Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 636)

When and how did dinosaurs go extinct?
Dinosaurs

When and how did dinosaurs go extinct?

It's asteroid versus volcano.

The mystery of Greenland’s icy history could help us survive climate change
Climate Change

The mystery of Greenland’s icy history could help us survive climate change

Did it stay or did it go?

dog
Pets

Is It Ok To Give Cannabis Pain Killers To My Pet?

The science behind cannabis-based pet products is still half-baked

Microbes Will Be Essential For Human Survival On Mars
Mars

Microbes Will Be Essential For Human Survival On Mars

They're a potential source of food, air, clothing, and more. But will they survive the journey, and can we avoid contaminating the red planet?

A30
Aviation

How pilots land their planes in powerful crosswinds

Watch a giant A380 land slightly sideways, and learn all about crabbing and side-slipping.

kepler telescope
Black Holes

Could A Black Hole Be Blocking The Light From That ‘Alien Megastructure’ Star?

The top 7 explanations for the star’s weird behavior, ranked roughly in order of plausibility

image of ceres
Space

Why Are There No Close-Ups Of Ceres Yet?

Blame it on the dark side

Walking On Water
Science Fiction

The Co-Robots In ‘Interstellar’ Are Gorgeous–And Silly

A morphable black monolith certainly looks cool, but it's not going to be very helpful.

How NASA Found The Lost ExoMars Lander So Quickly
Mars

How NASA Found The Lost ExoMars Lander So Quickly

Europe's previous failed lander went missing for over a decade

Ancient Mars
Mars

Global Warming Could Be The Best Way To Terraform Mars

Finally, a good use for climate change

A doctor prepares a COVID-19 shot
Vaccines

A booster shot trial is underway using Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine

Here's what you need to know about the pandemic this week.

A person wearing an escape hood.
Military

Those ‘gas masks’ at the Capitol were actually escape hoods

Here’s what they do, and how they work.

Moray eels enjoy surf ‘n turf with a surprise second set of jaws
Ocean

Moray eels enjoy surf ‘n turf with a surprise second set of jaws

A hidden second set of jaws enables them to gobble prey on land.

We finally know what sparks the Northern Lights
Physics

We finally know what sparks the Northern Lights

It took researchers more than 20 years to figure out this light show mystery.

Here’s how wind turbines stay afloat during storms
Renewables

Here’s how wind turbines stay afloat during storms

The secret to wind turbines' storm hardiness? Oil rig tech—for now.

a woman on her side clutching her stomach as if in pain against a green background
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Viagra could have been a groundbreaking cure for period cramps

And other fun facts from The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week.

A snake plant sitting in an open cardboard box, ready for shipping.
Life Skills

How to ship your beloved houseplants across the country without killing them

We asked the professionals for their shipping secrets—and they delivered.

baby birds in a nest
Engineering

Many animals climate-control their homes. Global warming could mess with that.

Nests and dens are often designed to stay at a reasonable temperature.

An illustration of the COVID-19 spike protein.
COVID-19

The Delta variant is on the rise in the US

Here's what you need to know about the pandemic this week.

Physical depictions of digital cryptocurrency "coins" like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Zcash, and others.
Cryptocurrency

Renewable energy can’t cure Bitcoin’s environmental woes

Crypto mining does impact the environment—but don't take Elon Musk's word for it.