CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <title>Scientific American Volume 329, Issue 3 | Scientific American</title> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/10-01/"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#fff"/> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:standard"/> <link rel="image_src" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/10-01/"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png?w=1200"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png?w=1200"/> <meta name="description" content=""Why We'll Never Live in Space", "It's Time to Engineer the Sky", "Wine's True Origins Are Finally Revealed" and more"/> <meta property="og:description" content=""Why We'll Never Live in Space", "It's Time to Engineer the Sky", "Wine's True Origins Are Finally Revealed" and more"/> <meta property="og:type" content="website"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Scientific American Volume 329, Issue 3"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content=""Why We'll Never Live in Space", "It's Time to Engineer the Sky", "Wine's True Origins Are Finally Revealed" and more"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Scientific American"/> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@sciam"/> <meta name="twitter:domain" content="scientificamerican.com"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"PublicationIssue","@id":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/10-01/","datePublished":"2023-10-01","description":"Scientific American Volume 329, Issue 3","hasPart":[{"@type":"Article","about":"Astronomers are piecing together the final moments of supernova 2023ixf and learning more about it than any other in recent history","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jonathan O'Callaghan","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jonathan-ocallaghan/"}],"datePublished":"2023-07-21T07:00:00-04:00","headline":"Nearby Supernova Gives Unique View of a Dying Star's Last Days","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4A9FBD94-2957-4172-A89D7F3590B7BDD3_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A molecular additive allows different kinds of plastic to be recycled together","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Susan Cosier","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/susan-cosier/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"New Chemical Process Offers Hope for Mixed-Plastics Recycling","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/B5074283-4D47-4F39-8B178E59666410E3_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Male hellbender salamanders normally tend their young, but lately they\u2019ve been devouring them instead","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Carolyn Wilke","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/carolyn-wilke/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Cannibalistic Dads May Be Contributing to Hellbender Salamander Declines","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E50B5CF5-8BAC-4F62-AC037D9552E92E2D_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Hotspots beneath cities deform the ground, causing important infrastructure to crack under stress","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Allison Parshall","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/allison-parshall/"}],"datePublished":"2023-07-11T05:00:00-04:00","headline":"Underground Climate Change Is Weakening Buildings in Slow Motion","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/DACBC46D-1883-41EA-B4D616A00E45E016_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"An age-old remedy that was prescribed by Hippocrates may be a cheap alternative to antibiotics for those with chronic wounds","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Leo DeLuca","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/leo-deluca/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Ancient Honey-and-Vinegar Combo Could Actually Treat Infected Wounds","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/53B0F75C-EBB5-4D0C-98BAAB05D24F266D_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Scientists accidentally discover metals that mend themselves without human intervention","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lucy Tu","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lucy-tu/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Some Metals Mysteriously Heal Their Own Cracks","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/44D14101-334A-4EEE-A4ED4A49BFEBD7C7_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A battery-free GPS may change the game for tracking elusive animals","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rachel Crowell","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/rachel-crowell/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"New Wildlife Tracker Powers Itself as Animals Walk, Trot and Run","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/0610CC00-92AD-41DE-8FB88D7F7AEE6D36_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Scientists are now growing mycelium, the fungal root network, into fire-retardant sheets to provide a safer, nontoxic way to protect buildings","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"O. Rose Broderick","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/o-rose-broderick/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Fungi Make Safer Fireproofing Material","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/6162D737-C77F-4458-BF546CFCA82CF6E1_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Tilapia skin\u2019s collagen can aid in healing burns, fixing heart valves, and more\u2014and now it can be used for repairing corneas","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jill Langlois","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jill-langlois/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Fish Skin Can Heal Other Animals' Eye Injuries","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/C3BFA856-2683-444B-A9C22FEEA874FE66_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Mammals munching on dinosaurs in China, Greenland\u2019s melted past, coral catastrophe in Florida, and much more in this month\u2019s Quick Hits","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lucy Tu","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lucy-tu/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Science News Briefs from around the World: October 2023","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F59BA658-D248-48AE-B21900718B706D78_source.png"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A key genetic mutation\u2014harmful in humans\u2014may have opened the sky to bats","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Riley Black","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/riley-black/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Mutated Gene That Causes Webbed Limbs in Humans May Have Given Bats Wings","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E4E22FF7-7335-4A8A-8B3081F650AE4E14_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Researchers have created the first nerve-controlled prosthetic hand that can be used in daily life","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Simon Makin","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/simon-makin/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Above-Elbow Bionic Arm Can Control Every Finger","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F6BDD805-6757-4367-91F3AF5A7F65F817_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"These four researchers are highlighting environmental inequities and improving the health of their communities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katherine Bourzac","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/katherine-bourzac/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"People Who Are Changing the Environment One Community at a Time","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F17A760C-058B-43BD-90EC5FD2FBB01CCE_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"People of color, more than other groups, live in neighborhoods prone to excess heat and the illnesses that go with it","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melba Newsome","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/melba-newsome/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Discrimination Has Trapped People of Color in Unhealthy Urban 'Heat Islands'","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/99123F41-9455-43A5-86DC927BDB3FAF51_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A special package explores problems and solutions to the geography of injustice","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lauren Gravitz","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lauren-gravitz/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-21T10:00:00-04:00","headline":"For Health Equity, Location Matters","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/CDC28A72-21CB-480A-8CAD38960C732D4C_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"The disease hits farmworkers and outdoor laborers disproportionately hard","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ashli Blow","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/ashli-blow/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Valley Fever Is a Growing Fungal Threat to Outdoor Workers","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/239622B9-2B6E-4EFE-8EE9821EE52A8D0A_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"The most marginalized people are breathing the most polluted air, and improving it could improve health equity worldwide","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jyoti Madhusoodanan","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jyoti-madhusoodanan/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Fixing Air Pollution Could Dramatically Improve Health Disparities","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/BF48B641-E62B-4A9A-8819CD90B4D80D5F_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"In low- and middle-income nations, snakebite envenoming is more deadly than almost any other neglected tropical disease","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cassandra Willyard","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/cassandra-willyard/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"More People Die from Venomous Snakebites Each Year Than Have Ever Died from Ebola","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5F25AC7D-EE01-47D1-83B0762672541313_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Robert D. Bullard reflects on the movement he helped to create","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Yessenia Funes","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/yessenia-funes/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"The Father of Environmental Justice Exposes the Geography of Inequity","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/2153A595-F5A8-4641-A9635B831A42FFEB_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Geoengineering is happening, AI wants to talk with animals, and why we aren\u2019t going to live in space","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Laura Helmuth","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/laura-helmuth/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Introducing Scientific American's Redesign, Newsletter and Podcasts","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/63C10021-0B6F-4A2F-86D1F173775C036F_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Letters to the editors for the May\u00A02023 issue of Scientific American","author":[],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Readers Respond to the May 2023 Issue","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F267D082-14F4-4252-9245F135DC931449_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"As climate change increases the number and severity of natural disasters, an investment in updated building codes will save billions in repairs","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"The Editors","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/the-editors/"}],"datePublished":"2023-08-24T10:30:00-04:00","headline":"Building Codes Save Money and Lives","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4E749F08-E434-4A9C-806D2D9A1E1CA0AD_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"For centuries, scientific discoveries have suggested humanity occupies no privileged place in the universe. Now, however, studies of worlds beyond our solar system could place meaningful new limits on our existential mediocrity","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mario Livio","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/mario-livio/"}],"datePublished":"2023-04-19T08:00:00-04:00","headline":"How Far Should We Take Our Cosmic Humility?","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F9AF0817-8856-4449-8DAA0627D85D4E87_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"New research shows any alcohol can harm your body, but the increased risk may not be huge","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lydia Denworth","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lydia-denworth/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"How to Figure Out if Moderate Drinking Is Too Risky for You","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5F218DC5-CAE3-4BA4-8E9E934B0224D6A5_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Older people show significant cognitive benefits from learning, provided they have the opportunity to do so","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rachel Wu","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/rachel-wu/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jessica A. Church-Lang","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jessica-a-church/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-29T06:45:00-04:00","headline":"To Stay Sharp as You Age, Learn New Skills","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/14C5B0C4-1BF2-46BC-AC4306E958F3E8AA_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"When looking for life in space, we should broaden our horizons","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Phil Plait","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/phil-plait/"}],"datePublished":"2023-07-06T10:00:00-04:00","headline":"We Need to Widen the 'Habitable Zones' Seen around Alien Stars","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/2B91D48E-25EF-4D3B-8A0DB37B863C352E_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Astrophysicist Aomawa Shields recounts her alternative career path in a new memoir about life, space and motherhood","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rebecca Boyle","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/rebecca-boyle/"}],"datePublished":"2023-07-24T07:00:00-04:00","headline":"Only 26 Black Women Have Ever Become Astrophysicists in the U.S. Here's One's Story","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/20F1B881-DE0A-44D5-82449D7627195974_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Awarding Rosalind Franklin a Nobel Prize posthumously for her role in DNA discovery is the honorable\u2014and scientific\u2014thing to do","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Naomi Oreskes","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/naomi-oreskes/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Rosalind Franklin Deserves a Posthumous Nobel Prize for Co-discovering DNA Structure","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/8A0EB633-E9BB-4F5A-BD912F9B31DC8DD3_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Science