Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 140)

Danielle Kaye builds a berm spillway on the farm of Roberto Nutlouis. The berm holds back water, flooding the cornfield behind it.
Conservation

On Navajo lands, ancient ways are restoring the parched Earth

Farming once thrived in the Black Mesa region, before overgrazing and climate change wreaked havoc with the land. Today, the Navajo are restoring their watersheds—and boosting their food sovereignty—with earthen berms and small dams made of woven brush, sticks, and rocks.

ISS's first crew poses during water survival training.
International Space Station

November 2, 2000: The first residents move into the International Space Station

'This is the first example of how we’re going to build things in space.'

a military-like sports car
Vehicles

There’s a real Wayne Enterprises, and it’s selling a $3 million Batmobile

And just like Batman’s own ride, the life-size Tumbler isn’t technically street legal.

The best light therapy lamps composited
Home

The best light therapy lamps to brighten up your life

These simple lamps can provide the mood-elevating light you're missing during the winter months.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching with ISS Crew-9
Space X

NASA warns SpaceX over safety issues after astronaut hospitalization

The agency is concerned after recent mission setbacks and equipment malfunctions.

Beaten biscuit automated machine
Internet

Maryland historical society finally identifies 100-year-old mystery machine

Clothes wringer? Meat tenderizer? Biscuit beater? The jury was out on the oddity.

two sperm whales singing
Science

New method for finding sperm whales kind of works like a rideshare app

The AVATARS framework combines drones and sensor data.

The uber-optimistic history and prolonged future of space tourism
Space

The uber-optimistic history and prolonged future of space tourism

Popular Science predicted luxury space vacations by 2007. We got ahead of ourselves.

mobile clinic
Health

More mobile clinics are bringing long-acting birth control to rural areas

Small-town doctors may not offer IUDs and hormonal implants because the devices require training to administer and are expensive to stock.

Phobos passing across Sun as seen by Perseverance rover on Mars
Mars

Googly-eyed potato eclipse filmed by NASA’s Perseverance rover

The tiny explorer last spotted Phobos crossing the Sun in February.

Pile of candy
Nutrition

Studying WWII-era rationing shows that sugar is dangerous even in utero

We really should be taking candy from babies.

a small bat glides over water
Bats

How these tiny bats use a sound map to navigate

A cognitive guide created with the sounds of their turf can help fill in echolocation’s gaps.

autonomous atlas
Robots

Oh good, the humanoid robots are working on their own

Atlas won't sling cocktails, but Boston Dynamics says it actually operates autonomously.

Close up of YouTube homepage on computer screen
Social Media

YouTube is full of election lies, and no one is stopping it

Grifters are taking advantage of the website’s inconsistent guidelines.

The best sleds arranged in a pattern
Outdoor Gear

The best sleds

Whether there's a snow tube, vintage toboggan, flying saucer, or sled for ice fishing on your wish list, these are the best sleds.

a white fungus with large red droplets that look like blood
Biology

That’s not blood, it’s a fungus oozing excess juice

Hydnellum peckii, or bleeding tooth fungus, can be found in the forests of North America and Europe.

A Leonids meteor streaks across the sky over Ankara, Turkey on November 17, 2020.
Solar System

November’s sky lights up with three meteor showers and the last supermoon of 2024

With the sun officially in its solar maximum, there could also be more auroras.

Old growth tree with perfect branching structure for marbled murrelets.
Birds

Listening in on the mysterious marbled murrelet with machine learning

Applying machine learning to forest soundscapes helps researchers pinpoint rare and threatened birds.

Geospatial scientists have found a way to detect plastic waste on remote beaches, bringing us closer to global monitoring options.
Science

Satellite imaging can now spot plastic trash hiding on beaches

A new tool recognized spectral features that distinguish plastics from sand or organic debris.

Close up of C-17 cargo plane
Air Force

Boeing allegedly overcharged the military 8,000% for airplane soap dispensers

The government also isn’t sure if it paid 'fair or reasonable' prices for another 25 spare part orders.