Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 115)

Planet Mercury in the background with its grey, cratered, pockmarked surface. In the foreground are some spacecraft parts
Solar System

Mercury stuns in incredibly detailed new images

The BepiColombo spacecraft took a peek at the tiny planet's mysterious lava and craters.

a yellow cardinal sits on a tree branch
Birds

Extremely rare yellow cardinal flies into a Michigan backyard

Say hello to Donovan.

edx standing desk with a computer setup on it in an office
Gear

This fully adjustable electric standing desk is just $79 right now from Walmart

If you're thinking about a standing desk for your New Years resolutions, this is a great time to buy one because they're on-clearance at Walmart.

MSI Dragon edition laptop
Laptops

I saw MSI’s new flagship gaming laptops, and there’s one I really want

If your current rig just barely drags on, enter the Dragon Edition.

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire while it burns homes at Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Weather

This crowdsourcing app is a lifeline for Californians tracking wildfires

Future versions of Watch Duty will also track floods and other natural disasters in more states.

Close up of hand holding pencil solving crossword puzzle
Physics

Why crossword puzzles get easier as you solve them, according to physics

Here's how 'percolation theory’ applies to avalanches and brainteasers.

a scientist weather a larger winder coat and hat examines a cylindrical piece of ice
Climate Change

1.2-million-year-old ice pulled up from under Antarctica

This ancient ice core could help explain why humans were not wiped out in the Pleistocene.

A Tesla charges in a salt and ice covered parking lot in Chicago on Jan. 17, 2024.
Electric Vehicles

Improvements to electric vehicles ease concerns about range loss in cold climates

Features like heat pumps, which prevent significant drops in range, are now standard on newer models.

Dimmable car sun visor
Concept Cars

This company wants to redesign the humble car sun visor

Gentex wants to swap out the old reliable version with dimmable smart glass.

Atmospheric photo of the site at dusk, showing the location at the convergence of two gorges. 2023 excavations of inner fortress are visible in foreground.
Archaeology

Drone reveals ancient fortress is 40x larger than archaeologists once thought

Aerial mapping exposed an entire outer area of the 'mega fortress' marked by stone structures and a long, winding fortification wall.

Interior of plane cabin with sunlight coming in from window
Aviation

The FAA is finally looking into sweltering airplane cabins

There is no explicit cap on temperatures during boarding.

a green glow of bioluminescence from a mushroom
Environment

Artists find a green, glowing mushroom in a Swiss forest

The saffron drop bonnet mushroom is surprisingly bioluminescent.

Three red ants interacting with one another
Evolution

Even ants may hold grudges

A new study suggests the insects aren’t quick to forgive and forget.

Certain medications can interfere with with normal sleep architecture.
Health

Why your brain flushes itself of waste during sleep

Sleep medications like Ambien may interfere with this vital mechanism.

cancer cells microscope
AI

AI is already changing the ways we fight cancer

It's supercharging how we detect and treat cancer, but human doctors are still critical.

a small brown fish swimming in a tank
Fish

These fish can mate 19 times per day

But at what cost?

flooding in the street, car under water
AI

Traditional weather forecasting is slow and expensive. AI could help.

Forecasts powered by machine learning are proving to be faster and cheaper to produce than conventional methods—and more accurate, too.

Technics EAH-AZ100 in an open case
Earbuds

Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds review: Magnetic fluid drivers deliver reference-grade sound

These Technics earbuds combine cutting-edge technology with the company's long history for great sound all around.

KOU-III robot jumping on lawn
Robots

Behold the hybrid copter-robot that struts and leaps like a chicken

KOU-III’s ‘wings’ don’t help it fly, but they do serve a purpose.

a tomb in a desert
Archaeology

Archaeologists find the 4,000-year-old tomb of an overachieving Egyptian magician

Venom expert, chief palace physician, chief dentist, and director of medicinal plants were also likely on his resume.