DIY (Page 38)

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

Latest in DIY

Heavy backpacks can hurt kids—here’s how to send them back to school safely

Heavy backpacks can hurt kids—here’s how to send them back to school safely

By Whitson Gordon

How to send secret messages hidden in pictures and songs

How to send secret messages hidden in pictures and songs

How to make the world’s best paper airplane

How to make the world’s best paper airplane

By Jason Lederman

Don’t like what Google says about you? You might be able to change it

Don’t like what Google says about you? You might be able to change it

By Whitson Gordon

How to use your smartphone without ruining your health

How to use your smartphone without ruining your health

How to manage your digital read-it-later list—before it’s too late

How to manage your digital read-it-later list—before it’s too late

the remains of old crayons

How to recycle shoes, crayons, toothbrushes, and other random stuff

Moving is hard. Let these apps do the heavy lifting.

Moving is hard. Let these apps do the heavy lifting.

Don’t buy stolen artifacts—here’s how to ethically collect science memorabilia

Don’t buy stolen artifacts—here’s how to ethically collect science memorabilia

By Whitson Gordon

Why it’s really important for your bra to fit (and how to finally make it happen)

Why it’s really important for your bra to fit (and how to finally make it happen)

By Joanna Wakefield-Scurr/The Conversation

16 smartphone apps for (nearly) any emergency

16 smartphone apps for (nearly) any emergency

Six pest-removal myths that need to be exterminated

12 tips for organizing your work space

By Gareth Branwyn

A beginner’s guide to finding wild edible plants that won’t kill you

A beginner’s guide to finding wild edible plants that won’t kill you

Shooting portraits on photo paper is a mixture of chemistry and a dying art

Shooting portraits on photo paper is a mixture of chemistry and a dying art

By Stan Horaczek

It’s time to clean the grimy filters you’ve been avoiding

It’s time to clean the grimy filters you’ve been avoiding

By Sophie Bushwick

How to erase your embarrassing old Facebook and Twitter posts

How to erase your embarrassing old Facebook and Twitter posts

By Whitson Gordon

Here’s what you can do if your social media post gets taken down

By Stan Horaczek

It’s surprisingly easy for your headphones to damage your hearing

It’s surprisingly easy for your headphones to damage your hearing

By Whitson Gordon

Don’t try to fix your frayed cable—prevent the damage in the first place

Don’t try to fix your frayed cable—prevent the damage in the first place

By Whitson Gordon

How to leave the sand behind on your next beach trip

How to leave the sand behind on your next beach trip

electronic waste

You throw out 44 pounds of electronic waste a year. Here’s how to keep it out of the dump.

By Whitson Gordon

How to find your way out of the woods without tools—or your phone

How to find your way out of the woods without tools—or your phone

Two-by-fours are not actually 2-by-4—here’s why

Two-by-fours are not actually 2-by-4—here’s why

By Eleanor Cummins

For the closest shave, get naked—doctor’s orders

For the closest shave, get naked—doctor’s orders

Koji strip steak

This Japanese fungus can dry-age a steak in 48 hours. Here’s how.

By Kevin Gray and Jason Tasauro

These apps give you the best features of iOS 12 before the update rolls out

These apps give you the best features of iOS 12 before the update rolls out

deforestation in Indonesia

Our love of palm oil is destroying forests. Here’s how to use less of it.

By Sophie Bushwick

How to create a perfectly imperfect lawn

How to create a perfectly imperfect lawn

Laptop keyboard

Explore the internet faster with these keyboard shortcuts

How to tell if you really have a fever

How to tell if you really have a fever

By Claire Maldarelli

Your smart speakers are listening to you. Here’s how to delete their recordings.

Your smart speakers are listening to you. Here’s how to delete their recordings.

Get your phone’s AI assistant to actually assist you

Get your phone’s AI assistant to actually assist you

How to keep your dank memes and other creations safe from internet thieves

How to avoid ingrown hairs

How to avoid ingrown hairs

By Sara Chodosh

How to brew worm tea

How to brew worm tea

Indoor campfires, motion sensitivity, and 9 other smart-light tricks to try

Indoor campfires, motion sensitivity, and 9 other smart-light tricks to try

Make your friends finally commit to dinner with these RSVP web apps

Make your friends finally commit to dinner with these RSVP web apps

A sting-free guide to becoming a DIY beekeeper

A sting-free guide to becoming a DIY beekeeper

By Eleanor Cummins

How to safely dispose of your old medications

How to safely dispose of your old medications

By Sara Chodosh

How to throw a punch

By Stan Horaczek

Seeing your phone’s screen while wearing sunglasses just takes one quick trick

Seeing your phone’s screen while wearing sunglasses just takes one quick trick

By Whitson Gordon

Think you’re too busy to journal? These apps let you do it on the go.

Even apps go on sale—here’s how to get the lowest price

Even apps go on sale—here’s how to get the lowest price

running with music

Music can seriously improve your workout. Here’s how to create the perfect playlist.

By Whitson Gordon

You don’t need to be a pro to sell your photos online

You don’t need to be a pro to sell your photos online

Protect your privacy online with these data-guarding browser extensions

Protect your privacy online with these data-guarding browser extensions

10 hiking apps and gadgets for hitting the trail this spring

How to wash your clothes without wearing them out

How to wash your clothes without wearing them out

By Whitson Gordon

A beginner’s guide to flying your drone without crashing it

A beginner’s guide to flying your drone without crashing it

The best apps and gadgets for tidying your home

The best apps and gadgets for tidying your home

woman napping on a couch

Learn how to take a nap because they’re really beneficial

By Eleanor Cummins

Travel safely with these electronics packing tips

Travel safely with these electronics packing tips

Chocolate cake in a mug with a spoon

Add a dash of chemistry for the best microwave mug cake of your life

By Jason Lederman

How to make caramel at home without losing your mind

How to make caramel at home without losing your mind

By Mary Beth Griggs

How to save all the cool posts you find on social media

How to save all the cool posts you find on social media

The best apps for overworked parents

How to choose the best TV streaming device for you

How to choose the best TV streaming device for you

Take a break from Facebook and try one of these alternate social networks

‘Speed reading’ isn’t real, but you can still train yourself to read faster

‘Speed reading’ isn’t real, but you can still train yourself to read faster

By Eleanor Cummins

Every DIYer should know about these apps

Every DIYer should know about these apps

Seven event-planning apps to bring people together

24 hidden Windows settings to help you compute better

24 hidden Windows settings to help you compute better

The search engines you’ll need for every type of question