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https://scientificamerican.com

Accessibility

· 13 checks — Landmarks, headings, alt text, forms, and link quality rolled into one auditable list.
SCORE
62
GRADE
D
FIX
5
REVIEW
3
PASS
5
INFO
0
Checks
13
5 PASS 3 REVIEW 5 FIX
F
Favicon & Branding
Action
1 icon(s) detected
FIX
1 icon(s) detected
Info::
favicon.ico present at site root
Info::
No apple-touch-icon detected
iOS devices use this when users add your site to their home screen. Add <link rel='apple-touch-icon' sizes='180x180' href='/apple-touch-icon.png'>.
✓ favicon.ico Present
✗ PNG Icons Missing
✗ Apple Touch Missing
✗ SVG Favicon Missing
✗ Manifest Icons Missing
✗ Multiple Sizes Missing
D
Web Manifest
Action
Not found
FIX
Not found
Info::
No web manifest found
No manifest at standard paths (/manifest.json, /site.webmanifest). A manifest is optional but enables PWA features like home screen installation and standalone display.

No web manifest found.

D
Dark Mode Support
Action
Theme color only
FIX
Theme color only
Info::
Theme-color present but no dark variant
A theme-color is set but no dark-specific variant was found. The browser toolbar may not adapt for dark mode users.
Got: #fff
Info::
No dark mode signals detected
Consider adding CSS with @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) and <meta name='color-scheme' content='light dark'>.
Info::
Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles
External CSS files may contain prefers-color-scheme rules not visible to this scan.
Dark ModePartial Dark Mode
color-scheme meta Not set ✗Dark theme-color Not set ✗CSS indicators Not detected ✗

Detection limited to meta tags and inline styles.

D
Print Stylesheet
Action
No print styles
FIX
No print styles
Info::
No print-specific styles detected
When users print this page, they get the screen layout including navigation and non-essential elements. Add @media print rules to hide navigation and optimize layout for paper.
Print Stylesheet No Print Styles
Print stylesheet Not found ✗Inline @media print Not detected ✗
F
Navigation UX
Action
1 navigation pattern(s)
FIX
1 navigation pattern(s)
Info::
Skip navigation link detected
Info::
Hamburger menu detected (responsive design)
Breadcrumbs
Search
Skip Link Skip link detected
Labeled Navigation
Back to Top
Hamburger Menu
Sticky Navigation Cannot reliably detect (CSS-based)
2 of 6 testable patterns navigation patterns detected. Limited navigation support. Consider adding breadcrumbs, search, and skip link.
B
404 Error Page
HTTP 404, custom page
REVIEW
HTTP 404, custom page
Info::
Correct 404 status code returned
Got: HTTP 404
Info::
Custom styled 404 page
Info::
Navigation links present on 404 page
Info::
Homepage link present on 404 page
404 Page Quality ✓ Custom 404 Page
Status Code HTTP 404 ✓Page Title 404 | Scientific American ✓Custom Styling ✓Navigation ✓Homepage Link ✓Search Form ✗
C
Color Contrast (Screenshot)
Action
20 text elements analyzed, 13 fail WCAG AA
REVIEW

Analyzes text contrast against the actual rendered page, including background images, gradients, and overlays that CSS-based tools cannot detect.

7 pass 13 fail WCAG AA 1 pass AA only
h1 Scientific American
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
32px · mid-page
h2 May Issue: Your Heart in Flames. Read No…
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Games
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Spellements
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Math Puzzles
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 All Games
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Sign up for the
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Newsletter
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Podcasts
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Discussions
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
h2 Popular Stories
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 3.0:1 (large text)
24px · bottom of viewport
title Scientific American
1.34:1
#000000
on
#232323
needs 4.5:1 (normal text)
16px · top of page (header area)
p for further information and to change yo…
1.56:1
#000000
on
#01324B
needs 4.5:1 (normal text)
16px · above the fold
Show all checked elements (20)
ElementRatioRequiredFGBGResult
h1 Scientific American1.56:13.0:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail
h2 Your privacy, your c…9.79:13.0:1
#000000
#B1B1B1
Pass
h2 May Issue: Your Hear…1.56:13.0:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail
h2 Games1.56:13.0:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail
h2 Spellements1.56:13.0:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail
h2 Math Puzzles1.56:13.0:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail
h2 All Games1.56:13.0:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail
h2 Sign up for the1.56:13.0:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail
h2 Newsletter1.56:13.0:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail
h2 Podcasts1.56:13.0:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail
h2 Discussions1.56:13.0:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail
h2 Popular Stories1.56:13.0:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail
title Scientific American1.34:14.5:1
#000000
#232323
Fail
p We use essential coo…9.90:14.5:1
#000000
#B2B2B2
Pass
p By accepting optiona…9.90:14.5:1
#000000
#B2B2B2
Pass
p See our9.90:14.5:1
#000000
#B2B2B2
Pass
a privacy policy9.90:14.5:1
#000000
#B2B2B2
Pass
p for more information…9.90:14.5:1
#000000
#B2B2B2
Pass
button Manage preferences5.02:14.5:1
#000000
#6B7F89
Pass
p for further informat…1.56:14.5:1
#000000
#01324B
Fail

