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Scientific American Volume 331, Issue 5 | Scientific American

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Taylor</p></section></article><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/mathematicians-discover-a-new-kind-of-shape-thats-all-over-nature/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Mathematics"><img alt="Photographs of 3D-printed shapes show soft cells derived from space filling polyhedra. 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But is that a line we want to cross?</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Jaime B. Palter</p></section></article><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/why-hypochondria-can-be-deadly-and-how-newer-treatments-help/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Mental Illness"><img alt="Illustration of a woman in distress with her hands over her head and pills swirling around her head, and a man sitting in front of a laptop." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/19027a23dd764528/original/sa1224Silb01.jpg?m=1730743233.491&amp;w=450" loading="lazy"/></figure><div class="kickerContainer-U9kI5"><div class="kicker-EEaW-">Mental Illness<span class="kickerSpacer-I99oW"></span><span class="kickerMeta-0zV3t">November 19, 2024</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>Hypochondria Is a Real and Dangerous Illness, New Research Shows</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>Intense health anxiety is a true mental illness and threatens lives. 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Visit Melissa&rsquo;s website at <a href=\\"https://www.melissahobson.co.uk/\\">https://www.melissahobson.co.uk/</a> or follow her on <a href=\\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/melpud/)\\">LinkedIn</a>.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/1b783a53de2ebebe/original/sa1224Adva01K.jpg?m=1730995742.447","image_width":3830,"image_height":2554,"image_alt_text":"Whale swimming in the ocean","image_caption":"<p>The elusive Bryde&rsquo;s whale produces an artificial-sounding &ldquo;biotwang.&rdquo;</p>","image_credits":"<p>Nature Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-09-18T00:05:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Animals","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"10"},{"id":1307950,"contentful_id":"5ckGnhYgttpZvVycftFGEt","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-5ckGnhYgttpZvVycftFGEt","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Birds Are Goofy Runners—And Dinosaurs Might Have Been, Too","display_title":"<p>Here&rsquo;s Why Birds Look So Goofy When They Run</p>","slug":"birds-are-goofy-runners-and-dinosaurs-might-have-been-too","url":"/article/birds-are-goofy-runners-and-dinosaurs-might-have-been-too/","summary":"<p>Looking silly when they run saves birds energy&mdash;and some dinosaurs may have done the same</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"888A369F-D3E7-4409-83CF66A5473A9DD2","url":"/author/meghan-bartels/","contentful_id":"1BFKjWscoJuKOwbJGM1osa","name":"Meghan Bartels","slug":"meghan-bartels","biography":"<p><b>Meghan Bartels</b> is a science journalist based in New York City. She joined <i>Scientific American</i> in 2023 and is now a senior news reporter there. 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 <i>Newsweek</i>, where she focused on space and Earth science. Her writing has also appeared in <i>Audubon, Nautilus, Astronomy</i> and <i>Smithsonian,</i> among other publications. She attended Georgetown University and earned a master&rsquo;s degree in journalism at New York University&rsquo;s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/4295966ed042d7b9/original/running_emu.jpg?m=1727357693.833","image_width":5000,"image_height":3333,"image_alt_text":"Emu running by water","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Ken Griffiths/Alamy Stock Photo</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-09-25T14:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Animals","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"12"},{"id":1308106,"contentful_id":"3z3JkFl6oUirl2g5CDWBiA","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-3z3JkFl6oUirl2g5CDWBiA","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Anyone Can Learn Echolocation in Just 10 Weeks—And It Remodels Your Brain","display_title":"<p>Anyone Can Learn Echolocation in Just 10 Weeks&mdash;And It Remodels Your Brain</p>","slug":"anyone-can-learn-echolocation-in-just-10-weeks-and-it-remodels-your-brain","url":"/article/anyone-can-learn-echolocation-in-just-10-weeks-and-it-remodels-your-brain/","summary":"<p>Human echolocation repurposes parts of the brain&rsquo;s visual cortex for sound, even in sighted people</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"725C5D81-DD83-49AE-938BC6152A0877C9","url":"/author/simon-makin/","contentful_id":"4qnl7zhtNUkKXACboQEl7v","name":"Simon Makin","slug":"simon-makin","biography":"<p><b>Simon Makin</b> is a freelance science journalist based in the U.K. His work has appeared in <i>New Scientist</i>, the <i>Economist, Scientific American</i> and <i>Nature,</i> among others. He covers the life sciences and specializes in neuroscience, psychology and mental health. Follow Makin on X (formerly Twitter) <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/SimonMakin\\">@SimonMakin</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[{"type":"site","value":"http://simonmakin.me.uk"}]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/6232b6eac05e7912/original/sa1224-echolocation.jpg?m=1729707993.437","image_width":1758,"image_height":1171,"image_alt_text":"Abstract illustration of person using echolocation","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Thomas Fuchs</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-10-24T06:45:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Neuroscience","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"13"},{"id":1307850,"contentful_id":"5sxslDGjW2hhGjqPNSjN80","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-5sxslDGjW2hhGjqPNSjN80","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Scientists Make Living Mice’s Skin Transparent with Simple Food Dye","display_title":"<p>Scientists Make Living Mice&rsquo;s Skin Transparent with Simple Food Dye</p>","slug":"scientists-make-living-mices-skin-transparent-with-simple-food-dye","url":"/article/scientists-make-living-mices-skin-transparent-with-simple-food-dye/","summary":"<p>New research harnessed the highly absorbent dye tartrazine, used as the common food coloring Yellow No. 5, to turn tissues in living mice clear&mdash;temporarily revealing organs and vessels inside the