Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 251)

Screenshot from Gemini-powered Bard demonstration video
AI

Google announces Gemini, its ‘multimodal’ answer to ChatGPT

In an edited demo video, Gemini appears able to describe sketches, identify movie homages, and crack jokes.

NeRmo mouse robot standing against blue background
Robots

Meet NeRmo, the mouse robot with backbone

Most quadruped robots ditch spine-derived designs for simplicity’s sake. NeRmo embraces the complex system.

A sample of baboon skulls dating back 2,500 to 2,800 years in southern Egypt.
Animals

Ancient Egyptians likely kept baboons in captivity—and mummified them

'The baboons were revered as representations of Thoth, the god of the moon and wisdom, and adviser to the sun god Ra.'

Researchers working with laser array in lab
AI

Swapping surgical bone saws for laser beams

More lasers may allow for safer and more precise medical procedures.

Person checking their phone and reading about 7 tips to help you become an Apple Reminders expert
Tech Hacks

7 tips for Apple Reminders to help you get your life together

There's more to this app than you might have realized.

In the 1600s, one town in the Netherlands literally ate the rich
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

In the 1600s, one town in the Netherlands literally ate the rich

Plus other weird things we learned this week.

Multiple cows standing in an industrial barn.
Agriculture

What would happen if everyone stopped eating meat tomorrow?

Answering that question shows just how tricky it would be to drop meat altogether.

A dark-furred mouse looks into a mirror.
Biology

Mice may be able to recognize their own reflections

'The mice required significant external sensory cues to pass the mirror test.'

A lineup of the best 3D printers on a plain background.
Peripherals

The best 3D printers

3D printing has come a long way from its clumsy infancy. Today, 3D printers are great for hobbyists, professionals, and everyone in between.

Glowing blue lights of the tiny ostracods move in sync with one another.
Wildlife

Watch the mucus-filled, synchronized mating dance of bioluminescent ‘sea fireflies’

Ostracods shared a common ancestor with fireflies 500 million years ago.

Trevor Jacob jumping out of plane midair over mountains
Social Media

YouTuber sentenced to prison after intentionally crashing his plane

Trevor Jacob’s infamous stunt with a single-prop Taylorcraft BL-65 sparked two years of federal investigations, fabrications, and millions of views.

These 10 scientists are on the cusp of changing the world
Science

These 10 scientists are on the cusp of changing the world

It's the Brilliant 10 class of 2023.

Best Cheap Gaming Mice
PC Gaming

The best cheap gaming mice

Getting great cheap mice built for competitive gaming is no longer a pipe dream with our top picks.

Kia’s EV9 can power an average home and then some
Electric Vehicles

Kia’s EV9 can power an average home and then some

The new SUV can also give energy back to the electrical grid with the same bidirectional charger.

Woman's hands holding 23andMe saliva testing box
Internet

23andMe says a data breach affected nearly half of its 14 million users

Over the weekend, the popular genetic testing service raised its estimates from 14,000 to 6.9 million compromised accounts.

A dinosaur called poposaurus walks near some trees. The dinosaur comes from a group of extinct relatives of the crocodile known as Poposauroidea.
Wildlife

Tracing the crocodiles’ curious evolutionary family tree

Multiple extinct relatives of the crocodile like the Poposaurus lived 237 to 201.3 million years ago.

A mosquito encased in yellow-hued amber.
Evolution

Millions of years ago, male mosquitoes may have been blood suckers too

Male descendants of the insects do not have the mouthparts strong enough to pierce skin.

Completed JT-60SA experimental nuclear fusion facility in Japan
Engineering

The world’s largest experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor is up and running

Located north of Tokyo, the six-story high JT-60SA could spur advancements towards the 'Holy Grail' of renewable energy.

How to speed up your web browser
Tech Hacks

How to speed up your web browser

Don't be dawdling when you're online.

A woman in pain puts her hands up to her nosed with her eyes closed.
Medicine

It’s stuffy nose season. Here’s how to cope

The popular nasal decongestant phenylephrine was deemed ineffective in pill form in September.