The human chin is an evolutionary oddity Westend61/Getty Images Humans are the only primates with a chin, leaving biologists to wonder why we acquired this unique feature. According to a new analysis of head anatomy in apes, it probably didn’t evolve for a specific reason of its own but instead emerged as a side effect…
The new moon on February 17 marks the start of the Lunar New Year, which is celebrated in many Southeast and East Asian countries. According to the Chinese zodiac, it’s also the start of the Year of the Horse, offering a perfect excuse to whinny about the science of horses and their animal relatives. Domestic…
The Carina Nebula viewed by the Hubble Space Telescope NASA/ESA/M. Livio, The Hubble Heritage Team & Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI) Start off in any direction and fly through the universe. Out of our solar system, beyond the edge of the Milky Way, through the forest of galaxies that make up our Local Group into…
You may benefit from mixing up your aerobic workouts Piero Facci / Alamy I often say that the key to staying consistent with working out is finding an exercise you love. You are more likely to move your body if you look forward to doing so. But you should also consider switching it up every…
There may be no need to go hungry – intermittent fasting doesn’t cause weight loss anyway Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images Intermittent fasting appears to be no more effective for weight loss than doing nothing at all, according to a review of studies involving people who were overweight or had obesity. The diet has become a…
February 9, 2026 2 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm Ancient seafarers helped shape Arctic ecosystems Humans might have been sailing the sea between Greenland and Canada as long as it’s been unfrozen, archaeological evidence suggests By K. R. Callaway edited by Claire Cameron Crossing over 50 kilometers between Kitsissut and shores of northwest…
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. Last week NASA’s Artemis II moon mission was delayed by at least a month. After the agency’s so-called wet dress rehearsal revealed hydrogen fuel leaks in the launch vehicle, among other problems. Here…
February 11, 2026 2 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm The largest-ever satellite of its kind just unfurled its wings in low-Earth orbit BlueBird 6 features the biggest commercial communications array antenna ever deployed in orbit around Earth, spanning some 2,400 square feet By Claire Cameron edited by Jeanna Bryner Courtesy of AST SpaceMobile…
February 12, 2026 4 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm The physics of ‘Penisgate’ and how ski jumpers fly A scandal involving allegedly enlarged ski suits ahead of this year’s Winter Olympics has highlighted the intriguing physics behind ski jumps By Jackie Flynn Mogensen edited by Claire Cameron Qiwu Song of Team People’s Republic…
The Environmental Protection Agency scrapped the agency’s landmark 2009 global warming “endangerment finding,” breaking with the long-standing scientific consensus that global warming poses a risk to human health. The finding played a critical role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. The transportation sector accounted for 28 percent of all U.S. emissions in…
