Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 158)

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.

Smart home gift guide header smart lock smart thermostat robot vacuum, and oven
Smart Home

12 smart-home gifts that people actually want

Make your family and friends' homes a little more functional and fun with connected devices that save them time and effort.

Researchers have developed a hydrogel that melts into and preserves ancient waterlogged wooden artifacts. Without the gel, the artifacts need to be dried, and that risks damaging the relics.
Archaeology

New goo preserves 800-year-old wooden shipwreck samples

The naturally dissolving hydrogel may help preserve delicate ancient artifacts.

drone flying for aerial night photography
Drones

Drones can avoid GPS jammers by navigating with the stars

An ancient mapping technique may offer a reliable backup tool for UAVs.

Cyber Tuesday is the day after Cyber Monday
Gear

These 70+ Cyber Monday deals are still on sale and make great gifts

There are still plenty of bargains out there if you know where to look.

A Tesla Model 3 engaged in the so-called ‘Full Self Driving’ mode reportedly plowed through a deer without ever detecting it. While more advanced driverless systems use a mix of sensors including LiDAR, Tesla is trying to attain full autonomy using only cameras.
Ask Us Anything

Why are ‘driverless’ cars still hitting things?

Real 'autonomous' vehicles rely on a diverse array of sensors capable of 'superhuman' object detection. It’s not perfect.