Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 315)

The Rivian R1S marries the box-it-came-in styling of the company’s R1T pickup truck with the three-row SUV body style families need.
Electric Vehicles

Rivian R1S electric SUV review: A mixed bag for big bucks

The Rivian R1S is an impressive technical tour de force, but it needs many improvements to warrant the $106,000 price tag.

Screenshot showing shaded rendering of Doom via E. Coli bacteria display
Biology

Running ‘Doom’ on E. coli cells… very, very slowly

It would take nearly 600 years to finish playing this MIT student's iteration of the classic video game.

The constellation Orion, the Hunter as seen in the northern winter Milky Way in February 2020. The Orion Nebula is the bright, overexposed pink glow below the Belt of Orion, while the curving arc of red is Barnard’s Loop, now thought to be a supernova remnant. The bright red glow at upper left is the Rosette Nebula. Red Betelgeuse was at its minimum the night this image was taken, at about the same brightness as Bellatrix to the right—Betelgeuse is usually about as bright as blue-white Rigel at the lower right.
Space

February’s skies shine with Orion, a harmless comet, and an extra day of stargazing

Leap Day is on February 29, 2024.

As AI becomes more ubiquitous and naturalistic, many industry critics have voiced concerns about a potentially increasing number of people turning to technology instead of human relationships.
AI

13 percent of AI chat bot users in the US just want to talk

A Consumer Reports survey says many adults who used programs like ChatGPT in the summer of 2023 simply wanted to 'have a conversation with someone.'

What is 8K and should your next TV have it?
Televisions

What is 8K and should your next TV have it?

8K TVs are “the best” … but are they best for you? We look at whether the futureproof is in the pudding.

X briefly banned search results for the singer’s name on the platform.
AI

AI-generated Taylor Swift porn deepfakes ran rampant on X. Will laws catch up?

Gutted trust and safety teams and loose content moderation at X may have been to blame.

Green dots representing spores are dispersed from a leaf.
Biology

Watch ‘tiny tornadoes’ spread plant pathogens

Understanding how deadly fungal spores move could help protect plants from deadly diseases.

Industrially processed foodstuffs that are engineered to be highly palatable are doing our health no good, researchers say.
Nutrition

What can we do about ultraprocessed foods?

Researchers are figuring out the features of these foods that harm our health—and proposing ways ahead.

A lineup of four of the best fire extinguishers.
Home

The best fire extinguishers

Protect your home, kitchen and all, from disaster with these handy fire extinguishers.

Two long stone tools from the Lincombian–Ranisian–Jerzmanowician (LRJ) culture uncovered at Ranis. Item 1 is a partial bifacial blade point characteristic of the LRJ. Item 2 also contains finely made bifacial leaf points.
Evolution

Neanderthals and modern humans intermingled in Europe 45,000 years ago

New studies of Stone Age tools and bones also suggest human ancestors could adapt to a tough climate.

For those times when you just can't remember what a song is called...
Tech Hacks

How to find that song stuck in your head

Harness the power of Shazam, Google Assistant, and more when you just can't name that mystery earworm.

The best PS5 controllers for taking control of your games
Console Gaming

The best PS5 controllers for taking control of your games

Whether for multiplayer parties, a backup for when a battery runs out, or just competitive edge, extra PlayStation 5 controllers are a must.

Arrow pointing towards potential sonar scan of Amelia Earhart's airplane
Aviation

Did sonar finally uncover Amelia Earhart’s missing plane?

Scans that depict what could be the famed pilot’s Lockheed 10-E Electra are still being evaluated.

The best recliners for back pain in 2024 on a plain white background.
Home

The best recliners for back pain

Don't stay stagnant and in pain. If your back has been aching, these chairs may offer some relief.

Smartphone showing Elon Musk X profile against Neuralink logo backdrop
Internet

Elon Musk alleges Neuralink completed its first human trial implant

Musk, posting on X, claimed that the volunteer is ‘recovering well,’ but did not offer evidence.

A multiple-exposure photograph of insects circling an artificial light at night. The light can mess with a moth’s sense of what direction is up and which way is down.
Land

Why artificial light—and evolution—trap moths

High-resolution video shows how much artificial light sources mess with moths' flight patterns.

H5N1 flu has been confirmed in Gentoo penguins for the first time. Over 20 Gentoo chicks have been reported dead from the virus or are showing symptoms of this highly contagious strain of bird flu.
Wildlife

Antarctic penguins are now dying from the H5N1 strain of bird flu

The virus has already been confirmed in one species of penguin, with a suspected case in another.

Partially charge your laptop’s battery so you can use it longer
Tech Hacks

Partially charge your laptop’s battery so you can use it longer

These tips will extend the lifespan of your lithium-ion battery.

The best superbowl essentials
Home

Our top 13 Super Bowl party essentials—from $26 compostable plates to a $1,699 projector

If you're having people over for the big game this year, here are a baker's dozen of our favorite things to make you the host with the most.

Altadena, CA, Monday, August 28, 2023 - LA County crew member Jonathan Lainez hydrates as he works to repave a section of East Altadena Dr. as temperatures reach 100 degrees and above.
Climate Change

As summers grow ever hotter, OSHA appears ready to protect workers

Many in the construction and agriculture industries are opposed, but new research shows it would help them, too.