Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 129)

a small bird sits in a tree with its beak open wide
Birds

Why do birds make so many different sounds? 100,000 audio recordings offer clues.

Scientists listened to birds from around the world.

Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper dumping water over wildfire
Drones

Civilian drone grounds LA firefighting plane

Don’t fly your drones over wildfires.

a skull next to a yellow note that reads: "Skull from Ephesus.”
Archaeology

Sorry, this skull does not belong to Cleopatra’s sister

These human remains were previously misidentified as belonging to the murdered Arsinoë IV.

Orgain protein powder products in a line
Fitness Gear

Go stock up on some of our favorite protein powder for up to 35% off right now

Whether you want powder or pre-mixed protein drinks, don't miss this chance to stock up during Amazon's early Winter sale.

a car in a steel room
Electric Vehicles

Inside Nissan’s extreme weather testing facility

In a steel room near Detroit, the car company cooks and freezes its EVs.

prosthetic leg
Health

Health insurers limit coverage of prosthetic limbs, questioning their medical necessity

People who need surgery to replace a joint typically don’t encounter similar coverage roadblocks.

Data Breaches Surge in Frankfurt: Why IT Services Are The First Line of Defense
Internet

Data Breaches Surge in Frankfurt: Why IT Services Are The First Line of Defense

Takeshi Ebisawa holding rocket launcher
Weapons

Yakuza boss tried to traffic nuclear weapons-grade plutonium

Takeshi Ebisawa pleaded guilty after attempting to offload weapons, drugs, and radioactive material.

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.