Week in Science: Should we abandon pi?

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May 8—Pi feels like such a, well, constant in the world of math. But some mathematicians have been calling for an end to the irrational number's reign. Plus, updates on the fatal outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship, and see the huge trove of photos NASA just released from the Artemis II mission. Lastly: happy 100th birthday, David Attenborough! —Emma Gometz, Newsletter Editor Have thoughts? Email newsletters@sciam.com anytime.

Top Stories

Why some mathematicians think we should abandon pi A growing minority believes it’s a mistake to tie so many mathematical formulas to the famed 3.14... value. Another value, tau, could be better Manon Bischoff

A SpaceX rocket booster is on track to hit the moon at several times the speed of sound While there is no immediate danger, this crash highlights that space junk is increasingly expanding out of lower-Earth orbit Adam Kovac

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A dangerous experiment is playing out on a cruise ship with hantavirus The tragic and fatal outbreak of hantavirus onboard a luxury cruise ship highlights the gaps in research and treatments for the rare and mysterious infection—including how the virus spreads among people Adam Kovac

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere just hit a ‘depressing’ new record These data come from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Mauna Loa Observatory, which may soon be shut down because of proposed government budget cuts Adam Kovac

NASA just dropped more than 12,000 Artemis II photos—here’s how to see them Want to go to the moon? Travel vicariously through the more than 12,000 photos NASA just posted from the Artemis II mission Meghan Bartels

A 1,500-foot tsunami took scientists by surprise. Now we know why it happened By chance a tour boat avoided a deadly tsunami set off by the retreat of Alaska's coastal glaciers. Scientists are working to spot landslides like the one that caused the massive wave to warn people in harm's way Megan I. Gannon

What is the Kardashev scale, and can we climb it? The Kardashev scale is an interesting but flawed gauge of a civilization’s growth Phil Plait

Watch NASA test its new X-59 jet designed to go faster than the speed of sound This next-generation plane is made to go faster than sound without producing a full sonic boom Jackie Flynn Mogensen

How Greenland sharks keep their hearts beating for centuries Greenland sharks have hearts that can function normally for more than a century Jeanna Bryner

Math and statistics help explain the FBI's ‘missing scientists’ cases Statistical principles show you don’t need a nefarious plot to explain clusters of missing scientists and lab workers Faye Flam

The spring migration of birds is peaking. Here’s how to watch The migration of birds from their southern wintering grounds to their breeding grounds in the north is in full swing Kate Wong

Trump administration cut funding to study hantavirus, the virus behind the deadly cruise ship outbreak The Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases were designed to study viruses that could jump from animals to people, including hantavirus, but in 2025 the National Institutes of Health said the work wouldn’t continue Adam Kovac

Happy birthday, David Attenborough! Famed naturalist marks 100 years David Attenborough once directed programming at the BBC and has hosted numerous award-winning nature documentaries, but he’s always stayed down-to-earth, colleagues say Tanya Lewis

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