Queen bumblebees are poor foragers thanks to sparse tongue hair
The density of fine hairs on bumblebees’ tongues determines how much nectar they can collect — and workers put queen bees to shame.
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New Study Probes How Same-Sex Behaviors Evolved in Nonhuman Primates
January 12, 2026 2 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm New Study Probes How Same-Sex Behaviors Evolved in Nonhuman Primates New research links same-sex behaviors in nonhuman primates to the evolution of complex social structures By Jackie Flynn Mogensen edited by Claire Cameron Tom Applegate/Getty Images Same-sex behavior is common across the animal kingdom—more…
Why it’s easy to be misunderstood when talking about probability
The words we have for probability make it hard to say what we mean Makhbubakhon Ismatova/Getty Images If someone told you that they were “probably” going to have pasta for dinner, but you later found out that they ate pizza, would you feel surprised – or even lied to? More seriously, what does it mean…
We’re about to simulate a human brain on a supercomputer
Digitally enhanced 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of a human brain K H FUNG/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY What would it mean to simulate a human brain? Today’s most powerful computing systems now contain enough computational firepower to run simulations of billions of neurons, comparable to the sophistication of real brains. We increasingly understand how these…
Among chimpanzees, thrill-seeking peaks in toddlerhood
Toddlers are the daredevils of the chimp world. Chimps ages 2 to 5 are more likely than older chimps to free-fall from tree limbs in the forest canopies or leap wildly from branch to branch, researchers report January 7 in iScience. Past age 5, those dangerous canopy behaviors decrease by roughly 3 percent each year….
Woodpeckers’ Secret Strength Revealed—Plus, Flu Surge, AI Sleep Predictions and CES 2026 Trends
Kendra Pierre-Louis: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Kendra Pierre-Louis, in for Rachel Feltman. You’re listening to our weekly science news roundup. First up, if it feels like almost everyone you know either has the flu, is getting over the flu or has just gotten over the flu, you’re not totally wrong. In the U.S.,…
Congress Proposes Strong Science Funding for 2026
January 6, 2026 3 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm Congress Proposes Strong Science Funding for 2026 Lawmakers aim to support science research despite cuts proposed by the Trump administration By Dan Vergano edited by Clara Moskowitz The US Capitol on January 5, 2026. SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Rejecting devastating cuts to science funding proposed…
At CES 2026, AI Leaves the Screen and Enters the Real World
January 6, 2026 3 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm At CES 2026, AI Leaves the Screen and Enters the Real World Humanoids, robotaxis and industrial bots dominate the year’s biggest consumer technology show. Their usefulness remains an open question By Eric Sullivan Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang talks to a robot as…
Starless ‘Cloud-9’ Is an Entirely New Astrophysical Object
January 5, 2026 3 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm Starless ‘Failed Galaxy’ Is First of Its Kind Ever Seen Scientists have found the best evidence yet for long-predicted “failed galaxies” By Jenna Ahart edited by Lee Billings The “failed galaxy” Cloud-9, a dark matter-dominated blob of hydrogen gas some 14 million light-years from…
Trump Wants Venezuela’s Oil. Why Does It Have So Much?
January 7, 2026 3 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm Why Does Venezuela Have So Much Oil? Geology Trump has cited Venezuela’s oil resources as motivation for capturing the nation’s leader—here’s the geology behind the news By Meghan Bartels edited by Andrea Thompson President Donald Trump’s push to take control of Venezuela’s oil has…