Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 30)

bug spray held by woman's hand over water
Best of What's New

5 cool innovations in sports and outdoors in 2025

From the most effective brain-protective helmet to a new type of insect repellent.

a yellow flag with a coiled rattle snake and the words "dont tread on me"Gadsden Flag, Vikkram, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0.
Land

How the timber rattlesnake became a symbol of American independence

The very real reptile warned enemies ‘Dont tread on me,’ and urged the colonies to ‘Join, or die.'

Close up of yellow banana slug
Wildlife

An ode to slugs, the mascots of post-holiday laziness

They’ve got 500 million years of evolution on their side, after all.

A colorful, cartoon-style illustration of three stylized robots standing together, surrounded by a chaotic tangle of multicolored wires against a purple background.
AI

Slop, vibe coding and glazing: AI dominates 2025’s words of the year

Cambridge Dictionary, Dictionary.com, and Oxford University Press all select words connected to artificial intelligence.

hand in glove holding a chip
Best of What's New

5 remarkable engineering innovations of 2025

From an autonomous drone system to wood that's stronger than steel and 6 times lighter.

A peaceful landscape photograph of a cemetery at sunset, with numerous simple stone headstones scattered across a lush green lawn. Tall pine trees are silhouetted against a bright, warm sun that is filtering through the forest.
Technology

Cremation or casket? Here’s the most eco-friendly burial option.

The greenest choice turns out to be the simplest one.

solar flares on the sun
Environment

26 Popular Science stories you loved in 2025

From radioactive water to $25 vintage airplanes to a WWII shipwreck mystery.

a full moon rises over a snowy mountain
Moons

January stargazing: A supermoon, asteroid, and one very large planet

The Wolf Moon rises on January 3.

A close-up, angled shot of a silver waiter's corkscrew in the process of opening a wine bottle. The metal lever of the corkscrew is braced against the lip of the dark glass bottle, while the black spiral "worm" is drilled deep into the center of the natural wood cork. The background is a soft, out-of-focus gradient of green and grey.
Archaeology

The corkscrew began as a tool for muskets, not merlot

The wine key helped make airtight wine bottles—and modern wine culture—possible.

A dense thicket of green rivercane (Arundinaria gigantea) with long, slender, pointed leaves growing in a lush cluster. The canes stand tall in the foreground, partially obscuring a grassy area and a paved path that leads toward a line of trees in the background.
Climate Change

How a species of bamboo could help protect the South from future floods

In the face of mounting climate disasters, tribes, scientists, and Southern communities are rallying around a nearly forgotten native plant.

tvs, microphones, and headphones
Best of What's New

The 5 coolest entertainment innovations of 2025

From a TV that creates color in a totally different way to room-aware surround sound.

a block calendar with january 1 and the word "dry" on it
Diseases

The health benefits of Dry January

Weight loss, better sleep, and more can happen in one alcohol-free month.

star wars poster
Science Fiction

This is now the most valuable piece of Star Wars memorabilia 

Artist Tom Jung’s 1977 painting introduced the world to the look and feel of George Lucas’ blockbuster adventure.

Bluetti solar generators on sale at Amazon
Outdoor Gear

Amazon just dropped Bluetti portable power stations and solar generators below Black Friday prices

Don't wait for an emergency to grab a battery backup system. Bluetti's powerful packs are as affordable as they get right now.

A humanoid robot is carried by technicians after being knocked out in a kickboxing match at the World Humanoid Robot Games on August 15, 2025 in Beijing, China.
AI

2025 proved humanoid robots are here to stay. And fall down.

Their creators say it’s the getting back up part that matters.

An overhead shot of a Black woman with dark curly hair lying on white bedding with her eyes tightly shut in a pained expression. She has one hand pressed against her temple, illustrating a headache or migraine.
Science

Why do people get headaches and migraines? A child neurologist explains the science of head pain and how to treat it.

We can get headaches because of lack of sleep, too much alcohol or caffeine, or not drinking enough water.

Rosetta Stone app deal
Gear

Start your 2026 Resolutions with a lifetime membership to Rosetta Stone’s language learning program for just $149

Grab a lifetime membership and learn up to 25 languages instead of scrolling your life away in 2026.

Greenworks battery powered tools
Home

Amazon is blowing out Greenworks battery-powered yard tools and snow blowers during its winter clearance sale

Greenworks makes a wide variety of powerful electric yard tools and they're just about all on sale during this limited event.

variety of products
Best of What's New

5 home innovations that improved our lives in 2025

From dishwashers to lawnmowers to roof tiles.

two smuggled spider monkeys hugging
Wildlife

Baby spider monkeys rescued in Texas

Animal traffickers face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.