in meter and verse","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jonathan Katz","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jonathan-katz/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Poem: 'Message to My Beloved Sibling'","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5032C9F6-4411-4D12-82E1DD2B29EB30B8_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Why we\u2019re seduced by nature\u2019s toxins, horror stories for winter solstice, and more books out this month","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amy Brady","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/amy-brady/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"A Fictional Psychological Thriller about the Rise of AI","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/908B0425-8D28-4BC0-A64EFF4F41BFA8C8_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Generative AI algorithms use probability to create visuals from noise","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sophie Bushwick","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/sophie-bushwick/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Matthew Twombly","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/matthew-twombly/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Amanda Hobbs","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/amanda-hobbs/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"See How AI Generates Images from Text","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/397215D1-F20A-4504-B105F408589D2B04_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Earth as a zoo; sunburned eyes","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mark Fischetti","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/mark-fischetti/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"History: October 2023","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/0BBC1F92-5C21-46B2-8CA664EFE3AC002C_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Medical, financial and ethical hurdles stand in the way of the dream to settle in space","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sarah Scoles","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/sarah-scoles/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Why We'll Never Live in Space","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F333CD63-EBB4-4FBE-A5E2441D6EA3D300_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Global warming is so rampant that some scientists say we should begin altering the stratosphere to block incoming sunlight, even if it jeopardizes rain and crops","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Douglas Fox","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/douglas-fox/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"It's Time to Engineer the Sky","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/457D7BF9-2D0E-4D98-825AE44DF266DA96_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A broad genetic study has revised the prevailing narrative about how wine grapes spread around the world","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mark Fischetti","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/mark-fischetti/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Francesco Franchi","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/francesco-franchi/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Wine's True Origins Are Finally Revealed","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/B2DC0782-CAE5-481F-99DA0C1E5087889D_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"AI is poised to revolutionize our understanding of animal communication","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lois Parshley","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lois-parshley/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Artificial Intelligence Could Finally Let Us Talk with Animals","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/8A9FC0D0-D02D-4909-8E7B90874F98DBF2_source.jpg"}],"image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png","isPartOf":{"@type":["Periodical","PublicationVolume"],"@id:":"vol329","name":"Scientific American Magazine","publisher":"Scientific American"},"issueNumber":"3","url":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/10-01/"}]}</script> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","@id":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/#publisher","name":"Scientific American","alternateName":"SciAm","legalName":"Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc.","description":"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.","foundingDate":"1845-08-28","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/static/sciam.svg"},"url":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/","masthead":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/masthead/","sameAs":["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_American","https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39379","https://www.jstor.org/publisher/sciamerican","https://x.com/sciam","https://www.youtube.com/user/SciAmerican","https://www.tiktok.com/@scientificamerican","https://www.threads.net/@scientific_american","https://www.facebook.com/ScientificAmerican/"],"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1 New York Plaza","addressLocality":"New York","addressRegion":"NY","postalCode":"10004","addressCountry":"US"}}</script> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="icon shortcut" href="/static/favicon.ico" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/platform/syndication/rss/" /> <script data-layer="critical">;performance.mark('app-load-start');((d,ael,dcl,unl,cxl,log,onunl)=>{log('[readyState]',d.readyState);d[ael]('readystatechange',()=>log('[readyState]',d.readyState));d[ael](dcl,()=>log(dcl));d[ael](unl,onunl);window.onload=()=>{d.removeEventListener(unl,onunl);log('windowloaded')};})(document,'addEventListener','DOMContentLoaded','beforeunload','cancelled',(...msg)=>console.log('[dev]',...msg),()=>{window[cxl]=true;log(cxl)});((l,pii) => {if (pii.some(p => l.search.includes(p+"="))) {window.initSearch = l.search;const anon = new URLSearchParams(l.search);pii.forEach(p => anon.delete(p));history.replaceState({}, "", l.pathname + "?" + anon);} })(location, ["email", "magic_link", "token", "code", "state"]);</script> <script type="module" crossorigin src="/static/bundle.e40f4882.js"></script> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/preload-helper-4aa0ec7d.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/vendor-react-d0986667.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/sciam-11dcdbde.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/use-piano-auth-sync-4616fe11.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/index-49678be1.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/datalayer-043ea249.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/use-chargebee-76bddde2.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/use-plan-6f8b42bf.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/use-cart-26044fd3.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/useOverlay-f74ac14c.js"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/assets/bundle-aba65ab5.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/assets/Kicker-9f542fcf.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/assets/index-1a691954.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/assets/ArticleDisplay-3498be04.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/assets/IssuePage-398d1558.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/assets/DefaultLayout-2955ad5f.css"> <link rel="modulepreload" href="/static/issue.0496772f.js" crossorigin fetchpriority="auto"> <link rel="preload" href="https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js" as="script" fetchpriority="auto"> <link rel="preload" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=GTM-5FLM662" as="script" fetchpriority="auto"> <link rel="preload" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/sciads/sciads.js" as="script" fetchpriority="auto"> <link rel="preload" href="https://cdn.tp.scientificamerican.com/api/tinypass.min.js" as="script" fetchpriority="low"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn.cxense.com/cx.cce.js" as="script"> </head> <body> <div id="app"><header class="headerContainer-8KxQ5" role="banner"><a href="#main" id="skipToMain" class="skiptocontent sr-only-focusable sr-only">Skip to main content</a><div class="header-1t1JE flex-aYeiI"><div class="left-ajw3c flex-aYeiI"><a href="/" aria-label="Link to homepage" class="logoLink-Wt3sq"><span class="sr-only">Scientific American</span><svg width="1em" height="1em" viewBox="0 0 120.79 128.39" fill="currentColor" role="img" aria-label="Scientific American"><path d="M7.98 58.19c2.3 0 5.24 3.18 14.53 3.18 13.66 0 21.75-8.57 21.75-17.86 0-7.86-3.73-12.94-11.43-17.23l-9.37-5.24c-4.05-2.3-7.46-5.32-7.46-9.92 0-4.92 3.73-7.7 9.69-7.7s11.35 4.21 13.02 13.26h1.98V.95h-1.83c-.16 1.43-.87 2.06-1.75 2.06-2.06 0-4.53-2.94-12.62-2.94C13.85.08 5.12 6.51 5.12 16.35c0 7.3 3.26 11.83 9.77 15.56l9.61 5.48c5.48 3.18 7.7 6.19 7.7 10.72 0 5.64-3.18 9.77-10.64 9.77-9.29 0-13.58-5.08-15.32-16.2H4.1V60.5h1.98c.16-1.67.95-2.3 1.91-2.3Zm65.97 3.26c11.11-.03 19.13-8.81 20.4-20.72l-2.22-.64c-2.54 8.26-7.22 12.46-13.97 12.46-12.23 0-16.04-14.93-16.04-27.87 0-15.56 6.11-21.28 14.13-21.28 5.72 0 11.83 5.72 14.45 16.59h2.06V.95h-1.91c-.16 1.27-.87 2.06-2.14 2.06-1.91 0-5.72-3.02-11.83-3.02-14.85 0-28.66 12.07-28.66 32.39 0 17.39 10.96 29.1 25.72 29.06Zm14.53 42.72L76.49 68.84H56.24v1.75c3.33.16 4.76.95 4.76 5.95v42c0 6.03-1.67 8.1-5.32 8.1-2.54 0-4.53-1.91-6.51-6.91L29.11 68.12h-2.7L6.35 119.89c-2.17 5.72-4.3 6.75-6.35 6.75v1.75h18.02v-1.75c-5.8-.24-8.65-2.7-5.8-10.48l2.05-5.4h17.88l3.45 8.97c2.3 5.72.64 6.91-3.73 6.91v1.75h39.62v-1.75c-4.13 0-6.27-1.19-6.27-8.02l.48-42.08 17.07 51.29h2.14l17.63-51.05v43.9c0 5.48-1.75 5.95-5.08 5.95v1.75h23.34v-1.75c-3.33 0-4.76-.48-4.76-5.95V76.54c0-5.56 1.43-5.95 4.76-5.95v-1.75h-19.85l-12.46 35.33Zm-72.88 3.1 7.56-19.85 7.63 19.85H15.6ZM120.79 2.7V.95h-23.1V2.7c3.33 0 4.84.32 4.84 5.95v44.14c0 5.48-1.51 5.95-4.84 5.95v1.75h23.1v-1.75c-3.33 0-4.76-.48-4.76-5.95V8.65c0-5.64 1.43-5.95 4.76-5.95Z"></path></svg></a></div><div class="center-oMgM8 flex-aYeiI"></div><div class="right-4LP3J flex-aYeiI"><button type="button" id="radix-:R5t:" aria-haspopup="menu" aria-expanded="false" data-state="closed" class="trigger-8ea-U" aria-label="User Menu"><div class="dropdownIconContainer-hDbEe"><svg width="1em" height="1em" viewBox="0 0 472 472" fill="currentColor" role="img" aria-label="User" class="dropdownIcon-XeKnP profileIconImg-pc8tD"><path d="M403 69a235 235 0 0 0-334 0 235 235 0 0 0 0 334 235 235 0 0 0 334 0 235 235 0 0 0 0-334ZM118 412a122 122 0 0 1 237 0 211 211 0 0 1-237 0Zm41-197a77 77 0 1 1 155 0 77 77 0 0 1-155 0Zm216 181c-14-43-48-77-91-92a101 101 0 1 0-96 0c-43 15-77 49-91 92a212 212 0 1 1 278 0Z"></path></svg><div class="dropdownIcon-XeKnP initials-z1adZ"></div></div></button></div></div></header><main class="main-gNG8x"><div><div class="issue__meta-K-64E"><a href="/issues/"><聽 Back to Archive</a></div><div><div class="issue__detail-mYb0u"><div class="issue__detail__cover-8w-5D"><img src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png?w=300" alt="Scientific American Magazine Vol 329 Issue 3" srcSet="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png?w=400 400w, https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png?w=600 600w, https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png?w=900 900w" sizes="300px" width="300"/></div><div><div class="issue__detail__meta-cIUoE"><h1>Scientific American Magazine</h1></div><div class="issue__heading-gBfnb"><h2><time dateTime="2023-10-01">October 2023</time></h2></div><small><span>Volume 329</span>, <span>Issue 3</span></small><div class="download__access-pNuvp"><p>You are currently logged out. Please sign in to download the issue PDF.</p><button class="button-Nws5y button__primary-WTBGh">Sign In</button></div></div></div><div class="issueArticleList-Qj9zc"><div class="issueArchiveArticleListCompact-1oaI2"><h2 class="listHeading-TIGph">Features</h2><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/why-well-never-live-in-space/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Space Exploration" data-disable-apple-news="true"><img alt="Illustration of a woman at a desk and her dog living in a spacecraft." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F333CD63-EBB4-4FBE-A5E2441D6EA3D300_source.jpg?w=450" loading="lazy"/></figure><div class="kickerContainer-U9kI5"><div class="kicker-EEaW-">Space Exploration<span class="kickerSpacer-I99oW"></span><span class="kickerMeta-0zV3t">October 1, 2023</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>Why We’ll Never Live in Space</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>Medical, financial and ethical hurdles stand in the way of the dream to settle in space</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Sarah Scoles</p></section></article><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/its-time-to-engineer-the-sky/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Climate Change" data-disable-apple-news="true"><img alt="A colorful illustration of the sun and clouds in the stratosphere." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/457D7BF9-2D0E-4D98-825AE44DF266DA96_source.jpg?w=450" loading="lazy"/></figure><div class="kickerContainer-U9kI5"><div class="kicker-EEaW-">Climate Change<span class="kickerSpacer-I99oW"></span><span class="kickerMeta-0zV3t">October 1, 2023</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>It’s Time to Engineer the Sky</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>Global warming is so rampant that some scientists say we should begin altering the stratosphere to block incoming sunlight, even if it jeopardizes rain and crops</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Douglas Fox</p></section></article><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/wines-true-origins-are-finally-revealed/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Food" data-disable-apple-news="true"><img alt="Studio photograph showing close-up of the top of a bottle of wine, with red wine pouring into a glass, with dramatic lighting." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/B2DC0782-CAE5-481F-99DA0C1E5087889D_source.jpg?w=450" loading="lazy"/></figure><div class="kickerContainer-U9kI5"><div class="kicker-EEaW-">Food<span class="kickerSpacer-I99oW"></span><span class="kickerMeta-0zV3t">October 1, 2023</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>Wine’s True Origins Are Finally Revealed</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>A broad genetic study has revised the prevailing narrative about how wine grapes spread around the world</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Mark Fischetti, Francesco Franchi</p></section></article><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/artificial-intelligence-could-finally-let-us-talk-with-animals/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Behavior" data-disable-apple-news="true"><img alt="A close-up, side-view view of the head of a Sperm Whale under water, with blue background." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/8A9FC0D0-D02D-4909-8E7B90874F98DBF2_source.jpg?w=450" loading="lazy"/></figure><div class="kickerContainer-U9kI5"><div class="kicker-EEaW-">Behavior<span class="kickerSpacer-I99oW"></span><span class="kickerMeta-0zV3t">October 1, 2023</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>Artificial Intelligence Could Finally Let Us Talk with Animals</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>AI is poised to revolutionize our understanding of animal communication</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Lois Parshley</p></section></article></div><div class="issueArchiveArticleListCompact-1oaI2"><h2 class="listHeading-TIGph">Departments</h2><div><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Advances</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/nearby-supernova-gives-unique-view-of-a-dying-stars-last-days/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Nearby Supernova Gives Unique View of a Dying Star's Last Days</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/new-chemical-process-offers-hope-for-mixed-plastics-recycling/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">New Chemical Process Offers Hope for Mixed-Plastics Recycling</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/cannibalistic-dads-may-be-contributing-to-hellbender-salamander-declines/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Cannibalistic Dads May Be Contributing to Hellbender Salamander Declines</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/underground-climate-change-is-weakening-buildings-in-slow-motion1/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Underground Climate Change Is Weakening Buildings in Slow Motion</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/ancient-honey-and-vinegar-combo-could-actually-treat-infected-wounds/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Ancient Honey-and-Vinegar Combo Could Actually Treat Infected Wounds</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/some-metals-mysteriously-heal-their-own-cracks/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Some Metals Mysteriously Heal Their Own Cracks</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/new-wildlife-tracker-powers-itself-as-animals-walk-trot-and-run/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">New Wildlife Tracker Powers Itself as Animals Walk, Trot and Run</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/fungi-make-safer-fireproofing-material/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Fungi Make Safer Fireproofing Material</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/fish-skin-can-heal-other-animals-eye-injuries/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Fish Skin Can Heal Other Animals' Eye Injuries</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/science-news-briefs-from-around-the-world-october-2023/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Science News Briefs from around the World: October 2023</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/mutated-gene-that-causes-webbed-limbs-in-humans-may-have-given-bats-wings/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Mutated Gene That Causes Webbed Limbs in Humans May Have Given Bats Wings</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/above-elbow-bionic-arm-can-control-every-finger/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Above-Elbow Bionic Arm Can Control Every Finger</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Innovations In</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/people-who-are-changing-the-environment-one-community-at-a-time/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">People Who Are Changing the Environment One Community at a Time</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/discrimination-has-trapped-people-of-color-in-unhealthy-urban-heat-islands/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Discrimination Has Trapped People of Color in Unhealthy Urban 'Heat Islands'</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/for-health-equity-location-matters/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">For Health Equity, Location Matters</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/valley-fever-is-a-growing-fungal-threat-to-outdoor-workers/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Valley Fever Is a Growing Fungal Threat to Outdoor Workers</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/fixing-air-pollution-could-dramatically-improve-health-disparities/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Fixing Air Pollution Could Dramatically Improve Health Disparities</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/more-people-die-from-venomous-snakebites-each-year-than-have-ever-died-from-ebola/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">More People Die from Venomous Snakebites Each Year Than Have Ever Died from Ebola</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/the-father-of-environmental-justice-exposes-the-geography-of-inequity/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">The Father of Environmental Justice Exposes the Geography of Inequity</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">From the Editor</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/introducing-scientific-americans-redesign-newsletter-and-podcasts/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Introducing Scientific American's Redesign, Newsletter and Podcasts</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Letters</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/readers-respond-to-the-may-2023-issue/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Readers Respond to the May 2023 Issue</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">The Science Agenda</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/building-codes-save-money-and-lives/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Building Codes Save Money and Lives</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Forum</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/how-far-should-we-take-our-cosmic-humility1/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">How Far Should We Take Our Cosmic Humility?</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">The Science of Health</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/how-to-figure-out-if-moderate-drinking-is-too-risky-for-you/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">How to Figure Out if Moderate Drinking Is Too Risky for You</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Mind Matters</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/to-stay-sharp-as-you-age-learn-new-skills/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">To Stay Sharp as You Age, Learn New Skills</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">The Universe</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/we-need-to-widen-the-habitable-zones-seen-around-alien-stars/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">We Need to Widen the 'Habitable Zones' Seen around Alien Stars</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Q&A</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/only-26-black-women-have-ever-become-astrophysicists-in-the-u-s-heres-ones-story/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Only 26 Black Women Have Ever Become Astrophysicists in the U.S. Here's One's Story</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Observatory</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/rosalind-franklin-deserves-a-posthumous-nobel-prize-for-co-discovering-dna-structure/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Rosalind Franklin Deserves a Posthumous Nobel Prize for Co-discovering DNA Structure</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Meter</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/poem-message-to-my-beloved-sibling/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Poem: 'Message to My Beloved Sibling'</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Reviews</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/a-fictional-psychological-thriller-about-the-rise-of-ai/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">A Fictional Psychological Thriller about the Rise of AI</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Graphic Science</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/see-how-ai-generates-images-from-text/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">See How AI Generates Images from Text</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">50, 100 & 150 Years Ago</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/history-october-2023/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">History: October 2023</h2></a></article></div></div></div></div></div></main><footer class="footer-VfsmT"><div class="footerContainer-pfbjC"><h2 class="footerMainText-wQ3og">Expand Your World with Science</h2></div><div class="footerFlexContainer-XKe5g footerContainer-pfbjC"><div class="footerLinks-m1THn"><p class="footerText-PzHcy">Learn and share the most exciting discoveries, innovations and ideas shaping our world today.</p><a class="footerLink-uRzI4" href="/getsciam/">Subscribe</a><a class="footerLink-uRzI4" href="/newsletters/">Sign up for our newsletters</a><a class="footerLink-uRzI4" href="/">See the latest stories</a><a class="footerLink-uRzI4" href="/latest-issue/">Read the latest issue</a><a class="footerLink-uRzI4" href="/getsciam/gift/">Give a Gift Subscription</a><p class="footerSocialMedia-7KIIV">Follow Us:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/scientific_american/?hl=en" target="_blank" alt="Instagram link" title="Instagram"><svg class="footerSocialIcon-UQyIx" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512"><path d="M224.1 141c-63.6 0-114.9 51.3-114.9 114.9s51.3 114.9 114.9 114.9S339 319.5 339 255.9 287.7 141 224.1 141zm0 189.6c-41.1 0-74.7-33.5-74.7-74.7s33.5-74.7 74.7-74.7 74.7 33.5 74.7 74.7-33.6 74.7-74.7 74.7zm146.4-194.3c0 14.9-12 26.8-26.8 26.8-14.9 0-26.8-12-26.8-26.8s12-26.8 26.8-26.8 26.8 12 26.8 26.8zm76.1 27.2c-1.7-35.9-9.9-67.7-36.2-93.9-26.2-26.2-58-34.4-93.9-36.2-37-2.1-147.9-2.1-184.9 0-35.8 1.7-67.6 9.9-93.9 36.1s-34.4 58-36.2 93.9c-2.1 37-2.1 147.9 0 184.9 1.7 35.9 9.9 67.7 36.2 93.9s58 34.4 93.9 36.2c37 2.1 147.9 2.1 184.9 0 35.9-1.7 67.7-9.9 93.9-36.2 26.2-26.2 34.4-58 36.2-93.9 2.1-37 2.1-147.8 0-184.8zM398.8 388c-7.8 19.6-22.9 34.7-42.6 42.6-29.5 11.7-99.5 9-132.1 9s-102.7 2.6-132.1-9c-19.6-7.8-34.7-22.9-42.6-42.6-11.7-29.5-9-99.5-9-132.1s-2.6-102.7 9-132.1c7.8-19.6 22.9-34.7 42.6-42.6 29.5-11.7 99.5-9 132.1-9s102.7-2.6 132.1 9c19.6 7.8 34.7 22.9 42.6 42.6 11.7 29.5 9 99.5 9 132.1s2.7 102.7-9 132.1z"></path></svg></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/SciAmerican" target="_blank" alt="YouTube link" title="YouTube"><svg class="footerSocialIcon-UQyIx" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 576 512"><path d="M549.655 124.083c-6.281-23.65-24.787-42.276-48.284-48.597C458.781 64 288 64 288 64S117.22 64 74.629 75.486c-23.497 6.322-42.003 24.947-48.284 48.597-11.412 42.867-11.412 132.305-11.412 132.305s0 89.438 11.412 132.305c6.281 23.65 24.787 41.5 48.284 47.821C117.22 448 288 448 288 448s170.78 0 213.371-11.486c23.497-6.321 42.003-24.171 48.284-47.821 11.412-42.867 11.412-132.305 11.412-132.305s0-89.438-11.412-132.305zm-317.51 213.508V175.185l142.739 81.205-142.739 81.201z"></path></svg></a><a href="https://www.threads.net/@scientific_american" target="_blank" alt="Threads link" title="Threads"><svg class="footerSocialIcon-UQyIx" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512"><path d="M331.5 235.7c2.2.9 4.2 1.9 6.3 2.8c29.2 14.1 50.6 35.2 61.8 61.4c15.7 36.5 17.2 95.8-30.3 143.2c-36.2 36.2-80.3 52.5-142.6 53h-.3c-70.2-.5-124.1-24.1-160.4-70.2c-32.3-41-48.9-98.1-49.5-169.6v-.5c.5-71.5 17.1-128.6 49.4-169.6c36.3-46.1 90.3-69.7 160.5-70.2h.3c70.3.5 124.9 24 162.3 69.9c18.4 22.7 32 50 40.6 81.7l-40.4 10.8c-7.1-25.8-17.8-47.8-32.2-65.4c-29.2-35.8-73-54.2-130.5-54.6c-57 .5-100.1 18.8-128.2 54.4C72.1 146.1 58.5 194.3 58 256c.5 61.7 14.1 109.9 40.3 143.3c28 35.6 71.2 53.9 128.2 54.4c51.4-.4 85.4-12.6 113.7-40.9c32.3-32.2 31.7-71.8 21.4-95.9c-6.1-14.2-17.1-26-31.9-34.9c-3.7 26.9-11.8 48.3-24.7 64.8c-17.1 21.8-41.4 33.6-72.7 35.3c-23.6 1.3-46.3-4.4-63.9-16c-20.8-13.8-33-34.8-34.3-59.3c-2.5-48.3 35.7-83 95.2-86.4c21.1-1.2 40.9-.3 59.2 2.8c-2.4-14.8-7.3-26.6-14.6-35.2c-10-11.7-25.6-17.7-46.2-17.8h-.7c-16.6 0-39 4.6-53.3 26.3l-34.4-23.6c19.2-29.1 50.3-45.1 87.8-45.1h.8c62.6.4 99.9 39.5 103.7 107.7l-.2.2zm-156 68.8c1.3 25.1 28.4 36.8 54.6 35.3c25.6-1.4 54.6-11.4 59.5-73.2c-13.2-2.9-27.8-4.4-43.4-4.4c-4.8 0-9.6.1-14.4.4c-42.9 2.4-57.2 23.2-56.2 41.8z"></path></svg></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScientificAmerican" target="_blank" alt="Facebook link" title="Facebook"><svg class="footerSocialIcon-UQyIx" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 320 512"><path d="M279.14 288l14.22-92.66h-88.91v-60.13c0-25.35 12.42-50.06 52.24-50.06h40.42V6.26S260.43 0 225.36 0c-73.22 0-121.08 44.38-121.08 124.72v70.62H22.89V288h81.39v224h100.17V288z"></path></svg></a><a href="/platform/syndication/rss/" target="_blank" alt="RSS feed" title="RSS feed"><svg class="footerSocialIcon-UQyIx" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512"><path d="M0 64C0 46.3 14.3 32 32 32c229.8 0 416 186.2 416 416c0 17.7-14.3 32-32 32s-32-14.3-32-32C384 253.6 226.4 96 32 96C14.3 96 0 81.7 0 64zM0 416a64 64 0 1 1 128 0A64 64 0 1 1 0 416zM32 160c159.1 0 288 128.9 288 288c0 17.7-14.3 32-32 32s-32-14.3-32-32c0-123.7-100.3-224-224-224c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32s14.3-32 32-32z"></path></svg></a></p></div><div class="footerImageContainer-omuef"><img class="footerImage-fMFhw" src="/static/assets/footerProductImg-f6732134.png" alt="Scientific American publications in print & digital formats" as="image" loading="lazy"/></div></div><div class="grid-c0--6 footerContainer-pfbjC"><div><ul><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="/page/return-refund-policy/">Return & Refund Policy</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="/page/about-scientific-american/">About</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="/pressroom/">Press Room</a></li></ul></div><div><ul class="footer-links"><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="/page/frequently-asked-questions/subscriptions-products/">FAQs</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="/page/contact-us/customer-service/">Contact Us</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="/page/international/">International Editions</a></li></ul></div><div><ul class="footer-links"><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="/mediakit/">Advertise</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="/accessibility-statement/">Accessibility Statement</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="/page/terms-of-use/">Terms of Use</a></li></ul></div><div><ul class="footer-links"><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="/page/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="/page/california-consumer-privacy-statement/">California Consumer Privacy Statement</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="#">Use of cookies/Do not sell my data</a></li></ul></div></div><div class="footerContainer-pfbjC"><p>Scientific American is part of Springer Nature, which owns or has commercial relations with thousands of scientific publications (many of them can be found at www.springernature.com/us). Scientific American maintains a strict policy of editorial independence in reporting developments in science to our readers.</p><p>漏 2024 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, A DIVISION OF SPRINGER NATURE AMERICA, INC.<br/>ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.</p></div></footer></div> <script id="__DATA__">window.