Film & Series
As drug deaths hit five-year low, Trump continues to cite fentanyl as major threat
Brian Mann Drug deaths in the U.S. have plunged dramatically and steadily since the summer of 2023, according to the latest preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Figures released this month by CDC show fatal overdoses falling to 77,648 in the 12-month period ending in March of this year. That’s…
Type 1 Diabetes Patient’s Insulin Production Restored with New Cell Transplant Therapy
New Cell Transplant for Type 1 Diabetes Sidesteps Need for Immunosuppressants Scientists treated a person’s type 1 diabetes with genetically modified insulin-producing cells that evaded immune system attacks. This is the first therapy for the condition that does not require immunosuppressant drugs By Humberto Basilio edited by Lauren J. Young Insulin-producing cells can be genetically…
Middle schoolers are lauded for protecting younger kids during church shooting
By Bill Chappell , Liz Baker When gunfire shattered a routine Mass marking the first week of class at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, middle school students were among those who acted heroically, according to an emergency official, a principal and a parent whose children attend the school. As a lone shooter carried out a…
Tropical Storm, Typhoon, and More—Your Guide to Hurricane Season Jargon
Hurricane Science Has a Lot of Jargon—Here’s What It All Means Everything you need to know about hurricanes explained By Meghan Bartels edited by Andrea Thompson Eye of Hurricane Ian as the storm headed towards South Carolina. When hurricane season is in full swing, the news can be difficult to parse. What’s the difference between…
CDC director is out after less than a month; other agency leaders resign
By The Associated Press NEW YORK — The director of the nation’s top public health agency is out after less than one month in the job, and several top agency leaders have resigned. Officials did not explain why Susan Monarez was no longer with the agency, but her lawyers said she was targeted for standing…
Deep-Sea Nodules May Produce Oxygen—Raising Concerns over Ocean Mining
Mining the Deep Sea Could Threaten a Source of Ocean Oxygen Deep-sea rocks packed with valuable metals may also be making oxygen in the deep, dark ocean—raising new questions about the cost of mining them. By Rachel Feltman, Jeffery DelViscio & Alex Sugiura Clare Fieseler’s and Jason Jaacks’ reporting Pulitzer Center and co-published with the…
Whatever happened to our sibling series? It’s back! And guess who’s the heir apparent
By Benazir Samad Our series “The Science of Siblings” last year was immensely popular, tackling questions that many a sibling has pondered. How do you get siblings to be nicer to each other? Why is it that siblings may have weird traits in common? How do siblings remember — and make peace with — childhood…
Texas company pleads guilty to 2021 construction worker trench death
By Josh Peck A Texas construction company that was one of scores across the country whose employees have died after trenches they were working in collapsed, reached a plea deal Tuesday with prosecutors. Austin-based D Guerra Construction LLC agreed to plead guilty in connection with the death of Juan José Galvan Batalla, 24, of Bastrop,…
Microplastics Could Be Creating Dangerous Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Microplastics Could Be Turning Bacteria into Drug-Resistant Superbugs Microplastics are seemingly everywhere—and now growing research suggests they could be breeding grounds for drug-resistant bacteria By Marta Zaraska edited by Lauren J. Young For bacteria, microplastics are the perfect meetup spot—tiny, intimate surfaces where microbes can cling, huddle close and swap genes. And these crowded bacterial…
DNC chair says he’s tired of Democrats bringing ‘pencil to a knife fight’
Stephen Fowler MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin says President Trump is a “dictator-in-chief” whose agenda is “fascism dressed in a red tie” and his party must fight back against his policies. “Now look, folks, I’m sick and tired of this Democratic party bringing a pencil to a knife fight,” Martin said.…
Attendees could be in for thunderstorms, dust and hail at this year’s Burning Man
By Ayana Archie People descending on the Nevada desert for this year’s Burning Man event are being met with dust and wind, which could continue over the next few days. The event started Sunday in the Black Rock Desert, about 100 miles north of Reno, Nev. It is “not a festival,” but a “global cultural…
180 Years of Scientific American Means 180-Degree Turns in Science—Here Are Some of the Wildest Ones
Scientific American Celebrates 180 Years with Stories of Scientific U-turns In honor of SciAm’s 180th birthday, we’re spotlighting the biggest “wait, what?” moments in science history. By Rachel Feltman, Jeffery DelViscio & Alex Sugiura Drawings of Mars showing its ‘canals’ and polar ice caps in drawings created from observations made at the Lowell Observatory in…
Is Edinburgh’s Fringe still fringe, or has it — gasp — gone mainstream?
