Cognition
How Prey Animals' Prior Experiences Make Them Gullible to Masquerading Predators
Ghost mantises use their prey’s cognitive processes against them
Illusion Chasers
Illusions, Delusions, and Everyday Deceptions
Neuroscience
Smaller Plates Don't Make Meals Look Bigger When You're Hungry
The Delboeuf illusion won’t help you trick yourself into eating smaller portions when you feel hungry
Neuroscience
An illusion to Celebrate Uncle Sam's Birthday
Uncle Sam’s eyes and finger seem to be pointed directly at you, no matter your viewing angle
Behavior & Society
In Search of the World's Oldest Illusion
Did Human Awareness of Illusions Arise with Self-Awareness?
Behavior & Society
Call for Illusion Submissions: The World's Annual Best Illusion of the Year Contest
Contestants are invited to submit one-minute videos featuring novel illusions of all sensory modalities (visual, auditory, etcetera) and/or cognitive nature. The top three winners will receive: $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place
...
Behavior & Society
Inspired to Believe: The Connection between Inspirational Experiences and Belief in God
The more people feel inspired in their daily lives, the more strongly they believe in God, new research shows
Behavior & Society
It's That Dress Again, but Now for Your Ears
In February 2015 a viral internet image of a dress took the world by storm. Now there’s new illusion—for the ears—that speaks to each of us each in different ways: The Yanny–Laurel Illusion...
Behavior & Society
Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the Young Artist Who Grew Up to Invent Neuroscience
Many creative scientists have artistic inclinations. The drawings of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the father of neuroscience, are a beautiful example
Behavior & Society
Celebrating Sun–Earth Day: A Total Eclipse of the Mind
The art and perception behind the 2017 total solar eclipse
Behavior & Society
The Track Pants Illusion
Why do we see two freakishly thin legs instead of a normal-sized one?
Blog Index
@ScientificAmerican
STAFFBehind the scenes at Scientific American
Read
Anecdotes from the Archive
STAFF
Read
Anthropology in Practice
Exploring the human condition.
Read
Beautiful Minds
Insights into intelligence, creativity, personality, and well-being
Read
Budding Scientist
Everything you always wanted to know about raising science-literate kids
Read
Cross-Check
Critical views of science in the news
Read
Dark Star Diaries
STAFF
Read
Dog Spies
Explore the science behind the dog in your bed
Read
Extinction Countdown
News and research about endangered species from around the world
Read
Eye of the Storm
The Science Behind Extreme Weather
Read
Frontiers for Young Minds
Science by and for kids ages 8-15
Read
Guest Blog
Commentary invited by editors of Scientific American
Read
Hot Planet
Climate science in a changing world
Read
Illusion Chasers
Illusions, Delusions, and Everyday Deceptions
Read
Life, Unbounded
Discussion and news about planets, exoplanets, and astrobiology
Read
Observations
Opinion, arguments & analyses from guest experts and from the editors of Scientific American
Read
Roots of Unity
Mathematics: learning it, doing it, celebrating it.
Read
Rosetta Stones
Adventures in the good science of rock-breaking.
Read
SA Visual
STAFFIllustrating science since 1845
Read
Talking back
STAFFA science blog, sans blague
Read
The Artful Amoeba
A Blog About the Weird Wonderfulness of Life on Earth
Read
Voices
Exploring and celebrating diversity in science.
Read
