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Social mammals live longer—but bigger groups don't add that many extra years
A new study, published in Ecology and Evolution, shows that social living is associated with longer lifespan, but also that the benefits of sociality level off once animals move beyond living in pairs.
How countries can build effective DNA barcoding networks
Aligning with the International Day for Biological Diversity's theme of "Acting locally for global impact," researchers have released a comprehensive blueprint for building a robust, globally adaptable network of DNA barcoding practitioners.
Unclear tasks and command structures may increase fatigue in disaster responders
The frequency of natural disasters is increasing, and hence disaster responders are called on more than ever before. During disaster response, the focus of health and well-being is typically on the residents of the disaster-impacted zones.
Earth's outer core beneath Pacific reversed direction in 2010, satellite data reveal
The liquid iron in Earth's outer core doesn't always behave as expected. When it changed direction in an unexplained way, ESA satellites provided data on the direction of flow, helping scientists gain better insight into the dynamics at the center of our planet.
Astronomers discover a super-Earth orbiting a nearby red dwarf
Astronomers from Italy and Brazil have investigated a nearby red dwarf star known as Ross 318 and have discovered an exoplanet orbiting this star, which is at least six times more massive than Earth. The discovery is reported in a research paper published May 11 on the arXiv prep…
Heat vulnerability follows more than temperature, and this global map exposes the overlooked fault lines
A Nature Sustainability paper titled "A multidimensional assessment of Systemic Cooling Poverty in the Global South," provides the first large-scale, multidimensional measurement of Systemic Cooling Poverty (SCP)—defined as situations in which individuals are "prevented from atta…
Hubble captures galaxy cluster MACS J1141.6-1905
Look closely at this image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and you'll see galaxies of various shapes and sizes clustered together toward the center-left of the image. A few foreground stars shine brightly and are easily distinguished by the spikes that appear to extend outward…
How the Great Pyramid of Giza has survived 4,500 years of Egyptian earthquakes
The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt has survived more than 4,500 years. Earthquakes have repeatedly shaken the region, including the magnitude 5.8 Cairo earthquake in 1992, which dislodged some of the pyramid's outer casing stones. Yet the main body remained essentially intact.
Asexual lizards, virgin births and clones—the all‑female species of the animal kingdom
It may sound too bizarre to be true, but the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), a fish that inhabits rivers, lakes, and swamps in Mexico and Texas, exists over much of its range in populations that are 100% female. In 1932, the Amazon molly became the first known vertebrate to repr…
Image: Tornado draws a jagged line in Mississippi
The strongest of several twisters to touch down in the southern part of the state in early May 2026 left a visible path of damaged vegetation.
Researchers collaborate on effort to map biodiversity on Indonesia's unexplored seamounts
Researchers from the University of Rhode Island are contributing to an international effort to document life on Indonesia's remote tropical seamounts—underwater mountains rising from the ocean floor that can host diverse deep-sea communities.
Superconducting vortices moonlight as controllable qubits, turning a disruption into a resource
Vortices in superconductors have so far been considered a disruption, as they can impair the superconducting properties. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have proved in experiments that magnetic vortices can be used as controllable quantum systems in cer…
Midwest flamingos and 'hurricane toads': Wildlife's strange storm stories
Hurricanes can be a devastating force—leveling trees, erasing beaches and damaging homes. But what do they do to wildlife? The answer ranges from the good to the bad to the ugly. Hurricanes sometimes help native species, but other times, they introduce and spread invasive species…
Lost elephant calf reunites with family after researchers track herd across Samburu reserve
Colorado State University Professor George Wittemyer and his research team reunited a 4-month-old elephant calf with her family after she wandered into a tourist camp alone. The orphaned elephant calf was disoriented from a bumpy truck ride and didn't immediately move toward the…
New tool helps accurately assemble notoriously difficult bird genomes
A new computational program, MicroFinder, enables faster and more accurate assembly of bird genomes. Improved genome assemblies will help researchers better understand bird biology, evolution, and help inform conservation efforts.
Human‑made chemicals are harming seals at the molecular level, study finds
Ringed seals are among the most common marine mammals in the Canadian Arctic. They strongly rely on sea ice as a habitat, breathing through holes they maintain in the frozen surface, giving birth in snow lairs and diving beneath the ice to hunt Arctic cod and small crustaceans.
