Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 715)

The bacterial exposure experiment took place from 2015 to 2018 using the Exposed Facility located on the exterior of Kibo, the Japanese Experimental Module of the International Space Station.
Mars

Clumps of bacteria could spread life between planets

A unique trick could let microbes zip from Earth to Mars, for example, and survive the trek.

CDC building.
COVID-19

The CDC’s new COVID-19 testing guidelines could make the pandemic worse

Testing is still as important as ever, politics aside.

A kitten in a litter box.
Cats

Toilet training your cat isn’t as great as it sounds

It could instigate a multitude of health and behavioral problems.

Burlap sacks
Projects

Five cool ways to upcycle old coffee sacks

Drink it, DIY it, do it again.

jones fire california
Environment

California and the Forest Service have a plan to prevent future catastrophic fires

In a recent agreement, officials committed to ramping up thinning and burning across the state.

a satellite image of storms approaching the US
Weather

Hurricane Laura will bring ‘unsurvivable’ storm surges to the Gulf of Mexico

The 2020 hurricane season is picking up steam.

The Brooks Range sets the backdrop for vital caribou feeding grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Fossil Fuels

The Trump administration opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil companies—but none may bite

Low oil prices, a pandemic-driven recession, and looming elections add up to highly unfavorable conditions for remote drilling operations.

Cuddled up pug.
COVID-19

How to help your pet with separation anxiety

Your buddy misses you when you're gone, so let them know you're coming back.

A person contemplates a wall of notes.
Science

Can you expose the truth in these two riddles?

Give your brain a workout!

Fully preserved woolly rhino named Sasha.
Animals

Climate change probably contributed to the woolly rhino’s rapid demise

The fuzzy blonde Pleistocene animals couldn't stand the heat.

light reading
Science

Why scientific papers are growing increasingly inscrutable

Overrun with acronyms, abbreviation-filled research hurts our scientific understanding.

pregnant person coffee doughnut
Health

Should pregnant people not drink coffee? The answer is complicated.

A new study says there's no safe amount of coffee to consume while pregnant, but that might not mean much to an individual.

A doctor holding up a uterine ultrasound
Medicine

Most Americans can’t afford fertility treatments anymore—so they’re going abroad

White working-class people are taking "fertility tours" of Europe. Here's one couple's story.

vials of blood
COVID-19

Scientists may have confirmed you can catch COVID-19 twice

Here’s everything you need to know this week.

An artists interpretation of microquasar SS 433 and Fermi J1913+0515.
Black Holes

These two celestial bodies share a heartbeat, puzzling scientists

A black hole and a gas cloud pulse together in sync—but why?

Armored Roland Sands Design gear (Mia Jacket, Julian Pant, Bonnie Gloves), leather boots I can run in if I need to, fixed blade clearly visible, wind in my hair, and the beating drum of nature in my heart.
Motorcycles

How to travel solo, according to an adventurous biker

Lessons from a female rider who's covered 135,000 kilometers over three continents.

a lightning bolt.
Climate Change

Two of the largest wildfires in California’s history are burning right now

And fire season has just begun.

a wooden doll sitting on a toilet
Life Skills

How to figure out what’s wrong with your toilet—and then fix it

Don't flush your money away on a simple repair.

A solar installer
Renewables

California shut off power grids this week, but not because of clean energy

The state's grid operator has called for building more capacity for wind and solar, not less.

a person loading or unloading a dishwasher
Life Skills

Four tips to make sure your dishwasher does its job

There’s more to it than simply adding detergent and hitting “start.”