How a Theory about Climate Change Led to The Feminine Mystique
In 1958 Betty Friedan wrote an article that changed science journalism—and her career
Culture
Animal ‘Queens’ Reveal Surprising Complexities of Social Power
In a new nature documentary about matriarchal species, the males are mostly absent
An Eclipse Is a Moment of Solitude, Even When You’re in a Crowd
Even among hundreds of people, experiencing an eclipse is a joyous solitude
To Ancient Maya, Solar Eclipses Signified Clashing Gods
Ancient Maya saw solar eclipses as a “broken sun” that was a sign of possible destruction
Why Some Songs Make Everyone Want to Dance
A syncopated rhythm may prompt our brain to find the beat
Readers Respond to the December 2023 Issue
Letters to the editors for the December 2023 issue of Scientific American
When Real Life Is Hostile, LGBTQ+ Gamers Find Friendship Online
Many LGBTQ+ video gamers use gaming to build community, especially in jurisdictions that are considering anti-LGBTQ+ legislation
Why You Should Listen when Your Child Cries ‘Not Fair!’
Children need patient adults and lots of practice to understand fairness, justice and equality
Too Much Trust in AI Poses Unexpected Threats to the Scientific Process
It’s vital to “keep humans in the loop” to avoid humanizing machine-learning models in research
How Blatantly False Headlines Can Distort What We Believe In
New research highlights the necessity of stopping huge falsehoods during the presidential election cycle
Debating Screen Time? Here’s Why Reading Might Tip Your Scales
Digital books will never replace the tactile experience of paper books, but as part of bedtime reading and improving access to reading materials, they shouldn’t be counted as screen time
Readers Respond to the November 2023 Issue
Letters to the editors for the November 2023 issue of Scientific American