American Scientist

These days, readers enjoy an ever-expanding selection of science news sources. Digital publishing and blogging, in conjunction with traditional reporting, have created an abundance of coverage to satisfy all tastes. American Scientist is fortunate to occupy a unique niche in this science communication ecosystem.

Our bimonthly publishing cycle creates flexibility in our choice of stories and allows us time to delve deeper into research beyond the daily headlines. Unfettered by the 24-hour news cycle, we’re able to give a platform to scientists and engineers interested in making their research accessible to audiences outside their immediate spheres. In addition to seeking out groundbreaking discoveries of the day, we also pursue explanations for phenomena that we experience daily. Hence, the distinctive blend of science you’ll find here.

In this issue, we’ve assembled articles that fully embody the brand of science for which American Scientist is known. Thomas Hart explores how recent studies of plant-produced microscopic silica bodies have opened an entire field of research leading to new nanotechnologies, in "Phytoliths: The Storytelling Stones Inside Plants"; in the Ethics column, "The Forgotten Father of Epigenetics", W. Malcolm Byrnes reminds us of the role that diverse life experiences and worldviews play in advancing science into new paradigms; and Michael Lewis sorts out the tangled logic of how children learn the rights and wrongs of fibbing, in "The Origins of Lying and Deception in Everyday Life". Occasionally we get out ahead of the news cycle by sharing stories about anticipated discoveries. In "How Animals Communicate Via Pheromones", Tristram Wyatt makes the case for the existence of as-of-yet unverified pheromones that influence human behavior. The discovery of human pheromones would not be a surprise; to date, we’re one of the few species for which chemical signals haven’t been confirmed.

Given the wealth of fascinating research under way, finding content for each issue might seem an easy task. But we like to leave no stone unturned as we seek stories characterized by the breadth and depth you appreciate. With this in mind, I recently traveled to San Francisco, California, to attend the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, the largest Earth and space science conference in the world. There, among the 24,000 attendees, 1,700 sessions, and 23,000 oral and poster presentations, I searched for the next remarkable American Scientist stories.

I was drawn to one particular session titled, "Cholera in a Time of Changing Climate." To my delight, the session leader was none other than former Sigma Xi President Rita Colwell. In that moment, I was reminded of the legions of great researchers who constitute the Sigma Xi membership and the vital role they play in supporting American Scientist.

You’ll hear from Dr. Colwell in the Spotlight section of this issue. — Jamie L. Vernon (@JLVernonPhD)