Author: Scientific American

Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli painted Simonetta Vespucci as Venus rising from the waves. Now, scientists think they’ve solved how she died

When the roads get crowded, many drivers start changing lanes. Mathematics suggests this intuition is typically wrong

Starship demonstrated key abilities on its path to becoming a fully reusable transport for astronauts to the moon

This biodegradable textile is alive and can host engineered microbes that can change its color or add UV protection

After fatal crashes in which occupants or rescuers could not open Tesla doors, federal regulators are considering rules that would require obvious mechanical releases—but any new standard could take years

Thousands of people have gotten sick from cyclospora. Experts can’t agree whether the end is in sight

The European continent is facing a dual reckoning this summer—extreme heat is killing thousands and draining its rivers, soils and reservoirs at a record pace

Joan Birman popularized the Burau representation problem decades ago. Now she and two colleagues have a proof that reveals brand new insights into the geometry of braids

Smell is one of the most complex and least understood senses

Using the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory, astronomers are beginning the largest and deepest survey of the sky. What will they see?