Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 141)

a robot with four legs being tested in a desert
Robots

LASSIE’s robot dog may join astronauts on Mars

The quadruped dog just wrapped up testing in White Sands National Park.

a line-up of headphones on a white background
Headphones

The best headphones in 2025

Find sonic solace in a noisy world with the best headphones for every scenario, from communing to commuting to creating.

Artist's illustration of Istiorachis macarthurae on a sandy beach
Evolution

Retired doctor discovers new dinosaur species deep in a museum archive

Istiorachis macarthurae may have used its impressive back fin to find a mate

a scallop with a dent in its top that makes it look like a heart
Ocean

A heart-shaped scallop turned up off the Massachusetts coast

The unique bivalve likely got its shape after a run-in with a rock.

A hand holding a french fry dipped in ketchup, with a plate of fries, a sandwich, and more ketchup in the background.
Science

Ketchup was once a diarrhea cure

From an ancient Chinese fish sauce to America's favorite condiment, ketchup has a wild history.

A grey Bluetti Elite 100 portable power station sitting on a wooden balcony table with a black railing and green leaves behind it
Home

Bluetti Elite 100 V2 review: Arguably the best portable power station in its class

If you’re looking for a transportable backup that delivers the perfect balance of capacity with portability, look no further.

red mushrooms with white spots
Health

The growing fad of ‘microdosing’ mushrooms is leading to an uptick in poison control center calls

And also more trips to the emergency room.

Greenworks mower with someone pushing it on the lawn
Home

Walmart is blowing out Greenworks electric mowers as low as $198 with a battery and charger

Some of these powerful Greenworks yard tools are cheaper than half-price during this end-of-season clearance sale.

close up of Cuban brown anole
Pollution

These New Orleans lizards are full of lead

And they're doing just fine.

a wearable robot vest, with long grey sleeves and sensors in a lab
Engineering

Balloon-equipped ‘wearable robot’ could help stroke survivors

The vest correctly identified the user’s intended shoulder movement 94.2 percent of the time.

a large rock looking object called a fatberg on display in a museum. it is a big blob of fat, oil, and grease that clogged sewers
Engineering

Stopping fatbergs before they cost millions to remove

An experimental treatment could help prevent these massive sewer clogs.

Cooked shrimp on plate with fork and cilantro
Wildlife

Walmart’s ‘radioactive shrimp’ recall isn’t a reason to fear irradiated food

Irradiation kills germs with safe radiation. Experts explain why this recall was different.

Interior of a car showing the back seat area with light beige leather upholstery, seatbelts, and a clean, uncluttered space.
Ask Us Anything

What’s really the safest seat in a car? An auto expert weighs in.

One is definitely better than the rest, but there are a lot of other factors to consider.

June 3, 2012 - An intense bloom of phytoplankton in the Black Sea, staining nearly every corner with a rich palette of teal, turquoise, green and milky blue. The Sea of Azov, to the northeast was also filled with swirls of color, including a touch of tan which may indicate not only phytoplankton, but sediment also circulates in those waters.
Ocean

The tiny ocean organisms that could help the climate in a big way

Scientists are exploring whether encouraging the growth of phytoplankton could draw down more atmospheric carbon — without unintended side effects in oceanic ecosystems.

a dog in a living room created with virtual reality
AI

AI can transform a photo of your dog into a VR avatar

With the experimental model DogRecon, pet lovers can walk their dogs in the metaverse.

Petralona skull of ancient hominin
Evolution

Hominin skull discovered in 1960 finally gets an accurate age

Give or take 9,000 years.

close up of a spectral bat. it has large ears, small teeth, and a pointy nose
Bats

World’s largest carnivorous bats are big softies

Spectral bats share prey, hug, and even form 'tight cuddle-balls' when falling asleep.

SN 2021yfj is a new kind of supernova, challenging our understanding of stellar evolution. Its progenitor lost its outer shells well before the supernova happened and only consisted of its oxygen/silicon core — unlike any known star in the Milky Way. The dying, stripped-to-the-bone star experienced extreme mass loss episodes that led to the ejecting of material rich in silicon (grey), sulfur (yellow) and argon (purple).
Black Holes

Violent supernova spilled a star’s ‘guts’ before exploding

The star's body was 'stripped to the bone' in this new type of supernova.

a person wearing gloves holds a large gelatinous greenish blob
Wildlife

‘Cursed gummybear’ spotted in Lake Huron

The super tough invertebrates are ace survivalists.

Close-up of two feet with red nail polish, separated by pink foam toe spacers against a light blue background.
Health

Can toe spacers actually help your feet? It could be worth a try.

Re-training your toes can give your feet a much-needed workout.