Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 236)

Green dots representing spores are dispersed from a leaf.
Biology

Watch ‘tiny tornadoes’ spread plant pathogens

Understanding how deadly fungal spores move could help protect plants from deadly diseases.

Industrially processed foodstuffs that are engineered to be highly palatable are doing our health no good, researchers say.
Nutrition

What can we do about ultraprocessed foods?

Researchers are figuring out the features of these foods that harm our health—and proposing ways ahead.

A lineup of four of the best fire extinguishers.
Home

The best fire extinguishers

Protect your home, kitchen and all, from disaster with these handy fire extinguishers.

Two long stone tools from the Lincombian–Ranisian–Jerzmanowician (LRJ) culture uncovered at Ranis. Item 1 is a partial bifacial blade point characteristic of the LRJ. Item 2 also contains finely made bifacial leaf points.
Evolution

Neanderthals and modern humans intermingled in Europe 45,000 years ago

New studies of Stone Age tools and bones also suggest human ancestors could adapt to a tough climate.

For those times when you just can't remember what a song is called...
Tech Hacks

How to find that song stuck in your head

Harness the power of Shazam, Google Assistant, and more when you just can't name that mystery earworm.

The best PS5 controllers for taking control of your games
Console Gaming

The best PS5 controllers for taking control of your games

Whether for multiplayer parties, a backup for when a battery runs out, or just competitive edge, extra PlayStation 5 controllers are a must.

Arrow pointing towards potential sonar scan of Amelia Earhart's airplane
Aviation

Did sonar finally uncover Amelia Earhart’s missing plane?

Scans that depict what could be the famed pilot’s Lockheed 10-E Electra are still being evaluated.

The best recliners for back pain in 2024 on a plain white background.
Home

The best recliners for back pain

Don't stay stagnant and in pain. If your back has been aching, these chairs may offer some relief.

Smartphone showing Elon Musk X profile against Neuralink logo backdrop
Internet

Elon Musk alleges Neuralink completed its first human trial implant

Musk, posting on X, claimed that the volunteer is ‘recovering well,’ but did not offer evidence.

A multiple-exposure photograph of insects circling an artificial light at night. The light can mess with a moth’s sense of what direction is up and which way is down.
Land

Why artificial light—and evolution—trap moths

High-resolution video shows how much artificial light sources mess with moths' flight patterns.

H5N1 flu has been confirmed in Gentoo penguins for the first time. Over 20 Gentoo chicks have been reported dead from the virus or are showing symptoms of this highly contagious strain of bird flu.
Wildlife

Antarctic penguins are now dying from the H5N1 strain of bird flu

The virus has already been confirmed in one species of penguin, with a suspected case in another.

Partially charge your laptop’s battery so you can use it longer
Tech Hacks

Partially charge your laptop’s battery so you can use it longer

These tips will extend the lifespan of your lithium-ion battery.

The best superbowl essentials
Home

Our top 13 Super Bowl party essentials—from $26 compostable plates to a $1,699 projector

If you're having people over for the big game this year, here are a baker's dozen of our favorite things to make you the host with the most.

Altadena, CA, Monday, August 28, 2023 - LA County crew member Jonathan Lainez hydrates as he works to repave a section of East Altadena Dr. as temperatures reach 100 degrees and above.
Climate Change

As summers grow ever hotter, OSHA appears ready to protect workers

Many in the construction and agriculture industries are opposed, but new research shows it would help them, too.

Lexus completely redesigned the GX SUV for 2024, giving it a new engine, overland-themed trims, and electronic suspension.
Vehicles

2024 Lexus GX gets an edgy new look and improved tech

Improvements to the new model include an electronically-controlled suspension, turbo engine, and precise welding points to conserve weight.

A lineup of the best office chairs under $200 in four vertical panels.
Peripherals

The best office chairs under $200

You don't have to spend much to get a great, comfortable office chair.

Face-on spiral galaxy, NGC 628, is split diagonally in this image: The James Webb Space Telescope’s observations appear at top left, and the Hubble Space Telescope’s on bottom right. JWST’s observations combine near- and mid-infrared light and Hubble’s showcase visible light. Dust absorbs ultraviolet and visible light, and then re-emits it in the infrared. In JWST’s images, we see dust glowing in infrared light. In Hubble’s images, dark regions are where starlight is absorbed by dust.
Space Telescope

JWST images show off the swirling arms of 19 spiral galaxies

The stars, dust, and gas swirling around black holes could reveal the origin of some our universe’s most intricate structures.

Black and white portrait of George Carlin
AI

Humans actually wrote that fake George Carlin ‘AI’ standup routine

The podcasters responsible still face a copyright infringement lawsuit from the late comedian's estate.

A lineup of the best chair mats in a lineup of four vertical panels.
Peripherals

The best chair mats for smooth rolling

Let your office chair glide as effortlessly and efficiently as your cursor with the right chair mat.

An artist’s reconstruction of the locomotor behavior and paleoenvironment of Lufengpithecus. Six primates that resemble chimpanzees are in a wooded area. Some are walking upright on two legs, while others are on all fours.
Evolution

Extinct ape’s inner ear holds clues to how humans learned to walk upright

New 3D scans of a six-million-year-old Lufengpithecus' skull fossil clarify a potential evolutionary step towards bipedal locomotion.