Lauren Frayer EDINBURGH, Scotland — For decades, devotees repeated rumors in hushed reverence about starving artists sleeping in bathtubs, out of dedication to the Fringe — one of the world’s biggest theater and comedy festivals. Now they deride and local residents for cashing in and renting out those mythical bathtubs. Fringe dates back to 1947,…
Dinner or a shower? Elderly people fear tough choices when Australia’s new aged care changes are rolled out
Advocates warn increased costs for basic assistance like showers and wound cleaning will push older people into aged care or hospital Margaret Duckett is scared for her friends. The 77-year-old pensioner is the recipient of a home care package – which allows her to get support with cleaning, gardening, transport, physiotherapy and podiatry – and…
How to Understand Hurricane Forecasts and the Cone of Uncertainty
How to Decode a Hurricane Forecast Hurricane forecasts feature a “cone of uncertainty,” but what is it actually showing? Scientific American breaks it down for you By Andrea Thompson If you’ve ever taken even a cursory glance at a hurricane forecast, you’ve seen some version of the “cone of uncertainty.” It sounds like some other-dimensional…
New Treatments for Peanut Allergies Offer Hope—Despite Lingering Questions
The Mystery of America’s Peanut Allergy Surge—And the Promising Science behind New Treatments Peanut allergies more than tripled in U.S. kids between the late 1990s and late 2000s, and the prevalence has risen even more since then. Scientists are still searching for answers—and new ways to treat them. By Rachel Feltman, Jeffery DelViscio, Fonda Mwangi…
How AI Chatbots May Be Fueling Psychotic Episodes
Truth, Romance and the Divine: How AI Chatbots May Fuel Psychotic Thinking A new wave of delusional thinking fueled by artificial intelligence has researchers investigating the dark side of AI companionship By Conor Feehly edited by Allison Parshall You are consulting with an artificial intelligence chatbot to help plan your holiday. Gradually, you provide it…
Will a Lunar Impact in 2032 Cause a Meteor Storm?
The UniverseFridays If This Asteroid Hits the Moon, Watch for Shooting Stars and Stricken Satellites The 60-meter asteroid 2024 YR4 has a 4 percent chance of hitting the moon. Could such a lunar collision create a dangerous new meteor shower? By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings This artist’s concept shows a small meteoroid striking…
Smithsonian artists and scholars respond to White House list of objectionable art
Mandalit del Barco The list of objectionable content comes a week after White House officials sent a letter asking eight of the Smithsonian’s museums to submit their current and future plans for exhibitions, social media content and other material. The institution’s director Lonnie Bunche was told it had 120 days to comply for what the…
One civilian injured in crash with D.C. National Guard military vehicle
Luke Garrett A National Guard military vehicle crashed into a car in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning, injuring the driver. The incident comes after President Trump ordered hundreds of Guard troops to the District as a part of his D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. The Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle (MATV) — a military…
Swimmers are warned to avoid East Coast beaches as Hurricane Erin moves north
By Joe Hernandez Federal forecasters are warning people to avoid beaches along the East Coast as Hurricane Erin moves north and slams much of the shoreline with dangerous waves and other severe weather. Though the massive storm was roughly 365 miles from Cape Hatteras, N.C., as of 11 a.m. ET, the effects of Erin will…
Too much to pack, not enough hugs: A Kenyan man’s last 48 hours in America
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán LANSING, Mich. — Five suitcases are scattered around Samuel Kangethe’s living room in his home in West Lansing, a neighborhood lined with tall trees and big front yards in Michigan’s capital. Clothes mixed with finance and accounting books, and somewhere in the chaos are his Air Jordan sneakers. “I just want to take…
Ex-Israel military intelligence chief said 50,000 Gaza deaths ‘necessary’
By Itay Stern TEL AVIV, Israel — Leaked audio recordings broadcast Friday reveal remarks by Israel’s former chief of military intelligence about the price he believed Palestinians should pay for Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The tape recordings, aired by Israel’s Channel 12 TV, captured former Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva saying in Hebrew, “The fact…
Jesse Metcalfe Addresses Rumored Desperate Housewives Cast Drama
Jesse Metcalfe admitted that he was completely “oblivious” to any behind-the-scenes drama between his Desperate Housewives costars—including Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman and creator Marc Cherry. Jesse Metcalfe was desperately unaware of any on-set drama. Indeed, the Desperate Housewives alum insisted he was “oblivious” to the rumored tension between his costars—including Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman, Nicollette…
A Male Birth Control Pill Moves to the Next Clinical Trial Stage
This Hormone-Free Pill Could Finally Expand Birth Control Options for Men A new hormone-free birth control pill that reversibly stops sperm production has passed its first safety trial in humans, offering hope for more reversible contraceptive options. By Rachel Feltman, Hannah Seo, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m…
What Is Experimental Archaeology? Sam Kean Explores Ancient Tools, Surgeries and Feasts in Dinner with King Tut
Sam Kean’s New Book Dinner with King Tut Explores the Wild World of Experimental Archaeology In his new book, Sam Kean reveals how re-creating ancient tools, techniques and traditions can unlock secrets about how our ancestors lived—and what they felt. By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly,…
Human Embryo Implantation Revealed in First-Ever 3D Images
First 3D Images of Human Embryo Implantation Reveal New Details of the Process Analyzing embryo movements in uteruslike environments could offer clues to improving the success rate of in vitro fertilization By Humberto Basilio edited by Lauren J. Young Confocal microscopy image of a nine-day-old human embryo. Specific proteins and cellular structures have been coloured…
With replay review and ‘robot umps,’ who is still trying to become an MLB umpire?
