Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 700)

National guard members assist with point-of-care testing in Tempe, Arizona wearing face shields and plastic suits
COVID-19

Across the US, COVID-19 slams rural towns, suburbs, and cities alike

Hospital beds are filling up quickly in some regions.

MIT Press Reader illustration
Psychology

How the objects we hold become extensions of our bodies

Use a smart phone enough and your brain will imagine it as part of you.

someone reading online news
COVID-19

Biden’s COVID-19 response plan is missing one major component

The President-elect’s team still needs to address pandemic misinformation.

DIY external hard drive
Projects

Rip out your computer’s guts and craft an external hard drive

Mo' space, mo' storage.

a drone hovers next to a lake and a tree
Drones

Delivery drones could drive us batty—unless they take some sonic cues from owls

We definitely don’t want them to take after pigeons.

Tim Robinson illustration
Agriculture

Appalachia’s ginseng goldmine may not last much longer

Locals are racing to preserve the overharvested plant, which holds great medicinal and economic potential.

A child wearing a mask reading a picture book
Vaccines

The CDC released a COVID-19 test knowing it had a high failure rate

Here’s what you need to know this week.

a person walking down an aisle in a store
Life Skills

How to stock your pantry to endure a long, uncertain winter

When it’s time to shop, think like a survivalist.

Tyler Spangler illustration
Mental Health

What happens when psychedelics make you see God

Drugs like ‘shrooms don’t just make people hallucinate. They can also help ease anxiety, depression, and other woes—but the effects may be even better when trips get spiritual.

a person using a Windows 10 laptop
Tech Hacks

Four hidden tweaks that will speed up Windows

Don’t settle for slowdowns.

An illustration of a male wild turkey with two hens
Birds

Three love stories about birds that will delight your heart

Let’s talk turkey proms.

An illustration of a hand dropping a pink envelope into a box
Psychology

Five election misinformation campaigns to avoid resharing

These false narratives of fraud include out of context or otherwise misleading images and faulty statistics as purported evidence.

A collection of items used to ease flu symptoms: a glass of water, hot water bottle, allergy pills, a thermometer and a stethoscope
Vaccines

You can have COVID-19 without symptoms, but what about the flu?

Just because you’re not sneezing doesn’t mean you’re not contagious.

microscope
Climate Change

All the ways the 2020 election has influenced science policy so far

One clear winner has been marijuana legalization.

DJI Mini 2
Drones

DJI’s Mini 2 drone adds pro-grade features and a $50 price hike

Even with a 4K camera and better wireless connectivity, it’s still light enough that you won’t have to register it with the FAA.

A hospital doctor in PPE
COVID-19

The US hit 120,000 new COVID cases on Thursday, breaking records for the second day in a row

Case counts have been soaring for the past month.

ocean
Ocean

Scientists are tracking down deep sea creatures with free-floating DNA

Bits of genetic code in seawater can help scientists study fish that we rarely see.

a gray wolf
Endangered Species

Gray wolves are leaving the endangered species list. But should they?

Biologists are questioning the evidence behind the decision.

A hand holding several small brown mushrooms
Mental Health

Oregon just voted to legalize magic mushrooms. Here’s what that actually means.

Recent research suggests psilocybin is safe—and can have astonishing therapeutic uses.

The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), pictured here, helped pin down the mysterious signals.
Black Holes

Astronomers have traced mysterious radio waves to a source in our own galaxy

The brightest radio flashes in the sky likely come from the universe’s most powerful magnets.