Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 692)

Hand holding a phone with a map in front of an empty road.
Tech Hacks

No cell service? These are the best offline apps.

Don’t let a dropped connection stop you.

Ana Galvañ illustration
Mental Health

Why spacing out is good for you

A wandering mind reaps benefits you might not imagine.

A drone in a launcher in the back of a cargo aircraft.
Drones

This Airbus prototype could deploy drones from cargo planes

The UAV would launch off the cargo ramp of a turboprop transport craft—and play a role in battles of the future.

Plex TV
Tech Hacks

7 Smart TV apps every viewer should check out

Built for the big screen.

Yellow can of Lysol disinfectant spray
COVID-19

Why are we still disinfecting surfaces to stop COVID-19?

Research shows that the coronavirus rarely spreads through contact with cash, groceries, and other objects.

Two people facing away from the camera while pointing at their iPhones.
Tech Hacks

How to create a Wi-Fi hotspot on your phone or computer

Sharing is caring, and sharing your data is the greatest love of all.

microbes being sent into Earth's atmosphere.
Mars

Some of Earth’s tiniest living things could survive on Mars

Bacteria and fungi were hurled into Earth’s middle stratosphere, which resembles many of Mars’ harsh conditions.

Hand holding Amazon Fire TV remote towards TV screen
Tech Hacks

7 tips and tricks to make the most of your Amazon Fire TV

Upgrade your streaming experience.

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.