Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 132)

A fragment of the black organic glass found inside the skull of the deceased individual in Herculaneum.
Archaeology

Mount Vesuvius eruption turned a victim’s brain into glass

The 2,000-year-old remains are the only known examples of their kind.

A pattern of ears on a background
Ask Us Anything

Why can some people wiggle their ears?

It could be more than just a cool party trick.

The best telescopes for beginners arranged in a row
Outdoor Gear

The best telescopes for beginners in 2025

Seeing the stars or the moon doesn’t have to be complicated; even a beginner can do it with the right scope.

<> on July 9, 2018 in Sausalito, California.
Pollution

Why some Starbucks locations are switching from plastic to paper cups

Green groups say it’s a 'clear admission' that the plastic ones aren’t recyclable.

A polar bear mom and cub on sea ice, off the coast of Svalbard, Norway.
Bears

See the first moments when 3 polar bear cubs emerge from their den

The rare footage was captured with nearly a decades’ worth of recordings from Svalbard.

Hydro Flasks in black and silver arranged in a row
Gear

Save 54% off this 64-ounce Hydro Flask Wide Mouth water bottle and stay hydrated all year

Grab a 64-ounce or 40-ounce Hydro Flask for the lowest prices we have ever seen—even on Black Friday.

Illustration of giant flying squirrel leaping onto tree branch
Wildlife

Flying squirrels the size of cats soared over prehistoric Appalachia

‘It is amazing to imagine these giant flying squirrels gliding over rhinos and mastodons living in the forests of Tennessee.’

a humpback whale lunches out of the water with its mouth open
Whales

Krill or anchovy? Baleen whale songs may indicate what’s on the menu

Eavesdropping on whales could indicate changes to their food resources from year to year.

a raccoon looking at a camera
Wildlife

Morning lark or night owl? Prevailing ideas of mammal activity are outdated

Many species can't be easily categorized as nocturnal or diurnal, a new study suggests.

digitally generated computer graphic illustration image of a human brain with a modeling clay texture.
Diseases

Subtle differences identified in brains of people with schizophrenia

These include subtle differences in brain folding patterns and cortical thickness.

CR450AF high speed train on track in China with two people looking at it
Engineering

At 281 mph, China tests its fastest high-speed train

The electric CR450 could be operational by the end of the year.

best speaker wires sliced header
Speakers

The best speaker wires for 2025, according to experts and audiophiles

Does music get you wired? Well, here are the best wires to get your speakers music.

This aerial view shows the Shedd Aquarium on Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois, on August 1, 2024.
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Chicago’s pollution could be keeping river monsters at bay

Plus other weird things we learned this week.

EanOruus juicers in a row with fruit inside and outside
Home

Score this $189 cold press juicer for just $65 during Amazon’s flash sale

This juicer has a 350-watt motor that squeezes every possible ounce of juice out of fruits and vegetables.

a robot looking at a reflection of itself
Robots

Like babies and dancers, this robot learns from studying itself

'Robots need to learn to take care of themselves.'

Nutria looking at camera against plant background
Land

US Fish and Wildlife is begging you to eat more invasive marsh rodents

Nutria meat is 'lean, mild, and tastes like rabbit.'

The North Berwick Witches meet the Devil in the local kirkyard, from a contemporary pamphlet, Newes from Scotland
Science

Scotland certifies official tartan to honor its ‘witches’

The Witchcraft Act of 1563 resulted in the deaths of thousands of falsely accused victims.

a skill with an iron nail driven through it
Archaeology

New clues to the ‘nailed head ritual’ uncovered in Spain

Seven skulls indicate that the Iron Age practice was ‘more complex than initially thought.’

"A white-headed capuchin (Cebus capucinus) eating a fruit, sticking its tongue out.More of my pictures of animals:"
Wildlife

Meet the capuchin monkey: Curious, creative and vengeful

UCLA’s Susan Perry has devoted decades to studying the fast-motion life of these New World primates and learning how the young acquire the skills they need to thrive.

The full disc of Mars is seen with the polar ice caps slightly off centre to the top left and bottom right. Clouds wrap around the planet’s curved horizons. Dark surface markings are clearly seen against the characteristic red tones of the dusty martian surface.
Mars

Why is Mars red? Our old understanding might be wrong.

New research questions how the Red Planet got such a rusty hue.