Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 30)

Overhead view of a white short-haired dog lying on a bed smiling up at a camera.
Dogs

Do dogs smile? Not like us.

A "smile" can mean a happy or nervous dog.

an illustration of a long-necked dinosaur standing by a river
Dinosaurs

A new dinosaur dubbed the ‘Last Titan of Thailand’ weighed more than 9 elephants

Say hello to the ‘Nagatitan.’

Goose flying behind wind turbine
Renewables

Birds avoid wind turbines painted like venomous snakes

For animals, certain colors scream poison.

hairy ghost pipefish Solenostomus snuffleupagus, which looks like Mr. Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street
Ocean

Real-life Snuffleupagus found swimming in the Great Barrier Reef

The resemblance is uncanny.

five different views of a neanderthal tooth with a cavity that was filled
Archaeology

Neanderthal ‘dentists’ treated cavities 59,000 years ago

A molar points to some sophisticated dental work performed by our extinct cousins.

Perseverance Mars rover selfie photo with Martian landscape behind it
Mars

Mars rover snaps a selfie near skyscraper-sized boulders

NASA's Perseverance rover has traveled nearly 26 miles since landing on the Red Planet in 2021.

a young child sitting on a beach smears white sunscreen on her face
Biology

Your next sunscreen could be made from E. coli

A chemical compound inside the bacterium may offer an eco-friendly way to block harmful UV rays.

Spiral loop of a green steel roller coaster with a coaster on the track.
Ask Us Anything

How to stay safe riding roller coasters

Millions of people ride amusement park rides every year with few serious injuries—but experts say a few precautions still matter.

a woman leads out a team of five mules
Animals

5 new mules set to patrol Olympic National Park

Murl, Cutti, Pip, Checkers, and Gopher will monitor trails, haul supplies, and help with search and rescue efforts.

Illustration showing clouds of space junk orbiting Earth
Space

Almost half of everything orbiting Earth is space junk

Abandoned rocket parts, dead satellites, and more circle the planet.

Panasonic Luix l10 camera
Cameras

The Panasonic LUMIX L10 is the latest model in the compact camera renaissance

A large sensor, fast zoom lens, and tactile controls make this an appealing alternative to cameras like the Fujifilm X100 series.

Rigid power tools spring sale header
Home

The Home Depot is blowing out RIDGID 18V power tools and combo kits for up to 66% off during this spring sale

Cordless multi-tools, drywall cut-out kits, framing nailers, and a 15-amp 13-inch planer are all marked down across nearly 90 RIDGID deals.

Six men performing a sea shanty in front of a wooden boat
Science

Sea shanties actually help people work together better

Centuries-old work songs still possess real psychological benefits today.

a before and after satellite image
Climate Change

NASA satellite images show how a massive tsunami in Alaska changed the landscape forever

A landslide dumped 64 million cubic meters of rock into the popular Tracy Arm fjord.

Spread wings of a wild crested caracara in South Texas USA
Birds

There’s a reason we don’t have birds the size of elephants

Young white boy in grey pullover holds a robot turtle posing in front of a small pond.
AI

Teen builds ‘Bionic Underwater Robotic Turtle’ to detect ecological threats

High schooler Evan Budz's award-winning invention can identify coral bleaching, invasive species, and microplastics without disturbing marine ecosystems.

woman with flame
Health

The explosive history of spontaneous combustion

In Europe in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, nearly a dozen cases of supposed spontaneous combustion were reported.

two bald eagle chicks
Birds

Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets can now see like their parents

Sandy and Luna's vision rivals that of adult bald eagles.

Hand grabbing Altoids tin next to another tin filled with a tiny computer
Engineering

This guy crammed a laptop into an Altoids tin

Yes, it works—if you have small fingers.

Stream of coffee pouring into an overflowing coffee mug on a white table
Biology

Why coffee tastes bitter, according to molecular biology

Researchers imaged taste receptors responding to coffee compounds for the first time.