Becky Sullivan MILWAUKEE — To baseball umpires, timing matters. By the time registration opened at 8 a.m., more than 100 aspiring professional umpires had already arrived at the Milwaukee Brewers ballpark for Major League Baseball’s one-day umpire camp. These camps are, for a lucky few, the first step toward a career as an MLB umpire.…
Trump Order Would Give Political Appointees Power over Science Funding Decisions
Trump Order Gives Political Appointees Vast Powers over Research Grants Researchers are alarmed that an expansive executive order issued by President Donald Trump might upend a long-standing tradition of peer-review for grants By Dan Garisto & Nature magazine US President Donald Trump issued an expansive executive order (EO) yesterday that would centralize power and upend…
How This AI Breakthrough with Pure Mathematics and Reinforcement Learning Could Help Predict Future Crises
How an Unsolved Math Problem Could Train AI to Predict Crises Years in Advance An artificial intelligence breakthrough uses reinforcement learning to tackle the Andrews-Curtis conjecture, solving long-standing counterexamples and hinting at tools for forecasting stock crashes, diseases and climate disasters By Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Dean Visser & Clara Moskowitz Imagine knowing that…
Taylor Swift Announces New Album on Travis Kelce’s Podcast
Taylor Swift announced her new album The Life of a Showgirl during her first appearance on boyfriend Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast for the Aug. 13 episode. Taylor Swift‘s album announcements will never go out of style. While making her debut on boyfriend Travis Kelce and brother Jason Kelce‘s New Heights podcast…
The Perseid Meteor Shower Is Peaking. Here’s How to Watch
How to Watch the Year’s Best Meteor Shower, the Perseids The Perseids are the best annual meteor shower, but this year’s show will be dimmed by a bright gibbous moon By Clara Moskowitz edited by Meghan Bartels Join Our Community of Science Lovers! One of the best annual meteor showers, the Perseid meteor shower, is…
Canada wildfire season already second worst on record as experts warn of ‘new reality’
More than 470 Canadian fires classified as ‘out of control’ as scientists say climate change exacerbating the burning With hundreds of wildfires burning out of control, Canada’s 2025 fire season is already the second-worst on record, as scientists report climate change is prolonging and exacerbating the burning, leading to more destruction, evacuations and smoke-filled skies.…
Growing pains: can rice production in Africa keep up with demand?
