Why Animals Living on Islands Are at Greater Risk of Extinction
Warm-blooded island species tend to evolve a slower metabolic rate compared with their mainland counterparts, making it harder for them to bounce back when under stress
Former Hurricane Beryl Floods Vermont in a Repeat of Last Year
A damaging downpour struck Vermont on the anniversary of last year’s flooding disaster, filling streets with mud and basements with water
Young Adulthood Is No Longer One of Life’s Happiest Times
The U-shaped curve that pegged youth and old age as the happiest times of life has changed
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/young-adulthood-is-no-longer-one-of-lifes-happiest-times/
How Antarctic Scientists Think about the Future of Our Planet
Researchers on a multimonth Antarctic expedition describe how the climate crisis intertwines with their work.
How Science Can Defeat Witchcraft Fears in Papua New Guinea
Belief in witchcraft and sorcery is deeply rooted in Papua New Guinea's culture and history, but it can lead to violence, particularly against women. Local public health experts are working to end this violence through education.
This Equation Shows That the Universe Will Run out of Stars
The cosmos is dark. The Lilly-Madau diagram reveals that it will become much darker still
Floods Are Destroying Roads and Buildings. The White House Wants to Raise Them
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is requiring any construction project it funds to be elevated above local flood levels
Przewalski’s Horses Are Back—On TikTok and the Central Asian Steppes
Claims that Przewalski’s horses were discovered in the U.S. are unverified. But the conservation story behind the last truly wild horse is worth your time.
Heat Waves Can Buckle Train Tracks, Delaying Commutes and Commerce
Extreme heat can cause train tracks to expand and buckle. That’s forcing rail operators to adapt as the climate warms
We Indulged Our Child During COVID Lockdown. Did That Change Him?
During the lockdown phase of the COVID pandemic, we indulged our toddler son. Years later, we wonder if his current behavior is normal or a result of that early isolation
The Head of NASA Science Spent a Whole Weekend Building a LEGO Rocket
Scientific American sat down with Nicola Fox, head of NASA science, to talk about her LEGO-building hobby, the agency’s massive Space Launch System rocket and the NASA science she’s most excited about
We Cannot Cede Control of Weapons to Artificial Intelligence
I watched United Nations delegates debate AI-based weapons that can fire without human initiation. Humans cannot be taken out of that decision-making
The Wild History of Hurricane Forecasting
Scientists, pilots and even a Jesuit priest have tried over decades to understand some of the most ferocious storms on Earth, but climate change is making such efforts to avert damage more difficult
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-wild-history-of-hurricane-forecasting/
‘Frog Saunas’ Could Protect Species from Devastating Fungal Disease
A low-tech immune boost may help some species of frogs survive a brutal fungal disease that’s already ended 90 species
Marijuana’s New Legal Status Must Spark More Research
While most Americans enjoy access to marijuana, barriers to research and knowledge expansion persist—with dangerous consequences. Unlimited research access is needed
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/marijuanas-new-legal-status-must-spark-more-research/
Not Everyone Has an Inner Voice Streaming Through Their Head
The extent to which people experience “inner speech” varies greatly, and the differences matter for performing certain cognitive tasks
Przewalski's Horses Are Finally Returning to Their Natural Habitat
Przewalski’s horses, once extinct in the wild, are revitalizing Kazakhstan’s “Golden Steppe”
New NASA Heat Map Shows Scorching Streets That Can Burn Skin in Seconds
Under the scorching summer sun, pavement can reach temperatures hot enough to cause second-degree burns
New Supreme Court Decisions Jeopardize Efforts to Curb Pollution and Climate Change
Four recent Supreme Court decisions will together make it much harder for the federal government to take action on climate change
Biden Pushes to Stop Heat Deaths after Decades of Delay
It took 50 years and skyrocketing temperatures before the government proposed heat protections for workers. The Biden administration is trying to speed up the process
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/biden-pushes-to-stop-heat-deaths-after-decades-of-delay/