__DATA__=JSON.parse(`{"initialData":{"issueData":{"contentful_id":"5KeBsn0uNjI6igBlsDOJ0B","mura_id":null,"path":"/issue/sa/2023/10-01/","magazine_title":"Scientific American Magazine","issue_title":"Scientific American Volume 329, Issue 3","volume":329,"issue":"3","issue_date":"2023-10-01","pdf_file":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/A143C89E-227F-4DEF-9341C13DE1E9BCAD.pdf","image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png","image_width":2438,"image_height":3225,"image_alt_text":null,"image_caption":null,"image_credits":null,"cover_credits":null,"image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image":null,"article_previews":{"advances":[{"id":1305427,"contentful_id":"3N6W1zz36NCJcAXSJS26Yv","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-8","mura_id":"6F58DA6E-30AD-4229-B8D3230267D40BD2","mura_contentid":"561AEFCA-A92E-412E-A8AD190352505649","title":"Nearby Supernova Gives Unique View of a Dying Star's Last Days","display_title":"<p>Nearby Supernova Gives Unique View of a Dying Star’s Last Days</p>","slug":"nearby-supernova-gives-unique-view-of-a-dying-stars-last-days","url":"/article/nearby-supernova-gives-unique-view-of-a-dying-stars-last-days/","summary":"<p>Astronomers are piecing together the final moments of supernova 2023ixf and learning more about it than any other in recent history</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"1252F625-C4F2-438F-B2ED9AA5E0DBBAAF","url":"/author/jonathan-ocallaghan/","contentful_id":"5DHMZRPpH8YGpDBHInkurB","name":"Jonathan O'Callaghan","slug":"jonathan-ocallaghan","biography":"<p><b>Jonathan O'Callaghan</b> is an award-winning freelance journalist covering astronomy, astrophysics, commercial spaceflight and space exploration. Follow him on X <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/Astro_Jonny\\">@Astro_Jonny</a></p>","picture_file":null,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4A9FBD94-2957-4172-A89D7F3590B7BDD3_source.jpg","image_width":2982,"image_height":1988,"image_alt_text":"Gemini North nack on sky with dazzling image of supernova in the Pinwheel Galaxy","image_caption":"<p>The nearby supernova SN 2023ixf (<i>bluish light at lower left</i>), as seen nestled in the spiral arms of the Pinwheel Galaxy, in an image from the Gemini North telescope.</p>","image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://noirlab.edu/public/images/noirlab2315a/\\">International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA</a></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":"2023-07-21T07:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-07-21T07:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Astrophysics","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"8"},{"id":1305732,"contentful_id":"1lVOYyFlMoQgcjK2xoafcv","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-11","mura_id":"F4AC89A0-F2E5-48A3-A11655A97EEA585B","mura_contentid":"3EB74EF0-CDB0-47F2-A89EC6AD8F23F9AF","title":"New Chemical Process Offers Hope for Mixed-Plastics Recycling","display_title":"<p>New Chemical Process Offers Hope for Mixed-Plastics Recycling</p>","slug":"new-chemical-process-offers-hope-for-mixed-plastics-recycling","url":"/article/new-chemical-process-offers-hope-for-mixed-plastics-recycling/","summary":"<p>A molecular additive allows different kinds of plastic to be recycled together</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"14B50050-2B44-4DC9-863B4492E2562C08","url":"/author/susan-cosier/","contentful_id":"3q6srWrFeWcEnDiT8HvFcZ","name":"Susan Cosier","slug":"susan-cosier","biography":"<p><b>Susan Cosier</b> is a freelance journalist focused on science and the environment. She is based in Chicago. Follow Cosier on Twitter <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/susancosier\\">@susancosier</a></p>","picture_file":null,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/B5074283-4D47-4F39-8B178E59666410E3_source.jpeg","image_width":1980,"image_height":1320,"image_alt_text":"A colorful illustration of chemical atoms linking together.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Thomas Fuchs</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Renewable Energy","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"9"},{"id":1305763,"contentful_id":"5kOLmy8ZK5iwEGaJv6VacY","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-10","mura_id":"DDEE51A5-BED0-4AB9-87D6668C1E63ACD4","mura_contentid":"3A62E421-4343-4870-B5F7B363A38BB3E0","title":"Cannibalistic Dads May Be Contributing to Hellbender Salamander Declines","display_title":"<p>Cannibalistic Dads May Be Contributing to Hellbender Salamander Declines</p>","slug":"cannibalistic-dads-may-be-contributing-to-hellbender-salamander-declines","url":"/article/cannibalistic-dads-may-be-contributing-to-hellbender-salamander-declines/","summary":"<p>Male hellbender salamanders normally tend their young, but lately they’ve been devouring them instead</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"229EE87F-5CFC-4D34-BC2EDC5972285947","url":"/author/carolyn-wilke/","contentful_id":"6vpNjVSTfEEAA2TgyIQ22A","name":"Carolyn Wilke","slug":"carolyn-wilke","biography":"<p><b>Carolyn Wilke</b> is a Chicago-based science journalist who covers chemistry, materials and animal oddities.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E50B5CF5-8BAC-4F62-AC037D9552E92E2D_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1017,"image_alt_text":"A green, yellow and brown Salamander, identified as an Eastern Hellbender, shown underwater seen with underwater grasses.","image_caption":"<p>An eastern hellbender swims in the Hiwassee River in Tennessee.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Pete Oxford/Minden Pictures</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Animals","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"10"},{"id":1305212,"contentful_id":"4FDXXr2dhuyvky9RAXVhzS","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-12","mura_id":"4655C511-130F-4F49-9B05E613D6057F36","mura_contentid":"225926C7-14A2-42C3-81915CB164F1E42A","title":"Underground Climate Change Is Weakening Buildings in Slow Motion","display_title":"<p>Underground Climate Change Is Weakening Buildings in Slow Motion</p>","slug":"underground-climate-change-is-weakening-buildings-in-slow-motion1","url":"/article/underground-climate-change-is-weakening-buildings-in-slow-motion1/","summary":"<p>Hotspots beneath cities deform the ground, causing important infrastructure to crack under stress</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,"category":"Staff","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/DACBC46D-1883-41EA-B4D616A00E45E016_source.jpg","image_width":1180,"image_height":787,"image_alt_text":"Aerial night view of city shows skyscrapers and busy streets.","image_caption":"<p>An aerial view of Chicago shows business center skyscrapers and busy streets near Lake Michigan.</p>","image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/aerial-view-of-chicago-shows-business-center-royalty-free-image/1489747813\\">Prasit photo/Getty Images</a></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":"2023-07-11T05:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-07-11T05:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Climate Change","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"12"},{"id":1305700,"contentful_id":"2ly5u3lRXbekU7lzs8vnGf","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-14b","mura_id":"A038DE3D-AECF-48B2-978A8F65AD38CF93","mura_contentid":"640A35C8-55B4-4DA9-90B6B16F060978FB","title":"Ancient Honey-and-Vinegar Combo Could Actually Treat Infected Wounds","display_title":"<p>Ancient Honey-and-Vinegar Combo Could Actually Treat Infected Wounds</p>","slug":"ancient-honey-and-vinegar-combo-could-actually-treat-infected-wounds","url":"/article/ancient-honey-and-vinegar-combo-could-actually-treat-infected-wounds/","summary":"<p>An age-old remedy that was prescribed by Hippocrates may be a cheap alternative to antibiotics for those with chronic wounds</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"87EA6D7E-B5DC-49EA-910D49ECF48138DC","url":"/author/leo-deluca/","contentful_id":"7LloKVClAhD0WlmWIYJX7D","name":"Leo DeLuca","slug":"leo-deluca","biography":"<p><b>Leo DeLuca</b>’s work has appeared in <i>Scientific American, </i>the<i> New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Rolling Stone</i> and <i>Popular Science,</i> among other media outlets. DeLuca, an award-winning writer, holds a Master of Arts in Science Journalism from Columbia Journalism School. A native of Dayton, Ohio, he works as a communications specialist and scientific editor at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/53B0F75C-EBB5-4D0C-98BAAB05D24F266D_source.jpg","image_width":2000,"image_height":1333,"image_alt_text":"Glass jar containing a mixture of honey, vinegar, and botanicals viewed from above","image_caption":"<p>Oxymel is a mixture of honey and vinegar that is used as a medicine.</p>","image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.alamy.com/oxymel-a-mixture-of-honey-and-vinegar-used-as-medicine-image552834096.html?imageid=F0562F82-E117-40AF-A19B-4748E047E62B&p=397479&pn=1&searchId=02fe88dad3024f22c783be928667231e&searchtype=0\\">Image Professionals GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo</a></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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Medicine","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"14"},{"id":1305697,"contentful_id":"4NtHn0ratvhq69mf1kVhAX","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-14a","mura_id":"D7111ABB-1622-497B-9D92F8B7726E38B4","mura_contentid":"9D07AD20-BF46-455A-A56BD6C02D34D6F0","title":"Some Metals Mysteriously Heal Their Own Cracks","display_title":"<p>Some Metals Mysteriously Heal Their Own Cracks</p>","slug":"some-metals-mysteriously-heal-their-own-cracks","url":"/article/some-metals-mysteriously-heal-their-own-cracks/","summary":"<p>Scientists accidentally discover metals that mend themselves without human intervention</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"E22535A1-D78F-412B-8CCD0C708620EB5C","url":"/author/lucy-tu/","contentful_id":"19lXVOKBslrZ1utoRR6qZh","name":"Lucy Tu","slug":"lucy-tu","biography":"<p><b>Lucy Tu</b> is a freelance writer and a Rhodes Scholar studying reproductive medicine and law. She was a 2023 AAAS Mass Media Fellow at <i>Scientific American</i>.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/44D14101-334A-4EEE-A4ED4A49BFEBD7C7_source.jpeg","image_width":1460,"image_height":973,"image_alt_text":"Illustrations of a cracked piece of metal and a restored piece of metal.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Thomas Fuchs</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Materials Science","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"14"},{"id":1305744,"contentful_id":"40tON8J44k3prJWC1gQBWB","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-15","mura_id":"2659383F-7228-4F45-B2E67CE92B4CB3A9","mura_contentid":"8D68B272-AA31-44B2-95230287001C4B3C","title":"New Wildlife Tracker Powers Itself as Animals Walk, Trot and Run","display_title":"<p>New Wildlife Tracker Powers Itself as Animals Walk, Trot and Run</p>","slug":"new-wildlife-tracker-powers-itself-as-animals-walk-trot-and-run","url":"/article/new-wildlife-tracker-powers-itself-as-animals-walk-trot-and-run/","summary":"<p>A battery-free GPS may change the game for tracking elusive animals</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"F34F3323-AE2F-47A2-B50F9D3625A42233","url":"/author/rachel-crowell/","contentful_id":"3VjO4HNspKpVOTs9Xk1cWa","name":"Rachel Crowell","slug":"rachel-crowell","biography":"<p><b>Rachel Crowell</b> is a Midwest-based writer covering science and mathematics. Follow Crowell on Twitter <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/writesRCrowell\\">@writesRCrowell</a></p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/0610CC00-92AD-41DE-8FB88D7F7AEE6D36_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1042,"image_alt_text":"Bison bull seen in a wooded area.","image_caption":"<p>The researchers tested the new tracker on a European bison.</p>","image_credits":"<p>M. K. Ranjitsinh/Science Source</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Conservation","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"15"},{"id":1305705,"contentful_id":"7F5KXJhUXJVotXIUsomu8r","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-16","mura_id":"6C2C45F9-5C75-4FCD-889E28E4118704B3","mura_contentid":"1AB20264-6CCA-4F59-944C2A9E7F73A2AF","title":"Fungi Make Safer Fireproofing Material","display_title":"<p>Fungi Make Safer Fireproofing Material</p>","slug":"fungi-make-safer-fireproofing-material","url":"/article/fungi-make-safer-fireproofing-material/","summary":"<p>Scientists are now growing mycelium, the fungal root network, into fire-retardant sheets to provide a safer, nontoxic way to protect buildings</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":null,"url":"/author/o-rose-broderick/","contentful_id":"4nBcEYwGLyEt3iOyk4giJX","name":"O. Rose Broderick","slug":"o-rose-broderick","biography":"<p><b>O. Rose Broderick</b> is a freelance science journalist and former news intern at <i>Scientific American</i> whose work focuses on energy, disability and disaster. <a href=\\"https://bsky.app/profile/orosebeoderick.bsky.social\\">Follow Broderick on Bluesky</a>.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/6162D737-C77F-4458-BF546CFCA82CF6E1_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":2281,"image_alt_text":"Shelf-type mushrooms growing on a tree.","image_caption":"<p>The fireproof material was made from the mycelium of Southern Bracket fungus.</p>","image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.mindenpictures.com/contributor/browse/24545/bob-gibbons\\">Bob Gibbons</a>/Minden Pictures</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Materials Science","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"16"},{"id":1305714,"contentful_id":"6qWZqJqzc8L7aPLeobQjxV","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-17a","mura_id":"E732D9DB-309D-45AC-B22822358B27DA9B","mura_contentid":"A173654E-D30C-4F8C-8979D463580E96A1","title":"Fish Skin Can Heal Other Animals' Eye Injuries","display_title":"<p>Fish Skin Can Heal Other Animals’ Eye Injuries</p>","slug":"fish-skin-can-heal-other-animals-eye-injuries","url":"/article/fish-skin-can-heal-other-animals-eye-injuries/","summary":"<p>Tilapia skin’s collagen can aid in healing burns, fixing heart valves, and more—and now it can be used for repairing corneas</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"7F6FFB75-B5F1-4DE8-948B8E6FF444EEF1","url":"/author/jill-langlois/","contentful_id":"5WFXBLs6IBPoHz4oCqs0GF","name":"Jill Langlois","slug":"jill-langlois","biography":"<p><b>Jill Langlois</b> is a freelance journalist based in São Paulo, Brazil, and writes for publications such as <i>National Geographic, Time</i> and the <i>New York Times</i>. Follow her on Instagram <a href=\\"https://www.instagram.com/journalistjill/?hl=en\\">@journalistjill</a></p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/C3BFA856-2683-444B-A9C22FEEA874FE66_source.jpeg","image_width":1434,"image_height":956,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of fish skin taken off a fish and placed around a human thumb.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Thomas Fuchs</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Medicine","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"17"},{"id":1305721,"contentful_id":"1Qna1UjrTPmpG454iSFs2c","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-17b","mura_id":"EC2690C1-7A2F-448D-982623881F0C7897","mura_contentid":"BF822106-3E69-40EC-9931D3C55F4AB3B7","title":"Science News Briefs from around the World: October 2023","display_title":"<p>Science News Briefs from around the World: October 2023</p>","slug":"science-news-briefs-from-around-the-world-october-2023","url":"/article/science-news-briefs-from-around-the-world-october-2023/","summary":"<p>Mammals munching on dinosaurs in China, Greenland’s melted past, coral catastrophe in Florida, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"E22535A1-D78F-412B-8CCD0C708620EB5C","url":"/author/lucy-tu/","contentful_id":"19lXVOKBslrZ1utoRR6qZh","name":"Lucy Tu","slug":"lucy-tu","biography":"<p><b>Lucy Tu</b> is a freelance writer and a Rhodes Scholar studying reproductive medicine and law. She was a 2023 AAAS Mass Media Fellow at <i>Scientific American</i>.