Why the intrinsic quantum effects of axion dark matter are completely undetectable
Dark matter is an elusive form of matter that almost never emits, absorbs or reflects light, while only weakly interacting with regular matter. These properties make it very difficult to detect using conventional experimental techniques and instruments.
Would you trust AI to help you find 'the one'? Dating apps are betting it can
In the relatively short time they've been around, online dating apps have transformed how we hook up, date and fall in love. These apps have long been characterized by "swipe logic": users are shown profiles of others and must swipe left or right to decide whether they like them…
Span wants to turn homes into mini data centers
Smart-panel start-up Span wants to turn spare household electricity into AI computing power. How far it can scale and what effect that would have on the residential grid remain unsettled
What do the Commonwealth Writers Prize AI allegations mean for prizes—and short stories?
Another day, another literary scandal involving AI. It has been alleged that the judges of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize have been duped by an author using AI in his winning entry. Jamir Nazir's The Serpent in the Grove, which won for the Caribbean region, was then published…
If you need to anesthetize a butterfly, here's the best way to do it
Anesthesia makes life-saving procedures as painless and stress-free as possible for the animals we love and care for. But not a lot is known about the effects of anesthesia on animals that we don't typically consider pets—like butterflies and other invertebrates. Insects are ofte…
Exploring education during times of economic crisis
Major economic crises affect a country in myriad ways, often resulting in unemployment spikes, increased inequality between financial classes, housing instability, and much more. But how do they impact the educational landscape, particularly at the secondary school level? That's…
Listening to the rainforest: Researcher uses AI to monitor biodiversity through sound
In tropical forests, much of the biodiversity can be heard before it is seen. Birds call, insects buzz and frogs croak, creating complex soundscapes that reflect the presence of different species.
What will happen if the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies collide?
Our galaxy and its nearest large companion, Andromeda, may be headed for a collision on a cosmic scale. What happens then?
What is E15 fuel? Why higher-ethanol gasoline could raise summer smog levels
In an effort to reduce prices at the pump, an EPA wavier allows the sale of fuel with 15 percent ethanol content
Bixonimania’—the fake illness that AI fell for
How an experiment involving a made-up skin condition exposes the risks of increasingly popular AI medical advice
FIFA's huge World Cup to generate unprecedented cash and CO₂
The biggest and most lucrative ever World Cup this summer will also set a record for the most-polluting sporting event in history, environmental experts say.
Atlas reveals rocks with rare earth element potential, helping pinpoint new deposits
A new atlas charts the global distribution of unusual, critical-metal-bearing igneous rocks, finding that they often form near the thick and ancient cores of the world's major continents. Researchers from Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences mapped occurrences of CO2-rich ign…
With record-low snow, Colorado preps for wildfire onslaught
Larry Graves pulled up to a home tucked into a Colorado mountainside. His radio was crackling, as was the wildfire burning beyond the trees—it was time to move.
Ancient DNA reveals web of marriage and migration in Peru centuries before Inca rule
Long-distance migration along Peru's Pacific coast began at least 800 years ago, centuries before the rise of the Inca Empire and much earlier than previously thought, a new international study reveals.
Trump eases curbs on planet-warming gases used in refrigerants
US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the easing of curbs on a group of powerful greenhouse gases that drive climate change and are commonly found in refrigerators and air conditioners.
'Dread': Coral scientists fear bleaching El Nino could bring
The arrival of a potentially powerful El Niño weather system this year could devastate coral reefs around the world already weakened by back-to-back rounds of bleaching, scientists warn.
India generates record power as demand surges in severe heat wave
India's power producers have set a record for electricity generation as swaths of the world's most populous nation swelters in an intense heat wave, the Ministry of Power said.
Gibraltar monkeys eat soil in junk food detox, study finds
A colony of macaques that gorge on snacks offered by tourists in the British territory of Gibraltar swallow soil to recover from their junk food binges, a study has found.
Countdown glitch delays world's biggest rocket as SpaceX targets Friday retry
Elon Musk's SpaceX postponed the highly anticipated launch of its upgraded Starship megarocket, calling off Thursday's test after multiple countdown stops-and-starts.
Mangrove loss threatens Sierra Leone's oyster harvesters
For 20 years, Millicent Turay has supported her family by collecting mangrove oysters near Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, a common livelihood along the west African coast.
Something coming: what scientists know about a potential 'super' El Nino
Forecasters say a potentially "super" El Niño is rapidly taking shape in the Pacific—but whether it evolves into a history-making event could hinge on fickle winds and other volatile atmospheric shifts.
