Cosmology is the one field in which researchers can—literally—witness the past. The cosmic background radiation, ancient light streaming toward us since the Big Bang, provides a pristine window onto the birth and evolution of the universe.

For this year’s inaugural address, “The Future of Big Science,” Nobel laureate and physicist Steven Weinberg considers the future of fundamental physics, especially as funding for basic research is reduced. Weinberg will explore physics’ small origins, starting with the discovery of the atomic nucleus 100 years ago by a single scientist.

Known for his work in television, theater, and film, Alan Alda is also a passionate advocate of science. Through his years as host of Scientific American Frontiers, his founding of …

The inflationary theory of cosmology, an enduring theory about our universe and how it was formed, explains that just after the Big Bang, the universe went through a period of rapid expansion. This theory has been critical to understanding what’s going on in the cosmos today.

In the year since it became fully operational, the James Webb Space Telescope has provided breathtaking new images of the cosmos that are confirming some of scientists’ predictions while challenging …

Microscopic, manmade nanoparticles have found their way into almost every part of our daily lives from clothing, to skin care, our cell phones, and even the soil. But how safe …