CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <title>Scientific American Volume 328, Issue 6 | Scientific American</title> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/06-01/"> <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/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/06-01/"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg?w=1200"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg?w=1200"/> <meta name="description" content=""What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?", "A New Therapy for Multiple Personality Disorder Helps a Woman with 12 Selves", "How Greyhound Racing Drove the Evolution of a Superparasite" and more"/> <meta property="og:description" content=""What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?", "A New Therapy for Multiple Personality Disorder Helps a Woman with 12 Selves", "How Greyhound Racing Drove the Evolution of a Superparasite" and more"/> <meta property="og:type" content="website"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Scientific American Volume 328, Issue 6"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content=""What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?", "A New Therapy for Multiple Personality Disorder Helps a Woman with 12 Selves", "How Greyhound Racing Drove the Evolution of a Superparasite" 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/2023/06-01/","datePublished":"2023-06-01","description":"Scientific American Volume 328, Issue 6","hasPart":[{"@type":"Article","about":"New work suggests four distinct star system types\u2014and finds our own in the rarest category","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lee Billings","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lee-billings/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"We Live in the Rarest Type of Planetary System","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/762381E9-EA84-4B39-BDF5097AC7C51F30_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Wall lizards can \u201Csize up\u201D invading competitors by smell alone","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Saugat Bolakhe","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/saugat-bolakhe/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Some Lizards Can Smell Their Rivals' Size","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/26487D73-8F62-4C74-A608CAA320E4426A_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A new electrically conductive material could lead to better self-healing soft robots","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sophie Bushwick","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/sophie-bushwick/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"New Material Is Squishy, Conductive and Self-Healing","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4BECB63A-24C0-4EFF-A2E45E044B1604C2_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A new\u00A0material\u00A0was\u00A0used in a simple snail\u00A0robot, but\u00A0it\u00A0could one day make artificial nervous systems for more complex machines","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sophie Bushwick","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/sophie-bushwick/"}],"datePublished":"2023-04-12T07:30:00-04:00","headline":"Bizarre Material Combines the Best Traits of Gel and Metal","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/A3E99EC6-9385-4D4D-92462390336B4384_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Math is called the \u201Cuniversal language,\u201D but a unique dialect is being reborn","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amory Tillinghast-Raby","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/amory-tillinghast-raby/"}],"datePublished":"2023-04-10T06:45:00-04:00","headline":"A Number System Invented by Inuit Schoolchildren Will Make Its Silicon Valley Debut","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/82A91403-7A8F-45AF-81553DA0F4A6B53E_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A fish species recognizes its own face digitally edited onto another fish\u2019s body. What does this mean for self-awareness?","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Allison Parshall","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/allison-parshall/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"This Tiny Fish Can Recognize Itself in Photos","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/00BBF3B5-9419-40D3-B516CCF221C5221C_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"It turns out there are two species of mysterious, venomous pygmy lorises","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rachel Nuwer","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/rachel-nuwer/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Cute and Ugly Pygmy Lorises Are Actually Two Different Species","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/BA29AE8A-1400-4183-82AB90B7067FAF67_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"When you can\u2019t remember a word, it might only feel like it\u2019s on the tip of your tongue","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Matthew Hutson","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/matthew-hutson/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"That Tip-of-the-Tongue Feeling May Be an Illusion","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/3F271671-9F3A-4A62-887FA716CA63F072_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Recent research offers a tantalizing glimpse at a future in which two men can have biological children together, but any human applications remain far in the future","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Meghan Bartels","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/meghan-bartels/"}],"datePublished":"2023-03-15T07:00:00-04:00","headline":"Mice with Two Fathers? Researchers Develop Egg Cells from Male Mice","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/8FA65F02-AD83-4DA1-8031F3DB8E99938B_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Chernobyl\u2019s adaptable canines, sewage sea spray in the U.S., hibernating germs on Everest, and much more in this month\u2019s Quick Hits","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Allison Parshall","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/allison-parshall/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Science News Briefs from around the World: June 2023","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/BCD66BA7-E23F-45FF-93C7C40DFD93B8AB_source.png"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Before exploding as supernovae, massive Wolf-Rayet stars spew gas and dust into space, seeding the formation of future stellar and planetary systems","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Allison Parshall","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/allison-parshall/"}],"datePublished":"2023-03-17T15:00:00-04:00","headline":"Rare, Dust-Shrouded Dying Star Revealed in New JWST Image","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/1A31BF9E-C55F-4D88-9AF1710AF6341A0A_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"How electrons move, multiple personalities form and hookworms spread among pet dogs","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Laura Helmuth","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/laura-helmuth/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Answering Questions about Boring Numbers, Disasters, Fusion, and More","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E1C7B0EC-3EC0-4994-A356D0841F5453E6_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Letters to the editors for the February 2023 issue of Scientific American","author":[],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Readers Respond to the February 2023 Issue","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/33C94072-014B-4242-89A8821E1868387C_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Manufacturers of a class of food-derived supplements called nutraceuticals often make statements about their health value that are hard to verify, which can cause safety and efficacy issues","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"The Editors","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/the-editors/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"We Need to Better Regulate Nutraceuticals","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/43EAA53C-05D9-440A-9BA13C3EBEBBEDE8_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Chronic pain is biochemical, but it\u2019s also psychological, and treatment needs to address how we think and feel about it","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Haider Warraich","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/haider-warraich/"}],"datePublished":"2022-09-08T08:00:00-04:00","headline":"It's Time To Rethink the Origins of Pain","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/380E0884-F989-4D19-882FAE7ED40D350B_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Science in meter and verse","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Laura Reece Hogan","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/laura-reece-hogan/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Poem: 'Lyrebird'","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/AB9E0EF2-6419-4DC2-9D46CF980F2CD74F_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"HDL cholesterol raises disease risk at levels above 80 milligrams per deciliter","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lydia Denworth","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lydia-denworth/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Too Much 'Good' Cholesterol Can Harm the Heart","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4083FAF1-17AD-40B2-92E1777A27B54EAB_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Being infected with HIV is no longer a terminal diagnosis, but researchers are looking to fill the gaps that remain to ensure treatment reaches all who need it","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lauren J. Young","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lauren-j-young/"}],"datePublished":"2023-03-27T06:45:00-04:00","headline":"Millions of People Living with HIV Are Alive, Thanks to a 20-Year Public Health Effort","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/D63688D5-20A3-4148-AE11B9FE086DE582_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Conservatives tend to believe that strict divisions are an inherent part of life. Liberals do not","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jer Clifton","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jer-clifton/"}],"datePublished":"2023-03-01T10:00:00-05:00","headline":"Many Differences between Liberals and Conservatives May Boil Down to One Belief","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/1E8D506D-5CB2-4E43-AA7C738668C59241_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Citizen scientists and researchers found that we are losing our view of the sky at an astonishing rate of almost 10 percent each year","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Phil Plait","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/phil-plait/"}],"datePublished":"2023-01-31T11:15:00-05:00","headline":"Light Pollution Is Dimming Our View of the Sky, and It's Getting Worse","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/6BA3AF5D-A758-4BA3-BE09C5215037FF69_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Nuclear fusion will scale up too late to avoid climatic catastrophe","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Naomi Oreskes","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/naomi-oreskes/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Why Nuclear Fusion Won't Solve the Climate Crisis","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/3831B664-0397-4C2B-A31E6C59CE6245A9_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A wildfire rages against the Alberta tar sands, aliens induce existential crises for people (and cats), the hype and potential of MDMA, and more books out now","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amy Brady","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/amy-brady/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"When a Wildfire Burns a City Built for Extracting Oil","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E934B342-7DB3-4A8C-A9416D510D0C408F_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Computer chess master; private bathing for birds","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mark Fischetti","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/mark-fischetti/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: June 2023","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E468114F-A9D4-4A74-8FB595960E409A1A_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Magnetic fields help to explain why some stars are spinning more slowly than astronomers thought they should","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Clara Moskowitz","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/clara-moskowitz/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Lucy Reading-Ikkanda","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lucy-reading-ikkanda/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Scientists Solve Star Spin