Scientific American Volume 311, Issue 4

Scientific American Magazine

Features

A Beacon from the Big Bang
If the recent discovery of gravitational waves emanating from the early universe holds up under scrutiny, it will illuminate a connection between gravity and quantum mechanics and perhaps, in the process, verify the existence of other universes
Lawrence M. Krauss| October 1, 2014|

PLUS:
Big Bang Gravitational Waves: True or Not? [Video]
Saving Coffee
Researchers are racing to breed beneficial new traits into the dangerously homogeneous coffee crop before it succumbs to disease or other threats
Hillary Rosner| October 1, 2014|

PLUS:
Coffee Crisis Spurs Hunt for Helpful Genes [Slide Show]
Twists of Fate
Physical pushes and pulls on a cell, not just genes, determine whether it will become part of a bone, a brain—or a deadly tumor
Stefano Piccolo| October 1, 2014|

PLUS:
Mechanical Forces Affect Cell Development and Disease [Video]
An Inconvenient Ice
Methane hydrates could solve the world's energy challenge—or make global warming worse
Lisa Margonelli| October 1, 2014|

PLUS:
Test Will 'Mine' Hydrates for Natural Gas in Alaska
Let the Games Continue
In what would be his centennial year, Martin Gardner, the longtime author of Scientific American's celebrated Mathematical Games column, continues to inspire mathematicians and puzzle lovers
Colm Mulcahy and Dana Richards| October 1, 2014|

PLUS:
A Centennial Celebration of Martin Gardner
The Inclusion Equation
Science and technology are society's main engines of prosperity. Who gets to drive them?
Fred Guterl| October 1, 2014|

PLUS:
State of the World's Science 2014
Where are the data?
Global figures on diversity in the science and engineering workforce are hard to come by, but what we know is not flattering
Fred Guterl| October 1, 2014|
Gender Gap
How women and men fare in doctoral studies around the world
| October 1, 2014|
In Pursuit of the Best Ideas
In a diverse team, the best ideas are more likely to rise to the top
Stephanie C. Hill| October 1, 2014|
Becoming Visible
To change the equation, start changing the perception
Brian Welle and Megan Smith| October 1, 2014|
Particular Points of View
Gender and culture influence research on a fundamental level
Douglas Medin, Carol D. Lee and Megan Bang| October 1, 2014|
Inviting Everyone In
There is no formula for bringing diversity to the workplace or classroom, but new research that deepens our understanding of how diversity operates suggests some modestly successful strategies
Victoria Plaut| October 1, 2014|
How Diversity Works
Being around people who are different from us makes us more creative, more diligent and harder-working
Katherine W. Phillips| October 1, 2014|
Science Exposed
Networked technology and social media are enabling outsiders to gather and crunch data
Steven Bishop| October 1, 2014|
Taking It Personally
How a researcher’s background can determine her mission
D. N. Lee| October 1, 2014|