AnimalsFebruary 6, 2025
Whale Songs Obey Basic Rules of Human Languages
Humpback whales learn their haunting melodies in much the same way humans learn words
Language
LanguageJanuary 21, 2025
Science Crossword: It’s All Coming Together
Play this crossword inspired by the February 2025 issue of Scientific American
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LanguageJanuary 17, 2025
The Ways We Express Pain Point to Universality in Language
Linguists think that the words that we use to express pain might tell us something about our shared biology and the commonality of language.
LanguageDecember 18, 2024
Eight, Ocho, Acht Most Fascinating Language Discoveries of 2024
This year scientists found universal language for pain, tracked why some words go extinct, developed mind-reading brain-to-speech technology, and more
LanguageDecember 17, 2024
Science Crossword: Out of Sight
Play this crossword inspired by the January 2025 issue of Scientific American
LanguageDecember 13, 2024
From Polarization to Brain Rot to Brat, 2024’s Words of the Year Reflect Online Power and Peril
The 2024 word-of-the-year winners offer a window into the spirit of the times
LanguageNovember 27, 2024
Ouch! Linguists Find Universal Language for Pain
From “ouch” to “aïe” to “yakayi,” languages across the world exclaim pain using similar-sounding words, hinting at a common origin
LanguageNovember 19, 2024
Science Crossword: Equine Emergence
Play this crossword inspired by the December 2024 issue of Scientific American
NeuroscienceOctober 17, 2024
You Don’t Need Words to Think
Brain studies show that language is not essential for the cognitive processes that underlie thought
LanguageOctober 15, 2024
Science Crossword: Girl With Kaleidoscope Eyes
Play this crossword inspired by the November 2024 issue of Scientific American
LanguageSeptember 18, 2024
Science Crossword: Cosmic Goals
Play this crossword inspired by the October 2024 issue of Scientific American
LanguageApril 25, 2024
Elizabeth Bates and the Search for the Roots of Human Language
In the 1970s a young psychologist challenged a popular theory of how we acquire language, launching a fierce debate that continues to this day