Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 440)

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.

A Macbook laptop with a PS4 controller next to it on the table.
Tech Hacks

It’s surprisingly easy to connect your favorite video game controllers to your Mac

You can now connect your Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch controllers to your Apple computer.

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, in an artist's illustration.
Exoplanets

Ridiculously hot gas giant exoplanet is about to be swallowed by its dying sun

With a temperature around 3,000°F, this Hot Jupiter is even toastier than other planets of its kind.

Are at-home STD tests reliable?
Diseases

Are at-home STD tests reliable?

Except for HIV tests, the FDA hasn’t approved STD test kits for use outside a medical setting.

‘Red Robin’ dwarf tomato growing in Veggie hardware at the Kennedy Space Center. Image courtesy of NASA
Space X

Microgravity tomatoes, yogurt bacteria, and plastic eating microbes are headed to the ISS

SpaceX's resupply mission brings exciting new science.

sheet music on piano
AI

How Spotify trained an AI to transcribe music

Basic Pitch, an open-source tool on the web, can take sound recordings and turn them into a computer-recognizable MIDI score.

Meet SharkGuard, a tiny electric field that protects sharks from fishing nets
Technology

Meet SharkGuard, a tiny electric field that protects sharks from fishing nets

The tool emits small electrical signals that dissuades sharks and rays from chomping longline fishing lures.

Tomb of a forgotten queen is one of several new stunning Egyptian discoveries
Archaeology

Tomb of a forgotten queen is one of several new stunning Egyptian discoveries

Tunnels, tombs, and pyramids, oh my!

Passengers on a train wear face masks.
COVID-19

Wearing a well-fitted mask is still a smart choice for holiday travel

To protect yourself and those you'll be visiting, start taking precautions now, the CDC recommends.