Feature

  1. Math

    Knotty Calculations

    An alternative approach to quantum computing takes advantage of space-time knots and braids.

    By Erica Klarreich

  2. Mining the Mouse

    Recent analyses of the mouse genome illuminate human health and evolution.

    By John Travis
  3. Earth

    Proof of Burden

    Two teams of scientists report that the blood and urine of most Americans contain toxic cocktails of metals, artificial hormones, and chemical ingredients of plastics, flame retardants, pesticides, herbicides, and disinfectants.

    By Ben Harder
  4. Tech

    NanoLights! Camera! Action!

    Fluorescent particles of semiconductors are giving biologists a new view of cells and proteins.

    By Jessica Gorman

  5. How the Butterfly Gets Its Spots

    The spots on a butterfly wing turn out to be unusually good model systems for a range of disciplines from genetics to behavioral ecology, offering biologists a chance to paint the really big picture of how evolution works.