The Sciences
A Visual (Information) Paradox
Search for answers about Stephen Hawking’s new theorem reveals a Scientific American tradition of illustrating the confounding complexity of black holes
SA Visual
Illustrating science since 1845
STAFF BLOG
The Sciences
Visualizing Protein Structures
Early schematics by Jane Richardson lay the foundation for her ubiquitous ribbon diagrams
Sustainability
A Visual Forecast for the End of the Century
Interactive Climate Graphic Highlights Alarming Trends in Warming U.S. Winters
Arts & Culture
Refugee Data Tells Visual Stories of a Changing World
Two interactive infographics help users visualize today's global refugee crisis and compare it with similar crises in the past
The Sciences
The Evolution of a Scientific American Infographic: Secret Life in Household Dust
Designers Martin Krzywinski and Barbara Jeannie Hunnicutt provide a peek behind the scenes, and explain how they developed a data visualization based on bacterial genome information derived from dust...
The Sciences
Art Can Highlight Climate Change, But Where is the Data?
The other day, while waiting at the registration desk for an event entitled “Visualizing Climate Change,” I met a data visualization developer from Bloomberg News.
Tech
The Science of Visualization
What is visualization? When asked of data and information visualization professionals, answers will generally swirl around one of two punch lines…a visual tool that aids in (1) analysis or (2) communication of information...
The Sciences
Pop Culture Pulsar: The Science Behind Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures Album Cover
Earlier this year, I reported the punchline of my quest to uncover the story behind the story of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures album cover.
The Sciences
On Scientific American's 170th Anniversary, a Nod to Founder Rufus Porter
Earlier this year, I learned that the founding editor of Scientific American Magazine, Rufus Porter, was an artist—an influential muralist and prolific portrait painter at that.
Health
Inadequate Data Visualization Leaves Patients Undereducated
Although data visualization is often viewed as a fairly straightforward, dispassionate way of presenting facts, anyone who has studied the field knows that data-driven graphics can be hard to decipher, and are often far from impartial...
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
