Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 690)

Aurora sky over icy winter forest at night
Sustainability

A geomagnetic curveball 42,000 years ago changed our planet forever

The future is unpredictable—just ask the Neanderthals.

A reimagined prehistoric bird chasing a dragonfly over plants
Dinosaurs

Were rocks on the menu for these ancient birds?

A deeper look at crystals pulled from a fossil’s stomach presents an intriguing counterargument.

Boeing's damaged 777-200 parked in a hanger following an incident with its engine on Flight 328 on February 20.
Aviation

The United Airlines Flight 328 engine failure, explained

Initial focus is on metal fatigue in a fan blade in the jet’s number-two thruster.

a boat captain tries to pull a plastic barrel from a debris island
Fossil Fuels

A trip down the Ohio River reveals the oil and gas industry’s next big move

Facing falling demand for fossil fuels, companies like Shell are betting big on another polluting commodity: plastic.

Mars' surface, in high-resolution and color, as captured by the Hazcams on NASA's Perseverance rover.
Mars

See Mars through Perseverance’s eyes

The images show us full-color glimpses of the planet’s ancient past

sick little boy with thermometer in his mouth
Diseases

The surprising ways your immune system adapts to the flu virus you got as a kid

Immunity continues to be an incredibly complicated concept.

A lean to shelter built on a rock side.
Life Skills

Three ways to build a winter survival shelter

Shelter and fire are critical to survival. Here’s how to combine both to stay alive in an emergency.

fisherman holding a rope on a boat
Fish

Post-pandemic seafood could be more sustainable. Here’s how tech is driving the change.

In Guaymas, Mexico, one savvy fishing co-op shows how apps, QR codes, and other transparent add-ons could deliver a more healthy, equitable future for the industry.

a person who is pregnant
Vaccines

What pregnant, breastfeeding, and prospective parents should know about the COVID-19 vaccines

The risks of getting COVID-19 while pregnant far outweigh the risks of the COVID-19 vaccines.

A gloved hand putting a lighter to a snowball
Physics

Why snow doesn’t melt when you set it on fire

It’s the same science behind snow cones. Weird right?

A spotify screenshot
Technology

Spotify has a major audio-quality upgrade coming later this year

The service tier will be called HiFi and it will offer CD-quality audio.

A bag of chocolate chip cookies holding up a sign that says "nutrition facts, one cookie, 320 calories"
Ask Us Anything

Why you can’t trust the calorie count on food labels

Nutritionists warn of one big caveat with the numbers on the packaging.

The Conway Summit Area of Critical Environmental Concern is managed by the BLM California’s Bishop Field Office.
Wildlife

Biden sets an ambitious goal to protect 30 percent of US lands and waters

The executive order is short on details, but hunting and fishing groups are hoping it will create more habitat by 2030.

COVID-19 vaccine vials
Vaccines

Why COVID cases are falling around the world

Here’s everything you need to know this week.

A fighter jet takes off from an Air Force base in Nevada.
Aviation

Two fighter pilots passed out over Nevada last year. Software saved them both.

In separate incidents, F-16 aviators were rendered unconscious, but a ground-collision avoidance system righted the aircrafts.

mars image
Mars

11 eye-opening images from NASA’s Mars missions

A look back on iconic Mars missions to commemorate NASA’s successful Perseverance landing this week.

Person holding a clock
Life Skills

Tech tips for working with people in different time zones

Avoid messaging people when they’re sleeping. It’s rude.

A Black man in glasses and a t-shirt sitting on a marble wall, looking at a phone.
Mental Health

The best apps for dealing with anxiety

These services do more than guided meditation.

Mona Chalabi fermented food chart
Science

See the wonderful world of fermented foods on one delicious chart

And we didn’t even count cheeses.

pfizer biontech covid vaccine
Vaccines

Storing the Pfizer vaccine could get a lot simpler in coming weeks

The mRNA vaccine can actually be stored at normal freezer temperatures, though the change can’t happen just yet.