Africa Rice initiative aims to give farmers more control over their land in order to reduce flooding and increase yields Salmata Ouattara remembers 2023 as the turning point for her rice farm. June is usually the peak of the rainy season in Ivory Coast, but in the preceding years she and other farmers in M’Be…
Congressman Eric Sorensen on Defending Climate Science, Depoliticizing Weather and Bringing Scientific Rigor to Capitol Hill
By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Jeffery DelViscio & Alex Sugiura Representative Eric Sorensen of Illinois. Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Representative Eric Sorensen of Illinois spent 22 years forecasting the weather on television before winning his congressional seat in 2022. He now finds himself defending scientific agencies from unprecedented attacks…
Trump orders colleges to share admissions data, with an eye on affirmative action
Cory Turner President Trump signed a presidential memorandum Thursday requiring colleges and universities to submit expanded admissions data to the U.S. Department of Education. The move is the latest salvo in the administration’s fight against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and is intended to reveal if schools are still preferencing race in admissions even…
Video shows Department of Justice official urging Jan. 6 rioters to ‘kill’ cops
Tom Dreisbach Police bodycam footage introduced at the trial of Jared Wise showed him berating police officers on Jan. 6, 2021 and yelling “kill ’em” as rioters attacked law enforcement. Less than five years after urging rioters to “kill” police at the Capitol, a former Jan. 6 defendant is working as a senior adviser for…
NASA Budget Cuts Could Halt Space Missions, Climate Research, Experts Warn
NASA Faces Deep Budget Cuts—Every Living Former Science Chief of the Agency Is Sounding the Alarm NASA faces historic budget cuts that could shutter missions and stall vital research, prompting a bipartisan outcry from all of the agency’s living former science chiefs. By Rachel Feltman, Lee Billings, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura & Jeffery DelViscio Rachel…
NASA Boosts Plans for Nuclear Reactor on the Moon
NASA’s Plan for a Nuclear Reactor on the Moon Could Be a Lunar Land Grab Spurred by competition from China and Russia, the Trump administration is pushing for nuclear power on the moon by 2030 By Lee Billings edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier NASA’s acting administrator Sean Duffy testifies during a congressional hearing on July…
India snatch victory to draw dramatic Test series against England
This video can not be played India win dramatic final Test by six runs to clinch series draw Fifth Rothesay Test, The Kia Oval (day five of five) India 224 (Nair 57, Atkinson 5-33, Tongue 3-57) & 396 (Jaiswal 118; Tongue 5-125) England 247 (Crawley 64; Krishna 4-62, Siraj 4-86) & 367 (Brook 111, Root…
U.S. Nuclear Energy Policy Could Accelerate Weapons Proliferation
Opinion U.S. Nuclear Energy Plans Could Proliferate Weapons By Alan J. Kuperman Recent events in Iran demonstrate that dropping “bunker buster” bombs on nuclear plants is not an ideal, or even necessarily effective, way to prevent proliferation. It is far preferable to prevent the spread of nuclear-weapon-usable technologies in the first place. A simplistic way…
Loni Anderson, star of hit TV series ‘WKRP in Cincinnati,’ dies at 79
By The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday. Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan. “We are heartbroken to…
Lebanon mourns beloved artist Ziad Rahbani
By Michael Levitt Lebanon has lost one of its most beloved artists, the playwright and musician Ziad Rahbani. SARAH MCCAMMON, HOST: Lebanon this week mourned the passing of one of its most beloved artists. Musician and playwright Ziad Rahbani died a week ago. NPR’s Michael Levitt has this remembrance. (SOUNDBITE OF ZIAD RAHBANI SONG, “ANA…
Miniature Neutrino Detector Catches Elusive Particles at Nuclear Reactor
Miniature Neutrino Detector Promises to Test the Laws of Physics A relatively small detector caught neutrinos from a nuclear reactor using a technique known as coherent scattering By Davide Castelvecchi & Nature magazine A nuclear power plant in Liebstadt, Switzerland, hosted the CONUS+ neutrino detector. Physicists have caught neutrinos from a nuclear reactor using a…
Anthropic’s Claude 4 Chatbot Suggests It Might Be Conscious
Claude 4 Chatbot Raises Questions about AI Consciousness A conversation with Anthropic’s chatbot raises questions about how AI talks about awareness. By Rachel Feltman, Deni Ellis Béchard, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Today we’re going to talk about an AI chatbot that appears to believe…
Wednesday Cast Reveals What Goes Down in the Show’s 18 Group Chats
Wednesday’s Emma Myers and Joy Sunday detailed the cast’s close bond in an exclusive interview with E! News—and what they talk about in their many group chats. Despite their altogether ooky demeanors onscreen, the Wednesday cast have a lot of love to give. In fact, the stars of the Netflix series, including Jenna Ortega, Emma…
Why Do Allergens Make Us Cough and Sneeze?