Mystery","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/9119E7E2-462D-4150-AD2FCA25386ADB28_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Nuclear fusion won\u2019t arrive in time to fix climate change, but it could be essential for our future energy needs","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Philip Ball","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/philip-ball/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5EBE56B7-8583-460E-99BAE19224F7A002_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Therapy for dissociative identity disorder has aimed to meld many personalities into one. But that\u2019s not the only solution, a caring therapist shows","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rebecca J. Lester","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/rebecca-j-lester/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"A New Therapy for Multiple Personality Disorder Helps a Woman with 12 Selves","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/ECF8D1DC-9CF0-4151-BB10E83D242DBAE2_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"The greyhound racing industry has been implicated in the rise of drug resistance in hookworms\u2014which can infect dogs and humans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Bradley van Paridon","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/bradley-van-paridon/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"How Greyhound Racing Drove the Evolution of a Superparasite","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/B2D222E0-13F6-46E8-A3939962FD6BA49F_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Scientists are specifying how much damage climate change is adding to extreme weather events, potentially influencing court cases, insurance claims and public policy","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lois Parshley","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lois-parshley/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"When Disaster Strikes, Is Climate Change to Blame?","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/88920E5D-B0A5-48E3-B6296ADAD9F1335F_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Experiments that imitate solid materials with light waves reveal the quantum basis of exotic physical effects","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Charles D. Brown II","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/charles-d-brown-ii/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Physicists Make Matter out of Light to Find Quantum Singularities","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/7CF844BE-FA56-4205-A4FDB8A6254B81FA_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"An endangered language family suggests that early humans used their bodies as a model for reality","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Anvita Abbi","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/anvita-abbi/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"This Ancient Language Has the Only Grammar Based Entirely on the Human Body","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/975A7038-FAE0-4B21-9111571955BE16BD_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"That prime numbers and powers of 2 fascinate many people comes as no surprise. In fact, all numbers split into two camps: interesting and boring","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Manon Bischoff","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/manon-bischoff/"}],"datePublished":"2023-03-03T06:45:00-05:00","headline":"The Most Boring Number in the World Is ...","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/074E0B42-E92B-4C73-B556CC6BAC2B4756_source.jpg"}],"image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg","isPartOf":{"@type":["Periodical","PublicationVolume"],"@id:":"vol328","name":"Scientific American Magazine","publisher":"Scientific American"},"issueNumber":"6","url":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/06-01/"}]}</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.8cb7a993.js"></script> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/preload-helper-4aa0ec7d.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/vendor-react-f9bf3b4a.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/sciam-bf662dfc.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/use-environment-8e046ff8.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/datalayer-d861d60c.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/use-piano-auth-sync-cec85dc3.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" crossorigin href="/static/chunks/useOverlay-fe78e6e1.js"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/assets/bundle-49553f4a.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-1b56bae7.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.56f938df.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/">< 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/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg?w=300" alt="Scientific American Magazine Vol 328 Issue 6" srcSet="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg?w=400 400w, https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg?w=600 600w, https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg?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="2023-06-01">June 2023</time></h2></div><small><span>Volume 328</span>, <span>Issue 6</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/what-is-the-future-of-fusion-energy/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Energy" data-disable-apple-news="true"><img alt="A pink and orange depiction of active fusion energy." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5EBE56B7-8583-460E-99BAE19224F7A002_source.jpg?w=450" loading="lazy"/></figure><div class="kickerContainer-U9kI5"><div class="kicker-EEaW-">Energy<span class="kickerSpacer-I99oW"></span><span class="kickerMeta-0zV3t">June 1, 2023</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>Nuclear fusion won’t arrive in time to fix climate change, but it could be essential for our future energy needs</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Philip Ball</p></section></article><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/a-traumatized-woman-with-multiple-personalities-gets-better-as-her-parts-work-as-a-team/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Psychology" data-disable-apple-news="true"><img alt="A photo illustration showing a woman facing a wall drawing a dotted line around her shadow." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/ECF8D1DC-9CF0-4151-BB10E83D242DBAE2_source.jpeg?w=450" loading="lazy"/></figure><div class="kickerContainer-U9kI5"><div class="kicker-EEaW-">Psychology<span class="kickerSpacer-I99oW"></span><span class="kickerMeta-0zV3t">June 1, 2023</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>A New Therapy for Multiple Personality Disorder Helps a Woman with 12 Selves</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>Therapy for dissociative identity disorder has aimed to meld many personalities into one. But that’s not the only solution, a caring therapist shows</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Rebecca J. Lester</p></section></article><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/how-greyhound-racing-drove-the-evolution-of-a-superparasite/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Epidemiology" data-disable-apple-news="true"><img alt="Greyhound dog shown in cage with muzzles hanging from outer cage." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/B2D222E0-13F6-46E8-A3939962FD6BA49F_source.jpg?w=450" loading="lazy"/></figure><div class="kickerContainer-U9kI5"><div class="kicker-EEaW-">Epidemiology<span class="kickerSpacer-I99oW"></span><span class="kickerMeta-0zV3t">June 1, 2023</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>How Greyhound Racing Drove the Evolution of a Superparasite</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>The greyhound racing industry has been implicated in the rise of drug resistance in hookworms—which can infect dogs and humans</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Bradley van Paridon</p></section></article><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/when-disaster-strikes-is-climate-change-to-blame/" 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="An illustration of a finger touching a climate change odometer." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/88920E5D-B0A5-48E3-B6296ADAD9F1335F_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">June 1, 2023</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>When Disaster Strikes, Is Climate Change to Blame?</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>Scientists are specifying how much damage climate change is adding to extreme weather events, potentially influencing court cases, insurance claims and public policy</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Lois Parshley</p></section></article><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/physicists-make-matter-out-of-light-to-find-quantum-singularities/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Particle Physics" data-disable-apple-news="true"><img alt="The inside of a hexagon-shaped ultrahigh vacuum chamber." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/7CF844BE-FA56-4205-A4FDB8A6254B81FA_source.jpg?w=450" loading="lazy"/></figure><div class="kickerContainer-U9kI5"><div class="kicker-EEaW-">Particle Physics<span class="kickerSpacer-I99oW"></span><span class="kickerMeta-0zV3t">June 1, 2023</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>Physicists Make Matter out of Light to Find Quantum Singularities</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>Experiments that imitate solid materials with light waves reveal the quantum basis of exotic physical effects</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Charles D. Brown II</p></section></article><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/this-ancient-language-has-the-only-grammar-based-entirely-on-the-human-body/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Language" data-disable-apple-news="true"><img alt="An illustration of heads against an ocean background, with text bubbles throughout." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/975A7038-FAE0-4B21-9111571955BE16BD_source.jpg?w=450" loading="lazy"/></figure><div class="kickerContainer-U9kI5"><div class="kicker-EEaW-">Language<span class="kickerSpacer-I99oW"></span><span class="kickerMeta-0zV3t">June 1, 2023</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>This Ancient Language Has the Only Grammar Based Entirely on the Human Body</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>An endangered language family suggests that early humans used their bodies as a model for reality</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Anvita Abbi</p></section></article><article class="article-pFLe7 articleListItem-EDtwh item-NF5qX"><a class="articleLink-2OMNo" href="/article/the-most-boring-number-in-the-world-is/" data-testid="article-link"><figure class="articleFigure-Q7l9w" style="--ratio:var(--image-ratio, 56.25%)" category="Mathematics" data-disable-apple-news="true"><img alt="Numbers with a green background." class="articleImg-Ls3LK" src="https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/074E0B42-E92B-4C73-B556CC6BAC2B4756_source.jpg?w=450" loading="lazy"/></figure><div class="kickerContainer-U9kI5"><div class="kicker-EEaW-">Mathematics<span class="kickerSpacer-I99oW"></span><span class="kickerMeta-0zV3t">March 3, 2023</span></div></div><h2 class="articleTitle-mtY5p"><p>The Most Boring Number in the World Is ...