Pollution

What you need to know about the gases, toxins, and garbage that make their way into water, air, and land.

Latest in Pollution

Tools for measuring home air quality on a blue background with a dust cloud
Gear

How to measure the air quality in your home by yourself and with a pro

By Terri Williams

Air Purifiers for asthma
Gear

The best air purifiers for asthma in 2025, according to experts

By Terri Williams

three researchers padding a canoe on a polluted waterway under a bridge
Environment

Pollution-eating microbes are thriving in infamous NYC canal

By Lauren Leffer

debris field in water
Environment

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch isn’t just a floating trash pile

By RJ Mackenzie

Coway Airmega air purifiers in a row on sale at Amazon
Gear

Amazon is blowing out some of our favorite air purifiers just in time for allergy season

By Stan Horaczek

Gold mining operation on banks of river in Amazon rainforest
Environment

Trees can snitch on illegal gold miners in the Amazon

By Andrew Paul

Clorox air purifiers arranged on a plain background on sale at Walmart
Gear

If you have allergies, you need this $70 Clorox HEPA air purifier, on sale for just $30

By Stan Horaczek

African Woman Blowing Bubble Gum Playful Portrait
Health

Chewing gum can shed hundreds of microplastics into your mouth

By Andrew Paul

Four portable air purifier product images sliced and diced and made into a composite header
Gear

The best portable air purifiers for 2025

By Terri Williams

Levoit P350 Air Purifier next to a black dog on the floor.
Gear

The best air purifiers for pets, tested and reviewed

By Abby Ferguson

Dyson air filter fans header arranged in a row on a plain background
Gear

You can get a $329 Dyson air purifying fan for just $179 while they last

By Stan Horaczek

Tiny pieces of plastic were found lodged in blood vessels in the brains of mice.
Health

Microplastics look like a ‘car crash’ in mice brains

By Andrew Paul

Modern eco home illustration. Building modern design. Energy conservation and wind turbine. Flat vector linear illustration. Tree and bushes. Trendy line style vector.
Gear

6 easy ways to make your home more sustainable

By Eric Alt

Modern Kitchen with wooden table, kitchen utensils, cooking pots and others, white background.
Health

Recent panic over black plastic started with a math error

By Andrew Paul

leaded gasoline reminder
Health

Childhood leaded gasoline exposure damaged Americans’ mental health

By Lauren Leffer

A Mila mini air purifier and a Mila air purifier next to each other.
Gear

My Mila air purifiers are the most stylish ones I’ve tested, and they’re almost 30% off for Cyber Monday

By Amanda Reed

two leopards fighting in dirt
Environment

14 dramatic moments from the 2024 Nature’s Best Photo Awards

By Popular Science Team

Spare parts of plastic 'Garfield' phones are displayed on the beach on March 28, 2019 in Plouarzel, western France, after being collected from a sea cave by environmental activists.
Environment

6 of the weirdest things to ever wash up on the beach

By Lauren Leffer

Geospatial scientists have found a way to detect plastic waste on remote beaches, bringing us closer to global monitoring options.
Science

Satellite imaging can now spot plastic trash hiding on beaches

By Mack DeGeurin

Jumping carp disrupt recreational boating and other water-based activities.
Environment

Chicago’s dirty water may be keeping invasive species at bay

By Lauren Leffer