Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 708)

A photo of Mount Everest behind clouds and under a blue sky.
Climate Change

Cold War-era satellites bring bad news about melting glaciers around Everest

We finally know how fast the glaciers surrounding Mount Everest are melting—and it isn’t good at all.

A group of Buffalo rests under a tree in the middle of a savannah, in Africa.
Global Warming

Animals are finding surprising ways to adapt to rising temperatures

This is how animals will keep their cool (or not) on a hotter planet.

A kid with a cartoon-themed mask standing in a field
COVID-19

When states mandate masks, fewer people catch COVID-19

North Dakota and Iowa recently made the switch. Now 14 states remain.

A green and red Io moth caterpillar crawling across a person's hands
Insects

Insects can be the ultimate teaching tool for kids

Don’t fear the pervasive creatures—learn from them.

Airbus A350-900
Aviation

The world’s longest commercial flights, by the numbers

Thousands of pounds of fuel, hours upon hours in the air, and a fascinating green glow.

a person in the park wearing a mask
COVID-19

That new study saying masks might not be effective? It has a few caveats.

Yes, you should still be wearing a mask.

masks
COVID-19

How well a mask works depends on how well it fits

You’ll be more comfortable and safer if you wear a mask that is properly sized.

A kid gets a traditional nasal-swab test from a doctor in PPE
COVID-19

The FDA just okayed a rapid at-home COVID test—but it won’t work for everyone

You’ll need a prescription to buy it.

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.