animals</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"62BF723E-2FD8-4980-B61EC16B6FCE7251","url":"/author/lauren-j-young/","contentful_id":"4I8VHqrtkVfeqwlUIWOgi9","name":"Lauren J. Young","slug":"lauren-j-young","biography":"<p><b>Lauren J. Young</b> is an associate editor for health and medicine at <i>Scientific American</i>. She has edited and written stories that tackle a wide range of subjects, including the COVID pandemic, emerging diseases, evolutionary biology and health inequities. Young has nearly a decade of newsroom and science journalism experience. Before joining <i>Scientific American</i> in 2023, she was an associate editor at <i>Popular Science</i> and a digital producer at public radio&rsquo;s <i>Science Friday</i>. She has appeared as a guest on radio shows, podcasts and stage events. Young has also spoken on panels for the Asian American Journalists Association, American Library Association, NOVA Science Studio and the New York Botanical Garden. Her work has appeared in <i>Scholastic MATH</i>, <i>School Library Journal</i>, <i>IEEE Spectrum</i>, Atlas Obscura and <i>Smithsonian Magazine</i>. Young studied biology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, before pursuing a master&rsquo;s at New York University&rsquo;s Science, Health &amp; Environmental Reporting Program.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[{"type":"x","value":"@laurenjyoung617"}]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/3341d668ca58d53b/original/transparent_skin_tartrazine_absorption_animation.gif?m=1725569019.621","image_width":800,"image_height":450,"image_alt_text":"Animation depicting how photons interact with tissues at the cellular level, both with and without tartrazine saturation","image_caption":"<p>Skin normally scatters light, a phenomenon represented by white lines in the beginning of this clip. When the food, drug and cosmetic dye Yellow No. 5 is absorbed by skin, however, it reduces scattering and allows light to penetrate deeper, making the tissue transparent. (This technique has not been tested on humans. Dyes may be harmful. Always exercise caution with dyes and do not consume them directly, apply them to people or animals or otherwise misuse them.)</p>","image_credits":"<p>Keyi &ldquo;Onyx&rdquo; Li/U.S. National Science Foundation</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-09-05T16:30:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Basic Chemistry","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"14"},{"id":1308141,"contentful_id":"3NjgNGp8sd8rPoLrwlLpxN","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-3NjgNGp8sd8rPoLrwlLpxN","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"The Universe in 100 Colors Provides a Stunning Tour through Science","display_title":"<p>The Universe in 100 Colors Provides a Stunning Tour through Science</p>","slug":"the-universe-in-100-colors-provides-a-stunning-tour-through-science","url":"/article/the-universe-in-100-colors-provides-a-stunning-tour-through-science/","summary":"<p>A science photo book probes the colors we can see&mdash;and even &ldquo;forbidden&rdquo; colors we can&rsquo;t</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"293290E6-C714-4995-84CF074B1E1D70F2","url":"/author/sarah-lewin-frasier/","contentful_id":"76vhVfd9q76pt8OSEyt8O4","name":"Sarah Lewin Frasier","slug":"sarah-lewin-frasier","biography":"<p><b>Sarah Lewin Frasier</b> is&nbsp;<i>Scientific American</i>'s assistant news editor. She plans, assigns and edits the Advances section of the monthly magazine, as well as editing online news. Before joining&nbsp;<i>Scientific American</i>&nbsp;in 2019, she chronicled humanity's journey to the stars as associate editor at&nbsp;Space.com. (And even earlier, she was a print intern at&nbsp;<i>Scientific American</i>.) Frasier holds an A.B. in mathematics from Brown University and an M.A. in journalism from New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. She enjoys musical theater and mathematical paper craft.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[{"type":"x","value":"@sarahexplains"}]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/48a8fe5390bd1b22/original/1224Adva_Cicada.jpg?m=1730218898.423","image_width":5191,"image_height":3461,"image_alt_text":"A simulation of Van­ta­black on a cicada, with one side painted very deeply black","image_caption":"<p>A simulation of Van&shy;ta&shy;black on half of a cicada.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Tyler Thrasher; From <i>The Universe in 100 Colors, </i>by Tyler Thrasher and Terry Mudge (Sasquatch Books, 2024)</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-10-31T06:45:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Books","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"14"},{"id":1308160,"contentful_id":"ojmgI9T4RH8RFx45CF7zC","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-ojmgI9T4RH8RFx45CF7zC","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Epic Gravity Lens Lines Up Seven-Galaxy View","display_title":"<p>Epic Gravity Lens Lines Up Seven-Galaxy View</p>","slug":"epic-gravity-lens-lines-up-seven-galaxy-view","url":"/article/epic-gravity-lens-lines-up-seven-galaxy-view/","summary":"<p>A galaxy cluster bends light from seven background galaxies around it, letting astronomers peer into space and time</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"5ADE5FA9-BBC0-4F3D-9B4EBCA537816B57","url":"/author/tom-metcalfe/","contentful_id":"5FZ0zzXuVefuoNe36JmBBk","name":"Tom Metcalfe","slug":"tom-metcalfe","biography":"<p><b>Tom Metcalfe</b> is a freelance journalist who is based in London. Metcalfe writes mainly about science, space, archaeology, Earth and the oceans. He has also written for Live Science, the BBC, NBC News, <i>National Geographic, Air &amp; Space</i> and many others.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/69d4a17606378c9/original/sa1224Adva05.jpg?m=1730398953.049","image_width":2000,"image_height":2000,"image_alt_text":"Stars seem to curve around a central bright point in a space photo","image_caption":"<p>The Carousel Lens (<i>center</i>) bends the light of seven background galaxies.</p>","image_credits":"<p>DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys/LBNL/DOE &amp; KPNO/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-04T05:45:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Astronomy","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"16"},{"id":1308116,"contentful_id":"7gyitZrlhlE5WRBMC0O7S5","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-7gyitZrlhlE5WRBMC0O7S5","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"This Is Your Robot Brain on Mushrooms","display_title":"<p>This Is Your Robot Brain on Mushrooms</p>","slug":"this-is-your-robot-brain-on-mushrooms","url":"/article/this-is-your-robot-brain-on-mushrooms/","summary":"<p>New rolling, hopping robots navigate via fungus</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":null,"url":"/author/saima-s-iqbal/","contentful_id":"2ZY1vfj8DLch5lhVpz91mU","name":"Saima S. Iqbal","slug":"saima-s-iqbal","biography":"<p><b>Saima S. Iqbal</b> is <i>Scientific American</i>&rsquo;s current news intern. She specializes in health and medicine and is based in New York City.