Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 35)

a black and white dog surrounded by dog toys
Dogs

Dogs can learn and remember how toys work

The process is similar to how human babies learn that bowls and spoons are used to eat.

By Laura Baisas

A light-toned painting shows a body wrapped in a white shroud lying on a bed or stone slab. Above the body, a translucent, ghostly figure with long hair and a white garment floats away, reaching upward with its arms. A framed window on the left side of the room reveals a blue sky and green hills with a mountain in the distance. The style is soft and ethereal, suggesting the departure of a soul.
Science Fiction

The 21 grams experiment that tried to weigh a human soul

In 1907, Duncan MacDougall put dying patients on a scale.

By Leah Hudson

Coral formation with long branches that make it look like Chewbacca
Ocean

New species of coral named after Chewbacca

Hrrraaaaawwwwwwwwrrrrrr!

By Andrew Paul

An arid archaeological site with a large, excavated rectangular foundation in the foreground, partially dug into a dirt mound. The site is surrounded by dry, barren land and hills in the distance. A few people are visible, providing a sense of scale, and the background shows a valley with green trees and a clear, hazy sky.
Archaeology

Lost mural reveals ancient Silk Road fire ritual

The ruins of a palace in Tajikistan offer a glimpse into the Sogdians.

By Sarah Durn

Ripe grapes growing on plants in vineyard lit by sun
Archaeology

Bronze Age farmers often prioritized wine over olives

Both fruits have been a staple of agriculture for 10,000 years.

By Andrew Paul

a map showing where birds are migrating
Birds

262 million birds forecast to take to the skies tonight

BirdCast can help you follow their fall migration.

By Laura Baisas

A black and white American Oystercatcher feeds a chick a mollusk with its long orange beak. Out of focus, rocks and sea surround the scene
Birds

18 majestic images from the 2025 Audubon Photography Awards

Bird photos that really take flight.

By Popular Science Team

Close up of Australian sleepy lizard with its mouth open on the ground outdoors
Wildlife

A zookeeper’s burnt lunch revealed a lizard’s secret survival skill

Australia’s sleepy lizards know to go when they smell smoke.

By Andrew Paul

A graphical representation of what a real Gerver’s sofa might look like.
Science

This is the biggest sofa you can fit around a corner, according to a mathematician

Let’s hope your couch is shaped like an old-fashioned telephone receiver.

By Tom Hawking

A man is lying asleep in a bed with pillows and a striped comforter, set up outdoors in the middle of a forest. The bed has two small bedside tables with lamps. The ground is covered in pine needles and scattered with rocks, and tall, thin tree trunks rise around him, creating a surreal and cozy scene.
Health

Is sleeping outside good for you? Science has a clear answer.

A night under the stars can reset your body's clock, reduce stress, and more—but it might not benefit everyone.

By Laura Kiniry

TP-Link Mesh router and gaming router on a yellow background
Smart Home

Amazon’s early Prime Big Deal Days sale include steep discounts on TP-Link routers and mesh WiFi systems

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days don't start until October 7th, but these huge savings on TP-Link networking gear are life right now.

By Stan Horaczek

This is a still image of the animation showing Gaia’s star-formation map in 3D.
Space Telescope

44 million Milky Way stars glimmer in galaxy’s largest 3D map

The Gaia space observatory helped astronomers chart 4,000 light-years worth of our home galaxy.

By Andrew Paul

Stones are measured at the World Stone Skimming Championships, held on Easdale Island on September 25, 2016 in Easdale, Seil, Scotland. The championships marking its 20th year are held on the last Sunday in September each year on Easdale, which is the smallest inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Physics

Scandal rocks international stone skipping contest

'Nefarious deeds' couldn't keep Jon Jennings from winning the World Stone Skimming Competition.

By Andrew Paul

a vet examining a seagull wrapped in a towel with a fishing bobber stuck in its mouth
Birds

Seagull survives swallowing a giant fish hook–thanks to local vets

‘This gull got very lucky!’

By Laura Baisas

Pythagorean theorum illustrated with triangle written in chalk on chalkboard
Science

Forget Pi Day. Today is Pythagorean Triple Square Day.

September 16, 2025 holds extra special mathematical significance.

By Andrew Paul

Smith sunglasses on a gray background on sale at REI
Outdoor Gear

REI has more than 40 different sunglasses on clearance during its annual sale

Get polarized sunglasses with polycarbonate lenses and 100 percent UV protection for as little as $34.

By Stan Horaczek

A pink drink in a clear wine glass with a long stem is placed on a white bedside table in a dimly lit room. A glowing lamp with a white shade and a potted green plant are also on the table. A bed with white linens is visible in the foreground on the left. The scene has a soft, warm glow.
Health

The real science behind this viral magnesium sleep hack

Should we all be drinking magnesium and lettuce water before sleep? Experts weigh in.

By Clarissa Brincat

airplane airbags illustration
Aviation

Engineers propose massive airbags for airplanes

The system uses an AI model that would trigger a Kevlar bubble cocoon in the event of a crash.

By Mack DeGeurin

The front and back of two bottles of Danish lactic acid bacteria from the 1800s.
Science

130-year-old butter bacteria discovered in Danish basement

Behold the power of lactic acid.

By Andrew Paul

Aymara elongated mummy skull
Archaeology

Looted mummy skull mislabeled for over a century

The roughly 350-year-old elongated skull is not Incan at all.

By Andrew Paul