News: Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.
New ‘First Proof’ exam reveals how AI-powered math is a pay-to-play sport
The benchmark confirms that some AIs are becoming exceptional tools for research-level math. But open-source models still struggle
Posted on 14 October 2026 | 9:00 pm
NIH appears to shut down public comments on science peer-review rule change ahead of schedule
The proposed change to how the National Institutes of Health handles grant applications has been criticized by scientists as reducing transparency
Posted on 14 October 2026 | 8:00 pm
Microplastics are linked to inflammation—scientists might have finally worked out why
Microplastics interact with water to create highly reactive molecules, a new study finds
Posted on 14 October 2026 | 7:30 pm
How a year of extreme weather and a ‘Super El Niño’ will affect fall foliage
Leaf-peeping season is ramping up—here’s what to expect
Posted on 14 October 2026 | 6:00 pm
Stunning video reveals the year-round dance of the sun’s corona
NASA’s PUNCH mission is showing a rarely seen aspect of our nearest star—the churning chaos of the solar corona
Posted on 14 October 2026 | 6:00 pm
An ancient Chinese math puzzle shows how to win at cards, horse races and gerrymandering
A stratagem that dates back two millennia leads to a math puzzle that took 30 years to solve
Posted on 14 October 2026 | 4:30 pm
Climate scientists issue a sobering diagnosis about Earth's 'vital signs'
“The climate emergency is already here”
Posted on 14 October 2026 | 4:00 pm
Amateur astronomer harnesses AI to find a possible hidden exoplanet
Evidence for this possible super-Earth has been lurking for years in NASA data. Pavel Rabtsevich found it—with a little help from AI
Posted on 14 October 2026 | 1:00 pm
The large language model took less than a day to identify the curious stretch of DNA
Posted on 14 October 2026 | 12:00 pm
Are Blue Zones real? One researcher finds the data deeply flawed
The data behind Blue Zones might not be that strong
Posted on 14 October 2026 | 12:00 pm
The Category 2 storm spawned tornadoes, flooding and extreme rain when it made landfall
Posted on 13 October 2026 | 11:00 pm
Latest Trump administration proposal to change NIH research grant system draws scientists’ ire
One researcher tells Scientific American that the change would reduce transparency and risk politicizing the grant review process
Posted on 13 October 2026 | 9:50 pm
The mathematical secret behind why rose petals curl
The elegant curl of rose petals may be distinct among flowers—and math can explain why
Posted on 13 October 2026 | 8:00 pm
OpenAI’s blockbuster Navier-Stokes proof isn’t what we thought it was
Rumors that OpenAI’s “Navier-Stokes” solution stole the work of two mathematicians may have been overblown
Posted on 13 October 2026 | 6:42 pm
What happens to the body during menopause? New research hints at a biological ‘cliff’
Certain health markers seem to “jump” during menopause, according to a new study, but it’s unclear why
Posted on 13 October 2026 | 4:35 pm