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/3f531ee943a00083/original/sa1224-fungusrobot.jpg?m=1729787589.3","image_width":2186,"image_height":1458,"image_alt_text":"Fanciful illustration of two mushrooms with a similar-looking robot standing between them, apparently communicating","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Thomas Fuchs</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-10-25T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Robotics","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"17"},{"id":1307939,"contentful_id":"3S28sOiyQgUdm5xdGMvDGw","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-3S28sOiyQgUdm5xdGMvDGw","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Dark Matter Black Holes Could Fly through the Solar System Once a Decade","display_title":"<p>Dark Matter Could Be Hiding Out as Atom-Sized Black Holes</p>","slug":"dark-matter-black-holes-could-fly-through-the-solar-system-once-a-decade","url":"/article/dark-matter-black-holes-could-fly-through-the-solar-system-once-a-decade/","summary":"<p>The universe&rsquo;s hidden mass may be made of black holes, which could wobble the planets of the solar system when they pass by</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"38F3A00A-6C30-4169-949D5E7CEEBA0462","url":"/author/clara-moskowitz/","contentful_id":"3sINdK17AQK75IfqXBEo3s","name":"Clara Moskowitz","slug":"clara-moskowitz","biography":"<p><b>Clara Moskowitz</b> is a senior editor at <i>Scientific American,</i> where she covers astronomy, space, physics and mathematics. She has been at <i>Scientific American</i> for a decade; previously she worked at Space.com. Moskowitz has reported live from rocket launches, space shuttle liftoffs and landings, suborbital spaceflight training, mountaintop observatories, and more. She has a bachelor's degree in astronomy and physics from Wesleyan University and a graduate degree in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[{"type":"x","value":"@ClaraMoskowitz"}]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/60965e3cd6830ae3/original/sa1224Adva07.jpg?m=1731080610.762","image_width":5120,"image_height":4096,"image_alt_text":"Imagined image of a black hole","image_caption":"<p>Tiny black holes may regularly streak through our solar system.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Photo 12/Getty Images</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-09-24T07:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Dark Matter","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"18"},{"id":1307920,"contentful_id":"3Kh9Lev5GkuqQ2YCyImLaY","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-3Kh9Lev5GkuqQ2YCyImLaY","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Quantum ‘Ghost Imaging’ Reveals the Dark Side of Plants","display_title":"<p>Quantum &lsquo;Ghost Imaging&rsquo; Reveals the Dark Side of Plants</p>","slug":"quantum-ghost-imaging-reveals-the-dark-side-of-plants","url":"/article/quantum-ghost-imaging-reveals-the-dark-side-of-plants/","summary":"<p>Entanglement lets researchers watch plants in action without disruptive visible light</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"69D5E9E0-82F7-4ECF-91CD5C82AF62B44F","url":"/author/rachel-berkowitz/","contentful_id":"5JUiNyDd1dqWtordHeFQp3","name":"Rachel Berkowitz","slug":"rachel-berkowitz","biography":"<p><b>Rachel Berkowitz</b> is a freelance science writer and a corresponding editor for <i>Physics Magazine</i>. She is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Eastsound, Wash.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/39d7f7fa5c53e823/original/QuantumPlant.jpg?m=1726516453.817","image_width":1440,"image_height":956,"image_alt_text":"A plant is in one spotlight while its shadow is visible in another spotlight","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Thomas Fuchs</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-09-18T06:45:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Quantum Physics","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"19"},{"id":1308164,"contentful_id":"6gYMiCnh1KigzdkUlHeyfJ","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-6gYMiCnh1KigzdkUlHeyfJ","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"These Bird Nests Show Signs of an Architectural ‘Culture’","display_title":"<p>These Bird Nests Show Signs of an Architectural &lsquo;Culture&rsquo;</p>","slug":"these-bird-nests-show-signs-of-an-architectural-culture","url":"/article/these-bird-nests-show-signs-of-an-architectural-culture/","summary":"<p>Culture may play a role in how birds build collectively in the Kalahari Desert</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":null,"url":"/author/gennaro-tomma/","contentful_id":"tXWWgCYDfpUjVnCsf5fSJ","name":"Gennaro Tomma","slug":"gennaro-tomma","biography":"<p><b>Gennaro Tomma </b>is a freelance science journalist. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) <a href=\\"https://x.com/gennaro_tomma\\">@gennaro_tomma</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/18c153e161d80e32/original/sa1224Adva09.jpg?m=1730750379.286","image_width":5421,"image_height":3608,"image_alt_text":"White-browed Sparrow-Weaver nests and roosts.","image_caption":"<p>White-browed Sparrow-Weaver nests and roosts.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Wolfgang Kaehler/Alamy Stock Photo</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-05T06:45:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Behavior","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"20"},{"id":1308220,"contentful_id":"3Hx8U3YAxXijZxcBlVgHWu","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-3Hx8U3YAxXijZxcBlVgHWu","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Math Puzzle: Find the Secret System","display_title":"<p>Math Puzzle: Find the Secret System</p>","slug":"math-puzzle-find-the-secret-system","url":"/article/math-puzzle-find-the-secret-system/","summary":"<p>How are these numbers organized?</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":null,"url":"/author/heinrich-hemme/","contentful_id":"5F1jwbSM68LXU9DgdDsTUF","name":"Heinrich Hemme","slug":"heinrich-hemme","biography":"<p><b>Heinrich Hemme</b> is a physicist and a former university lecturer at FH Aachen&ndash;University of Applied Sciences in Germany.