Social Sciences

“Propaganda works” is the real upshot of a survey showing lingering postpandemic distrust of science

The full potential of public opinion polling lies in its ability to illuminate deeper societal trends beyond electoral forecasts

In 2018 a group of students at Dartmouth College filed a lawsuit that revealed an entrenched culture of power and abuse, and in doing so, they sparked a wider conversation about sexual violence in science.

A collection of nonfiction and fiction books Scientific American editorial staff and contributors read and recommend in 2024

This year scientists found universal language for pain, tracked why some words go extinct, developed mind-reading brain-to-speech technology, and more

Reaction to a recent Pew survey on the public’s trust in science shows that the scientific community is not ready to address the real problem

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

The searches for Planet Nine, bat viruses, life on Jupiter’s moon Europa and lucid dreams

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

The connection between queer love and the power to imagine a more sustainable future

In the often-gloomy genre of climate fiction, a new novel hits a high-water mark for its empathy

The J particle; a nitroglycerin engine