</p></h2></a><section class="articleInfo-EjcxZ"><div class="dek-KweYs"><p>That prime numbers and powers of 2 fascinate many people comes as no surprise. In fact, all numbers split into two camps: interesting and boring</p></div><p class="authors-NCGt1">Manon Bischoff</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/we-live-in-the-rarest-type-of-planetary-system1/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">We Live in the Rarest Type of Planetary System</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/some-lizards-can-smell-their-rivals-size/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Some Lizards Can Smell Their Rivals' Size</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/new-material-is-squishy-conductive-and-self-healing/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">New Material Is Squishy, Conductive and Self-Healing</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/bizarre-material-combines-the-best-traits-of-gel-and-metal1/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Bizarre Material Combines the Best Traits of Gel and Metal</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/a-number-system-invented-by-inuit-schoolchildren-will-make-its-silicon-valley-debut1/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">A Number System Invented by Inuit Schoolchildren Will Make Its Silicon Valley Debut</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/this-tiny-fish-can-recognize-itself-in-photos/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">This Tiny Fish Can Recognize Itself in Photos</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/cute-and-ugly-pygmy-lorises-are-actually-two-different-species/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Cute and Ugly Pygmy Lorises Are Actually Two Different Species</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/that-tip-of-the-tongue-feeling-may-be-an-illusion/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">That Tip-of-the-Tongue Feeling May Be an Illusion</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/mice-with-two-fathers-researchers-develop-egg-cells-from-male-mice1/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Mice with Two Fathers? Researchers Develop Egg Cells from Male Mice</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/science-news-briefs-from-around-the-world-june-2023/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Science News Briefs from around the World: June 2023</h2></a></article><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/rare-dust-shrouded-dying-star-revealed-in-new-jwst-image1/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Rare, Dust-Shrouded Dying Star Revealed in New JWST Image</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">From the Editor</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/answering-questions-about-boring-numbers-disasters-fusion-and-more/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Answering Questions about Boring Numbers, Disasters, Fusion, and More</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-february-2023-issue/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Readers Respond to the February 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/we-need-to-better-regulate-nutraceuticals/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">We Need to Better Regulate Nutraceuticals</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Forum</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/it-rsquo-s-time-to-rethink-the-origins-of-pain/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">It's Time To Rethink the Origins of Pain</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Meter</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/poem-lyrebird/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Poem: 'Lyrebird'</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/too-much-good-cholesterol-can-harm-the-heart/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Too Much 'Good' Cholesterol Can Harm the Heart</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Q&A</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/millions-of-people-living-with-hiv-are-alive-thanks-to-a-20-year-public-health-effort/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Millions of People Living with HIV Are Alive, Thanks to a 20-Year Public Health Effort</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Mind Matters</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/many-differences-between-liberals-and-conservatives-may-boil-down-to-one-belief/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Many Differences between Liberals and Conservatives May Boil Down to One Belief</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">The Universe</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/light-pollution-is-dimming-our-view-of-the-sky-and-its-getting-worse/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Light Pollution Is Dimming Our View of the Sky, and It's Getting Worse</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Observatory</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/why-nuclear-fusion-wont-solve-the-climate-crisis/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Why Nuclear Fusion Won't Solve the Climate Crisis</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Reviews</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/when-a-wildfire-burns-a-city-built-for-extracting-oil/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">When a Wildfire Burns a City Built for Extracting Oil</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/50-100-150-years-ago-june-2023/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: June 2023</h2></a></article><div class="article__listing__column-Ux-fe">Graphic Science</div><article class="article-4xs14"><a class="articleLink-fg1ac" href="/article/scientists-solve-star-spin-mystery/" data-testid="article-link"><h2 class="articleTitle-e093r">Scientists Solve Star Spin Mystery</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="https://www.scientificamerican.com/getsciam/">Subscribe</a><a class="footerLink-uRzI4" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/newsletter-signup/">Sign up for our newsletters</a><a class="footerLink-uRzI4" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/">See the latest stories</a><a class="footerLink-uRzI4" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/latest-issue/">Read the latest issue</a><a class="footerLink-uRzI4" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/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="https://www.scientificamerican.com/page/return-refund-policy/">Return & Refund Policy</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/page/about-scientific-american/">About</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/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="https://www.scientificamerican.com/page/contact-us/customer-service/">Contact Us</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/page/international/">International Editions</a></li></ul></div><div><ul class="footer-links"><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/mediakit/">Advertise</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/accessibility-statement/">Accessibility Statement</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/page/terms-of-use/">Terms of Use</a></li></ul></div><div><ul class="footer-links"><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/page/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a class="footerSmallLink-tZvCu" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/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>© 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":"30LT1MVEcY62U9mdARGiGF","mura_id":null,"path":"/issue/sa/2023/06-01/","magazine_title":"Scientific American Magazine","issue_title":"Scientific American Volume 328, Issue 6","volume":328,"issue":"6","issue_date":"2023-06-01","pdf_file":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/F47091D7-D486-4485-A95B8086CA3D1A6F.pdf","image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg","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":1304944,"contentful_id":"3AHklXkjBchFtuvr3mxRH8","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-10","mura_id":"ECBF3E76-93CB-4678-8E97AE3336AE5D58","mura_contentid":"27C07EA1-B8E9-4777-B6D6738E4A21B0C4","title":"We Live in the Rarest Type of Planetary System","display_title":"<p>We Live in the Rarest Type of Planetary System</p>","slug":"we-live-in-the-rarest-type-of-planetary-system1","url":"/article/we-live-in-the-rarest-type-of-planetary-system1/","summary":"<p>New work suggests four distinct star system types—and finds our own in the rarest category</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"D66A841E-16FA-4F30-81F01D492E7299EA","url":"/author/lee-billings/","contentful_id":"7sbCH7TlFb2NFayeuLSDA0","name":"Lee Billings","slug":"lee-billings","biography":"<p><b>Lee Billings</b> is a science journalist specializing in astronomy, physics, planetary science, and spaceflight, and is a senior editor at <i>Scientific American</i>. He is the author of a critically acclaimed book, <i>Five Billion Years of Solitude: the Search for Life Among the Stars</i>, which in 2014 won a Science Communication Award from the American Institute of Physics. In addition to his work for <i>Scientific American</i>, Billings's writing has appeared in the <i>New York Times</i>, the <i>Wall Street Journal</i>, the <i>Boston Globe</i>, <i>Wired</i>, <i>New Scientist</i>, <i>Popular Science</i>, and many other publications. A dynamic public speaker, Billings has given invited talks for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Google, and has served as M.C. for events held by <i>National Geographic</i>, the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, Pioneer Works, and various other organizations. <br/><br/>Billings joined <i>Scientific American</i> in 2014, and previously worked as a staff editor at <i>SEED</i> magazine. He holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Minnesota.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[{"type":"x","value":"@LeeBillings"}]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/762381E9-EA84-4B39-BDF5097AC7C51F30_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1152,"image_alt_text":"An imagined view from the Kepler-16 planetary system.","image_caption":"<p>An imagined view from the Kepler-16 planetary system.</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Planetary Science","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"10"},{"id":1304950,"contentful_id":"1eijQl0rPhNXUqW7BxtxC0","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-12b","mura_id":"903D028F-86B3-4734-937A4013A9038C21","mura_contentid":"53C8CFC7-D265-4EBF-AF558DC14A90845B","title":"Some Lizards Can Smell Their Rivals' Size","display_title":"<p>Some Lizards Can Smell Their Rivals’ Size</p>","slug":"some-lizards-can-smell-their-rivals-size","url":"/article/some-lizards-can-smell-their-rivals-size/","summary":"<p>Wall lizards can “size up” invading competitors by smell alone</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"EA581A07-ADF1-4C68-83F603AC42D42D5C","url":"/author/saugat-bolakhe/","contentful_id":"4VRiwck8ynRlP1gzYWwm8O","name":"Saugat Bolakhe","slug":"saugat-bolakhe","biography":"<p><b>Saugat Bolakhe</b> is a freelance science journalist. He studied zoology as an undergraduate in Nepal and received a master’s degree from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. His work has appeared in<i> Scientific American, Nature, New Scientist, Quanta, Eos, Discover</i>, <i>Knowable</i> and other publications.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/26487D73-8F62-4C74-A608CAA320E4426A_source.jpg","image_width":4812,"image_height":3212,"image_alt_text":"Lizard on a rock","image_caption":"<p>A common wall lizard (<i>Podarcis muralis</i>) basks in the sun on a rock.</p>","image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/common-wall-lizard-basking-in-the-sun-on-rock-news-photo/601068384?adppopup=true\\">Arterra/Universal Images Group via 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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Animals","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"12"},{"id":1305059,"contentful_id":"lFk9yDOvR0gS9D6GQcAA0","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-12a","mura_id":"BA1990B7-069C-428F-8938D604A138B2FE","mura_contentid":"1B3B8A83-7D1C-4747-A3115F8809939FDA","title":"New Material Is Squishy, Conductive and Self-Healing","display_title":"<p>New Material Is Squishy, Conductive and Self-Healing</p>","slug":"new-material-is-squishy-conductive-and-self-healing","url":"/article/new-material-is-squishy-conductive-and-self-healing/","summary":"<p>A new electrically conductive material could lead to better self-healing soft robots</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> is tech editor at <i>Scientific American</i>. She runs the daily technology news coverage for the website, writes about everything from artificial intelligence to jumping robots for both digital and print publication, records YouTube and TikTok videos and hosts the podcast <i>Tech, Quickly</i>. Bushwick also 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,</i><i>Discover</i> and Gizmodo. Follow Bushwick on X (formerly Twitter) <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/sophiebushwick\\">@sophiebushwick</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4BECB63A-24C0-4EFF-A2E45E044B1604C2_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1024,"image_alt_text":"A large robot snail on the surface of some water with rocks in the background.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/977464\\">College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Materials Science","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"12"},{"id":1304801,"contentful_id":"4QhMUSMgrFXOtSJWdot1XM","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-12a","mura_id":"7233B62E-730A-4EEC-A0E808935A9C1982","mura_contentid":"0B45A9F0-9E8A-4E92-8A38B500275F85F6","title":"Bizarre Material Combines the Best Traits of Gel and Metal","display_title":"<p>Bizarre Material Combines the Best Traits of Gel and Metal</p>","slug":"bizarre-material-combines-the-best-traits-of-gel-and-metal1","url":"/article/bizarre-material-combines-the-best-traits-of-gel-and-metal1/","summary":"<p>A new material was used in a simple snail robot, but it could one day make artificial nervous systems for more complex machines</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> is tech editor at <i>Scientific American</i>. She runs the daily technology news coverage for the website, writes about everything from artificial intelligence to jumping robots for both digital and print publication, records YouTube and TikTok videos and hosts the podcast <i>Tech, Quickly</i>. Bushwick also 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,</i><i>Discover</i> and Gizmodo. Follow Bushwick on X (formerly Twitter) <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/sophiebushwick\\">@sophiebushwick</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/A3E99EC6-9385-4D4D-92462390336B4384_source.jpg","image_width":2700,"image_height":1500,"image_alt_text":"Robotic snail powered by breakthrough self-healing, electrically conductive material.","image_caption":"<p>Robotic snail powered by breakthrough self-healing, electrically conductive material.