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Congress Passes Major Climate Legislation in Year-End Omnibus

The bill calls for phasing down emissions of hydrofluorocarbons, a potent greenhouse gas

Tsunami May Have Seeded a Fungal Outbreak in Pacific Northwest

A bold hypothesis could account for the perplexing presence of multiple fungi

The Kaleidoscopic Art of Threatened Corals

Resilient corals in Miami may signal what the future holds for these creatures

Nature in Verse: What Poetry Reveals about Science

Scientific American has a long history of featuring poetry, and our monthly column once again brings new works to the world

COVID Has Laid Bare the Inequities That Face Mothers in STEM

Take a survey and share your experience

LGBTQ People Are at Higher Risk in Disasters

A federal report about vulnerability focuses on historically disadvantaged people for the first time

The Pandemic Is Delaying Cancer Screenings and Detection

The missed checkups could result in later, more severe diagnoses down the line

What's Your Risk of Catching COVID? These Tools Help You Find Out

A look at apps that predict the chance of infection and illness, depending on what you’re doing and where you are

The U.K. Coronavirus Mutation Is Worrying but Not Terrifying

There is evidence the new variant could be more transmissible, yet vaccines work very well against it

How You Can Help Stop Invasive Spotted Lanternflies

Scientists are collecting photographs of the insects’ eggs to train an algorithm and curtail their rapid spread

Could Floating Cities Be a Haven as Coastlines Submerge?

“Seasteader” housing built on platforms would rise and fall with the tides, but practical challenges are huge

The Ethical Challenges of Connecting Our Brains to Computers

We must ensure that companies, policy makers and consumers use neurotechnology in a responsible way

Sea Otters Could Get New Home in San Francisco Bay

Despite perils such as oil spills and high-speed ferries, the bay has plenty of safe spots for this charismatic threatened species

The Cosmic Dawn of Technology

Earth may well be a latecomer to the fraternity of technological civilizations

Erin Brockovich Blasts U.S. Regulation of Toxic Chemicals

The activist, made famous by Julia Roberts in an eponymous movie, rails against PFAS in drinking water

Science News Briefs from around the Planet

Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one from Panama about the toll lightning takes on tropical trees.

From Rapping Robots to Glowing Frogs: Our Favorite Fun Stories of 2020

It has been a tough year, but science still brought us some weird, cool and quirky findings

New Views of Quantum Jumps Challenge Core Tenets of Physics

One of the most basic processes in all of nature—a subatomic particle’s transition between discrete energy states—is surprisingly complex and sometimes predi...

When Our Gaze Is a Physical Force

Research documents a strange illusion

The Problem of 'Long Haul' COVID

More and more patients are dealing with major symptoms that linger for months

Race Riot Site from 1908 Could Become a National Park

The aftermath of the Springfield, Ill., rampage led, in part, to the NAACP

Exotic Animal Cafes Featuring Otters, Lizards and Owls Raise Alarms

The business of these cafés is growing, which could boost the illegal wildlife trade and have negative implications for wild animal populations

We Need a Paris Agreement for Plastics

They’re flowing into the natural environment every day at an unprecedented rate

Explosive Charges Protect Roads and Ski Areas

Controlled avalanches are a major safety effort during a year of outdoor activities

A Breakdown of Beavers

Environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb talks about his book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter.

In Case You Missed It

Top news from around the world

Story of Mammoth Survival Is in the Soil

Ancient DNA preserved in soil may rewrite what we thought about the Ice Age

Ancient Galaxy Clusters Offer Clues about the Early Universe

Astronomers can’t understand how distant galaxies grew so big so fast

Readers Respond to the September 2020 Issue

Letters to the editor from the September 2020 issue of Scientific American

A Complete Guide to Birds, the Reason We Dream and Other New Science Books

Recommendations from the editors of Scientific American

A Federal Law That Protects Competition but Permits Hate and Harassment Online Must Be Revised

Fixing a flawed Internet free speech regulation requires input from more than just tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter

Earth Is on Fire

Our planet is burning, both literally and figuratively, because of climate change—and COVID is no excuse to ignore it

Martian Satellite Photos Show Dynamic Planet

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter celebrated its 15th year circling Mars

Mountain Water Supply to Two Billion People Could Change

Data about Earth’s 78 most important mountaintops foretell changes in the amount and timing of snowmelt

Towering Sequoias Are Even Bigger Than Thought, Laser Scans Suggest

Laser light reveals the structure of the planet’s tallest trees