Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 115)

Thick orange haze above San Francisco on September 9 2020 from record wildfires in Californa, daytime view of ash and smoke floating over the Bay Area
Health

Wildfire smoke could soon kill 71,000 Americans every year

The haze may already kill 40,000 people in the U.S. each year — the same number who die in traffic crashes. Climate change will only make matters worse.

A Paleolithic handaxe with a broken distal end, discovered during the Ayvalık survey
Archaeology

Early humans reached Europe via an Ice Age land bridge from Turkey

The never-before-studied region 'holds vital traces of early human activity.'

DJI Osmo Mobile SE gimbal on sale during Amazon Prime Day
Cameras

The DJI Osmo smartphone camera stabilizer is just $58 during this early Amazon Prime Day deal

Make your smartphone videos look like professional film work for less than the price of a night out at the movies (with popcorn).

Red Hind Grouper in coral reef
Ocean

Eavesdropping on grunting groupers reveals how the fish communicate

Scientists listened to these Caribbean fish for over 2,000 hours.

screenshot of video editor in google
Tech Hacks

How to use Google Drive’s new free video editor

You can create a movie masterpiece right in your browser.

An artist's impression of Japan’s Hayabusa2 space mission touching down on the surface of the asteroid 1998 KY26. New observations with ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) have revealed that 1998 KY26 is just 11 m wide, almost three times smaller than previously thought, and is spinning once every 5 minutes, which is much faster than expected. The image above shows an updated size comparison between the asteroid and spacecraft.
Space Telescope

Japanese spacecraft eyes tricky asteroid landing

Hyabusa2 is already 105.5 million miles on its journey, but new data indicates trouble.

Titan arum or Amorphophallus Titanum at the botanical garden
Environment

How a corpse plant makes its terrible smell

It has a strategy, and its female flowers do most of the work.

a black and white dog surrounded by dog toys
Dogs

Dogs can learn and remember how toys work

The process is similar to how human babies learn that bowls and spoons are used to eat.

A light-toned painting shows a body wrapped in a white shroud lying on a bed or stone slab. Above the body, a translucent, ghostly figure with long hair and a white garment floats away, reaching upward with its arms. A framed window on the left side of the room reveals a blue sky and green hills with a mountain in the distance. The style is soft and ethereal, suggesting the departure of a soul.
Science Fiction

The 21 grams experiment that tried to weigh a human soul

In 1907, Duncan MacDougall put dying patients on a scale.

Coral formation with long branches that make it look like Chewbacca
Ocean

New species of coral named after Chewbacca

Hrrraaaaawwwwwwwwrrrrrr!

An arid archaeological site with a large, excavated rectangular foundation in the foreground, partially dug into a dirt mound. The site is surrounded by dry, barren land and hills in the distance. A few people are visible, providing a sense of scale, and the background shows a valley with green trees and a clear, hazy sky.
Archaeology

Lost mural reveals ancient Silk Road fire ritual

The ruins of a palace in Tajikistan offer a glimpse into the Sogdians.

Ripe grapes growing on plants in vineyard lit by sun
Archaeology

Bronze Age farmers often prioritized wine over olives

Both fruits have been a staple of agriculture for 10,000 years.

a map showing where birds are migrating
Birds

262 million birds forecast to take to the skies tonight

BirdCast can help you follow their fall migration.

A black and white American Oystercatcher feeds a chick a mollusk with its long orange beak. Out of focus, rocks and sea surround the scene
Birds

18 majestic images from the 2025 Audubon Photography Awards

Bird photos that really take flight.

Close up of Australian sleepy lizard with its mouth open on the ground outdoors
Wildlife

A zookeeper’s burnt lunch revealed a lizard’s secret survival skill

Australia’s sleepy lizards know to go when they smell smoke.

A graphical representation of what a real Gerver’s sofa might look like.
Science

This is the biggest sofa you can fit around a corner, according to a mathematician

Let’s hope your couch is shaped like an old-fashioned telephone receiver.

A man is lying asleep in a bed with pillows and a striped comforter, set up outdoors in the middle of a forest. The bed has two small bedside tables with lamps. The ground is covered in pine needles and scattered with rocks, and tall, thin tree trunks rise around him, creating a surreal and cozy scene.
Health

Is sleeping outside good for you? Science has a clear answer.

A night under the stars can reset your body's clock, reduce stress, and more—but it might not benefit everyone.

TP-Link Mesh router and gaming router on a yellow background
Smart Home

Amazon’s early Prime Big Deal Days sale include steep discounts on TP-Link routers and mesh WiFi systems

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days don't start until October 7th, but these huge savings on TP-Link networking gear are life right now.

This is a still image of the animation showing Gaia’s star-formation map in 3D.
Space Telescope

44 million Milky Way stars glimmer in galaxy’s largest 3D map

The Gaia space observatory helped astronomers chart 4,000 light-years worth of our home galaxy.

Stones are measured at the World Stone Skimming Championships, held on Easdale Island on September 25, 2016 in Easdale, Seil, Scotland. The championships marking its 20th year are held on the last Sunday in September each year on Easdale, which is the smallest inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Physics

Scandal rocks international stone skipping contest

'Nefarious deeds' couldn't keep Jon Jennings from winning the World Stone Skimming Competition.