Scientific American - USA (2020-08)

(Antfer) #1

Scientific American (ISSN 0036-8733), Volume 323, Number 2, August 2020, published monthly by Scientific American, a division of Springer Nature America, Inc., 1 New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, N.Y. 10004-1562.
Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y., and at additional mailing offices. C anada Post International Publications Mail (C anadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 40012504. C anadian BN No. 127387652RT; T VQ1218059 275 TQ0001.
Publication Mail Agreement #40 012504. Return undeliverable mail to Scientific Americ an, P.O. Box 819, Stn Main, Markham, ON L 3P 8A 2. Individual Subscription rates: 1 year $ 49.9 9 (USD), C anada $ 59.9 9 (USD), International $ 69.9 9 (USD).
Institutional Subscription rates: Schools and Public Libraries: 1 year $84 (USD), Canada $89 (USD), International $96 (USD). Businesses and Colleges/Universities: 1 year $399 (USD), Canada $405 (USD), International $411 (USD).
Postmaster: Send address changes to Scientific American, Box 3187, Harlan, Iowa 51537. Reprints inquiries: [email protected]. To request single copies or back issues, call (800) 333-1199.
Subscription inquiries: U.S. and Canada (800) 333-1199; other (515) 248-7684. Send e-mail to [email protected].
Printed in U.S.A. Copyright © 2020 by Scientific American, a division of Springer Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.


Scientific American is part of Springer Nature, which owns or has commercial relations with thousands of scientific publications (many of them can be found at http://www.springernature.com/us)..) Scientific American maintains a strict
policy of editorial independence in reporting developments in science to our readers. Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.


4 Scientific American, August 2020


5 From the Editor


6 Letters


8 Science Agenda
Too many people of color lack access to basic health care.
By the Editors

10 Forum
Wearing a mask as a precaution against the coronavirus
is not a sign of emasculation. By Peter Glick

12 Advances
A toxic transformation on Venus. A devastating 1,000-year-old
tsunami. Building brain circuitry at the cellular level.
Pills that could give lifesaving time to treat snakebites.

22 Meter
Gravitational waves and the poetry of Blackfoot. By Jessica Reed

23 The Science of Health
The American epidemic of suicide among young people
has been raging for 20 years. By Claudia Wallis

73 Recommended
Hard-won battles by women in science. Keeping the Mississippi
in place. Stockholm syndrome redux. By Andrea Gawrylewski

75 Observatory
Why science denial is easy to generate and hard to slay.
By Naomi Oreskes

76 Anti Gravity
COVID-19 has done away with handshaking —for
the greater good. By Steve Mirsky

77 50 , 100 & 150 Years Ago By Daniel C. Schlenoff


78 Graphic Science
Name-dropping hurricanes. By Mark Fischetti and Will Chase

75

12

10

S1 Nature Outlook: Extracellular RNA
Best known for its part in translating genetic code into protein
making, RNA is finding a new role in medicine. This report, from
Nature, explores how it is helping to detect and treat disease.

SPECIAL REPORT

© 2020 scientific American

VOLUME 323, NUMBER 2

August 2020
Free download pdf