Social Sciences

Writers, artists, photographers and researchers share the stories behind the stories

Carl Zimmer’s new book dives into aerobiology and the reasons humans seem unwilling to confront airborne threats

Ant talk; vegetation on Mars

Letters to the editors for the October 2024 issue of Scientific American

A novel that takes place in a near-future surveillance state plots a path toward liberation

Storytelling is part of being human. In this nonfiction book, we learn why and how such narratives can also be a trap

Play this crossword inspired by the February 2025 issue of Scientific American

Our February issue covers new Alzheimer’s guidelines, teens’ transcendent thinking, Neandertal DNA in all of us, and more

Linguists think that the words that we use to express pain might tell us something about our shared biology and the commonality of language.

Communication and misinformation researchers reveal the value of fact-checking, where perceived biases come from and what Meta’s decision could mean

Although warring MAGA factions seem locked in a foreign worker battle with no middle ground, two straightforward changes would provide global talent while minimizing domestic job losses

A government efficiency panel threatens U.S. government competence and constitutional underpinnings, warn two administrative science experts