Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 698)

row of urinals
Agriculture

Your pee could be the golden ticket to a greener world

By redesigning wastewater systems, we can build a circular pee-conomy.

A red wasp specimen on black background
Insects

The US is running out of wasp venom. That’s bad.

The same ingredient that causes severe allergic reactions in some people can also help save them. But new FDA guidelines are making it harder to come by.

Person in a mask and disposable gloves holding a basket of groceries
COVID-19

A step-by-step guide to grocery shopping during a pandemic

From spreading out your trips to disinfecting your haul, here’s what to do to stay safe.

deep ocean
Ocean

Researchers found signs of human pollution in animals living six miles beneath the sea

Sinking fish carcasses ferry mercury to the depths of the Mariana Trench.

lincoln navigator black label
Vehicles

Backing up a trailer is really hard, but this $100,000 SUV offers a new solution

It’s called Pro Trailer Backup Assist, and it could help you out during your next escape to a campground.

vaccine
Vaccines

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is now 95 percent effective. Here’s what that actually means.

Early data from clinical trials suggests that the immunization is promising, but we’ll still be waiting a while.

Mighty Studio Building 3D Printed
Technology

A new material allows this company to 3D print most of a house in a single day

Mighty Buildings can crank out the structure of a 350-square-foot studio in 24 hours.

The Crew-1 crew. From left to right, NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, and Mike Hopkins, and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi.
Space X

SpaceX and NASA officially flew people into space. What’s next?

The Crew-1 launch opens a new chapter in human spaceflight.

Apple M1 MacBook Air Review
Laptops

Apple’s M1 chip makes the new MacBook Air shockingly good

It’s incredibly fast and totally silent.

An ant on a leaf
Science

Why can some people smell ants? Here’s the answer to TikTok’s latest mystery.

Ants are more odorous than you might think.

hurricane iota november 16th satellite image
Global Warming

Hurricane Iota is a record-breaking storm in a record-breaking year

Though it’s now petering out, Iota peaked as a Category 5 storm unusually late in the season.

tropical peatlands Markurius Sera / Borneo Nature Foundation
Diseases

Conserving tropical peatlands could be key to preventing the next pandemic

These regions are areas where zoonotic diseases can originate.

A black and white photo of gondolas in Venice
Climate Change

Saving historical landmarks from climate change could mean altering them

From Venice to Chan Chan, preservationists need to work with communities to come up with a plan.

Marryam Moma collage
Archaeology

In Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley,’ a Black community battles an industry that threatens its health—and history

A proposed petrochemical complex from plastics giant Formosa could disrupt long-forgotten plantation graves.

people walking around in masks
COVID-19

These countries managed to turn COVID-19 around. Here’s how we could do the same.

To bring caseloads down, the US can learn from what has worked in other countries: masks and social distancing.

Person shooting photo
Tech Hacks

Google Photos is better at image editing than you think

Manage, back up, and tweak without switching apps.

Dynamite box.
Whales

Remembering one of history’s greatest whale explosions

We’ve learned a lot since that messy day on an Oregon beach.

A spearfisher hauling a striped bass through the water.
Projects

Take a stab at spearfishing with these tips

Make a small splash and a big catch.

A doctor wearing a mask and scrubs holds up a syringe with a vaccine inside
Vaccines

You can get COVID-19 and the flu at the same time

Here’s what you need to know this week.

vaccine
Vaccines

A second COVID-19 vaccine just reported excellent results. What now?

Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine candidate is 94.5 percent effective in early late-stage clinical trials.