Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 256)

An array of PerchMe bird feeder cameras on-sale at Amazon
Outdoor Gear

The PerchMe solar-powered bird feeder camera is just $79 from Amazon

Get up-close HD footage of your local birds with this solar-powered, waterproof bird feeder camera.

Contrail clouds from passing jet planes streak the sky over the Utah desert.
Ask Us Anything

Why airplanes leave white streaks in the sky

Contrails are a problem, but not how you might think.

tv remote pointed at tv
Health

With TV drug ads, what you see is not necessarily what you get

'If you see it on TV or on social media, it’s probably not as good as something else.'

person in space suit above earth
Space X

Polaris Dawn astronauts complete historic first commercial spacewalk

Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis each emerged from the space capsule high above Earth.

an illustration of a long gray coelacanth swimming in its native habitat
Evolution

The ‘living fossil’ that thrived during a mass extinction

Coelacanths rapidly evolved as the Earth shook about 400 million years ago.

neanderthal teeth in a cave
Evolution

Neanderthals’ social isolation may have sped up their extinction

The remains of a 45,000 year old nicknamed Thorin was uncovered in a French cave system.

A bullet train passes below Mt. Fuji in Japan.
Self Driving

Japan will test self-driving bullet trains in 2028

Fully autonomous Shinkansen trains may begin service in the mid-2030s.

NASA astronaut Ed White free floating in space during a spacewalk in 1965.
Space X

How does Polaris Dawn fit into the history of spacewalks?

Could its unorthodox approach make it more dangerous for astronauts?

Lasius emarginatus
Archaeology

This immigrant ant is taking New York City by storm

Plus other weird things we learned this week.

microbes in the sky
Diseases

The sky is full of germs

Scientists found disease-causing microbes that could be traveling more than 1,200 miles through the atmosphere.

kids in school taking a test
AI

Kids who use ChatGPT as a study assistant do worse on tests

Researchers compare math progress of almost 1,000 high school students.

Best Snow Shovels for Seniors
Home

The best snow shovels for seniors

Nobody wants to shovel snow, but you do want access to your driveway so always be prepared.

NFL screenshot
AI

Amazon says its football AI can predict blitzes

The new Thursday Night Football system will tackle 'a huge hole in our football stats toolbox.'

Hardt Hyperloop used magnetic levitation to lift a pod up and propel it through a test track at 18 miles per hour.
Technology

Hyperloop’s not dead, apparently

Netherlands-based Hardt Hyperloop sent a pod through 90 meters of a test tube. It didn't crack 20 miles per hour.

an illustration of a small bird with light brown, black, and white plummage. it has a long beak with sharp teeth
Birds

‘Weird’ prehistoric bird had a weaponized beak with teeth

Longipteryx surprisingly used its beak on fruit, not fish.

People taking photos of the new iPhone 16 Pro with their iPhones
Earbuds

Hands on: Apple introduces new iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watches

The new devices all feature updated processors and fresh designs—along with plenty of AI features—without price increases.

Polaris Dawn Crew Dragon capsule detaching from SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket
Space X

Polaris Dawn is on its way to attempt first-ever commercial spacewalk

The four-person crew is traveling aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule and will test new spacesuits.

child playing with fidget spinner
Ask Us Anything

Does fidgeting really help you focus?

According to science, it depends.

Germany’s North and Baltic Seas are littered with munitions from the First and Second World Wars, such as shells—as shown here—once fired from German battleships.
Military

The big Baltic bomb cleanup

The ocean became a dumping ground for weapons after Allied forces defeated the Nazis. Now a team of robots and divers are making the Baltic Sea safer.

a whale surfaces next to a large fishing trawler
Ocean

Whales need krill to survive. We want it for supplements.

Marine mammals that almost went extinct are now competing with commercial trawlers for food.