Allergens May Make Us Cough and Sneeze by Poking Holes in Airway Cells The immune system senses damage to cell membranes caused by pore-forming proteins and mounts a response By Rachel Fieldhouse & Nature magazine Join Our Community of Science Lovers! The sneezing, itchy eyes and coughing elicited by some allergens are caused by proteins…
4 Science Book Recommendations We Loved Reading in July
What Books Scientific American Read in July Check out Scientific American’s fiction and nonfiction book recommendations for July By Brianne Kane edited by Andrea Gawrylewski July 2025 has been a sweltering month, but we at Scientific American have still squeezed in some fun in the sun and a hot dog or two, all while choosing…
What makes a tsunami — and what to do if one comes
Michal Ruprecht Tsunami alerts lit up Siri Zama’s phone on Tuesday. The 28-year-old high school teacher in Kapolei, Hawaii, fled inland. “It was raining, and the clouds got real dark. It was just a little scary. I was a little worried because everyone from here was stressing,” Zama recalled. Those stress-inducing alerts had been triggered…
Jimmy Hoffa vanished 50 years ago. The unsolved mystery and his legend endure
Don Gonyea His full name is James Riddle Hoffa. But everyone knew him as Jimmy. A labor leader who thrived in the rough and tumble world of union organizing, of contracts, and picket lines… and of standing up for workers right no matter what. When he disappeared it was front page news. But how many…
Hurricane Forecasters Keep Access to Threatened Defense Department Satellite Data
Hurricane Forecasters Keep Crucial Satellite Data Online after Threatened Cuts By Andrea Thompson edited by Jeanna Bryner Infrared satellite imagery of Hurricane Otis compared with microwave imagery of the storm in October 2023. In the later view, the center of the storm is more visible and indicates the hurricane was strengthening. Microwave satellite imagery helped…
See Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids Meteor Showers This Summer
Summer Meteor Showers, Short Summer Days and Ancient Arthropods Set your alarm on Wednesday to see some of the summer’s stunning meteor showers. By Rachel Feltman & Fonda Mwangi Rachel Feltman: Happy Monday, listeners! For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. It’s been a while, but we’re finally back with our usual science news…
Immigrants in the US illegally fight the Trump administration’s new no-bail policy
By Tovia Smith A class action lawsuit has been filed challenging the Trump administration’s new policy requiring immigrants illegally in the U.S. who are arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remain in detention while fighting their deportation. It’s an abrupt reversal of long-standing practice of allowing individuals who are deemed not a flight risk…
Male Birth Control Pill YCT-529 Passes Human Safety Test
First Hormone-Free Male Birth Control Pill Shown Safe in Early Human Trial A hormone-free pill, called YCT-529, that temporarily stops sperm production by blocking a vitamin A metabolite has just concluded its first safety trial in humans, getting a step closer to increasing male contraceptive options By Hannah Seo edited by Lauren J. Young Photo…
Nonfiction and Fiction Summer Reading Recommendations from Scientific American
Bring These Scientific American–Recommended Books to the Beach This Summer If you’re seeking a summer read, Scientific American has some fantastic fiction and notable nonfiction to recommend. By Rachel Feltman, Brianne Kane, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. You might not know this, but Scientific American…
Heat Dome’s Extreme Heat and Humidity Triggers Alerts across Eastern U.S.
Millions Swelter under Relentless Heat Dome Smothering Eastern U.S. High humidity and low overnight temperatures will put tens of millions of people under heat alerts over the course of the coming week By Meghan Bartels edited by Clara Moskowitz HeatRisk forecast for July 27, 2025. The NWS HeatRisk is an experimental color-numeric-based index that provides…
What Scientists on Greenland’s Ice Sheet Are Learning about Our Changing Climate
What It’s Like to Live and Work on the Greenland Ice Sheet Think: subzero temperatures, bone-rattling storms and mysteries about the future of our planet under the ice. By Jeffery DelViscio & Rachel Feltman Barbara Olg Hild, the polar bear guard, stands in the GreenDrill camp during a blizzard that lasted for two straight days.…
Review – Green Arrow #26: Drugged
Ray: Chris Condon’s second arc dials back the clock to one of the darkest chapters of Green Arrow’s history – Roy Harper’s addiction, and the horrible way Ollie reacted when he found him shooting up in that infamous issue. Now, Roy’s seemingly relapsed – being found unconscious in an alley, in a coma, after a…
Trump’s EPA now says greenhouses gases don’t endanger people
