Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 2)

a small orange frog sits on a pencil tip for scale
Wildlife

Teeny tiny orange toadlet found in Brazil

A unique mating call led biologists to this newly discovered pint-sized amphibian.

hands-free driving inside a rivian vehicle
Electric Vehicles

Rivian announces AI chip in move towards self-driving future

The EV manufacturer designed its silicon in-house in the middle of Silicon Valley.

Library aisle showing rows of books
AI

Librarians can’t keep up with bad AI

From false sources to hallucinations, it’s become a major problem.

A close-up, angled shot of a sleek Tesla-branded pickleball paddle. The paddle features a black carbon fiber textured face with a subtle Tesla logo, a distinctive aerodynamic cutout near the throat, and metallic red accents engraved with the "TESLA" name. The handle is wrapped in white textured grip tape, all set against a dark, minimalist background.
Engineering

Tesla made a $350 pickleball paddle

The paddle follows a long line of oddball products, from $450 mezcal to questionably legal flamethrowers.

Left lateral view of catalog number USNM PAL 803273, a Pachycephalosaurus skull, from the Late Cretaceous Period, Maastrichtian stage (approximately 68 to 66 million years ago), Hell Creek Formation, Perkins County, South Dakota. The skull is largely complete with missing areas restored, while the lower jaw - not photographed - is reconstructed. This specimen is from the Department of Paleobiology collections at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. Catalog record EZID: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3a8ba3bb9-dcf1-437e-ba8c-d627cbdfaf3c
Dinosaurs

A ‘spectacular’ dinosaur dome heads for the Smithsonian

The famously thick-headed Pachycephalosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous.

Backpacks on sale at REI during the last minute holiday sale
Outdoor Gear

REI last-minute holiday deals: Score clearance prices on backpacks, travel bags, and hiking packs

Grab a limited year-end deal from Osprey, REI, Patagonia, The North Face, and more of the best outdoor brands.

Close up of musician playing 3D printed carbon fiber cello
Engineering

This 3D-printed cello puts a carbon fiber spin on a classic

It's also much cheaper than many of its wooden counterparts.

a big group of oysters still in the shell
Pollution

Pills, powders, and opioids stress out oyster babies

Fentanyl, ketamine, and a cocaine byproduct slow down oyster larvae.

a worm on a person's hand
Wildlife

A professor kept a pet worm for 20 years. It just set a record.

Baseodiscus the Eldest lives a chill life in Virginia.

A large brown lizard, possibly a mother, is perched on a gray rock, eating a much smaller, lighter-colored juvenile lizard, which it holds in its mouth. The juvenile appears to be struggling or caught in the act.
Ask Us Anything

Why some animals eat their babies

Animal filial cannibalism has been documented in fish, insects, even domestic pets.

Mosasaur eating prey in water with dinosaurs behind it
Dinosaurs

Mosasaurs may have terrorized rivers as well as oceans

The Late Cretaceous apex predator easily grew to the size of a great white shark.

close up of white lab rat inside cage
Mental Health

If offered, rats will use cannabis to deal with stress

Corticosterone is to rodents as cortisol is to humans.

Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander. This rendering does not have the new LightPort, but it will sit atop the lander in future models.
Moons

Wireless power grids head to the moon

Private companies are testing new power systems for longer rover missions and future human lunar habitats.

Rhesus macaque bones in Roman animal cemetery grave
Archaeology

Roman generals gifted kittens and piglets to their pet monkeys

The macaques were status symbols all the way from India.

several red and beige mushroom-like plants growing at the base of a tree
Land

Asexual parasitic plants break biology’s rules

Mushroom-looking ‘Balanophora’ plants mostly live underground feeding off of tree roots.

A close-up, high-angle view of four biscotti pieces standing upright in a dark bowl, surrounding a small white cup filled with espresso topped with foam. The biscotti are thick, light brown, and contain visible chunks of nuts, dried fruit (possibly apricot or orange peel), and dark chocolate. A cinnamon stick is visible in the bottom right corner, and a glass of milk or cream is partially visible on the left. The background is a blurred light wooden surface.
Nutrition

Biscotti once fed Roman navies and Christopher Columbus’s expeditions

Long before it met espresso, this crunchy pastry kept sailors fed.

Wolfbox car accessories
Gear

Wolfbox dropped the prices on its auto accessories by up to 30%: Save on dash cams, jump starters, and more

three lions yawning
Wildlife

19 hilarious and delightful Comedy Wildlife Photography Award winners

Eating boogers is funny no matter your species.

Soyuz spacecraft returning to Earth using parachute
International Space Station

NASA astronaut comes home after circling Earth 3,920 times

Jonny Kim returned after eight months aboard the International Space Station.

Tumbleweed inspired robot next to actual tumbleweed
Engineering

Tumbleweeds inspire this rolling, resilient robot

HERMES is more energy efficient than a solid sphere.