Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 4)

man wearing gloves and scarf in snow
Weather

3 myths about the weather

Lighting hits the same place twice constantly.

A man looks at the remains in the aftermath of flash floods at Trishuli in Nepal's Nuwakot district on September 7, 2026. The August 26 glacial and mountain collapse on the China-Nepal border killed at least 1,398 people, with more than 5,500 missing, including around 800 foreigners. (Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP)
Environment

Why it’s so hard to predict a tragedy like Nepal’s glacier collapse

Melting glaciers spell disaster around the world. Protecting people will be a challenge for decades to come.

A metallic green reclining robot surfing internet listings on a laptop
DIY

How to find the best new tech on crowdfunding websites

Find weird and wonderful gadgets first, and get discounts on retail prices.

a california condor chick stands in an incubator. it has fluffy white and gray feathers
Land

Single California condor mother gets help raising her chick

After coming back from the brink of extinction in the 1980s, the birds are still considered critically endangered.

curious sea lion approaches photographer
Ocean

16 splashy and spectacular images from the 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year awards

From a pod of dolphins riding a wave to a seahorse the size of a grain of rice.

Hand holding up obsidian arrowhead in front of sun through forest trees
Archaeology

Yosemite National Park highlights Indigenous arrowhead crafting

Called knapping, the skilled process dates back thousands of years.

Tiny megalopae crab specimen seen next to tweezers on black background
Ocean

Tiny crabs discovered hitching rides on sea snakes

It wasn't the wisest move, unfortunately.

a man wearing a suit walks a black dog in a city, while looking at his smartphone
Technology

Dog poop not picked up? Blame people staring at their phones.

Most dog owners really are diligent, but smartphones are distracting.

Homemade pocket notebooks on geometric cutting mat
Internet

How to craft pocket notebooks for pennies

This easy workaround will keep your wallet happy and thoughts flowing.

two small brown bears standing above a waterfall looking for salmon
Bears

The cubs from Katmai’s ‘Brady Bunch’ blended family are all grown up

Bear #609 (Bean) and Bear #620 were raised together when one mother bear adopted her sister’s cub.

Video iPod held in a hand open to reveal the insides
Gear

Apple sealed the iPod shut, and hackers have been prying it open ever since

From a $400 tube-amp dock to a 10-minute Bluetooth mod, the iPod has always begged to be cracked open.

An image composite or collage showing a large 1960s nuclear ship.
Navy

In 1959, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship set sail before the world was ready

The NS 'Savannah' even offered a view into the reactor powering the state-of-the-art ship.

Vacationers ride in covered wagons across the Nebraska prairie along the route of the Oregon Trail as part of a vacation to simulate the Oregon Trail experience. Near Bayard, Nebraska. | Location: near Bayard, Nebraska, USA. (Photo by James L. Amos/Corbis via Getty Images)
Health

Could you survive The Oregon Trail? An emergency medicine doctor offers tips on how to not die in the great outdoors.

You might not die of dysentery on the trail these days, but there is still plenty of danger outdoors.

Painting of Wyoteuthis linsterorum, an ancient squid relative, as it eats a fellow cephalopod
Evolution

‘Squid butt’ fossil belongs to one of the ‘chunkiest’ cephalopods ever discovered

The newly described Jurassic cephalopod likely dined on its fellow invertebrates.

Close up of hands rolling betel nut powder in leaf
Archaeology

Humans experimented with mind-altering drugs 25,000 years ago

Betel nut use among hunter-gatherers may turn back the clock.

a fat bear sitting near trees
Land

Fat Bear Week kicks off September 22

May your favorite chunky brown bear reign supreme.

Living building material can be 3D printed under simulated Martian conditions at –30°C and 0.01 atm (left). A microscopic view reveals the material’s porous structure with polymers and engineered yeast highlighted in yellow (right).
Mars

Mars astronauts could live in houses 3D-printed from freeze-dried yeast

A new method concocts concrete-strength material from sand and gelatin.

a coiled beige-colored snake with spider-like legs on its tail
Wildlife

Snake that hunts with fake spider on its tail shocks scientists

The scientists examining the spider-tailed horned viper's bones were in for a surprise.

Max Brooks photo layered over three images of his book cover for World War Z
Science Fiction

Max Brooks reflects on 20 years of ‘World War Z’

The author and professional threat analyst discusses the novel's eerie COVID-19 parallels, science literacy, and more.

Man and woman eat ribs
Food Safety

You might be eating too much protein

Proteinmaxxing isn't always healthier, especially as we age.