Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 166)

whale poop
Whales

The real ecological magic of whale poop

Scientists are working to emulate whale waste, which they say could fertilize the ocean and sequester carbon.

Apple 13-Inch MacBook Air in a tiled configuration.
Computers

Don’t wait on these early Black Friday laptop deals from Apple, Dell, HP, and more

You can save hundreds of dollars on a computer you'll rely on for work and fun for years to come.

Google Pixel Tablet on a plain white background.
Tablets

Save $100 on a Google Pixel Tablet and more with these early Black Friday deals

The bigger-screen devices are a lot cheaper than normal even though the shopping holiday doesn't start for over a week.

Dell S2721QS in a tiled configuration.
Computers

Score a 27-Inch 4K Dell Monitor for under $200 with this early Black Friday deal

Whether you need a massive screen for gaming, or a simple display for your home office, these monitor deals are worth checking out.

monitors with built in webcams header image
Peripherals

The best monitors with built-in webcams of 2025; tested and reviewed

The best webcam is the one that’s always ready in your monitor.

The best turntable speakers
Speakers

The best turntable speakers for 2026, tested and reviewed

Here's our, well, spin on speakers that will help convey the excitement of dropping the needle on a fresh LP.

Ethiopian wolf licking nectar from Ethiopian red hot poker plant
Endangered Species

These wolves are the first known carnivores to ‘enjoy’ sweets

Africa’s most endangered predator may act as an unlikely pollinator for red hot poker plants.

A mother and calf West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in Crystal River, Florida.
Ocean

Florida’s famous manatees were originally tourists

The gentle marine mammals only became plentiful in Tampa Bay in the 1950s.

The Oura Ring Heritage on top of a couple of rocks.
Fitness Gear

The Oura Ring is our favorite smart ring, and its up to $100 off before Black Friday at Amazon

The Oura Ring 3 is at its lowest price ever—don't wait until Turkey Time to snag it.

The Shadow Robot company's Dextrous Robotic Hand was the most advanced robot hand in the world in 2008.
Robots

Why advanced robots still struggle with simple tasks

That could change... eventually.

Marine fossils found at Neanderthal cave site
Evolution

Neanderthals may have enjoyed collecting tchotchkes—just like us

Marine fossils found in a cave suggest our ancestors liked amassing objects just because.

screenshot of the popular science bluesky account on a plain background
Tech Hacks

Just joined Bluesky? How to get started and the features you should explore.

A whole new social media experience that'll feel familiar.

Nespresso's Limited-Edition Vertuo Pop+ Coffee and Espresso Maker in a tiled configuration.
Gear

This $99 early Black Friday deal on a Nespresso machine will save your coffee budget

The pod-based coffee maker has never been cheaper than it is with this early Black Friday deal.

Roku Ultra 2024 in a tiled configuration.
Gear

Roku’s $79 Ultra 4K streaming box is one of the best early Black Friday tech deals

Stream your favorite TV shows and movies at the highest-possible fidelity regardless of who made your television set.

Inhumation grave 26, shown in the original field photograph (left), with bones in anatomical articulation lying on their right side with flexed legs.
Archaeology

This ancient skeleton turned out to have eight different people in it

Plus other weird things we learned this week.

a side by side of a rare gold coin from 1870
Archaeology

Rare California Gold Rush coin fetches $1.44 million at auction

The $20 piece was struck at the Carson City Mint in 1870.

Modern bike helmets are made through complex materials engineering.
Technology

How bike helmets have improved over the past two centuries

From using plant rinds to high-tech materials.

an astronaut on a spacewalk in a full spacesuit takes a selfie with earth in the background
International Space Station

Six months in space is not that bad for your brain

In a new NASA study, there were no signs of major cognitive impairment.

stone walls separating several small houses in ireland
Evolution

Scottish, Irish, and Northern English better at detecting fake accents

‘Very specific differences in language, dialect and accents have emerged over time, and that's a fascinating side of language evolution.’

SpaceX Starship launching on fifth test flight
Space X

The SpaceX Starship is so loud, it may kill birds

‘We are talking about levels that people found unacceptable before.’