Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 65)

Bison bones are scattered across the Bergstrom site in central Montana.
Archaeology

Why bison hunters abandoned a kill site 1,200 years ago

The animals didn’t disappear. Water did.

By Laura Baisas

Candidates for Luna 9's landing site. Credit: Pinault et al.
Moons

Astronomers close in on long-lost Soviet lunar lander

Luna 9 was the first humanmade object to reach the moon in 1966.

By Andrew Paul

Seed cone of the evergreen Norway spruce tree, Picea abies.
Environment

No, trees can’t anticipate a solar eclipse

Despite viral claims, trees in the Dolomites of northern Italy didn't talk to one another.

By Andrew Paul

Winter coats on sale at REI
Outdoor Gear

REI’s winter coat and jacket clearance has deep deals on The North Face, Columbia, Patagonia, and more

Don't suffer the rest of the winter in a sub-par jacket or coat. REI has dozens of models for clearance prices right now during this season-end sale.

By Stan Horaczek

Scans of severed skull fragments from Iberian Peninsula
Archaeology

Severed head rituals were more widespread in Iron Age Iberia than we thought

Researchers now think at least two more groups joined the macabre custom.

By Andrew Paul

a new species of lady bug. it is black and the size of a grain of sand
Insects

New ladybug species is the size of a grain of sand

Luck by a lady (bug).

By Margherita Bassi

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Environment

The world’s only dark sky airport sits inside a national park

Visitors at Jackson Hole Airport can spot the Milky Way from the parking lot.

By Alisha McDarris

A young lynx playfully throws a rodent into the air before killing and devouring it.
Bears

16 astonishing images from the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards

Playful bear cubs and a swirling superpod of dolphins compete for People's Choice honors.

By Popular Science Team

A dramatic Renaissance-era painting shows an ancient city in chaos, likely Troy, as fires and smoke fill the sky. In the foreground, people flee along canals and bridges, some dragging belongings or carrying others to safety. Boats crowd the water, while buildings burn in the distance. At center-right, a large wooden horse stands ominously in a public square, as flames and destruction spread across the city.
Archaeology

Rethinking Troy: how years of careful peace, not epic war, shaped this bronze age city

The city at the heart of Homer's Iliad had a long history before war engulfed it.

By Stephan Blum / The Conversation

a sea turtle swimming with a boat in the distance
Endangered Species

The world’s smallest sea turtle lives in a noisy ocean

Noisy ships and industry are impacting critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. But how much?

By Margherita Bassi

A colorized historical photograph showing a group of men in traditional Middle Eastern attire, including robes and turbans, gathered at an outdoor coffee house. On the left, a man in a white robe stands behind a counter featuring a large, ornate metal coffee urn. To the right, several other men are seated around a small table, engaged in conversation, reflecting the long history of coffee as a social staple.
Nutrition

4 times drinking coffee was illegal—or even punishable by death

Rulers once closed cafés, burned beans, and even executed someone—all for a cup of coffee.

By Anne Ewbank

Directly avobe view of many wooden ecological cotton swabs on a blue colored background
Health

Stop cleaning your ears wrong

Warning: This advice may cause you to rethink your pharmacy purchases.

By Eric Alt

An artistic, surreal digital illustration exploring the concept of "recreating history's smells." On the left, a large, close-up profile of a human nose and mouth is shown in a classical, textured painting style. A faint purple vapor drifts from the right toward the nose, carrying floating 3D molecular structures. The background features a dark, ornate historical building with arched windows. In the foreground, a cluttered pile of old, thick books with leather bindings and parchment pages sits below two Egyptian sarcophagi. The overall mood is mysterious and scholarly, blending ancient history with modern chemistry.
Science

Recreating the smells of history

Using chemistry, archival records and AI, scientists are reviving the aromas of old libraries, mummies and battlefields.

By Kaja Šeruga / Knowable Magazine

fake images of wild horses standing on a beach wrapped in pink mattress-like insulation material
Social Media

No, North Carolina’s wild horses were not wrapped in insulation

AI-generated images spread fast ahead of a record-breaking winter storm, fooling plenty of people along the way.

By Margherita Bassi

google logo
Tech Hacks

How to clear space in your Google for free

Make full use of the 15GB you get in Gmail, Photos, and Drive for free.

By David Nield

a cold-stunned green iguana likes on its back on the ground in florida
Wildlife

Florida euthanizes 5,195 frozen iguanas

First introduced during the 1960, the invasive reptiles were ‘cold-stunned’ during a record-breaking cold snap.

By Laura Baisas

Sleep number mattresses on sale for Presidents' Day
Home

Sleep Number just dropped prices on pretty much all of its beds during this surprise early Presidents’ Day sale

If you're going to invest in a new bed for better sleep, make it adjustable so you can get exactly what you want.

By Stan Horaczek

A person bundled in heavy winter gear, including a frost-covered knit hat and a black face mask, with ice clinging to their eyelashes and the fabric. The background shows a dim, icy landscape at dusk with a soft glow from a distant light.
Ask Us Anything

The toddler who survived a 54-degree body temperature

Humans aren't built for the cold, but have survived frigid temperatures in some amazing cases.

By Popular Science Team

a tatoo-like image of the mona lisa printed on synthetic skin
Engineering

Synthetic skin reveals hidden ‘Mona Lisa’ when exposed to heat

The octopus-inspired material could lead to better camouflage technology for the military and beyond.

By Mack DeGeurin

Antique film camera on stack of black and white pictures
Science

$13 thrift store camera hid 70-year-old undeveloped film

No one knows who is in the photos—yet.

By Andrew Paul