Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with MS—how could that happen?

The Emmy Award–winning actress revealed that a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2021 was incorrect. It’s a surprisingly common experience, experts say

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 10:45 pm

The mathematical impossibility of making a perfect world map

Mapping a sphere onto a flat plane is mathematically impossible. But a better world map than the Mercator projection is

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 8:00 pm

Scientists left in the dark by National Science Foundation grant application delays

The Major Research Instrumentation program offers grants of up to $4 million to scientists buying or developing research equipment

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 4:45 pm

Green stars do exist—and others shine pink or purple, too

The colors of dead stars come in a surprising rainbow of choices

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 4:30 pm

The Selfish Gene at 50

A half century ago The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins became an instant bestseller and transformed public awareness of evolutionary biology. Today scientists are still debating its core message

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 2:45 pm

Math Puzzle: Baby bottle mix-up

Solve a new-parent dilemma with this math puzzle

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 1:00 pm

November 2026: Science history from 50, 100 and 150 years ago

In 1926 we wrote about how there was a good chance Mars had both plants and animals. And in 1876 we probed the duplicity of the artificial butter business

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 12:00 pm

Our love-hate relationship with social media

Regardless of whether social media addiction is real, these platforms hack the human brain, often to our detriment

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 12:00 pm

A graphic explainer of uranium enrichment

Inside the process of isolating uranium-235

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 12:00 pm

Readers respond to the June 2026 issue

Letters to the editors for the June 2026 issue of Scientific American

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 12:00 pm

Science crossword: Scroll bars

Play this crossword inspired by the November 2026 issue of Scientific American

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 12:00 pm

Why data centers are reviving solid-state transformers

Solid-state transformer designs have been around for decades. Now data centers may finally give the chip-filled devices their killer application

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 12:00 pm

The provocative new theory that could explain aging and disease

Could disruptions in the flow of energy through mitochondria cause everything from type 2 diabetes to Alzheimer’s?

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 12:00 pm

How your brain learns to cope with uncertainty

Can our “prediction machine” brains learn to handle a world in chaos?

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 12:00 pm

Inside the bold, quixotic quest to store planet-warming carbon in the ocean

These start-ups are trying to suck CO₂ from the air and stash in the sea. Is it working?

Posted on 20 October 2026 | 12:00 pm