The U.S.'s Plans to Modernize Nuclear Weapons Are Dangerous and Unnecessary
The U.S. should back away from updating its obsolescent nuclear weapons, in particular silo-launched missiles that needlessly risk catastrophe
What Radioactive Fallout Tells Us about Our Nuclear Future
The U.S. has embarked on the largest and most expensive nuclear build-out ever. The U.S. military says it is necessary to replace an aging nuclear arsenal. But critics fear the risks.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/what-radioactive-fallout-tells-us-about-our-nuclear-future/
Hair Straighteners and Relaxers May Be Harmful to Health. Here's How to Make Them Better
Growing evidence suggests certain hair products marketed toward Black women may be harmful to their health. Scientists, entrepreneurs and policymakers are taking steps to fix it
Invasive 'Cocaine Hippos' Are Being Sterilized in Colombia
To deal with invasive hippos that were brought to Colombia by drug lord Pablo Escobar—and that threaten the country’s biodiversity—the nation’s government is sterilizing, exporting and euthanizing the animals
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/invasive-cocaine-hippos-are-being-sterilized-in-colombia/
First-Ever Flood Forecasting Maps Show Houses and Roads at Risk
The National Weather Service has launched the first flood forecasting system with precise, real-time data showing spots that are at imminent risk of inundation
Quick Naps Are Good for Your Brain
Daytime naps of about 30 minutes really improve your thinking and may spark creativity
https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/quick-naps-are-good-for-your-brain/
Newborn Genomic Screening Needs to Build the Evidence
With many large newborn genomic screening studies launching, we need to answer questions about cost, fairness and tangible benefits of a promising technology
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/newborn-genomic-screening-needs-to-build-the-evidence/
It's Not All in Your Head--You Do Focus Differently on Zoom
Virtual meetings and video calls don’t quite stack up to in-person interaction—and a new study proves it
Egypt's Iconic Sphinx May Have Begun as Natural Carving by the Wind
Egypt’s famous Sphinx may have originated as a rock feature carved by erosion that ancient Egyptians further refined into the iconic monument
Why Does This Hybrid Monkey Glow Green?
Researchers created a monkey that combines cells from two different individuals; a lab technique gave it a strange green glow
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-this-hybrid-monkey-glow-green/
U.S. Hits Carbon Tech Milestone with First Direct-Air Capture Facility
A new facility will suck carbon dioxide from the air, showcasing the potential of a nascent industry that some say is crucial to fighting climate change
Funding for Research on Psychedelics Is on the Rise, Along with Scientists' Hopes for Using Them
As interest and support for psychedelic research grows, scientists share their hopes for the future.
Learning to Accept Discomfort Could Help You Thrive
Equanimity, a key ingredient of mindfulness meditation, helps people face life’s ups and downs
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/learning-to-accept-discomfort-could-help-you-thrive/
Can You Trust Farmers' Almanacs' Weather Predictions?
Two farmers’ almanacs say this winter will be cold and snowy, but NOAA, the top U.S. weather agency, disagrees
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-you-trust-farmers-almanacs-weather-predictions/
We Need Product Safety Regulations for Social Media
As social media more frequently exposes people to brutality and untruths, we need to treat it like a consumer product, and that means product safety regulations
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-need-product-safety-regulations-for-social-media/
See JWST's Spectacular New View of the Crab Nebula
The James Webb Space Telescope’s studies of the Crab nebula may shed new light on the supernova remnant’s origins
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-jwsts-spectacular-new-view-of-the-crab-nebula/
Wildfires Threaten More Homes and People in the U.S. Than Ever Before
The number of homes located within the perimeters of wildfires has doubled since the 1990s. A surprising ecosystem is responsible for the risk
Climate Change Has Worsened Drought in the Fertile Crescent
Rising temperatures are increasing the likelihood of severe drought in Syria, Iraq and Iran
The Woman Who Demonstrated the Greenhouse Effect
Eunice Newton Foote showed that carbon dioxide traps the heat of the sun in 1856, beating the so-called father of the greenhouse effect by at least three years. Why was she forgotten?
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-woman-who-demonstrated-the-greenhouse-effect/
We Need to Better Understand Malnutrition-Related Diabetes
Food insecurity saps the health of people and economies worldwide. Addressing it would pay dividends