The Myth that Musicians Die at 27 Shows How Superstitions Are Made
Famous people who die at 27, such as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse, get even more famous because of the mythology surrounding that number—a look at how modern folklore emerges
Clean Energy Is Bringing Electricity to Many in the Navajo Nation
Thousands of homes in Navajo and other tribal lands don’t have access to electricity. A $200-million federal funding effort aims to fix that problem with solar power and other clean energy
The Law Must Respond when Science Changes
What was once fair under the law may become unfair when science changes. The law must react to uphold due process
Your 2024 Election Rundown, from Immigration to Education
The outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election could set the climate agenda, reshape public education and shift the dynamics of global science collaboration.
Epic Gravity Lens Lines Up Seven-Galaxy View
A galaxy cluster bends light from seven background galaxies around it, letting astronomers peer into space and time
Voting Has Never Been More Secure Than It Is Right Now
Efficient machines, paper ballots and human checks make the U.S. voting system robust
The Virus That Causes Mpox Keeps Getting Better at Spreading in People
Analysis of a strain of the virus circulating in Central Africa shows genetic mutations indicative of sustained human-to-human spread
How to Calm Your Election Anxiety—Even After Polls Close
People are really stressed about the U.S. presidential election. A psychiatrist offers several self-help methods to reduce feelings of despair
Record-breaking Prime Number, 41 Million Digits Long, Blows Mathematicians' Minds
The discovery of a new prime number highlights the rising price of mathematical gold
How Superman Helped Launch the Hubble Space Telescope
Long before it orbited Earth, the Hubble Space Telescope starred in a famous Superman comic
How the Brain Summons Deep Sleep to Speed Healing
A heart attack unleashes immune cells that stimulate neurons in the brain, leading to restorative slumber
The International Space Station Has Been Leaking for Five Years
Pesky leaks on the International Space Station aren’t the most serious issue facing U.S. human spaceflight