Seagrass found to produce new genetic individuals rather than clone itself, offering hope for 'underwater meadows'
In many underwater ecosystems, seagrass meadows act as a food source, a safe haven, and an ecological lynchpin. But until now, very little was known about how these plants reproduce—critical information for conserving the meadows.
'Seed Transfer Zones' could help restore vast areas of degraded land in Brazil
A new study divides Brazil into 48 zones, each defined by its climate and soil conditions. Restoration projects can use these zones to identify which native seeds are best suited to each location under both current and future climates.
Researchers transform paper sludge into valuable biofuels
Researchers have demonstrated that different types of paper industry sludge, typically treated as a low-value waste, can be transformed into a high-yield renewable biofuel. The study, published in Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, reveals that paper sludge streams vary signi…
Long-serving CEOs may weaken innovation, study finds
A new study from the University of East London has found that companies led by long-serving chief executives may become less innovative over time unless challenged by strong independent boards. The research examined 215 FTSE 350 companies over an 11-year period between 2010 and 2…
Romania dig uncovers 350-square-meter megastructure in 45-house prehistoric settlement
Researchers from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have found new indications of how large prehistoric settlements were organized. Their research focused on a special type of building known as a megastructure. Excavations in Romania have now shown that this…
We analyzed the TikTok history of 142 men. Here's what it taught us about the manosphere
Interest in the manosphere has recently surged yet again, with the recent Louis Theroux documentary catapulting the term "manosphere" back to the forefront of our cultural psyche.
SpaceX scrubs launch of Starship V3—the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built
The launch, when it comes, will mark the 12th flight test of Starship and the first demonstration of its V3 design—a new attempt could come as soon as Friday
NASA's AWE instrument completes mission to study Earth's effect on space weather
On May 21, ground controllers powered down NASA's AWE (Atmospheric Waves Experiment) instrument, bringing the data collection phase of the mission to a successful and scheduled end, surpassing its planned two-year mission.
Hidden structural features inside Egypt’s Great Pyramid may have helped it withstand earthquakes, new study finds
Constructed by ancient Egyptians, the Great Pyramid has survived multiple earthquakes through the ages—now researchers think they know why
Hantavirus found in shocking number of Pacific Northwest rodents
These critters were carrying the Sin Nombre variant of hantavirus, which can be spread from rodents to humans but not from one person to another
Němečtí poslanci schválili stavbu vysokorychlostní trati Drážďany–Praha
Němečtí poslanci jednomyslně schválili záměr na výstavbu vysokorychlostní trati mezi Drážďany a Prahou včetně takzvaného Krušnohorského tunelu. Německé ministerstvo dopravy předložilo Spolkovému sněmu plány letos v únoru. Uvedlo tehdy, že po schválení nebude nic bránit podpisu sm…
JWST sees partly cloudy skies on a distant, giant exoplanet
An out-of-this-world weather report from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope reveals how clouds move across a giant planet hundreds of light-years from Earth
Scientists discover why gold doesn’t ‘rust’
Gold doesn’t tarnish like similar metals do. A new paper says that the key is the intricate “herringbone” pattern of its atoms.
A new study says you need 10 hours of exercise a week. Can that really be possible?
Experts question this study’s design and its recommendations—and point out that you probably get more exercise than you think
NOAA predicts quieter Atlantic hurricane season for 2026—but the Pacific is another story
This year’s expected El Niño could hamper hurricanes in the Atlantic but boost them in the central and eastern Pacific
Trial of next-gen weight-loss drug retatrutide brings it one step closer to FDA approval
While drugs such as Wegovy target a single gut hormone, retatrutide is among a new class of GLP-1 drugs that aims at three hormone receptors
AI just solved an 80-year-old ‘Erdős problem,’ and mathematicians are amazed
A chatbot’s result for the 80-year-old “unit distance” conjecture is the first AI proof that would likely be published in math’s top journal if humans had done it alone
Can math predict the end of humanity? Inside the ‘doomsday argument’
This eerily simple math says our days are numbered—and nobody can agree why it’s wrong
Watch SpaceX launch Starship V3—the tallest and most powerful rocket yet
Thursday's flight could be the most pivotal test of the Starship megarocket
Daddy longlegs are actually bloodthirsty killers—of frogs
The wobbly, lanky arachnids known as harvestmen or daddy longlegs may be overlooked as predators of small vertebrates such as frogs, researchers say
Nechceme skončit v okupaci, říká ukrajinská držitelka Nobelovy ceny za mír
Už pátým rokem se Ukrajina brání plnohodnotné ruské invazi. Držitelka Nobelovy ceny za mír a právnička Oleksandra Matvijčuková v Událostech, komentářích zmínila, že Rusko ani po další zimě, kdy útočilo na ukrajinskou energetickou infrastrukturu, Ukrajince nezlomilo. Obyvatelé nap…
Start-up reveals ‘artificial egg’ to resurrect extinct birds, but scientists say the work misses the point
The science of de-extinction does not exist, but Colossal Biosciences’ “artificial egg” is an interesting technical feat
Screen time limits can protect children’s health, U.S. surgeon general advisory says
The Trump administration warned that too much screen time for children has been linked to poor sleep, bad behavior, and less physical and social activity
An Ebola outbreak is spreading fast. Should you be worried?
