Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 351)

Jackery Explorer 300 solar generator
Home

The best solar generator deals to shop right now

These portable power stations often feature steep discounts to save you money now and hassle later.

A dire wolf reconstruction on exhibit at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.
Wildlife

Mighty saber-toothed cats and dire wolves probably had achy joints

Ice Age fossils reveal tiny joint defects consistent with a bone disease seen in modern-day cats and dogs.

Man at desktop computer entering computer code
AI

Google’s AI contractors say they are underpaid, overworked, and ‘scared’

A new Bloomberg report sheds further light on the steep human toll to train generative AI programs.

This image of NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover at the rim of Belva Crater was taken by the agency’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter during the rotorcraft’s 51st flight on April 22, 2023, the 772nd Martian day, or sol, of the rover’s mission. At the time the image was taken, the helicopter was at an altitude of about 40 feet.
Mars

NASA rover finds evidence of carbon-based chemistry in Martian crater

The Red Planet may be home to a much more complex geochemical cycle than originally suspected.

Rows of birth control pills with the days of the week on the label.
Medicine

FDA approves first over-the-counter birth control pill in the US

The pill is sold under the brand name Opill and should be available in early 2024.

large dish on earth sends waves out to the moon in illustration
Military

An enormous radio telescope may soon be a powerful tool for planetary defense

A collaboration between the Green Bank Telescope and Raytheon resulted in a detailed way to see the moon, asteroids, and other hazards near Earth.

a person showing a sunburn on their shoulder and back, probably looking for a sunburn treatment.
Life Skills

A sunburn treatment that actually works

You should learn how to treat a sunburn. And better yet: how to prevent one, too.

Group of Chinook salmon.
Fish

Beer’s pungent scent could help salmon find their way home

In Oregon, researchers hope a surprising aroma will lure stray salmon back to their home hatcheries.

Three cows taking shelter near a house during a flash flood. A black one and a brown one are standing knee-deep in water, while a second brown one is standing on the porch.
Weather

Flash floods are rare, but deadly. Here’s how to be ready for them.

Extreme rain, broken dams, or dislodged ice jams can cause these rapid disasters.

a rendering of an electric jet in flight
Drones

These tiny electric fans are powerful enough to propel drones and jets

Whisper Aero is spinning up something interesting in the world of aerospace—and lawn care.

A person holding a black Android phone, possibly setting it to file transfer mode to back up their photos to their laptop.
Tech Hacks

The best ways to transfer photos from an Android to a computer

Skip the cloud—you can back up your photos and videos right on your laptop or desktop machine.

smartphone-showing the home screen of social network mastodon
Social Media

How ActivityPub is setting the stage to weave all your social media feeds together

Meta’s Threads could be the next to use this decentralized social networking protocol.

Three quadruped robots standing on rocky terrain
Robots

Four-legged dog robots could one day explore the moon

Built-in redundancies may enable teams of quadruped dog bots to explore the lunar surface.

The best robot vacuums
Home

The best robot vacuums

Here’s what to look for when you’re shopping, plus a few of our favorite models.

An image of the northern Gulf of Mexico created from remote-sensing reflectance and chlorophyll measurements taken from newly reprocessed VIIRS data. Green water is seen closer to the coast, while it gets darker and more blue further out.
Ocean

Scientists say the ocean is changing color—and it’s probably our fault

The shift in hue could be an indicator of changing conditions at the ocean’s surface.

Pile of retro video game controllers
Technology

Only 1 in 10 classic video games are publicly accessible today

More American silent films are preserved than vintage video games, according to a new study.

Arzopa Portable 2K Monitor
Peripherals

Save $70 on one of the best portable monitors with this Prime Day deal

Increase productivity without significantly decreasing your bank account.

A banded sea snake swimming freely
Ocean

Some sea snakes may not be colorblind after all

The original snake species lost the ability to see advanced color 110 million years ago.

A person's hands on a smaller black keyboard in front of a larger black keyboard, perhaps figuring out how to use mouse keys to navigate their computer without a mouse.
Tech Hacks

How to use mouse keys to navigate your computer with only your keyboard

Mouse died? Trackpad not responding? No problem.

JWST composite image of barred spiral galaxy NGC 5068, showing its core and part of a spiral arm. Clumps and filaments of dust, represented in a mossy green color, form an almost skeletal structure that follow the twist of the galaxy and its spiral arm.
Exoplanets

15 remarkable JWST images that reveal the wonders of our vast universe

The telescope has transported us to Jupiter's ghostly rings, the 'Cosmic Cliffs,' and a starry hourglass. Where to next?