Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 355)

A person using a white MacBook laptop on a white table, maybe figuring out how to remove bloatware.
Tech Hacks

Make sure your computer isn’t downloading stuff you don’t want

Don't compromise the security of your system or the safety of your data.

Exoplanet LHS 475 b, with a mass 99 percent of Earth, orbits its sun solo, like ours. No co-orbiting planets have been confirmed.
Deep Space

How many planets can form one conga line around a star?

Astronomers simulated 24 planets following the same orbit, like ‘pearls on a necklace.’

Inside Microsoft’s surprising push for a right to repair law—and why it matters
Engineering

Inside Microsoft’s surprising push for a right to repair law—and why it matters

Major tech companies have long opposed the right to repair, but Microsoft is finally engaging with lawmakers and activists.

Australia wants a laser weapon powerful enough to stop a tank
Army

Australia wants a laser weapon powerful enough to stop a tank

Existing laser weapons focus on zapping drones out of the sky. Taking on an armored vehicle would require much more energy.

Man prepping person for fMRI scan.
AI

This AI-powered brain scanner can paraphrase your thoughts

Despite its potential communication benefits, researchers already caution against future 'mental privacy' issues.

Male indigo bunting, which could be a better Illinois state bird, sits on a branch
Science

Your state bird probably needs a makeover. Birder data is here to help.

States have better, more accurate options for feathered ambassadors than the Northern cardinal.

John Deere farm equipment
AI

How John Deere’s tech evolved from 19th-century plows to AI and autonomy

Plus, catch up on what's going on with farmers' right to repair this heavy equipment.

An iPhone on a notebook next to a Macbook on a wooden table, showing the Count notification display option on the iPhone's screen.
Tech Hacks

3 ways to change how iPhone notifications appear

Yes, you can customize how alerts gather on your iPhone lock screen.

An illustration of the organisms that lived in the Castle Bank community.
Wildlife

Fossil trove in Wales is a 462-million-year-old world of wee sea creatures

The species may be tiny, but are filling in big evolutionary gaps.

Being loud and fast may make you a more effective Zoom communicator
Technology

Being loud and fast may make you a more effective Zoom communicator

Here's what researchers gleaned from CANDOR's 850 hours of recorded Zoom calls.

The best FPV drones composited
Outdoor Gear

The best FPV drones

Get a truly unique point of view from the best first-person view drones.

Ligurian plates recovered from the hospital waste dump that date back to the second half of the 16th century CE.
Diabetes

Renaissance-era doctors used to taste their patients’ pee

A treasure trove of urine flasks dating back to the 16th century were found in an ancient Roman ruin.

Dough being rolled out with flour sprinkled around it.
Food Safety

Check your pantry for two kinds of potentially contaminated flour

General Mills has voluntarily recalled select bags of Gold Medal.

Red cherry shaped as butt on orange and purple ombre background
Evolution

A scientific exploration of big juicy butts

Build your appreciation for the largest, most booty-ful muscle in your body with these fact-filled stories.

A person holding an iPhone with a number of apps on its home screen. We hope they asked these security questions before installing them.
Tech Hacks

Stop and ask these 5 security questions before installing any app

These simple checks will help keep your devices safe from bad apps and bad actors.

The best gaming desks
Gaming

The best gaming desks

A base for your battlestation.

Yosemite National Park waterfall after California winter snow and rain
Global Warming

What California’s weird winter means for its water problems

The Western water wars continue.

How to understand your prescription’s fine print
Medicine

How to understand your prescription’s fine print

A toxicologist explains how to decode package inserts to take medications safely and increase their effectiveness.

shock waves from supersonic jet
Air Force

How fast is supersonic flight, and why does it create sonic booms?

Aircraft that can travel faster than the speed of sound have evolved since 1947, even if the physics haven't changed.

Airplane landing on runway at sunset
Aviation

The FAA just made East Coast flight routes shorter

Summer flying just got simpler.