</p>","image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/977464\\">Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering</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":"2023-04-12T07:30:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Robotics","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"12"},{"id":1304761,"contentful_id":"3sQ01fI8nSGVLLegmW4ORR","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-14","mura_id":"ED8FE828-CE1C-4725-BBCE884398667465","mura_contentid":"E9EB5F51-2885-460E-AA1DDD6BE0F13CDC","title":"A Number System Invented by Inuit Schoolchildren Will Make Its Silicon Valley Debut","display_title":"<p>A Number System Invented by Inuit Schoolchildren Will Make Its Silicon Valley Debut</p>","slug":"a-number-system-invented-by-inuit-schoolchildren-will-make-its-silicon-valley-debut1","url":"/article/a-number-system-invented-by-inuit-schoolchildren-will-make-its-silicon-valley-debut1/","summary":"<p>Math is called the “universal language,” but a unique dialect is being reborn</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"CC5A1F1B-4DB8-4723-945C8C7DFBFFB013","url":"/author/amory-tillinghast-raby/","contentful_id":"4P1uzFSTu3XBuGYONDm55U","name":"Amory Tillinghast-Raby","slug":"amory-tillinghast-raby","biography":"<p><b>Amory Tillinghast-Raby</b> is a freelance journalist who is interested in the intersection of science and world cultures. He is based in New York City.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/82A91403-7A8F-45AF-81553DA0F4A6B53E_source.jpg","image_width":4158,"image_height":2772,"image_alt_text":"Yellow school bus parked on snow, with reflection in water","image_caption":"<p>A school bus parked parked in front of an aircraft hanger in Kaktovik, Alaska, in October 2011.</p>","image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.alamy.com/school-bus-parked-parked-in-front-of-aircraft-hanger-with-reflection-image67375415.html?imageid=B5BFE73F-C3D8-448E-A1DB-021AEDFDC845&p=52934&pn=3&searchId=69543fc07f9fe1da17b33543d8e74c90&searchtype=0\\">Oliver Smart/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":"2023-04-10T06:45:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Mathematics","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"14"},{"id":1305026,"contentful_id":"2Rp6uRlrvzzcz9evfDjkbq","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-16","mura_id":"F872C163-243E-44ED-9B4EE868773DD2F5","mura_contentid":"8FDAD125-339C-475F-9F19CE0EA1F1FB7A","title":"This Tiny Fish Can Recognize Itself in Photos","display_title":"<p>This Tiny Fish Can Recognize Itself in Photos</p>","slug":"this-tiny-fish-can-recognize-itself-in-photos","url":"/article/this-tiny-fish-can-recognize-itself-in-photos/","summary":"<p>A fish species recognizes its own face digitally edited onto another fish’s body. What does this mean for self-awareness?</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"0FFE7A44-84EF-4D95-AD9601E22DEBD3CF","url":"/author/allison-parshall/","contentful_id":"7zo6JTF4ABKwxhv8huzYfA","name":"Allison Parshall","slug":"allison-parshall","biography":"<p><b>Allison Parshall</b> is an associate news editor at <i>Scientific American</i> who often covers biology, health, technology and physics. She edits the magazine's Contributors column and weekly online <a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/games/science-quizzes/\\">Science Quizzes</a>. As a multimedia journalist, Parshall contributes to <i>Scientific American</i>'s podcast <i>Science Quickly</i>. Her work includes a three-part miniseries on music-making artificial intelligence. Her work has also appeared in <i>Quanta Magazine</i> and Inverse. Parshall graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with a master's degree in science, health and environmental reporting. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Georgetown University. Follow Parshall on X (formerly Twitter) <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/parshallison\\">@parshallison</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/00BBF3B5-9419-40D3-B516CCF221C5221C_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1024,"image_alt_text":"A head-on view of a pink and green fish with a smaller wrasse fish on the edge of its mouth.","image_caption":"<p>Cleaner wrasse approaches a parrotfish.</p>","image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/cleaner-fish-royalty-free-image/1039209424\\">atese/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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Animals","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"16"},{"id":1304947,"contentful_id":"5nqFHkQ5KeLMHiXUYf6rGn","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-17","mura_id":"1619FD5C-CC22-4B8A-95DC8CFEA131404E","mura_contentid":"05580CD7-5ECB-4AC9-97BD51E57BB7D271","title":"Cute and Ugly Pygmy Lorises Are Actually Two Different Species","display_title":"<p>Cute and Ugly Pygmy Lorises Are Actually Two Different Species</p>","slug":"cute-and-ugly-pygmy-lorises-are-actually-two-different-species","url":"/article/cute-and-ugly-pygmy-lorises-are-actually-two-different-species/","summary":"<p>It turns out there are two species of mysterious, venomous pygmy lorises</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"745786D8-D0C1-48B8-8CF0A4E25049F2C3","url":"/author/rachel-nuwer/","contentful_id":"3O1IcTivaAZbwrDpxiMsS6","name":"Rachel Nuwer","slug":"rachel-nuwer","biography":"<p><b>Rachel Nuwer</b> is a science journalist and author. Her latest book is <i>I Feel Love: MDMA and the Quest for Connection in a Fractured World</i> (Bloomsbury, 2023). Follow her on X <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/RachelNuwer\\">@RachelNuwer</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[{"type":"site","value":"http://www.rachelnuwer.com/"}]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/BA29AE8A-1400-4183-82AB90B7067FAF67_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1022,"image_alt_text":"A large-eyed loris sits on a tree branch.","image_caption":"<p>Likely <i>Xanthonycticebus intermedius</i></p>","image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://www.mindenpictures.com/stock-photo/pygmy-slow-loris-(nycticebus-pygmaeus)-cuc-phuong-national-park-ninh-binh/search/detailmodal-0_00453351.html\\">Chien Lee/Minden Pictures</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Ecology","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"17"},{"id":1304978,"contentful_id":"7bF7wcEu97MGC8Z6xz5JXV","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-18a","mura_id":"AE36269F-5473-44B7-BECC6770017D47F2","mura_contentid":"7CC6DBBE-C324-444C-B9D21549256B49DA","title":"That Tip-of-the-Tongue Feeling May Be an Illusion","display_title":"<p>That Tip-of-the-Tongue Feeling May Be an Illusion</p>","slug":"that-tip-of-the-tongue-feeling-may-be-an-illusion","url":"/article/that-tip-of-the-tongue-feeling-may-be-an-illusion/","summary":"<p>When you can’t remember a word, it might only feel like it’s on the tip of your tongue</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"16D68C05-7AF6-42AB-BFBACB0E95C0B333","url":"/author/matthew-hutson/","contentful_id":"4aEiEJWfvq2DvlK7HlhZVU","name":"Matthew Hutson","slug":"matthew-hutson","biography":"<p><b>Matthew Hutson</b> is a freelance science writer based in New York City and author of <i>The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking</i>.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/3F271671-9F3A-4A62-887FA716CA63F072_source.jpeg","image_width":1390,"image_height":926,"image_alt_text":"An illustration of a person with a question mark over their face and sticking out their tongue.","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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Neuroscience","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"18"},{"id":1304573,"contentful_id":"3X1RBS88qudqGaWKthLdFQ","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-18b","mura_id":"79C54E9A-CC66-4D14-9C084AFFCDDD94C6","mura_contentid":"80375E96-D60E-467A-94CFF4906EF16BB2","title":"Mice with Two Fathers? Researchers Develop Egg Cells from Male Mice","display_title":"<p>Mice with Two Fathers? Researchers Develop Egg Cells from Male Mice</p>","slug":"mice-with-two-fathers-researchers-develop-egg-cells-from-male-mice1","url":"/article/mice-with-two-fathers-researchers-develop-egg-cells-from-male-mice1/","summary":"<p>Recent research offers a tantalizing glimpse at a future in which two men can have biological children together, but any human applications remain far in the future</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"888A369F-D3E7-4409-83CF66A5473A9DD2","url":"/author/meghan-bartels/","contentful_id":"1BFKjWscoJuKOwbJGM1osa","name":"Meghan Bartels","slug":"meghan-bartels","biography":"<p><b>Meghan Bartels</b> is a science journalist based in New York City. She joined <i>Scientific American</i> in 2023 and is now a senior news reporter there. Previously, she spent more than four years as a writer and editor at Space.com, as well as nearly a year as a science reporter at <i>Newsweek</i>, where she focused on space and Earth science. Her writing has also appeared in <i>Audubon, Nautilus, Astronomy</i> and <i>Smithsonian,</i> among other publications. She attended Georgetown University and earned a master’s degree in journalism at New York University’s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/8FA65F02-AD83-4DA1-8031F3DB8E99938B_source.jpeg","image_width":3721,"image_height":2480,"image_alt_text":"Two mice on adjoining stems of a plant.","image_caption":"<p>Harvest mice.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Arco/J.Fieber/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":"2023-03-15T07:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Reproduction","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"18"},{"id":1305054,"contentful_id":"7BSAuAeTsyHZXef9gtfo2f","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-19","mura_id":"A72E6297-F478-49DB-8325D84EAD470245","mura_contentid":"03BBA9B4-7CED-4BC1-83C6989CEE14BEF7","title":"Science News Briefs from around the World: June 2023","display_title":"<p>Science News Briefs from around the World: June 2023</p>","slug":"science-news-briefs-from-around-the-world-june-2023","url":"/article/science-news-briefs-from-around-the-world-june-2023/","summary":"<p>Chernobyl’s adaptable canines, sewage sea spray in the U.S., hibernating germs on Everest, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"0FFE7A44-84EF-4D95-AD9601E22DEBD3CF","url":"/author/allison-parshall/","contentful_id":"7zo6JTF4ABKwxhv8huzYfA","name":"Allison Parshall","slug":"allison-parshall","biography":"<p><b>Allison Parshall</b> is an associate news editor at <i>Scientific American</i> who often covers biology, health, technology and physics. She edits the magazine's Contributors column and weekly online <a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/games/science-quizzes/\\">Science Quizzes</a>. As a multimedia journalist, Parshall contributes to <i>Scientific American</i>'s podcast <i>Science Quickly</i>. Her work includes a three-part miniseries on music-making artificial intelligence. Her work has also appeared in <i>Quanta Magazine</i> and Inverse. Parshall graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with a master's degree in science, health and environmental reporting. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Georgetown University. Follow Parshall on X (formerly Twitter) <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/parshallison\\">@parshallison</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/BCD66BA7-E23F-45FF-93C7C40DFD93B8AB_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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Culture","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"18"},{"id":1304629,"contentful_id":"6kOKrzvTqnCQROUYA6iKSE","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-20","mura_id":"917E695A-48FB-4520-88D4A263A8D49537","mura_contentid":"3D6F0751-D7C9-492E-8679D023626290BF","title":"Rare, Dust-Shrouded Dying Star Revealed in New JWST Image","display_title":"<p>Rare, Dust-Shrouded Dying Star Revealed in New JWST Image</p>","slug":"rare-dust-shrouded-dying-star-revealed-in-new-jwst-image1","url":"/article/rare-dust-shrouded-dying-star-revealed-in-new-jwst-image1/","summary":"<p>Before exploding as supernovae, massive Wolf-Rayet stars spew gas and dust into space, seeding the formation of future stellar and planetary systems</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"0FFE7A44-84EF-4D95-AD9601E22DEBD3CF","url":"/author/allison-parshall/","contentful_id":"7zo6JTF4ABKwxhv8huzYfA","name":"Allison Parshall","slug":"allison-parshall","biography":"<p><b>Allison Parshall</b> is an associate news editor at <i>Scientific American</i> who often covers biology, health, technology and physics. She edits the magazine's Contributors column and weekly online <a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/games/science-quizzes/\\">Science Quizzes</a>. As a multimedia journalist, Parshall contributes to <i>Scientific American</i>'s podcast <i>Science Quickly</i>. Her work includes a three-part miniseries on music-making artificial intelligence. Her work has also appeared in <i>Quanta Magazine</i> and Inverse. Parshall graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with a master's degree in science, health and environmental reporting. