This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American As long as there have been political ...

More than half a billion people around the world have downloaded artificial-intelligence chatbot companion apps such as Xiaoice and Replika. These virtual confidantes can provide empathy, support and, ...

People’s views are becoming more and more polarized, with “echo chambers”—social bubbles that reinforce existing beliefs—exacerbating differences in opinion. This divergence doesn’t just apply to ...

The neuron, the specialized cell type that makes up much of our brain, is at the center of today’s neuroscience. Neuroscientists explain perception, memory, cognition and even consciousness itself as ...