Physics
Explainer: What are the different states of matter?
Most people know solids, liquids and gases — but what about the four other states of matter?
Featured Articles in this Issue
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Cover Story
Rats can chronicle human history
Rats have lived alongside people for thousands of years. Now, scientists can study the rats and their leavings to learn more about ourselves.
Explainer
Technically Fiction
Animals
How can Baby Yoda be 50 years old?
Animals with wings, big bodies or other protections from predators are more likely to evolve long lifespans.
Profile
Animals
A love of small mammals drives this scientist
Alexis Mychajliw’s science is driven by her love of animals. She now looks to tar pits and fossilized poop to understand ancient ecosystems.
Features
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Rats can chronicle human history
Rats have lived alongside people for thousands of years. Now, scientists can study the rats and their leavings to learn more about ourselves.
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We all imagine being friends with celebrities. Is that a bad thing?
One-sided relationships with celebrities and fictional characters are normal. They also can boost self-esteem and empathy.
More Stories from the February 1, 2023 issue
- Space
NASA’s DART spacecraft successfully bumped an asteroid onto a new path
The spacecraft’s intentional crash into an asteroid changed the space rock’s orbit by more than 30 minutes — far more than expected.
- Humans
Want to improve your reading skills? You might just need more space
A simple change by publishers and Web designers could help kids — both with and without dyslexia — read faster and better.
- Physics
Why some icicles become scallops not spikes
The newfound — and at times quirky — shapes reflect the density of water surrounding submerged ice.
- Fossils
Bizarre ancient critter has spines but no anus
The spiny discovery moves this minion lookalike off a distant limb on the human family tree.
- Physics
How salty does the sea have to be for an egg to float?
Some objects float on top of the ocean, and other objects sink to the bottom. Why? Try this eggs-periment to find out!
- Materials Science
New cloth cools you when you’re hot, warms you when you’re cold
Scientists 3-D printed the new fabric, which has even more tricks up its sleeve — such as conducting electricity and resisting radio waves.