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Georgetown University. Follow Parshall on X (formerly Twitter) <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/parshallison\\">@parshallison</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/1A31BF9E-C55F-4D88-9AF1710AF6341A0A_source.jpeg","image_width":4416,"image_height":4349,"image_alt_text":"A composite image showing a bright pink star surrounded by smaller stars in space.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p><a href=\\"https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/2023/111/01GTWASGERK0M8G86WZZSRC1ZX?fbclid=IwAR0wQW-Hge-FsRjWMTttki3IIfydYX6iKpVx2HwWeSznOkHWiWdDhD97c10&news=true\\">NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team</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":"2023-03-17T15:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Astronomy","subtype":"news","column":"Advances","page_number":"20"}],"departments":[{"id":1305035,"contentful_id":"269iugJBjsJwBBuIWgrX1u","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-4","mura_id":"27A4C900-4D79-40A4-8183A0F00638BFFD","mura_contentid":"4FB549C7-843E-47EC-9A57DFB85FF034A1","title":"Answering Questions about Boring Numbers, Disasters, Fusion, and More","display_title":"<p>Answering Questions about Boring Numbers, Disasters, Fusion, and More</p>","slug":"answering-questions-about-boring-numbers-disasters-fusion-and-more","url":"/article/answering-questions-about-boring-numbers-disasters-fusion-and-more/","summary":"<p>How electrons move, multiple personalities form and hookworms spread among pet dogs</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"AD9E7D8B-B769-4F55-842C9EF830C5CB02","url":"/author/laura-helmuth/","contentful_id":"5p67sNQuWRwjA85s6khk2Z","name":"Laura Helmuth","slug":"laura-helmuth","biography":"<p><b>Laura Helmuth</b> was formerly editor in chief of <i>Scientific American</i>. She previously worked as an editor for the <i>Washington Post, National Geographic, Slate, Smithsonian</i> and <i>Science</i>. She is a former president of the National Association of Science Writers. She is currently a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's standing committee on advancing science communication and an advisory board member for SciLine and The Transmitter. She has a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley. She recently won a Friend of Darwin Award from the National Center for Science Education. Follow her on Bluesky <a href=\\"https://bsky.app/profile/laurahelmuth.bsky.social\\">@laurahelmuth.bsky.social</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E1C7B0EC-3EC0-4994-A356D0841F5453E6_source.jpeg","image_width":1000,"image_height":750,"image_alt_text":"Image of the June 2023 cover of Scientific American.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p><i>Scientific American</i>, June 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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Culture","subtype":"news","column":"From the Editor","page_number":"4"},{"id":1305046,"contentful_id":"QnbVuYwYAQU8hIaQziZ3z","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-6","mura_id":"EECC05A8-1BB8-4593-88907DEBD9EEC6F9","mura_contentid":"0F795D75-BDEA-41B7-858AE60F458079D3","title":"Readers Respond to the February 2023 Issue","display_title":"<p>Readers Respond to the February 2023 Issue</p>","slug":"readers-respond-to-the-february-2023-issue","url":"/article/readers-respond-to-the-february-2023-issue/","summary":"<p>Letters to the editors for the February 2023 issue of <i>Scientific American</i></p>","authors":[],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/33C94072-014B-4242-89A8821E1868387C_source.jpeg","image_width":1000,"image_height":750,"image_alt_text":"Cover image of the February 2023 issue of Scientific American.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p><i>Scientific American</i>, February 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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Culture","subtype":"news","column":"Letters","page_number":"6"},{"id":1305063,"contentful_id":"44afSXcEQMs8NWjluDqsNH","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-8","mura_id":"85AAAE86-2C0C-408C-94B1BE4AD1838AD0","mura_contentid":"3EE807BC-4A4D-45B3-96366E0EB43557DE","title":"We Need to Better Regulate Nutraceuticals","display_title":"<p>We Need to Better Regulate Nutraceuticals</p>","slug":"we-need-to-better-regulate-nutraceuticals","url":"/article/we-need-to-better-regulate-nutraceuticals/","summary":"<p>Manufacturers of a class of food-derived supplements called nutraceuticals often make statements about their health value that are hard to verify, which can cause safety and efficacy issues</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"6610491A-EFB0-4B1A-BC878B0BB7E9A5FA","url":"/author/the-editors/","contentful_id":"7GGXsMEKa3BjQp7b1XKlJu","name":"The Editors","slug":"the-editors","biography":null,"picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/43EAA53C-05D9-440A-9BA13C3EBEBBEDE8_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1326,"image_alt_text":"An illustration depicting a health care professional shining a flashlight into a green capsule.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Aad Goudappel</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Pharmaceuticals","subtype":"news","column":"The Science Agenda","page_number":"8"},{"id":1303865,"contentful_id":"2cujVpsk0Mpt0YcCINBXoJ","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-9","mura_id":"77CCC4C4-AD94-4E50-A65E62B14CE18522","mura_contentid":"7F620C89-2458-4A8C-99B3E1133615B2E0","title":"It's Time To Rethink the Origins of Pain","display_title":"<p>It’s Time To Rethink the Origins of Pain</p>","slug":"it-rsquo-s-time-to-rethink-the-origins-of-pain","url":"/article/it-rsquo-s-time-to-rethink-the-origins-of-pain/","summary":"<p>Chronic pain is biochemical, but it’s also psychological, and treatment needs to address how we think and feel about it</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"89D71925-9D46-4E74-831285B6158B7BBB","url":"/author/haider-warraich/","contentful_id":"6e96F1ISIEp9lrUTFGRTRc","name":"Haider Warraich","slug":"haider-warraich","biography":"<p><b>Haider Warraich</b>, a physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the VA Boston Healthcare System, is author of <a href=\\"https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/haider-warraich/the-song-of-our-scars/9781541675292/\\"><i>The Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain</i></a> (Basic Books, 2022). Follow Warraich on Twitter <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/haiderwarraich\\">@haiderwarraich</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/380E0884-F989-4D19-882FAE7ED40D350B_source.jpeg","image_width":3363,"image_height":2887,"image_alt_text":"An illustration of a man walking up stairs, with his shadow bending over in visible pain.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Katie Thomas</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":"2022-09-08T08:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Psychology","subtype":"opinion","column":"Forum","page_number":"9"},{"id":1304972,"contentful_id":"13jPeK707rD7vHm1CrCpiE","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-22","mura_id":"8613D302-9D84-4E8A-AE16133D4F70093D","mura_contentid":"E4BB7E63-6A2B-4C67-8E7ACD103428CF82","title":"Poem: 'Lyrebird'","display_title":"<p>Poem: ‘Lyrebird’</p>","slug":"poem-lyrebird","url":"/article/poem-lyrebird/","summary":"<p>Science in meter and verse</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"92E36ABF-C8A1-4998-B9FECD1DA3C4A8FE","url":"/author/laura-reece-hogan/","contentful_id":"2MVPy6wtn18ow6ftYNzQwZ","name":"Laura Reece Hogan","slug":"laura-reece-hogan","biography":"<p><b>Laura Reece Hogan</b> is author of <i>Butterfly Nebula</i> (forthcoming in 2023 from the University of Nebraska Press), winner of the Backwaters Prize in Poetry; <i>Litany of Flights</i> (Paraclete Press, 2020), winner of the Paraclete Poetry Prize; the chapbook <i>O Garden-Dweller</i> (Finishing Line Press, 2017), and the nonfiction title <i>I Live, No Longer I</i> (Wipf & Stock, 2017).</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/AB9E0EF2-6419-4DC2-9D46CF980F2CD74F_source.jpeg","image_width":5825,"image_height":3858,"image_alt_text":"Medium-sized brown bird with colorful plumage standing on a log in a forest.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Bruce Thomson/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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Arts","subtype":"news","column":"Meter","page_number":"22"},{"id":1304953,"contentful_id":"6eCEUa6tyzWCIGvTXt8OGz","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-23","mura_id":"B264DCD8-5A05-4E83-AED6008AF342BDD1","mura_contentid":"B4D97887-AD2E-4BB2-ACE06D31B816A2BA","title":"Too Much 'Good' Cholesterol Can Harm the Heart","display_title":"<p>Too Much ‘Good’ Cholesterol Can Harm the Heart</p>","slug":"too-much-good-cholesterol-can-harm-the-heart","url":"/article/too-much-good-cholesterol-can-harm-the-heart/","summary":"<p>HDL cholesterol raises disease risk at levels above 80 milligrams per deciliter</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"7B8868C6-C3A1-4FE0-AAD57DC213F3D1E4","url":"/author/lydia-denworth/","contentful_id":"6MleCWwXLkTOkYckLAgXZO","name":"Lydia Denworth","slug":"lydia-denworth","biography":"<p><b>Lydia Denworth</b> is an award-winning science journalist and contributing editor for <i>Scientific American</i>. She is author of <a href=\\"https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393541502\\"><i>Friendship</i></a> (W. W. Norton, 2020).</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4083FAF1-17AD-40B2-92E1777A27B54EAB_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1199,"image_alt_text":"An illustration depicting doctors in white coats surrounding a human heart with a meter reading over it.","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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Nutrition","subtype":"news","column":"The Science of Health","page_number":"23"},{"id":1304670,"contentful_id":"1ka8zKmVispoiN09wfKrcp","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-24","mura_id":"5AA77A9C-3B5C-49F1-B0790EDBB4731918","mura_contentid":"36EA41DB-B6E2-44B4-AB92B6DF6FDBF6E3","title":"Millions of People Living with HIV Are Alive, Thanks to a 20-Year Public Health Effort","display_title":"<p>Millions of People Living with HIV Are Alive, Thanks to a 20-Year Public Health Effort</p>","slug":"millions-of-people-living-with-hiv-are-alive-thanks-to-a-20-year-public-health-effort","url":"/article/millions-of-people-living-with-hiv-are-alive-thanks-to-a-20-year-public-health-effort/","summary":"<p>Being infected with HIV is no longer a terminal diagnosis, but researchers are looking to fill the gaps that remain to ensure treatment reaches all who need it</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"62BF723E-2FD8-4980-B61EC16B6FCE7251","url":"/author/lauren-j-young/","contentful_id":"4I8VHqrtkVfeqwlUIWOgi9","name":"Lauren J. Young","slug":"lauren-j-young","biography":"<p><b>Lauren J. Young</b> is an associate editor for health and medicine at <i>Scientific American</i>. She has edited and written stories that tackle a wide range of subjects, including the COVID pandemic, emerging diseases, evolutionary biology and health inequities. Young has nearly a decade of newsroom and science journalism experience. Before joining <i>Scientific American</i> in 2023, she was an associate editor at <i>Popular Science</i> and a digital producer at public radio’s <i>Science Friday</i>. She has appeared as a guest on radio shows, podcasts and stage events. Young has also spoken on panels for the Asian American Journalists Association, American Library Association, NOVA Science Studio and the New York Botanical Garden. Her work has appeared in <i>Scholastic MATH</i>, <i>School Library Journal</i>, <i>IEEE Spectrum</i>, Atlas Obscura and <i>Smithsonian Magazine</i>. Young studied biology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, before pursuing a master’s at New York University’s Science, Health & Environmental Reporting Program.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[{"type":"x","value":"@laurenjyoung617"}]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/D63688D5-20A3-4148-AE11B9FE086DE582_source.jpeg","image_width":3038,"image_height":2793,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of a woman with bacteria floating behind her.