Scientific American Magazine

Our species is transforming itself and the world. How will it work out?

Our influence is written in the geological strata

A map based on new data reveals where climate change threatens peoples’ ways of life—and what they are doing to prepare for the future

Quality of life on an increasingly crowded planet depends on decisions made today

A spiral of slow growth and rent-seeking by powerful interests pose a danger to democracy

Scientists are set to cross a long-standing bioethical red line

Drugs already in trials could significantly extend healthy human life spans

Uploading your brain into a computer is probably impossible. But for sake of argument: What would you do if it weren’t? 

If we do it right, we could become a long-term stabilizing force for the planet

The short version: It’s impossible to do

We asked leading scientists to predict the future. Here’s what they had to say