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F59BA658-D248-48AE-B21900718B706D78_source.png","image_width":590,"image_height":370,"image_alt_text":"Image of the world map","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1056.html\\">NASA</a></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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Culture","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"17"},{"id":1305766,"contentful_id":"6seCHM3CIDQR6z1KEPb6zs","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-19a","mura_id":"32F70571-C5ED-493C-A89C769F466D89FF","mura_contentid":"6169E8E1-BF1A-43B5-BBB84EFC73027025","title":"Mutated Gene That Causes Webbed Limbs in Humans May Have Given Bats Wings","display_title":"<p>Mutated Gene That Causes Webbed Limbs in Humans May Have Given Bats Wings</p>","slug":"mutated-gene-that-causes-webbed-limbs-in-humans-may-have-given-bats-wings","url":"/article/mutated-gene-that-causes-webbed-limbs-in-humans-may-have-given-bats-wings/","summary":"<p>A key genetic mutation—harmful in humans—may have opened the sky to bats</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"50F9C663-F22F-4099-A74D4575EA8D29D0","url":"/author/riley-black/","contentful_id":"66LtWupubSd9fjmUbLwIb0","name":"Riley Black","slug":"riley-black","biography":"<p><b>Riley Black</b>, who formerly wrote under the name Brian Switek, is the author of <i>Skeleton Keys</i> and <i>My Beloved Brontosaurus</i>. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Follow her on Twitter <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/Laelaps\\">@Laelaps</a> and on Instagram <a href=\\"https://www.instagram.com/laelaps/?hl=en\\">@laelaps</a></p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E4E22FF7-7335-4A8A-8B3081F650AE4E14_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1024,"image_alt_text":"A bat flying in front of a blue sky.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Bill Coster/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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Evolution","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"19"},{"id":1305729,"contentful_id":"6KyIR7YYWR88IeNlunHVG3","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-19b","mura_id":"4206B483-ABE7-454B-83921F2F610435EE","mura_contentid":"6919D7B2-A123-48CA-A78E226538372BD2","title":"Above-Elbow Bionic Arm Can Control Every Finger","display_title":"<p>Above-Elbow Bionic Arm Can Control Every Finger</p>","slug":"above-elbow-bionic-arm-can-control-every-finger","url":"/article/above-elbow-bionic-arm-can-control-every-finger/","summary":"<p>Researchers have created the first nerve-controlled prosthetic hand that can be used in daily life</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,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[{"type":"site","value":"http://simonmakin.me.uk"}]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F6BDD805-6757-4367-91F3AF5A7F65F817_source.jpg","image_width":1896,"image_height":1264,"image_alt_text":"A person delicately holds a ball between the thumb and index fingers of the bionic hand attached to his amputation above the elbow","image_caption":"<p>A person wears a prosthetic arm that is directly attached to his skeleton and neuromuscular system. After surgical reconstruction of his residual limb, the prosthesis allows him to control individual fingers of a bionic hand.</p>","image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/991806\\">Chalmers University of Technology/Anna-Lena Lundqvist</a><a href=\\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/\\">(CC BY-ND)</a></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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Robotics","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"19"}],"departments":[{"id":1305581,"contentful_id":"6BtJj7Kc6BRrev2G4G3RYL","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-s13","mura_id":"1D1E6ACB-6851-4E95-90CA9C3A2C76D200","mura_contentid":"4B884C92-D215-4285-A1DB43236130E5F1","title":"People Who Are Changing the Environment One Community at a Time","display_title":"<p>People Who Are Changing the Environment One Community at a Time</p>","slug":"people-who-are-changing-the-environment-one-community-at-a-time","url":"/article/people-who-are-changing-the-environment-one-community-at-a-time/","summary":"<p>These four researchers are highlighting environmental inequities and improving the health of their communities</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"56D60609-0514-4649-9A8CE19B101F373D","url":"/author/katherine-bourzac/","contentful_id":"5soCII6V3PQsq185nTjKtA","name":"Katherine Bourzac","slug":"katherine-bourzac","biography":"<p><b>Katherine Bourzac</b> is a journalist based in San Francisco, who covers environment, climate, chemistry, health and computing for <i>Nature, Science News,</i> and other publications.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F17A760C-058B-43BD-90EC5FD2FBB01CCE_source.jpg","image_width":1100,"image_height":700,"image_alt_text":"Four headshot illustrations.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Joel Kimmel</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":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Public Health","subtype":"news","column":"Innovations In","page_number":"0"},{"id":1305591,"contentful_id":"63qaYPHf0dxS8Vx4rbIGWY","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-s26","mura_id":"A36D35BC-3D6E-4F36-A750930787D0DF29","mura_contentid":"50DABC67-3F6F-46EC-BDBDE51A3530AB97","title":"Discrimination Has Trapped People of Color in Unhealthy Urban 'Heat Islands'","display_title":"<p>Discrimination Has Trapped People of Color in Unhealthy Urban ‘Heat Islands’</p>","slug":"discrimination-has-trapped-people-of-color-in-unhealthy-urban-heat-islands","url":"/article/discrimination-has-trapped-people-of-color-in-unhealthy-urban-heat-islands/","summary":"<p>People of color, more than other groups, live in neighborhoods prone to excess heat and the illnesses that go with it</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"98A1401F-4177-4894-8388B047A2E5CF0C","url":"/author/melba-newsome/","contentful_id":"3lgzHxzdEZQwkEkQD5cFF8","name":"Melba Newsome","slug":"melba-newsome","biography":"<p><b>Melba Newsome</b> is a 2023 Alicia Patterson fellow, reporting on climate displacement and people of color.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/99123F41-9455-43A5-86DC927BDB3FAF51_source.jpg","image_width":1500,"image_height":1999,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of an urban city in front of an orange background.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Chiara Vercesi</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":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Climate Change","subtype":"news","column":"Innovations In","page_number":"0"},{"id":1305644,"contentful_id":"79njm6wqsfyJulTSvDYx20","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-s1","mura_id":"D44A33DF-274A-41E7-9FA550F7834177EF","mura_contentid":"634341CC-0D91-49BA-8EE757B79296050D","title":"For Health Equity, Location Matters","display_title":"<p>For Health Equity, Location Matters</p>","slug":"for-health-equity-location-matters","url":"/article/for-health-equity-location-matters/","summary":"<p>A special package explores problems and solutions to the geography of injustice</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"6459D536-E24E-4555-A0AB2B32F2CEA100","url":"/author/lauren-gravitz/","contentful_id":"3ked1AqhFLf9U380D26G6S","name":"Lauren Gravitz","slug":"lauren-gravitz","biography":"<p><b>Lauren Gravitz</b> is a science journalist in San Diego, Calif., who has contributed to <i>Nature,</i> NPR, the <i>Washington Post, MIT Technology Review</i> and the <i>Economist,</i> among other publications. She is a 2021–2022 Knight Science Journalism Project Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/CDC28A72-21CB-480A-8CAD38960C732D4C_source.jpeg","image_width":3064,"image_height":2043,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of hands putting together a world globe using puzzle pieces.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Chiara Verchesi</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":"2023-09-21T10:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-09-21T10:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Inequality","subtype":"news","column":"Innovations In","page_number":"0"},{"id":1305598,"contentful_id":"3WXGrEFk7exkJs9esd6lmy","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-s16","mura_id":"438E0BDB-F7C1-4C77-A434528F1ED73440","mura_contentid":"F1303369-5389-4B1E-BC8D6AA5D6463F4B","title":"Valley Fever Is a Growing Fungal Threat to Outdoor Workers","display_title":"<p>Valley Fever Is a Growing Fungal Threat to Outdoor Workers</p>","slug":"valley-fever-is-a-growing-fungal-threat-to-outdoor-workers","url":"/article/valley-fever-is-a-growing-fungal-threat-to-outdoor-workers/","summary":"<p>The disease hits farmworkers and outdoor laborers disproportionately hard</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"FC2A4B15-A7B1-4DE2-9A00C991DED506F5","url":"/author/ashli-blow/","contentful_id":"2lLuTSnh9bfaO41VsPLjyC","name":"Ashli Blow","slug":"ashli-blow","biography":"<p><b>Ashli Blow</b> is a journalist who covers environmental science and justice with a focus on climate adaptation.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/239622B9-2B6E-4EFE-8EE9821EE52A8D0A_source.jpeg","image_width":2362,"image_height":1735,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a man coughing in front of a map of the United States and a tractor.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Chiara Verchesi</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":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Epidemiology","subtype":"news","column":"Innovations In","page_number":"0"},{"id":1305594,"contentful_id":"4cxarNKxq1ci932Zfj4UIC","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-s8","mura_id":"B62F97ED-2686-430F-BE729E946DC03C7A","mura_contentid":"101B057A-0831-4229-817DC524C1906778","title":"Fixing Air Pollution Could Dramatically Improve Health Disparities","display_title":"<p>Fixing Air Pollution Could Dramatically Improve Health Disparities</p>","slug":"fixing-air-pollution-could-dramatically-improve-health-disparities","url":"/article/fixing-air-pollution-could-dramatically-improve-health-disparities/","summary":"<p>The most marginalized people are breathing the most polluted air, and improving it could improve health equity worldwide</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"56998207-069F-4A46-BD1D0C95E2A26D59","url":"/author/jyoti-madhusoodanan/","contentful_id":"60uSM5hMRLAcZ2NlUox7eH","name":"Jyoti Madhusoodanan","slug":"jyoti-madhusoodanan","biography":"<p><b>Jyoti Madhusoodanan</b> is a health and science journalist based in Portland, Ore. She has a Ph.D. in microbiology.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[{"type":"site","value":"http://www.smjyoti.com/"}]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/BF48B641-E62B-4A9A-8819CD90B4D80D5F_source.jpeg","image_width":2933,"image_height":1955,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a young girl putting her colorful drawing on a refrigerator.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Chiara Vercesi</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":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Pollution","subtype":"news","column":"Innovations In","page_number":"0"},{"id":1305573,"contentful_id":"6E2aLieKQGRL7eSKw3Z3lO","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-s18","mura_id":"1BC235BD-6DD0-465B-9A8858C047D3BDAB","mura_contentid":"7D80CD33-767B-46D8-B628C6F48784F9E3","title":"More People Die from Venomous Snakebites Each Year Than Have Ever Died from Ebola","display_title":"<p>More People Die from Venomous Snakebites Each Year Than Have Ever Died from Ebola</p>","slug":"more-people-die-from-venomous-snakebites-each-year-than-have-ever-died-from-ebola","url":"/article/more-people-die-from-venomous-snakebites-each-year-than-have-ever-died-from-ebola/","summary":"<p>In low- and middle-income nations, snakebite envenoming is more deadly than almost any other neglected tropical disease</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"608DFCE5-0591-43A0-9B94385C468D8EC6","url":"/author/cassandra-willyard/","contentful_id":"463rEquVU6ZaI7WTTeR8n2","name":"Cassandra Willyard","slug":"cassandra-willyard","biography":"<p><b>Cassandra Willyard</b> is a science journalist based in Madison, Wis. She covers public health, medicine, and more.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5F25AC7D-EE01-47D1-83B0762672541313_source.jpeg","image_width":5414,"image_height":3609,"image_alt_text":"The mapan谩, a species of pit viper, being prepared to collect venom to use for antivenom production.","image_caption":"<p>The mapaná, a species of pit viper, is responsible for most of the venomous snakebites in Colombia. Here wildlife technician Jorge Asprilla is preparing to collect mapaná venom to use for antivenom production.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Juan Arredondo</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":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Animals","subtype":"news","column":"Innovations In","page_number":"0"},{"id":1305577,"contentful_id":"2c0zxLjUImn3DsAzep4iMj","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-s3","mura_id":"18E57749-104B-4481-A66C069496D29B57","mura_contentid":"61123D98-ADCF-4B77-904D6F05B47BED9F","title":"The Father of Environmental Justice Exposes the Geography of Inequity","display_title":"<p>The Father of Environmental Justice Exposes the Geography of Inequity</p>","slug":"the-father-of-environmental-justice-exposes-the-geography-of-inequity","url":"/article/the-father-of-environmental-justice-exposes-the-geography-of-inequity/","summary":"<p>Robert D. Bullard reflects on the movement he helped to create</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"7D70702C-5457-4F42-92CA4651F22918F2","url":"/author/yessenia-funes/","contentful_id":"4Eghp07Gjt40yIr5n9OCI1","name":"Yessenia Funes","slug":"yessenia-funes","biography":"<p><b>Yessenia Funes</b> is a journalist who has covered environmental and climate justice for nearly a decade. She serves as editor at large for <i>Atmos,</i> a magazine dedicated to climate and culture, and publishes a weekly independent creative climate newsletter called <i>Possibilities.</i></p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/2153A595-F5A8-4641-A9635B831A42FFEB_source.jpeg","image_width":3606,"image_height":2404,"image_alt_text":"Side profile image of Robert D. Bullard.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Anthony Francis</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":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Health Care","subtype":"news","column":"Innovations In","page_number":"0"},{"id":1305724,"contentful_id":"1MUYIjDpPIZx2HHmjM9gP6","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-4","mura_id":"683F3713-2452-474C-AE38A24AB68E9199","mura_contentid":"C03AF24E-CA94-4BAF-9C8AF7DA8B9E8E7B","title":"Introducing Scientific American's Redesign, Newsletter and Podcasts","display_title":"<p>Introducing <i>Scientific American</i>’s Redesign, Newsletter and Podcasts</p>","slug":"introducing-scientific-americans-redesign-newsletter-and-podcasts","url":"/article/introducing-scientific-americans-redesign-newsletter-and-podcasts/","summary":"<p>Geoengineering is happening, AI wants to talk with animals, and why we aren’t going to live in space</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,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/63C10021-0B6F-4A2F-86D1F173775C036F_source.jpeg","image_width":1000,"image_height":750,"image_alt_text":"Cover of Scientific American's October 2023 issue.