Jeff Brady The Trump administration wants to overturn a key 2009 Environmental Protection Agency finding that underpins much of the federal government’s actions to rein in climate change. The EPA has crafted a proposal that would undo the government’s ‘endangerment finding,’ a determination that pollutants from burning fossil fuels, such as carbon dioxide and methane,…
Get in the Game With ‘Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV’
When it launched last October, Super Mario Party Jamboree quickly became my family’s go-to for competitive multiplayer, not to mention a series favorite for Mario Party’s special brand of digital boardgame tomfoolery. Fast forward nine months, and Jamboree is back with fresh features, new mini-game types, and a much longer name. Super Mario Party Jamboree…
How effective is ‘precooling’ your home during off-peak hours? It depends
By Ayana Archie Heat waves have swept through much of the U.S. already this summer, breaking temperature records, straining power grids and buckling roads. And a long-lasting heat dome is set to bake much of the country’s midsection in triple-digit temperatures in the coming days, according to AccuWeather. And when the heat is on, so…
Review – Absolute Batman #10: Locked in Ark M
Ray: Scott Snyder has been writing DC Comics for so long that it’s hard to remember that he used to be very well-known as a hard-boiled horror writer. So he likes to remind us occasionally – Severed, Night of the Ghoul, and Dark Spaces: Dungeon are some of the most disturbing comics I’ve ever read.…
Review – Absolute Flash #5: Heating Up
Ray: The Absolute line continues to have an unparalleled creative record, as just about every issue is phenomenal. That’s definitely the case for this issue, as Wally West faces his largest-scale threat ever – but it may not be a villain at all. Last issue saw the runaway teenager still struggling to master his powers…
Review – Superman Unlimited #3: Krypto vs. Kryptonite
Ray: With the new wave of Kryptonite on Earth, everything has gotten more dangerous for the Super-family – and that includes the best boy on Earth. This issue focuses on Krypto – not just in the new paradigm, but looking back at his time on Earth. I did notice that this Krypto seems to be…
Toronto film festival: Angelina Jolie, Saoirse Ronan and Keanu Reeves lead lineup
The 50th edition of the Canadian film festival will also feature world premieres starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Sydney Sweeney and Matthew McConaughey World premieres starring Angelina Jolie, Saoirse Ronan and Keanu Reeves lead this year’s lineup for the Toronto film festival. The 50th edition of the festival will again feature a string of films hoping to…
Review – Batman: Detective Comics #1099 – Who Wants to Live Forever?
Ray: The search for Elixir has led Batman and Harvey Bullock abroad – where they picked up an unlikely ally in the Penguin. This is a great team-up – you have one hero, one slightly corrupt cop, and one villain with the exact same goal – to get to the heart of this multi-national conspiracy…
AI Weather Forecasts Missed the Texas Floods, and Trump NOAA Cuts Will Stymie Research
AI Couldn’t Forecast the Texas Floods The Trump administration wants to reduce the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s budget by $2.2 billion, eliminating research that might help advance AI weather models By Chelsea Harvey & E&E News A man looks at a damaged road after severe flash flooding that occurred during the July 4 holiday…
‘The Ellyrian Code:’ A Book Review
Academy fantasy is all the rage these days, and it’s easy to see why. They offer compelling, coming-of-age stories, filled with personal rivalry and conflict. You can have all the action without needing to write any complex geopolitics. The Ellyrian Code is a new addition to the genre, and, as it has dragons too, it…
Cosmic Explorer, Laser Breakthroughs and the Next Generation of Gravitational-Wave Research
The LIGO Lab Is Pushing the Boundaries of Gravitational-Wave Research After 10 years of gravitational-wave research, the LIGO Lab team at MIT is getting ready for the next generation of detectors. By Rachel Feltman, Naeem Amarsy, Jeffery DelViscio & Alex Sugiura Host Rachel Feltman with Matthew Evans, MIT’s MathWorks professor of physics. Rachel Feltman: For…
Cuts to public media will smash budgets of some local radio stations
Frank Langfitt DUNMORE, West Virginia — When President Trump pushed to slash federal funding for public media, he said a key reason was because he thinks PBS and NPR are politically biased. But some of those hardest hit by Congress’ decision last week to clawback $1.1 billion in federal funds are small radio operations that…
Dropout.tv’s Brennan Lee Mulligan Brings Dungeons and Dragons to the Masses
The Surprising Science of Dungeons and Dragons Dropout.tv’s Brennan Lee Mulligan talks about the emotional and cultural importance of Dungeons and Dragons. By Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Last April I spent a harrowing hour of my life trying to get…
Can You Drink Saturn’s Rings?
