The Pacific is being beset by hurricane after hurricane—why is the Atlantic so quiet? The Pacific is being beset by hurricane after hurricane—why is the Atlantic so quiet? The Pacific Ocean has seen an especially active hurricane season so far, while the Atlantic has had barely a whimper of a storm. Experts explain why AI may have just solved a million-dollar math problem. The field will never be the same AI may have just solved a million-dollar math problem. The field will never be the same A mathematician compared the feat to the history-making chess competition in which IBM’s Deep Blue computer beat Garry Kasparov in 1997 Scientists unlock new clues to what a mysterious ancient human ancestor looked like Scientists unlock new clues to what a mysterious ancient human ancestor looked like An analysis of ancient bones found in a Chinese cave offer glimpses of how Denisovans lived more than 130,000 years ago Do birds enjoy flying? Scientists asked cockatoos Do birds enjoy flying? Scientists asked cockatoos Flying leads to positive emotions and optimism in Galahs OpenAI claims blockbuster math breakthrough amid swirl of controversy OpenAI claims blockbuster math breakthrough amid swirl of controversy Prior to the announcement, rumors were circulating online among mathematicians over the proof’s origins—OpenAI has denied all allegations The summer AI ate math The summer AI ate math What happens when machines surpass the most brilliant human minds? Mathematicians are finding out There are just five perfect shapes in math—here’s why There are just five perfect shapes in math—here’s why The five Platonic solids are the epitome of perfection—at least in mathematics. Topology explains why there are only five of them It’s Time to Stand Up for Science Something unique seems to be happening to the brain in menopause Something unique seems to be happening to the brain in menopause A new study finds sharp contrasts between brain changes in menopause and those during pregnancy and puberty New maps reveal hidden landscapes inside a prehistoric supercontinent New maps reveal hidden landscapes inside a prehistoric supercontinent Gondwana was much bigger than we thought, according to the new analysis This cosmic particle was never meant to reach Earth. Now scientists think they finally know why it did This cosmic particle was never meant to reach Earth. Now scientists think they finally know why it did In 2022 researchers detected a very odd photon from an enormous gamma-ray burst that should have been destroyed on its way to Earth Thank you for signing up! Check out our other newsletters OpenAI’s latest math breakthroughs commit research misconduct, experts say OpenAI’s latest math breakthroughs commit research misconduct, experts say OpenAI released 10 AI-generated results over the weekend. Some mathematicians are unhappy with their approach These strange celestial objects have been hiding in plain sight for decades These strange celestial objects have been hiding in plain sight for decades It’s unclear what these objects actually are, but evidence for them has been detected by NASA’s Chandra space telescope for years New Google DeepMind atlas could transform our understanding of genetic diseases New Google DeepMind atlas could transform our understanding of genetic diseases AlphaGenome Atlas predicts the effect of any single change in the fundamental structure of DNA Music helps soothe the brain when we are stressed Music helps soothe the brain when we are stressed Music doesn’t just mask stress; it guides our brains back to a calm state Gray whales are washing up dead on the West Coast. The reason is alarming Gray whales are washing up dead on the West Coast. The reason is alarming Up and down the Pacific coast, dead gray whales are mysteriously washing ashore—and scientists think they know why Nature may have a preferred tempo Nature may have a preferred tempo From flashing fireflies to human music, many biological rhythms appear to converge on the same rhythmic range “ Much as many of us may not like the notion that wealthy collectors can buy prized fossil specimens, as Dr. Kamat points out, there is at present no legal restriction for doing so. What should happen is that UNESCO or other world organizations should regulate such deals through international consent. That is unlikely to happen quickly nor universally given present… ” — Klaus R Should private buyers be allowed to own scientific specimens? View all Discussions The data center backlash comes for SpaceXAI’s Colossus The data center backlash comes for SpaceXAI’s Colossus Dozens of temporary gas turbines are powering SpaceXAI’s expansion—and fights over permits and pollution Fog may be hiding secret ecosystems Fog may be hiding secret ecosystems There’s more to fog than meets the eye Mathematicians discover the worst way to hang a painting Mathematicians discover the worst way to hang a painting New solutions found to picture-hanging problems Create as many words as you can! New science shows we crave both close friends and large networks New science shows we crave both close friends and large networks Assistant professor of psychology Jessica Ayers’s new research challenges assumptions about the kind of friendships we need Bosses are using AI to spy on employees' productivity—does it work?