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p><i>Scientific American</i>, October 2023</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Engineering","subtype":"news","column":"From the Editor","page_number":"4"},{"id":1305757,"contentful_id":"3pKGBNNBbMA6Up3o41gfDa","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-6","mura_id":"306F2799-9208-4B4B-96C83ED6BFA17C15","mura_contentid":"E57B8714-21F9-4219-BB09928EC743E048","title":"Readers Respond to the May 2023 Issue","display_title":"<p>Readers Respond to the May 2023 Issue</p>","slug":"readers-respond-to-the-may-2023-issue","url":"/article/readers-respond-to-the-may-2023-issue/","summary":"<p>Letters to the editors for the May 2023 issue of <i>Scientific American</i></p>","authors":[],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F267D082-14F4-4252-9245F135DC931449_source.jpeg","image_width":1000,"image_height":750,"image_alt_text":"Cover of the May 2023 issue of Scientific American.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p><i>Scientific American</i>, May 2023</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Culture","subtype":"news","column":"Letters","page_number":"6"},{"id":1305544,"contentful_id":"7IehIL8qGvlRfLnbaj8Wox","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-51","mura_id":"CF348734-2E13-4E24-B750FEDB680DC7DE","mura_contentid":"B80443F9-91CD-4FB2-BBF75FC3D5ECB749","title":"Building Codes Save Money and Lives","display_title":"<p>Building Codes Save Money and Lives</p>","slug":"building-codes-save-money-and-lives","url":"/article/building-codes-save-money-and-lives/","summary":"<p>As climate change increases the number and severity of natural disasters, an investment in updated building codes will save billions in repairs</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,"category":"Staff","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4E749F08-E434-4A9C-806D2D9A1E1CA0AD_source.jpeg","image_width":3900,"image_height":2923,"image_alt_text":"Home standing among other collapsed homes","image_caption":"<p>The aftermath of Hurricane Michael in Mexico Beach, Fla.</p>","image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://archive.reduxpictures.com/id/15139755\\">Johnny Milano/The New York Times/Redux</a></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":"2023-08-24T10:30:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-08-24T10:30:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Climate Change","subtype":"opinion","column":"The Science Agenda","page_number":"51"},{"id":1304886,"contentful_id":"4tz7OPHdfyvwWYAWOjCO0c","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-52","mura_id":"0AFC7BE8-A75D-45C0-AFC00934AF2ACBFC","mura_contentid":"E71623F8-263E-4460-B51E9259459C950A","title":"How Far Should We Take Our Cosmic Humility?","display_title":"<p>How Far Should We Take Our Cosmic Humility?</p>","slug":"how-far-should-we-take-our-cosmic-humility1","url":"/article/how-far-should-we-take-our-cosmic-humility1/","summary":"<p>For centuries, scientific discoveries have suggested humanity occupies no privileged place in the universe. Now, however, studies of worlds beyond our solar system could place meaningful new limits on our existential mediocrity</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"F709F701-5731-4624-83248BB0528DBD7C","url":"/author/mario-livio/","contentful_id":"71JRRwNwRLkxBAHfudnjbb","name":"Mario Livio","slug":"mario-livio","biography":"<p><b>Mario Livio</b> is an astrophysicist who worked for 24 years with the Hubble Space Telescope. He is a bestselling author of eight books, including <i>Is Earth Exceptional? The Quest for Cosmic Life </i>(Basic Books, September 2024), co-written with Jack W. Szostak.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F9AF0817-8856-4449-8DAA0627D85D4E87_source.jpeg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1031,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a world orbiting a red dwarf.","image_caption":"<p>Is life common throughout the cosmos? Worlds orbiting red dwarf stars may offer vital clues.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Ron Miller</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":"2023-04-19T08:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-04-19T08:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Extraterrestrial Life","subtype":"opinion","column":"Forum","page_number":"52"},{"id":1305708,"contentful_id":"4GV7a04Cac8eE9IjM8p9jj","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-53","mura_id":"A99CA309-F6ED-4C2E-BFF1E0529A61F61C","mura_contentid":"20D57151-9F5E-482E-BE844AD131DED747","title":"How to Figure Out if Moderate Drinking Is Too Risky for You","display_title":"<p>How to Figure Out if Moderate Drinking Is Too Risky for You</p>","slug":"how-to-figure-out-if-moderate-drinking-is-too-risky-for-you","url":"/article/how-to-figure-out-if-moderate-drinking-is-too-risky-for-you/","summary":"<p>New research shows any alcohol can harm your body, but the increased risk may not be huge</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,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5F218DC5-CAE3-4BA4-8E9E934B0224D6A5_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1086,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of wine being poured into a glass timer.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Jay Bendt</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Diet","subtype":"news","column":"The Science of Health","page_number":"53"},{"id":1305128,"contentful_id":"5dnxzrJW4xlWdVDZykMC7s","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-54","mura_id":"DEF9DCC8-EEB7-4B33-81E17F9C1D855BC0","mura_contentid":"F8ADF20E-B015-40CD-90909F3534BA30B8","title":"To Stay Sharp as You Age, Learn New Skills","display_title":"<p>To Stay Sharp as You Age, Learn New Skills</p>","slug":"to-stay-sharp-as-you-age-learn-new-skills","url":"/article/to-stay-sharp-as-you-age-learn-new-skills/","summary":"<p>Older people show significant cognitive benefits from learning, provided they have the opportunity to do so</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"E44EFBE1-395E-46FD-A1137EAA747B96F0","url":"/author/rachel-wu/","contentful_id":"7bnuIamjKmPFyCmmvlnEAy","name":"Rachel Wu","slug":"rachel-wu","biography":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/author/rachel-wu/\\"><b>Rachel Wu</b></a> is an associate professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside. She studies cognitive aging and learning across the life span.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]},{"mura_id":"2C913853-7B88-4390-A6D57A2288533039","url":"/author/jessica-a-church/","contentful_id":"7BrbBo5QLr0Jh4ZY7s5Swj","name":"Jessica A. Church-Lang","slug":"jessica-a-church","biography":"<p><a href=\\"https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psychology/faculty/jc58227\\"><b>Jessica A. Church-Lang</b></a> is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She studies cognitive development and learning in children and adolescents.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/14C5B0C4-1BF2-46BC-AC4306E958F3E8AA_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1176,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of three elderly people doing a puzzle.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Jovana Mugosa</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":"2023-06-29T06:45:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-06-29T06:45:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Cognition","subtype":"opinion","column":"Mind Matters","page_number":"54"},{"id":1305165,"contentful_id":"10juFuFZAvQ1gIf4Aaxn8S","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-56","mura_id":"654F4F37-FDB7-4286-9AC2EB15A7DB843F","mura_contentid":"0EB1D3AD-FB2D-4F13-871E884B11DE7CF3","title":"We Need to Widen the 'Habitable Zones' Seen around Alien Stars","display_title":"<p>We Need to Widen the ‘Habitable Zones’ Seen around Alien Stars</p>","slug":"we-need-to-widen-the-habitable-zones-seen-around-alien-stars","url":"/article/we-need-to-widen-the-habitable-zones-seen-around-alien-stars/","summary":"<p>When looking for life in space, we should broaden our horizons</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. His column for <i>Scientific American</i>, <a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/column/the-universe/\\">The Universe</a>, covers all things space. 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,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/2B91D48E-25EF-4D3B-8A0DB37B863C352E_source.jpg","image_width":1620,"image_height":1080,"image_alt_text":"Blue and white exoplanet","image_caption":"<p>An illustration of TOI-700 d, the first Earth-size habitable-zone planet discovered by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. This world orbits a star 100 light-years away in the constellation Dorado. Credit: <a href=\\"https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA23408\\">NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center</a></p>","image_credits":null,"image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":true,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2023-07-06T10:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-07-06T10:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Planetary Science","subtype":"opinion","column":"The Universe","page_number":"56"},{"id":1305246,"contentful_id":"7vYyGmHpJzq9BRZOTWLIh1","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-60","mura_id":"515EFDDC-2B09-4E76-9EDF539808078FFC","mura_contentid":"AC3AF172-8C27-4E11-B8F0B3E3AD492C9F","title":"Only 26 Black Women Have Ever Become Astrophysicists in the U.S. Here's One's Story","display_title":"<p>Only 26 Black Women Have Ever Become Astrophysicists in the U.S. Here’s One’s Story</p>","slug":"only-26-black-women-have-ever-become-astrophysicists-in-the-u-s-heres-ones-story","url":"/article/only-26-black-women-have-ever-become-astrophysicists-in-the-u-s-heres-ones-story/","summary":"<p>Astrophysicist Aomawa Shields recounts her alternative career path in a new memoir about life, space and motherhood</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"8A0405CA-146C-42D4-AD74D5C4115C99D8","url":"/author/rebecca-boyle/","contentful_id":"3I0XakKCAXbGn63IpNt5HK","name":"Rebecca Boyle","slug":"rebecca-boyle","biography":"<p><b>Rebecca Boyle</b> is a <i>Scientific American</i> contributor and an award-winning freelance journalist in Colorado. Her new book, <i>Our Moon: How Earth's Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are</i> (Random House), explores Earth's relation with its satellite.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/20F1B881-DE0A-44D5-82449D7627195974_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1069,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of Aomawa Shields.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Shideh Ghandeharizadeh</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":"2023-07-24T07:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-07-24T07:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Astronomy","subtype":"news","column":"Q&A","page_number":"60"},{"id":1305745,"contentful_id":"4zPkyNOmDrA4XN0WkBfXZL","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-62","mura_id":"4EAD8C03-A6FE-44CD-AEB96B1CA4C12F95","mura_contentid":"8B0FD2E0-8AF4-4E87-AD3F818082B38C90","title":"Rosalind Franklin Deserves a Posthumous Nobel Prize for Co-discovering DNA Structure","display_title":"<p>Rosalind Franklin Deserves a Posthumous Nobel Prize for Co-discovering DNA Structure</p>","slug":"rosalind-franklin-deserves-a-posthumous-nobel-prize-for-co-discovering-dna-structure","url":"/article/rosalind-franklin-deserves-a-posthumous-nobel-prize-for-co-discovering-dna-structure/","summary":"<p>Awarding Rosalind Franklin a Nobel Prize posthumously for her role in DNA discovery is the honorable—and scientific—thing to do</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 <a href=\\"https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691179001/why-trust-science\\"><i>Why Trust Science?</i></a> (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,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/8A0EB633-E9BB-4F5A-BD912F9B31DC8DD3_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1873,"image_alt_text":"Rosalind Franklin looking into a microscope.","image_caption":"<p>Rosalind Franklin was excluded from the Nobel Prize that was awarded for the discovery of DNA's structure.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Photo 12/Getty Images</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"History","subtype":"news","column":"Observatory","page_number":"62"},{"id":1305711,"contentful_id":"DBElHt3yVeckkZuUxc2HA","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-63","mura_id":"931F2D61-4228-43D9-A144A43C75EBC00D","mura_contentid":"38B4653B-2EED-4BF3-BC79157FAE0CA3DE","title":"Poem: 'Message to My Beloved Sibling'","display_title":"<p>Poem: ‘Message to My Beloved Sibling’</p>","slug":"poem-message-to-my-beloved-sibling","url":"/article/poem-message-to-my-beloved-sibling/","summary":"<p>Science in meter and verse</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"7EE8AF67-28C8-4CBB-8D38C5F67CF738C8","url":"/author/jonathan-katz/","contentful_id":"1wvO1JhGxAsxn570CTpLoA","name":"Jonathan Katz","slug":"jonathan-katz","biography":"<p><b>Jonathan Katz</b> is a professor at George Mason University. He helped to establish the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, serving as its CEO for almost three decades. Katz is author of three poetry collections from C&R Press: <i>Love Undefined, Objects in Motion</i> and <i>Lottery of Intimacies</i>.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5032C9F6-4411-4D12-82E1DD2B29EB30B8_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":2246,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of the back of a human with wind connecting to its body and brain.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Masha Foya</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Arts","subtype":"news","column":"Meter","page_number":"63"},{"id":1305741,"contentful_id":"4yGiU7bVdBZUNSKbKNqqKU","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-64","mura_id":"93CBE016-D422-49AA-BD777896DBEF14EE","mura_contentid":"F8C6CC26-8392-42B4-AA70D587E40474F2","title":"A Fictional Psychological Thriller about the Rise of AI","display_title":"<p>A Fictional Psychological Thriller about the Rise of AI</p>","slug":"a-fictional-psychological-thriller-about-the-rise-of-ai","url":"/article/a-fictional-psychological-thriller-about-the-rise-of-ai/","summary":"<p>Why we’re seduced by nature’s toxins, horror stories for winter solstice, and more books out this month</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"C9B22916-F259-4DAE-A5B86BB076A5AAC7","url":"/author/amy-brady/","contentful_id":"68MZYN0nUXrydOWGV8wup0","name":"Amy Brady","slug":"amy-brady","biography":"<p><b>Amy Brady</b> is a contributing editor to <i>Scientific American</i> and the author of <i>Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks—a Cool History of a Hot Commodity </i>(Putnam, 2023). Previously she was executive director and publisher of <i>Orion</i> magazine.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/908B0425-8D28-4BC0-A64EFF4F41BFA8C8_source.jpeg","image_width":1044,"image_height":696,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a man playing checkers-like game.