Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 172)

Wound care and amputation in a Camponotus maculatus ant.
Space

Ants perform teeny tiny operations to save their injured comrades

meat and plant-based meat on a shelf at the grocery store
Environment

The culture war that stands in the way of plant-based meat

Public funding helped electric vehicles go mainstream. Are alternative proteins next—or are they too polarizing?

a meteor shower over tall evergreen trees
Science

August skygazing: First supermoon of 2024 and the Perseids meteor shower

A newly-discovered comet may also be visible with the naked eye soon. Or it could disintegrate.

an orange, black, and white monarch butterfly on a pink milkweed flower
Animals

How everyone can help monarch butterflies

Whether you live in the city or in the country, planting milkweed can go a long way.

Toxoplasma gondii oocyst under the microscope, isolated
Biology

Bioengineered parasites may one day deliver meds into your brain

An early prototype of modified ‘Toxoplasma gondii’ carried vital proteins across blood-brain barriers.

The best portable chargers
Peripherals

The best portable chargers

Don’t get caught with your power down. A portable charger can keep you up and running through all of life's emergencies.

woman riding a sea-doo watercraft on a brown river
Vehicles

Sea-Doo’s newest 325-HP watercraft can outrun an alligator (and then some)

The RXP-X is a rocketship on the water with a better power-to-weight ratio than most supercars.

Artist’s impression of the lobate macrofossils living 2.1 billion years ago in a shallow marine inland sea created by the collision of two continents.
Animals

Study claims life tried to evolve 1.5 billion years earlier than we thought

The controversial paper suggests a proto-slime made its (failed) debut 2.1 billion years ago.

a pair of brown frogs mating, with the male on the female's back
Animals

The upside-down sex lives of Charles Darwin’s frogs

Minervarya charlesdarwini must ward off rival males. Even if that means biting off their heads.

a firefly with its bottom half illuminated
Land

A new theory on why fireflies glow—and why they need help

The unique bioluminescent beetles are not endangered, but their numbers are dwindling.

offshore windfarm
Energy

Environmentally, offshore wind is… fine

How often can you say that about an energy generation system?

Best generators for home sliced up images header
Home

The best generators for homes

Whether for emergency backup or simply providing a bit of extra power around the house, these generators deliver the juice.

A lineup of the best coolers on a white background
Home

The best coolers for 2025

No matter where your adventures take you, you can take the best coolers to cool down.

pile of denim jeans closeup
Life Skills

How to clean your denim without ruining it

Back your jeans away from the hot water and fabric softener.

The best natural gas grills of 2024 on a plain white background.
Appliances

The best natural gas grills

For clean-burning convenience, try cooking with gas.

Asiatyrannus xui skull close up
Dinosaurs

‘Deep-snouted’ tyrannosaur fossils uncovered at construction site

'Asiatyrannus xui' may have been first of its kind to stomp across southeastern China.

The best soft coolers for 2024 on a plain white background.
Outdoor Gear

The best soft coolers for chilling out (and about)

Here’s the hard sell: Soft coolers are versatile, lightweight options for keeping food and beverages cold on the go.

a hotel in the ground
Conservation

Subterranean retreats: How underground hotels harness Earth’s natural insulation

Why stay above ground when you can relax in an earth-sheltered dwelling?

The 8 best portable solar panels for on-the-go charging, tested by experts
Home

The 8 best portable solar panels for on-the-go charging, tested by experts

Going off the grid doesn’t have to mean going without gear, so get some solar panels to ensure you can keep a generator charged as you charge bravely forward.

The best smart grills in 2023
Home

The best smart grills, tested and reviewed

Overdone? Underdone? Be done with both thanks to smart grills that ensure your cooking experience is just right, even if you're inside.