Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 595)

crop rows of leafy greens being watered on a large farm
Agriculture

NASA is watching California’s groundwater crisis from space

Over-pumping groundwater is causing California's San Joaquin Valley to sink, but monitoring these basins from space could help improve management.

rendering of a NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) in orbi
Space X

Inside NASA’s plan to switch to private communications satellites

SpaceX and Amazon’s Project Kuiper are among the companies getting millions in development dollars.

Overconsumption is killing the planet. What can we do?
Climate Change

Overconsumption is killing the planet. What can we do?

The richest corners of the world use up way more resources than they need.

Artist’s impression of a micronova (close up)
Space

Astronomers just caught a ‘micronova’—a small but mighty star explosion

This small-scale eruption happens on the surface of white dwarf stars.

A person using a silver Macbook laptop on a gray wooden surface, while looking at a watch on their wrist.
Tech Hacks

There’s a better way to install software on your Mac

If you've never opened the Mac Terminal, now's the time.

a 3d rendering of a tardigrade or water bear in a green aquatic environment
Animals

Tardigrades go where the slime takes them

Is snail slime the secret to the water bear's dominance?

Aerial view of a highway interchange with cars congested on one side.
Climate Change

Under a new policy, federal agencies will have to weigh the climate costs of their actions

Government decisionmakers and businesses now have to grapple with the costs of climate change.

person in pajamas trying on dresses in the mirror
Life Skills

Why you should dress to impress even if you work from home

It's been two years of working from home. It's time to ditch the snuggies.

man's hand using mobile phone
Technology

Starting in July, ‘988’ will direct people to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The crisis hotline is getting a new, easy-to-remember code. The problem is, most people don’t know it.

a brussels griffon dog eats a cupcake
Dogs

Cannabis poisoning is on the rise in pets

As more areas legalize recreational weed, veterinarians have noticed an increase in cannabis poisoning cases, and a new study backs up the trend.

N95 Masks laid out on a blue background
COVID-19

Masks can work—even if you’re the only one wearing them

Most of the country has lifted mask guidelines, but masks remain helpful in many cases.

Tips for buying and caring for long-lasting fabrics
Life Skills

Tips for buying and caring for long-lasting fabrics

The most sustainable textile you can own is the one that will stay in your closet the longest.

An aedes aegypti mosquito.
Insects

The first US trial to release GMO mosquitoes just ended. Here’s how it went.

The mosquitoes, all male, were designed to produce only male offspring.

How to use a VPN
Tech Hacks

How to use a VPN

Keep your computer and your information safe with a Virtual Private Network.

A close-up of Reddit in the Google Chrome browser on a laptop.
Tech Hacks

Custom feeds and other tricks to make you a better Redditor

We can't teach you how to earn upvotes, though—you'll have to figure that out on your own.

surface of psyche asteroid
NASA

In its visit to Psyche, NASA hopes to glimpse the center of the Earth

NASA’s mission to the solar system's largest metallic asteroid promises to show us the iron-nickel core of a dead planet. New research, however, hints that this asteroid is much more.

Don’t stash away your camping gear—it could save the day during a power outage
Life Skills

Don’t stash away your camping gear—it could save the day during a power outage

That little cook stove can keep your family well-fed during a blackout.

The story behind the Neptune missile, the weapon that sank the Moskva
Navy

The story behind the Neptune missile, the weapon that sank the Moskva

Named for the Roman god of the sea, the Neptune is based on the Kh-35 missile and took years to develop.

Lyrid meteor shower seen from Earth's orbit
Space

A thousands-year-old meteor shower will peak in the night sky this week

How to see the falling space rocks ancient people waxed poetic about.

Groceries on a countertop
Sustainability

Which expiration dates actually matter?

Food might still be okay longer than you think—but it isn't the case for everything.