Ask Us Anything

Popular Science answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions, from the ordinary to the off-the-wall.

Latest in Ask Us Anything

Human ear closeup

Science

Why do we have earlobes? They make no evolutionary sense. Why do we have earlobes? They make no evolutionary sense.

By Lauren Leffer

Science

Do aphrodisiacs work? What the science says. Do aphrodisiacs work? What the science says.

By RJ Mackenzie

hands reaching out to tickle you

Science

Why are we ticklish? The science of the silly response. Why are we ticklish? The science of the silly response.

By Lauren Leffer

baby sloth poses for the camera on the tree

Science

Which animals can and can’t fart? Which animals can and can’t fart?

By Alex Hazlett

Pouring cooking oil from bottle into frying pan, closeup

Health

What science actually says about seed oils What science actually says about seed oils

By Lauren Leffer

A rare visitor, a Mandarin Duck, showed up in Central Park, New York City in 2018.

Environment

Why are there so many birds? Why are there so many birds?

By Lauren Leffer

chewing gum pieces on red background

Health

Can chewing gum reshape your jawline? We asked experts. Can chewing gum reshape your jawline? We asked experts.

Oil Pulling Mouthwash, dental oral hygiene rinse aid liquid, trendy alternative detoxifying mouthwash with toothbrush, toothpaste for cleaning teeth on bath background

Health

What does oil pulling do to your teeth? We asked dentists. What does oil pulling do to your teeth? We asked dentists.

man sneezing on a colorful, illustrated background

Health

Why do some people sneeze so loudly? Why do some people sneeze so loudly?

By RJ Mackenzie

Orange juice with spoon of collagen

Health

Does drinking collagen actually do anything? We asked experts. Does drinking collagen actually do anything? We asked experts.

Dog sitting in nature in sunglasses

DIY

Are you wearing the right sunglasses? How to prevent eye sunburn. Are you wearing the right sunglasses? How to prevent eye sunburn.

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

three colored bamboo toothbrushes in a ceramic glass on green background

DIY

To rinse or not to rinse? You might be brushing your teeth wrong. To rinse or not to rinse? You might be brushing your teeth wrong.

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

a person's hands typing on a laptop keyboard

Technology

How do chatbots work? How do chatbots work?

By Popular Science Team

robot doctor talks to elderly person sitting in chair

Health

Will we ever be able to trust health advice from an AI? Will we ever be able to trust health advice from an AI?

By Keith Wagstaff

A person wearing running shorts holding their thigh on a beach, potentially wondering what happens when you pull a muscle, because they probably just did.

Science

Here’s what really happens when you pull a muscle Here’s what really happens when you pull a muscle

By Nicole Wetsman

engineers working on voyager 2

Science

How is Voyager’s vintage technology still flying? How is Voyager’s vintage technology still flying?

By Popular Science Team

Magnetic tape and Blu-Ray Discs for data storage forming an infinity sign on a yellow background. Illustrated.

Technology

Inside the search for the best way to save humanity’s data Inside the search for the best way to save humanity’s data

By Charlotte Hu

Red and pink pill on yellow background with Swiss army knife coming out of it to symbolize off-label use of medications. Illustrated.

Health

Viagra and the abortion pill can treat multiple illnesses. But how? Viagra and the abortion pill can treat multiple illnesses. But how?

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

An airplane taking off toward the camera at dusk, with lights along the runway and on the front of the plane, against a cloudy reddish sunset.

Technology

Let’s talk about how planes fly Let’s talk about how planes fly

illustration of person at computer with devil horns and cloven hooves

Health

Does playing devil’s advocate do more harm than good? Does playing devil’s advocate do more harm than good?

By Julia Craven