Meghan Bartels is a science journalist based in New York City. She joined Scientific American in 2023 and is now a senior news reporter. Previously, she spent more than four years as a writer and editor at Space.com, as well as nearly a year as a science reporter at Newsweek, where she focused on space and Earth science. Her writing has also appeared in Audubon, Nautilus, Astronomy and Smithsonian, among other publications. She attended Georgetown University and earned a master's in journalism at New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program.
Massive Cosmic Map Suggests Dark Energy Is Even Weirder Than We Thought
In just one year of observations, a program that is creating the largest 3D map of the universe to date has sniffed out hints that dark energy may be stranger than scientists supposed
What Were the Red Dots around the Total Solar Eclipse?
During the total solar eclipse, skywatchers saw ruby-colored prominences sticking out of the moon's shadow. Here's the science of those red dots
See Stunning Images Captured by Scientific American Staff during the Solar Eclipse
Scientific American staffers headed to locations ranging from Texas to Vermont to try to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse
Periodical Cicadas Emerge Every 13 or 17 Years. How Do They Keep Track of Time?
Periodical cicadas have a clever hack to help them figure out when to emerge after more than a decade underground
Solar Eclipse Will Reveal Stunning Corona, Scientists Predict
Predicting what the sun will look like during a total solar eclipse is a helpful exercise for scientists in the long quest to understand how our star works
Watch the Total Solar Eclipse Live Online with Scientific American
Celebrate the April 8 total solar eclipse with these livestreams from NASA, the NSF, Scientific American, and more
How Do Animals Respond to a Total Solar Eclipse?
Scientists are finally getting their hands on enough data to begin to understand how animals react to a total solar eclipse
Stunning Comet Spiral Offers Glimpse of Icy Snowball at Its Core
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is hiding a strange spiral in its icy heart—and it may tell scientists about the comet’s innards
Snake Steak Could Be a Climate-Friendly Source of Protein
Pythons turn their food into meat pretty efficiently, a study finds, making them an intriguing alternative to climate-unfriendly cows
Total Solar Eclipses Are Cosmic Coincidences That Won’t Last Forever
Earthlings are very lucky to see the spectacle of a total solar eclipse
A Double Emergence of Periodical Cicadas Isn’t Cicada-geddon—It’s a Marvel
The U.S. will see two adjacent broods of periodical cicadas emerge this spring
Tubby Labradors May Be at the Mercy of Their Genes, Not Just Too Many Treats
One in four Labrador retrievers carries a gene that tricks their brain into thinking they’re starving
What Do Dogs and Cats Dream About?
Pets can’t report their dreams, but scientists have some evidence about what is happening when Sparky and Mittens sleep
Who Gets an Abortion in the U.S.? Perceptions Don’t Match Reality
People’s perceptions about who gets an abortion and why rely on stereotypes and misconceptions—with potential policy implications
Stunning Comet Could Photobomb This April’s Total Solar Eclipse
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will make its closest approach to the sun this April—right after North America is treated to a total solar eclipse
Sculptures about to Land on the Moon Join a Long History of Lunar Art
A lunar lander nicknamed Odie carries 125 small moon sculptures by artist Jeff Koons that could become the first authorized artwork on the moon
How Risky Are Repeat COVID Infections? What We Know So Far
Four years into the pandemic, many people have had COVID more than once—but the health consequences of repeat infections are not yet clear
Antarctica’s Penguins Could Be Devastated by Avian Influenza
Scientists are watching closely to see whether avian influenza will reach Antarctica before this year’s penguin chicks disperse for the season
Rampant COVID Poses New Challenges in the Fifth Year of the Pandemic
“We’re still in a pandemic,” says a lead COVID official with the World Health Organization
Jupiter’s Supervolcanic Moon Io Dazzles in Photos from NASA’s Close Flybys
During close flybys of Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io, NASA’s Juno spacecraft captured stunning “bonus science” about the nightmarish world
NASA’s Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Ends Mission on the Red Planet after 3 Years
NASA’s enterprising Mars helicopter and its remarkable 72 flights offered a new vision of planetary exploration
Lions Are Changing Their Hunting Strategy because of Ant Invasion
Big-headed ants are invading new territories in Kenya—and the consequences are rippling through the whole ecosystem, scientists have found
Robotic Dinosaur Tests How Dinos (and Birds) Got Wings
Scientists built a robotic dinosaur to terrify grasshoppers, all in hopes of understanding how truly pathetic wings could offer prehistoric animals an evolutionary advantage
Why 2024’s Total Solar Eclipse Will Be So Special
The last time North Americans caught a total solar eclipse, the sun was in a lull of activity. This year’s eclipse will be very different