Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 415)

An artist’s illustration of Alligator munensis, which is skimming the water with its eye out and surrounded by lush green trees. The large tooth sockets towards the back of its mouth suggest this extinct gator could crush shells and may have snacked on hard-shelled prey like snails.
Wildlife

Extinct snub-nosed gator had big teeth for crushing snails

The recently-discovered reptile likely lived in present-day Thailand roughly 230,000 years ago.

a military model of an embassy and a hummer
DARPA

Why US intelligence wants a new way to make virtual, 3D models

The idea is to take two-dimensional imagery and create a realistic three-dimensional simulation for soldiers or first responders to use.

Multiple boxes of Diet Coke on a store shelf.
Food Safety

WHO categorizes aspartame as a possible carcinogen—but don’t panic

The statement advises a bit of moderation in consuming your favorite diet soda.

Ocean waves crashing.
Ocean

How climate change is pushing oxygen out of the world’s oceans

Species like tuna and sharks are especially vulnerable to these changes.

Red pieces of CRISPR-edited wood against the paler natural type.
Biology

Genetically modified trees could mean more sustainable wood

Gene editing could reduce the carbon footprint for making paper products from poplar trees.

Chipotle worker removing peeled and sliced avocados from Autocado robot
AI

Chipotle is testing an avocado-pitting, -cutting, and -scooping robot

The prototype machine reportedly helps workers cut the time it takes to make guac by half.

three electric vehicles for nasa parked in a row
Electric Vehicles

Check out NASA’s fun new electric vans

The cute vehicles come from a company called Canoo and are intended to be used by the Artemis II crew before they leave Earth.

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.