Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 738)

Surfing
Ocean

Surfers are riding a wave of new technologies to their Olympic debut

As the sport takes its place in the Olympic lineup, biometrics and other types of data tracking help carve its future.

anatomy of a laugh
Science

Why does laughing feel so stinkin’ good?

The anatomy of a good chuckle, explained.

Bike riding
Life Skills

7 mistakes beginner cyclists make, and how to avoid them

Your two-wheeled adventures will be more fun—and a lot safer—with some preparation

The Mexico City landscape
COVID-19

Mexico City buried its river and lakes to prevent disease. But then COVID-19 happened.

The city's air pollution could worsen the toll of the pandemic.

An illustration of a lopsided binary star system.
Sun

A lopsided pair of dead stars could reveal some of the universe’s secrets

The stellar odd couple is a rare find.

Carina Nebula
Space

What animal do you see in this image of a nebula?

It's a classic example of pareidolia.

NGC 2275, imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope
Space Telescope

Hubble just captured this ‘fluffy’ galaxy in all its flocculent glory

Fuzzy galaxies like NGC 2775 are more common than you think.

Kongonaphon kely
Dinosaurs

This pocket-sized shaggy reptile hopped around a pre-dino world

The earliest dinosaurs and pterosaurs were probably also bitsy.

A grizzly bear walking through the snow.
Wildlife

These survival tips might actually get you killed

Put down that cactus!

Lightning strikes over Stamford, Nebraska. June 17, 2017.
Weather

This photographer chases the Midwest’s most dramatic storms. Here are some of his favorite shots.

Eric Meola went from shooting rock-album art to documenting the hidden beauty of the great American plains.

Hands typing
Life Skills

Six tips for writing emails that aren’t absolute garbage

Let's make everyone's inboxes slightly less horrible.

The transgender symbol
Medicine

Ignored by doctors, trans people turn to dangerous underground treatments

Many individuals resort to black market hormones and surgeries when they can’t find gender-affirming health care.

Smoke during sunset.
Mental Health

It’s time to grieve the world we’ve lost to climate change—and start to move on

There's no turning back, but there is hope.

Old bike
Projects

Bring your old bike back to life with these pro restoration tips

New bicycles are hard to come by, but your old beater could be ready to ride again.

protestors of pipelines
Fossil Fuels

Activists have shut down two major fossil fuel pipelines—at least for now

Even as the executive branch erodes environmental protections, activists are finally holding some companies responsible in court.

two Canadian geese by some water
Projects

How to make effective duck hunting decoys for under $10

Give 'em the ol' Texas trash bag treatment.

people with PPE on
COVID-19

Experts say COVID’s airborne transmission may deserve more attention

Researchers who study tiny aerosols are concerned that the role of these particles is being downplayed in public health communication.

Monument Valley, a popular tourist attraction, lies within Navajo Nation territory along the Arizona-Utah border.
COVID-19

Arizona reopened too quickly. Now Indigenous nations are paying the price.

Tribal governments moved quickly to promote science-driven emergency orders, but the death toll keeps rising.

a white-throated sparrow
Birds

White-throated sparrows are ditching their classic song for a new tune

The birds are abandoning their old song with unprecedented speed.

a phone with the time displayed on its screen
Tech Hacks

Six ways your phone can give your life structure instead of chaos

Whether you're scheduling work tasks or blocking out a three-hour midday nap, these apps can help.