Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 39)

Milwaukee tools in front of a wall of milwaukee batteries
Gear

Get a free $169 battery when you buy a Milwaukee M18 power tool at The Home Depot

The M18 system offers pro-grade power tools with powerful batteries meant to take the abuse of hard work. They're great for pros or hardcore DIY.

a squirrel holding an acorn while it sits on a logCREDIT: Sandra Standbridge via Getty Images
Wildlife

Rodents’ secret weapon? Thumbnails.

Those tiny nails helped rats, squirrels, and more take over the world.

Hand with microgel sunscreen applied next to jar of sunscreen and bowl of camellia seeds used in recipe
Health

Is pollen the secret to eco-friendly sunscreen?

It's not at the pharmacy yet, but the experimental concoction harnesses nature's built-in UV protections.

Black ECOVACS DEEBOT X11 OMNICYCLONE robot cleaner render going up grey stairs
Smart Home

ECOVACS launches new DEEBOT X11 OMNICYCLONE flagship robot vacuum/mop at IFA 2025

It doesn’t just clean. It studies. It adapts. And, with 4WD mechanical climbing, it mounts thresholds like a Jeep with a to-do list.

A rear-view shot of a group of people doing a side-bending stretch in a brightly lit yoga studio. The main subject, a man with wet, curly hair and a muscular, sweaty back, is in the foreground. Several other people are visible behind him, and the studio mirrors reflect the class. They are all wearing athletic clothing.
Fitness & Exercise

Are ‘hot’ workout classes better?

Getting extra sweaty doesn't necessarily lead to fitness success.

A composite image including three black new Baseus with Sound By Bose wireless Bluetooth audio products (earbuds and headphones)on a white background
Earbuds

Baseus launches new Inspire line of Sound by Bose headphones/earbuds at IFA 2025

Three new Sound By Bose products bring the noise ... and cancel it ... for commuters to content creators, students to free spirits.

Three beanie hats on a yellow background
Outdoor Gear

REI is clearing out beanie hats from The North Face, Patagonia, Smartwool, and more for up to 58% off

Whether you want a light cap for fall or a heavy duty brain warmer for winter, REI has them all on deep discount right now.

Golden retriever in park with frisbee in its mouth
Heart Disease

Golden retrievers help scientists pinpoint a deadly heart mutation

While hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is rare in dogs, the ramifications may also save human lives.

a young man using his smartphone in the toilet while sitting with a roll of toilet paper placed in a toilet paper holder in the foreground
Mental Health

Bathroom doomscrolling may increase your risk of hemorrhoids

‘If it’s taking longer, ask yourself why.’

lava spreading out
Science

How a fracturing supercontinent forged rare volcanic rocks

The 800-million-year-old rocks unearthed in Australia are full of an important rare earth metal.

A four-legged orange robot dog from Boston Dynamics, named Spot, stands on a shiny concrete floor indoors. The robot has black legs and decals with words like “BOSTONER” and “RUSSELL” on its body. In the background, several yellow robot dogs are lined up against a wall with an industrial mural.
Robots

Watch Spot the robot dog nail a triple backflip

‘Obviously doing a backflip is not something our customers need.'

White polo shirt with yellow sweat stain under the sleeve
Science

Blue light beats bleach for yellow stains

It may not be great on the eyes, but it could be a new way to take care of those pit stains.

A medical professional wearing blue surgical scrubs and white gloves holds a clear anesthesia mask over the face of a patient who is lying down. The patient's face is visible in profile, and they are wearing a white surgical cap. The scene takes place in a medical setting, possibly an operating room, with a medical monitor and other equipment blurred in the background.
Medicine

How does anesthesia work? Experts still have questions.

From ether to modern drugs, anesthesia is full of secrets.

an aerial view of an island with stone structures
Archaeology

Escaped slaves on St. Croix hid their settlements so well, they still haven’t been found. Archaeologists using new mapping technology are on the hunt

By the end of the 1700s, more than 10% of the enslaved population here had successfully escaped captivity.

Stack of plastic bottles for recycling against blue sky
Sustainability

Easier plastic recycling is on the horizon

A new catalyst made from nickel may make sorting plastics a thing of the past.

Lego sets on sale at Walmart
Gaming

Walmart is blowing out LEGO sets during this huge ‘Bricktember’ clearance sale

Right now is the best time to buy LEGO sets as gifts for your loved ones or for yourself. You likely won't see better deals than this before the holidays.

Clay sculpture of two frogs from Caral civilization
Archaeology

An ancient frog statue’s secret message

The 3,800-year-old statuette dates back to the oldest known civilization in the Americas.

An electrical storm off the coast of Byron Bay, Australia. The changing sky dazzles with a natural light show of lightning bolts and billowing clouds dance in the sky for hours.
Climate Change

How lightning passes gas

And why it's both good and bad for our atmosphere.

A young Black woman with curly hair is smiling and looking at her reflection in the mirror. She is wearing a white robe and has a small amount of white cream, likely a skin product, on the fingertips of each hand. She is dabbing the cream onto her cheeks with her index and middle fingers. The background is a bathroom.
Health

Does retinol actually work?

The popular skincare product is said to help with acne, wrinkles, and dark spots. Here's what the science says.

An elevated view of the famous Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan, filled with a large crowd of pedestrians. People of all ages are walking in various directions across the wide, multi-directional crosswalks, which form a pattern of thick white stripes on the gray pavement. The scene is bright and busy, capturing the constant flow of foot traffic.
Health

Struggling to get in your daily steps? It may be your city’s fault.

Can urban design actually motivate people to walk more? New data says yes.