Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 50)

A graphical representation of what a real Gerver’s sofa might look like.
Science

This is the biggest sofa you can fit around a corner, according to a mathematician

Let’s hope your couch is shaped like an old-fashioned telephone receiver.

A man is lying asleep in a bed with pillows and a striped comforter, set up outdoors in the middle of a forest. The bed has two small bedside tables with lamps. The ground is covered in pine needles and scattered with rocks, and tall, thin tree trunks rise around him, creating a surreal and cozy scene.
Health

Is sleeping outside good for you? Science has a clear answer.

A night under the stars can reset your body's clock, reduce stress, and more—but it might not benefit everyone.

TP-Link Mesh router and gaming router on a yellow background
Smart Home

Amazon’s early Prime Big Deal Days sale include steep discounts on TP-Link routers and mesh WiFi systems

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days don't start until October 7th, but these huge savings on TP-Link networking gear are life right now.

This is a still image of the animation showing Gaia’s star-formation map in 3D.
Space Telescope

44 million Milky Way stars glimmer in galaxy’s largest 3D map

The Gaia space observatory helped astronomers chart 4,000 light-years worth of our home galaxy.

Stones are measured at the World Stone Skimming Championships, held on Easdale Island on September 25, 2016 in Easdale, Seil, Scotland. The championships marking its 20th year are held on the last Sunday in September each year on Easdale, which is the smallest inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Physics

Scandal rocks international stone skipping contest

'Nefarious deeds' couldn't keep Jon Jennings from winning the World Stone Skimming Competition.

a vet examining a seagull wrapped in a towel with a fishing bobber stuck in its mouth
Birds

Seagull survives swallowing a giant fish hook–thanks to local vets

‘This gull got very lucky!’

Pythagorean theorum illustrated with triangle written in chalk on chalkboard
Science

Forget Pi Day. Today is Pythagorean Triple Square Day.

September 16, 2025 holds extra special mathematical significance.

Smith sunglasses on a gray background on sale at REI
Outdoor Gear

REI has more than 40 different sunglasses on clearance during its annual sale

Get polarized sunglasses with polycarbonate lenses and 100 percent UV protection for as little as $34.

A pink drink in a clear wine glass with a long stem is placed on a white bedside table in a dimly lit room. A glowing lamp with a white shade and a potted green plant are also on the table. A bed with white linens is visible in the foreground on the left. The scene has a soft, warm glow.
Health

The real science behind this viral magnesium sleep hack

Should we all be drinking magnesium and lettuce water before sleep? Experts weigh in.

airplane airbags illustration
Aviation

Engineers propose massive airbags for airplanes

The system uses an AI model that would trigger a Kevlar bubble cocoon in the event of a crash.

The front and back of two bottles of Danish lactic acid bacteria from the 1800s.
Science

130-year-old butter bacteria discovered in Danish basement

Behold the power of lactic acid.

Aymara elongated mummy skull
Archaeology

Looted mummy skull mislabeled for over a century

The roughly 350-year-old elongated skull is not Incan at all.

five old fashioned alarm clocks in a rowCREDIT: Catherine McQueen via Getty Images
Health

Ending daylight saving time could be better for our health

Sorry, no time policy will make winter days longer.

Jackery solar generator in the sand with a solar panel
Outdoor Gear

Amazon is blowing out Jackery solar generators and portable power stations before the brutal winter weather hits

Don't wait until the bad weather arrives to grab a solar generator to keep your devices and appliances alive during a camping trip or emergency.

a wheel of a shipwreck under water
Archaeology

Wisconsin ‘ghost ship’ uncovered after 139 years

It took citizen scientists only two hours to find the F.J. King's final resting place.

A thin section of a maize ear at a very early stage of development (about 3 millimeters long). Each color represents the expression of a different gene in stem cells and associated cells.
Agriculture

Want better corn? Color its stem cells.

Understanding crucial crop's genes can help feed a hungry world.

A futuristic, metallic, humanoid robot with a glowing face and a pointed finger stands facing a young woman with long, red hair. The woman, wearing a gray shirt, is looking directly at the robot with a focused expression. They are in a studio setting with a dark, uniform background.
AI

ChatGPT passed the Turing Test. Now what?

The AI fooled 73% of people into thinking it was human, raising new questions about machine intelligence.

apple music logo on iphone
Tech Hacks

Transfer your tunes from Spotify to Apple Music

Saying bye-bye to Spotify is easier than ever.

Closeup of an early 30's male using a compressor for spray painting steel plates at a factory facility.
Science

How is paint made?

If you've ever mixed dirt and water, you've made paint.

white laboratory rat isolated on grey background
Medicine

Researchers successfully heal rats’ broken spines 

A new study paves the way toward developing a treatment for spinal cord injuries.