Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 438)

Steller's Sea Cow
Wildlife

Meet the extinct sea cow that cultivated Pacific kelp forests

Understanding the ancient creature's impact could help aid conservation efforts.

Woman wearing face mask while looking at phone while standing in subway car
Social Media

Twitter quietly removed its ban on COVID-19 misinformation last week

With moderation efforts gutted, reports also indicate the team tackling child sexual assault materials is down to a 'skeleton crew.'

Close-up of mouse cursor hovering over Facebook website login page
Social Media

A massive data leak just cost Meta $275 million

The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law hits Meta for the second time this year.

6 architectural facts about history’s tallest buildings
Engineering

6 architectural facts about history’s tallest buildings

How many tons of stone were used for the Great Pyramid, and five other construction facts about extraordinary structures.

Mauna Loa lava flow
Science

The world’s largest active volcano is erupting in Hawaii

Residents are currently not in harm's way, but have been urged to stay vigilant. Mauna Loa hasn't erupted since 1984.

Light show in the night sky over a brightly lit Doha, Qatar during the 2022 World Cup
Global Warming

FIFA’s sustainability upgrades in Qatar won’t last beyond the World Cup

What does a 'carbon-neutral' World Cup mean for extreme living and working conditions in Qatar?

Mining is still dangerous—but new tech in South Africa could keep workers safer
Technology

Mining is still dangerous—but new tech in South Africa could keep workers safer

Sudden rockfall is a leading killer in the country’s hazardous mines. Are there now ways to eliminate the threat?

Fiat wants its small new EV to be a luxurious ‘fashion accessory’
Concept Cars

Fiat wants its small new EV to be a luxurious ‘fashion accessory’

In an era of enormous vehicles, the pint-sized 500e will be a charming addition to North American roads when it returns in 2024.

a microscope image of blue stained fungi that have spherical shapes
Climate Change

Soil fungi are spreading lung infections to new territories

Disease-causing soil fungi are expanding beyond their endemic regions, and climate change could be to blame.

People hold sheets of blank paper in protest of COVID restriction in mainland as police setup cordon during a vigil in the central district on November 28, 2022 in Hong Kong, China.
Social Media

Twitter overwhelmed by NSFW spam during protests in China

Countless accounts attempted to flood Twitter with NSFW content to obfuscate crucial news from China. With little moderation, experts argue they succeeded.

Mpox virus in red at the microscopic level
Diseases

The World Health Organization officially renamed monkeypox to mpox

The new label for the disease, which was first named in 1970, is an attempt to avoid stigma and discrimination.

Moon closeup of craters by NASA Orion spacecraft
Moons

Orion sends back new images of the moon’s craters, some of which could be home to ice and water

Certain craters-within-craters create unique bull's-eye shapes.

Tiny octopus with clear head that shows off brain
Wildlife

What human and octopus brains have in common

Humans and the incredibly smart cephalopods share a common ancestor 600 million years back on the evolutionary tree.

hands-on-mac-book-air-typing-a-shortcut
Tech Hacks

5 tasks you can easily automate using MacOS’ Shortcuts app

Have your Mac do the heavy lifting for you.

Car engine
Internet

The EPA is making eBay crack down on some car part sales

An eBay crackdown on sales of "emission defeat devices" that could potentially confuse how a vehicle's pollution levels are detected is affecting many other performance parts' availability.

The Galapagos might stay cool as the world heats up
Global Warming

The Galapagos might stay cool as the world heats up

A geological coincidence placed the Galapagos Islands in the line of an icy current that provides food and shelter in a warming ocean.

people walking in front of clock
Engineering

The leap second’s time will be up in 2035—and tech companies are thrilled

Y2Yay?

An 1975 electron microscope image reveals several spherical Epstein-Barr virus particles.
Health

Scientists debate the role of a virus in multiple sclerosis

A recent study offers the strongest evidence yet of the link between Epstein-Barr virus and MS. Not everyone is convinced.

This robot’s delicate touch scoops up liquid droplets without causing a splash
Robots

This robot’s delicate touch scoops up liquid droplets without causing a splash

Don't be fooled by the new robotic gripper's sensitivity—it's designed to handle the most hazardous materials out there.

bosch ebike
Electric Vehicles

E-bikes could be the future of transit in city centers

Here's what it will take for bikes and e-bikes to be more commonplace.