Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 139)

Germanic warrior taking stimulants imagined by Stanislav(Stanisław) Kontny, especially for the Praehistorische Zeitschrift. Credit: Stanisław Kontny for Praehistorische Zeitschrift
Archaeology

Roman-era Barbarians snorted stimulants in battle, tiny spoons suggest

Over 200 small tools found across Europe hint at previously unknown drug use in Germanic tribes.

A couple walking with their child by the river in Tokyo
Health

Tokyo rolling out four-day work week in bid to boost birth rates

Japan has the world's oldest population—with an estimated 10 percent of people over 80 years old.

dog kissing human licking face
Ask Us Anything

Why do dogs lick humans? It could be a sign of affection.

Scientists have theories about slobbery canine kisses.

The Holcim cement plant in Lägerdorf, Germany.
Environment

Greening concrete: A Major emitter inches toward carbon neutrality

Concrete is the most ubiquitous man-made building material on the planet, but making it generates massive amounts of CO2 emissions. Companies are experimenting with ways to green the process, from slashing the use of limestone to capturing the carbon generated when it’s burned.

Bashlemi inscription tablet with mystery language on black background
Archaeology

Mystery language on ancient stone tablet stumps archeologists

The Bashplemi inscription possibly shares similarities with over 20 other alphabets.

An oil rig in Oklahoma.
AI

‘A needle in a haystack:’ How AI is helping uncover abandoned oil wells

The model was trained on about one hundred maps, and was used to sort through topographical maps spanning 45 years.

an SUV sitting on pavement in from of trees
Vehicles

2025 Volvo XC90 is more efficient with a twist on 1950s engineering

The new SUV harnesses the Miller Cycle and Frequency Selective Damping technology.

An illustration of an Early Cretaceous floodplain in southeastern England, 135 million years ago: a spinosaur (center) takes over the carcass of an ornithopod, much to the annoyance of the smaller tyrannosaurs (left) and dromaeosaurids (bottom right).
Dinosaurs

Retired quarryman uncovers fossilized tyrannosaur teeth

The carnivores stalked their prey in southern England 135 million years ago.

Frozen surface of Lake Enigma
Environment

Life discovered lurking under Antarctica’s frozen Lake Enigma

Once thought to be empty, the water hosts a unique, tiny ecosystem.

Scientists are drawn to coral because its surface resembles the spongy structure of human bones.
Science

3D-printed, coral-inspired material can heal bones

The implanted grafting material helped new bones grow in four weeks and dissolved between 6-12 months.

Elderly woman alone
Health

Homebound seniors living alone often slip through health system’s cracks

'It’s hard to be by myself so much of the time.'

two twisted bowstrings uncovered from a cave
Archaeology

Europe’s oldest known bowstrings found in a cave in Spain

Prehistoric humans appear to have created archery tools with a high degree of expertise.

Two views of a slingshot spider (Theridiosoma gemmosum) web. The right image shows the web’s cone shape with a spider at the tip.
Spiders

Watch a slingshot spider deploy a perfectly-timed trap

To prepare for action, this arachnid pays close attention to the sound of its prey.

Photo of Mileva Maric and Albert Einstein
Particle Physics

Albert Einstein’s love letters are headed to auction

Einstein sent the 43 letters to his first wife and 'collaborator,' Mileva Marić.

a siberian husky sits in the snow. it has piercing blue eyes and its ears are perked up
Evolution

Humans gave dogs treats 12,000 years ago, new archeological evidence suggests

According to canine remains in Alaska, the human-dog bond is older than scientists thought.

Researchers say they were inspired by the way the Manta ray effortlessly propels itself forward using its fins.
Robots

This Manta ray robot is the world’s fastest soft-bodied swimmer

Researchers were inspired by the ray’s energy-efficient flappy fins.

Close up of 3D printed cartilage cell block
Science

New bioprinter 3D prints human tissue 10x faster

HITS-Bio is the first tool to bioprint directly on a wound.

leaded gasoline reminder
Mental Health

Childhood leaded gasoline exposure damaged Americans’ mental health

A new study links 151 million instances of psychiatric illness to leaded gasoline.

Silkworm.
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

This worm got into some hot water and changed the course of history

Plus other weird things we learned this week.

If autonomous weapons end up in the wrong hands, they can act as weapons of mass destruction, and escalate tensions.
AI

The technology for autonomous weapons exists. What now?

In the future, humans may not be the only arbiters of who lives and dies in war, as weapons gain decision-making power.