Stories by Rachel Feltman

Hurricane forecast maps are more complex than they appear. Understanding them could change how you prepare for the next storm.

Two decades after Katrina, we revisit the storm and discuss the evolution of hurricane preparedness since then.

Deep-sea rocks packed with valuable metals may also be making oxygen in the deep, dark ocean—raising new questions about the cost of mining them.

In honor of SciAm’s 180th birthday, we’re spotlighting the biggest “wait, what?” moments in science history.

Peanut allergies more than tripled in U.S. kids between the late 1990s and late 2000s, and the prevalence has risen even more since then. Scientists are still searching for answers—and new ways to treat them.

Traditional biology has long ignored nature’s sexual diversity—but evolution tells a far more complex story.

China is having a fast-rising chikungunya outbreak in a place that has never had one before.

In his new book, Sam Kean reveals how re-creating ancient tools, techniques and traditions can unlock secrets about how our ancestors lived—and what they felt.

A new hormone-free birth control pill that reversibly stops sperm production has passed its first safety trial in humans, offering hope for more reversible contraceptive options.

From planets roaming space to major shifts in health funding, catch up with this week’s news roundup.

Representative Eric Sorensen of Illinois shares how his meteorology roots drive his fight to protect climate science and push back against political interference.

NASA faces historic budget cuts that could shutter missions and stall vital research, prompting a bipartisan outcry from all of the agency’s living former science chiefs.

The lowdown on the Environmental Protection Agency’s move to repeal of the “endangerment” finding. Also, how did a juicy ketchup ingredient help create a starchy tuber?

A conversation with Anthropic’s chatbot raises questions about how AI talks about awareness.

Researchers and therapists explore the mental health benefits of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.

Extreme weather is front-page news. But what are the phenomena behind the headlines?

Set your alarm on Wednesday to see some of the summer’s stunning meteor showers.

Think: subzero temperatures, bone-rattling storms and mysteries about the future of our planet under the ice.

If you’re seeking a summer read, Scientific American has some fantastic fiction and notable nonfiction to recommend.

This episode of Science Quickly goes on an archival adventure in Scientific American’s July 1925 issue.

Dropout.tv’s Brennan Lee Mulligan talks about the emotional and cultural importance of Dungeons and Dragons.

After 10 years of gravitational-wave research, the LIGO Lab team at MIT is getting ready for the next generation of detectors.

While bariatric surgery can result in significant weight loss, weight stigma can persist years after the surgery.

Musicologists and neuroscientists have been trying to understand what turns speech into music.