- Culture

- Sustainability

- History of Science

- Language

- Neuroscience

- Social Media

- Mathematics

- Health

- Arts

- Aging

- Astrophysics

- Nuclear energy

- History

Culture

- The Problem with Billionaire Science: Sep 2025

- Contributors to Scientific American’s October 2025 Issue: Sep 2025

- Readers Respond to the May 2025 Issue: Sep 2025

SEP 16, 2025, 6:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

The Problem with Billionaire Science

Science may need to increasingly rely on wealthy patrons, but privately funded projects don’t always pan out

By David M. Ewalt

Scientific American, October 2025

David M. Ewalt is editor in chief of Scientific American.

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-problem-with-billionaire-science on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

SEP 16, 2025, 6:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

Contributors to Scientific American’s October 2025 Issue

Writers, artists, photographers and researchers share the stories behind the stories

By Jen Schwartz

Chris Gunn

Jen Schwartz is a senior features editor at Scientific American. She produces stories and special projects about how society is adapting—or not—to a rapidly changing world.

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/contributors-to-scientific-americans-october-2025-issue on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

SEP 16, 2025, 6:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

Readers Respond to the May 2025 Issue

Letters to the editors for the May 2025 issue of Scientific American

By Aaron Shattuck

Scientific American, May 2025

Aaron Shattuck is a senior copy editor at Scientific American.

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/readers-respond-to-the-may-2025-issue on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

Sustainability

- Fast Fashion Is a Bad Look for the Environment: Sep 2025

SEP 16, 2025, 6:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

Fast Fashion Is a Bad Look for the Environment

A more circular economy in textiles is a good look for the planet

By The Editors

Sweater holes can be fixed either by discreet darning or by creative “visible mending,” popularized by designer Flora Collingwood-Norris.

Flora Collingwood-Norris

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fast-fashion-is-a-bad-look-for-the-environment on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

History of Science

- Science Makes the U.S. a Great Nation: Jul 2025

JUL 8, 2025, 10:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

Science Makes the U.S. a Great Nation

History tells us what happens when great nations attack science

By Paul M. Sutter

An engraving of the death of Archimedes.

mikroman6

Paul M. Sutter is a cosmologist at Johns Hopkins University, as well as an author, television host and U.S. cultural ambassador.

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/science-makes-the-u-s-a-great-nation on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

Language

- Science Crossword: A Little Light Launch: Sep 2025

SEP 17, 2025, 7:25 PM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

Science Crossword: A Little Light Launch

By Aimee Lucido

Aimee Lucido makes crosswords part-time for several outlets and writes trivia full-time for Bloomberg's news quiz, Pointed. She is also the author of several books for kids, including Emmy in the Key of Code, Recipe for Disaster, and Pasta Pasta Lotsa Pasta. Lucido lives with her husband, daughter and dog in New York.

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/science-crossword-a-little-light-launch on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

Neuroscience

- How a Tiny Brain Region Guides Generosity: Jun 2025

JUN 13, 2025, 9:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

How a Tiny Brain Region Guides Generosity

The decision to help a friend or stranger—and the amount of help that one chooses to give—may be powerfully shaped by the brain’s basolateral amygdala

By Tobias Kalenscher edited by Daisy Yuhas & Madhusree Mukerjee

Malte Mueller/Getty Images

Tobias Kalenscher is a professor of comparative psychology at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf in Germany.

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-a-tiny-brain-region-guides-generosity on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

Social Media

- What I Wish Parents Knew about Social Media: Jun 2025

JUN 16, 2025, 2:00 PM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

What I Wish Parents Knew about Social Media

I study social media for a living. Here’s what parents need to know so that kids can use it safely and productively

By Laura Edelson edited by Megha Satyanarayana

FreshSplash/Getty Images

Laura Edelson is a computer scientist at Northeastern University who studies social media transparency and content-recommendation systems. She is also the author of the research study “Measurement and Metrics for Content Moderation.” Follow her on X @LauraEdelson2 or BlueSky @whiskeyocelot.bsky.social

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-i-wish-parents-knew-about-social-media on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

Mathematics

- Math’s Block-Stacking Problem Has a Preposterous Solution: Jul 2025

JUL 6, 2025, 7:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

This Block-Stacking Math Problem Has a Preposterous Solution You Need to See to Believe

In principle, this impossible math allows for a glue-free bridge of stacked blocks that can stretch across the Grand Canyon—and into infinity

By Jack Murtagh edited by Jeanna Bryner & Madhusree Mukerjee

Amanda Montañez

Jack Murtagh is a freelance math writer and puzzle creator. He writes a column on mathematical curiosities for Scientific American and creates daily puzzles for the Morning Brew newsletter. He holds a Ph.D. in theoretical computer science from Harvard University. Follow Jack on X @JackPMurtagh

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/maths-block-stacking-problem-has-a-preposterous-solution on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

Health

- Can Dogs, Cats and Other Pets Truly Improve Your Health?: Sep 2025

SEP 16, 2025, 6:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

Can Dogs, Cats and Other Pets Truly Improve Your Health?

Pets can improve your health—but only if you have a strong relationship with the animals

By Lydia Denworth edited by Josh Fischman

Jay Bendt

Lydia Denworth is an award-winning science journalist and contributing editor for Scientific American. She is author of Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life's Fundamental Bond (W. W. Norton, 2020) and several other books of popular science.

