Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 719)

Artist’s impression of the thin stream of stars torn from the Phoenix globular cluster, wrapping around the Milky Way (left). Astronomers targeted bright red giant stars (artist’s impression, right) to measure the chemical composition of the disrupted Phoenix globular cluster.
NASA

A local stellar graveyard could reveal our galaxy’s beginnings

The 'Phoenix stream' is home to many ancient stars.

Colombia
COVID-19

COVID-19 raises the stakes for environmental activists in Colombia

The Indigenous Wayuu people have long battled the Cerrejón coal mine. Now a shortage of water and spike in disease are pushing the community to seek international help.

a person working in a lab
COVID-19

Why you might need to sport a mask inside your own home

Here’s everything you need to know this week.

Person running
Tech Hacks

A beginner’s guide to Google Fit and Apple Health

Your phone comes stocked with solid tools that'll help you stay in shape.

Callaway Mavrik golf clubs.
Engineering

Callaway turned to AI and a supercomputer to fix your bad golf game

Surprising things happened after the company employed artificial intelligence to design new clubs.

person reading newspaper
Global Warming

Major news outlets are handing the mic to big business on climate issues

Even as reporters have improved at framing the science, they’ve disproportionately included messages advocating against climate action.

a cutting board storage rack installed on the inside of a kitchen cabinet door
Projects

Save space by building this simple cutting board rack inside any door

Kitchen organization you didn't know you needed.

A laptop and iPhone with a beanie and sunglasses laid on top
Internet

Incognito and private mode offer fewer protections than you think

Get in the habit of closing your window frequently.

lab work
Vaccines

Pap smears are no longer the best way to screen for cervical cancer

The American Cancer Society now recommends people over 25 be tested for HPV every five years.

Person floating in the water
COVID-19

How to enjoy summer in a pandemic

We still have some summer left.

generic pill pack
COVID-19

The verdict on hydroxychloroquine is in

Evidence was shaky at first, but as evidence from clinical trials has come in, the data are pretty clear on how effective the drug really is.

coronavirus
COVID-19

Herd immunity, contact tracing, and other terms to help you understand COVID-19

A glossary to get you through this epidemic—or is it a pandemic?

Pile of seeds.
Agriculture

What not to do with the mysterious seeds you received in the mail recently

This week people in 30 US states got mysterious seeds in their snail mail.

giraffe
Wildlife

Escaped exotic animals are changing the Texas landscape

By breeding African mammals like kudu and nilgai, ranches risk running a massive unregulated wildlife experiment.

bats
COVID-19

The virus that causes COVID-19 has been silently brewing in bats for decades

The viral lineage leading to SARS-CoV-2 has likely been around for the past 40 to 70 years in bats.

two older people sitting in chairs
Climate Change

Nursing homes aren’t equipped to provide life-saving A/C in the event of a power outage

Hurricane season is a huge risk for many facilities that care for the elderly.

Checking mail on phone
Tech Hacks

10 email alerts you’ll actually want in your inbox

The exact opposite of spam.

In this illustration, NASA's Mars 2020 rover uses its drill to core a rock sample on Mars.
Mars

Watch NASA launch its next rover to Mars

It's the third Mars-bound launch this summer—China and the UAE sent probes earlier in July.

To-go food containers.
COVID-19

The safest way to eat at your favorite restaurant during the pandemic

All hail takeout.

flu vaccine
Vaccines

Vaccines for flu and pneumonia could reduce your chances of getting Alzheimer’s

People who received at least one flu shot were 17 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.