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>David A. Johnson</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":"2023-03-27T06:45:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Public Health","subtype":"news","column":"Q&A","page_number":"24"},{"id":1304651,"contentful_id":"4lj5K2TEEpAuu2dOpdvM3Q","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-80","mura_id":"F2158930-CDEF-4B01-A4B3F1FC3BC8E33E","mura_contentid":"39647E4A-5ACB-4871-8CA28BDF2062E235","title":"Many Differences between Liberals and Conservatives May Boil Down to One Belief","display_title":"<p>Many Differences between Liberals and Conservatives May Boil Down to One Belief</p>","slug":"many-differences-between-liberals-and-conservatives-may-boil-down-to-one-belief","url":"/article/many-differences-between-liberals-and-conservatives-may-boil-down-to-one-belief/","summary":"<p>Conservatives tend to believe that strict divisions are an inherent part of life. Liberals do not</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"4F92B88C-4731-4844-9CBDB41014AD2484","url":"/author/jer-clifton/","contentful_id":"3byRESp9NGtR9eaTdFxHq9","name":"Jer Clifton","slug":"jer-clifton","biography":"<p><b>Jer Clifton</b> directs the Primals Project at the University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches research methods in the Masters of Applied Positive Psychology program. He mainly studies the origins and psychological implications of primal world beliefs, such as the belief that the world is dangerous or that life is beautiful, as well as measurement methodology.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/1E8D506D-5CB2-4E43-AA7C738668C59241_source.jpeg","image_width":2025,"image_height":1416,"image_alt_text":"A pair of broken 3-D glasses with a blue lens and a red lens looking toward an illustration of Earth.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Chris Gash</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":"2023-03-01T10:00:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Psychology","subtype":"opinion","column":"Mind Matters","page_number":"80"},{"id":1304533,"contentful_id":"64QKzMAyqSsTVRLKY6DrGz","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-82","mura_id":"67A4051F-6CEE-4CA6-A6F1864340F14A85","mura_contentid":"CD7EC1A7-5090-41D9-814F6D2E61A24ADA","title":"Light Pollution Is Dimming Our View of the Sky, and It's Getting Worse","display_title":"<p>Light Pollution Is Dimming Our View of the Sky, and It’s Getting Worse</p>","slug":"light-pollution-is-dimming-our-view-of-the-sky-and-its-getting-worse","url":"/article/light-pollution-is-dimming-our-view-of-the-sky-and-its-getting-worse/","summary":"<p>Citizen scientists and researchers found that we are losing our view of the sky at an astonishing rate of almost 10 percent <i>each year</i></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>, The Universe, 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,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/6BA3AF5D-A758-4BA3-BE09C5215037FF69_source.jpeg","image_width":6720,"image_height":4480,"image_alt_text":"Night landscape showing light pollution.","image_caption":"<p>Stars shine over a nature reserve in Andalucia, Spain, with city lights in the distance.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Estellez/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":"2023-01-31T11:15:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Astronomy","subtype":"opinion","column":"The Universe","page_number":"82"},{"id":1305037,"contentful_id":"6lMLPILrWujCp0NdBnKfEP","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-83","mura_id":"3DB4DE36-C817-48E1-B162A955E6F862E8","mura_contentid":"CFBD8AEC-17A5-4823-A42B8EB858248FF0","title":"Why Nuclear Fusion Won't Solve the Climate Crisis","display_title":"<p>Why Nuclear Fusion Won’t Solve the Climate Crisis</p>","slug":"why-nuclear-fusion-wont-solve-the-climate-crisis","url":"/article/why-nuclear-fusion-wont-solve-the-climate-crisis/","summary":"<p>Nuclear fusion will scale up too late to avoid climatic catastrophe</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,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/3831B664-0397-4C2B-A31E6C59CE6245A9_source.jpeg","image_width":2842,"image_height":2137,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of scientists appearing to play racquetball in a circular room.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Izhar Cohen</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Energy","subtype":"news","column":"Observatory","page_number":"83"},{"id":1305066,"contentful_id":"1Zq9rdv0L7VX2T500HV4vn","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-84","mura_id":"876813B8-A900-40FF-8CA2129FF507C453","mura_contentid":"74186B26-6028-4AFC-A6E1403FE73C1DFD","title":"When a Wildfire Burns a City Built for Extracting Oil","display_title":"<p>When a Wildfire Burns a City Built for Extracting Oil</p>","slug":"when-a-wildfire-burns-a-city-built-for-extracting-oil","url":"/article/when-a-wildfire-burns-a-city-built-for-extracting-oil/","summary":"<p>A wildfire rages against the Alberta tar sands, aliens induce existential crises for people (and cats), the hype and potential of MDMA, and more books out now</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,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E934B342-7DB3-4A8C-A9416D510D0C408F_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1256,"image_alt_text":"Illustration of firefighters putting amid a blaze.","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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Arts","subtype":"news","column":"Reviews","page_number":"84"},{"id":1305029,"contentful_id":"3PeUh4t9ZRAAfUMpkNHv35","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-87","mura_id":"85A1E046-784F-4029-83594C2652D287E0","mura_contentid":"3CD1138F-02C9-4B0A-AC9198D12F311D80","title":"50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: June 2023","display_title":"<p>50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: June 2023</p>","slug":"50-100-150-years-ago-june-2023","url":"/article/50-100-150-years-ago-june-2023/","summary":"<p>Computer chess master; private bathing for birds</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"FA9B0013-BF43-43F2-8D84A143F09A3233","url":"/author/mark-fischetti/","contentful_id":"5FnO6B4M1I3LjiNvLlJasP","name":"Mark Fischetti","slug":"mark-fischetti","biography":"<p><b>Mark Fischetti</b> has been a senior editor at <i>Scientific American</i> for 17 years and has covered sustainability issues, including climate, weather, environment, energy, food, water, biodiversity, population, and more. He assigns and edits feature articles, commentaries and news by journalists and scientists and also writes in those formats. He edits History, the magazine's department looking at science advances throughout time. He was founding managing editor of two spinoff magazines: <i>Scientific American Mind</i> and <i>Scientific American Earth 3.0</i>. His 2001 freelance article for the magazine, \\"<a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2001/10-01\\">Drowning New Orleans</a>,\\" predicted the widespread disaster that a storm like Hurricane Katrina would impose on the city. His video <a href=\\"https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/what-happens-to-your-body-after-you-die\\"><i>What Happens to Your Body after You Die?</i></a>, has more than 12 million views on YouTube. Fischetti has written freelance articles for the <i>New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian, Technology Review, Fast Company,</i> and many others. He co-authored the book <i>Weaving the Web</i> with Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, which tells the real story of how the Web was created. He also co-authored <i>The New Killer Diseases</i> with microbiologist Elinor Levy. Fischetti is a former managing editor of <i>IEEE Spectrum Magazine</i> and of <i>Family Business Magazine</i>. He has a physics degree and has twice served as the Attaway Fellow in Civic Culture at Centenary College of Louisiana, which awarded him an honorary doctorate. In 2021 he received the American Geophysical Union's Robert C. Cowen Award for Sustained Achievement in Science Journalism, which celebrates a career of outstanding reporting on the Earth and space sciences. He has appeared on NBC's Meet the Press, CNN, the History Channel, NPR News and many news radio stations. Follow Fischetti on X (formerly Twitter) <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/markfischetti\\">@markfischetti</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E468114F-A9D4-4A74-8FB595960E409A1A_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1085,"image_alt_text":"Display of digital numbers.","image_caption":"<p><b>1973, Digital Displays: </b>“Electronic numbers are becoming a familiar sight on consumer items such as pocket calculators, digital clocks and electronic watches. Three types of arrays have been developed. The simplest is the seven-stroke array <i>(top)</i>, basically a rectangle with a horizontal bar. The four-by-seven dot array <i>(middle)</i> also is a rectangle with a horizontal bar. The five-by-seven array <i>(bottom)</i> has 35 dots; it can also generate all the letters of the alphabet.”</p>","image_credits":"<p><i>Scientific American,</i> Vol. 228, No.6; June 1973</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Engineering","subtype":"news","column":"50, 100 & 150 Years Ago","page_number":"87"},{"id":1304940,"contentful_id":"1qnERLfrhqDtdW73WP1FJG","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-88","mura_id":"10BDDD60-4C69-4678-BA4F1854B4640993","mura_contentid":"5AB25DB6-127D-48A0-8E9DCAC3748575F0","title":"Scientists Solve Star Spin Mystery","display_title":"<p>Scientists Solve Star Spin Mystery</p>","slug":"scientists-solve-star-spin-mystery","url":"/article/scientists-solve-star-spin-mystery/","summary":"<p>Magnetic fields help to explain why some stars are spinning more slowly than astronomers thought they should</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"38F3A00A-6C30-4169-949D5E7CEEBA0462","url":"/author/clara-moskowitz/","contentful_id":"3sINdK17AQK75IfqXBEo3s","name":"Clara Moskowitz","slug":"clara-moskowitz","biography":"<p><b>Clara Moskowitz</b> is a senior editor at <i>Scientific American,</i> where she covers astronomy, space, physics and mathematics. She has been at <i>Scientific American</i> for a decade; previously she worked at Space.com. Moskowitz has reported live from rocket launches, space shuttle liftoffs and landings, suborbital spaceflight training, mountaintop observatories, and more. She has a bachelor's degree in astronomy and physics from Wesleyan University and a graduate degree in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[{"type":"x","value":"@ClaraMoskowitz"}]},{"mura_id":"61BD5E84-3CCB-4D17-94BC11D0A1F2367C","url":"/author/lucy-reading-ikkanda/","contentful_id":"1f7eU9FoVQbNW9vqqvmtIT","name":"Lucy Reading-Ikkanda","slug":"lucy-reading-ikkanda","biography":"<p><b>Lucy Reading-Ikkanda</b> is a scientific information designer, art director, and illustrator based in Bedford, New York.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/9119E7E2-462D-4150-AD2FCA25386ADB28_source.jpg","image_width":1232,"image_height":852,"image_alt_text":"Graphic shows a star's actual and predicted spin rates with the core spinning slower in the actual scenario.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Lucy Reading-Ikkanda</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Astronomy","subtype":"news","column":"Graphic Science","page_number":"88"}],"features":[{"id":1304957,"contentful_id":"1bQJCRdlwRPLQ7KXI1paUC","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-28","mura_id":"E31B9456-D588-495B-BEAD1DE3B83845AD","mura_contentid":"10857F5A-C4DE-4075-831B9A8CF41FD843","title":"What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?","display_title":"<p>What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?</p>","slug":"what-is-the-future-of-fusion-energy","url":"/article/what-is-the-future-of-fusion-energy/","summary":"<p>Nuclear fusion won’t arrive in time to fix climate change, but it could be essential for our future energy needs</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"ABC2B8CF-4B90-4550-819B999817217FB5","url":"/author/philip-ball/","contentful_id":"2PtY4CqxB2TioheqBOSkp8","name":"Philip Ball","slug":"philip-ball","biography":"<p><b>Philip Ball</b> is a science writer and former <i>Nature</i> editor based in London. His most recent book is <i>How Life Works</i> (University of Chicago Press, 2023).</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5EBE56B7-8583-460E-99BAE19224F7A002_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1022,"image_alt_text":"A pink and orange depiction of active fusion energy.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Mark Ross</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Energy","subtype":"news","column":"Features","page_number":"28"},{"id":1304967,"contentful_id":"66QuLXrlWl5TwaPnln5pj8","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-36","mura_id":"F4739C46-BC72-4B25-BA9CF119EE16193F","mura_contentid":"694C55DC-B2AE-491E-B44C58B747595DB3","title":"A New Therapy for Multiple Personality Disorder Helps a Woman with 12 Selves","display_title":"<p>A New Therapy for Multiple Personality Disorder Helps a Woman with 12 Selves</p>","slug":"a-traumatized-woman-with-multiple-personalities-gets-better-as-her-parts-work-as-a-team","url":"/article/a-traumatized-woman-with-multiple-personalities-gets-better-as-her-parts-work-as-a-team/","summary":"<p>Therapy for dissociative identity disorder has aimed to meld many personalities into one. But that’s not the only solution, a caring therapist shows</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"B84DFBDC-7CC4-437C-964679599C4723D5","url":"/author/rebecca-j-lester/","contentful_id":"5B3UrcOWoF73goJZ7iDMAS","name":"Rebecca J. Lester","slug":"rebecca-j-lester","biography":"<p><b>Rebecca J. Lester</b> is chair of the anthropology department at Washington University in St. Louis, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in trauma and eating disorders, and a past president of the Society for Psychological Anthropology. She is author of <i>Famished: Eating Disorders and Failed Care in America</i> (University of California Press, 2019).