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/3da926a3ccf413bb/original/mathPuzzles-opener.jpg?m=1723038172.878","image_width":1600,"image_height":1200,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a hand and multiple numbers against a purple background.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Ross MacDonald</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T09:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Mathematics","subtype":"article","column":"Advances","page_number":"20"},{"id":1308232,"contentful_id":"2E4601bbEU3kGAp6016S7z","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-2E4601bbEU3kGAp6016S7z","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Science Crossword: Equine Emergence","display_title":"<p>Science Crossword: Equine Emergence</p>","slug":"science-crossword-equine-emergence","url":"/article/science-crossword-equine-emergence/","summary":"<p>Play this crossword inspired by the December 2024 issue of <i>Scientific American</i></p>","authors":[{"mura_id":null,"url":"/author/aimee-lucido/","contentful_id":"4ozWF45kzssysI9cp8svDO","name":"Aimee Lucido","slug":"aimee-lucido","biography":"<p><b>Aimee Lucido</b> writes crosswords and trivia puzzles that are published everywhere from the <i>New Yorker</i> to the <i>New York Times</i> to independent publications such as AVCX. She is also author of the middle-grade novels <i>Emmy in the Key of Code</i> and <i>Recipe for Disaster,</i> as well as the brand-new picture book <i>Pasta Pasta Lotsa Pasta</i>. Lucido lives with her husband, daughter and dog in New York.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/170d5c1b1809219e/original/GAMES-ICONS-all.jpg?m=1726666171.078","image_width":1000,"image_height":1000,"image_alt_text":"Games illustration with a green background","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Ross MacDonald</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T09:45:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Language","subtype":"article","column":null,"page_number":null}],"departments":[{"id":1308226,"contentful_id":"4cXNjIXn0z7QWbihcv7pjp","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-4cXNjIXn0z7QWbihcv7pjp","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Curiosity, Horses and Hypochondria","display_title":"<p>Curiosity, Horses and Hypochondria</p>","slug":"curiosity-horses-and-hypochondria","url":"/article/curiosity-horses-and-hypochondria/","summary":"<p>Discovering weird new shapes, turning oil rigs into reefs and making the ocean absorb more greenhouse gases</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"AD9E7D8B-B769-4F55-842C9EF830C5CB02","url":"/author/laura-helmuth/","contentful_id":"5p67sNQuWRwjA85s6khk2Z","name":"Laura Helmuth","slug":"laura-helmuth","biography":"<p><b>Laura Helmuth</b> was formerly editor in chief of <i>Scientific American</i>. She previously worked as an editor for the <i>Washington Post, National Geographic, Slate, Smithsonian</i> and <i>Science</i>. She is a former president of the National Association of Science Writers. She is currently a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's standing committee on advancing science communication and an advisory board member for SciLine and The Transmitter. She has a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley. She recently won a Friend of Darwin Award from the National Center for Science Education. Follow her on Bluesky <a href=\\"https://bsky.app/profile/laurahelmuth.bsky.social\\">@laurahelmuth.bsky.social</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/6fe0f4ebd7cd53b0/webimage-sa1224-FromTheEditor-IssueCover.png?m=1730388290.02","image_width":800,"image_height":600,"image_alt_text":"Cover of the December 2024 issue of Scientific American against a green background","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p><i>Scientific American,</i> December 2024</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T08:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Culture","subtype":"article","column":"From the Editor","page_number":"4"},{"id":1308221,"contentful_id":"1HbrSYlweUJb6SRu7HHkzB","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-1HbrSYlweUJb6SRu7HHkzB","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Contributors to Scientific American’s December 2024 Issue","display_title":"<p>Contributors to <i>Scientific American</i>&rsquo;s December 2024 Issue</p>","slug":"contributors-to-scientific-americans-december-2024-issue","url":"/article/contributors-to-scientific-americans-december-2024-issue/","summary":"<p>Writers, artists, photographers and researchers share the stories behind the stories</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"0FFE7A44-84EF-4D95-AD9601E22DEBD3CF","url":"/author/allison-parshall/","contentful_id":"7zo6JTF4ABKwxhv8huzYfA","name":"Allison Parshall","slug":"allison-parshall","biography":"<p><b>Allison Parshall</b> is an associate news editor at <i>Scientific American</i> who often covers biology, health, technology and physics. She edits the magazine's Contributors column and weekly online <a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/games/science-quizzes/\\">Science Quizzes</a>. As a multimedia journalist, Parshall contributes to <i>Scientific American</i>'s podcast <i>Science Quickly</i>. Her work includes a three-part miniseries on music-making artificial intelligence. Her work has also appeared in <i>Quanta Magazine</i> and Inverse. Parshall graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with a master's degree in science, health and environmental reporting. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Georgetown University. Follow Parshall on X (formerly Twitter) <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/parshallison\\">@parshallison</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/2b2bc51be2f2ccf2/original/sa1224Cont01.jpg?m=1730389191.09","image_width":2205,"image_height":2083,"image_alt_text":"A black and white photo of a man (Thomas Fuchs) looking up at a hanging spider.","image_caption":"<p>Thomas Fuchs.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Thomas Fuchs</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T08:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Culture","subtype":"article","column":"Contributors","page_number":"6"},{"id":1308216,"contentful_id":"6MVVu6chFvfwTxXwyyIAXf","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-6MVVu6chFvfwTxXwyyIAXf","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Readers Respond to the July/August 2024 Issue","display_title":"<p>Readers Respond to the July/August 2024 Issue</p>","slug":"readers-respond-to-the-july-august-2024-issue","url":"/article/readers-respond-to-the-july-august-2024-issue/","summary":"<p>Letters to the editors for the July/August 2024 issue of <i>Scientific American</i></p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"F6A98BF8-3A0B-421A-80230E8EB77E75BD","url":"/author/aaron-shattuck/","contentful_id":"2Srkvro2c21fx9aEVDbkXy","name":"Aaron Shattuck","slug":"aaron-shattuck","biography":"<p><b>Aaron Shattuck</b> is a senior copy editor at <i>Scientific American</i>.