Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 428)

Google I/O presentation about their updated language model named Gecko.
AI

Google previews an AI-powered future at I/O 2023

It’s a language model takeover.

A mosquito hanging upside down on a leaf.
Insects

Can scented soap make you less of a mosquito buffet?

Certain chemicals have a small association with repelling and attracting the tiny blood suckers.

Close up of one one man and two women using their phones on a bench.
Social Media

Should kids use social media? US psychology experts share their do’s and don’ts.

The American Psychological Association just released their first report on youth social media use.

A diverse crowd of people.
Biology

What is a pangenome? Scientists just released their first draft.

We're 99.9 percent genetically identical to each other. But that other 0.1 percent turns out to be pretty important.

a whale breaching over the ocean waves
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Sunken whale carcasses create entire marine cities on the ocean floor

Plus other fun facts from The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week.

The best light boxes for artists in 2021
Gear

The best light boxes

Looking for a new light box for your home illustration studio? Be it for animation, diamond painting, tattooing, or pattern tracing on fabric, a light box is a brilliant addition to any studio.

A NASA satellite image of huge plumes of methane coming from fossil fuel fields in Turkmenistan.
Fossil Fuels

Satellites traced super methane plumes to Turkmenistan’s gas fields

The two fields emitted a total of 403 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2022.

A black Apple TV 4K box on a black surface next to an Apple TV remote.
Tech Hacks

14 crisp tips for your Apple TV box

Use Apple's black box like an expert.

Soft brie cheeses on a plate with their rind on top.
Biology

A hunk of cheese is a perfect playground for fungal antibiotics

The microscopic world of microbial communities can have an outsized impact, even on artisanal cheeses.

Bowl of oatmeal with milk on a white background. Are the oats gluten-free?
Food Safety

How to tell if your oats really are gluten-free

Can you trust that gluten-free label?

The US public is warming to the idea of nuclear power
Energy

The US public is warming to the idea of nuclear power

As the country looks to decarbonize, nuclear’s popularity continues to climb.

Watch a giant military drone land on a Wyoming highway
Air Force

Watch a giant military drone land on a Wyoming highway

The MQ-9 Reaper boasts a wingspan of 66 feet and landed on Highway 287 on April 30. Here's why.

Breville espresso machines on a white background. they're on-sale at Amazon.
Appliances

Save up to $200 on pro-grade espresso machines for Mother’s Day at Amazon

Catch this rare sale on Breville's high-end Barista-series espresso machines, discounted up to 20%.

Why you barely see electric vehicles at car dealerships
Electric Vehicles

Why you barely see electric vehicles at car dealerships

Wanting an EV is one thing—buying one is another.

A new butterfly species with orange wings and black spots next to the eye of Sauron from the Lord of the Rings films.
Insects

Lord of the Rings villain Sauron inspires the name of new butterfly genus

The 'one butterfly to rule them all' lives in the southwest Amazon boasting fiery orange wings with black spots.

A koala in a leafy tree.
Endangered Species

Wild koalas are getting vaccinated against chlamydia

The first-of-its-kind trial in the iconic marsupial hopes to curb a 30-year-long epidemic.

Two researchers standing next to Quori humanoid robot
Robots

A fleet of humanoid, open-source robots could change robotics research

Not all robots are created equal—and the National Science Foundation wants to help level the playing field to speed up research.

A bat sea star on a dark background.
Wildlife

The blueprints for early organs may be hiding in sea stars

Echinoderms offer clues to how some of our body’s most complicated organs are built.

Taylor Wilson, the boy who built a nuclear reactor as a kid, in his kitchen with his family
Physics

How a 14-year-old kid became the youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion

Taylor Wilson always dreamed of creating a star. Then he became one.

A hand holding a phone and scanning a QR code from a tablet.
Tech Hacks

How to make a QR code and share digital data with anyone, anywhere

A DIY QR code can ensure you never have to spell out your WiFi password again.