Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 730)

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.”

F-16
AI

Watch a computer clobber a human pilot in a simulated fighter jet duel

The DARPA event, focused on artificial intelligence and air combat, hints at one possible future for military aviation.

south island new zealand
Climate Change

Mummified leaves offer a glimpse of Earth’s ancient climate—and our future

The fossils hint at a period of high carbon dioxide levels.

intestines microflora
Cancer

Gut bacteria might flip the effects of a common cancer-causing mutation in an unexpected way

Antioxidants in mice can actually make their tumors worse.

With a dysfunctional postal service, much of the population would lose access to much needed medications.
Health

The Postal Service helps keep millions of Americans alive and well

Many rely on the mail for delivery of prescriptions and disease testing.

Head trip maze
Science

This maze has three solutions. Can you solve them all?

Give your brain a wee workout with this puzzle.

Environmental Protection Agency
Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuel companies don’t have to clean up their methane emissions anymore

The EPA turns a blind eye while a powerful heat-trapping gas leaks from drilling sites and pipelines.

pappy lane shipwreck
Biology

This WWII shipwreck hosts an underwater kingdom of bacteria

Iron-eating bacteria were among the thousands of microbes dwelling within the shipwreck.

DIY wipes
COVID-19

How to make your own disinfecting wipes

Come for a cleaning product, get a baby wipe recipe for free.