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/7a47267dc16b43ca/webimage-sa1224-Letters-IssueCover.png?m=1730390432.928","image_width":800,"image_height":600,"image_alt_text":"Cover of the July/August issue of Scientific American against a gray background.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p><i>Scientific American</i>, July/August 2024</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T08:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Culture","subtype":"article","column":"Letters","page_number":"8"},{"id":1308225,"contentful_id":"68OSGUzOvhelVB9iqmlZKH","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-68OSGUzOvhelVB9iqmlZKH","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Book Bans Harm Kids","display_title":"<p>Book Bans Harm Kids</p>","slug":"book-bans-harm-kids","url":"/article/book-bans-harm-kids/","summary":"<p>Censoring what children read deprives them of reality and the chance to feed their curiosity and develop empathy</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"6610491A-EFB0-4B1A-BC878B0BB7E9A5FA","url":"/author/the-editors/","contentful_id":"7GGXsMEKa3BjQp7b1XKlJu","name":"The Editors","slug":"the-editors","biography":null,"picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/23ab3c809fc59788/original/sa1224Agnd_Foru01.jpg?m=1730749637.809","image_width":2100,"image_height":2100,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a blue boy holding a book ripped in half, with the stop symbol over the book","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Thomas Fuchs</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T09:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Education","subtype":"opinion","column":"The Science Agenda","page_number":"70"},{"id":1307441,"contentful_id":"1SmZs1mKTNkKzWKJ6Gynhg","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-1SmZs1mKTNkKzWKJ6Gynhg","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Learning from Great Tits' Urban Adaptability","display_title":"<p>Great Tits Show How Animals Can Thrive in Cities</p>","slug":"learning-from-great-tits-urban-adaptability","url":"/article/learning-from-great-tits-urban-adaptability/","summary":"<p>One of Europe&rsquo;s most common birds, the Great Tit, shows an amazing adaptability to human-made habitats. There seem to be no limits for this species when it comes to inventing new ways of acquiring food from people</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":null,"url":"/author/anders-brodin/","contentful_id":"4PheS9fU9jcXXPN7pY8j3G","name":"Anders Brodin","slug":"anders-brodin","biography":"<p><b>Anders Brodin</b> is professor in ecology at Lund University in Sweden. He has studied cognition in parids for more than 40 years, having been first intrigued by <a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/memory-in-food-hoarding-birds/\\">an article in <i>Scientific American</i> in 1983 about food hoarding and memory in them</a>. He is systematically collecting observations from the public of interesting or unusual behavior by foraging birds. Please submit them <a href=\\"https://www.biology.lu.se/form/observation-feeding-behaviour-birds\\">here</a>.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/7809a9d8439f81fd/original/sa1224Agnd_Foru02.jpg?m=1730909459.86","image_width":5472,"image_height":3648,"image_alt_text":"A yellow and black bird perched on a outdoor, iron decor.","image_caption":"<p>Great Tit.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Mike Lane/Alamy Stock Photo</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":true,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-06-25T07:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Evolution","subtype":"opinion","column":"Forum","page_number":"71"},{"id":1307557,"contentful_id":"54gxF3q7pMT1fJ1G1JCN6F","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-54gxF3q7pMT1fJ1G1JCN6F","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"How to Reconnect with Old Friends Who Have Become Strangers","display_title":"<p>How to Reconnect with Old Friends Who Have Become Strangers</p>","slug":"how-to-reconnect-with-old-friends-who-have-become-strangers","url":"/article/how-to-reconnect-with-old-friends-who-have-become-strangers/","summary":"<p>People are reluctant to reach out to friends they have lost touch with&mdash;but both sides are gratified when they reconnect</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":null,"url":"/author/lara-b-aknin/","contentful_id":"5ZKeMWmOs0ICw67kHfJL7Q","name":"Lara B. Aknin","slug":"lara-b-aknin","biography":"<p><b>Lara B. Aknin</b> is a professor of social psychology and director of the Helping and Happiness Lab at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. Her research focuses on how people can lead happier, kinder and more socially connected lives.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]},{"mura_id":null,"url":"/author/gillian-m-sandstrom/","contentful_id":"5aRSrdmGbhgaprW6xxU6Is","name":"Gillian M. Sandstrom","slug":"gillian-m-sandstrom","biography":"<p><b>Gillian M. Sandstrom</b> is a senior lecturer in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex in England and director of the Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness. She studies the benefits of minimal social interactions with weak ties and strangers and the barriers that prevent people from connecting. Sandstrom is author of a forthcoming book on the hidden benefits of talking to strangers.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/5a98e69c778549cf/original/GettyImages-1282550601_WEB.jpg?m=1720728028.653","image_width":2880,"image_height":1920,"image_alt_text":"Unrecognizable black woman uses smart phone while sitting in chair in living room","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Grace Cary/Getty Images</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-07-12T07:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Psychology","subtype":"opinion","column":"Mind Matters","page_number":"74"},{"id":1308215,"contentful_id":"4j53iygfo3tGM3Il2l0QsC","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-4j53iygfo3tGM3Il2l0QsC","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Concussions Are Remarkably Common and Can Cause Long-Term Problems","display_title":"<p>Concussions Are Remarkably Common and Can Cause Long-Term Problems</p>","slug":"concussions-are-remarkably-common-and-can-cause-long-term-problems","url":"/article/concussions-are-remarkably-common-and-can-cause-long-term-problems/","summary":"<p>New diagnostic techniques can pick up these brain injuries and ensure people get help</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"7B8868C6-C3A1-4FE0-AAD57DC213F3D1E4","url":"/author/lydia-denworth/","contentful_id":"6MleCWwXLkTOkYckLAgXZO","name":"Lydia Denworth","slug":"lydia-denworth","biography":"<p><b>Lydia Denworth</b> is an award-winning science journalist and contributing editor for <i>Scientific American</i>. She is author of <a href=\\"https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393541502\\"><i>Friendship</i></a> (W. W. Norton, 2020).