Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 685)

Masha Krasnova-Shavaeva illustration
Ocean

These jellyfish seem to cheat death. What’s their secret?

Marine biologists think one species of jellies may hold some clues to reversing aging.

This enormous spike of lightning was spotted from the International Space Station.
International Space Station

Rare ‘blue jet’ lightning spotted and photographed from space

Thunderstorms happen above the clouds, too.

weighted blanket
Mental Health

What the science actually says about weighted blankets

Studies are scarce, but experts still recommend them wholeheartedly.

Fog billowing off a misty mountain forest.
Life Skills

How to survive three days in the wild

This 72-hour plan will buy you enough time to wait for search and rescue to arrive.

people wearing masks walking their dogs
Vaccines

The places where Americans aren’t wearing masks

Here’s everything you need to know this week.

A shooting star in a night scene over the Arabian Desert
Evolution

It’s a cosmic miracle that life on Earth’s lasted this long

Exactly how lucky did we get?

bar graph of covid-19 mortality rates in LA county by ethnicity and poverty level
COVID-19

5 graphs that show how bad COVID-19 is in LA County

California as a state has had a rough fall and winter.

A Hirox digital microscope capturing images of a famous painting.
Technology

Check out this 10-billion-pixel, 3D panorama of an iconic painting

You’ll never get this close to “Girl with a Pearl Earring” in real life.

a tiger rattlesnake coiled up
Animals

Rattlesnake venom is lethal, but understanding it could save lives

The reptile produces the most potent venom of any rattlesnake from only a handful of ingredients.

Basket of pomegranate fruits with glass bottles of tea on a light purple and seagreen background
Mental Health

Four plants that are scientifically proven to be therapeutic

Plants can offer a lot of help with everything from pain relief to heart disease.

A pair of pink mittens on a wood surface.
Projects

How to knit your own Bernie mittens

Put on your mask, cross your legs, become a meme.

older woman facing a happy lamp
Mental Health

Can a happy lamp help cure your winter blues?

You don’t have to feel depressed to appreciate light therapy.

An open dictionary with a red cover on a table
Science

Local languages are dying out and taking invaluable knowledge with them

Rare, rural vocabularies hold the keys to centuries-old questions about nature, human migration, and more.

A headshot of Jessica Rosenworcel, acting chair of the FCC.
Internet

The FCC is about to undergo a huge shift that could drastically affect the internet

What does the future hold for Net Neutrality, the digital divide, and Section 230?

A floating balloon from Project Loon.
Aviation

RIP Loon, Google’s balloon-based cellular network

An Alphabet project that used stratospheric balloons to deliver connectivity to people below is permanently coming down to Earth.

the eiffel tower at dusk
Climate Change

The US is back in the Paris Agreement. What does that mean?

It doesn’t have anything to do with Parisians, but it is an incredibly important international agreement.

two people looking bored
Psychology

There’s a right and wrong way to be bored

The doldrums can be helpful when it comes to creativity, but chronic boredom isn’t so positive.

US Senator Bernie Sanders edited into a vintage Popular Science magazine cover to look like he's driving an experimental single-wheel motorcycle.
Projects

How to make a legendary meme

Whether you’re using a meme generator or a more elaborate program, we’ve got tips for you.

Three people in prison jumpsuits behind orange bars and the SARS-CoV-2 virus illustrations superimposed in four spots
COVID-19

On surviving—and leaving—prison during a pandemic

In Colorado, a woman released at the height of COVID-19 finds resilience.

Blue Origin’s New Shephard rocket lifts off.
Private Space Flight

SpaceX won’t be the only company launching commercial rockets in 2021

Two companies took big steps toward selling modestly priced rides to space last week.