Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 3)

Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea look into distance in painting.
Archaeology

Lewis and Clark’s mercury-laced poop helped archaeologists trace their expedition

Welcome to a poisonous trail of number two.

large brown bear with broken jaw
Bears

Big boy Chunk returns ahead of Fat Bear Week 2026

Last year's champion is back, busted jaw and all.

Concept art of big bang showing explosion in space-time grid launch galaxies out into the universe
Particle Physics

68% of physicists don’t think the time started at the big bang

A recent survey shows researchers remain divided on fundamental concepts. But that’s not a bad thing.

Raccoon in tree looking at camera
Land

It’s almost time to airdrop rabies vaccines again

The USDA program uses fishmeal-coated bait bricks to lure raccoons and other animals.

WWII bomb on sand
Military

World War II shell detonated on British Coast 

'These items can be so dangerous.'

child put glasses on the back of his head, back view
Health

What would you see if you had one eye on the back of your head and the other in the front?

A 360-degree view of the world around you would come with trade-offs.

dinosaur amongst rainy and mud puddles
Dinosaurs

First Diplodocus fossils found outside of United States 

This huge guy was 83-feet long and a member of the longest land animals ever known.

Yellowstone pickup truck parked in front of dozens of hats retrieved from hydrothermal vents
Land

Yellowstone National Park retrieved 280 hats from hydrothermal vents this summer

Other lost items include hair ties, dozens of lens caps, AirPods, and even an inhaler.

Hoodies and jackets on sale at Backcountry
Outdoor Gear

Backcountry’s fall hoodie sale has hundreds of sweatshirts and jackets at clearance prices

The deals include sweatshirts from The North Face, Columbia, Cotopaxi, GOREWEAR, and other high-end outdoor brands. You can even get a Dickie's hoodie for less than $20.

Witness tree in Eutaw Springs, South Carolina
Land

Arborists use supersonic air to save 300-year-old tree that survived American Revolution

The ‘witness tree’ in Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, also endured a lightning strike.

doctors in a surgery
Health

What makes ‘The Pitt’ so horrifyingly realistic? We asked the show’s makeup and prosthetic pros.

'Depending on the procedure, it can vary between two and nine weeks to build.'

USS Enterprise in space on Star Trek
Particle Physics

Physicist proves famous ‘Star Trek’ combat strategy works

The ‘Picard Maneuver’ is technically more ingenious than the show depicted it.

bear cub falls over waterfall as mother watches on
Bears

Katmai bear cubs tumble over waterfall

Mama bear #224 splashed down to collect her cubs.

A Waymo vehicle drives down a street on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in Santa Monica, CA.
Self Driving

What happens when driverless cars break the law? 

In 2026, driverless cars like and human drivers exist in two different legal realities.

a dark rat sniffs out a piece of chocolate with a candle in it
Biology

Rats make an ultrasonic sound when they eat chocolate

Animal sounds could be a window into their internal emotions, new research indicates.

people standing in front of shuttle
NASA

‘Star Trek’ and NASA have intertwined legacies

The show championed diversity and inspired generations of real space scientists.

Three young adult women are holding smartphones and looking at screens against a blue sky, connecting with social media
Tech Hacks

The best refurbished gadgets to buy (and where to find them)

Save a substantial amount of money on nearly-new tech.

A hand of a man inspecting soybean plants
Agriculture

How soybeans took over the American diet – without anyone noticing

Henry Ford dreamed of erasing the boundary between farm and factory.

snails on a paper towel with a bright orange dot on their shells
Land

500 snails mailed to Tahiti to reclaim their natural habitat

The literal snail mail is all to help save extinct-in-the-wild ‘Partula’ snails.

Joyful young woman playing with her golden retriever outdoors in the park
Dogs

Why do dogs’ legs shake during pets? It’s not because they like it.

That twitchy leg is a signal from your dog's nervous system.