Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 252)

Vernor Vinge
Science Fiction

Vernor Vinge, influential sci-fi author who warned of AI ā€˜Singularity,’ has died

Vinge’s visions of the future enthralled and influenced generations of writers and tech industry leaders. He was 79.

an illustration of an extinct species of pink river dolphin in murky water
Wildlife

Paleontologists uncover enormous fossilized river dolphin skull in Peru

Now extinct, Pebanista yacuruna is the largest known freshwater dolphin species and lived 16 million years ago.

Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality VR Headset
Peripherals

Get a Meta Quest 2 VR headset for just $199 during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale—but act fast

You can escape into the world of VR without dropping tons of cash on a current-gen headset.

Neuralink logo on smartphone
Social Media

Neuralink shows first human patient using brain implant to play online chess

Elon Musk previously said his brain-computer interface company implanted the device in January.

A smart bird feeder on a plain background arranged in a pattern.
Outdoor Gear

Save 52% off this solar-powered bird feeder camera during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale

If the Bird Buddy is out of your price range, consider this cheaper dupe that's under $100 as part of Amazon's Big Spring Sale.

Kermit the Frog strumming the banjo, along with a fossil skull of Kermitops (left) and a modern frog skull (right). Kermitops’ discovery is filling in some major evolutionary gaps for amphibians.
Evolution

New proto-amphibian species named after Kermit the Frog

Kermit the Frog tells us, 'I was truly honored… and a little puzzled.'

Timelapse of total solar eclipse showcasing Baily's beads
Sun

NASA needs your smartphone during April’s solar eclipse

The free SunSketcher app will use your phone’s camera to record the event and help study the sun’s ā€˜oblateness.’

Closeup of an eye
Health

What you need to know about cataract surgery

Ophthalmologists talk about the procedure that millions are about to have.

A Cafe Bellisima espresso machine on a plain background
Appliances

Get unlimited access to a sweet little treat with up to 48% off CafƩ coffee machines at Amazon

Sweet treats are for everyone. If you're budget isn't loving your coffee trips, consider investing in a espresso machine.

A lineup of the best 32-inch televisions on a white background.
Televisions

The best 32-inch TVs for small apartments, dorms, and bedrooms

Bigger isn't always better. A 32-inch television is perfect for small bedrooms, college residence halls, and teensy tiny living rooms.

Jackery solar generators on sale at Amazon arranged in a pattern on a plain background
Outdoor Gear

Save hundreds on solar generators during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale

Save on solar generators from Jackery, EcoFlow, Anker, and more during Amazon's latest sales event.

a black and white orca whale leaps out of the ocean while hunting a sea lion. another whale is surfacing near by.
Whales

How crafty orca whales hunt near submarine canyons

A unique subpopulation of transient killer whales switches their techniques depending on the seascape.

High traffic road with signs and light trails on sunset
Fossil Fuels

EPA says over half of all new cars must be EVs or hybrids by 2032

The Biden Administration’s new policies are the strictest auto pollution regulations yet.

Female hand with mobile phone on blurred night lights background
Social Media

‘Cyberflasher’ sent to prison for the first time in England

While legislation similar to the country's Online Safety Act exist worldwide, it is inconsistent.

Anker soundcore headphones arranged on a background
Earbuds

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale drops Anker Soundcare headphones and earbuds below Black Friday prices

Save up to half-off headphones and earbuds with active noise canceling during the first big sale event of the year.

A circular asteroid with a smaller rock orbiting it. The asteroid Dimorphos was captured by NASA’s DART mission just two seconds before the spacecraft struck its surface on September 26, 2022.
NASA

NASA’s asteroid blaster turned a space rock into an ā€˜oblong watermelon’

The successful DART mission likely made Dimorphos' shape more 'askew' and eccentric.

citizen science vacation
Life Skills

How ordinary travelers can become citizen scientists

Make your vacation count (phytoplankton).

A rally to honor George Floyd
Health

As more states target disavowed ā€˜excited delirium’ diagnosis, police groups push back

Critics have highlighted the ā€˜lack of evidence that this is an actual medical syndrome’ and condoned the ā€˜junk science’ excuse of ā€˜police brutality resulting in death.’

An illustration of the Bronze Age stilt settlement uncovered at Must Farm in eastern England. Five circular dwellings stand above a boggy wetland.
Archaeology

Bronze Age village was ‘pretty cozy’—until Britain’s Pompeii

Archeologists dig through dwellings that were destroyed by a fire 3,000 years ago.

The best triple-monitor stands
Peripherals

The best triple-monitor stands

How else are you going to put three monitors on one desk?