</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/108c95db3f298aa9/original/sa1224Mind_SoH02.jpg?m=1730819636.491","image_width":2350,"image_height":2350,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a girl holding the top of her head after an apparent bonk.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Jay Bendt</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T09:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Neuroscience","subtype":"opinion","column":"The Science of Health","page_number":"75"},{"id":1308213,"contentful_id":"2qeApUIJ2qIVzRQCzGVcL5","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-2qeApUIJ2qIVzRQCzGVcL5","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Book Review: How Oak Trees Warn Us about the Limits of Adapting to Climate Change","display_title":"<p>Book Review: How Oak Trees Warn Us about the Limits of Adapting to Climate Change</p>","slug":"book-review-how-oak-trees-warn-us-about-the-limits-of-adapting-to-climate-change","url":"/article/book-review-how-oak-trees-warn-us-about-the-limits-of-adapting-to-climate-change/","summary":"<p>Oak trees have genetic flexibility that allows them to solve ecological problems. But even they will need our help to survive climate change</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"B3DBF154-7DC7-4239-86DF3BC258D79B51","url":"/author/dana-dunham/","contentful_id":"AtEeSCKm32DEDVdkXdnAC","name":"Dana Dunham","slug":"dana-dunham","biography":"<p><b>Dana Dunham</b> is a writer and editor based in Chicago.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/2088910a9c0b04b/webimage-sa1224Rvws-landscape-hipp.png?m=1730820809.105","image_width":800,"image_height":600,"image_alt_text":"Cover of the book Oak Origins","image_caption":null,"image_credits":null,"image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T09:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Book Reviews","subtype":"article","column":"Reviews","page_number":"77"},{"id":1308218,"contentful_id":"7nSUjgnPyR4LKyFAvuqKU7","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-7nSUjgnPyR4LKyFAvuqKU7","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Book Review: An Expansive New Translation of a Haruki Murakami Classic","display_title":"<p>Book Review: An Expansive New Translation of a Haruki Murakami Classic</p>","slug":"book-review-an-expansive-new-translation-of-a-haruki-murakami-classic","url":"/article/book-review-an-expansive-new-translation-of-a-haruki-murakami-classic/","summary":"<p>In <i>End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland</i>, the title is flipped, but cyberpunk pleasures remain</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":null,"url":"/author/matt-bell/","contentful_id":"3HRW4yuYP3keaykQ4z8HpW","name":"Matt Bell","slug":"matt-bell","biography":null,"picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/337babccf206e2d7/webimage-sa1224Rvws-landscape-murakami.png?m=1730821239.834","image_width":800,"image_height":600,"image_alt_text":"Cover of the book End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland","image_caption":null,"image_credits":null,"image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T09:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Book Reviews","subtype":"article","column":"Reviews","page_number":"77"},{"id":1305254,"contentful_id":"01Rblr40ijfH5ZHqR7qgtc","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-01Rblr40ijfH5ZHqR7qgtc","mura_id":"948B6402-B802-4BE5-B65A58BAD0353698","mura_contentid":"6EDED26E-4452-4171-9F0E8A9FD9484DB3","title":"How a Doodler's Problem Sparked a Controversy in Math","display_title":"<p>How a Doodler&rsquo;s Problem Sparked a Controversy in Math</p>","slug":"how-a-doodlers-problem-sparked-a-controversy-in-math","url":"/article/how-a-doodlers-problem-sparked-a-controversy-in-math/","summary":"<p>The twisty history and surprise ending of the four-color-theorem saga</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"8380DF99-BB0A-4BC3-824DBE3E70787CBA","url":"/author/jack-murtagh/","contentful_id":"4Y2yTE5TRa9dZLAJBYMbB7","name":"Jack Murtagh","slug":"jack-murtagh","biography":"<p><b>Jack Murtagh</b> is a freelance math writer and puzzle creator. He writes a column on <a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/jack-murtagh/\\">mathematical curiosities</a> for <i>Scientific American</i> and creates <a href=\\"https://www.morningbrew.com/contributor/Jack\\">daily puzzles</a> for the Morning Brew newsletter. He holds a Ph.D. in theoretical computer science from Harvard University. Follow Jack on X <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/JackPMurtagh\\">@JackPMurtagh</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/294c3f13e6623860/original/saw1224Math31_leadImage.png?m=1730912012.944","image_width":3750,"image_height":2500,"image_alt_text":"A map of the U.S. with states in yellow, blue, pink and purple. The states that share a border are in different colors.","image_caption":"<p>In this map, no two adjacent states are colored in the same hue.</p>","image_credits":"<p>June Kim</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2023-07-24T10:15:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Mathematics","subtype":"opinion","column":"Math","page_number":"78"},{"id":1307806,"contentful_id":"1HB3jIMUgbJOmi9m3CF2Ve","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-1HB3jIMUgbJOmi9m3CF2Ve","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Will the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies Ever Collide?","display_title":"<p>Will the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies Ever Collide?</p>","slug":"will-the-milky-way-and-andromeda-galaxies-ever-collide","url":"/article/will-the-milky-way-and-andromeda-galaxies-ever-collide/","summary":"<p>Andromeda and the Milky Way may collide, or they may safely swing past each other. Time will tell</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"9AD6ACF4-0A74-4123-80424891724E8B6E","url":"/author/phil-plait/","contentful_id":"7zuXyv1tG9bUbFFtJbqH8U","name":"Phil Plait","slug":"phil-plait","biography":"<p><b>Phil Plait</b> is a professional astronomer and science communicator in Virginia. He writes the <a href=\\"https://badastronomy.beehiiv.com/\\"><i>Bad Astronomy Newsletter</i></a>. Follow him <a href=\\"https://about.me/philplait\\">online</a>.