Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 425)

An artist’s reconstruction of Olympicetus thalassodon pursuing a school of fishes alongside plotopterid birds (background) somewhere in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.
Whales

This dolphin ancestor looked like a cross between Flipper and Moby Dick

Olympicetus thalassodon swam off the coast of the Pacific Northwest between 26.5–30.5 million years ago.

ants lift a large kettle bell
Science

Start your summer off strong with PopSci’s latest muscular issue

Allow us to pump you up with these muscle science stories.

Scores of critical lab tests fall into a regulatory void. The FDA is trying to close it.
Medicine

Scores of critical lab tests fall into a regulatory void. The FDA is trying to close it.

Lab-developed tests like prenatal screenings have become increasingly popular, all while escaping the bulk of federal scrutiny over marketing and accuracy.

Microsoft's quantum computing infrastructure
Engineering

Microsoft sets its sights on a quantum supercomputer

It’s also pioneering a new type of "topological" qubit.

Karyotype of human chromosomes including sex chromosomes XY and XX
Cancer

Men lose Y chromosomes with age, and it might increase their risk of bladder cancer

The case of the missing Y chromosome and aggressive cancer growth is partially solved.

toniebox with a selection of figures
Speakers

Toniebox review: Screen-free entertainment that’s music to kids’ (and parents’) ears

The Toniebox is a kids’ music player with a lot of character—and characters.

OceanGate Titan submersible side view in water
Internet

OceanGate confirms missing Titan submersible passengers ‘have sadly been lost’

The company states the debris found by rescuers appears to have originated from the vessel that was headed for the remnants of the Titanic.

A cockscomb pearl mussel.
Biology

The secret to better folding phones might hinge on mussels

Materials scientists are studying why these shellfish are so great at opening and closing.

The best drill sets
Home

The best drill sets

These sets can help you handle an array of home repairs and DIY projects.

An aerial view of the excavation site in Tiel, Netherlands. The excavation of the 4,000 year old sanctuary began in 2017.
Archaeology

Newly discovered ‘Stonehenge of the Netherlands’ is 4,000 years old

The giant burial ground and solar calendar is about an hour's drive from Amsterdam.

Close up of GOOD Meat lab-grown chicken on table
Technology

Lab-grown chicken is now USDA approved—if you can afford it

The jury is still out on how sustainable cultured meat really is.

A school of grunts and horse-eye jack fish swim above a reef in Hol Chan Marine Reserve near Ambergris Cay, Belize.
Ocean

Fish are thriving near marine protected areas—and so are coastal communities

Limiting human activities in the ocean has numerous sustainability benefits.

Two small huts near clear, turquoise tropical waters in Tobacco Caye, Belize. he Central American country is the third nation this year to be certified malaria-free.
Diseases

After a 70-year battle, the WHO declares Belize malaria-free

The Central American country joins 41 other countries and one territory marked free of the deadly disease.

These auditory illusions make people hear phrases as melodies
Science

These auditory illusions make people hear phrases as melodies

A linguist explains why spoken words sound melodic when repeated over and over.

Tablet on stool showing Bing's AI-powered chat mode.
Tech Hacks

How to search the web with Bing’s new AI-powered chat mode

Conversing with a Bing is way more fun than scrolling through search results.

Extreme heat to blanket Texas with ‘no end in sight’
Global Warming

Extreme heat to blanket Texas with ‘no end in sight’

Grid failure and heat wave-induced storms cause chaos across the Southern US.

back of head, ponytail
Medicine

Families flee states amid restrictions on gender-affirming health care

Missouri, Florida, and Texas are among at least 20 states that have limited components of gender-affirming health care for trans youth.

aarok drone
Air Force

AAROK is France’s bigger, newer take on the US’s Reaper drone

The drone prototype sports a wingspan of 72 feet. It is designed to carry weapons.

A lineup of the best tablets for kids on a white background
Tablets

The best tablets for kids

Part educational tool and part entertainment center, a tablet made for kids can do much more than keep kids busy on road trips.

The best electronic drum sets for beginners
Audio

The best electronic drum sets for beginners

These e-drum sets let novice drummers get good without getting too loud, going broke, or taking up an entire bedroom.