Methodology: The top 20 text elements by font size were checked. Background color was sampled from the desktop screenshot using a 5-point pattern. WCAG 2.1 AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

A
Landmark Structure
4 landmarks
PASS
4 landmarks
Info::
<main> landmark present
Warning::
No <nav> landmark found
Info::
Skip navigation link present
Page Structure — as a screen reader sees it
BANNER header MAIN ASIDE CONTENTINFO footer
A+
Heading Hierarchy
45 headings
PASS
45 headings
Info::
Single H1 present
  • H2 Your privacy, your choice
  • H1 Scientific American
  • H2 What if time were reversed? Physicists show how time could flow backward on a quantum scale
  • H2 NASA just dropped a stunning new Hubble image of a ‘Cosmic Sea Lemon’ 5,000 light-years away
  • H2 Freshwater mussels are disappearing—and no one is really sure why
  • H2 FBI investigating possible links between deaths and disappearances of at least 10 scientists
  • H2 Today’s Spellements
  • H2 May Issue: Your Heart in Flames. Read Now!
  • H2 Mathematicians found out why waiting for the elevator takes forever
  • H2 Former NASA astronauts launch new group to promote U.S. constitutional values
  • H2 Why firstborns may be more likely than secondborns to be autistic or to have allergies
  • H2 Trump’s order on psychedelics could have far-reaching science consequences
  • H2 May 2026 Issue
  • H2 The hidden cause of heart disease is inflammation
  • H2 How strange new ‘altermagnets’ could rewrite physics
  • H2 How birds survived the dinosaurs’ doomsday
  • H2 Space hotels are coming soon
  • H2 Inside the labs where chemists engineer luxury perfumes
  • H2 How a lost 1812 wristwatch sparked a 200-year race in precision engineering
  • H2 Games
  • H2 Spellements
  • H2 Math Puzzles
  • H2 All Games
  • H2 Special Edition
  • H2 Can sunlight cure disease?
  • H2 Can peanut allergies be cured?
  • H2 How much vitamin D do you need to stay healthy?
  • H2 Personalized mRNA vaccines will revolutionize cancer treatment—if funding cuts don’t doom them
  • H2 New nasal vaccines offer better protection from COVID and flu—no needle needed
  • H2 These cancers were beyond treatment—but might not be anymore
  • H2 Sign up for the Today in Science Newsletter
  • H2 Podcasts
  • H2 ‘Cocaine hippos,’ faster aging with HIV and the hidden dangers of inflammation
  • H2 The dinosaurs at your window: How birds survived the asteroid that killed all other dinosaurs
  • H2 The fans who went from collecting Pokémon to studying bugs and fossils
  • H2 Artemis proves NASA can return to the moon. Now comes the hard question: Why?
  • H2 Alexis Hall talks space whales, AI and reinventing a classic
  • H2 Discussions
  • H2 Popular Stories
  • H3 NASA’s 2028 moonshot may be delayed because of lack of space suits, watchdog report warns
  • H3 Here’s what happens when you give salmon cocaine
  • H3 What is Mythos, Anthropic’s unreleased AI model, and how worried should we be?
  • H3 DARPA’s AI is built to call BS on wild weapons claims
  • H3 Master of chaos wins $3-million math prize for ‘blowing up’ equations
  • H3 Ancient ‘machine-gun’ damage discovered on walls of Pompeii
A
Alt Text Quality
All 39 images OK
PASS
All 39 images OK
Info::
7 image(s) with alt text over 125 characters
Info::
4 decorative image(s) correctly marked
Info::
28 image(s) with good alt text
39 images 28 good alt text 4 decorative
IssueCount
too long7 image(s)
A+
Form Accessibility
All 2 controls labeled
PASS
All 2 controls labeled
Info::
2 control(s) properly labeled
2 controls
2 labeled
0 placeholder only
0 unlabeled
ControlTypeLabelMethod
#emailemailEnter your emailfor/id
#privacy-policycheckboxI agree my information will be processed in accordance with the Scientific American and Springer Nature Limited Privacy Policy. We leverage third party services to both verify and deliver email. By providing your email address, you also consent to having the email address shared with third parties for those purposes.for/id
A+
Lighthouse Accessibility Audits
Score 100/100 — 0 failing, 14 passed
PASS
100

Accessibility

These checks highlight opportunities to improve the accessibility of your web app. Automatic detection can only detect a subset of issues and does not guarantee the accessibility of your web app, so manual testing is also encouraged.

○Interactive controls are keyboard focusable
○Interactive elements indicate their purpose and state
○The page has a logical tab order
○Visual order on the page follows DOM order
○User focus is not accidentally trapped in a region
○The user's focus is directed to new content added to the page
○HTML5 landmark elements are used to improve navigation
○Offscreen content is hidden from assistive technology
○Custom controls have associated labels
○Custom controls have ARIA roles
●`[aria-*]` attributes match their roles
●`[aria-hidden="true"]` is not present on the document `<body>`
●`[aria-*]` attributes have valid values
●`[aria-*]` attributes are valid and not misspelled
●Buttons have an accessible name
●`[user-scalable="no"]` is not used in the `<meta name="viewport">` element and the `[maximum-scale]` attribute is not less than 5.
●ARIA attributes are used as specified for the element's role
●Elements use only permitted ARIA attributes
●Background and foreground colors have a sufficient contrast ratio
●Links are distinguishable without relying on color.
●Links have a discernible name
●No element has a `[tabindex]` value greater than 0
●Touch targets have sufficient size and spacing.
●Heading elements appear in a sequentially-descending order
○`[accesskey]` values are unique
○`button`, `link`, and `menuitem` elements have accessible names
○Deprecated ARIA roles were not used
○Elements with `role="dialog"` or `role="alertdialog"` have accessible names.
○`[aria-hidden="true"]` elements do not contain focusable descendents
○ARIA input fields have accessible names
○ARIA `meter` elements have accessible names
○ARIA `progressbar` elements have accessible names
○`[role]`s have all required `[aria-*]` attributes
○Elements with an ARIA `[role]` that require children to contain a specific `[role]` have all required children.
○`[role]`s are contained by their required parent element
○`[role]` values are valid
○Elements with the `role=text` attribute do not have focusable descendents.
○ARIA toggle fields have accessible names
○ARIA `tooltip` elements have accessible names
○ARIA `treeitem` elements have accessible names
○The page contains a heading, skip link, or landmark region
○`<dl>`'s contain only properly-ordered `<dt>` and `<dd>` groups, `<script>`, `<template>` or `<div>` elements.
○Definition list items are wrapped in `<dl>` elements
○Document has a `<title>` element
○ARIA IDs are unique
○No form fields have multiple labels
○`<frame>` or `<iframe>` elements have a title
○`<html>` element has a `[lang]` attribute
○`<html>` element has a valid value for its `[lang]` attribute
○`<html>` element has an `[xml:lang]` attribute with the same base language as the `[lang]` attribute.
○Image elements have `[alt]` attributes
○Input buttons have discernible text.
○`<input type="image">` elements have `[alt]` text
○Form elements have associated labels
○Lists contain only `<li>` elements and script supporting elements (`<script>` and `<template>`).
○List items (`<li>`) are contained within `<ul>`, `<ol>` or `<menu>` parent elements
○The document does not use `<meta http-equiv="refresh">`
○`<object>` elements have alternate text
○Select elements have associated label elements.
○Skip links are focusable.
○Cells in a `<table>` element that use the `[headers]` attribute refer to table cells within the same table.
○`<th>` elements and elements with `[role="columnheader"/"rowheader"]` have data cells they describe.
○`[lang]` attributes have a valid value
○`<video>` elements contain a `<track>` element with `[kind="captions"]`
○Document has a main landmark.
○Tables have different content in the summary attribute and `<caption>`.
○All heading elements contain content.
○Uses ARIA roles only on compatible elements
○Image elements do not have `[alt]` attributes that are redundant text.
○Identical links have the same purpose.
○Elements with visible text labels have matching accessible names.
○Tables use `<caption>` instead of cells with the `[colspan]` attribute to indicate a caption.
○`<td>` elements in a large `<table>` have one or more table headers.
All checks on this page are automated. Results are estimates - run targeted manual reviews when the score affects a release decision.

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