DIY(Page 30)

PopSci's curated collection of life skills, tech tips, and hands-on projects we think you'll love.

Latest in DIY

survival garden

Start planning now for a healthy crop of homegrown food Start planning now for a healthy crop of homegrown food

By Tim MacWelch/ Outdoor Life

How to open broken computer files How to open broken computer files

Music apps for your smartphone.

These music-recording apps are your first step to winning a Grammy These music-recording apps are your first step to winning a Grammy

By Mallory Johns

Kid with glasses using computer in a living room

Your guide to kid-proofing a computer Your guide to kid-proofing a computer

A person lying on a white mattress in dim light, with one arm across their forehead, one arm on their stomach, and a phone next to them.

The best way to prevent arm pain from using your phone too much The best way to prevent arm pain from using your phone too much

Hand in rubber gloves with a cleaning product sprayer

Master odor removal with a little help from science Master odor removal with a little help from science

A person in a red plaid shirt sitting in front of a laptop computer, gesturing with their hands.

5 sleuthing skills that’ll reveal the age of any web page 5 sleuthing skills that’ll reveal the age of any web page

By John Kennedy

How to manage subscriptions for smartphone apps and save money quickly

How to manage subscriptions for smartphone apps and save money quickly How to manage subscriptions for smartphone apps and save money quickly

iPhone on a wooden table with a newsletter on the screen

4 ways to keep newsletters from destroying your inbox 4 ways to keep newsletters from destroying your inbox

A woman in a pink jacket outside near some trees, listening to music on a pair of Thalia headphones.

Instantly improve Spotify by organizing your playlists Instantly improve Spotify by organizing your playlists

By Harry Guinness

Chrome user profiles are a powerful productivity tool Chrome user profiles are a powerful productivity tool

By RK Pendergrass

French Kiss Cocktail

How to melt, mix, and balance chocolate in cocktails How to melt, mix, and balance chocolate in cocktails

By Dan Q. Dao/Saveur

Kids and tablet

How to set parental controls on any phone or tablet How to set parental controls on any phone or tablet

Smartphone using the app Google PhotoScan to scan a printed photo

Scan and print anything from your phone Scan and print anything from your phone

A fisherman with a white beard tying a knot in some fishing line.

The strongest fishing knots you can tie The strongest fishing knots you can tie

By John Merwin/Field & Stream

A woman in a blue dress looking away and down to the side, as eight hands reach out to her from the edge of the frame.

How to break free of the bystander effect and help someone in trouble How to break free of the bystander effect and help someone in trouble

By Tyler Santora

What to do when Google doesn’t have the answers you need

What to do when Google doesn’t have the answers you need What to do when Google doesn’t have the answers you need

A plastic piece depicting a menacing plastic dragon on a board game

Organize and accessorize your board games with 3D printing Organize and accessorize your board games with 3D printing

By RK Pendergrass

A person holding their phone and looking at a photo on Instagram.

How to shoot great Instagram photos How to shoot great Instagram photos

By Harry Guinness

Hand holding a phone with a map in front of an empty road.

No cell service? These are the best offline apps. No cell service? These are the best offline apps.

7 Smart TV apps every viewer should check out 7 Smart TV apps every viewer should check out

Two people facing away from the camera while pointing at their iPhones.

How to create a Wi-Fi hotspot on your phone or computer How to create a Wi-Fi hotspot on your phone or computer

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Hand holding Amazon Fire TV remote towards TV screen

7 tips and tricks to make the most of your Amazon Fire TV 7 tips and tricks to make the most of your Amazon Fire TV

A lean to shelter built on a rock side.

Three ways to build a winter survival shelter Three ways to build a winter survival shelter

By Jim Baird/Field & Stream

Person holding a clock

Tech tips for working with people in different time zones Tech tips for working with people in different time zones

A Black man in glasses and a t-shirt sitting on a marble wall, looking at a phone.

The best apps for dealing with anxiety The best apps for dealing with anxiety

By RK Pendergrass

Kid playing with blocks

4 fun techniques to keep kids learning while they’re stuck at home 4 fun techniques to keep kids learning while they’re stuck at home

Orange flames on wood

Everything you need to know to start a fire Everything you need to know to start a fire

By Popular Science Team

A MacBook displays a loading Gmail icon.

How to delete your old email address without losing everything How to delete your old email address without losing everything

Find out just how fast your phone is Find out just how fast your phone is

Night sky photography

Cold weather is the best time to look at—and photograph—the night sky Cold weather is the best time to look at—and photograph—the night sky

By Stan Horaczek

Fomes fomentarius fungus

The two types of fungi you want in your fire-starting kit The two types of fungi you want in your fire-starting kit

By Tim MacWelch/ Outdoor Life

Two friends taking a selfie.

Make your own Instagram filters Make your own Instagram filters

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Vintage looking chromed headphones on a table.