</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/ECF8D1DC-9CF0-4151-BB10E83D242DBAE2_source.jpeg","image_width":2604,"image_height":1736,"image_alt_text":"A photo illustration showing a woman facing a wall drawing a dotted line around her shadow.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>John Dykstra</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Psychology","subtype":"news","column":"Features","page_number":"36"},{"id":1304975,"contentful_id":"2syWzwJFnHzctMO2clPtET","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-70","mura_id":"163ADA17-1DDE-4219-9D952EB17A940848","mura_contentid":"AAF8E3A5-DF4F-416D-B3A696D67E3A49B0","title":"How Greyhound Racing Drove the Evolution of a Superparasite","display_title":"<p>How Greyhound Racing Drove the Evolution of a Superparasite</p>","slug":"how-greyhound-racing-drove-the-evolution-of-a-superparasite","url":"/article/how-greyhound-racing-drove-the-evolution-of-a-superparasite/","summary":"<p>The greyhound racing industry has been implicated in the rise of drug resistance in hookworms—which can infect dogs and humans</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"5795EDCC-3EE4-4862-A98FEDE57909E81D","url":"/author/bradley-van-paridon/","contentful_id":"4s6Q6dApVHDuUmBSe3sPf7","name":"Bradley van Paridon","slug":"bradley-van-paridon","biography":"<p><b>Bradley van Paridon</b> is a Canadian science journalist based in Belgium. He holds a Ph.D. in parasitology. Follow him on Twitter <a href=\\"https://twitter.com/bvanparidon\\">@bvanparidon</a></p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/B2D222E0-13F6-46E8-A3939962FD6BA49F_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1024,"image_alt_text":"Greyhound dog shown in cage with muzzles hanging from outer cage.","image_caption":"<p>A racing greyhound peers out of its cage at a kennel in Florida in the summer of 2018.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Scott McIntyre</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Epidemiology","subtype":"news","column":"Features","page_number":"44"},{"id":1305040,"contentful_id":"5yAupVGUwlKiRKOik70dJ1","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-44","mura_id":"1E2ED9EF-F645-4243-AE08E61C13AA5109","mura_contentid":"45712638-4B16-455E-9A77C04AE579ECBF","title":"When Disaster Strikes, Is Climate Change to Blame?","display_title":"<p>When Disaster Strikes, Is Climate Change to Blame?</p>","slug":"when-disaster-strikes-is-climate-change-to-blame","url":"/article/when-disaster-strikes-is-climate-change-to-blame/","summary":"<p>Scientists are specifying how much damage climate change is adding to extreme weather events, potentially influencing court cases, insurance claims and public policy</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 (formerly known as Twitter) and <a href=\\"https://journa.host/@loisparshley\\">Mastodon</a> @loisparshley</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/88920E5D-B0A5-48E3-B6296ADAD9F1335F_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1024,"image_alt_text":"An illustration of a finger touching a climate change odometer.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Miriam Martincic</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Climate Change","subtype":"news","column":"Features","page_number":"44"},{"id":1305015,"contentful_id":"630DhOGeicwa54aLHbIRBv","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-52","mura_id":"533F0FBD-E26C-44FF-83DFF303D8B11B33","mura_contentid":"042C844D-0D4D-43D1-91CE3CC87D666FE0","title":"Physicists Make Matter out of Light to Find Quantum Singularities","display_title":"<p>Physicists Make Matter out of Light to Find Quantum Singularities</p>","slug":"physicists-make-matter-out-of-light-to-find-quantum-singularities","url":"/article/physicists-make-matter-out-of-light-to-find-quantum-singularities/","summary":"<p>Experiments that imitate solid materials with light waves reveal the quantum basis of exotic physical effects</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"92698612-6FD0-40A6-87630441ECB69A23","url":"/author/charles-d-brown-ii/","contentful_id":"3QiB514tBoH2oua4IweRq4","name":"Charles D. Brown II","slug":"charles-d-brown-ii","biography":"<p><b>Charles D. Brown II</b> is an assistant professor of physics at Yale University, where he uses optical lattices to study the condensed matter physics of quasicrystals.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/7CF844BE-FA56-4205-A4FDB8A6254B81FA_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1152,"image_alt_text":"The inside of a hexagon-shaped ultrahigh vacuum chamber.","image_caption":"<p>Inside a hexagon-shaped ultrahigh vacuum chamber, physicists use laser optics to create optical lattices that mimic the crystal lattices in solid materials.</p>","image_credits":"<p>Spencer Lowell</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Particle Physics","subtype":"news","column":"Features","page_number":"52"},{"id":1305049,"contentful_id":"2DabpXA4Lpsjz7CSIwq66h","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-62","mura_id":"943777BE-C769-4639-91455F5FC8B8EC9A","mura_contentid":"19FE150A-58C8-4CC3-A01C718614C28EFD","title":"This Ancient Language Has the Only Grammar Based Entirely on the Human Body","display_title":"<p>This Ancient Language Has the Only Grammar Based Entirely on the Human Body</p>","slug":"this-ancient-language-has-the-only-grammar-based-entirely-on-the-human-body","url":"/article/this-ancient-language-has-the-only-grammar-based-entirely-on-the-human-body/","summary":"<p>An endangered language family suggests that early humans used their bodies as a model for reality</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"52DFD3B2-5717-4831-8A5C2AEDEA1B515C","url":"/author/anvita-abbi/","contentful_id":"65qTEZkaPNJ0ZIk4N7IBgo","name":"Anvita Abbi","slug":"anvita-abbi","biography":"<p><b>Anvita Abbi</b> is <a href=\\"https://www.andamanese.org/\\">a linguist</a> specializing in Indigenous languages. She received the Padma Shri Award in 2013 from the president of India and the Kenneth L. Hale Award in 2015 from the Linguistic Society of America. Abbi serves on the expert committee of the UNESCO World Atlas of Languages.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/975A7038-FAE0-4B21-9111571955BE16BD_source.jpg","image_width":1536,"image_height":1079,"image_alt_text":"An illustration of heads against an ocean background, with text bubbles throughout.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p>Islenia Milien</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":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Language","subtype":"news","column":"Features","page_number":"62"},{"id":1304396,"contentful_id":"4hm4SYaMdr2BjMcBqD6PxX","article_doi":"10.1038/scientificamerican0623-76","mura_id":"721D060F-9E6C-45C9-8122C35CE88A38BD","mura_contentid":"AB45A9A3-EB08-4327-AAE9853220927468","title":"The Most Boring Number in the World Is ...","display_title":"<p>The Most Boring Number in the World Is ...</p>","slug":"the-most-boring-number-in-the-world-is","url":"/article/the-most-boring-number-in-the-world-is/","summary":"<p>That prime numbers and powers of 2 fascinate many people comes as no surprise. In fact, all numbers split into two camps: interesting and boring</p>","authors":[{"mura_id":"E56F4A00-8C90-40A8-ACD3661882EF0FE1","url":"/author/manon-bischoff/","contentful_id":"2HJpRuFW1UbitGipdG1k8r","name":"Manon Bischoff","slug":"manon-bischoff","biography":"<p><b>Manon Bischoff</b> is a theoretical physicist and editor at <i>Spektrum</i>, a partner publication of <i>Scientific American</i>.</p>","picture_file":null,"contacts":[]}],"image_url":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/074E0B42-E92B-4C73-B556CC6BAC2B4756_source.jpg","image_width":1000,"image_height":688,"image_alt_text":"Numbers with a green background.","image_caption":null,"image_credits":"<p><i>Scientific American</i></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":"2023-03-03T06:45:00-05:00","digital_column":null,"digital_column_slug":null,"category":"Mathematics","subtype":"news","column":"Features","page_number":"76"}]}},"meta":{"title":"Scientific American Volume 328, Issue 6","canonicalUrl":"/issue/sa/2023/06-01/","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg","tags":{"description":""What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?", "A New Therapy for Multiple Personality Disorder Helps a Woman with 12 Selves", "How Greyhound Racing Drove the Evolution of a Superparasite" and more","og:description":""What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?", "A New Therapy for Multiple Personality Disorder Helps a Woman with 12 Selves", "How Greyhound Racing Drove the Evolution of a Superparasite" and more","og:image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg?w=1200","og:image:alt":null,"og:type":"website","og:url":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/06-01/","twitter:title":"Scientific American Volume 328, Issue 6","twitter:description":""What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?", "A New Therapy for Multiple Personality Disorder Helps a Woman with 12 Selves", "How Greyhound Racing Drove the Evolution of a Superparasite" and more","twitter:image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg?w=1200","twitter:image:alt":null},"jsonLD":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"PublicationIssue","@id":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/06-01/","datePublished":"2023-06-01","description":"Scientific American Volume 328, Issue 6","hasPart":[{"@type":"Article","about":"New work suggests four distinct star system types—and finds our own in the rarest category","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lee Billings","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lee-billings/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"We Live in the Rarest Type of Planetary System","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/762381E9-EA84-4B39-BDF5097AC7C51F30_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Wall lizards can “size up” invading competitors by smell alone","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Saugat Bolakhe","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/saugat-bolakhe/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Some Lizards Can Smell Their Rivals' Size","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/26487D73-8F62-4C74-A608CAA320E4426A_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A new electrically conductive material could lead to better self-healing soft robots","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sophie Bushwick","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/sophie-bushwick/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"New Material Is Squishy, Conductive and Self-Healing","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4BECB63A-24C0-4EFF-A2E45E044B1604C2_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A new material was used in a simple snail robot, but it could one day make artificial nervous systems for more complex machines","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sophie Bushwick","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/sophie-bushwick/"}],"datePublished":"2023-04-12T07:30:00-04:00","headline":"Bizarre Material Combines the Best Traits of Gel and Metal","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/A3E99EC6-9385-4D4D-92462390336B4384_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Math is called the “universal language,” but a unique dialect is being reborn","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amory Tillinghast-Raby","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/amory-tillinghast-raby/"}],"datePublished":"2023-04-10T06:45:00-04:00","headline":"A Number System Invented by Inuit Schoolchildren Will Make Its Silicon Valley Debut","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/82A91403-7A8F-45AF-81553DA0F4A6B53E_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A fish species recognizes its own face digitally edited onto another fish’s body. What does this mean for self-awareness?","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Allison Parshall","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/allison-parshall/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"This Tiny Fish Can Recognize Itself in Photos","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/00BBF3B5-9419-40D3-B516CCF221C5221C_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"It turns out there are two species of mysterious, venomous pygmy lorises","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rachel Nuwer","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/rachel-nuwer/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Cute and Ugly Pygmy Lorises Are Actually Two Different Species","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/BA29AE8A-1400-4183-82AB90B7067FAF67_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"When you can’t remember a word, it might only feel like it’s on the tip of your