque vistas, and pristine bush of the Blue Mountains west of Sydney draw…

Andes virus, a type of hantavirus, has sparked global concern in recent weeks after causing the death of three passengers and sickening at least eight others aboard the MV Hondius,…

Mitochondria are often described as the power plants of the cell, but in the brain, their role may be even more important than scientists once realized. These tiny structures supply…

It’s rare for nutritionists to recommend a single food to everybody. These days, we’ve come to understand that nutritional needs are personal, healthy eating is about balance, and individual foods…

It is well known that human relatives interbred: Homo sapiens with Neanderthals, Neanderthals with Denisovans, Denisovans with Homo sapiens. Now there is evidence for another ancient tryst, between Denisovans and…

Diving into virtual reality (VR) can do some strange things to the brain, as a new study highlights. In an experiment, volunteers given VR wings for a couple of hours…

Going without food for several days does far more than force the body to burn fat. Research published in Nature Metabolism revealed that extended fasting sets off widespread biological changes…

Researchers have created a new fusion plasma regime that simultaneously reduces extreme divertor heat loads and suppresses damaging plasma instabilities while maintaining strong confinement. Credit: Shutterstock Scientists have demonstrated a…

To paraphrase an old apocryphal Mark Twain quote: If you don’t understand a Lana and Lily Wachowski movie, just wait a while. Their generation-defining Matrix trilogy aside, the Chicago-based sister…

May 15, 2026 4 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm Can plants have consciousness? The film Silent Friend reimagines the science The filmmaker behind the newly released movie Silent…

We may have accidentally detected dark matter back in 2019. This potentially history-making discovery could be lurking in existing data from gravitational waves – ripples in the fabric of spacetime…

Exercise is widely known for building stronger muscles, but new research suggests it also reshapes the brain in ways that improve endurance. A study published in the Cell Press journal…

France and China Push the Limits of Duration, Korea Defends the ‘Absolute Temperature’ A Decisive Turning Point Toward Commercialization Editor’s Note‘Science Scope’ is an article series that, true to the…

Since the first cases of hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 2, misinformation has rapidly flooded the Internet. Much…

WASHINGTON — Just months after its public debut, York Space Systems is confronting a question that goes to the core of its business model: what happens when the Pentagon program…

Every night around the world, thousands of automated sky cameras watch for flashes of light streaking across the atmosphere. I am one of the scientists who studies these meteors and…

WASHINGTON — NASA has released the final request for proposals for a Mars telecommunications system, confirming requirements that limit the companies that can bid on it. NASA issued the final…

2. Nuclear technology development continues to enjoy government support. Developing and deploying Chinese-made reactors has been a priority for the Chinese government. China has successfully done so with the Hualong…

As summer approaches, many people try to get back into healthier exercise habits. Most of us already know physical activity is important, but sticking with a routine can still feel…

May 16, 2026 2 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm Scientists catalog the ‘fractal dimensions’ of more than 130,000 islands The “coastline paradox” helped to define fractals, but coastlines…

Yawning is contagious. You’ve probably got one brewing just from reading about it, whether or not you’re sleepy. You can even catch a yawn from other animals: It’s a universal…

Scientists have produced the clearest view ever of part of the cosmic web, the enormous hidden network of matter that stretches across the Universe and connects galaxies together. After spending…

May 16, 2026 3 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm What we know—and what we don’t—about NASA’s Artemis III mission NASA is starting to paint in some of the…

ESCAPADES at Mars – Dr. Robert Lillis of the Mars ESCAPADE Mission – YouTube Watch On On Episode 210 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk…

The latest Bitcoin price news showed heavy pressure on May 13, after investors pulled $635 million from Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a single session, marking the largest outflow since…