How to hit pause on your music streaming subscriptions How to hit pause on your music streaming subscriptions

Bearded man wearing a surgical mask on the street

5 must-know tips for safely wearing a mask over facial hair 5 must-know tips for safely wearing a mask over facial hair

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Person on the floor browsing YouTube videos on a smartphone.

Learn to use picture-in-picture on all your devices Learn to use picture-in-picture on all your devices

A person using a pen to write in a paper notebook, with a phone on the table next to them for storing digital notes.

Turn your handwritten documents into searchable digital notes Turn your handwritten documents into searchable digital notes

Green camping tent in the middle of a snowy mountain

How to stay warm while sleeping in the frigid outdoors How to stay warm while sleeping in the frigid outdoors

By Alisha McDarris

A person spraying a can of WD40 in a garage.

20 ingenious uses for WD-40 20 ingenious uses for WD-40

By Bill Heavey/Field & Stream

A man in a gray t-shirt removing or putting on a surgical face mask by only touching the ear loops.

Why you shouldn’t ever wear your mask around your neck Why you shouldn’t ever wear your mask around your neck

By Erin Fennessy

Person filling up water bottle at kitchen sink with tap water.

Simple, at-home tests can check your air and water for contaminants Simple, at-home tests can check your air and water for contaminants

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

A young man under rd and purple light, wearing a computer headset and touching his microphone while looking at a screen.

Online classes are difficult for the hard of hearing. Here’s how to fix that. Online classes are difficult for the hard of hearing. Here’s how to fix that.

Make your own maple syrup without harming the trees Make your own maple syrup without harming the trees

By Tim MacWelch/ Outdoor Life

Bowl of cheese sauce in a large plate of nachos.

Scientific tips for making perfect nacho cheese Scientific tips for making perfect nacho cheese

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

snowball slingshot

Make a snowball slingshot and rule your neighborhood with an icy fist Make a snowball slingshot and rule your neighborhood with an icy fist

By William Gurstelle

Two people wearing cloth face masks with their arms around each other on a New York City sidewalk on a sunny day.

How to wear a face mask for maximum protection How to wear a face mask for maximum protection

By Erin Fennessy

Turn that old bread into pizza in less than 30 minutes

Turn that old bread into pizza in less than 30 minutes Turn that old bread into pizza in less than 30 minutes

By Farideh Sadeghin/Saveur

Badly edited photo of a pier during sunset

How to use advanced editing tools without ruining your photos How to use advanced editing tools without ruining your photos

By Harry Guinness

A person wearing glasses and laying on a bed while reading a book.

Keep your brain in shape by reading more books Keep your brain in shape by reading more books

Fog billowing off a misty mountain forest.

How to survive three days in the wild How to survive three days in the wild

By Keith McCafferty/Field & Stream

A pair of pink mittens on a wood surface.

How to knit your own Bernie mittens How to knit your own Bernie mittens

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

US Senator Bernie Sanders edited into a vintage Popular Science magazine cover to look like he's driving an experimental single-wheel motorcycle.

How to make a legendary meme How to make a legendary meme

By John Kennedy

Person walking in forest in the middle of a snow storm.

Dress like an Alaskan to weather the winter cold Dress like an Alaskan to weather the winter cold

By Tyler Freel/ Outdoor Life

A line of protesters with signs standing in a street, just feet from a line of police with riot shields.

How to save important photos and video from the web How to save important photos and video from the web

By John Kennedy

A man sleeping in a bed on a pillow with a white blanket.

Take the best naps, with science Take the best naps, with science

By John Kennedy

Black mouse and keyboard sitting side by side on a wooden desk.

How to completely customize the way you control Windows How to completely customize the way you control Windows

A person holding a smartphone in front of them inside a white room in a house.

How to fix spotty cell service in your home How to fix spotty cell service in your home

By Whitson Gordon

An apple on the ground in the forest, surrounded by fallen leaves.

Once you know what happens to food you leave outdoors, you’ll stop doing it Once you know what happens to food you leave outdoors, you’ll stop doing it

By Alisha McDarris

A person using a piping bag to pipe frosting onto a chocolate cake.

Four tips for bake-off worthy cakes Four tips for bake-off worthy cakes

Hand holding iPhone indoors against modern paintings.

Your phone’s home screen can hold more than just apps. Here’s what else you should add. Your phone’s home screen can hold more than just apps. Here’s what else you should add.

People dancing at house party at night

These apps bring the magic of a house party online These apps bring the magic of a house party online

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

A bookshelf made out of a reclaimed wood pallet, full of books, with a chalkboard panel.

Turn an old pallet into a handy—and free—bookshelf Turn an old pallet into a handy—and free—bookshelf

By Jose Mendoza

An Apple macOS laptop, desktop computer, tablet, and iOS iPhone on a wooden desk.

How to keep people from stealing your Wi-Fi How to keep people from stealing your Wi-Fi

Person sleeping peacefully in bed

Skip the wearables and track your sleep with these 5 apps Skip the wearables and track your sleep with these 5 apps