A New Look at Vision
A critical new discovery redefines the primary organizing principle of the visual cortex, and explains much of the illusory perception when we see light and dark stimuli
Illusion Chasers
Illusions, Delusions, and Everyday Deceptions
Happier and Younger (Looking)
Long face no longer: A new study confirms that smiling makes you look younger
Did the Baboon Feel the Magic?
| A YouTube video of a baboon watching a magic trick goes viral… but was it really magical for the monkey? |
Faces Look More Attractive When You Pay Attention
First impressions are not final: a new study suggests that people appear more attractive when you pay attention to their faces.
2 Call for Illusion Submissions: The World's Annual Best Illusion of the Year Contest
The top 3 winners will receive: $3,000 USD for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place.
Everyday Love
| Emotion never stops in everyday life. A new study reveals that people experience emotions most of the time as they go about their daily activities. The second most common feeling? Love. |
What Little Babies See That You No Longer Can
Before developing perceptual constancy, three- to four-month-old babies have a striking ability to see image differences that are invisible to adults. They lose this superior skill around the age of five months
Remembering David Bowie: The Goblin King's Juggling Illusion
In memory of the artist David Bowie, who died on Sunday, January 10, we feature here an excerpt of the movie Labyrinth, with Bowie performing contact juggling as the Goblin King.
How to Stick to Your New Year Resolutions
The trick may be to focus on leaving your old "inferior self" behind
The Force of the Lightsaber Illusion
The white in the middle of this lightsaber can’t be any whiter than the white background that your screen generates: but it nevertheless appears brighter.
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, and the mind
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
Expeditions
Read
Extinction Countdown
News and research about endangered species from around the world
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
MIND Guest Blog
Commentary invited by editors of Scientific American Mind
Read
Not bad science
New discoveries in animal behavior and cognition
Read
Observations
Opinion, arguments & analyses from guest experts and from the editors of Scientific American
Read
Plugged In
More than wires - exploring the connections between energy, environment, and our lives
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
Tetrapod Zoology
Amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals - living and extinct
Read
The Artful Amoeba
A Blog About the Weird Wonderfulness of Life on Earth
Read
Voices
Exploring and celebrating diversity in science.
Read