Bosses are using AI to spy on employees' productivity—does it work? Assisted by AI, companies have more options than ever to track employees, minute by minute, keystroke by keystroke. Does this have the desired effect? How many spaceports does the U.S. need? How many spaceports does the U.S. need? A new executive order calls for more than 1,000 U.S. rocket launches per year by the end of the decade. Rethinking the nation’s spaceports will be key September 2026 Issue Around 15,000 satellites currently circle Earth, but nearly two million satellites are planned to launch in coming years. This precipitous rise will bring Internet access to many who lack it but could also have dangerous consequences for astronomy, our planet's atmosphere—and the future use of Earth orbit. Elsewhere in the issue: The Spy Telescope Hunting for Dark Matter | What Really Happened on Easter Island? | How Clean Tech Became Unstoppable How introverted or extroverted you are may influence how you use AI How introverted or extroverted you are may influence how you use AI How people interact with their inner and outer worlds may shape how they approach generative AI Have we finally found dark matter? Have we finally found dark matter? The world’s biggest dark matter search saw a particle it cannot explain The strangest sky in the galaxy The strangest sky in the galaxy The newfound star S301 orbits the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole so closely that its view of the heavens gets twisted Scientific American Travel Winter in Yellowstone with Andrea Thompson This quirky spot in space is where NASA’s Roman Telescope will call home This quirky spot in space is where NASA’s Roman Telescope will call home The Nancy Grace Roman Telescope is headed toward a Lagrange point, a critical position in outer space where gravitational forces behave in specific ways Why the Grand Canyon flash flood was so devastating Why the Grand Canyon flash flood was so devastating Experts explain why a monsoon storm turned so deadly Was this record-setting encryption crack a fluke—or the new normal? Was this record-setting encryption crack a fluke—or the new normal? A researcher’s social media post that revealed how to break part of a popular encryption protocol has gone viral. But did he really do it with just “good old paper and pencil”? NASA’s Roman Telescope lifts off, starting a mission to explore the universe’s biggest mysteries NASA’s Roman Telescope lifts off, starting a mission to explore the universe’s biggest mysteries The Nancy Grace Roman Telescope will probe dark matter and dark energy, discover exoplanets and study stars Can technology optimize companionship? A novelist imagines the extreme answer Can technology optimize companionship? A novelist imagines the extreme answer Author Sarah Pierce explores dating apps, loneliness and human connection through a novel about a corpse-matching algorithm 2026 Ig Nobels honor cockroach milk, interspecies kissing, taunting venomous snakes, and more 2026 Ig Nobels honor cockroach milk, interspecies kissing, taunting venomous snakes, and more The silliest science awards of the year are here, but the Ig Nobels aren’t just funny business Ten cosmic discoveries we’ll get from NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Ten cosmic discoveries we’ll get from NASA’s Roman Space Telescope NASA’s Roman Space Telescope will open a whole new window on the cosmos. Here are 10 things it’s likely to show us See last night’s ‘blood moon’ eclipse from around the world See last night’s ‘blood moon’ eclipse from around the world In a near-total lunar eclipse, the moon turned red-orange for viewers in North America, Europe and Africa ‘Unparalleled’ study finds psilocybin protects against nerve damage from chemotherapy ‘Unparalleled’ study finds psilocybin protects against nerve damage from chemotherapy The findings, which were made in mice, may offer a new way to prevent a common chemotherapy side effect that can last well beyond treatment What caused the Nepal disaster—and why climate change could make these events more likely What caused the Nepal disaster—and why climate change could make these events more likely The disaster has claimed hundreds of lives, and at least 1,400 people are missing New NASA photos reveal 16 galaxies from across the cosmos in dazzling detail New NASA photos reveal 16 galaxies from across the cosmos in dazzling detail Spirals, ellipticals, irregulars, oh my! Top medical leaders urge Americans to get their flu and COVID shots in lieu of CDC vaccine campaign Top medical leaders urge Americans to get their flu and COVID shots in lieu of CDC vaccine campaign The Trump administration has so far been silent on flu, COVID and RSV vaccine guidance for the coming season, even as these diseases kill thousands of people every year Why this Canadian island appeared to disappear Why this Canadian island appeared to disappear A floating island in a Canadian reservoir moved more than 30 kilometers across the water—here’s why Could GLP-1 weight-loss drugs help you live longer? Could GLP-1 weight-loss drugs help you live longer? Giving old mice semaglutide—commonly sold as Wegovy or Ozempic—extends their lifespan remarkably, a new study finds U.N. admits exceeding the 1.5-degree-Celsius global warming target is ‘unavoidable’ U.N. admits exceeding the 1.5-degree-Celsius global warming target is ‘unavoidable’ The world is set to blow past the Paris Agreement’s longtime threshold “within the next few years,” according to a new report The murky science behind human growth hormone peptides The murky science behind human growth hormone peptides Sermorelin, tesamorelin and other growth hormone peptides are being touted as antiaging elixirs, but what evidence is behind those claims? Subscribe to Scientific American to learn and share the most exciting discoveries, innovations and ideas shaping our world today.