This Month in the Archives

[Dive into 174 years of groundbreaking research]( [Scientific American]( This Month in the Archives Dear Reader, April is a very science-friendly month. Earth Day and Arbor Day urge us to consider the health of our planet. World Autism Awareness Day reminds us of how much work we have yet to do to help those with this disorder—and their families. And DNA Day celebrates the molecule that is the incredibly detailed (yet occasionally flawed) blueprint for how cells build living creatures. [Dan Schlenoff] Enjoy the journey! Dan Schlenoff, editor of “50, 100 & 150 Years Ago” Interested in gaining access to 174 years of groundbreaking research? [Subscribe]( Earth Day (April 22) [Highway]Concrete, and lots of it, will be around for a very, very, long time There are currently 7.7 billion people worldwide and we (sometimes literally) burn through natural resources quickly, leaving an indelible mark on the planet. We’ve known about this impact for a long time—since well before environmentalism became a topic of politics—but it’s hard to change our ways. - [March 1879:]( Cutting down so many trees helped boost the industrial revolution, but even in the late 19th century “disastrous effects” were recognized. - [August 1948:]( The dust storms of 1948 were a reminder of how farming on “marginal lands” created the “dustbowl.” - [August 1974:]( “The ocean is a plausible place” to dump garbage. Although plastic pollution back then was a matter of “aesthetics.” - [September 2016:]( Modernity is great! But the long-lasting planetary transition caused by human activity now has a name: The Anthropocene. World Autism Awareness Day (April 2) [Mother & child]The image captures the “aloneness” of the autistic child. We now call it “autism spectrum disorder” because there are so many levels and subtypes of this condition that impairs a person’s ability to interact with other people. Defining, diagnosing, coping with and treating autism have long been huge challenges for affected families and for scientists working in this field. - [March 1959:]( Bruno Betelheim attempts to describe a young lad diagnosed with autism and schizophrenia who thinks of himself as a “mechanical boy.” - [June 1993:]( Uta Frith gives us a description of the biology of autism and what can be done to make life better for those it afflicts. - [February 2000:]( Developmental biologists look at the function of genes that control how the brain develops. - [November 2006:]( Neurologists ponder whether improper development of “mirror neurons” in the brain might be a cause of autism. DNA Day (April 25) [Toilet water] [Dogs]From atoms to traits: small changes in a DNA molecule can give rise to biological organisms with subtle but important differences. You’ve got lots of DNA—almost every cell in your body has about two yards of it crammed into a space that’s so small you can’t see it with the naked eye. In 1953, four people figured out the shape of the most important molecule produced in the body, and it continues to puzzle and fascinate us today. - [October 1954:]( Francis Crick describes “The Structure of the Hereditary Material” - [August 1973:]( A look at a few individual genes, the molecular machines guided by DNA that make useful proteins for your body. - [March 1993:]( The rules of genetics seem made to be broken. - [January 2009:]( DNA is all very well, but how do the shifting atoms in these teensy molecules give rise to different creatures? Current Issue: April 2019 [April 2019] A new generation of brain-machine interfaces have matured enough that they can [deduce how people want to move their bodies.]( Plus: - [Relatively cheap oyster reefs]( out to be highly effective at protecting our shorelines from the power of storm waves. - Vaccines are a lifesaver. [The dengue vaccine in the Philippines]( turns out to have been more risky than useful. - [Electric eels.]( They’re way cool. Now we have new insights into their shocking attack mechanisms For more highlights from the archives, you can read April's[50, 100 & 150 Years Ago]( column. [Read the Issue]( Follow Us [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [RSS]( To view this email as a web page, go [here](. You received this email because you opted-in to receive email from Scientific American. To ensure delivery please add [news@email.scientificamerican.com]( to your address book. [Unsubscribe]( [Manage Email Preferences]( [FAQs]( [Terms & Conditions]( [Privacy Policy]( [Contact Us](