This Overlooked Scientist Helped Save Washington, D.C.'s Cherry Trees
Mycologist Flora Patterson helped make the USDA fungus collection into the world’s largest. She also made a mean mushroom “catsup”
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A Neurologist Answers Questions Patients Might Have about the New Alzheimer's Drug Lecanemab
What a patient and family members can expect from the recently approved drug lecanemab—and what more is needed to help stop Alzheimer’s dementia -
Ancient Americans Crossed Back into Siberia in a Two-Way Migration, New Evidence Shows
Scientists have long known that ancient people living in Siberia made their way into what is now North America. Mounting DNA evidence suggests migration also happened in the opposite direction -
See the Largest Flower Ever Found Encased in Amber
A rare flower encased in amber is the largest one ever found and dates from around 40 million years ago -
Leona Zacharias Helped Solve a Blindness Epidemic among Premature Babies. She Received Little Credit
In the first Lost Women of Science Shorts podcast, host Katie Hafner dives into the life and work of Leona Zacharias—a brilliant researcher who, before reporting this story, Hafner only knew as her grandmother -
Half of the 250 Kids Expelled from Preschool Each Day Are Black Boys
Racism and overstressed teachers help explain high expulsion rates for Black preschool boys -
Why California Is Being Deluged by Atmospheric Rivers
California has been hit by repeated storms fueled by torrents of moisture called atmospheric rivers that will only intensify in a warming climate -
Scientists See Quantum Interference between Different Kinds of Particles for First Time
A newly discovered interaction related to quantum entanglement between dissimilar particles opens a new window into the nuclei of atoms -
Double Disaster: Wildfires Followed by Extreme Rainfall Are More Likely with Climate Change
These events can cause devastating landslides and flash floods -
Why COVID's XBB.1.5 'Kraken' Variant Is So Contagious
A new variant of the virus that causes COVID has mutations that make it more transmissible, but vaccines are still likely to protect against severe disease -
Flavor-Enhancing Spoons and Chopsticks Could Make Food Taste Better
New types of cutlery can enhance flavors such as sweetness or saltiness for a more satisfying meal -
Aging Is Linked to More Activity in Short Genes Than in Long Genes
A detailed examination of gene activity in various organisms, including humans, reveals a new hallmark of the aging process -
Volcanic Activity on Mars Upends Red Planet Assumptions
A mass of moving material on Mars called a mantle plume may be causing marsquakes and volcanism -
Audio Astronomy Unlocks a Universe of Sound
Turning astronomical data into sound rather than images can inspire blind and visually impaired people—and maybe lead to some discoveries, too -
A Valuable COVID Drug Doesn't Work against New Variants
Current monoclonal antibodies fail against COVID virus variants, so drugmakers want to use a fast-track test for new ones -
The Best New Year's Resolution Might Be to Just Let Go of an Unfulfilled Life Goal
Leaving aside a cherished objective may benefit psychological and even physical health -
ChatGPT Explains Why AIs like ChatGPT Should Be Regulated
We asked the text-generating AI ChatGPT to talk about its own flaws -
Editors' Picks: Our Favorite Opinions of 2022
Our opinion section took us to the front lines of COVID, revealed how racists misuse evolutionary biology, illuminated a mental health epidemic in kids, and more -
Overturning Roe and Other Important Reproductive Health Stories of 2022
As the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade reversal put reproduction into the political limelight, Scientific American explored a range of issues related to abortion and reproductive health -
NASA's Pluto Spacecraft Begins New Mission at the Solar System's Edge
New Horizons is about to wake up and study the Kuiper Belt, the universe, and even Uranus and Neptune. But a new target to visit could trump them all
