Insects and other small creatures were a favorite subject of early modern European naturalists.

What causes auroras?

Planned missions to Mars and other destinations beyond the Earth−Moon system will face considerably greater radiation risks than past missions.

A new class of origami has potential applications for medical implants and space structures.

The study of robotics from a philosophical perspective requires that we ask what defines both life and personhood, to make the prescientific idea of anima or vital spirit more precise.

For more than half a century, messenger RNA (mRNA) was relegated to the shadows of molecular biology. This humble courier of genetic instructions received little attention outside of biology classrooms and research labs. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic.

A research group at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, has built upon the foundational work of Yoshimura and others using advanced mathematical and computer models.

Vaccines based on messenger RNA (mRNA) are nearly always administered by injection. But what if mRNA therapeutics could instead be packed into pills?

@americanscientist.org calls GIRLS PLAY DEAD by @jenpercy.bsky.social "a much-needed exploration of the ways in which women survive trauma and carry it with them (physically and psychologically), along with how fear shapes behavior." www.americanscientist.org/blog/science...

Thank you, @americanscientist.org and Barbara Aulicino, for including Lab Dog in your Science Book Gift Guide! 🩶 #booksky, #dogs, #animals, #animalresearch 💙📚

The words on the computer screen blur into a tapestry of human struggle. Housing evictions. Missed medical appointments because of a lack of transportation. Histories of trauma creating barriers to trust.

Still hunting for that perfect last-minute gift? Our staff rounded up the STEM reads they can’t put down—discover your next brilliant pick.

How can we detect misinformation when it comes from people trust?

If you’ve ever wondered whether a sheep could donate skin to a human, or whether a colon could moonlight as a vagina, Mary Roach has answers for you.

Save the date! #GivingTuesday is December 2nd! Make your first gift of the holiday season one that supports science and students. Your gift fuels discovery, empowers students, and strengthens science for society and the greater good. Learn more: https://ow.ly/RcBQ50Xxb7W

In his new book, Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, Jeffrey Kluger—perhaps best known as the coauthor of Apollo 13, the book that served as the basis for the movie by the same name—provides a thorough history of NASA’s Gemini program.

Author Cutter Wood is not a scientist. He’s not a physician, duty bound to sometimes ask about these bodily products. He’s a guy with an MFA and an interest in these gross bodily outputs—mucus, stool, blood, breath, and flatus.

The human immune system is a marvel of complexity, coordinating the activities of many different cell types to try to protect the body from invaders.

Contradictory findings persist in social sciences, undermining validity, reliability, and public trust in research. Practices such as open science cannot fully address this problem.

For most of human history, it was common for societies to have flexible social hierarchies and practices. This adaptability allowed humans to thrive in different environments.

A century ago, The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes trial kicked off what is now thought of as America’s 100-year culture war centering on evolution and creationism.

A patient with serious heart disease might go without noticeable symptoms for a long time.

Detecting the Dark Ages signal could help answer some of the biggest questions in cosmology, such as the nature of dark energy and the origin of the large-scale structure.

People have witnessed masting since time immemorial; after all, it's pretty obvious when you're tripping over nuts strewn all over the path some years and you find barely one or two in others.

Adult ADHD diagnoses have become more common as the definition of the condition has broadened. However, treatment of “light ADHD” does not constitute overdiagnosis.

Cognitive science meets the classroom. We're talking with Dr. Dan Willingham—psychologist, professor, and author of Why Don’t Students Like School?—about what it really means to think for yourself in today’s world. 🎧 From "Wired for This" — full episode available now!

The Great Green Wall is an ambitious project to cultivate the Sahel region, which separates the dry Sahara Desert in North Africa from the wet savannas in Central Africa.

One thing that can make public discourse feel biased, polarized, or hostile, is our tendency to connect with people who already share our values. "Wired For This" is now streaming! open.spotify.com/episode/0vPV...

We’ve alluded to it already, but digital technology is fundamentally changing how we take in and process information. This is a relatively new field of research, but scientists like Jason have already made some surprising observations. Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/0vPV...

David Baron’s newest book explores how Mars captivated Americans in the early 20th century.

Why does some information seem to "stick," while other things seem to go in one ear and out the other? Listen to the most recent episode of "Wired for This" now: open.spotify.com/episode/0vPV...

Messor ibericus ant queens can clone males of another species (M. structor) as a colony survival strategy.

It’s one of the great sorrows and mysteries of our species: How humans are so adept at assuming our independence and superiority, and how easily we forget that partnerships with the rest of the living world not only exist, but are essential to our very survival.

Flatworms encompass a wide array of species, but one especially intriguing group is the planarians. These worms are found in various habitats, largely in freshwater and saltwater, but some have also adapted to land.

Psychiatrists began testing whether psychedelic drugs, such as LSD and mescaline, could be used to treat mental health conditions in the mid-20th century.

The cosmic microwave background (CMB), relic radiation from 380,000 years after the Big Bang, is our oldest record of temperature and density conditions from the universe’s infancy.

Technology is not just changing, it's transforming the way we take in and process information. 🔊 In this episode, Jason Lodge and Philipp Lorenz-Spreen discuss how we consume, process, and share information, and how these practices are changing due to our relationships with technology.

With the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the first known exoplanet around a Sun-like star coming up next week, my book Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science fact is a great primer on all things exoplanets, and how we interpret them through science fiction.

In the most recent episode of “Wired for This,” Shereen Chaudhry shares how we can convey sincerity to skeptical listeners. Listen to the full episode here: open.spotify.com/episode/7bjB...

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.

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...