Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 714)

A new paper from the National Institute of Standards and Technology helps demonstrate why one group of masks similar to those pictured here—valved masks—is almost as ineffective in controlling the spread of mouth particles as wearing no masks at all.
COVID-19

Why you should think twice before opting for a valved N95 mask

Research reveals they don’t filter droplets nearly as well as other masks.

agricultural field with wind farm in background at sunset
Global Warming

What President-elect Biden could do for the environment in his first 100 days

A lot, actually.

a person sitting at a Dell laptop in a well-lit room by some windows and a plant
Tech Hacks

Become a Windows whiz by creating your own keyboard shortcuts

May we present: the keys to productivity.

tropical storm eta
Climate Change

Tropical Storm Eta hit Florida this morning

Eta devastated Nicaragua and Honduras, and just made landfall in the US.

A cluster of bats on the ceiling of a cave
Animals

How animals can help us demystify viruses

From infections to mutations, these experts are turning to wildlife to better understand deadly outbreaks.

Europa glowing
Moons

Europa’s icy surface may glow in the dark

Understanding the chemical composition of ice on Jupiter’s intriguing moon could reveal hints about its habitability.

a blonde woman sitting in a chair by a window in a white sweater and jeans
Life Skills

Keep your home warm without blasting the heat

Temperature up, heating bill down.

In this microscopic image, Sphingomonas desiccabilis is growing on basalt.
International Space Station

These rock-eating microbes could help us settle the Moon and Mars

They could extract elements needed for farming and engineering.

virgin hyperloop
Technology

The first hyperloop passengers just took a short but important ride

In a test on Sunday in Nevada, two people hit a speed of 107 mph.

CT scan of Albanerpetontid skull
Animals

This weird Cretaceous amphibian has the oldest-recorded ballistic tongue

It looks like a chameleon, but it’s definitely not.

National guard members salute a veteran who died from COVID-19 at the Javits Center field hospital in New York City
Mental Health

Eight reasons COVID-19 has hit veterans particularly hard

From a backlog in benefits to overcrowded retirement homes, the pandemic has laid bare many problems with veterans' care.

a woman holding an umbrella
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

What really happened during the ‘Kentucky meat shower’?

And other bizarre facts from The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week.

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.