A deadly Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa is raising international alarm. Still, experts stress that the chance of a pandemic is low
Retenční nádrž v Karlíně bude chránit před povodněmi i znečištěním
Vodohospodáři v pražském Karlíně začali budovat další retenční nádrž, která pojme šest tisíc metrů krychlových vody. To odpovídá šesti olympijským plaveckým bazénům. Nádrž má ochránit město při povodni i přívalových deštích a zároveň bránit znečištění Vltavy. Stát bude přes 361 m…
These bizarre fossils represent some of the earliest moving, sexually reproducing life ever discovered
New trove of fossils reveals that ancestral animals likely emerged in the deep sea
Vaccines for Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak are being developed, but none are ready yet
A decade after Ebola vaccines changed outbreak response, a new epidemic in central Africa is caused by a strain the world never fully prepared for
NASA’s Psyche captures gorgeous Mars crescent photo on way to asteroid
NASA’s Psyche snapped images as it flew by Mars last week. The spacecraft used the planet’s gravity to give itself a boost on its journey toward its target asteroid
The Colorado Avalanche is dominating the NHL—Denver’s high elevation could be the reason
Denver’s hockey team is studded with stars, but training and playing the game some 5,000 feet above sea level may give their athletic performance a boost over that of their rivals
NASA’s plan for a nuclear reactor on the moon could change space exploration forever—if it works
Nuclear power could enable long-term lunar missions, but NASA’s timeline may be too ambitious
Did the last common ancestor of humans and apes walk like a gorilla? A new study offers a clue
Some extinct human ancestors and modern-day apes appear to share wrist traits that raise the question of whether our last common ancestor walked on its knuckles
Pražští radní schválili nový územní plán
Radní hlavního města Prahy schválili návrh nového pražského územního plánu, který je v přípravě od roku 2012. Zastupitelé města o něm budou hlasovat 28. května. Takzvaný Metropolitní plán nahradí nynější územněplánovací dokument z roku 1999. Jde o klíčový dokument, který určuje,…
Extreme heat is breaking records in the East. Here’s why
A Bermuda high parked over the western Atlantic is pulling sweltering air up from the south, challenging records in parts of the eastern U.S.
The U.S. just experienced its hottest 12 months on record
March was a scorching 9.35 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the 20th-century average for the month, capping the hottest 12-month stretch for the U.S. since records began in 1895
SpaceX punts Starship V3 launch to May 21 as investigation opens into Starbase worker’s death
SpaceX is now targeting the evening of May 21 to launch the latest and largest version of its Starship megarocket for the first time
What it’s like being stuck in a hantavirus quarantine for six weeks
Scientific American spoke to one of the people who are currently being monitored for possible hantavirus infection at the National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska
‘Sensational’ proof topples decades-old geometry problem
The sudden resolution of a well-known conjecture highlights the growing adoption of AI as an assistant in high-level mathematics
New NASA Hubble image captures a rare, turbulent galaxy
The new image shows the galaxy NGC 1266, a transitional object with a clutch of young stars that likely collided with a smaller galaxy 500 million years ago
Scientists race to develop Ebola drugs as outbreak surges
Clinical trials for treatments against Ebola Bundibugyo virus are ‘in a strong position’ to be launched quickly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
Math puzzle: Fix the matchstick equation
Fix the matchstick equation in this math puzzle
Female beast hunters battled leopards in ancient Rome
Mosaic depictions of a weapon-wielding female gladiator are the first physical evidence showing women in ancient Rome could be skilled beast hunters
Science crossword: At the same time
Play this crossword inspired by the June 2026 issue of Scientific American
The Riemann hypothesis is a million-dollar math problem hardly anyone is trying to solve
The intimidating legacy of the scariest problem in mathematics
A real quantum leap
Sometimes science does make our world turn upside down
Quantum computing is reaching its make-or-break moment
Will computers based on quantum physics really change the world?
