Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 503)

President Biden at Rose Garden talking about affordable internet
Internet

The US is trying to make internet access more affordable. Here’s what to know.

A White House-broadband provider partnership aims to cut costs and boost speeds for American households.

A swarm of fossilized beetles in yellow burmite amber
Insects

A close look at amber fossils that have stuck through the ages

Like archival animation cels, the most rarefied amber specimens reveal stories frozen in time.

neon sign depicting an instagram like notification bubble with a zero
Life Skills

5 tips for cutting down on social media

Find that tricky balance between online and offline.

An illustration of the Mars Perseverance rover in the background and the Ingenuity helicopter in flight in the foreground.
Mars

Why NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter briefly went dark on Mars

A power hiccup with the Mars helicopter might signal future struggles.

Yellow lawn mower next to lawn with tall grasses and pink and blue native wildflowers
Climate Change

Cities are letting plants go wild for ‘No Mow May’

Has your town or city joined the movement?

close up to rbg colored keyboard
Tech Hacks

3 things to know before remapping your keyboard

Make it your own.

A collage of images from “Ozone Drone” by Steven Ashley in the July 1992 issue of Popular Science.
Drones

From the archives: NASA dispatches drone to help rescue the ozone layer

The July 1992 Popular Science issue explored NASA's mission to find out what's happening to the ozone layer using a craft called Perseus.

Photo of LHC tunnel.
Particle Physics

The standard model of particle physics may be broken

New, precise measurements of already discovered particles are shaking up physics, according to a scientist working at the Large Hadron Collider.

Take a peek at how Amazon is prepping Alexa for space
Space

Take a peek at how Amazon is prepping Alexa for space

A short documentary reveals more about the project to install voice-recognition tech on the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission this summer.

Gas meters on brick wall.
Fossil Fuels

The EU is struggling to phase out Russian oil and gas

Countries like Germany could face future energy dilemmas.

traffic lights
Social Media

The biggest consumers of fake news may benefit from this one tech intervention

Stopping bad-quality news remains tricky, but one method shows promise.

Edward Bouchet portrait
Physics

Edward A. Bouchet paved a path for generations of Black students

As the first African American to earn a Ph.D., Bouchet's legacy continues to resonate.

the sofia 747
Aviation

NASA’s 747 space observatory is reaching the end of its flight plan

The story behind a unique flying observatory—and why it's being retired.

a close up of a person pulling a cigarette out of a pack
Health

The FDA is prepping its biggest cigarette crackdown since the ’60s

The FDA's proposed ban on menthol cigarettes follows a larger public health effort to prevent tobacco-related deaths.

A photo of robotic equipment on a farm.
Robots

Why the road to robotic farming is uncertain

The farming industry is changing, but technological innovations do not always deliver what is promised.

The Iron Curtain’s border zone has grown into a wild, ecological haven
Wildlife

The Iron Curtain’s border zone has grown into a wild, ecological haven

The iron curtain's shadow left room for nature to heal.

The best 55-inch TVs of 2024 on a plain white background.
Televisions

Best 55-inch TVs

The best 55-inch TVs offer a blend of high-end picture quality, next-gen gaming features, and prices that are easy on the wallet.

A photo of a crocodile underwater with its mouth wide open.
Animals

Saltwater crocodiles are eating a lot of feral hogs in Australia

Once low in numbers, the saltwater croc is thriving where wild swine is available as prey.

Small brown-black migratory bat help in a person's hand with head facing camera
Renewables

This itty bitty bat flew across two continents at record speed

The female journeyed more than 1,500 miles, from frigid Russia to the scenic French Alps.

A phone with the Spotify app open, playing Play the Silences by Hippie Sabotage.
Tech Hacks

Where to find new Spotify playlists when you don’t want to make your own

Stop worrying about picking songs and learn to love the algorithms.