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-dogs-cats-and-other-pets-truly-improve-your-health on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

Arts

- Poem: ‘Love Letter from Photograph 51’: Sep 2025

SEP 16, 2025, 6:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

Poem: ‘Love Letter from Photograph 51’

Science in meter and verse

By Faith Paulsen edited by Dava Sobel & Clara Moskowitz

Science History Images/Alamy Stock Photo

Faith Paulsen writes poetry from her desk at an insurance agency near Philadelphia. Her work appears in Blue Heron, Mania, Poetica Review, Philadelphia Stories, Book of Matches, One Art, Panoply, Thimble, and chapbooks Cyanometer (Finishing Line Press, 2021) and We Marry We Bury We Sing or We Weep (Moonstone Press, 2021).

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/poem-love-letter-from-photograph-51 on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

Aging

- What New Biological Age ‘Clocks’ Say about Longevity, according to Eric Topol: Jul 2025

JUL 14, 2025, 7:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

A Longevity Expert Breaks Down the Science and Hype of Biological Aging Tests

Super Agers author Eric Topol unpacks the rise of biological age tests—from organ clocks to immune system clocks—and how they might revolutionize early diagnosis of disease

By Lauren J. Young edited by Dean Visser & Clara Moskowitz

Shideh Ghandeharizadeh

Lauren J. Young is an associate editor for health and medicine at Scientific American. 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 Scientific American in 2023, she was an associate editor at Popular Science and a digital producer at public radio’s Science Friday. 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 Scholastic MATH, School Library Journal, IEEE Spectrum, Atlas Obscura and Smithsonian Magazine. 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.

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-new-biological-age-clocks-say-about-longevity-according-to-eric-topol on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

Astrophysics

- Can Life Survive the Death of the Sun?: Jul 2025

JUL 4, 2025, 6:45 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

When the Sun Becomes a Red Giant, Will Any Planet Be Safe?

The future is bright—too bright—for life as we know it once the sun transforms into a red giant star

By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings & Clara Moskowitz

An artist’s impression of our far-future sun is seen from a molten Earth landscape.

Chris Butler/Science Source

Phil Plait is a professional astronomer and science communicator in Virginia. His column for Scientific American, The Universe, covers all things space. He writes the Bad Astronomy Newsletter. Follow him online.

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-life-survive-the-death-of-the-sun on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

Nuclear energy

- How Three Fusion Reactor Designs Could Power Tomorrow: Sep 2025

SEP 16, 2025, 6:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

See How Fusion Energy Could Power the Future

Inertial confinement reactors, stellarators and tokamaks each have pros and cons

By Clara Moskowitz & Matthew Twombly edited by Clara Moskowitz & Jen Christiansen

Matthew Twombly

Clara Moskowitz is a senior editor at Scientific American, where she covers astronomy, space, physics and mathematics. She has been at Scientific American 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.

Matthew Twombly is a freelance illustrator and infographic designer. His work can be viewed at www.matthewtwombly.com

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-three-fusion-reactor-designs-could-power-tomorrow on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

History

- October 2025: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago: Sep 2025

SEP 16, 2025, 6:00 AM EDT | ARTICLE SOURCE

October 2025: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago

Charming quarks; the first Batman signal

By Mark Fischetti

1975, Advent of Tomography: "Medicine is making the internal structures of the body far more accessible by noninvasive procedures. One, called reconstruction from projections, is coming into service. A tomogram is made by having an X-ray source move around a person in one direction, and film in the other direction, and mathematically combining X-ray images made from numerous angles into an image in three dimensions of organs within the body."

Scientific American, Vol. 233, No. 4; October 1975

Mark Fischetti has been a senior editor at Scientific American for 19 years and covers sustainability issues, including climate, environment, energy, and more. He assigns and edits feature articles and news by journalists and scientists and also writes in those formats. He was founding managing editor of two spin-off magazines: Scientific American Mind and Scientific American Earth 3.0. His 2001 article “Drowning New Orleans,” predicted the widespread disaster that a storm like Hurricane Katrina would impose on the city. Fischetti has written as a freelancer for the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian, and many other outlets. He co-authored the book Weaving the Web 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 The New Killer Diseases with microbiologist Elinor Levy. Fischetti has a physics degree and has twice served as 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. He has appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press, CNN, the History Channel, NPR News and many radio stations. Follow Fischetti on X (formerly Twitter) @markfischetti

This article was downloaded from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/october-2025-science-history-from-50-100-and-150-years-ago on Sep 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM EDT.

Table of Contents

Scientific American: October 2025 Vol. 333, Issue 3

Culture

The Problem with Billionaire Science: Sep 2025

Contributors to Scientific American’s October 2025 Issue: Sep 2025

Readers Respond to the May 2025 Issue: Sep 2025

Sustainability

Fast Fashion Is a Bad Look for the Environment: Sep 2025

History of Science

Science Makes the U.S. a Great Nation: Jul 2025

Language

Science Crossword: A Little Light Launch: Sep 2025

Neuroscience

How a Tiny Brain Region Guides Generosity: Jun 2025

Social Media

What I Wish Parents Knew about Social Media: Jun 2025

Mathematics

Math’s Block-Stacking Problem Has a Preposterous Solution: Jul 2025

Health

Can Dogs, Cats and Other Pets Truly Improve Your Health?: Sep 2025

Arts

Poem: ‘Love Letter from Photograph 51’: Sep 2025

Aging

What New Biological Age ‘Clocks’ Say about Longevity, according to Eric Topol: Jul 2025

Astrophysics

Can Life Survive the Death of the Sun?: Jul 2025

Nuclear energy

How Three Fusion Reactor Designs Could Power Tomorrow: Sep 2025

History

October 2025: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago: Sep 2025