Is there such a thing as an objectively beautiful building? Here"s the science
Some people assume that there's a type of beauty that everyone can agree on. But did early humans really admire slender bodies the way we do today? After all, fashions come and go—there have been plenty of fads throughout history that we find hard.....»»
An ad giant wants to control your next TV’s operating system
Sonos is rumored to be building a streaming box running The Trade Desk's OS. An ad company’s foray into TV operating systems (OSes) illustrates a significant shift for TV hardwa.....»»
Origin of life research finds RNA can favor both left- and right-handed proteins
The mystery of why life uses molecules with specific orientations has deepened with a discovery that RNA—a key molecule thought to have potentially held the instructions for life before DNA emerged—can favor making the building blocks of proteins.....»»
Math-selective US universities reduce gender gap in STEM fields, analysis finds
Nationally, men in colleges and universities currently outpace women in earning physics, engineering, and computer science (PECS) degrees by an approximate ratio of 4:1. To better understand the factors driving these gaps, NYU researchers analyzed ba.....»»
Establishing a general theory of metal-support interaction: AI-driven advances in catalysis
How can artificial intelligence (AI) help accelerate scientific discovery based on vast amounts of experimental data? A new study by Prof. Li Weixue's team from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Scienc.....»»
Durable supramolecular plastic is fully ocean-degradable and doesn"t generate microplastics
Researchers led by Takuzo Aida at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) have developed a new durable plastic that won't pollute our oceans. The new material is as strong as conventional plastics and biodegradable, but what makes it spec.....»»
Science continues to exclude Indigenous communities—fixing this benefits everyone
An enduring challenge facing science around the world is how to best include and engage Indigenous communities......»»
Wild chimpanzees play as adults to better cooperate as a group, researchers suggest
Compared to children, adults don't play as much, but social play into adulthood is considered a universal human trait. Play has a role in building tolerance, cohesion, bonding, and cooperation. By comparison, play in adults of other species has been.....»»
NASA ocean world explorers have to swim before they can fly
When NASA's Europa Clipper reaches its destination in 2030, the spacecraft will prepare to aim an array of powerful science instruments toward Jupiter's moon Europa during 49 flybys, looking for signs that the ocean beneath the moon's icy crust could.....»»
Noninvasive plant stress phenotyping: A multi-organ approach to combat abiotic stressors
Noninvasive phenotyping has emerged as a vital tool in plant science, enabling the study of stress indicators without disrupting plant growth. While most studies have historically focused on analyzing stress responses in leaves, this novel research a.....»»
Oceanographic expedition provides evidence on the "atlantification" of the Arctic Ocean
The international BIOCAL expedition, led by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB), provided new evidence on the phenomenon of "atlantification" of the Arctic Ocean, a process relate.....»»
Philippine hatchling stirs hope for endangered eagle
A baby Philippine Eagle has hatched in the Southeast Asian country with the help of artificial insemination, sparking hope that science and conservation can save the critically endangered raptor from extinction......»»
How the Science of Curiosity Boosts Learning
Understanding curiosity can help people—and robots—learn faster.....»»
December 2024: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago
Alcohol in space; basking in the limelight.....»»
Poem: ‘The First Bite’
Science in meter and verse.....»»
Science Crossword: Equine Emergence
Play this crossword inspired by the December 2024 issue of Scientific American.....»»
Apple absolutely should make a TV set, here’s why
A Steve Jobs quote once inspired a years-long fascination with the idea of Apple building a TV set. The product never came to fruition, but the dream lives on, stoked by a new Mark Gurman rumor that Apple is now ‘evaluating’ making a TV. Here are.....»»
Hollywood techniques help NASA visualize supercomputing data
Captivating images and videos can bring data to life. NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) produces visualizations, animations, and images to help scientists tell stories of their research and make science more approachable and engaging......»»
How brain evolution is linked to the use of tools
Researchers led by Dr. Alexandros Karakostis from the Institute for Archaeological Science and the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tübingen suggest that changes in the brain could have enabled early.....»»
Deducing commonality from complexity: Scientist explores "Mesoscience" to address global issues
Two topics are now drawing great attention from the global scientific community: shifting or advancing paradigms in science, and tackling global challenges such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, climate change, and human health. However, do th.....»»
Philadelphia students have a new reading and writing curriculum. A literacy expert explains what"s changing
Philadelphia's K-8 public school students are being taught a new literacy curriculum starting in the 2024-2025 school year. It's called Expeditionary Learning, and it conforms with what literacy experts call the science of reading, which are research.....»»