DIY (Page 5)

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

Latest in DIY

These are the best STEM toys for kids on a plain white background.

The best STEM toys for kids of all ages

Stop using Arial: How to change the default fonts in Google Docs

three photos: a rat holding orange string, a woman with a robot rat on her head and a robot rat with wires coming out of it

Meet the engineer who crafted a genius animatronic ‘Ratatouille’ Halloween costume

How to use Gemini AI to ask questions about your Gmail inbox

Armenian sapphire (muscari armeniacum) flowers closeup. Shallow depth of field.

How to revamp your lawn’s reputation with bulbs

By Debbie Wolfe

screenshot of iphone with 'esim' set up open

eSIMs explained: What they are, and how you can set one up

a grey squirrel climbs out of a jack-o-lantern

How to squirrel-proof your pumpkins

By Debbie Wolfe

A line of DeWalt Mechanics Tool Kits for Amazon Prime Day

This 204-piece DeWalt Mechanics Tool Kit is the best Amazon Prime Day tool deal we’ve seen so far

By Stan Horaczek

a map concept illustration with place markers

How to use Google Maps Timeline to revisit past trips

The best drones for kids in 2024 on a plain white background.

The best drones for kids

By Adam Douglas

These are the best robot kit in 2024 on a plain white background.

The best robot kits for kids

a phone with chat gpt open on it

ChatGPT remembers things about you now. But you can switch its memory off.

screenshot on an iphone of apple asking 'how do you want to add contacts' option in ios18

Stop iPhone apps from accessing all your contacts in iOS 18

a person holding an iphone taking a photo of the arc de triomphe in paris

7 helpful iPhone features to use on your next vacation

variety of phones

6 iOS 18 settings you might want to change ASAP

Monarch butterfly feeding on purple aster flower in summer floral background.

How to plant a garden butterflies will love

By Debbie Wolfe

an iphone screen open on a mac

How to mirror your iPhone on your Mac

The best portable jump starters arranged in a pattern

The best portable jump starters, tested and reviewed

an iPad, desktop, and laptop with sequoia open

7 cool macOS 15 Sequoia tricks that you couldn’t do before

18 cool new iOS 18 features to try on your iPhone

looking for a mental health provider online

Struggling to find an in-network mental health provider? Here’s what you can do.

By Max Blau / ProPublica

a hand using a computer

Use God Mode and Super God Mode to instantly make you a Windows power user

screenshot of files app

Hate what Microsoft did with File Explorer? Try this alternative.

toilet paper shaped like sad face

Why you should consider a bidet

By Debbie Wolfe

a tv on a dresser

How to use the Matter smart home standard: The best way to get all your devices talking to one another

Best Snow Shovels for Seniors

The best snow shovels for seniors

By Brandon Russell

How to create custom AI chatbots in Google Gemini

Early warning systems save lives during disasters.

How to sign up for local emergency alerts before natural disasters strike

By Natasha Uzcátegui-Liggett / The Markup

jars filled with different types of fruits and vegetables in liquid

How to start pickling food

By Debbie Wolfe

the google tasks interface on a cell phone

Google Tasks is the best Google tool you’re not using

concept of busy airport

Old-school strategies for flying in the age of new technology

By Christopher Schaberg / The Conversation

six bouquets of different herbs hanging upside down on a wood backdrop

How to dry herbs at home (and why you should)

By Debbie Wolfe

screenshot of freetube

Freetube is the best way to watch YouTube

Microsoft MS-DOS user's guide in front of old computer

How to get MS-DOS up and running on Windows or macOS

lego figures on a hard drive

How to spot when your hard drive will fail before it does

a van driving in desert

The do’s and don’ts of using AI to plan your travel

apple maps screenshot with "get moving" text

How to use Apple Maps on the web

herbs growing in kitchen

How to start growing herbs in your kitchen

By Debbie Wolfe

cellular shades

Ditch your old blinds for cellular shades

By Lauren Leffer

an SUV with a pop tent on top and a ladder in front of a mountain lake

Going off-roading in a DIY’ed Porsche Taycan (yes, a Porsche)

By Kristin Shaw

a gaming controller in front of a flash cart

Flash carts are the ultimate retro gaming accessory

a flower garden with a brick pathway running through the middle

How to figure out your gardening zone

By Debbie Wolfe

hands typing on a computer with microsoft start menu open

How to customize (or replace) the Windows Start menu

children's hands typing on a laptop

How to block websites on your home network

Modern laptop flat lay yellow background.

7 tips to make the most of using a VPN

Closeup of broken eyeglasses with damaged colored lens surrounded by different lenses on table in optical shop. Replacement of glasses lens. Glasses service and repair concept

Don’t throw away your old sunglasses

By Debbie Wolfe

screenshot of proton docs

Proton Docs vs Google Docs: Should you switch?

a red hovercraft vehicle sits on the mud with two occupants in the cabin

Teacher spends 1800 hours building the hovercraft of his childhood dreams

By Keith Wagstaff

a TV with actor ryan gosling on it. the setting is a living room with back to the future posters on the wall

How to calibrate a TV: Fix color, brightness, sharpness, and more

By Nicholas Ware

Two black morels in spring are well camouflaged on the forest floor

How to start forest farming: Grow delicious food in the woods

By Alisha McDarris

a brick pathway through a lawn with clover

Should you plant a clover lawn? The pros and cons.

By Debbie Wolfe

a hand holding a remote in front of a TV playing a soccer match

What is TV Refresh Rate? From 60Hz to 120Hz and beyond.

By Nicholas Ware

a plugged in smart phone on a table

You can (and should) stop charging your phone when it hits 80 percent

pile of denim jeans closeup

How to clean your denim without ruining it

By Debbie Wolfe

The 8 best portable solar panels for on-the-go charging, tested by experts

The 8 best portable solar panels for on-the-go charging, tested by experts

retro TV against plain blue wall in empty room

How long do TVs last? When and why you should replace your set.

By Nicholas Ware

pile of clothes

How to pick the best fabrics for sweaty season

By Debbie Wolfe

a lawnmower cuts grass

You’re probably mowing your lawn wrong

By Debbie Wolfe

Entertainment app on iphone 14 pro in smartphone screen close up view

How to request all the data Netflix, Spotify, and other apps have on you

a pile of books on a wooden table

Why you should buy physical copies of your favorite books

tv antenna on the roof of a house

How to connect an antenna to a TV: Watch movies, shows, and sports for free

By Nicholas Ware

photo of an iphone screen with imessage icon showing one new message

This iPhone feature will filter out spam and texts from people you don’t know

DeWalt drill driver kits on a plain background

This $129 DeWalt drill and driver kit is the best Prime Day tool deal we’ve seen so far

By Stan Horaczek

LEVOIT OasisMist 1000S in a room with two happy people.

Humidifiers vs. Dehumidifiers: How they work and what you need

By John Alexander