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>London Ladd</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Arts","subtype":"news","column":"Reviews","page_number":"64"},{"id":1305747,"contentful_id":"5aklgZgawjejzfGokSYAK9","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-66","mura_id":"313D8C5A-0B5B-4E3A-BA9225B6F362680D","mura_contentid":"92AD33FB-6791-4811-977EC79A5EBB7E14","title":"See How AI Generates Images from Text","display_title":"<p>See How AI Generates Images from Text</p>","slug":"see-how-ai-generates-images-from-text","url":"/article/see-how-ai-generates-images-from-text/","summary":"<p>Generative AI algorithms use probability to create visuals from noise</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"851A9547-D637-4842-808853D625701931","url":"/author/sophie-bushwick/","contentful_id":"1kN6x2EquH4W9oNsI8LRMv","name":"Sophie Bushwick","slug":"sophie-bushwick","biography":"<p><b>Sophie Bushwick</b> was formerly the technology editor at <i>Scientific American</i>. She makes frequent appearances on radio shows such as <i>Science Friday</i> and television networks, including CBS, MSNBC and National Geographic. She has more than a decade of experience as a science journalist based in New York City and previously worked at outlets such as <i>Popular Science,Discover</i> and Gizmodo. Follow Bushwick on X (formerly Twitter) <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/sophiebushwick\\">@sophiebushwick</a></p>","picture_file":null,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]},{"mura_id":"3B6599B9-A127-4762-9F3A811F411D1EE7","url":"/author/matthew-twombly/","contentful_id":"2XIQgHZrjEMy6mx4UNVv7G","name":"Matthew Twombly","slug":"matthew-twombly","biography":"<p><b>Matthew Twombly</b> is a freelance illustrator and infographic designer. His work can be viewed at <a href=\\"http://www.matthewtwombly.com/\\">www.matthewtwombly.com</a></p>","picture_file":null,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]},{"mura_id":"3C75E3C8-7F99-4BAA-8FB59C06C32B8FD7","url":"/author/amanda-hobbs/","contentful_id":"38lE7UBZsq72hsldPUAjbE","name":"Amanda Hobbs","slug":"amanda-hobbs","biography":"<p><b>Amanda Hobbs</b> is a freelance research, writer and visual content editor specializing in storytelling via art and information graphics. Her work can be viewed at <a href=\\"http://www.athcreative.com/\\">www.athcreative.com</a></p>","picture_file":null,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/397215D1-F20A-4504-B105F408589D2B04_source.jpeg","image_width":1570,"image_height":1089,"image_alt_text":"Person surrounded by black boxes. Each black box has a glowing screen with a similar base image projected on it. A few versions of the image are crisp. One includes static.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Matthew Twombly</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Artificial Intelligence","subtype":"news","column":"Graphic Science","page_number":"66"},{"id":1305754,"contentful_id":"6oCqpxIMkyOcLfRqNy6DAN","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-68","mura_id":"761FAC48-61E5-4900-A9F3F61B1D599DF7","mura_contentid":"6714D8D8-938D-4222-91BAC9C0388E0196","title":"History: October 2023","display_title":"<p>History: October 2023</p>","slug":"history-october-2023","url":"/article/history-october-2023/","summary":"<p>Earth as a zoo; sunburned eyes</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,"category":"Staff","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/0BBC1F92-5C21-46B2-8CA664EFE3AC002C_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":2118,"image_alt_text":"Polarized image of the sun's corona.","image_caption":"<p><b>1973, Sun's Corona:</b> “Polarization of the corona is synthesized by computer. Donald H. Menzel of Harvard College Observatory and Jay M. Pasachoff of Williams College photographed the corona through polarizing filters during the total eclipse of March 7, 1970, at Miahuatlán in Mexico. The hue corresponds to the direction of polarization and the saturation to the degree of polarization.” Credit: <i>Scientific American</i>, Vol. 229, No. 4; October 1973</p>","image_credits":null,"image_desktop_url":null,"image_desktop_width":0,"image_desktop_height":0,"image_block_syndication":true,"media_url":null,"media_type":null,"release_date":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"History","subtype":"news","column":"50, 100 & 150 Years Ago","page_number":"68"}],"features":[{"id":1305749,"contentful_id":"10S9GyT2ScGkOZhErRhIFe","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-22","mura_id":"6E1994A7-94C7-47DF-9A1AB37241622F3D","mura_contentid":"20402E4B-CEE1-4890-B38D03D407AAEF18","title":"Why We'll Never Live in Space","display_title":"<p>Why We’ll Never Live in Space</p>","slug":"why-well-never-live-in-space","url":"/article/why-well-never-live-in-space/","summary":"<p>Medical, financial and ethical hurdles stand in the way of the dream to settle in space</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"003B3FD6-F9E4-48C1-88C3DB55A07997A8","url":"/author/sarah-scoles/","contentful_id":"7HlKJcmJuekauyELGMZwuf","name":"Sarah Scoles","slug":"sarah-scoles","biography":"<p><b>Sarah Scoles</b> is a Colorado-based science journalist, a contributing editor at <i>Scientific American</i> and a senior contributor at Undark. Her newest book is <i>Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons</i> (Bold Type Books, 2024).</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F333CD63-EBB4-4FBE-A5E2441D6EA3D300_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1232,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a woman at a desk and her dog living in a spacecraft.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Tavis Coburn</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Space Exploration","subtype":"news","column":"Features","page_number":"22"},{"id":1305759,"contentful_id":"2XiV0feGl3rWZ2j3Fb4xFJ","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-30","mura_id":"C6F235D4-2DCC-43B5-A352E4946245647B","mura_contentid":"07C237CC-7D0B-4D45-B28F97EF6A0050A0","title":"It's Time to Engineer the Sky","display_title":"<p>It’s Time to Engineer the Sky</p>","slug":"its-time-to-engineer-the-sky","url":"/article/its-time-to-engineer-the-sky/","summary":"<p>Global warming is so rampant that some scientists say we should begin altering the stratosphere to block incoming sunlight, even if it jeopardizes rain and crops</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"6983592D-FDD9-4216-B7504EB5655314FB","url":"/author/douglas-fox/","contentful_id":"3efyfw7fuqPooWOIpzo3Mv","name":"Douglas Fox","slug":"douglas-fox","biography":"<p><b>Douglas Fox</b> writes about biology, geology and climate science from California. He wrote the November 2022 article “<a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/antarcticas-collapse-could-begin-even-sooner-than-anticipated/\\">The Coming Collapse</a>,” which revealed that Antarctica’s Thwaites Ice Shelf could splinter apart in less than a decade.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/457D7BF9-2D0E-4D98-825AE44DF266DA96_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1024,"image_alt_text":"A colorful illustration of the sun and clouds in the stratosphere.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Goñi Montes</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Climate Change","subtype":"news","column":"Features","page_number":"30"},{"id":1305718,"contentful_id":"2hASZoup6qtzFdF5a7ZAz9","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-38","mura_id":"7DA4486B-CF78-4E1A-8EE40A1AC655A39A","mura_contentid":"AB393FB1-3F41-4B32-A63921855624DD28","title":"Wine's True Origins Are Finally Revealed","display_title":"<p>Wine’s True Origins Are Finally Revealed</p>","slug":"wines-true-origins-are-finally-revealed","url":"/article/wines-true-origins-are-finally-revealed/","summary":"<p>A broad genetic study has revised the prevailing narrative about how wine grapes spread around the world</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,"category":"Staff","contacts":[]},{"mura_id":"910C8F13-CBD4-424F-95543F4A8E7F2845","url":"/author/francesco-franchi/","contentful_id":"5VVnzlJtnGKQ8c5ASs88Fv","name":"Francesco Franchi","slug":"francesco-franchi","biography":"<p><b>Francesco Franchi</b> is an infographic designer and deputy creative director of <i>la Repubblica</i>.</p>","picture_file":null,"category":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/B2DC0782-CAE5-481F-99DA0C1E5087889D_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1020,"image_alt_text":"Studio photograph showing close-up of the top of a bottle of wine, with red wine pouring into a glass, with dramatic lighting.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>AndrewJohnson/Getty Images</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Food","subtype":"news","column":"Features","page_number":"38"},{"id":1305736,"contentful_id":"2F4kUPDnbaeYMN0SrarUUV","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican1023-44","mura_id":"33974757-C8EA-4789-BC4E751FEB7E13C5","mura_contentid":"E7E16D4B-CF7E-4169-8B8C1EA26D22171D","title":"Artificial Intelligence Could Finally Let Us Talk with Animals","display_title":"<p>Artificial Intelligence Could Finally Let Us Talk with Animals</p>","slug":"artificial-intelligence-could-finally-let-us-talk-with-animals","url":"/article/artificial-intelligence-could-finally-let-us-talk-with-animals/","summary":"<p>AI is poised to revolutionize our understanding of animal communication</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"1A611D62-0A7B-43C3-9B22DFEFA3C8B29E","url":"/author/lois-parshley/","contentful_id":"6Ef5LdGH9JkQm0QScCGPu9","name":"Lois Parshley","slug":"lois-parshley","biography":"<p><b>Lois Parshley</b> is an investigative journalist. Her climate reporting can be found on X and <a href=\\"https://journa.host/@loisparshley\\">Mastodon</a> @loisparshley</p>","picture_file":null,"category":"Freelance","contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/8A9FC0D0-D02D-4909-8E7B90874F98DBF2_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1331,"image_alt_text":"A close-up, side-view view of the head of a Sperm Whale under water, with blue background.","image_caption":"<p>The Project Cetacean Translation Initiative (CETI) is using machine learning to try to understand the vocalizations of sperm whales.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Franco Banfi/Minden Pictures</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":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","date_published":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Behavior","subtype":"news","column":"Features","page_number":"44"}]}},"meta":{"title":"Scientific American Volume 329, Issue 3","canonicalUrl":"/issue/sa/2023/10-01/","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png","tags":{"description":""Why We'll Never Live in Space", "It's Time to Engineer the Sky", "Wine's True Origins Are Finally Revealed" and more","og:description":""Why We'll Never Live in Space", "It's Time to Engineer the Sky", "Wine's True Origins Are Finally Revealed" and more","og:image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png?w=1200","og:image:alt":null,"og:type":"website","og:url":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/10-01/","twitter:title":"Scientific American Volume 329, Issue 3","twitter:description":""Why We'll Never Live in Space", "It's Time to Engineer the Sky", "Wine's True Origins Are Finally Revealed" and more","twitter:image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png?w=1200","twitter:image:alt":null},"jsonLD":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"PublicationIssue","@id":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/10-01/","datePublished":"2023-10-01","description":"Scientific American Volume 329, Issue 3","hasPart":[{"@type":"Article","about":"Astronomers are piecing together the final moments of supernova 2023ixf and learning more about it than any other in recent history","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jonathan O'Callaghan","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jonathan-ocallaghan/"}],"datePublished":"2023-07-21T07:00:00-04:00","headline":"Nearby Supernova Gives Unique View of a Dying Star's Last Days","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4A9FBD94-2957-4172-A89D7F3590B7BDD3_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A molecular additive allows different kinds of plastic to be recycled together","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Susan Cosier","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/susan-cosier/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"New Chemical Process Offers Hope for Mixed-Plastics Recycling","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/B5074283-4D47-4F39-8B178E59666410E3_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Male hellbender salamanders normally tend their young, but lately they鈥檝e been devouring them instead","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Carolyn Wilke","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/carolyn-wilke/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Cannibalistic Dads May Be Contributing to Hellbender Salamander Declines","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E50B5CF5-8BAC-4F62-AC037D9552E92E2D_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Hotspots beneath cities deform the ground, causing important infrastructure to crack under stress","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Allison Parshall","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/allison-parshall/"}],"datePublished":"2023-07-11T05:00:00-04:00","headline":"Underground Climate Change Is Weakening Buildings in Slow Motion","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/DACBC46D-1883-41EA-B4D616A00E45E016_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"An age-old remedy that was prescribed by Hippocrates may be a cheap alternative to antibiotics for those with chronic wounds","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Leo DeLuca","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/leo-deluca/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Ancient Honey-and-Vinegar Combo Could Actually Treat Infected Wounds","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/53B0F75C-EBB5-4D0C-98BAAB05D24F266D_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Scientists accidentally discover metals that mend themselves without human intervention","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lucy Tu","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lucy-tu/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Some Metals Mysteriously Heal Their Own Cracks","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/44D14101-334A-4EEE-A4ED4A49BFEBD7C7_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A battery-free GPS may change the game for tracking elusive animals","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rachel Crowell","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/rachel-crowell/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"New Wildlife Tracker Powers Itself as Animals Walk, Trot and Run","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/0610CC00-92AD-41DE-8FB88D7F7AEE6D36_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Scientists are now growing mycelium, the fungal root network, into fire-retardant sheets to provide a safer, nontoxic way to protect buildings","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"O. Rose Broderick","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/o-rose-broderick/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Fungi