Culture

The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, owes his superstar success to self-satisfied competitors who blew obvious opportunities

Shared experiences, more than material things, bring people together

Writers, artists, photographers and researchers share the stories behind the stories

How we’ll learn more about dark matter, quantum gravity and substitutes for lab animals

Letters to the editors for the April 2024 issue of Scientific American

People can form surprisingly strong bonds with others—even when that tie is one-sided

The Olympics are a sustainability nightmare, and Paris, despite its efforts, is no exception

From board games to solo puzzles to fantastical escapes to tricks for running faster, find a game for every mood

Baseball pitchers are throwing faster than ever—and needing Tommy John surgery

Why we’re fascinated by solving mind-bending puzzles, pitching faster fastballs, embodying new characters, playing ancient games, and much more

People are reluctant to reach out to friends they have lost touch with—but both sides are gratified when they reconnect

During the lockdown phase of the COVID pandemic, we indulged our toddler son. Years later, we wonder if his current behavior is normal or a result of that early isolation