Science Quiz: Icy Bodies and Rays of Light
Allison Parshall is an associate editor at Scientific American covering mind and brain. She writes the magazine's Contributors column and weekly online Science Quizzes. As a multimedia journalist, she contributes to Scientific American 's podcast Science Quickly. Parshall's work has also appeared in Quanta Magazine and Inverse. She graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with a master's degree in science, health and environmental reporting. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Georgetown University. Follow Parshall on X (formerly Twitter) @parshallison
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Scientific American Announces David M. Ewalt as New Editor-in-Chief
Ewalt becomes the magazine's 10th editor-in-chief as it celebrates 180 years. NEW YORK, June 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States of America, Scientific American, announced David M. Ewalt as its editor-in-chief. In his role, Ewalt will also oversee its digital version, and other branded products. Ewalt will be based out of the New York office with a start date of June 2nd and will report to Kimberly Lau. Ewalt is a longtime advocate for data-driven reporting, has authored two books including the acclaimed history of Dungeons & Dragons, Of Dice and Men, and formerly served as Editor-in-Chief of Gizmodo. His editorial career includes key roles at The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and Forbes Magazine. A lifelong reader and dedicated subscriber to Scientific American with a distinguished background in revitalizing media brands, Ewalt brings a profound enthusiasm for science and technology, along with experience spanning both legacy and digital-first media properties. Kimberly Lau, President of Scientific American and Vice President, Consumer Media at Springer Nature, said: "From its inception, Scientific American has championed the belief that scientific discovery and technological advancement are foundational to societal progress. These values—impartial analysis and boundless curiosity—are more essential now than ever. With his extensive experience, clear editorial direction, and deep commitment to these principles, David Ewalt is exceptionally well-suited to lead Scientific American as it continues to inform the public, engage thought leaders in research and industry, and support evidence-based policymaking. Ewalt's appointment marks an exciting new page for Scientific American as it continues to expand its reach and impact in the world of popular science journalism." David Ewalt said: "This is a pivotal moment for science. Many of the defining issues of the 21st century—such as artificial intelligence, advances in medicine and climate change—are fundamentally scientific in nature. As we navigate these complex issues, there is no better source to help interpret developments and keep the public informed than Scientific American, which has demonstrated unwavering dedication to this mission for nearly two centuries." Scientific American is read by more than 3.5 million monthly readers with eight local language editions and remains a global force in science journalism, helping readers remain informed on pressing issues and exciting developments in the world of science. About Scientific American Founded in 1845, Scientific American is the oldest continuously published magazine in the U.S. and the leading authoritative publication for science and technology in the general media. Together with and eight local language editions around the world, it reaches more than nine million readers. Scientific American is published by Springer Nature. About Springer Nature Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit and @SpringerNature. View source version on Contacts Eseohe Arhebamen-Yamasaki | Head of Communications, U.S. | Springer Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Business Wire
10 hours ago
- Business Wire
Scientific American Announces David M. Ewalt as New Editor-in-Chief
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States of America, Scientific American, announced David M. Ewalt as its editor-in-chief. In his role, Ewalt will also oversee its digital version, and other branded products. Ewalt will be based out of the New York office with a start date of June 2 nd and will report to Kimberly Lau. Ewalt's appointment marks an exciting new page for Scientific American as it continues to expand its reach and impact in the world of popular science journalism. Share Ewalt is a longtime advocate for data-driven reporting, has authored two books including the acclaimed history of Dungeons & Dragons, Of Dice and Men, and formerly served as Editor-in-Chief of Gizmodo. His editorial career includes key roles at The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and Forbes Magazine. A lifelong reader and dedicated subscriber to Scientific American with a distinguished background in revitalizing media brands, Ewalt brings a profound enthusiasm for science and technology, along with experience spanning both legacy and digital-first media properties. Kimberly Lau, President of Scientific American and Vice President, Consumer Media at Springer Nature, said: 'From its inception, Scientific American has championed the belief that scientific discovery and technological advancement are foundational to societal progress. These values—impartial analysis and boundless curiosity—are more essential now than ever. With his extensive experience, clear editorial direction, and deep commitment to these principles, David Ewalt is exceptionally well-suited to lead Scientific American as it continues to inform the public, engage thought leaders in research and industry, and support evidence-based policymaking. Ewalt's appointment marks an exciting new page for Scientific American as it continues to expand its reach and impact in the world of popular science journalism.' David Ewalt said: "This is a pivotal moment for science. Many of the defining issues of the 21st century—such as artificial intelligence, advances in medicine and climate change—are fundamentally scientific in nature. As we navigate these complex issues, there is no better source to help interpret developments and keep the public informed than Scientific American, which has demonstrated unwavering dedication to this mission for nearly two centuries." Scientific American is read by more than 3.5 million monthly readers with eight local language editions and remains a global force in science journalism, helping readers remain informed on pressing issues and exciting developments in the world of science. About Scientific American Founded in 1845, Scientific American is the oldest continuously published magazine in the U.S. and the leading authoritative publication for science and technology in the general media. Together with and eight local language editions around the world, it reaches more than nine million readers. Scientific American is published by Springer Nature. About Springer Nature Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit and @SpringerNature.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Gigantic Saharan Dust Cloud Barrels Toward Florida: Here's What That Means
A gigantic cloud of dust drifting from the Sahara Desert is expected to impact southern and central parts of Florida late Tuesday into early Wednesday Its effects, including hazy skies, are likely to be seen until the weekend The dust cloud has already drifted into the CaribbeanFlorida, along with some of its surrounding states, is in the path of a gigantic cloud of dust drifting from the Sahara Desert. According to Scientific American, between late spring and early fall, dust from the Sahara Desert is blown out over the Atlantic Ocean every three to five days. When the conditions are right, the air masses, referred to as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), filled with dust, make their way to North America. The dust cloud has already drifted into the Caribbean. The National Weather Service for San Juan, Puerto Rico, stated on X that "peak concentrations" of the dust were expected to arrive midday on Monday, June 2. The dust will impact southern and central parts of Florida from late Tuesday into early Wednesday, potentially causing residents to see hazy skies, especially during sunrise and sunset, until the weekend, ABC News affiliate WFTS-TV reported. The dust is also forecast to impact skies and reduce visibility across the Southeast, per Fox Weather. 'When you have Saharan dust or any other kind of particulate, if the sun is coming in at an angle, like during sunrise or sunset. It can hit those particulates that are close to the ground just right and result in those different, kind of orangey-reddish colors," Ana Torres-Vazquez, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Miami office, told Scientific American. According to WFTS-TV meteorologist Greg Dee, Saharan dust is usually "not an issue for us here right at the surface, most of the dust is high up in the atmosphere." "But occasionally, some folks that are very sensitive to particles, particulates in the air, may experience a little bit of discomfort," he said As far as its environmental impact, WJXT reported that the Saharan Air Layer can suppress the development of tropical cyclones as well as cloud development and storms. This is due to its characteristics of "warm, dry air with strong winds." Moist and dry air are expected to alternate between the Caribbean and as far north as Florida waters in the Gulf and Atlantic over the next 10 days, per Accuweather. AccuWeather reported that it is monitoring an area along the Southeast coast for "potential subtropical or tropical development." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "While the risk of development is low, impacts such as heavy, flooding rain that can disrupt outdoor plans, minor coastal flooding, rip currents and rough surf are all possible mid-to-late week," its website states. Read the original article on People
