Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.

Channel cover
Rachel Feltman

Rachel Feltman

Host

Latest Articles

Underhammer 18th century pistol on table
Technology

Rare 19th century pistol used to rob Tulsa liquor store

‘This pistol is something a bit different,’ according to a firearms expert.

a gold coin with a ship and queen elizabeth i etched into it
Archaeology

Elizabethan era gold coin sold for record-breaking price

The coin minted between 1584 and 1586 celebrates England’s naval superiority.

An international team of researchers used the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton and XRISM, a JAXA-led mission with ESA participation, to uncover and study a never-seen-before blast from a supermassive black hole. The gravitational monster whipped up powerful winds, flinging material out into space at eye-watering speeds of roughly 37,282 miles (60,000 kilometers) per second.
Space Telescope

Supermassive black hole belches 30,000-miles-per-second winds

Two X-ray space telescopes captured the never-before-seen blast 130 million light-years away.

Electric plane flying over green mountains
Pollution

Air New Zealand tests a new generation of electric planes

Battery and hydrogen-powered aircraft are cleared for takeoff.

Denman Glacier in Antarctica
Ocean

Underwater robot survives voyage to ‘never-accessed region of the planet’

An Argo float delivered unprecedented data after eight months beneath Antarctic ice.

Artistic impression of Nova V1674 Herculis. Credit: The CHARA Array
Space Telescope

Pair of exploding stars baffle astronomers

New images of two novae are ‘like going from a grainy black-and-white photo to high-definition video.’

white urinals separated by green plants
Space

Swiss startup turns urine into plant fertilizer

The space-inspired wastewater treatment uses the nutrients and loses the odor.

A young person bundled in a green winter jacket, gray knit hat, and blue gloves is standing outside in the snow. They are shivering, with their arms crossed tightly and a nervous or cold expression, with their tongue slightly visible.
Ask Us Anything

What is shivering? Why our bodies shake when it’s cold.

Involuntary muscle contractions keep us warm and even fight infections.

A close-up photograph shows a hoverfly (Syrphidae) resting on the yellow center and pale pink/white petals of a flower. The hoverfly has a black and orange striped abdomen, mimicking a bee or wasp, and clear wings. Its head and thorax are dark brown/black.
Insects

Nature’s greatest method actors: the insects that cosplay bumblebees

Hoverflies don’t just look like bumblebees—they visit the same flowers and even act like them to fool predators.

Own a piece of science history.

Browse all covers

Popular Science has been demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872. We explain the inner workings of the phone in your pocket, explore world-changing innovations, and examine everything from the marvels of deep space to the secret lives of staples like bread. We deliver an engaging, approachable, and inclusive look at emerging technologies and scientific advances.
Daily, Popular Science unpacks the science behind the top current new stories, dissects the latest technology and digital trends, and helps readers live smarter, safer, and happier through clever DIY projects.

Meet the team

Our writers and editors