Stories by The Editors

Debris from spacecraft threatens the burgeoning space economy. We need a global agreement to keep space clean

With few states tracking who is being homeschooled and what they are learning, an untold number of U.S. children are at risk of a poor education or even abuse

Reducing the need for car travel is better for health, the environment and public safety

Capital punishment must come to an end. It does not deter crime, is not humane and has no moral or medical basis

We need to rethink the American love affair with the automobile and redesign cities to reduce car pollution

Too many hospice providers in the U.S. are run by private equity and for-profit corporations. A lack of regulation allows them to provide abysmal end-of-life care

The wealthy countries that are most responsible for greenhouse gas pollution must compensate the poorer nations that bear the greatest burden

The U.S. should back away from updating its obsolescent nuclear weapons, in particular silo-launched missiles that needlessly risk catastrophe

The Endangered Species Act is an emergency measure turning 50 this year. Focusing on ecosystem preservation can keep us from ever needing it

The use of artificial intelligence is so varied and industry-specific, no one federal agency can manage it alone

As climate change increases the number and severity of natural disasters, an investment in updated building codes will save billions in repairs

The Supreme Court’s actions on affirmative action are a setback to justice and equality in the U.S.

We should pay less attention to children’s weight and more to their overall health by encouraging outdoor play

Scientific American will be rounding up some of the most striking images and notable updates about the smoke blanketing the Northeast from wildfires raging across Canada

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

Presidential contender Ron DeSantis has used governmental power in Florida to restrict access to health and education, promoting an intolerant and harmful agenda

In the climate crisis, wetlands have more economic value than new development

Governments must regulate drug misuse in food animals that is contributing to antimicrobial resistance

After Pearl Harbor, 9/11 and other major tragedies, the U.S. has examined itself to see how to prevent the next catastrophe. We need to do the same for the COVID pandemic

Despite years of evidence that starting school later promotes better health and improved grades, too few schools have adopted this measure

Scientific American editors share what scientific events they are paying attention to as 2023 begins

As a dismal year on Earth draws to a close, milestones in space exploration offer much for the whole world to celebrate

Science applies to every important social issue. Saying so doesn’t make us “unscientific”

The Clean Water Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that has fundamentally changed water pollution in the U.S., is under attack when it should be strengthened instead