Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 320)

Elemental chromium
Engineering

The same metal found on hot rods and Harleys could revolutionize solar panels

Chromium is showing immense promise as a cheap, plentiful alternative to metals used in smartphone screens and solar cells.

Men pose outside of Michigan State University’s first observatory, circa 1888. The observatory is located behind where Willis House now stands on MSU’s campus, just south of Grand River and north of West Circle Drive in North Neighborhood.
Archaeology

Michigan State students help unearth a 19th-century space observatory on campus

'The original campus observatory was built and used at a time when Michigan Agricultural College—what would become MSU—was a radically different institution.'

A person signing a PDF document on their phone
Tech Hacks

All the ways to digitally sign a PDF

You don't need a pen to put down your signature on a PDF file.

pregnancy test in hands
Medicine

Extreme heat could be a threat to contraception

Many states with abortion bans are experiencing broiling summers—and the heat could damage supplies such as emergency contraception and pregnancy tests.

The best sewing machines for quilting
Home

The best sewing machines for quilting

With sewing machines that provide quilter-friendly features, innovative sewists can produce stunning quilts that serve both utilitarian and artistic purposes.

The best Soundbars under $200
Speakers

The best soundbars under $200

An affordable soundbar is the biggest small upgrade you can make for your viewing pleasure.

a member of the air force staff demonstrates a virtual reality training system.
AI

US military’s special task force will explore generative AI

Can AI models make military predictions? The DoD wants to find out.

Soft robot gripper turning a book page
Robots

Origami-inspired robot can gently turn pages and carry objects 16,000 times its weight

The gripper design finds a balance between 'strength, precision and gentleness.'

Pipeline connection at an oil refinery
Fossil Fuels

The US is investing more than $1 billion in carbon capture, but big oil is still involved

1PointFive is helping oversee one plant in Texas. It also has direct ties to one of the world's largest fossil fuel producers.

A purple galaxy cluster against a black background of space, studded with stars.
Deep Space

When two stars orbit each other, gravity gets weird

Newton and Einstein's explanations for gravity might not fully explain some cosmic phenomena.

Four bivalve species found along the Maine coast, including the Northern Quahog, Eastern Oyster, a steamer clam, and a blue mussel presented together in a bed of seaweed at low tide.
Ocean

Popular shellfish resist extinction in surprising ways

A new study points to 801 species that have specific traits that make them more resilient bivalves.

Lead claimant Rikki Held, 22, confers with members of Our Children's Trust legal team before the start of the nation's first youth climate change trial at Montana's First Judicial District Court on June 12, 2023 in Helena, Montana.
Fossil Fuels

Judge sides with youth activists in groundbreaking climate change lawsuit

A judge found that a provision in a state law violates their constitutional right to a 'clean and healthful environment.'

person holds hand to ear, old magazine illustration
Life Skills

This gadget from 1930 let people ‘talk’ to the dead—with a magic trick

How a Popular Science tutorial for building a ‘spiritphone’ tuned into the hype of the Golden Age of Magic.

A person using Apple Maps in a park.
Tech Hacks

Switch from Google Maps to Apple Maps without losing your favorite pinned places

One less hurdle to clear if you're thinking of moving to Apple Maps.

best smoke detectors sliced header
Appliances

The best smoke detectors, according to experts

A smoke detector can be the difference between life and death.

Best audio interfaces sliced header
Peripherals

The best audio interfaces

You're never boxed in working in-the-box when you have an interface that delivers the best audio conversion for the cost.

A burnt out car lies in the driveway of charred apartment complex in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 12, 2023.
Pollution

The health hazards from wildfires will linger in Maui for years

Cleanup and recovery from a disaster of this magnitude is an arduous process.

The Best Smart Ovens
Appliances

The best smart ovens, tested and reviewed

Make cooking a breeze with these fast and easy ovens.

The GMC truck towing a trailer
Vehicles

GMC’s new heavy-duty Sierra truck can tow up to twice its own weight

It's been put through several "extreme tests," including a climatic wind tunnel.

The best dog cameras
Smart Home

The best dog cameras

Keeping an eye on, and even rewarding, your dog just got easier with the dog cameras packed with special features.