Rachel Feltman is former executive editor of Popular Science and forever host of the podcast The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week. She previously founded the blog Speaking of Science for the Washington Post.
Rogue Worlds May Not Be So Lonely After All, Europa Clipper Completes Key Test, and RFK, Jr., Pulls $500 Million in mRNA Vaccine Funding
From planets roaming space to major shifts in health funding, catch up with this week’s news roundup.
A Meteorologist in Congress Fights for Climate Science
Representative Eric Sorensen of Illinois shares how his meteorology roots drive his fight to protect climate science and push back against political interference.
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.
Russia’s Earthquake, Wonders of Walking and Plant Genetics
The lowdown on the Environmental Protection Agency’s move to repeal of the “endangerment” finding. Also, how did a juicy ketchup ingredient help create a starchy tuber?
Claude 4 Chatbot Raises Questions about AI Consciousness
A conversation with Anthropic’s chatbot raises questions about how AI talks about awareness.
Why Dungeons and Dragons Is Good for Your Brain
Researchers and therapists explore the mental health benefits of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.
This Summer’s Extreme Weather Explained: Flash Floods and Corn Sweat
Extreme weather is front-page news. But what are the phenomena behind the headlines?
Summer Meteor Showers, Short Summer Days and Ancient Arthropods
Set your alarm on Wednesday to see some of the summer’s stunning meteor showers.
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.
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.
Were the Wright Brothers First in Flight? Inside a 1925 Dispute
This episode of Science Quickly goes on an archival adventure in Scientific American’s July 1925 issue.
The Surprising Science of Dungeons and Dragons
Dropout.tv’s Brennan Lee Mulligan talks about the emotional and cultural importance of Dungeons and Dragons.
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.
Bariatric Surgery Does Not Resolve Weight Stigma for Everyone
While bariatric surgery can result in significant weight loss, weight stigma can persist years after the surgery.
Brains Process Speech and Singing Differently
Musicologists and neuroscientists have been trying to understand what turns speech into music.
Hear the Sounds of a Sick Coral Reef
The underwater world relies on sound signals—so what happens when a noisy reef falls silent?
This Astronaut’s Space Photography Puts Fireworks to Shame
We spoke with NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick in an exclusive, first-ever interview from the cupola of the International Space Station.
AI Could Broaden the Applications of Entertaining Drone Shows
AI can allow engineers to focus on artistry over technical details for drone shows
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
This is How We Fight Bird Flu If H5N1 Becomes the Next Human Pandemic
This San Antonio, Tex., lab takes biosecurity seriously. Suit up with its scientists and go behind the scenes of the science of vaccine creation.
Why Dairy Farmers Were Surprised by Bird Flu Cases in Their Herds
The bird flu was long known to poultry farmers. Here’s why the dairy industry was caught off guard by its jump to cattle.
How Bird Flu Became a Human Pandemic Threat
The first hints that a new strain of avian illness is emerging could be found on this beach on Delaware Bay, where migrating birds flock. Here’s what virus detectives who return there every year know right now.
Testosterone Therapy Is Booming. But Is It Actually Safe?
As more men turn to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for energy, mood and muscle, experts warn the risks are still not fully understood.
Exercise Isn’t Just for Your Muscles—It’s Great for Your Gut, Too
We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat”—especially when it comes to gut health. But what if your workout matters just as much as your diet?