A mysterious metal-rich asteroid called Psyche has been baffling scientists for over two centuries, and its true origin remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in planetary science. Is it the exposed core of a failed planet, or a chaotic mix of rock and metal forged
Even 200 years after asteroid 16 Psyche was discovered, astronomers continue to puzzle over its formation. Psyche is the 10th-most massive asteroid in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter, and the largest known metallic asteroid, at 140 miles in diameter.
It wasn’t Saint Patrick but a long history of chilly weather and geographic isolation that kept the Emerald Isle snake-free
The most common side effects of mRNA vaccines like the COVID-19 shot are well known: soreness, mild fever, and general malaise. Those symptoms, which typically resolve within days, are the natural result of the immune system activating. But what if they could be avoided?
Chronic kidney disease has a variety of causes, ranging from immune system problems to medication side effects
Lurid headlines don’t give American children enough credit
Surprising studies show young people are doing better than previous generations in many ways
Here’s how a mathematical paradox distorts our view of news, safety and statistics
The autism spectrum is big, vibrant and complicated, a new graphic of 39 traits shows
A Rhode Island start-up is working to recycle spent nuclear fuel into long-lasting power systems for the military
High in the Rockies, researchers are discovering that wind-borne pollution and rising heat are fueling unprecedented algal blooms
Tickling may be evolutionarily ancient and recognized across cultures, but science has only scratched the surface of this topic
Play this crossword inspired by the April 2026 issue of Scientific American
Letters to the editors for the December 2025 issue of Scientific American
Kidney damage can sneak up on people without symptoms. A new diagnosis can mean major limits on how a person lives
A series of novel treatments and medical insights is helping chronic kidney disease patients
Care innovations have allowed many more people with kidney disease to become parents. But pregnancy still carries risks
Use some creative arithmetic on this math puzzle
Evolutionary studies make sense of the world’s strangest plant
Your kidneys silently filter 150 quarts of blood every single day — but what happens when they stop working?
Bizarre objects that seem to lack all dark matter present a cosmic mystery
Supplements of this hormone are sold to increase sex drive. But the change may be tiny
A quorum of quarks; asbestos surprises
People frequently use medical cannabis to treat anxiety, depression and PTSD, but two new reviews show there is little evidence that it works
A new study reveals an unprecedented increase in wildfires in tropical peatlands during the 20th century. "Unprecedented burning in tropical peatlands during the 20th century compared to the previous two millennia" is published in Global Change Biology.
The levels of a heavy form of hydrogen in 3I/ATLAS are 30 to 40 times higher than in Earth's oceans, suggesting the comet has a cold and distant origin
Researchers have identified a surprising brain pattern that may help explain why people with ADHD often struggle to stay focused. Even while awake, their brains can slip into brief episodes of “sleep-like” activity during demanding tasks. These moments are linked to more
The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed new details in a bizarre nebula that looks like a brain floating in space. Formed by a dying star, the “Exposed Cranium” nebula shows layered gas and a dark central divide that creates its eerie shape. Webb’s infrared view suggests
mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives during COVID-19 but have limitations like waning immunity and complex production. Scientists are now testing a new platform called DoriVac, which uses folded DNA nanostructures to better control how the immune system responds. In early
What do we really know about how oviraptors—bird-like but flightless dinosaurs—hatched their eggs? Did they use environmental heat, like crocodiles, or body heat from an adult, like birds? In a new Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution study, researchers in Taiwan examined the
Astronomers may have found an exciting new clue about dark energy—the mysterious force driving the universe’s accelerating expansion. They discovered an extraordinarily bright supernova from more than 10 billion years ago whose light was bent and magnified by a foreground
Scientists studying a mysterious effect called cosmic birefringence—a subtle twist in the polarization of the universe’s oldest light—have developed a new way to reduce uncertainty in how it’s measured. This faint rotation in the cosmic microwave background could point to
Coyotes may be building dens and having litters of pups near you, according to new research from the University of Georgia. But chances are you won't see them—even if they are denning right next door. In one of the first studies of its kind, researchers followed 48 urban
Carbon trading limits the amount of carbon dioxide an organization can emit. To emit more, organizations must buy unused carbon emission allowances from others. A global study has found that in the fight against climate change, carbon trading is more effective than carbon
Navigating monolithic icebergs, massive ocean waves and sub-zero snowstorms, CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator is a workhorse for Antarctic science. In just over 11 years and spread across seven voyages, the vessel has now spent the equivalent of one full year, or more
One particularly well-known fact about the moon is that it doesn't have much of a magnetosphere to speak of. There's no blanket to protect it from the solar wind ravaging its surface, blowing away its atmosphere and charging the notoriously dangerous dust particles that make up
Ticketmaster was seemingly not ready for the influx of hopeful Taylor Swift fans logging onto the digital ticketing platform when sales for the Eras Tour launched Nov. 15, 2022. Within minutes of the first "verified fan" presales opening, the Ticketmaster site began crashing,
Maize serves as a vital model species for advancing our understanding of plant biology, yet many mysteries remain about the intricate processes governing how DNA works and organizes itself in the genome. A team of FSU researchers together with colleagues at North Carolina State
A redesigned cancer immunotherapy is showing striking early results after decades of disappointment with similar drugs. Researchers engineered a more powerful CD40 agonist antibody and changed how it’s delivered—injecting it directly into tumors instead of into the bloodstream.
Which may help it evade predators The post This Frog Sings Like a Bird appeared first on Nautilus .
It has long been known that our bodies derive energy from sugar. Researchers at RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau have now discovered that sugar breakdown produces an intermediate product that is also crucial for the motility of human cells. The new findings, published in
Potato dry rot leads to significant losses during storage and postharvest handling, making management of this disease critically important for potato farmers. Colorado State University researchers in the San Luis Valley—one of the top regions for potato production in the
An international team led by researchers from the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Germany, has used advanced electron microscopy technologies to capture key cellular mechanisms of stress resistance with near-atomic precision. They were able to show that the protein
Reliable and scalable water level prediction is crucial in hydrology for effective water resources management, especially when considering challenges owing to climate change, urbanization, improper land use, and high-water demand. It directly impacts the availability and
Chocolate produced in the Amazon is internationally recognized for its unique flavor. A study by researchers at São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil has shown that it could be even more valuable. The analysis indicates that postharvest practices such as fermenting the
Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a promising new way to deliver treatment directly to cholangiocarcinoma tumors, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer with limited treatment options, using milk-derived nanoparticles that act like guided delivery vehicles. The findings,
Sharks are often viewed as solitary, but a new study—carried out on the Shark Reef Marine Reserve in Fiji—has found that rather than mixing at random, bull sharks have "active social preferences" and choose their social partners. The research was carried out by the University
Thermonuclear reaction rates power the models that explain how stars live, explode and create the elements. A new study co-authored by NC State faculty member Richard Longland provides a comprehensive, statistically grounded reevaluation of these rates, offering a stronger
Which may keep them safer from bigger frenemies The post Bull Sharks Make Friends, Too appeared first on Nautilus .