June 2026: Science history from 50, 100 and 150 years ago
Door-building spiders; a new quantum liquid
Which problems will quantum computers solve—and when?
Quantum computing could lead to revolutions in cryptography, materials design and telecommunications. But fulfilling those promises could be many years away
New high‑resolution map transforms what we know about Roman roads and the Roman Empire
A massive digitization project has nearly doubled the known extent of the first continent-scale road network
Readers respond to the February 2026 issue
Letters to the editors for the February 2026 issue of Scientific American
Poem: ‘Horseshoe Crab’
Science in meter and verse
A field guide to quantum computer qubits
Here are six ways to build a quantum computer
NASA dreams of a nuclear power plant on the moon. Here’s why
To build its moon base, NASA needs a lot of power
Helion Energy is building a fusion power plant. Can its technology deliver?
This company says its pulsed plasma machine will deliver electricity to the grid by 2029. Some physicists warn that its promises are outrunning what the technology has proved
How commercial satellites are changing modern warfare
Commercial satellites can now watch much of Earth in near-real time. Militaries are learning new ways to fool them
New ways to keep from losing muscle on Ozempic
Ozempic and just getting older take off muscle. New therapies could retain it
A lamp flickering on and off inspires the math mystery of Thomson’s lamp
If you switch a lamp on and off an infinite number of times, will the light end up on or off? Somehow math says both
Do Prahy dorazí izraelský ministr zahraničí Gideon Sa'ar
Do Česka v úterý přicestuje izraelský ministr zahraničí Gideon Sa'ar. Hlavní program čeká ministra ve středu, kdy bude v Praze jednat nejprve s šéfem české diplomacie Petrem Macinkou (Motoristé) a následně i s prezidentem Petrem Pavlem.
Ebola outbreak triggers U.S. ban on travelers from three African nations
At least six Americans are believed to have been exposed to the Ebola virus, and one person who appears to have contracted the virus has been evacuated to Germany
MHD mají některá města zdarma, nově to zavedou i Klatovy
Autobusy městské hromadné dopravy v Klatovech budou od července vozit všechny cestující zdarma. Radnice chystá optimalizaci veřejné dopravy a chce ji především zrychlit. Dosud si pasažéři kupovali jízdenku přímo u řidiče, což vzhledem k počtu zastávek přinášelo značné zdržení. MH…
Praha odstranila nebezpečnou skluzavku
Klouzačka na pražském dětském hřišti Okrouhlík stála šestnáct let. Před dvěma týdny se na ní ale zranilo dítě. Osmiletý chlapec má dva nalomené obratle. Městská část Praha 5 pak nechala skluzavku zavřít. Znalkyně nakonec uvedla, že klouzačka nebyla způsobilá k bezpečnému provozu,…
Historik Snyder se v Lucerně zamýšlel nad demokracií a autoritářstvím
Americký historik Timothy Snyder v rámci festivalu Svět knihy hovořil v pražské Lucerně. Zamýšlel se nad vztahem mezi Evropou, Amerikou a Ukrajinou a reflektoval současné dění z perspektivy křehké rovnováhy mezi demokracií a autoritářstvím.
Na D1 se utvořila kolona kamionů dlouhá přes padesát kilometrů
Na dálnici D1 před Brnem se ve směru od Prahy utvořila kolona kamionů přesahující padesát kilometrů. Důvodem je velmi vysoká intenzita nákladní dopravy v souvislosti se začínajícími státními svátky v Německu, uvedlo na sociální síti X Ředitelství silnic a dálnic (ŘSD). Provoz pod…
NS: K organizaci živé produkce je nutný souhlas nositelů autorských práv
Nejvyšší soud vyložil rozhodnutí o tom, koho lze považovat za provozovatele živého provedení díla podle autorského zákona. Podle rozhodnutí musí mít faktický organizátor živé kulturní produkce souhlas nositelů autorských práv, jinak odpovídá za neoprávněné užití díla a je povinen…