tongue","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Matthew Hutson","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/matthew-hutson/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"That Tip-of-the-Tongue Feeling May Be an Illusion","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/3F271671-9F3A-4A62-887FA716CA63F072_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Recent research offers a tantalizing glimpse at a future in which two men can have biological children together, but any human applications remain far in the future","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Meghan Bartels","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/meghan-bartels/"}],"datePublished":"2023-03-15T07:00:00-04:00","headline":"Mice with Two Fathers? Researchers Develop Egg Cells from Male Mice","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/8FA65F02-AD83-4DA1-8031F3DB8E99938B_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Chernobyl’s adaptable canines, sewage sea spray in the U.S., hibernating germs on Everest, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Allison Parshall","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/allison-parshall/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Science News Briefs from around the World: June 2023","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/BCD66BA7-E23F-45FF-93C7C40DFD93B8AB_source.png"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Before exploding as supernovae, massive Wolf-Rayet stars spew gas and dust into space, seeding the formation of future stellar and planetary systems","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Allison Parshall","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/allison-parshall/"}],"datePublished":"2023-03-17T15:00:00-04:00","headline":"Rare, Dust-Shrouded Dying Star Revealed in New JWST Image","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/1A31BF9E-C55F-4D88-9AF1710AF6341A0A_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"How electrons move, multiple personalities form and hookworms spread among pet dogs","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Laura Helmuth","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/laura-helmuth/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Answering Questions about Boring Numbers, Disasters, Fusion, and More","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E1C7B0EC-3EC0-4994-A356D0841F5453E6_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Letters to the editors for the February 2023 issue of Scientific American","author":[],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Readers Respond to the February 2023 Issue","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/33C94072-014B-4242-89A8821E1868387C_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Manufacturers of a class of food-derived supplements called nutraceuticals often make statements about their health value that are hard to verify, which can cause safety and efficacy issues","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"The Editors","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/the-editors/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"We Need to Better Regulate Nutraceuticals","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/43EAA53C-05D9-440A-9BA13C3EBEBBEDE8_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Chronic pain is biochemical, but it’s also psychological, and treatment needs to address how we think and feel about it","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Haider Warraich","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/haider-warraich/"}],"datePublished":"2022-09-08T08:00:00-04:00","headline":"It's Time To Rethink the Origins of Pain","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/380E0884-F989-4D19-882FAE7ED40D350B_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Science in meter and verse","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Laura Reece Hogan","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/laura-reece-hogan/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Poem: 'Lyrebird'","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/AB9E0EF2-6419-4DC2-9D46CF980F2CD74F_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"HDL cholesterol raises disease risk at levels above 80 milligrams per deciliter","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lydia Denworth","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lydia-denworth/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Too Much 'Good' Cholesterol Can Harm the Heart","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/4083FAF1-17AD-40B2-92E1777A27B54EAB_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Being infected with HIV is no longer a terminal diagnosis, but researchers are looking to fill the gaps that remain to ensure treatment reaches all who need it","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lauren J. Young","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lauren-j-young/"}],"datePublished":"2023-03-27T06:45:00-04:00","headline":"Millions of People Living with HIV Are Alive, Thanks to a 20-Year Public Health Effort","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/D63688D5-20A3-4148-AE11B9FE086DE582_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Conservatives tend to believe that strict divisions are an inherent part of life. Liberals do not","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jer Clifton","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/jer-clifton/"}],"datePublished":"2023-03-01T10:00:00-05:00","headline":"Many Differences between Liberals and Conservatives May Boil Down to One Belief","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/1E8D506D-5CB2-4E43-AA7C738668C59241_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Citizen scientists and researchers found that we are losing our view of the sky at an astonishing rate of almost 10 percent each year","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Phil Plait","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/phil-plait/"}],"datePublished":"2023-01-31T11:15:00-05:00","headline":"Light Pollution Is Dimming Our View of the Sky, and It's Getting Worse","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/6BA3AF5D-A758-4BA3-BE09C5215037FF69_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Nuclear fusion will scale up too late to avoid climatic catastrophe","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Naomi Oreskes","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/naomi-oreskes/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Why Nuclear Fusion Won't Solve the Climate Crisis","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/3831B664-0397-4C2B-A31E6C59CE6245A9_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"A wildfire rages against the Alberta tar sands, aliens induce existential crises for people (and cats), the hype and potential of MDMA, and more books out now","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amy Brady","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/amy-brady/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"When a Wildfire Burns a City Built for Extracting Oil","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E934B342-7DB3-4A8C-A9416D510D0C408F_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Computer chess master; private bathing for birds","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mark Fischetti","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/mark-fischetti/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: June 2023","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/E468114F-A9D4-4A74-8FB595960E409A1A_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Magnetic fields help to explain why some stars are spinning more slowly than astronomers thought they should","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Clara Moskowitz","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/clara-moskowitz/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Lucy Reading-Ikkanda","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lucy-reading-ikkanda/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Scientists Solve Star Spin Mystery","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/9119E7E2-462D-4150-AD2FCA25386ADB28_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Nuclear fusion won’t arrive in time to fix climate change, but it could be essential for our future energy needs","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Philip Ball","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/philip-ball/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"What Is the Future of Fusion Energy?","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/5EBE56B7-8583-460E-99BAE19224F7A002_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Therapy for dissociative identity disorder has aimed to meld many personalities into one. But that’s not the only solution, a caring therapist shows","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rebecca J. Lester","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/rebecca-j-lester/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"A New Therapy for Multiple Personality Disorder Helps a Woman with 12 Selves","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/ECF8D1DC-9CF0-4151-BB10E83D242DBAE2_source.jpeg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"The greyhound racing industry has been implicated in the rise of drug resistance in hookworms—which can infect dogs and humans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Bradley van Paridon","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/bradley-van-paridon/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"How Greyhound Racing Drove the Evolution of a Superparasite","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/B2D222E0-13F6-46E8-A3939962FD6BA49F_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Scientists are specifying how much damage climate change is adding to extreme weather events, potentially influencing court cases, insurance claims and public policy","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lois Parshley","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/lois-parshley/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"When Disaster Strikes, Is Climate Change to Blame?","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/88920E5D-B0A5-48E3-B6296ADAD9F1335F_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"Experiments that imitate solid materials with light waves reveal the quantum basis of exotic physical effects","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Charles D. Brown II","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/charles-d-brown-ii/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"Physicists Make Matter out of Light to Find Quantum Singularities","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/7CF844BE-FA56-4205-A4FDB8A6254B81FA_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"An endangered language family suggests that early humans used their bodies as a model for reality","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Anvita Abbi","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/anvita-abbi/"}],"datePublished":"2023-06-01T09:00:00-04:00","headline":"This Ancient Language Has the Only Grammar Based Entirely on the Human Body","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/975A7038-FAE0-4B21-9111571955BE16BD_source.jpg"},{"@type":"Article","about":"That prime numbers and powers of 2 fascinate many people comes as no surprise. In fact, all numbers split into two camps: interesting and boring","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Manon Bischoff","url":"www.scientificamerican.com/author/manon-bischoff/"}],"datePublished":"2023-03-03T06:45:00-05:00","headline":"The Most Boring Number in the World Is ...","image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/074E0B42-E92B-4C73-B556CC6BAC2B4756_source.jpg"}],"image":"https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/89566F3A-0B57-4DCD-AF8EDC97C1F70359_source.jpg","isPartOf":{"@type":["Periodical","PublicationVolume"],"@id:":"vol328","name":"Scientific American Magazine","publisher":"Scientific American"},"issueNumber":"6","url":"https://www.scientificamerican.com/issue/sa/2023/06-01/"}]}},"dataLayerContent":{"content":{"articleDoi":"","authors":[],"canonicalUrl":"","categories":"","collectionId":"","collectionName":"","column":"","containsMedia":"","contentId":"","contentDifficulty":"","contentModeling":[],"durability":"","editors":[],"isPartner":false,"isResalable":false,"isSyndicated":false,"journalIssueName":"Scientific American Volume 328, Issue 6","language":"en","partnerName":"","platform":"hopper","paywallExempt":null,"podcastSeries":"","primaryCategory":"","printDek":"","printTitle":"","publishedAtDate":"2023-06-01","publishedAtDateTime":"","publishedAtTime":"","sentiment":"","subCategory":"","title":"Scientific American Magazine 2023-06-01","type":"issue","updatedAtDateTime":"","advertiser":"","campaign":"","isSponsored":false},"game":{"gameId":"","puzzleType":"","set":"","dek":""}},"abTestGroup":"2"},"bundle":"issue"}`)</script> <script data-layer="footer">;OptanonWrapper=()=>{};consentQueue=[];tp=[];pdl={requireConsent:'v2'};window.dataLayer=[];;window.__ads=[];_sf_async_config={};_cbq=[]</script> </body> </html>