Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 421)

Plastic bottles and fishing nets and other trash on sea beach
Ocean

Plastic microfibers in the Mediterranean Sea are keeping bacteria afloat

Nearly 200 species of bacteria, including ones that can poison humans, were identified on microfiber pollution.

A person using the Google search engine on a tablet.
Tech Hacks

5 Google search tips for the most accurate results

Google won't tell you exactly how to search smarter, but we will.

stratego board game
AI

Here’s how a new AI mastered the tricky game of Stratego

It’s a huge and surprising result—at least to the the Stratego community. 

Meet a maintainer keeping the F-35 ‘flying computer’ in top shape
Air Force

Meet a maintainer keeping the F-35 ‘flying computer’ in top shape

'Ask any crew chief that worked on an F-15 or an F-16 or an A-10 … we don't get as dirty as we used to on the older aircraft.'

Group Of Friends Sitting On Sofa Watching Soccer Together
Mental Health

5 ways cheering for your favorite World Cup team improves your health

Psychologists say there are health benefits that come with rooting for sports teams, even if you're watching from the couch.

Humanoid robot bracing itself against a wall in balance experiment with human researcher standing behind it in lab setting
AI

Brace yourself for smarter robots that don’t fall over (as easily)

Researchers tipped over their robot over 882,000 times to teach its neural network how to keep from tumbling.

Artist’s impression of Cryptovaranoides when it was alive
Evolution

A key to lizard evolution was buried in a museum cupboard for 70 years

The sharp-toothed specimen could show the much-earlier origins of the modern lizard.

The hai smart Bluetooth showerhead next to text that says "Best of What's New, 2022, Home."
Best of What's New

The best home innovations of 2022

A system that recycles water in your home, paint that won’t drip, and an easy-to-install smart showerhead are the Best of What’s New.

OpenAI’s new chatbot offers solid conversations and fewer hot takes
AI

OpenAI’s new chatbot offers solid conversations and fewer hot takes

The bot is great at impersonations and pretty good at avoiding controversy.

Phone on desk showing chat app
Tech Hacks

The 7 best apps for all your group chats

Messaging multiple people at once is not difficult if you have the right app.

The FDA building in Washington DC
Diseases

The FDA approved a fecal transplant treatment for the first time

The pharmaceutical-grade version of a procedure can treat difficult intestinal infections.

Best automotive innovations of 2022
Concept Cars

The biggest automotive innovations of 2022

An EV that can go 747 miles on a charge, a thrilling new Corolla, and more automotive innovations are the Best of What's New.

The view of a colorful lake and steam from Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail.
Environment

There’s more magma under Yellowstone than we thought—but don’t panic

More magma under Yellowstone's super volcano doesn't mean an eruption is happening anytime soon.

Armed police robots will be a threat to public safety. Here’s why.
Military

Armed police robots will be a threat to public safety. Here’s why.

A recent vote in San Francisco allows police robots to use lethal force, such as with explosives.

Best of What's New 2022 Emergency Services and Defense
Electric Vehicles

The most helpful emergency services and defense innovations of 2022

A way for lost hikers to call for help, a rechargeable fire truck, and more innovations are the Best of What’s New.

The most innovative personal care products of 2022
Best of What's New

The most innovative personal care products of 2022

Holographic hair dyes, do-it-all beauty tools, and more medicine cabinet marvels are the Best of What’s New.

A SpaceX rocket flies above a Florida swamp in June.
Science

Trash-eating elephants, a lava landscaper, and 8 more of this year’s best NatGeo photos

See the world through the eyes of National Geographic's imaginative photographers.

As belugas disappear, so does irreplaceable cultural knowledge
Whales

As belugas disappear, so does irreplaceable cultural knowledge

Belugas pass cultural knowledge across generations. Their survival may depend on how they collectively adapt.

traversable wormhole illustration
AI

Scientists modeled a tiny wormhole on a quantum computer

It’s not a real rip in spacetime, but it’s still cool.

Collage of Disney's artificially aged portraits
AI

Disney built a neural network to automatically change an actor’s age

Disney Research Studios' Face Re-Aging Network can dramatically reduce artists' workloads and is ready for film and TV.