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a doctor in a face mask, gloves, and hair net draws a vaccine with a syringe out of a vial

Why healthy, vaccinated people should still care about Omicron

Omicron may be less virulent than previous coronavirus variants, but it’s too early to celebrate

By Kate Baggaley

How to avoid seeing yourself on video calls
Sometimes you can't turn your camera off but you still want to stay out of view. By John Kennedy
Inside the lab using bones to study COVID and hearing loss
Can highly infectious viruses infect the cells that enable hearing and balance? This Johns Hopkins team wants to find out. By Elizabeth Landau / Undark
There’s more to renaming multiple files on a Mac than you think
It's not as easy as select > rename. By John Kennedy

Science

Orange and black butterfly on yellow flower

Bees and butterflies have trouble smelling flowers in polluted air

Researchers have found that diesel exhaust and ozone make it difficult for pollinators to find flowers, reducing plant-production rates.

By Maggie Galloway

Tech

Jeff Goldblum on riding motorcycles—and feeling fear

The star reflects on a dangerous form of transportation, plus acting, tightrope walking, and why there's no need to resist feeling afraid.

By Rob Verger

Space

a 3d rendering of a rocky asteroid

Do look up at this asteroid as it whizzes safely past Earth tonight

By Lauren J. Young

Life Hacks

hands holding phone with photos on screen

Tweak your message app settings to share photos at their best quality

By David Nield

Animals

A fossil of a sawfly

Feast your eyes on exquisite fossils from an ancient rainforest (and more)

By Shi En Kim

Health

a woman with tan skin and curly hair wearing workout clothes and holding a yoga mat looks down at her phone

Your social media ‘fitspo’ is not a good influence

By Erin Blakemore

Latest

By PopSci Staff Jan 19, 2022

Science

Why some tiny frogs have tarantulas as bodyguards

Plus other fun facts from The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week.

a frog and spider over an art illustration

By Rob Verger Jan 18, 2022

Technology

Check out the helicopter vying to be the next Black Hawk

The Defiant, showcased in a new video from Sikorsky, is pitted against one from Bell in the Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft competition.

a coaxial helicopter

By Philip Kiefer Jan 18, 2022

Science

Horned helmets came from Bronze Age artists, not Vikings

Horny Vikings are revisionist history.

A bronze helmet shown from the front and the side. It has curving horns coming out of the sides of the head, and a birdlike face.

By Kendra Pierre-Louis Jan 18, 2022

Science

Can texture change the way food tastes?

What you feel matters.

Mushroom, sandwich, sushi, ice cream, pasta, tomato and other illustrated foods with important texture

By Charlotte Hu Jan 17, 2022

Technology

Don’t get scammed by fake QR codes

Criminals can use the codes to try to steal money and personal information. Here's how to stay safe.

qr code on phone

By Rahul Rao Jan 17, 2022

Science

How the world’s first ‘quantum tornadoes’ came to be

The atom-sized version of extreme weather.

Whirlpool of water to represent a quantum tornado from a physics experiment

By Megan Zhang / Saveur Jan 16, 2022

Science

The secret to healthy honey bees is hiding in Slovenia

The unparalleled taste of this country’s honey is no accident.

Beekeper in suit opening a wood and glass door to a hive in pastoral Slovenia

By Rob Stumpf Jan 15, 2022

Technology

Take a peek at the Chrysler Airflow, a sleek new EV concept

Major automakers already have electric vehicles on the market. So what does Chrysler have in store?

an electric Chrysler car

By Rachel Feltman Jan 15, 2022

Environment

The West Coast is under a tsunami advisory. Here’s what that means.

Catastrophic waves are unlikely, but residents should be cautious.

choppy waves on a beach with a sign warning people not to swim

By Ellen Airhart Jan 15, 2022

Science

The truth about hydration hacks like IV therapies, alkaline water, and more

Plain old water doesn't get enough credit.

a glass of water with a slice of lemon and mint inside on a pink and yellow background