Science(Page 44)

Science spans our understanding of how Earth and the cosmos work. Get the biggest news on biology, physics, space, dinosaurs, and more—along with the latest episodes of the Ask Us Anything and Weirdest Thing podcasts.

Latest in Science

Human echolocation is real—and you might be able to do it

Human echolocation is real—and you might be able to do it Human echolocation is real—and you might be able to do it

By Popular Science Team

A rare and multicolored sea slug has been recorded in UK waters for the first time.

This dashing tropical sea slug just showed up in the UK This dashing tropical sea slug just showed up in the UK

By Sara Kiley Watson

This glittery Hubble image shows how far we’ve come in studying distant stars

This glittery Hubble image shows how far we’ve come in studying distant stars This glittery Hubble image shows how far we’ve come in studying distant stars

By Laura Baisas

NIST computer room with small glass vacuum chamber

It’s pretty hard to measure nothing, but these engineers are getting close It’s pretty hard to measure nothing, but these engineers are getting close

Spherical fusion energy reactor in gold, copper, and silver seen from above

Nuclear power’s biggest problem could have a small solution Nuclear power’s biggest problem could have a small solution

Multiple vehicles will be required to collect rock samples from Mars.

NASA’s new Sample Recovery Helicopters will make flying on Mars less ‘boring’ NASA’s new Sample Recovery Helicopters will make flying on Mars less ‘boring’

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

The Artemis SLS rocket at Kennedy Space Center in Florida in early 2022.

Counting down to the Artemis 1 launch, NASA’s biggest moon mission in decades Counting down to the Artemis 1 launch, NASA’s biggest moon mission in decades

a white lab rat held in a gloved hand

These sterile mice have been modified to make rat sperm These sterile mice have been modified to make rat sperm

Certain types of pig cells were revived after the animals died.

Pigs died after heart attacks. Scientists brought their cells back to life. Pigs died after heart attacks. Scientists brought their cells back to life.

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

International Space Station is pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour

Private trips to space may require NASA supervision Private trips to space may require NASA supervision

Platinum atoms and liquid graphene seen in red and purple under a microscope next to a graphic of material particle locations

See the first video of solitary solid atoms playing with liquid See the first video of solitary solid atoms playing with liquid

By Purbita Saha

Ring galaxy with two small spiral galaxies to the left in red, blue, and yellow in a James Webb Space Telescope composite image

JWST’s latest snap captures the glimmering antics of the Cartwheel Galaxy JWST’s latest snap captures the glimmering antics of the Cartwheel Galaxy

By Purbita Saha

Planet Earth is speeding up.

June 29 was Earth’s shortest day since the invention of atomic clocks June 29 was Earth’s shortest day since the invention of atomic clocks

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

competing metals

Transparent aluminum, and 5 more remarkable metals Transparent aluminum, and 5 more remarkable metals

a large sunflower-shaped shade that unfurled from a satellite in space

Exoplanet hunters want to block starlight with a giant orbiting shade Exoplanet hunters want to block starlight with a giant orbiting shade

By Tatyana Woodall

Small European panda from 6 million years ago in a painting

Pandas weren’t always bamboo fiends Pandas weren’t always bamboo fiends

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

watermelon-quartered

This is how much watermelon it’d take to kill you This is how much watermelon it’d take to kill you

A small child standing at a large glass window in an airport, looking out at the planes on the tarmac.

DIY

A parent-tested plan for flying with a toddler A parent-tested plan for flying with a toddler

Starry valley of Carina Nebula against dust and light on a bluish universe in a James Webb Space Telescope image

DIY

Get alerts every time the James Webb Space Telescope drops a heavenly new look Get alerts every time the James Webb Space Telescope drops a heavenly new look

By Maria Parazo Rose

Long March 5B rocket launching to the China Tiangong Space State and producing space debris

The chance of being hit by China’s falling rocket booster is very low The chance of being hit by China’s falling rocket booster is very low

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Great white shark breaching while trying to bite a seal

Great white shark sightings are up in the US, which is kind of good news Great white shark sightings are up in the US, which is kind of good news

A clay pot filled with milk, with a spoon of milk over it.

