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a bat flying
Bats

6 ways bats are surprisingly human

We share more in common with our winged mammal compatriots than what meets the eye.

Painting of a woman in white holding a candle surrounded by men.
Archaeology

When powerful women are remembered as witches, we should challenge the historical motive

Not all witches are evil.

seeds on a clam shell
Wildlife

Why volunteers are gluing seeds to clam shells in Connecticut

Using the bivalves as gardeners could help protect vulnerable coastlines.

A smartphone on a tripod taking a video of a city at sunset
Tech Hacks

How to turn your smartphone into a mobile video editing suite

Adobe offers a free video editor for your phone—here’s what it can do.

California sea lion pup (Zalophus californianus) plays with a feather underwater. For a young sea lion, playfulness is a life strategy. They do not have the strength or stamina of adults and are unable to follow them on deep dives or multi-day hunting expeditions. Staying close to the colony, the pups trains the skills they will need through play. It looks joyful, but there is a deeper purpose to this young sea lions pursuit of a feather. Mexico’s sea lions are under threat by entanglement in fishing gear and the effects of climate change. This rookery is the only one in Baja Sur which has a growing population. It is more important than ever that young sea lions in Mexico grow to a healthy adult state. Location: Espiritu Santo Island National Park and Unesco World Heritage Site, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Bears

12 striking images from European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026

From slumbering bats in the caves of Hungary to peaceful bison in rural Poland.

spilled cereal on floor
Health

The 5-Second Rule is scientifically false

Don’t eat food that fell on the floor.

Uterus shaped mini computer showing Doom game load screen on display
Mental Health

Play ‘Doom’ on this tiny, uterus-shaped period tracker

Clotty also doesn’t share any personal data.

FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - 2022/10/30: An overturned travel trailer is seen in a mobile home park in Fort Myers Beach, Florida a month after Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 28 as a Category 4 hurricane, causing an estimated $67 billion in insured losses and at least 127 storm-related deaths in Florida. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Engineering

We blasted mobile homes with hurricane‑force winds to test how they fail

And found clues for making affordable housing safer.

Batavia victim skeleton in museum
Mental Health

Psychologist found the first corporate psychopath—a 17th century Dutch mutineer

Meet Jeronimus Cornelisz: merchant, malignant narcissist, and terrible boss.

a large wildlife crossing over a multi-lane road in california
Endangered Species

World’s largest wildlife crossing nears completion in California

The 210-foot-long Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will help animals safely cross California’s famed 101 freeway.

A skull and other disarticulated bones partially covered in soil at Westminster Abbey.
Archaeology

At Scotland’s ancient Cladh Hallan, homes were full of human bones

These Bronze Age farmers pieced together mummies from multiple skeletons. Then lived with them.

A little brown bat with its mouth wide open bares its teeth.
Bats

Bat mothers’ hearts beat faster when they hear their pups

They can even pick out their offspring’s distress cries amongst thousands of bats.

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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.

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