Category: 1. Edi-Choice

February 2026: Science history from 50, 100 and 150 years ago

By Jeanna Bryner

Archaeologists in Germany have discovered four Roman marching camps, dating to 1,700 years ago, along with a multitude of artifacts, including coins and old shoe parts.

During the third century A.D., the Roman Empire conducted several military…

Let’s say it’s 2036, and scientists are working on a new class of drugs. These medications are mirror-image versions of the molecules your body uses to fight disease. Their big advantage is that reverse compounds last longer in the body…

Solar system comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) makes its closest approach to the sun today (Jan. 20) during an event known as perihelion, when it will pass a little over half the Earth-sun distance from our parent star, causing it to brighten…

This crossword is inspired by the February 2026 issue of Scientific American. Read it here. Print readers, check your answers by selecting “Assist” above, and then “Reveal Grid,” or “Print” and then choose “Solution.”

We’d love to hear from you!…

WEALTH AND KNOWLEDGE

In “Billionaire Science, for Better or Worse” [From the Editor], David M. Ewalt suggests that with cuts to government funding, “many researchers are going to have to rely on business—and, yes, billionaires.” He also…

Last summer I polled the great art houses of Europe with a seemingly straightforward question: Had they had any recent experiences with mold in their collections?

Mold is a perennial scourge in museums that can disfigure and destroy art and…

In December I was in Stockholm, Sweden, for the Nobel Prize award ceremony, a celebration of science and discovery that feels like a national holiday in that country. The week leading up to the awards is stacked with lectures, concerts,…

Theorists have proposed many explanations for consciousness. They are startlingly diverse, with different goals, starting points and even definitions of consciousness. To compare them, researchers surveyed articles suggesting a theoretical model…

This article was made possible by the support of Yakult and produced independently by Scientific American’s board of editors.

After a slip on the ice, a sports injury, even surgery, most people’s instinct is to rest what hurts. “When you…