Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 267)

an illustration of a gold griffin with the body of a lion and the head of a bird of prey
Animals

We’re (probably) wrong about origin of griffins

Paleontologists and folklorists search for facts about the mythological creature in the fossil record.

Concept art of asteroid entering planet's atmosphere
NASA

What would we do if an asteroid slammed Earth on July 12, 2038?

NASA's latest asteroid impact dry run revealed humanity may be our biggest hurdle.

eight catapult stones on grass
Archaeology

Archeologists uncover 800-year-old stone catapult shots used in English Civil War

The projectiles were hurled towards and from Kenilworth Castle during a six-month siege in 1266.

running in the summer
Science

How runners and cyclists can stay safe in extreme heat

If you're spending time outdoors in the summer, here are some tips to follow—if you can.

Indianapolis - Circa June 2017: Tesla Motors Local Car Dealership. Tesla designs and manufactures the Model S electric sedan III
Electric Vehicles

Dead Teslas keep locking owners out of (and inside) their cars

There is an unmarked release latch described in the owner’s manual—located in the battery-powered glove box.

a grocery store shelf with electronic price tags
Technology

Digital price tags can change the cost of groceries 6 times per minute

Electronic shelf labels bring Uber-style dynamic pricing to stores like Walmart.

titan
Space

Wave erosion may have shaped Titan’s coastlines

New modeling holds potential clues to the moon's morphology.

Glassy gel stretching
Engineering

‘Glassy gels’ are a new class of strong, stretchy, sticky materials

They're as tough as plastic but five times as elastic.

The ancient oak circle which emerged from the shifting sands at Holme next the Sea in Norfolk. The ring of oak tree trunks with a large upturned tree at its centre is believed to be 4,000 years old & is said to be of great archaeological importance.
Archaeology

What is ‘Seahenge’? Bronze Age worshipers may have used the structure to try to extend the summer

Its timbers align with the sunrise on the Summer Solstice.

Fraudulent call centers are well known for targeting older adults.
Technology

Older Americans are at more risk of fraud than ever

A geriatrician explains what you need to know.

an suv driving on a dirt path
Vehicles

The engineer who went off-roading to help build Honda’s most rugged vehicle

The Pilot TrailSport was conceived by a team passionate about taking their trucks and SUVs on dirt trails. 

a hand holding an iphone that is glowing
AI

All the AI features coming to Siri on your iPhone

Siri is getting its biggest update ever with Apple Intelligence.

Giraffes are a lot gayer than most people give them credit for
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Giraffes are a lot gayer than most people give them credit for

Plus other weird things we learned this week.

deer
Animals

As ‘zombie’ deer disease spreads, scientists look for answers

Chronic wasting disease, which slowly destroys the brains of deer and elk, is hard to detect, impossible to treat, and spreading across North America. Researchers are mounting new efforts to understand the deadly disease, amid concerns it could someday spill over to humans.

Roman wine urn
Archaeology

The world’s oldest wine contains a cremated Roman aristocrat

Don't worry, it wasn't for drinking.

orange bucket filled with leaves. a hose rests on the edge of the bucket with water coming out
Projects

How to build a mosquito kill bucket

Setting up a larva trap at home is an effective mosquito control method.

boxing robot
Robots

These robots learned tennis and boxing after observing people

The more they watch you, the better they get.

Concept art of lunar rover heat switch system
Space

Moon rovers are evolving to survive the harsh lunar night

The system is part refrigerator, part vent.

Illustration of an astronaut on Mars, using a remote control drone to inspect a nearby cliff.
Mars

Traveling to Mars could destroy your kidneys

New research suggests that a Mars-bound astronaut may need dialysis on the way home.

Cheetah cubs rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade and brought to Cheetah Conservation Fund’s Rescue and Conservation Center.
Animals

On the hunt: Tracking the illegal cheetah trade

Scientists are testing new tools to spot the origin of cheetahs poached from the wild and smuggled for the pet trade.