What can minerals tell us about Earth’s past? This geologist is finding out
Smithsonian geologist Gabriela Farfan studies corals, gemstones and other minerals for clues to changing oceans and environments.
SCIENTIFIC NEWS
Rule breaking by just a few people can be contagious
People are more likely to mimic — or even surpass — rule breakers than rule followers, a study finds. But real-world consequences may keep...
A quantum computing feat brings the ‘megaquops’ era a step closer
Error correction creates qubits that glitch only 5 out of a million times, the first step toward a new phase for quantum computing.
AI can give you your voice back
People who have lost the ability to talk are finding new voices with technology. This technological feat is changing what it means to lose...
These tiny snakes cartwheel to escape danger
New videos offer a closer look at a rare and bizarre escape behavior in some Southeast Asian snakes.
Japan’s sample return mission to Phobos may also collect some Mars dust
Japan’s MMX mission will be the first to the moons of Mars and it aims to bring back precious rock samples — perhaps even...
Horned dinosaurs’ weapons evolved to handle the forces of combat
New simulations reveal which battle moves the skulls of horned dinosaurs could take — and which might have been a very bad idea.
Artemis II results show how much science people can do at the moon
We’ve studied the moon with robotic spacecraft for decades. What do human observers add? Artemis II’s first science results offer some answers.
Crossword: Time lines
Solve the crossword from our November 2026 issue, in which we cultivate an understanding of growth curves.
Many American diets may not include enough of this essential nutrient
With the proliferation of fancy salts and changing dietary habits, there are signs people aren’t getting enough of the crucial mineral iodine.
UN marks 81 years of global cooperation 
Women ‘first to suffer’ under siege, first to step up as frontline responders in Sudan 
The human voice 
West Bank: Guterres alarmed as Israel imposes sweeping closures after deadly Hebron attack