Scientific American
@sciam.bsky.social
A legacy of discovery. A future of innovation.
Crossword fans, did you know we have a monthly puzzle? Solve our newest here!
Science Crossword: Consciousness Carriers
Play this crossword inspired by the February 2026 issue of Scientific American.
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Crossword fans, did you know we have a monthly puzzle? Solve our newest here!
From our new issue: Extremophile molds are invading art museums and devouring their collections. Stigma and climate change have fueled their spread
Meet the extremophile molds wreaking havoc in museums
Extremophile molds are invading art museums and devouring their collections. Stigma and climate change have fueled their spread
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:06 PM
From our new issue: Extremophile molds are invading art museums and devouring their collections. Stigma and climate change have fueled their spread
Are you slipping on your New Year's resolutions? Here are some science-based tips to get you back on track
Slipping on Your New Year's Resolutions? Science Tips to Get on Track
Studies of goal setting reveal why it’s so hard to keep resolutions—and how to make ones that actually stick
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Are you slipping on your New Year's resolutions? Here are some science-based tips to get you back on track
Reposted by Scientific American
My feature is on the cover of @sciam.bsky.social !!
This is one of the more fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling stories I've reported in a long time. Please come on this journey with me.
This is one of the more fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling stories I've reported in a long time. Please come on this journey with me.
On the cover of our new issue--will brain science deliver answers about consciousness or hit another wall?
Inside the incredible, infuriating quest to explain consciousness
Will brain science deliver answers about consciousness or hit another wall?
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:56 PM
My feature is on the cover of @sciam.bsky.social !!
This is one of the more fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling stories I've reported in a long time. Please come on this journey with me.
This is one of the more fascinating, maddening, mind-boggling stories I've reported in a long time. Please come on this journey with me.
From the new issue: will the James Webb Space Telescope help us see the first generation of stars?
Are we about to see the first stars ever born?
The James Webb Space Telescope should soon be able to spot the first generation of stars in space
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:39 PM
From the new issue: will the James Webb Space Telescope help us see the first generation of stars?
Cases of respiratory syncytial virus are increasing, but vaccines and antibody shots can keep young children out of the hospital
RSV is surging—antibody shots and vaccines can protect babies
Cases of respiratory syncytial virus are increasing, but vaccines and antibody shots can keep young children out of the hospital
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Cases of respiratory syncytial virus are increasing, but vaccines and antibody shots can keep young children out of the hospital
Humans are using more water than the Earth can support, with many water sources already damaged beyond repair, the report found
World has entered an era of ‘global water bankruptcy,’ U.N. warns
Humans are using more water than Earth can support, with many water sources already damaged beyond repair, a report from the United Nations found
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Humans are using more water than the Earth can support, with many water sources already damaged beyond repair, the report found
On the cover of our new issue--will brain science deliver answers about consciousness or hit another wall?
Inside the incredible, infuriating quest to explain consciousness
Will brain science deliver answers about consciousness or hit another wall?
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:27 PM
On the cover of our new issue--will brain science deliver answers about consciousness or hit another wall?
Our February issue hit newsstands today--dig into it here!
Scientific American Volume 334, Issue 2
"What is consciousness? Science faces its hardest problem yet", "Your guide to 29 wildly different theories of consciousness", "JWST could finally spot the very first stars in the universe" and more
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Our February issue hit newsstands today--dig into it here!
The Epstein files revive questions of whether the disgraced financier sought to merely cultivate famous scientists, or to shape science itself
Why did Jeffrey Epstein cultivate famous scientists?
The Epstein files revive questions of whether the disgraced financier sought to merely cultivate famous scientists, or to shape science itself
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:48 PM
The Epstein files revive questions of whether the disgraced financier sought to merely cultivate famous scientists, or to shape science itself
Reposted by Scientific American
It's been one year since West Texas first reported an alarming spread of measles in kids. The U.S. has since faced outbreaks that show no sign of stopping. On @sciam.bsky.social, a look back at how we got here—and where measles in the U.S. is likely headed: www.scientificamerican.com/article/as-t...
As the U.S. marks a year of measles outbreaks, is the disease back for good?
The U.S. has held its measles-free status for more than 25 years. Experts say unrelenting outbreaks in the past year may change that
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:41 PM
It's been one year since West Texas first reported an alarming spread of measles in kids. The U.S. has since faced outbreaks that show no sign of stopping. On @sciam.bsky.social, a look back at how we got here—and where measles in the U.S. is likely headed: www.scientificamerican.com/article/as-t...
Consciousness researchers studying “islands of awareness” have found that disconnected brains likely sink into a strange form of deep sleep
Can a severed brain remain conscious?
Consciousness researchers studying “islands of awareness” have found that disconnected brains likely sink into a strange form of deep sleep
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Consciousness researchers studying “islands of awareness” have found that disconnected brains likely sink into a strange form of deep sleep
The U.S. has held its measles-free status for more than 25 years. Experts say unrelenting outbreaks in the past year may change that
As the U.S. marks a year of measles outbreaks, is the disease back for good?
