The large-scale structure of the universe was set by the tiniest of forces—quantum fluctuations—during the incredibly brief period of rapid expansion that occurred just after the Big Bang.

In this installment of the American Scientist lunchtime seminar series, Science by the Slice, Ryan Emanuel discusses his book, On the Swamp: Fighting for Indigenous Environmental Justice (2024, UNC Press).

Difficult conversations are everywhere—and they don’t have to cause harm. Behavioral scientists Emma Levine and Shereen Chaudhry share how honesty, empathy, and awareness can turn conflict into connection.

Creating small, portable radios had the unexpected outcome of influencing youth culture, as teenagers could now listen to their choice of music away from adult supervision.

A common problem is that we tend to try to fix problematic noise, rather than anticipating and addressing sound in our designs of buildings, cities, and products. Read more of K. Anthony Hoover's review:

Maintaining sensors on the oceanic floor is difficult and expensive, but monitoring remains vital for conducting research, mitigating risks, and measuring climate change and tectonic activity.

The most important statistic for any type of photovoltaic technology is the efficiency percentage by which it converts solar energy into electricity.

What makes temporal landmarks like the New Year so powerful when it comes to behavioral change? Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/3o0t...

What makes temporal landmarks like the New Year so powerful when it comes to behavioral change? Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/3o0t...

Catch up on the latest episode of "Wired for This," in which host Celia Ford interviews Paul A. O'Keefe, social psychologist and professor of organizational behavior at the University of Exeter Business School. Listen now: www.americanscientist.org/blog/from-th...

Curious minds, rejoice! The newest episode of "Wired for This" just dropped.

When Star Trek first aired in 1966, it posited a universe bursting with planetary possibilities—a bold move at a time before anyone knew of a single planet beyond our Solar System. Read more of Michael L. Wong's review of "Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact."

Understanding scientific explanation can help engineers frame what questions must be answered for the use of AI to be considered on strong scientific footing.

Thank you to all the scientists who sent in letters requested in our July-August issue. We're still accepting letters about why your science is important. Read more letters: buff.ly/giXAdsk

Curious minds, rejoice! The newest episode of "Wired for This" just dropped.

Woven between patient stories are Anand’s critiques of the medical establishment’s treatment of patients, from the language used in medical notes to the showmanship in which doctors have engaged. Read more of Dawn M. McBride's review now:

Catch up on the latest episode of "Wired for This," in which host Celia Ford interviews Paul A. O'Keefe, social psychologist and professor of organizational behavior at the University of Exeter Business School. Listen now: www.americanscientist.org/blog/from-th...

What exactly are mindsets? In this clip of “Wired for This,” Paul O’Keefe breaks down the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. #psychology #WFT Listen to the full episode here: www.americanscientist.org/blog/the-sci...

The tail muscles of seahorses differ from those of most other prehensile animals.

What drives us forward? What holds us back? How do we navigate a world full of contradiction + complexity? Check out "Wired for This"—a new podcast from @americanscientist.org exploring the psychology and neuroscience that shape our choices & behavior 🎙️ americanscientist.org/article/wired-for-this

Life's moments of kismet blow my mind. At the same time that my kid is struggling with transitioning to middle school, @americanscientist.org drops a podcast about growth mindsets. Check out the first episode of our new podcast series, Wired for This! www.americanscientist.org/blog/from-th...

I wrote a review of Keith Cooper's new book "Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact" for @americanscientist.org!

Thank you to all the scientists who sent in letters requested in our July-August issue. We're still accepting letters about why your science is important. We've pulled a quote from Amanda Brock Morales at University of North Carolina at Charlotte: www.americanscientist.org/article/my-s...

The rules of baseball are quite particular, but the regulations governing the shape of Major League Baseball (MLB) parks are surprisingly flexible.

Have you listened to the first episode of our latest "Wired for This" series yet? Meet the host, Celia Ford. Celia interviewed Paul O'Keefe, a social psychologist and professor of organizational behavior at the University of Exeter Business School.

