Many words in the English language that seem remarkably common have a surprising secondary definition known mostly to scientists in different disciplines. Here are 18 words drawn from the American ...
Note: This article is a sidebar to this issue’s feature story, “Is It or Isn’t It (Just Another Mouse)?“ When people think about the creatures protected by the Endangered Species Act, they tend to ...
Quantum physics, CRISPR, Bitcoin - if you've ever wondered what any of these words mean, you've come to the right place. Discover the meaning behind the biggest buzzwords, jargon and terminology in ...
The International Astronomical Union defines a planet as a celestial body that orbits the sun, is massive enough that gravity has forced it into a spherical shape, and has cleared away other objects ...
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...
In 2008, the National Academy of Sciences put forth a textbook-ish definition of "science": "The use of evidence to construct testable explanations and predictions of natural phenomena, as well as the ...