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/62684e55940ac04/original/Colliding-_galaxies.jpg?m=1724352023.093","image_width":1043,"image_height":696,"image_alt_text":"Two colliding spiral galaxies are on the cusp of merging into an intermingled swirl of stars.","image_caption":"<p>A pair of far-distant colliding spiral galaxies, as seen by NASA&rsquo;s Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. A similar fate may await our own Milky Way billions of years from now if it collides with our nearest neighboring spiral galaxy, Andromeda.</p>","image_credits":"<p>NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI)</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-08-23T06:45:00-04:00","digital_column":"The Universe","digital_column_slug":"the-universe","category":"Milky Way","subtype":"opinion","column":"The Universe","page_number":"80"},{"id":1307874,"contentful_id":"30StFmmv8mCTO010ABEmJr","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-30StFmmv8mCTO010ABEmJr","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"What Giant Data Breaches Mean for You","display_title":"<p>What Giant Data Breaches Mean for You</p>","slug":"what-giant-data-breaches-mean-for-you","url":"/article/what-giant-data-breaches-mean-for-you/","summary":"<p>The security expert who created Have I Been Pwned? shares advice for protecting sensitive data</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"95A6D965-28CC-4A12-A8BB4D98E681FF01","url":"/author/ben-guarino/","contentful_id":"cjzrBlFKosTSPdd4rp93S","name":"Ben Guarino","slug":"ben-guarino","biography":"<p><b>Ben Guarino</b> is an associate technology editor at&nbsp;<i>Scientific American</i>. He writes and edits stories about artificial intelligence, robotics and our relationship with our tools. Previously, he worked as a science editor at&nbsp;<i>Popular Science</i>&nbsp;and a staff writer at the&nbsp;<i>Washington Post</i>, where he covered the COVID pandemic, science policy and misinformation (and also dinosaur bones and water bears). He has a degree in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree from New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/34ba5b9d5ab27cb5/original/sa1224QA01.jpg?m=1730993080.57","image_width":2680,"image_height":1996,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a man with short blond hair, behind him is a cartoon-like character working at a computer and a bandit sitting atop a camera","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Shideh Ghandeharizadeh</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-09-12T06:45:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Privacy","subtype":"news","column":"Q&A","page_number":"82"},{"id":1308230,"contentful_id":"1JOJVKxpgBsfwqdfLDxL4b","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-1JOJVKxpgBsfwqdfLDxL4b","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Fossil Fuels Are Not Essential","display_title":"<p>We Can Live without Fossil Fuels</p>","slug":"fossil-fuels-are-not-essential","url":"/article/fossil-fuels-are-not-essential/","summary":"<p>The fossil-fuel industry argues that we can&rsquo;t live without its deadly products. It is wrong</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"23356CAA-963F-490F-879C0942CBCC2AAD","url":"/author/naomi-oreskes/","contentful_id":"52KGJVqwIWlnPcdOxtAWBE","name":"Naomi Oreskes","slug":"naomi-oreskes","biography":"<p><b>Naomi Oreskes</b> is a professor of the history of science at Harvard University. She is author of&nbsp;<a href=\\"https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691179001/why-trust-science\\"><i>Why Trust Science?</i></a>&nbsp;(Princeton University Press, 2019) and co-author of <a href=\\"https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/big-myth-9781635573572/\\"><i>The Big Myth</i></a><i> </i>(Bloomsbury, 2023).</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/4e2fcb5f8d85703f/original/sa1224Obs_Mtr01.jpg?m=1730832763.636","image_width":7534,"image_height":6130,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a large man with a top hat carrying a smoky city on his back. A small girl in walking and whistling in front of him.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Scott Brundage</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T09:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Fossil Fuels","subtype":"opinion","column":"Observatory","page_number":"84"},{"id":1308229,"contentful_id":"2DqyuX06KwuAcHaC4Qj4L4","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-2DqyuX06KwuAcHaC4Qj4L4","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Poem: ‘The First Bite’","display_title":"<p>Poem: &lsquo;The First Bite&rsquo;</p>","slug":"poem-the-first-bite","url":"/article/poem-the-first-bite/","summary":"<p>Science in meter and verse</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"0742B98A-9EC7-4419-8564EBCFC6B3B3D5","url":"/author/gillian-neimark/","contentful_id":"7xFMDfihTHktFdIICiFNRI","name":"Gillian Neimark","slug":"gillian-neimark","biography":"<p><b>Gillian Neimark</b> is a science journalist who also writes poetry and fiction. She launched her children&rsquo;s imprint, Blue Jasper Editions, in 2023 with <i>Forest Joy and Nature Explorers</i>.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/1c45b8717d5282dd/webimage-sa1224-meterWeb.png?m=1730833173.422","image_width":800,"image_height":533,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a green landscape","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Masha Foya</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T09:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Arts","subtype":"article","column":"Meter","page_number":"85"},{"id":1308228,"contentful_id":"7kYGYuwNzezVBhxUgGvtmh","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-7kYGYuwNzezVBhxUgGvtmh","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"See How Close We Are to Gender Equality around the World","display_title":"<p>See How Close We Are to Gender Equality around the World</p>","slug":"see-how-close-we-are-to-gender-equality-around-the-world","url":"/article/see-how-close-we-are-to-gender-equality-around-the-world/","summary":"<p>U.N. statistics show progress toward the goal of gender equality but a long way left to go</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"38F3A00A-6C30-4169-949D5E7CEEBA0462","url":"/author/clara-moskowitz/","contentful_id":"3sINdK17AQK75IfqXBEo3s","name":"Clara Moskowitz","slug":"clara-moskowitz","biography":"<p><b>Clara Moskowitz</b> is a senior editor at <i>Scientific American,</i> where she covers astronomy, space, physics and mathematics. She has