The UniverseFridays Can You Drink Saturn’s Rings? It’s certainly possible to consume water sourced from the icy rings of Saturn, but doing so safely may require extra steps By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings Saturn’s rings are mostly composed of chunks of water ice—but that doesn’t mean you could easily drink from them. Stay…
Should you buy it? If you answer ‘yes’ to these questions, probably not
By Marielle Segarra , Malaka Gharib Many of us know the old adage to save money: Buy what you need, not what you want. But even when money is tight, it’s a hard rule to follow. It’s OK to buy what you want every now and then, but the key is to be intentional, says…
Love Is Blind Season 9 Premiere Date Revealed
After the most recent season of Love Is Blind ended in March, the Netflix show has revealed its next premiere date. See every detail about the upcoming season nine. It’s nearly time to get back in the pods. Netflix recently announced its next string of reality show premieres, the ninth installment of Love Is Blind…
Review – Zatanna #6: The Final Curtain
Ray: Jamal Campbell’s solo writer-artist debut has been characterized by brilliant art and a dense but coherent story, but it’s also adding one key thing to Zatanna’s mythos – our first look at her mother Sindella and her role in Zatanna’s upbringing. In most versions, she dies very early and Zatanna’s father plays a much…
CBS will end ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ next year
Mandalit del Barco While taping his Thursday show, host Stephen Colbert made the surprising announcement that CBS is ending his late night show in May. The live audience at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater booed when he delivered the news that this would be the show’s final season. “Yeah, I share your feelings,” he told…
Review – Batman and Robin: Year One #9 – War at Castle Grimaldi
Ray: I was surprised when this series turned into an ongoing – after all, how much mileage can Waid and Samnee get out of the early days of Dick Grayson’s time as Robin? It turns out the answer is – a lot. A big part of this is that they have some really good villains…
Trump announces weapons for Ukraine and threatens Russia with tariffs
By Charles Maynes MOSCOW — President Trump on Monday threatened to punish Russia with heavy tariffs on countries that trade with Moscow if the Kremlin fails to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine, while promising Kyiv “billions of dollars” worth of military equipment. “We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have…
Weather tracker: warm air engulfs parts of Argentina as winter temperatures soar
Rosario in Sante Fe likely be to 10C above normal, as Japan braces for Tropical Storm Nari An unseasonably mild start to the week is expected in northern and central parts of Argentina, where it is winter. A plume of warm air will sink southwards from neighbouring Paraguay on Monday, lingering through Tuesday, before giving…
Love Island USA Season 7 Winners Revealed
Love Island USA unveiled its season seven winners on the July 13 finale after it came down to castmates Amaya Espinal, Bryan Arenales, Huda Mustafa, Nic Vansteenberghe, Olandria Carthen and more. This story contains spoilers for the Love Island USA season seven finale. America has officially picked Amaya Papaya. The sun has set on this rollercoaster…
Los Angeles houses of worship plan for possible ICE Raids
Jason DeRose LOS ANGELES – In recent weeks, Pastor Caleb Crainer began developing a plan in the event that immigration enforcement agents show up at the door of his congregation, a pressing concern after the Trump administration rescinded long-standing guidance advising them to avoid houses of worship. “So we have three of these pink binders…
How and Why Humans Began to Sing, a Musicology and Neuroscience Perspective
Brains Process Speech and Singing Differently By Rachel Feltman, Allison Parshall, Fonda Mwangi & Madison Goldberg Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. We’re wrapping up our week of summer reruns with one of my absolute favorite Science Quickly episodes. Back in October, SciAm associate news editor Allison Parshall took us on…
We’ll Have 30 When Harry Met Sally Secrets—& What She’s Having
When Harry Met Sally redefined the rom-com and 36 years later, continues to be a favorite. But the Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal vehicle almost starred a totally different cast. More than three decades later and we’ll still have what she’s having. When Harry Met Sally, one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all-time,…
ChatGPT Is Changing the Words We Use in Conversation
ChatGPT Is Changing the Words We Use in Conversation Words frequently used by ChatGPT, including “delve” and “meticulous,” are getting more common in spoken language, according to an analysis of more than 700,000 hours of videos and podcasts By Vanessa Bates Ramirez edited by Allison Parshall Join Our Community of Science Lovers! After its release…
‘Helping every dang soul’: Beloved camp director was among those lost in Texas flooding
By Frank Morris Jane Ragsdale spent her summers by the Guadalupe, the very river that killed her a week ago today in the catastrophic July Fourth flood. Mention her name in Kerrville, Texas, this week, and folks tend to do two things: tear up and smile. “I mean I can’t tell you how many people,…
Preliminary report says fuel switches were cut off before Air India Boeing 787 crash
