Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 337)

Oldest tunicate on record from the Cambrian explosion, illustrated on the ocean floor
Wildlife

A 500-million-year-old sea squirt is the evolutionary clue we need to understand our humble beginnings

With no teeth, bones, or shell, this ‘watery sack’ is a rare fossil find that tells us a lot about the history of animal life.

Carlsbad Desalination Plant in Carlsbad, CA
Climate Change

How energy from waves might simplify desalination

A new generation of small, modular, mobile, wave-powered devices is looking to tackle desalination’s biggest problems head-on.

a model of a Kia EV9
Engineering

A look at the weird intersection of taxidermy and car design

An automaker and a design school have been collaborating on nature-based auto ideas. Here's what's been growing out of the partnership.

Sarah Silverman and other authors sue OpenAI and Meta for copyright infringement
AI

Sarah Silverman and other authors sue OpenAI and Meta for copyright infringement

The plaintiff attorneys argue that generative AI is 'just human intel­li­gence, repack­aged and divorced from its cre­ators.'

Kidney beans black beans, corn, and tomatoes can all increase your daily fiber intake
Diabetes

Up your daily fiber intake for a happy microbiome

There’s one magic substance that will help with America’s gut problems. Are you getting enough of it?

single fruit fly
AI

What’s life like for a fruit fly? AI offers a peek.

Keeping a close eye on these tiny beings bridges a huge gap in human genetics.  

A honey bee pollinates a yellow flower against a bright blue sky.
Evolution

Bee brains could teach robots to make split-second decisions

The power pollinators can make multiple quick decisions with a brain smaller than a sesame seed.

best solar birdbaths
Birds

The best solar birdbaths

Solar birdbaths offer an energy-efficient way for birds to sip water, cool their feathers, and maintain their flight agility.

Two male male rhesus macaques sit on the ground, one with his head down towards the other
Evolution

Same-sex mounting in male macaques can help them reproduce more successfully

Male on male sexual behavior occurred in 72 percent of the studied population.

Screenshot of inching magnetic soft robot
Robots

This magnetic robot could worm its way into human blood vessels

Just one magnetic field can create 'a movement-driving profile of magnetic forces.'

A green and blue aurora borealis glows above a body of water and mountains.
Sun

Updated forecast shows northern lights won’t be visible in most US states this week

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center updated their aurora forecast, dimming chances for some states to see the northern lights this week.

The 👍 emoji counts as a contract agreement, Canadian court rules
Internet

The 👍 emoji counts as a contract agreement, Canadian court rules

The ‘floodgates' could be open on what your favorite emoji means in legal contexts.

The giant Douglas firs in British Columbia forests are examples of so-called mother trees
Land

Are ‘mother trees’ real?

Some scientists say that ancient trees act as forest guardians. But evidence of this fairy tale-like effect is sparse.

Jars of animal and plant specimen.
Biology

Why preserving museum specimens is so vital for science

According to sources familiar with the Florida State Collection of Arthropods, many specimens are deteriorating.

A lineup of the best headlamps for hiking on a white background
Outdoor Gear

The best headlamps for hiking

Keep your hands free for essentials and your path illuminated for safety during your next hike.

VIPER moon rover coming down a ramp during a test at the NASA Ames Research Center
Moons

NASA’s quirky new lunar rover will be the first to cruise the moon’s south pole

Four wheels are better than six for off-roading in craters.

hand holding a smartphone showing an internet speed test to check any home wifi congestion.
Tech Hacks

Speed up a slow home connection by checking for WiFi-guzzling apps

Speed up your home network by cutting off data-hogging apps.

AI’s climate consequences are often overlooked
AI

AI’s climate consequences are often overlooked

Experts say the current hype ignores how AI contributes to emissions, misinformation, and fossil fuel production.

A person wearing a gold sweater and working on a laptop, possibly searching Google Drive and trying to find a lost file.
Tech Hacks

Use Google Drive’s Search Chips and never lose a file again

The Big G wants to make sure you find what you're looking for every time you search Google Drive.

Mitosis
Biology

Cells have some clever tricks for copying DNA

As cells divide, they must copy all of their chromosomes once and only once, or chaos would ensue. How do they do it?