been at <i>Scientific American</i> for a decade; previously she worked at Space.com. Moskowitz has reported live from rocket launches, space shuttle liftoffs and landings, suborbital spaceflight training, mountaintop observatories, and more. She has a bachelor's degree in astronomy and physics from Wesleyan University and a graduate degree in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[{"type":"x","value":"@ClaraMoskowitz"}]},{"mura_id":"293620FC-B190-4C5A-9DF23F0260A33DAC","url":"/author/federica-fragapane/","contentful_id":"55SpZSP0MSbS2mkZp2yqtD","name":"Federica Fragapane","slug":"federica-fragapane","biography":"<p><b>Federica Fragapane</b> is an independent information designer who specializes in creating projects and data visualizations as a freelancer. Many of her projects take an experimental approach, carefully selecting visual languages to encourage readers to engage with the narratives conveyed by the data. In 2023 three of her projects were acquired by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, becoming part of its Permanent Collection. Her work can be found at&nbsp;<a href=\\"https://www.behance.net/federicafragapane\\">www.be.net/federicafragapane</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/62170ee71efeea39/original/saw1224Gsci_lead_primary.jpg?m=1730834153.807","image_width":3750,"image_height":2500,"image_alt_text":"Detail of a chart shows levels and trends of Sustainable Development Goal 5.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Federica Fragapane</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T09:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Inequality","subtype":"article","column":"Graphic Science","page_number":"86"},{"id":1308219,"contentful_id":"68sWoWWpoWfodm52mlbgTd","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-68sWoWWpoWfodm52mlbgTd","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"December 2024: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago","display_title":"<p>December 2024: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago</p>","slug":"december-2024-science-history-from-50-100-and-150-years-ago","url":"/article/december-2024-science-history-from-50-100-and-150-years-ago/","summary":"<p>Alcohol in space; basking in the limelight</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"FA9B0013-BF43-43F2-8D84A143F09A3233","url":"/author/mark-fischetti/","contentful_id":"5FnO6B4M1I3LjiNvLlJasP","name":"Mark Fischetti","slug":"mark-fischetti","biography":"<p><b>Mark Fischetti</b> has been a senior editor at <i>Scientific American</i> for 17 years and has covered sustainability issues, including climate, weather, environment, energy, food, water, biodiversity, population, and more. He assigns and edits feature articles, commentaries and news by journalists and scientists and also writes in those formats. He edits History, the magazine's department looking at science advances throughout time. He was founding managing editor of two spinoff magazines: <i>Scientific American Mind</i> and <i>Scientific American Earth 3.0</i>. His 2001 freelance article for the magazine, \\"<a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2001/10-01\\">Drowning New Orleans</a>,\\" predicted the widespread disaster that a storm like Hurricane Katrina would impose on the city. His video <a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/what-happens-to-your-body-after-you-die\\"><i>What Happens to Your Body after You Die?</i></a>, has more than 12 million views on YouTube. Fischetti has written freelance articles for the <i>New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian, Technology Review, Fast Company,</i> and many others. He co-authored the book <i>Weaving the Web</i> with Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, which tells the real story of how the Web was created. He also co-authored <i>The New Killer Diseases</i> with microbiologist Elinor Levy. Fischetti is a former managing editor of <i>IEEE Spectrum Magazine</i> and of <i>Family Business Magazine</i>. He has a physics degree and has twice served as the Attaway Fellow in Civic Culture at Centenary College of Louisiana, which awarded him an honorary doctorate. In 2021 he received the American Geophysical Union's Robert C. Cowen Award for Sustained Achievement in Science Journalism, which celebrates a career of outstanding reporting on the Earth and space sciences. He has appeared on NBC's Meet the Press, CNN, the History Channel, NPR News and many news radio stations. Follow Fischetti on X (formerly Twitter) <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/markfischetti\\">@markfischetti</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/dam/m/7a3bd62cb0dac7d/original/sa1224Hist01.jpg?m=1731702415.883","image_width":2915,"image_height":3048,"image_alt_text":"12 Ace cards, with multiple hearts, spades, clovers and diamonds in red and black","image_caption":"<p><b>1974, How Many Aces of Spades?:</b> &ldquo;After a brief glance at this display most people report seeing three. Actually there are five. Because people expect aces of spades to be black, they tend to miss the atypical red ones. Thus do prior conditioning and experience influence perception.&rdquo;</p>","image_credits":"<p><i>Scientific American</i>, Vol. 231, No. 6; December 1974</p>","image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":false,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2024-11-19T09:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"History","subtype":"article","column":"History","page_number":"88"}],"features":[{"id":1308214,"contentful_id":"7qfHkaSxwWOJpTcwY2J0bg","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican122024-7qfHkaSxwWOJpTcwY2J0bg","mura_id":null,"mura_contentid":null,"title":"Horse Domestication Story Gets a Surprising Rewrite","display_title":"<p>The Surprising New History of Horse Domestication</p>","slug":"horse-domestication-story-gets-a-surprising-rewrite","url":"/article/horse-domestication-story-gets-a-surprising-rewrite/","summary":"<p>Archaeological and genetic discoveries topple long-standing ideas about the domestication of equines</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":null,"url":"/author/william-t-taylor/","contentful_id":"3A6WOAeVjXvbNCaGs8wuDR","name":"William T. 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The good news is that it&rsquo;s treatable</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":null,"url":"/author/joanne-silberner/","contentful_id":"6ygybWFTIb6ESN7dpWizPx","name":"Joanne Silberner","slug":"joanne-silberner","biography":"<p><b>Joanne Silberner</b>, a former NPR health correspondent, has been covering medicine and public health since the start of the HIV epidemic. 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