Ancient milk-drinkers were just fine with their lactose intolerance–until famine struck Ancient milk-drinkers were just fine with their lactose intolerance–until famine struck

By Philip Kiefer

A 66-year-old patient is likely the fifth person virtually cured of HIV.

Rare transplant cells have cured another HIV patient Rare transplant cells have cured another HIV patient

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A pot with several different types of succulents growing in it, ripe for propagation.

DIY

Propagation tips for infinite houseplants Propagation tips for infinite houseplants

By Michelle Mastro

Diving mannequins enter a pool so researchers can measure what forces affect them.

What engineers learned about diving injuries by throwing dummies into a pool What engineers learned about diving injuries by throwing dummies into a pool

a close up of a fossil horse tooth

A centuries-old horse tooth holds clues to the mystery of the Chincoteague ponies A centuries-old horse tooth holds clues to the mystery of the Chincoteague ponies

By Kate Baggaley

an artist rendering of a sphere-shaped large telescope facility in a rocky terrain

A new law is putting astronomy back in the hands of Native Hawaiians A new law is putting astronomy back in the hands of Native Hawaiians

By Tatyana Woodall

An illustration of what Jupiter would look like with Saturn-size rings.

Jupiter formed dinky little rings, and there’s a convincing explanation why Jupiter formed dinky little rings, and there’s a convincing explanation why

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

human oocytes seen under a microscope. on the left is a normal image, and on the right is the cell dyed and fluorescing to show the amount of reactive oxygen species

Human eggs have a ‘standby battery mode’ that allows them to last decades Human eggs have a ‘standby battery mode’ that allows them to last decades

By Lauren J. Young

GLASS-z13 galaxy glowing red in hazy yellow stars from the James Webb Space Telescope NIRCam

Astronomers are already using James Webb Space Telescope data to hunt down cryptic galaxies Astronomers are already using James Webb Space Telescope data to hunt down cryptic galaxies

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

Tiktaalik’s ancient cousin decided life was better in the water

Tiktaalik’s ancient cousin decided life was better in the water Tiktaalik’s ancient cousin decided life was better in the water

By Kate Baggaley

White shepherd or collie dog with tongue hanging out in front of blue background ad swirling dog memories

Do cats and dogs remember their past? Do cats and dogs remember their past?

By Brandon Keim

NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11 in a white uniform looking at camera

Buzz Aldrin is auctioning off rare pieces of US space history Buzz Aldrin is auctioning off rare pieces of US space history

By Purbita Saha

In the ceramic box atop a solar tower, a chemical reaction takes place that makes jet fuel.

This solar tower makes jet fuel from sunbeams, water, and gas This solar tower makes jet fuel from sunbeams, water, and gas

A short history of US hypersonic weapons testing

A short history of US hypersonic weapons testing A short history of US hypersonic weapons testing

By Kelsey D. Atherton

an illustration of an early mammal creature with fur and a few sharp teeth, breathing out a puff of air indicating cold weather. a bug flies in the corner

Mammals’ ears may hold the secret to warm-bloodedness Mammals’ ears may hold the secret to warm-bloodedness

By Kate Baggaley

A SpaceX rocket blasting to space in 2020, paving the way for the company's record year.

SpaceX will break a major rocket-launch record this week SpaceX will break a major rocket-launch record this week

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

a woman looks in the mirror as she pinches a pimple on her check with her two pointer fingers

Why some people find pimple popping so grossly satisfying Why some people find pimple popping so grossly satisfying

By Chelsey B. Coombs

Swimmer in a black speedo soaring off a green diving board

Have we been measuring gravity wrong this whole time? Have we been measuring gravity wrong this whole time?

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

A satellite image of the western coast of Africa. A grey haze extends out over the Atlantic Ocean from the desert.

Why NASA is sending a dust-scanning spectrometer to the ISS Why NASA is sending a dust-scanning spectrometer to the ISS

By Philip Kiefer

The FDA has just given emergency use authorization to the Novavax vaccine.

FDA just greenlit a different type of COVID vaccine FDA just greenlit a different type of COVID vaccine

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

James Webb telescope traveling through space on a pink foil craft

The James Webb Space Telescope is about to beam us monster amounts of cosmic data The James Webb Space Telescope is about to beam us monster amounts of cosmic data

By Tatyana Woodall

This robot is learning about its body to adapt to new tasks.

