Recommendations from the editors of Scientific American
Letters to the editor from the April 2021 issue of Scientific American
Science in meter and verse
Top news from around the world
Ramisyllis multicaudata is an animal that seems to have adopted the lifestyle of a fungus
Five reasons why sorting all of this out is so scientifically challenging
If any of them represent advanced technology, high-res photos might tell us whether they’re metaphorically labeled “Made in China” or “Made on Exoplanet X”
Tasty radio; early fake leather
Take it from someone who almost gave up on her dream of being a scientist
The spaceborne studies will cover diverse topics, from dark matter and gravitational waves to the growth of cancer and pathogenic bacteria
By associating caffeinated sugar-water and a target scent, researchers teach bumblebees to stay on task
With nearly $2 million in private funding, the controversial new initiative is targeting unidentified phenomena in Earth’s skies and beyond
The late physicist’s most infamous statement still beguiles scientists and vexes believers
Some astronomers argue the space agency’s next flagship observatory will memorialize discrimination. Others are waiting for more evidence
The newly organized Galileo Project will use a three-pronged approach to replace unreliable eyewitness reports with reproducible scientific observations
Both are low-probability but catastrophic events—and both can be mitigated if we act early enough
Can we ever really know the world
The NASA mission used seismic waves from marsquakes to perform a core-to-crust survey of the planet’s subsurface
They strengthen the institutions that ensure a strong democracy, leading to rational decisions
Cooling 5,000-pound, armor-plated giants was no small feat
Scientists are using football-field-sized lasers, warehouse-sized electromagnets and other immense facilities to reveal the deep secrets of planetary interiors
New research finds they fly around on noise-cancelling wings
Studies of extreme ecosystems on Earth can guide the search for Martian life and may reveal the fundamental limits of biology
The billionaire and three others take a suborbital trip onboard the craft New Shepard
Researchers say they have discovered unique and exciting DNA strands in the mud; others are not sure of their novelty
Young dogs, apes and other animals develop skills needed to survive and reproduce
Brown dwarfs, stuttering, quantum chemistry, and more
After nearly twenty years pursuing a lifelong dream of spaceflight, the world’s wealthiest person is at last ready for lift off
It’s a romantic notion, but pretending they’re like humans could actually harm the cause of conservation
“Ecological biosignatures” hold promise for revealing alien organisms that may dwell within icy moons such as Jupiter’s Europa and Saturn’s Enceladus
Jumping spiders see more in their periphery than previously known
The competition between the U.S. and China over development of quantum technology has implications for both the future of science and the two countries’ political relations
Using machine learning, researchers created a tool that might help doctors improve people’s healthy lifespan
Although meant to minimize risks to human health, the proposed new limits would still be exceeded by any conceivable near-future crewed voyage to Mars
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