Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 425)

Traffic jam seen in car's sideview mirror
AI

An AI that lets cars communicate might reduce traffic jams

A communication system between cars reduced 'phantom traffic jams,' and is more attainable than self-driving tech.

Amazon Echo device
AI

Alexa, why are you losing so much money?

Amazon's Alexa, the Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri have all reportedly had their own struggles. Here’s what’s going on.

Jezero Crater
Mars

Signs of past chemical reactions detected on Mars

The Perseverance rover landed in the Jezero crater in 2021 and has already found some clues to the planet's past.

Black hole shooting beam of energy out speed of light and being caught by a space telescope in an illustration. There's an inset showing blue and purple electromagnetic waves,
Deep Space

Astronomers now know how supermassive black holes blast us with energy

An extreme particle accelerator millions of light-years away is directing immensely fast electromagnetic waves at Earth.

iPad Pro 12.9, the best tablet for artists
Tablets

The best tablets

Choose the right tablet for your creating, consuming, and communicating needs.

Vestaboard
Smart Home

Vestaboard’s Black Friday free shipping is a big deal on a big display

This smart messaging board is one of the most interesting, incredibly generous gifts we've seen this year.

MIT swarm robots constructing object using voxel building blocks
AI

These robots can build almost anything—including clones of themselves

The breakthrough robot swarms function as both the builders and final products.

Aftershocks hit Indonesia after deadly 5.6-magnitude earthquake
Science

Aftershocks hit Indonesia after deadly 5.6-magnitude earthquake

The earthquake killed more than 260 people and struck the country's West Java province.

Ancient army ant
Insects

Eyeless army ants chomped their way through Europe millions of years ago

A rare 35-million-year-old fossil shows an insect known for a ravenous appetite in a whole new light.

Best headphones for an open office floorplan
Earbuds

Best office headphones

Keep the office noise out and your music in.

airpods-laying-on-table
Tech Hacks

It’s time to update the firmware on your Apple devices

You've got some maintenance to do.

Dolphins aren’t afraid of a little hot sauce
Fish

Dolphins aren’t afraid of a little hot sauce

Fishing nets laced with spice did nothing to deter hungry dolphins, leaving fishers searching in their bid to beat depredation.

Best Bluetooth receivers
Audio

Best Bluetooth receivers

Don’t give up that vintage gear. Yet.

DARPA’s flying forward with its jetpack program
DARPA

DARPA’s flying forward with its jetpack program

More funding for the development of personal mobility systems is in the works.

Four-legged robot walking across pile of boards and building materials during mobility test
Robots

This agile robot dog uses a video camera in place of senses

A new spin on quadrupedal robotics relies only on prior virtual training and an onboard camera.

map of europe and a globe
AI

Meta’s new AI can use deceit to conquer a board game world

It can play Diplomacy better than many humans. Here's how it works.

Coral reef
Animals

Disease-resistant super corals can save vulnerable reefs

The process is similar to how herd immunity from vaccinations protects human populations.

Tax form 1040 with crumpled up forms, glasses, pink eraser and pencil
Internet

Major tax-filing sites routinely shared users’ financial info with Facebook

A new investigation reveals how companies share users' most personal financial data with advertisers.

Kimberella fossil
Evolution

Oldest evidence of digested plants in a roughly 575-million-year-old creature’s gut

The remains of an ancient meal are helping scientists learn about the planet's oldest large animals.

A giant prehistoric salamander
Evolution

These pleasantly plump salamanders dominated the Cretaceous period

Temnospondyls were 'very strange' amphibians that looked like crocodiles and went extinct about 120 million years ago.