Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 605)

A blue-colored cliff on Mars.
Mars

Marsquakes reveal the red planet is way more radioactive than we thought

Three new studies reveal the inner layers of Mars with data from NASA’s InSight lander.

White wireless router in front of person on a couch
Tech Hacks

6 router settings you should change right now

Protect your device from vulnerabilities.

Venmo app open on mobile phone.
Security

Venmo just made some big privacy changes—here’s what to know

The peer-to-peer payment app announced updates to its social feed, privacy, and payment options.

Girl lying down and smiling widely
Social Media

The world uses one emoji more than all others. Here’s why.

Our emoji use reflects something important about the human condition.

Green hummingbird hovering in the air
Psychology

This is the most soothing sound in the world

The Humming Project documents the emotion behind a simple, universal tone.

house destroyed in natural disaster
Climate Change

Our infrastructure can’t handle climate disasters. We need to build differently.

It may be time to start simply moving out of the way.

An unlocked iPhone on a white table with its apps showing various notification icons and alerts.
Tech Hacks

How to ignore people on social media without blocking or unfollowing them

Your obnoxious relatives will never know.

What extreme heat means for the future of the Summer Olympics
Fitness & Exercise

What extreme heat means for the future of the Summer Olympics

Experts are calling for changes ranging from the timing of events to the bidding process.

Couple waits by the NYC train platform looking at their phones
Tech Hacks

Google Maps made some key changes. Use them to improve your commute.

Moving around town has never been easier.

The world’s worst conductor could be a game changer in the climate crisis
Physics

The world’s worst conductor could be a game changer in the climate crisis

By combining two materials, researchers have made a solid that conducts heat like a gas.

On the left, a side view of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch shows the official logo and the rose-gold color of the flower-shaped torch. On the right, a top view of the torch while lit displays the five petals and central flame of the cherry blossom.
Engineering

Inside the surprisingly complex engineering process that creates an Olympic torch

A torch like the one in the Tokyo games is so much more than just a simple vessel for flame. This is how they spark into being.

mosquito biting a human limb
Global Warming

Mosquitoes that carry dengue might not survive rising temperatures

Infected bugs can’t take the heat, and this may limit the spread of dengue fever.

A healthcare professional administers a shot in an arm to a person in a brown shirt.
Vaccines

The J&J vaccine may be less effective against the Delta variant than we hoped

A preliminary study shows that the J&J vaccine doesn't seem to produce as many antibodies in recipients as the mRNA options.

Russia’s new stealth fighter is a bargain worthy of a Bond villain
Aviation

Russia’s new stealth fighter is a bargain worthy of a Bond villain

That's Checkmate, Mr. Bond: What to know about a mysterious new fighter jet out of Russia—and its superficial similarities to the F-35.

Yard garden with flowers, shrubs, bushes and trees.
Climate Change

Floods from storms are destructive, but a humble rain garden can help

Hearty native plants can help prevent the worst of flood-related water pollution.

A Kobo e-reader leaning against a stack of books next to a glass jar with yellow flowers in it.
Tech Hacks

7 fun features that you need to try on your Kobo e-reader

Supercharge your Kobo experience.

The pandemic drove overdose deaths to a record high, but telemedicine may curb the trend
Health

The pandemic drove overdose deaths to a record high, but telemedicine may curb the trend

A new CDC report shows a nearly 30 percent increase in fatalities in 2020.

A brown scorpion on a light brown rock during the daytime.
Life Skills

Everything you need to know about scorpion stings and venom

In the wild, you probably won't see many scorpions just hanging out in the sun.

A child wearing a dark t-shirt and striped leggings climbs a playground structure. The child and structure are greyscale against a yellow, beige, black, pink, and green abstract background.
Health

The elements that make a perfect playground

Some of the most important elements may surprise you.

Monarch butterflies are beloved—and declining for this sad reason
Climate Change

Monarch butterflies are beloved—and declining for this sad reason

Scientists trawled thousands of volunteer surveys over 25 years to understand what imperils the insects.