Plants
Explainer: How to identify tree species in the winter
No leaves to be found? Then buds, bark and branches might help you ID what tree you see.
Featured Articles in this Issue
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Cover Story
AI, make me a video game
Developers can use AI to generate code, dialog, playable environments and more. But at its heart, making video games remains a creative human endeavor.
Explainer
Technically Fiction
Physics
Here’s how to levitate something without magic
Levitation may seem like fantasy. But all it takes is a little physics — and sound waves, magnetism or electricity.
Profile
Science & Society
This game designer shares neurodivergent experiences through gaming
Inspired by her own experiences, Susannah Emery designs games that raise awareness about neurodivergence and social issues.
Features
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AI, make me a video game
Developers can use AI to generate code, dialog, playable environments and more. But at its heart, making video games remains a creative human endeavor.
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Hypnosis isn’t magic. It’s the brain at work
While we still don’t know much about how hypnosis works, it appears to help some people conquer pain, anxiety and other problems.
More Stories from the February 1, 2026 issue
- Genetics
DNA reveals the origin of East Asia’s favorite sweet bean
Where those red beans — also called adzuki — came from had been murky. A new study says it all started in Japan.
- Brain
To our brains, your red is my red
A given color may spark similar brain activity across individuals, new research suggests. This could settle a long-standing debate.
- Materials Science
Spooky! Grooved surface sends ice sailing — no outside push needed
Boulders that have mysteriously moved across Death Valley’s landscape inspired the work. The new surface can slingshot ice in a chosen direction.
- Physics
Why are skis so long?
Let’s strap skis to an action figure to see how long sticks of wood help people glide gracefully over snow.
- Health & Medicine
Multiple-snake antivenom comes from blood of man bitten 202 times
Tim Friede built immunity to snake venoms through bites and venom injections. His blood proteins now offer antivenom protection against 13 types of snakes.
- Archaeology
Knotted strands of 500-year-old hair tell a surprising story
Used in a device called a khipu, the hair reveals the owner’s simple diet. Those data now suggest that in Incan society, even some commoners kept records.