Make Safer Fireproofing Material","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/6162D737-C77F-4458-BF546CFCA82CF6E1_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Tilapia skin鈥檚 collagen can aid in healing burns, fixing heart valves, and more鈥攁nd now it can be used for repairing corneas","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jill Langlois","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jill-langlois/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Fish Skin Can Heal Other Animals' Eye Injuries","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/C3BFA856-2683-444B-A9C22FEEA874FE66_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Mammals munching on dinosaurs in China, Greenland鈥檚 melted past, coral catastrophe in Florida, and much more in this month鈥檚 Quick Hits","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lucy Tu","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lucy-tu/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Science News Briefs from around the World: October 2023","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F59BA658-D248-48AE-B21900718B706D78_source.png"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A key genetic mutation鈥攈armful in humans鈥攎ay have opened the sky to bats","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Riley Black","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/riley-black/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Mutated Gene That Causes Webbed Limbs in Humans May Have Given Bats Wings","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E4E22FF7-7335-4A8A-8B3081F650AE4E14_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Researchers have created the first nerve-controlled prosthetic hand that can be used in daily life","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Simon Makin","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/simon-makin/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Above-Elbow Bionic Arm Can Control Every Finger","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F6BDD805-6757-4367-91F3AF5A7F65F817_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"These four researchers are highlighting environmental inequities and improving the health of their communities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katherine Bourzac","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/katherine-bourzac/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"People Who Are Changing the Environment One Community at a Time","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F17A760C-058B-43BD-90EC5FD2FBB01CCE_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"People of color, more than other groups, live in neighborhoods prone to excess heat and the illnesses that go with it","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melba Newsome","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/melba-newsome/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Discrimination Has Trapped People of Color in Unhealthy Urban 'Heat Islands'","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/99123F41-9455-43A5-86DC927BDB3FAF51_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A special package explores problems and solutions to the geography of injustice","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lauren Gravitz","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lauren-gravitz/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-21T10:00:00-04:00","headline":"For Health Equity, Location Matters","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/CDC28A72-21CB-480A-8CAD38960C732D4C_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"The disease hits farmworkers and outdoor laborers disproportionately hard","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ashli Blow","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/ashli-blow/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Valley Fever Is a Growing Fungal Threat to Outdoor Workers","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/239622B9-2B6E-4EFE-8EE9821EE52A8D0A_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"The most marginalized people are breathing the most polluted air, and improving it could improve health equity worldwide","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jyoti Madhusoodanan","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jyoti-madhusoodanan/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Fixing Air Pollution Could Dramatically Improve Health Disparities","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/BF48B641-E62B-4A9A-8819CD90B4D80D5F_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"In low- and middle-income nations, snakebite envenoming is more deadly than almost any other neglected tropical disease","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cassandra Willyard","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/cassandra-willyard/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"More People Die from Venomous Snakebites Each Year Than Have Ever Died from Ebola","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5F25AC7D-EE01-47D1-83B0762672541313_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Robert D. Bullard reflects on the movement he helped to create","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Yessenia Funes","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/yessenia-funes/"}],"datePublished":"2023-09-19T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"The Father of Environmental Justice Exposes the Geography of Inequity","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/2153A595-F5A8-4641-A9635B831A42FFEB_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Geoengineering is happening, AI wants to talk with animals, and why we aren鈥檛 going to live in space","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Laura Helmuth","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/laura-helmuth/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Introducing Scientific American's Redesign, Newsletter and Podcasts","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/63C10021-0B6F-4A2F-86D1F173775C036F_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Letters to the editors for the May聽2023 issue of Scientific American","author":[],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Readers Respond to the May 2023 Issue","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F267D082-14F4-4252-9245F135DC931449_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"As climate change increases the number and severity of natural disasters, an investment in updated building codes will save billions in repairs","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"The Editors","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/the-editors/"}],"datePublished":"2023-08-24T10:30:00-04:00","headline":"Building Codes Save Money and Lives","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4E749F08-E434-4A9C-806D2D9A1E1CA0AD_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"For centuries, scientific discoveries have suggested humanity occupies no privileged place in the universe. Now, however, studies of worlds beyond our solar system could place meaningful new limits on our existential mediocrity","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mario Livio","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/mario-livio/"}],"datePublished":"2023-04-19T08:00:00-04:00","headline":"How Far Should We Take Our Cosmic Humility?","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F9AF0817-8856-4449-8DAA0627D85D4E87_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"New research shows any alcohol can harm your body, but the increased risk may not be huge","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lydia Denworth","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lydia-denworth/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"How to Figure Out if Moderate Drinking Is Too Risky for You","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5F218DC5-CAE3-4BA4-8E9E934B0224D6A5_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Older people show significant cognitive benefits from learning, provided they have the opportunity to do so","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rachel Wu","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/rachel-wu/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jessica A. Church-Lang","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jessica-a-church/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-29T06:45:00-04:00","headline":"To Stay Sharp as You Age, Learn New Skills","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/14C5B0C4-1BF2-46BC-AC4306E958F3E8AA_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"When looking for life in space, we should broaden our horizons","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Phil Plait","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/phil-plait/"}],"datePublished":"2023-07-06T10:00:00-04:00","headline":"We Need to Widen the 'Habitable Zones' Seen around Alien Stars","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/2B91D48E-25EF-4D3B-8A0DB37B863C352E_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Astrophysicist Aomawa Shields recounts her alternative career path in a new memoir about life, space and motherhood","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rebecca Boyle","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/rebecca-boyle/"}],"datePublished":"2023-07-24T07:00:00-04:00","headline":"Only 26 Black Women Have Ever Become Astrophysicists in the U.S. Here's One's Story","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/20F1B881-DE0A-44D5-82449D7627195974_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Awarding Rosalind Franklin a Nobel Prize posthumously for her role in DNA discovery is the honorable鈥攁nd scientific鈥攖hing to do","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Naomi Oreskes","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/naomi-oreskes/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Rosalind Franklin Deserves a Posthumous Nobel Prize for Co-discovering DNA Structure","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/8A0EB633-E9BB-4F5A-BD912F9B31DC8DD3_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Science in meter and verse","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jonathan Katz","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jonathan-katz/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Poem: 'Message to My Beloved Sibling'","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5032C9F6-4411-4D12-82E1DD2B29EB30B8_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Why we鈥檙e seduced by nature鈥檚 toxins, horror stories for winter solstice, and more books out this month","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amy Brady","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/amy-brady/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"A Fictional Psychological Thriller about the Rise of AI","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/908B0425-8D28-4BC0-A64EFF4F41BFA8C8_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Generative AI algorithms use probability to create visuals from noise","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sophie Bushwick","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/sophie-bushwick/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Matthew Twombly","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/matthew-twombly/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Amanda Hobbs","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/amanda-hobbs/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"See How AI Generates Images from Text","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/397215D1-F20A-4504-B105F408589D2B04_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Earth as a zoo; sunburned eyes","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mark Fischetti","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/mark-fischetti/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"History: October 2023","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/0BBC1F92-5C21-46B2-8CA664EFE3AC002C_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Medical, financial and ethical hurdles stand in the way of the dream to settle in space","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sarah Scoles","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/sarah-scoles/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Why We'll Never Live in Space","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F333CD63-EBB4-4FBE-A5E2441D6EA3D300_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Global warming is so rampant that some scientists say we should begin altering the stratosphere to block incoming sunlight, even if it jeopardizes rain and crops","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Douglas Fox","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/douglas-fox/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"It's Time to Engineer the Sky","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/457D7BF9-2D0E-4D98-825AE44DF266DA96_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A broad genetic study has revised the prevailing narrative about how wine grapes spread around the world","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mark Fischetti","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/mark-fischetti/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Francesco Franchi","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/francesco-franchi/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Wine's True Origins Are Finally Revealed","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/B2DC0782-CAE5-481F-99DA0C1E5087889D_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"AI is poised to revolutionize our understanding of animal communication","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lois Parshley","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lois-parshley/"}],"datePublished":"2023-10-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Artificial Intelligence Could Finally Let Us Talk with Animals","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/8A9FC0D0-D02D-4909-8E7B90874F98DBF2_source.jpg"}],"image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/55E538B3-5C35-481A-8029305969147D14_source.png","isPartOf":{"@type":["Periodical","PublicationVolume"],"@id:":"vol329","name":"Scientific American Magazine","publisher":"Scientific American"},"issueNumber":"3","url":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/10-01/"}]}},"dataLayerContent":{"content":{"articleDoi":"","authors":[],"authorsCategory":[],"canonicalUrl":"","categories":"","collectionId":"","collectionName":"","column":"","containsMedia":"","contentId":"","contentDifficulty":"","contentModeling":[],"durability":"","editors":[],"isPartner":false,"isResalable":false,"isSyndicated":false,"journalIssueName":"Scientific American Volume 329, Issue 3","language":"en","partnerName":"","platform":"hopper","paywallExempt":null,"podcastSeries":"","primaryCategory":"","printDek":"","printTitle":"","publishedAtDate":"2023-10-01","publishedAtDateTime":"","publishedAtTime":"","sentiment":"","subCategory":"","title":"Scientific American Magazine 2023-10-01","type":"issue","updatedAtDateTime":"","advertiser":"","campaign":"","isSponsored":false},"game":{"gameId":"","puzzleType":"","set":"","dek":""}},"abTestGroup":"1"},"bundle":"issue"}`)</script> <script data-layer="footer">;OptanonWrapper=()=>{};consentQueue=[];tp=[];pdl={requireConsent:'v2'};window.dataLayer=[];;window.__ads=[];_sf_async_config={};_cbq=[]</script> </body> </html>