New mutations help the H5N1 bird flu virus infect cows but not people
The findings show how the H5N1 bird flu virus is evolving in livestock and what that may mean for human health.The findings show ho…
Smithsonian secrets most likely to blow your mind
Millions of objects stashed at a site open only to select visitors tell the history of Earth's inhabitants.Millions of objects stas…
Is AI bad for critical thinking? It depends on when you use it
Using AI later in solving tough problems boosts critical thinking and memory, a study shows, highlighting trade-offs between speed …
Fluoride in U.S. drinking water does not reduce IQ, a new study finds
Claims that fluoride in drinking water causes cognitive delays in kids are driving U.S. policy. A new study finds no evidence to ba…
Talking dogs and chatty cats could one day ‘speak’ in our language
Advances in decoding animal sounds might someday make animal translators a possibility.Advances in decoding animal sounds might som…
For gray whales, San Francisco Bay is becoming a deadly pit stop
Climate change could be forcing gray whales to seek food in San Francisco Bay, where vessel strikes may be driving rising deaths.Cl…
Artemis II nears its finale
After looping around the moon, the Artemis II crew — and their capsule’s heat shield — are preparing for the mission’s fina…
Crossword: Traveling Light
Solve the crossword from our May 2026 issue, in which we expand the way we see the universe.Solve the crossword from our May 2026 i…
Seeing and imagining activate some of the same brain cells
By recording brain activity directly, scientists showed that imagining an object can revive parts of the neural pattern used to see…
Emperor penguins are marching toward extinction. Antarctica fur seals too
Conservationists now list the penguins and seals as “Endangered.” Climate change in Antarctica has led to plunging populations.…