Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 521)

Rows of solar panels in the Chilean desert.
Renewables

Dust-repellent solar panels could save billions of gallons of water

Solar farms have a significant clean water footprint. But new technologies could help.

Best high-filtration masks
COVID-19

Best N95 and other high-filtration masks

The key to finding the best N95 masks lies in getting the right fit and near-perfect seal. These are our favorite filtering facewear.

Terahertz laser setup with green lights and silver machinery in a dark room
Cancer

You’ve probably never heard of terahertz waves, but they could change your life

Welcome to the electromagnetic dark zone.

Transgenic Romaine lettuce
International Space Station

Why space lettuce could be the pharmacy astronauts need

Plant-made medicines may one day help astronauts maintain dense bones.

Person looking at phone in disbelief
Tech Hacks

Delete your most recent Google searches to forget what you just saw

Erase those 15 minutes from existence.

Ice formations and ocean in Antarctica.
Climate Change

Record-breaking heat is bombarding the North and South poles

Melting at this rate shouldn’t be happening in the North and South at the same time.

Turning up your TV’s brightness won’t make dark scenes easier to see
Technology

Turning up your TV’s brightness won’t make dark scenes easier to see

Here's what really works to make shadowy shows more watchable

UHD TV setup
Televisions

How to set up your new TV for the best possible picture

The wrong moves will make your new UHD set look worse than your old display.

What investigators will likely look for after the 737 plane crash in China
Aviation

What investigators will likely look for after the 737 plane crash in China

The aviation disaster in a 737-800 has claimed a reported 132 lives. In crashes like these, investigators will follow a "holistic" approach, one expert says.

A field of yellow sunflowers under a bright blue sky with some white clouds.
Projects

Pest-fighting plants that could save your garden

Many of these natural 'pesticides' have centuries of proven success.

Samson Q9U broadcast mic on desk
Audio

Samson Q9U review: A studio-worthy mobile-friendly mic

Skip extra software and just hit record with the Samson Q9U XLR/USB dynamic microphone.

Orange NASA SLS rocket at launchpad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a brown banner that says "we are going"
Moons

In pictures: NASA’s powerful moonshot rocket debuts at Kennedy Space Center

The maiden mission, Artemis I, is T-minus two months away.

Green nesting turtle.
Animals

Endangered green turtles are bouncing back in the Seychelles

The recovery is a result of decades of protection and monitoring.

Inside the lab that’s 3D-printing sleek car concepts for McLaren, Rolls-Royce, and more
Concept Cars

Inside the lab that’s 3D-printing sleek car concepts for McLaren, Rolls-Royce, and more

This specialist shop is using 3D printing and another method to bring computerized designs into the physical world.

person on bed covering their face in stress
Life Skills

Stress and anxiety wear down your brain. Here’s how to fight back.

Forgetful? Distracted? The world is on fire—it’s normal.

Pink yellow, purple, green and orange floating brains on psychedelics
Psychology

Explaining what causes different psychedelic experiences is a trip. This study shows why.

The researchers’ approach pushes the boundaries of drug research in necessary ways—but their datasets could be unreliable.

Flooded neighborhood in Bangladesh due to climate change and maladaptation
Climate Change

Why some climate change adaptations just make things worse

Short-term and poorly thought-out solutions are hardly solutions at all.

diver take a photo video upon colorful coral kapoposang indonesia scuba diving
Biology

Why ocean researchers want to create a global library of undersea sounds

The project, called Global Library of Underwater Biological Sound, seeks to establish a library of valuable reference data for a range of marine applications.

A MacBook laptop, an Apple keyboard, a digital camera, an iPhone, a camera lens, sunglasses, an iPad, and some notebooks on a gray wooden table.
Tech Hacks

How to track down your lost devices

You're leaving the house—do you know where your gadgets are?

A sunny European plaza with empty tables because of the BA.2 COVID surge
COVID-19

COVID’s coming back in Europe. Are we next?

BA.2, or "stealth Omicron," doesn't tell the whole story of Europe's latest surge.