Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 308)

The best Blu-ray players composited
Home

The best Blu-ray players

Streaming is awesome, but a solid Blu-ray player unlocks image and sound quality you've never known in your favorite TV and movies.

3D printer making algae-based water decontaminate
Engineering

‘Living material’ water filter uses bacteria to neutralize water pollutants

The algae-derived mixture can also safely break down after coming into contact with a molecular relative of caffeine.

Kidney transplant sensor on researcher fingertip
Technology

This organ-failure detector is thinner than a human hair

A new medical sensor can measure kidney temperature fluctuations as small as 0.004 degrees Celsius.

Canva interface showing a newly designed invitation
Tech Hacks

7 tips to unleash your creativity on Canva

If you can imagine it, Canva can help you design it.

An artist’s illustration of the 25 million year old Ditjimanka Lumakoala blackae, featuring (left to right) the wallaby-sized herbivore Muramura williamsi, an extinct koala relative named Madakoala devis,i and the calf-size lizard called Ilaria lawsone.
Wildlife

Scientists discover a cat-sized ancient koala in Australia

'Until now, there’s been no record of koalas ever being in the Northern Territory; now there are three different species from a single fossil site.'

depleted uranium shells
Weapons

Depleted uranium shells for Ukraine are dense, armor-piercing ammunition

The shells can literally sharpen themselves, making them effective at striking tanks. But they come with environmental and health concerns.

Aerial shot of sugar cane cropland.
Agriculture

How sprinkling volcanic rocks on farmland could capture carbon dioxide

A simple chemical reaction could help lock up gigatons of greenhouse gases.

A worker uncovers a mummy belonging to the pre-Inca Ychsma culture buried in a shallow funeral chamber on an ancient sanctuary during an excavation in the Huaca Pucllana, in the heart of a residential area in the district of Miraflores in Lima, on September 5, 2023.
Archaeology

1,000-year-old mummy with full head of hair and intact jaw found in Peru

The remains were discovered in the middle of a modern neighborhood in Lima.

Singer Jimmy Buffet in a purple shirt by a microphone.
Cancer

Why the rare skin cancer that killed Jimmy Buffett may become more common

There’s growing evidence that global warming's heat and influence over UV light contributes to skin cancer diagnoses.

Climate change is killing people, but we don’t know exactly how many
Climate Change

Climate change is killing people, but we don’t know exactly how many

We are 'gravely underestimating' climate mortality in the US, experts say.

wedges in the anechoic chamber and a hand holding a sound level meter
Engineering

What it’s like to step inside a room with no echoes

Anechoic chambers help researchers study the science of sound. Here’s how.

The best neck fans provide welcome relief while going easy on your wallet.
Outdoor Gear

The best neck fans

Stay cool when the mercury is soaring with the help of these easy-to-wear devices.

MIT Van Atta Backscatter array closeup
Engineering

This new subsea communications system can run on an iota of power

MIT's Van Atta Acoustic Backscatter leverages decades' old tech to create a promising new means of submersible signal transmission.

The best soundbars under $500, tested and reviewed
Speakers

The best soundbars under $500, tested and reviewed

Raise the bar not the budget and replace your TV’s lousy speakers with the best mid-tier soundbars.

Colorful plastic cutlery on a white background. The United States uses more than 36 billion plastic utensils every year.
Conservation

Millions of tons of waste could be eliminated by ‘nudging’ consumers to skip the plastic fork

Prompts to skip single-use cutlery made a huge difference for reducing delivery food waste in China, according to a new study.

An eruption emerges from the ocean in a cloud of ash and a lightning strike.
Ocean

The Tonga volcanic eruption reshaped the seafloor in mind-boggling ways

Immense flows traveled up to 60 miles away, damaging the region's underwater infrastructure.

Luxury car interior
Security

Your car could be capturing data on your sex life

Mozilla Foundation's review of 25 major automakers' privacy policies is a disconcerting look into vehicle tech security.

The best desk pads
Peripherals

The best desk pads, tested and reviewed

Worried that scuffs, dents, and chips are comin' at ya? Watch ya scrollable surface, kid ... protect ya desk, kid.

UPS delivery drone in flight
Drones

FAA will allow UPS delivery drones to travel greater distances

The shipping company can now fly its drones 'beyond the visual line of sight' of human pilots.

The best monitors for Xbox Series X
Console Gaming

The best monitors for Xbox Series X

Everything you need to know about playing your Xbox Series X on a PC monitor.