The U.S. has held its measles-free status for more than 25 years. Experts say unrelenting outbreaks in the past year may change that
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:30 PM
The U.S. has held its measles-free status for more than 25 years. Experts say unrelenting outbreaks in the past year may change that
Reposted by Scientific American
The Feb issue of @sciam.bsky.social is now available www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/202... I’m so happy with the #sciart images by Julia Schimautz of DTAN studio (I mean LOOK at those brains on the cover!), @alexboersma-art.bsky.social, Federico Tramonte (w/tag-team art direction by Ryan Reid)
Scientific American Volume 334, Issue 2
"What is consciousness? Science faces its hardest problem yet", "Your guide to 29 wildly different theories of consciousness", "JWST could finally spot the very first stars in the universe" and more
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:40 PM
The Feb issue of @sciam.bsky.social is now available www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/202... I’m so happy with the #sciart images by Julia Schimautz of DTAN studio (I mean LOOK at those brains on the cover!), @alexboersma-art.bsky.social, Federico Tramonte (w/tag-team art direction by Ryan Reid)
Scientists have come up with dozens of theories of consciousness. Here's your visual guide to 29 of them--from our new issue out today!
Your guide to 29 wildly different theories of consciousness
The many, many ways researchers hope to solve the toughest mystery in science
www.scientificamerican.com
January 20, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Scientists have come up with dozens of theories of consciousness. Here's your visual guide to 29 of them--from our new issue out today!
Positive thinking may boost immune response from vaccines, new brain training study shows
Brain training may boost immune response to vaccines
Positive thinking may boost immune response from vaccines, new brain training study shows
www.scientificamerican.com
January 19, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Positive thinking may boost immune response from vaccines, new brain training study shows
Reposted by Scientific American
Delightful news alert: An Austrian cow named Veronika has perfected the art of using a broom to scratch her itches—a finding that challenges the conventional wisdom about the intelligence of farm animals. #CowTools are real! 🐮 🧹 🧪
Meet Veronika, the first cow known to engage in flexible, multipurpose tool use
A pet cow named Veronika uses tools in a surprisingly sophisticated way—possibly because she has been allowed to live her best life
www.scientificamerican.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Delightful news alert: An Austrian cow named Veronika has perfected the art of using a broom to scratch her itches—a finding that challenges the conventional wisdom about the intelligence of farm animals. #CowTools are real! 🐮 🧹 🧪
A pet cow named Veronika uses tools in a surprisingly sophisticated way—possibly because she has been allowed to live her best life
Meet Veronika, the first cow known to engage in flexible, multipurpose tool use
A pet cow named Veronika uses tools in a surprisingly sophisticated way—possibly because she has been allowed to live her best life
www.scientificamerican.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:14 PM
A pet cow named Veronika uses tools in a surprisingly sophisticated way—possibly because she has been allowed to live her best life
Ribbon worms can grow to enormous lengths, and one named Baseodiscus the Eldest is showing how little we know about them—including how long they live
Meet ‘Baseodiscus the Eldest,’ a record-setting worm more than 27 years old
Ribbon worms can grow to enormous lengths, and one named Baseodiscus the Eldest is showing how little we know about them—including how long they live
www.scientificamerican.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Ribbon worms can grow to enormous lengths, and one named Baseodiscus the Eldest is showing how little we know about them—including how long they live
These decoys are an example of “web decorations” that some spiders are known to produce, often to prevent getting eaten, avoid bird strikes or attract prey
What’s scarier than a spider? A fake giant spider
Spiders scare off predators by seemingly supersizing themselves
www.scientificamerican.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:13 PM
These decoys are an example of “web decorations” that some spiders are known to produce, often to prevent getting eaten, avoid bird strikes or attract prey
Today on the pod we've got your news round-up!
EPA rule sparks air quality concerns, cancer survival breaks record, NASA carries out first-ever ISS medical evacuation
Why the EPA’s air pollution rule change could make the air dirtier, how cancer survival hit a record-high, and what we know about the first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station
www.scientificamerican.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Today on the pod we've got your news round-up!
For this week's math puzzle, we have a pepperoni pizza problem. Can you solve it?
Math Puzzle: A Pizza Puzzle
Flex your math muscles with this weekend’s brain teaser. Play now
www.scientificamerican.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:09 PM
For this week's math puzzle, we have a pepperoni pizza problem. Can you solve it?
The massive Artemis II rocket is continuing its slow crawl to the launch pad this evening. What comes next? Dig into the mission plan here
NASA’s Artemis II mission will be humankind’s long-awaited return to the moon
On Friday NASA laid out the time line for Artemis II, humanity’s first crewed mission to the moon in more than 50 years
www.scientificamerican.com
January 17, 2026 at 10:16 PM
The massive Artemis II rocket is continuing its slow crawl to the launch pad this evening. What comes next? Dig into the mission plan here
NASA's huge Artemis II rocket is inching toward the launch pad today
NASA’s Artemis II mission to the moon just began its last journey on Earth
NASA rolled out the fully stacked Artemis II rocket and Orion capsule on Saturday, embarking on a four-mile journey to the launch pad
www.scientificamerican.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:04 PM
NASA's huge Artemis II rocket is inching toward the launch pad today
Why today’s AI systems struggle with consistency, and how emerging world models aim to give machines a steady grasp of space and time
World models could unlock the next revolution in artificial intelligence
Why today’s AI systems struggle with consistency, and how emerging world models aim to give machines a steady grasp of space and time
www.scientificamerican.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Why today’s AI systems struggle with consistency, and how emerging world models aim to give machines a steady grasp of space and time