Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 449)

Phone with Amazon Music homepage displayed on screen
Internet

If you have Amazon Prime, you can now listen to 100 million songs for free

The caveat: It costs more if you don't want to shuffle.

soundbar audio delay
DIY

How to fix the annoying audio delay on your soundbar

You may have to dig deep into your device settings to get everything matched up.

a bird perched on a flowering tree
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

How do we know that birds are real?

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

a black and white picture cut out of two men in lab coats looking at vials on a lab bench that has a microscope. in purple behind them is text of an old news article, with the headline "science closes in on the common cold"
Vaccines

Why we still don’t have a vaccine for the common cold

For decades, scientists have been on the hunt for a universal common cold vaccine—and they're still searching.

Rhino horns are shrinking, and humans are to blame
Endangered Species

Rhino horns are shrinking, and humans are to blame

Scientists believe the shrinking is due excessive hunting for the very in-demand and valuable horns

Fallen autumn leaves on the windshield of a car
Life Skills

How to keep your car clean all autumn long

Leaves can leave nasty stuff on your vehicle’s paint.

Why plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles are worth a look right now
Electric Vehicles

Why plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles are worth a look right now

Positioned between regular vehicles and pure EVs, PHEVs solve several problems.

Close up of chess player with head in hand playing game
AI

A simple rule variation could move chess out of a stalemate

Chess960 is meant to keep the game's creativity—and curb computers' edge.

After years of delays, SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy rocket
Military

After years of delays, SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy rocket

The US Space Force mission is largely classified.

The Mars Express just got up close and personal with Phobos
Mars

The Mars Express just got up close and personal with Phobos

Flying closely can give scientists clues to the history of the Red Planet's largest moon.

protein structure 3D
AI

Meta’s AI could shake up how we study protein structures

It is using language learning models to predict how proteins fold.

Tiger sharks helped scientists map a vast underwater meadow in the Bahamas
Sharks

Tiger sharks helped scientists map a vast underwater meadow in the Bahamas

The seagrass meadow could help sequester loads of ocean-bound carbon dioxide.

Vine could be next on the list for Musk to remake
Social Media

Vine could be next on the list for Musk to remake

Former designers warn that rebuilding the video-sharing platform won’t be easy.

inflated balloon ready to launch
Climate Change

Alien-looking balloons might be the next weapon in the fight against wildfires

A Colorado startup floats the idea of using heat-seeking microballoons to track threatening blazes.

collage of images from different stories
Announcements

PopSci’s High Issue is for all the big dreamers out there

Our newest issue looks at what we can achieve with high hopes and lofty ambitions.

This newly named owl from Príncipe Island calls like an insect
Birds

This newly named owl from Príncipe Island calls like an insect

Locals suggest that the owl could possibly be traced all the way back to 1928.

Europe’s big new Digital Markets Act could help hold tech giants accountable
Internet

Europe’s big new Digital Markets Act could help hold tech giants accountable

The DMA introduces a series of new rules that "gatekeepers in the online platform economy” will have to comply with if they want to operate in the EU.

A skyscraper-sized asteroid will zoom within 1.43 million miles of Earth tonight
Space

A skyscraper-sized asteroid will zoom within 1.43 million miles of Earth tonight

Asteroid 2022 RM4 will come within 1.43 million miles of the Earth.

Swiss train crossing bridge in Alps
Engineering

Switzerland sets world record for longest passenger train—and it’s electric

The real life 'Snowpiercer' celebrates the 175th anniversary of trains in Switzerland.

Ocean plastic ‘vacuums’ are sucking up marine life along with trash
Ocean

Ocean plastic ‘vacuums’ are sucking up marine life along with trash

A new study shows that for every 3.6 pieces of litter caught by a Seabin, one marine animal is also trapped.