Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 614)

Flickering light could help astronomers weigh supermassive black holes
Black Holes

Flickering light could help astronomers weigh supermassive black holes

All astronomers need is a flickering disk.

People are moving into risky flood zones—but they may not have a choice
Climate Change

People are moving into risky flood zones—but they may not have a choice

Rapidly developing cities in Asia are especially affected.

a colorful illustration of long-tailed gray rodents carrying assorted objects such as buttons, bones, bugs, and flowers
Evolution

What’s in a packrat’s petrified pee? Just a few thousand years of secrets.

Humans stand to learn a lot from these furry little collectors.

an undersea drone being lowered into the water
Navy

A fleet of winged underwater robots will patrol the seas for the US Navy

The Navy awarded some $40 million for robots that will study the oceans, going as deep as 3,300 feet for as long as 90 days.

person with an apple watch on their wrist
Smartwatches

Best smartwatch: Fitbit, Samsung, Apple Watches & more

Smartwatches that sync with your lifestyle provide speedy access to so much more than just time.

Venus as a white dome in the background, a camera in the left foreground, in black and white.
Solar System

A probe destined for Mercury ended up rubbernecking Venus

The BepiColombo snapped a selfie during a rare double-flyby, when two spacecrafts passed near Venus within 33 hours.

A yellow sponge-looking blob in a petri dish.
NASA

NASA just sent one of the world’s smartest slimes to space

A single-cell organism is helping astronomers and school kids alike to understand space.

Hands polishing fancy leather shoes on a fancy wooden table.
Life Skills

A complete guide to shining your fancy leather shoes

Don't forget to raise your pinky while you're at it.

Natural produced carbon declining rates from 1750 to 2010 with climate change
Climate Change

Not convinced that humans are causing climate change? Here are the facts.

Let's dive into decades of data.

Meet the world’s newest carnivorous plant
Environment

Meet the world’s newest carnivorous plant

This North American herb uses its glistening, reddish hairs to snare bugs.

Hands holding phone using WhatsApp
Tech Hacks

How to get rid of the ‘forwarded’ label on WhatsApp

Recycle your memes and GIFs like a champ.

An artist's depiction of an extinct pterosaur, a flying reptile relative of dinosaurs.
Dinosaurs

This dragon-like reptile once soared over Australia

The pointy-toothed creature ruled Australian skies 105 million years ago.

Library of books.
AI

This new AI tool from Google could change the way we search online

For over two decades, Google has been indexing the web. Now it’s attempting to understand nuances in human language so it can deliver better search experiences.

Mountains and body of water in Queenstown, New Zealand
Agriculture

You can’t escape climate change by moving to New Zealand

Some countries are better prepared for climate change than others. The goal should be to bring stability everywhere.

A person typing on a laptop.
Tech Hacks

How to unsubscribe from all your newsletters at once

You bought a belt there once. You don't need to hear from them six times a week for the rest of your life.

The Pacific Northwest is about to have another major heatwave. Is this the new normal?
Climate Change

The Pacific Northwest is about to have another major heatwave. Is this the new normal?

A “heat dome” is also to blame for this upcoming spike in temperatures.

The 4 biggest lessons from the latest IPCC climate report
Global Warming

The 4 biggest lessons from the latest IPCC climate report

The new IPCC report underscores the need for swift climate action.

Roundup herbicide bottle on lawn
Cancer

Roundup is finally going to be made without glyphosate in the US

A litany of studies and lawsuits claim that the herbicide's main ingredient is carcinogenic, even as some agencies insist it isn't.

Exercise, brainwaves, light, headaches, and more affect sleep
Health

5 reasons you can’t sleep

We face many obstacles in our search for shut-eye, from bad beds to faulty genes. Fortunately, wrapping our heads around what keeps us awake can help us catch those z’s.

A hand holds a black sticker against a green background. The sticker has a red bandage on it and says 'I got my COVID-19 vaccine.'
Vaccines

People who had COVID should still get vaccinated, according to the CDC

Here’s what you need to know in COVID news this week.