Space
Explainer: All about orbits
A handful of rules can describe the route some object repeatedly takes around another in space. Calculating that path, however, can be quite complex.
Featured Articles in this Issue
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Cover Story
Pluto is no longer a planet — or is it?
In the 15 years since Pluto lost its status as a planet, some scientists continue to use whatever definition works best for them.
Explainer
Technically Fiction
Chemistry
Could we make vibranium?
The ‘perfect’ metal may belong to the fictitious Marvel world of Wakanda, but scientists hope to one day mimic some of its key traits.
Profile
Space
This physicist hopes to shake up our understanding of space
Adeene Denton uses a combination of geology, astrophysics and coding to better understand the structure of planets.
Features
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Is the sky really blue? It depends on what language you speak
English speakers talk about color a lot but rarely about smell. Researchers are learning how those who speak other languages sense the world and why differences arise.
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Pluto is no longer a planet — or is it?
In the 15 years since Pluto lost its status as a planet, some scientists continue to use whatever definition works best for them.
More Stories from the November 1, 2022 issue
- Brain
Why teens can’t help tuning out mom’s voice
Teens often tune out what their mom is saying. Normal brain changes during adolescence could explain why, new research shows.
- Fossils
This big dino had tiny arms before T. rex made them cool
A predecessor to Tyrannosaurus rex, Meraxes gigas had a giant head. But the muscularity of its puny arms suggests those limbs served some purpose.
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A sea slug’s head can crawl around and grow a whole new body
Some chopped-up flatworms can regrow whole bodies from bits and pieces. But a sea slug head can regrow fancier organs such as hearts.
- Chemistry
Build ice towers with bottled water and ice
Pour out liquid water into a solid ice tower. We outline the conditions you’ll need to turn this demonstration into a super-cool experiment.
- Computing
Facial expressions could be used to interact in virtual reality
New technology allows people to interact with virtual environments using just their facial expressions.
- Space
Awesome! Here are the James Webb Space Telescope’s first pictures
The first image shows ancient galaxies. Some reveal light that has been traveling 13 billion years to reach us.