By Joel Rose , Russell Lewis A pair of switches that control the fuel supply to the engines were set to “cutoff” moments before the crash of Air India Flight 171, according to a preliminary report from India’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau released early Saturday in India. A total of 260 people were killed when…
Caster Semenya calls for athletes’ rights to be put first as court rules in her favour
ECHR rules South African runner did not have fair trial on need to lower testosterone levels to compete in women’s sport The South African runner Caster Semenya has called for athletes’ rights to be better protected after Europe’s top human rights court ruled that she had not been given a fair trial when she contested…
Flood Forecasts in Texas and Beyond Could Worsen with Trump NWS Cuts
Flood Forecasts Could Worsen as Trump’s NWS Cuts Take Hold Forecasts and warnings largely worked during the recent flooding catastrophe in Texas. Those systems are expected to degrade as President Donald Trump’s cuts to the National Weather Service, satellites and other key services take hold By Scott Waldman, Chelsea Harvey & E&E News Search and…
The Benefits of Raising Conscientious Kids
The Science of ParentingMondays The Benefits of Raising Conscientious Kids Being conscientious will serve kids in the long run. Here are some tips to help them learn that trait By Jasmine Mote edited by Megha Satyanarayana Cut through the claims: Get email alerts for The Science of Parenting My preschooler is obsessed with rules—and, more…
Texas officials race to find survivors after devastating floods
By Chandelis Duster Officials in Central Texas are desperately searching for survivors after a flash flood on Friday left at least 78 people dead and dozens unaccounted for, including many children. More than 850 people have been rescued so far — many by helicopters, officials said. Of the dead, 68 of the them were in…
Could AI Make Drone Shows Less Technically Challenging?
AI Could Broaden the Applications of Entertaining Drone Shows AI can allow engineers to focus on artistry over technical details for drone shows By Rachel Feltman, Jeffery DelViscio, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. This Fourth of July some of the celebrants flocking to their local…
Congress passed no tax on tips in Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill.’ Here’s how it works
Luke Garrett Tipped workers in the U.S. could see significant changes to their taxes after Congress approved President Trump’s legislative agenda on Thursday. This week, the GOP-controlled Senate and House narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — a massive spending and tax package that creates limited and temporary tax exemptions for tips, among…
Review – Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #4 – From the Beginning
Ray: Ram V continues to take us deeper into the mystical side of the DCU than any other writer has in a long time. Mitch Shelley has completed his latest evolution as Resurrection Man, dying peacefully of old age – and as such, has evolved to be immune and above time itself. Now in the…
The WNBA is expanding again, adding 3 new cities for a record 18 teams
Russell Lewis The WNBA juggernaut is not slowing down. The women’s basketball league announced Monday it’s adding three new teams for a record 18 franchises: Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroit joins in 2029 and Philadelphia will tip off in 2030. The WNBA has 15 existing squads — including the Golden State Valkyries, which…
Why Did the Company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline Sue Greenpeace?
Talking to the Host of Drilled about the Legal Battles around Standing Rock Energy Transfer, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, sued the nonprofit Greenpeace over alleged conspiracy—the host of Drilled explains why By Rachel Feltman, Alex Sugiura, Jeffery DelViscio & Fonda Mwangi Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. In…
Jamaica’s film industry gets boost from government funding and co-production initiative
Black River film festival invited US, European and African producers and directors to explore partnerships with local film-makers A film festival has brought US, European and African producers and directors to Jamaica to explore collaborations with local film-makers, who are set to benefit from several million US dollars-worth of government investment to boost the domestic…
Review – New History of the DC Universe #1: At the Beginning
Ray: Uniting one of the top DC writers of all time with two of its most long-running artists, this book takes on an incredibly ambitious goal – retelling the entire history of the DCU according to the new all-encompassing timeline. The framing device finds Barry Allen, now retired as the Flash ever since he lost…
Review – Justice League Unlimited #8: Time’s End
Ray: It’s the final chapter of “We Are Yesterday”, a cosmic epic that saw the Legion of Doom of the past make their way to the present, courtesy of a Gorilla Grodd upgraded with Martian Manhunter’s psychic abilities. The last chapter saw both sides bring their big guns – the heroes recruited allies from across…
Review – Absolute Martian Manhunter #4: City of Rage
Ray: Of all the Absolute books, this is the one that feels the most set apart from the larger universe it takes place in. It’s a strange cosmic sci-fi thriller heavily set in one man’s mind after he survives a traumatic event. But that doesn’t mean it has less on its mind – quite the…