Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 373)

A close up of a skull and teeth.
Archaeology

Plague DNA was just found in 4,000-year-old teeth

New evidence shows that a strain of Yersinia pestis was in Britain millennia prior to the Black Death.

A walker in sneakers, with the bottom of the shoe visible.
Fitness & Exercise

Evolution of human foot arches put the necessary pep in our upright steps

A spring-like recoil in the arch helps the ankle lift the body from the ground.

Person with dark skin and short hair jumps rope while pregnant person with light skin and hair in a bun squats and lifts dumbells. Illustrated in orange, black, and gray.
Fitness & Exercise

The 6 essential parts of an effective workout

Cardio or lifting? Why not both?

Tabby cat on hardwood floors playing with a fabric toy resembling a mouse
Life Skills

5 ways to ensure your cat actually likes playtime

These science tips can help you find and make toys your furry friend will enjoy.

Colorado River low water levels after drought and evaporation in Lake Powell, Utah, seen from above
Global Warming

Every drop of the Colorado River counts. So what about evaporation?

The biggest reservoirs on the Colorado River are disappearing. But the issue of evaporation is not so cut and dry.

Mammatus types of clouds over a lighthouse and rocky coast
Weather

A scientific guide to clouds, even the ones that look like udders

Some clouds have weird names and funny features. You should learn them.

1 in 5 people are likely to live in dangerously hot climates by 2100
Global Warming

1 in 5 people are likely to live in dangerously hot climates by 2100

Most people live with a mean annual temperature of 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Billions of people could see 84 degrees or higher by the end of the century.

Large termite mound in the African Savannah
Engineering

Termite mounds may one day inspire ‘living, breathing’ architecture

Termites can be a nuisance to humans, but their homes may teach us a thing or two about sustainability.

A sloth hangs in a tree in Costa Rica. The mammals have the slowest digestive system of any animal on Earth. It can take sloths two weeks to digest an entire meal, and they sleep about 20 hours a day to conserve energy.
Wildlife

Sloth schedules are surprisingly flexible

These cryptic critters use lack of activity to their advantage.

Recycling bins with symbol
Pollution

Why the recycling symbol is part of a ‘misinformation campaign’

The recognizable chasing arrows icon could be doing more harm than good—so the EPA wants to toss it.

Tesla supercharging station.
Electric Vehicles

Ford EVs can soon be charged at Tesla stations

Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning and E-Transit customers can start using adapters to plug into superchargers.

Scientists and Indigenous people team up to build a kelp seed bank
Global Warming

Scientists and Indigenous people team up to build a kelp seed bank

In Washington State, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s new preservation facility offers a back-up plan for an uncertain future.

An elderly person with short gray hair, wearing a pink shirt and jeans, with their hands on the shoulders of a kid they're teaching how to ride a bike. The child is wearing a red helmet and using a balance bike on a park path.
Life Skills

Pro tips for teaching a kid how to ride a bike

This advice should make learning to ride a bike easier for you and your fledgling rider.

Gasoline use isn’t falling fast enough. Targeting ‘superusers’ could help.
Fossil Fuels

Gasoline use isn’t falling fast enough. Targeting ‘superusers’ could help.

America may have hit 'peak gasoline,' but the fossil fuel’s decline is still too slow to meet climate goals.

Person in a suit and tie sitting outside in front of their computer, looking frustrated.
Tech Hacks

How to get rid of the giant ads blocking your favorite websites

You'll never have to look for that elusive "X" again.

Plant-covered roofs could help chill Brazil’s heat-stricken favelas
Global Warming

Plant-covered roofs could help chill Brazil’s heat-stricken favelas

How one group in Rio de Janeiro teamed up with researchers to adapt green roof technology for their community.

Elon Musk in meeting wearing suit
Technology

Neuralink human brain-computer implant trials finally get FDA approval

The FDA previously rebuffed Neuralink's initial application.

Young gorilla eating plant leaves in tree
Technology

Zoo’s bird-feeder-like device encourages gorillas to forage for snacks

An affordable, open-source device spreads the apes' meals across their enclosure to promote a more natural foraging environment.

The weevil Anchylorhynchus trapezicollis is the main pollinator of South American palm Syagrus coronata. Here, the weevil is seen on a female flower, touching the receptive parts and leaving pollen grains in the process.
Insects

Move over, bees: The lowly weevil is a power pollinator

The long-snouted beetle deserves more buzz for their pollination skills.

Ioniq 6 EV
Electric Vehicles

Electric cars are better for the environment, no matter the power source

Experts say that across the board, EVs are a win compared to similar gas-powered vehicles.