New Evidence Discovered That Saturn's Moon Could Support Life
Molecules in Enceladus’s icy plumes suggest that alien life could exist in our solar system
COP28's Climate Rhetoric Is in Stark Contrast to Our Dependence on Fossil Fuels
Even as the COP28 climate meeting agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, global emissions are on the rise, coal consumption is set to break records, and oil and gas production is booming in the U.S.
Cats Play Fetch, Too--But Only on Their Own Terms
Retrieving isn’t just for dogs, but the emerging science of cat play can’t fully explain the feline phenomenon
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cats-play-fetch-too-but-only-on-their-own-terms/
This Filipina Physicist Helped Develop a Top Secret Weapon
Emma Unson Rotor worked on the proximity fuze, a groundbreaking piece of World War II weapons technology that the U.S. War Department called “second only to the atomic bomb.”
Buying Used Tech This Holiday Season Can Avert Human Rights Abuses
Here’s how to buy ethical tech and keep conflict minerals in the ground
Dog 'Language Geniuses' Are Rare but Apparently Real
A subset of exceptional pooches can identify by name more than 100 different objects, mostly toys
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dog-language-geniuses-are-rare-but-apparently-real/
COP28 Climate Summit Deal Called 'Historic.' Now Countries Must Follow Through
The COP28 climate talks in Dubai ended with a deal to curb the use of fossil fuels, but some delegates and experts lament that the agreement was not more ambitious
Road Map for U.S. Particle Physics Wins Broad Approval
A major report plotting the future of U.S. particle physics calls for cuts to the beleaguered DUNE project, advocates a “muon shot” for a next-generation collider and recommends a new survey of the universe’s oldest observable light
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/road-map-for-u-s-particle-physics-wins-broad-approval/
Is Cannabis Bad for Teens? Data Paint a Conflicting Picture
Ten years after cannabis was first legalized for recreational use in adults, scientists are struggling to provide evidence-based recommendations about the risks to young people
Electric Vehicle Owners Are Not Driving Enough (And That's Bad)
Used car buyers and the U.S. government need to dive into the marketplace to deliver the emissions reductions promised by electric vehicles
This Flying Frog Spends Its Youth Masquerading as Poop
These froglets disguise themselves as feces to gross out potential predators until they’re old enough to glide through jungle canopies
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-flying-frog-spends-its-youth-masquerading-as-poop/
Hottest Survivable Temperatures Are Lower Than Expected
Researchers say the primary “wet-bulb temperature” method for measuring dangerous heat underestimates deaths, particularly among elderly and health-compromised individuals
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hottest-survivable-temperatures-are-lower-than-expected/
Male Songbirds Need Daily Vocal Practice to Woo Females
Birds might sing in the morning because they need a vocal workout
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/male-songbirds-need-daily-vocal-practice-to-woo-females/
Green Glow of 'Mesospheric Ghosts' Decoded
Mysterious green displays in the sky dubbed “mesospheric ghosts” can sometimes accompany the dramatic red atmospheric lights called sprites
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/green-glow-of-mesospheric-ghosts-decoded/
Subterranean 'Microbial Dark Matter' Reveals a Strange Dichotomy
The genes of microbes living as deep as 1.5 kilometers below the surface reveal a split between minimalist and maximalist lifestyles
Why Do We Dream? Maybe to Ensure We Can Literally 'See' the World upon Awakening
A theory holds that dreams are a way for the visual cortex of the brain to “defend its turf” against being “taken over” to process inputs from other senses
World Leaders Agree to a Climate Deal on Food for the First Time
The first global declaration on reducing emissions from food production is a start, researchers say—but it sidesteps contentious issues such as meat consumption
Millions of U.S. Homes Risk Disaster because of Outdated Building Codes
Building codes that don’t fully account for climate change are “one of the most significant factors” in increasing disaster risk, a federal report says
A New Type of Heart Disease is on the Rise
Problems with the heart, kidneys and metabolic health are all connected
https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/a-new-type-of-heart-disease-is-on-the-rise/
Why Some People Choose Not to Know
Altruists seek to understand how their actions will affect others—while willful ignorance can free people to act selfishly
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-some-people-choose-not-to-know/