Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 712)

The finished cardboard robotic hand on someone's hand
Projects

Turn a boring box into a sweet working robotic hand

Fingers, joints, tendons, and the whole shebang.

Tomi Um illustration
Science

You probably can’t find every mask in this picture

But there’s one way you should try.

How to make perfect pie crust with the power of science
Life Skills

How to make perfect pie crust with the power of science

You might need some booze before you’re done—trust us.

person alone traveling
Vaccines

COVID-19 testing can’t guarantee a safe Thanksgiving. Here’s why.

The CDC is urging Americans not to travel for the holiday.

Black Friday TVs
Technology

The best Black Friday deals are decidedly not worth dying for

You can get most of the best prices without leaving your house or staying glued to your computer all Friday.

A hunter holds a traditional bow and runs through an open field.
Animals

Can a hunter outrun an antelope? This ultra-marathoner is finding out.

Chasing down pronghorn on the open prairie is about a lot more than just winning the race.

Nvidia Maxine
Internet

Nvidia’s new streaming tech deep fakes your face to save on bandwidth

It could save up to 90 percent of the bandwidth typically required for web conferences.

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.