Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 256)

Two snowmobiles ride on the snow next to a river with a mountain and forest in the background
Vehicles

Why Ski-Doo is the only snowmobile permitted in Yellowstone

The park's rules protect wildlife–and keep things quiet.

a group of black and white ring-tailed lemurs sitting in green trees.
Wildlife

Sorry, Darwin: Most male mammals aren’t bigger than females

'It’s very Victorian Era thinking about gender roles.'

CorPower C4 buoy turbine in ocean
Engineering

Huge 60-foot-tall buoy uses ocean waves to create clean energy

CorPower’s C4 prototype just completed a successful six-month test run off the coast of Portugal. Here are the results.

Detergent pods are only the start of clothing’s microplastic pollution problem
Environment

Detergent pods are only the start of clothing’s microplastic pollution problem

A New York City bill to ban laundry pods is just one of many proposed solutions.

How to use iPhone Focus modes to avoid distractions
Tech Hacks

How to use iPhone Focus modes to avoid distractions

Customize your settings for work, sleep, fitness, or anything really.

A lineup of the best Macbooks on a white background
Laptops

The best MacBooks

Despite it’s succinct laptop lineup, Apple makes an impressive MacBook for nearly every use—from casual online shopping to processor-intensive video editing.

The best MacBooks for college collage
Laptops

The best MacBook for college

At college, a MacBook is a work machine, a communication device, an entertainment center and more. Here's how to choose the right one.

The MacBook Air M3 on its homescreen with a blurry background
Laptops

Apple MacBook Air M3 (13-inch, 2024) review: Unsurprisingly great

Apple's new M3-powered MacBook Air laptop adds better external monitor support, upgraded Wi-Fi, and (of course) more power.

a cicada in a tree
Insects

Cicadas pee in jet streams like bigger animals

Other insects flick urine away in droplets, but that can waste energy for hungry cicadas.

CCTV security camera operating in home.
Internet

Airbnb finally bans all indoor security cameras

Even when restricted to ‘common spaces,’ the cameras made many renters uncomfortable.

Concept art of cyborg jellyfish with forebody attachments
Robots

Hat-wearing cyborg jellyfish could one day explore the ocean depths

A cheap pair of accessories may transform some of the Earth’s oldest creatures into high-tech, deep sea researchers.

A potentially new squid species found off the coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
Biology

New squid alert! 100+ species discovered off the coast of New Zealand

Dozens of new mollusks, three fish, and a mystery species were found during a three-week long expedition.

Can this robot help solve a guide dog shortage?
Robots

Can this robot help solve a guide dog shortage?

Millions of partially sighted and blind persons don't have guide dogs. Autonomous machines may one day close the accessibility gap.

The long battle over fluoride comes to a head
Health

The long battle over fluoride comes to a head

A court battle brings to the forefront a federal report on fluoride safety, which some say has been stymied by politics.

How robber flies spear their prey with long sucking mouthparts
Insects

How robber flies spear their prey with long sucking mouthparts

First, robber flies track beetles using tiny microbursts of movement.

a green and red aurora with a space craft in the foreground
Space

15 captivating photos of auroras seen from space

Greens, purples, reds, and yellows splash across the sky.

Bowmouth guitarfish on the bottom of sea
Animals

How social media helps wildlife trafficking thrive in plain sight

There is little enforcement or legal culpability.

screenshot of imessage conversation talking about bagels
Tech Hacks

iPhone’s autocorrect is a nightmare. Here’s how to fix it.

You're not the only one annoyed by the iOS 17's aggressive autocorrect.

Google Earth Image of seismic center and truck road
Solar System

‘Alien’ signal was likely a very big truck

Researchers took a deeper look at seismic data taken during the 2014 fireball landing near Papua New Guinea.

two termites trapped in an oval shaped bit of amber
Evolution

These extinct termites have been stuck in a mating position for 38 million years

The fossilized insects were found preserved in amber.