Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 23)

Medieval portrait of Richard Rolle
Archaeology

Forgotten, priceless medieval book found in school library

The hermit and mystic Richard Rolles was basically a bestselling author in the Middle Ages.

a man anxiously sitting in front of a computer with his hand over his mouth
Psychology

It’s not in your head. Fear drives decision making.

Dreading negative outcomes is six times more powerful than anticipating the positive ones.

unhealthy lunch box on table cloth
Nutrition

Eating less ultraprocessed food supports healthier aging, new research shows

Ultraprocessed food makes up about half the calories of a typical American diet.

A young woman slumped over her desk in an office, fast asleep on her arms. To humorously hide that she is sleeping, two pink sticky notes with cartoon eyes drawn on them are stuck over her closed eyelids. Her workspace includes a computer monitor, keyboard, mouse, and a light blue coffee mug.
Health

Tired? You may have social jetlag.

When life gets in the way of your body's ideal sleep schedule, things get messy.

REI sneakers on sale with boots
Outdoor Gear

REI is blowing out sneakers, hiking boots, and casual shoes during its winter clearance sale

Grab footwear from Merrell, Saucony, Keen, Arc'teryx, Hoka, and more during this limited time clearance sale.

Group of red kangaroos running in Australia
Evolution

550-pound Ice Age kangaroos could still hop

Just probably not as far as today’s marsupials.

a small mammal called a marten stands on a log
Endangered Species

Adorable ferret-sized martens are rebounding in California

Highly valued for their fur, martens were almost hunted to extinction in the late 20th century.

Yellow bananas arranged against a blue background
Evolution

Penis size may matter more to men than women

Genitalia size does have some evolutionary benefits, but men remain a bit touchy about the subject.

A Sony PS-LX3BT turntable playing turquoise colored vinyl.
Audio

Sony embraces analog and aesthetic with new turntables

But don't worry, there's also Bluetooth built in, with support for Hi-Res aptX Adaptive.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s 2024 NIRCam image shows protostar EC 53 circled. Researchers using new data from Webb’s MIRI proved that crystalline silicates form in the hottest part of the disk of gas and dust surrounding the star — and may be shot to the system’s edges.
Space Telescope

James Webb Space Telescope solves a comet crystal mystery

A 'cosmic highway' may explain the journeys of some space silicates.

a black robot shaped like a human hand
Engineering

This robot hand can detach from its arm and crawl around

Talk to the (robot) hand.

A beautiful snowy forest. The setting sun shines through the tall trunks of conifers.
Ask Us Anything

Snow isn’t actually white

Winter wonderlands are only possible thanks to a sparkly light trick.

a monkey with a red face sits in a hot spring while it snows
Wildlife

Snow monkeys love hot springs. They’re also good for them.

Bathing in central Japan's steamy springs can change the primates' gut microbes and parasites.

Tree broken in half near house due to heavy snowfall
Ask Us Anything

Do trees really explode in extreme cold?

The answer involves frozen sap, the polar vortex, and a lot of internet exaggeration.

hand putting phone on charger in car
Vehicles

How Nissan improved the wireless charging pad for faster phone juice-ups

Using a magnet to connect the transmitting and receiving coils, electrons behave more consistently and the phone is less likely to overheat.

A millenial with a mustache wandering around in public transport showing off a Sony Linkbud Clip open earbud in greige
Earbuds

Sony’s new LinkBuds Clip make situational awareness look clean

These earbuds pack the original LinkBuds philosophy of staying connected to your music and the world into a new open-ear cuff-style.

rock art showing a clawed hand and an animal
Archaeology

World’s oldest-known rock art found in Indonesian cave

The claw-like drawing of a human hand is roughly 67,800-years-old.

Four images side-by-side showing angles of a saxophone-inspired instrument called the Post Digital Sax
Engineering

The 10 weirdest and wildest musical instruments of 2026

The 28th annual Guthman Musical Instrument Competition includes a Fiddle-Henge, a modified bicycle wheel, and a 'Demon Box.'

Some pieces of chocolate with white splotches on a wooden cutting board.
Ask Us Anything

Why does chocolate turn white? It’s not mold.

No need to worry—some molecules just moved around.

Hero image of the Meze Audio STRADA closed back dynamic driver headphones connected to a DAP
Headphones

Meze Audio builds on its success, literally, with new STRADA headphones

These closed-back dynamic driver headphones retune elements of the 109 Pro and LIRIC II into a private listening room you can carry. Plus iFi has introduced its latest flagship listening station.