Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 541)

A fossil with a series of diagonal slashes cut into one corner.
Evolution

Eating meat may not have been as crucial to human evolution as we thought

Ancient humans definitely ate meat, but it probably didn't supersize their brains.

NVIDIA supercomputing tech
Social Media

Meta’s new supercomputer could power its virtual universe

Meta unveils the blueprint for a 16,000 GPU supercomputer that can handle complex AI models.

A person holding a phone with a map app open leading them to a butcher shop.
Tech Hacks

Data limits are the worst—here’s how to stay under yours

The data must flow.

Red and purple berries on a thorny green invasive shrub
Conservation

Many Indigenous languages lack a word for ‘conservation.’ Here’s why.

In her new book, Indigenous scholar and scientist Jessica Hernandez explains why caring for a landscape is different than conserving it.

a humpback whale breaching the surface of the water with its mouth open
Whales

Baleen whales have an ‘oral plug’ to help them guzzle down food without choking

The newly-discovered fatty structure in fin whales might seal the upper airway during swallowing.

NAO robot
Robots

Humans are so social that we try to fit in with robots

Teaching robots simple social skills could make human interactions go smoother.

An electric mountain bike on a hillside at sunset.
Projects

The gear you need to turn a regular bike into an e-bike

A bike, but more so.

A desk with a grid of printed digital photos on it, in the light from a window.
Tech Hacks

5 ways to bring your digital photos into the real world

From albums to phone cases—bring your JPGs to life.

The JWST rocket launch.
Space Telescope

NASA’s James Webb telescope is about to arrive at an exceptional point in space

The telescope will drift at gravity's tipping point between Earth and the sun.

a woman in a white tank top does a yoga post on a pink and yellow background
Fitness & Exercise

How much exercise do I need to stay healthy?

Reaping the health benefits of staying active might be simpler than you think.

inside of a Tesla
Self Driving

‘Autopilot’ systems in cars are finally getting graded on safety

An industry group is going to evaluate a vehicle's safeguards—the features that monitor the driver to make sure they are actually paying attention.

A table saw blade tuned up and straightened to exactly vertical at 90 degrees.
Projects

Tune your table saw up the right way

Ensure 90-degree cuts with some simple maintenance.

a woman in a hospital bed with a close up on the venous catheter tubes in her hand and arm
Climate Change

The deadly combination behind the surge of ‘superbug’ fungus outbreaks

Candida auris is a notoriously deadly and drug-resistant yeast—and new cases are rising in hospitals nationwide.

Intel chip factory mockup ohio
Technology

Intel’s new chip-making ‘mega-site’ in Ohio could house up to 8 factories

The company is pledging $20 billion towards two factories, with the potential for more.

iPhone in the grass
Tech Hacks

How to get a lost phone back to its owner

Do your good deed for the day.

Icefish nests encircled in stones on the ocean floor
Fish

Icefish build bizarre undersea nests—and that’s just the beginning

A thriving colony of millions sheds new light on the mysterious polar creature.

Russia’s Marker robot is a testbed for its next-gen military tech
Drones

Russia’s Marker robot is a testbed for its next-gen military tech

The country has wrapped up its research on the tank-like bot, which has helped them explore technologies like robot autonomy and AI.

Border patrol sign warning visitors about illegal immigration at Organ Pipe National Monument in front of a cacti
Climate Change

Climate change makes it deadlier to cross the US-Mexico border

Getting across the desert is already dire—and it's likely to become worse in the coming decades.

Glowing red sphere of light around a black hole in a NASA simulation
Black Holes

We’re still in the dark about a key black hole paradox

Until recently, the existence of black holes was far from a given.

An inside look at how one person can control a swarm of 130 robots
Drones

An inside look at how one person can control a swarm of 130 robots

Virtual reality and artificial intelligence helped with the daunting task.