CultureJuly 1, 2015
Africa Dwarfs China, Europe and the U.S.
The most prevalent flat maps make Africa appear much smaller than it is
Stories by Mark Fischetti
Mark Fischetti was a senior editor at Scientific American for nearly 20 years and covered sustainability issues, including climate, environment, energy, and more. He assigned and edited feature articles and news by journalists and scientists and also wrote in those formats. He was founding managing editor of two spin-off magazines: Scientific American Mind and Scientific American Earth 3.0. His 2001 article “Drowning New Orleans” predicted the widespread disaster that a storm like Hurricane Katrina would impose on the city. Fischetti has written as a freelancer for the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian and many other outlets. He co-authored the book Weaving the Web with Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, which tells the real story of how the Web was created. He also co-authored The New Killer Diseases with microbiologist Elinor Levy. Fischetti has a physics degree and has twice served as Attaway Fellow in Civic Culture at Centenary College of Louisiana, which awarded him an honorary doctorate. In 2021 he received the American Geophysical Union’s Robert C. Cowen Award for Sustained Achievement in Science Journalism. He has appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press, CNN, the History Channel, NPR News and many radio stations.
BiologyJune 16, 2015
Africa Is Way Bigger Than You Think
Africa is bigger than China, India, the contiguous U.S. and most of Europe—combined!
EnvironmentJune 10, 2015
Correction: Plants Will Not Flourish as the World Warms
A new study contradicts the notion that higher temperatures will enhance plant growth
The SciencesJune 1, 2015
Safeguarding the Food Supply
To defend against a growing risk of food tainted by contaminants, man-made or natural, we need new technologies and better oversight
EnvironmentJune 1, 2015
Graphic Science: A World of Food, Delivered to America's Doorstep
U.S. imports of fruits and vegetables are on the rise—especially avocados from Mexico
Climate ChangeMay 21, 2015
Stable Antarctic Ice Is Suddenly Melting Fast
Multiple glaciers, previously frozen solid, are adding vast quantities of water to the ocean
EnvironmentMay 21, 2015
Now You Can "Hear" Climate Change [Video]
PolicyMay 1, 2015
Countries Grab Farmland beyond Their Own Borders
To meet demand for food, fuel and wood, countries are snapping up property beyond their borders
EnvironmentApril 23, 2015
What Are You Doing? I'm Saving Earth
One little boy exemplifies the good-works nature of Earth Day
EnvironmentApril 21, 2015
Show and Tell: How Will You Celebrate Earth Day?
Send us photos and videos of your hiking, biking, trash-collecting, energy-saving, water-conserving selves in action
EnvironmentApril 20, 2015
BP Oil Spill 5 Years Later: The Coast Is Still Struggling [Video]
Islands and shorelines remain spoiled, waiting for cleanup money
EnvironmentApril 6, 2015
The BP Oil Spill 5 Years After: How Has It Affected You?
Send us photos, videos and stories illustrating how your shores and communities are rebounding—or not—from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The SciencesMarch 23, 2015
Explained: The Supertide That Swallowed a French Abbey
The moon, sun and some shenanigans between them brought a 14-meter tide to the coast of France
EnvironmentMarch 2, 2015
Climate Change Hastened Syria's Civil War
Human-induced drying in many societies can push tensions over a threshold that provokes violent conflict
Natural DisastersMarch 1, 2015
Buried in Ash
What would happen if the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted?
EnvironmentFebruary 26, 2015
The `Pause' in Global Warming Is Finally Explained
Let's be clear: The planet is still getting hotter. The so-called pause, or hiatus, in global warming means the rate of temperature rise has slowed.
EnvironmentFebruary 20, 2015
Experience the New Energy Crisis, Live Tonight
Energy versus water versus food. Watch our livestream at 8:00 p.m. EST
Mind & BrainFebruary 19, 2015
Parents Support Later Start Times for High School
A new, national survey released by the University of Michigan has found that 50 percent of parents who have teenage children would support later start times for high school.
EnvironmentFebruary 12, 2015
U.S. Droughts Will Be the Worst in 1,000 Years
The Southwest and central Great Plains will dry out even more than previously thought
The SciencesFebruary 4, 2015
Raindrops Spread Crop Disease [Video]
Farmers testify that certain crop diseases like wheat rust seem to spread much farther and faster after a rainstorm. Researchers had various ideas on why this might be the case.
Public HealthFebruary 1, 2015
Ebola Arises Again and Again
Outbreaks have been numerous and unpredictable
EnvironmentJanuary 15, 2015
Humans Cross Another Danger Line for the Planet
Five years go an impressive, international group of scientists unveiled nine biological and environmental "boundaries" that humankind should not cross in order to keep the earth a livable place.
The SciencesJanuary 1, 2015
Different Research Papers Score Big with Scientists and the Public
Twitter, mainstream media and academic blogs focus on surprisingly different scientific subjects
The SciencesJanuary 1, 2015
The Papers Most Discussed in 2014
Scientists and the public differ in the research they find most interesting