Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 18)

A warning sign is seen at the closed walking trail to the observatory in the Shirakawago district, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Bears

Japan deploys army to fight bears

After over 100 bear attacks this year, it's time for reinforcements.

The Home Depot Ryobi tools Black Friday free tool deals
Home

The Home Depot’s early Black Friday Ryobi sale: Get two batteries and a power tool for just $99

The free tools include popular options like impact drivers, reciprocating saws, yard tools, and more.

V0015163ER Two hooded figures and a King grieve over a dead person whil Credit: Wellcome Library, London. Wellcome Images images@wellcome.ac.uk http://wellcomeimages.org Two hooded figures and a King grieve over a dead person while another masked figure comes to cleanse the room of the plague. Woodcut by V. Solis. Published: - Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons Attribution only licence CC BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Diseases

Centuries of Black Death misinformation started with a poem

A 14th century trickster tale was misread as fact.

Playful young woman hiding face under blanket while lying in cozy bed, pretty curious girl feeling shy peeking from duvet, covering with white sheet, head shot close up. Top view
Mental Health

4 research-backed ways to beat the winter blues in the colder months

hermit crab with pink creature on its head
Animals

New species looks like a fuzzy pink hermit crab wig

The pair lives in a symbiotic relationship over 1,000 feet below the Pacific.

a latte in space
Deep Space

Why some scientists say our universe is Sad Millennial Beige 

Plus loud rats and other weird things we learned this week.

This artist's concept depicts a supermassive black hole in the process of shredding a massive star—at least 30 times the mass of our Sun—to pieces. Scientists propose this is what happened around the distant black hole referred to as J2245+3743, which in 2018, brightened dramatically to create the brightest black hole flare ever recorded, shining with the light of 10 trillion suns. This is likely the most massive star-shredding event (formally called a tidal disruption event or TDE) ever observed and one of only a few to have occurred in an active galactic nucleus (AGN), which is an active supermassive black hole "feeding" off material in a surrounding disk. The stunning flare was discovered by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), based at Caltech's Palomar Observatory, and the Caltech-led Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey.
Black Holes

Black hole unleashes brightest flare ever—brighter than 10 trillion suns

A supermassive black hole’s star snack lit up the cosmos like never before.

Seized ivory and rhino tusks photographed by law enforcement
Endangered Species

Endangered rhino horns and elephant tusks seized in California

Poachers kill over 20,000 African elephants every year for their ivory.

rotten eggs with black and white fuzzy mold on them
Medicine

Stinky ‘rotten egg’ gas could fight nail infections

Don't worry, scientists are working on the odor.

A close-up photo of some dandelions, but the image is slightly distorted by digital artefacts.
Science

Why we (probably) aren’t living in a computer simulation

Mathematicians say they proved reality is real. Critics already say otherwise.

a bird with white and gray plummage
Ocean

Rare seabird saved after swallowing four large fishhooks

Veterinarians successfully removed the debris from the juvenile Salvin’s albatross.

A person's lower legs and feet, wearing thick, gray fuzzy socks, are stretched out against a clean white duvet or sheet. The image is bright and minimal, suggesting a cozy, relaxed moment in bed.
Ask Us Anything

Do you need more sleep in fall and winter? Probably.

Less sunlight, colder weather, and diet changes make us sleepier—and that’s OK.

A Vivid ORange Hetbike Mars 3.0 sitting on green grass
Outdoor Gear

Heybike Mars 3.0 review: The folding e-bike built for adventure

This full-suspension, fat-tire folder is happiest bouncing down gravel paths and camping trails, though it does a good job rolling over city potholes, too.

woman inspects food while fridge is open in front of her
Food Safety

Why you can salvage moldy cheese but never spoiled meat

A toxicologist advises on what to watch out for.

a full moon rises over the ocean
Moons

Brightest supermoon of 2025 lights up the sky this week

This month's full moon will come within about 222,000 miles of Earth. Here's how to prepare.

Skeleton in grave in Iron Age Celtic tribe
Archaeology

Celtic women held power—and were sacrificed

A teenager's remains indicate an Iron Age Briton tribe practiced human sacrifice.

P. Mikazuki Portuguese Man O'War
Ocean

Portuguese Man O’War species honors ‘One-Eyed Dragon’ samurai

The newly discovered P. mikazuki is a tribute the famous warrior Date Masamune.

several boys sit around a tribal drum
Science

Digital linguists work to save the Arapaho language

New database built with over 100,000 Arapaho sentences.

a stone circle in a field
Archaeology

‘Extremely rare’ Roman tomb discovered in Germany

No riches or remains are inside—but it probably wasn’t tomb raiders.

google ai search screenshot
Tech Hacks

How to use AI Mode instead of regular Google searches (or avoid it altogether)

AI for search has arrived, and it can be useful, in moderation.