Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 257)

a large telescope sits in a green field next to a white barn in a rural setting
Electric Vehicles

Can EVs drive in National Radio Quiet Zone?

The only vehicles allowed near the Green Bank Telescope are diesel-powered.

How lightning on exoplanets could make it harder to find alien life
Space

How lightning on exoplanets could make it harder to find alien life

Extraterrestrial biosignatures can be both boosted and hidden.

solar power farm at sunset
Energy

Solar hits a renewable energy milestone not seen since WWII

With supply chains finally open, solar provided most of the nation's new electricity capacity last year.

a collage featuring a head being drilled into
Popular Science Videos

A history of trepanning: Why do we put holes in our skulls?

Humans have been cutting into our skulls for thousands of years. But why?

A lineup of the best dog blankets cut into four vertical panels
Home

The best dog blankets to keep your pooch comfortable

A dog blanket can keep your pup feeling safe, cozy, and warm.

a black box with the word "hello" in green letters sits on a table next to a lamp
Technology

Watch us try to make ‘Butler in a Box’ work like it’s 1983

Time has not been kind to this Siri and Alexa predecessor.

"Popular Science" written in orange letters
Announcements

Big news: Popular Science is back on YouTube

You might know Kevin Lieber and Matt Tabor from Vsauce2. And if you don't, say hello.

a deep sea worm with feathery appendages
Ocean

Newly discovered deep-sea worm moves like a ‘living magic carpet’

Pectinereis strickrotti wiggles with feathery appendages tipped with gills that help it undulate under the sea.

NASA astronaut training
International Space Station

NASA’s astronaut applications are open again. Do you have what it takes?

If you missed out on space camp, it's time to see if you qualify for the real thing.

red pickup truck driving down a road
Vehicles

The 2025 Ram 1500 pushes more power out of a smaller engine

The truck ditches the V8 for a more efficient turbocharged inline-six.

The science of Dune’s magnificent, merciless sandworms
Science Fiction

The science of Dune’s magnificent, merciless sandworms

Can Shai-Hulud exist in nature?

scans of the anatomy of different animals
Animals

Take a look inside 13,000 animals–no scalpel required

Scientists from the openVertebrate project spent five years taking detailed CT scans of amphibians, reptiles, fish, and mammals.

row of washing machines
Energy

Washers and dryers are about to get a whole lot more efficient

The new guidelines will save people $2.2 billion a year in utility costs and eliminate 71 million tons of planet-warming CO2 emissions.

Too many screens? Why car safety experts want to bring back buttons
Vehicles

Too many screens? Why car safety experts want to bring back buttons

Automakers must find a balance of high-tech screens and old school controls.

A silver gar fish with a long snout.
Fish

Meet the new king of the ‘living fossils’

These ancient dart-shaped fish called gar have genomes that change about three times slower than other vertebrates.

An M1 MacBook Air in a brick pattern on a plain background
Laptops

Save $250 on an Apple M1 MacBook Air at Best Buy and Amazon before it sells out

If you've thought about upgrading your laptop, consider this deal a sign.

Oh good, the humanoid robots are running even faster now
Engineering

Oh good, the humanoid robots are running even faster now

Shanghai's Unitree Robotics says their H1 robot trots at 7.38 mph—nearly two miles’ faster than the Boston Dynamics' Atlas.

a phone holds an android phone
Tech Hacks

How to change the default apps on your Android phone

Put your favorite apps front and center.

Close-up of senior woman holding a modern hearing aid
Health

Using hearing aids can be frustrating for older adults, but necessary

Here's how you can make the most out of the technology available.

Firey lava spews out La Cumbre volcano on March 3, 2024 in Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. La Cumbre volcano, located on Fernandina Island of the archipelago, erupted on Saturday, March 2.
Science

Volcano on island in the Galapagos spews lava into the sea

The eruption occurred on Fernandina Island, which is uninhabited by humans. Meanwhile, southwestern Iceland faces more imminent volcanic activity.