Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 156)

The best weather radios for 2024 on a plain white background.
Home

The best weather radios

Get prepared for what’s coming with these reliable radios.

Battery-powered leaf blowers arranged in a pattern
Home

The best battery-powered leaf blowers for any budget or property

A battery-powered leaf blower can make quick work of clearing a driveway, gathering leaves, or even clearing small amounts of snow.

Passport close up on top of entry stamps
Internet

How to renew your US passport online (finally)

The State Department also plans to expand access soon.

a wave rising up from a flat sea
Physics

Extreme 3D ocean waves can reach heights 4x steeper than previously thought

Tank simulations and new models reveal that waves can go beyond our known limits.

Biobots could one day be engineered to deliver drugs and clear up arterial plaque.
Biology

How biobots arise from the cells of dead organisms

They push the boundaries of life, death, and medicine.

a snake with an open mouth and visible fangs
Wildlife

New tool helps scientists identify venomous snakes

‘You can harness the power of death in a controlled way.’

Balloon attracting hair with static electricity
Physics

After 2,600 years, we finally know how static electricity really works

It all comes down to nanoscale-level variations.

A possible painting of the dicynodont made by the San in the early 1800s.
Archaeology

The perplexing puzzle of a ‘Horned Serpent’ cave painting

The cave painting in South Africa may depict long-extinct animal.

The cool ways ISS astronauts conduct experiments using household items
Space

The cool ways ISS astronauts conduct experiments using household items

The secret ingredient is microgravity.

An artist's illustration of the longest black hole jet system ever observed.
Black Holes

Biggest black hole jets ever seen span 140 Milky Way galaxies

Astronomers say Porphyrion released energy equal to trillions of suns.

Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem, especially in hospitals. Could an old, disused therapy involving viruses offer a way to counter it?
Health

What if a virus could reverse antibiotic resistance?

In promising experiments, phage therapy forces bacteria into a no-win dilemma that lowers their defenses against drugs they’d evolved to withstand.

a Byrde's whale surfaces to breathe in the Pacific Ocean
Ocean

Elusive whale’s vocalization could be their version of ‘Marco Polo’

Listen to Biotwang, the mysterious whizzing sound Bryde's whales make.

three iphones
Tech Hacks

18 cool new iOS 18 features to try on your iPhone

iOS 18 brings a host of improvements with it.

a small baby pygmy hippopotamus sits on the ground
Land

Humans likely wiped out Cyprus’ tiny hippos and elephants in record time

The island was once home to these mammals before they disappeared about 14,000 years ago.

Water anole breathing through air bubble underwater
Evolution

This lizard’s skin creates an underwater bubble helmet

The 'chicken nugget of the forest' has evolved a unique way to escape predators.

a cartoon of a young boy named oliver reading Popular Science on a tablet. he said "oh i can be popular by doing science."
Science

Curiosity and fart jokes help explain why ‘Volcanoes are Hot’

Engineer, author, and cartoonist Jorge Cham on how to gently encourage kids to read more about science.

FDA approves Apple Watch screening for sleep apnea risk
Technology

FDA approves Apple Watch screening for sleep apnea risk

80% of Americans with sleep apnea never get diagnosed. Could a common tech gadget bridge the gap?

Concrete material with hollow tube design
Engineering

Bone-like, hollow concrete design makes it 5.6 times stronger

‘Instead of breaking all at once, the material withstands progressive damage, making it much tougher.’

a space craft floats in space
Ask Us Anything

What human-made object is the farthest from Earth? 

It's more than 15 billion miles away in interstellar space.

looking for a mental health provider online
DIY

Struggling to find an in-network mental health provider? Here’s what you can do.

Insurers’ failures to update their provider directories have led to dire consequences for people seeking mental health care. Experts, clinicians, and advocates explain how you can navigate these challenges to find treatment.