Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 143)

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare–as seen in the bright flash on the right side–on September 10, 2017. The image shows a combination of wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares, which has then been colorized.
Sun

Could the Carrington Event happen again?

It happened in 1859. Today, it would be catastrophic.

South America’s green fire taturana caterpillar, Lonomia obliqua, makes a venom that interferes with blood clotting; venoms of other caterpillars can cause long-lasting pain, severe itch, respiratory problems and more.
Medicine

The caterpillars that can kill you

Some species make venoms that are deadly. With more research, those toxic compounds could yield useful medicines.

a beefed-up truck drives across desert dunes
Engineering

How Ford crafted a Raptor T1+ to race across 5,000 miles of desert

The carmaker's Dakar Rally vehicle was built to withstand some of the roughest terrain on Earth. 

Lava rising out of erupting volcano
Environment

Underground ‘sub-continents’ may rewrite geology textbooks

The gigantic formations are surrounded by a ‘graveyard of tectonic plates.’

smartwatch forever chemicals
Health

Apple accused of exposing some Watch owners to ‘forever chemicals’

A 2024 study detected 'elevated levels' of perfluorohexanoic acid in several smartwatch bands.

Close up of baboon face
Wildlife

Alpha male baboons’ obsession with females stresses them out

‘Stress definitely has long-term consequences.’

an illustration of a small dinosaur with its tail in their air
Dinosaurs

Where in the world are Earth’s oldest dinosaurs?

Their fossils might be in the remnants of an ancient supercontinent.

The southern marsupial mole.
Animals

World-first study reveals the mysteries of the desert-dwelling marsupial mole

Until recently, these elusive animals have been nearly impossible to study.

gas rig
AI

The future of AI is even more fossil fuels

'Stargate' project plans to spend $500 billion on AI infrastructure.

Side by side of fire truck and fire jacket
Environment

Fake firefighters with bogus truck arrested near LA wildfires

They weren't the first emergency response impersonators, either.

the stone remains of a castle, revealing an archway, wall, and a tower
Archaeology

In a global crisis, working harder isn’t the best solution

Archeologists put four resilience strategies to the test.

Close up of person using nasal spray
Mental Health

FDA approves first-of-its-kind nasal spray for severe depression

Spravato is now cleared to use by itself after years of clinical trials.

Sennheiser HD 599 and HD 569 Headphones in a row
Headphones

These $199 open-back Sennheiser headphones are just $96.99 right now

Take the first step into becoming a full-blown audiophile with these deeply discounted, feature-packed headphones.

a scientist in a lab pierces the inside of an oyster to extract blood
Medicine

Oyster blood could fight superbugs

‘Oysters are constantly filtering bacteria from the water, so they are a good place to look for potential antibiotics.’

hard hat construction worker
Mental Health

Beyond hard hats: Mental struggles become the deadliest construction industry danger

Initiatives to combat this mental health crisis are tougher to implement than usual work protocols.

A firefighter monitors the spread of the Auto Fire in Oxnard, North West of Los Angeles, California, on January 13, 2025
AI

What sparks a wildfire? The answer often remains a mystery.

The source of more than half of all wildfires in the Western U.S. remains unknown. AI could change that.

Samsung Q6CC soundbars and subwoofers arranged in a pattern
Home Theater

Go grab this Q-series Samsung soundbar with Dolby Atmos for just $199 right now

This isn't an entry-level setup. It includes many of Samsung's high-end tech, including Q Symphony and Dynamic Sound.

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ has me excited to game anywhere and everywhere
Console Gaming

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ has me excited to game anywhere and everywhere

Handheld gaming + mesh WiFi = Good times anytime.

A screenshot of the game display shows the quadcopter following a green path around the rings. The inset shows a hand avatar. The neural implant records from nearby neurons and algorithms determine the intended movements for the hand avatar. The finger positions are then used to control the virtual quadcopter. Image credit: Nature Medicine
Technology

Patient with paralysis uses mind to pilot virtual quadcopter

The brain-computer interface allowed for unprecedented precision.

Dewalt tools in a row on sale at Amazon
Gear

This discounted Dewalt tool kit includes an impact driver, drill, charger, and two 20V batteries for just $134

This kit retails for $229 and the included batteries work with more than 300 Dewalt tools in the company's arsenal.