🧠 New from the American Scientist Podcast: Wired for This — exploring the psychology and neuroscience of how we think, believe, change, and connect. 🎙

Scientific institutions and societies need to have a stronger focus and develop new standards for protecting their affiliated scientists who might experience such threats.

Hosted by journalist and former neuroscientist Celia Ford, "Wired for This" features interviews with scientists, including Paul O’Keefe, whose research explores how psychological barriers influence the goals people pursue and their potential to achieve them.

Those who have cochlear implants are not new to feeling a lack of engagement in the media they consume on a day-to-day basis.

At first glance, art and science might look like disparate fields, but on the contrary: Art and science have long been blended in various and sometimes unexpected ways, from Leonardo da Vinci to The Studio at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Sex is not binary. Presenting male and female as the only two possible sex categories ignores the diversity of humans and other organisms, and it erases intersex people.

If you could go anywhere within the Solar System, Milky Way, or deep space, where would you go? Check out an excerpt from "111 Places in Space That You Must Not Miss" to see the places we chose.

Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter mapped the botany of the Grand Canyon, but their adventure down the Colorado River has largely gone unnoticed. Melissa L. Sevigny’s book, "Brave the Wild River," changes that. www.americanscientist.org/blog/from-th...

Ultrahigh-temperature ceramics (UHTCs) combine the hardness and high melting temperatures of ceramics with the electrical and thermal conductivity associated with metals.

Although scientists have developed effective drugs to treat and prevent HIV infections, the virus continues to mutate, requiring new drugs that are active against these mutations.

Mineral-laden water, heated by magma deep within the Earth, flows out of the sea floor from chimney-like structures called black smokers. Microbes convert the fluid into energy through chemosynthesis, the microbial process of creating sugars from chemical reactions.

HIV’s stealth strategy: - Inserts its genome into the cell’s DNA. - Uses the cell to make viral RNA & proteins. - Builds & releases mature virus particles. A microscopic hijacking, step by step. 🧬🦠

"Support Scientists Who Stand Up" by Michael E. Mann & Peter Hotez ( @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social) | An excerpt for @americanscientist.org from our forthcoming book #ScienceUnderSiege: www.americanscientist.org/article/supp...

Unlike other senses, smell bypasses the thalamus and makes a beeline to brain areas governing emotion and memory.

Our latest @michaelemann.bsky.social @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social in @americanscientist.org ahead of the Sept 9 release of our book #scienceundersiege www.americanscientist.org/article/supp...

How researchers respond to errors and retractions in their work can affect their professional reputations. Transparency is key to overcoming the stigma of retractions.

The discovery of the 167-million-year-old trackways at the remote shoreline, combined with advanced imaging techniques, has revealed an ancient hub of Jurassic dinosaur activity.

Craig Childs muses on the significance of dark skies in his newest book.

Karen C. Seto is an expert in satellite remote sensing analysis and has pioneered methods to reconstruct historical land use.

American Scientist has won four Apex Awards! Congratulations to the authors and editors. 🏆

Robert Macfarlane’s newest book explores intersections between these waterways and the larger ecosystem.

Before hitting Earth, rocks traveling through space are generally referred to as asteroids, meteoroids, or comets, depending on their size and composition. If a piece of one of these objects makes it all the way to Earth, it becomes a meteorite.

Hosted by journalist and former neuroscientist Celia Ford, "Wired for This" features interviews with scientists, including Paul O’Keefe, whose research explores how psychological barriers influence the goals people pursue and their potential to achieve them.

The obligation of the engineer includes the promise to be meticulous in practice, to persevere in design challenges, and to hold the line against failure as best as humanly possible.

Sigma Xi's @americanscientist.org publication has won 4 Apex Awards for publication excellence! Congratulations to the writers, editors, and entire publication team. FULL STORY: apexawards.com