A self-aware robot taught itself how to use its body A self-aware robot taught itself how to use its body

Starry valley of Carina Nebula against dust and light on a bluish universe in a James Webb Space Telescope image

The James Webb Space Telescope’s first glimpses into deep space reveal 4 mind-blowing finds The James Webb Space Telescope’s first glimpses into deep space reveal 4 mind-blowing finds

By Maria Parazo Rose

Whimsical model of satellite

Ball Corp’s unlikely journey from soda cans to satellites Ball Corp’s unlikely journey from soda cans to satellites

By Sarah Scoles

The James Webb Space Telescope’s first image shows the universe in a new light

The James Webb Space Telescope’s first image shows the universe in a new light The James Webb Space Telescope’s first image shows the universe in a new light

By Maria Parazo Rose

A man with a mustache and glasses taking a deep whiff of a coffee drink in front of his nose.

DIY

Your nose can help you form new habits Your nose can help you form new habits

K2 comet looking like a blue dot in the black vastness of the solar system before its Earth flyby

A massive comet and supermoon will light up the night sky this week A massive comet and supermoon will light up the night sky this week

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

White cylinder with wires, part of the LZ dark matter detector run the US Department of Energy

The world’s best dark matter detector whiffed on its first try The world’s best dark matter detector whiffed on its first try

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Bennu asteroid image from OSIRIS-REx mission

NASA sampled a ‘fluffy’ asteroid that could hold clues to our existence NASA sampled a ‘fluffy’ asteroid that could hold clues to our existence

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

Two aerospace engineers holding a slim white Mars Sailplane in a lab at Arizona State University

This sailplane could cruise Mars for months on only wind This sailplane could cruise Mars for months on only wind

By Tatyana Woodall

Emergency contraceptives prevent pregnancy.

What’s the difference between morning-after pills and abortion medications? What’s the difference between morning-after pills and abortion medications?

By Kate Baggaley

Fossil frog skeleton in rock from German swamp

A swamp orgy went terribly wrong for these prehistoric frogs A swamp orgy went terribly wrong for these prehistoric frogs

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

CERN's LHC resumed work on Tuesday.

What we learned from the Large Hadron Collider on its first day back in business What we learned from the Large Hadron Collider on its first day back in business

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

a sperm whale swimming under water

Megalodons liked to snack on sperm whale snouts Megalodons liked to snack on sperm whale snouts

By Rachel Feltman

Ukraine's Maryna Viazovska holding her Fields Medal.

These 4 problem-solvers just won one of math’s biggest prizes These 4 problem-solvers just won one of math’s biggest prizes

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

LHC consumes as much energy as a city. Can particle accelerators be greener?

The green revolution is coming for power-hungry particle accelerators The green revolution is coming for power-hungry particle accelerators

A silver machine containing boiling grains.

How have non-alcoholic beers gotten so good? How have non-alcoholic beers gotten so good?

By Philip Kiefer

NASA astronaut with long brown hair and brown skin exercising on an erg machine in space to improve bone density

After a few months in space, astronaut bones don’t look so pretty After a few months in space, astronaut bones don’t look so pretty

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

fireworks over the water

The explosive science of fireworks, explained The explosive science of fireworks, explained

By Aparna Nathan

Stacks of white calcite on a black background in a mineral catalog

Earth has more than 10,000 kinds of minerals. This massive new catalog describes them all. Earth has more than 10,000 kinds of minerals. This massive new catalog describes them all.

Astronauts still can't get a good look at fireworks, even though the explosions are bigger than ever.

What do fireworks look like from space? What do fireworks look like from space?

By Tatyana Woodall

mars-gale-crater

Organic carbon on Mars could be from old life—or volcanoes Organic carbon on Mars could be from old life—or volcanoes

By Corinne Iozzio

Sleep is closely tied to important health factors like our weight, blood pressure, and glucose metabolism.

Take heart: A good night’s sleep can boost cardiac health Take heart: A good night’s sleep can boost cardiac health

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira