Democrats rightly point out that democracy is on the ballot in an election in which Republican nominee Donald Trump threatens to be a “dictator” for a day and claims he has the power to suspend the Constitution. This week, with a rare endorsement, for his rival Vice President Kamala Harris, the prestigious magazine Scientific American argued persuasively that reality and science are on the ballot, too.

“The U.S. faces two futures. In one, the new president offers the country better prospects, relying on science, solid evidence and the willingness to learn from experience,” the endorsement begins. “In the other future, the new president endangers public health and safety and rejects evidence, preferring instead nonsensical conspiracy fantasies.” This is the magazine’s second endorsement in its 179-year history, following its endorsement of Joe Biden in 2020, which warned of the dangers of a Trump reelection.

The magazine reminds us that Harris recognizes the danger of climate change and supports “technology and clean energy” as well as “education, public health and reproductive rights. She treats the climate crisis as the emergency it is and seeks to mitigate its catastrophic storms, fires and droughts.” Meanwhile, the editors say, Trump “ignores the climate crisis in favor of more pollution. He requires........

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