Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 742)

public bathroom
COVID-19

You probably won’t get COVID-19 from flushing the toilet

Toilet plumes are yet another good reason to wash your hands.

A radio tower set against a night sky.
Exoplanets

The Milky Way could have dozens of alien civilizations capable of contacting us

A pair of researchers has forecasted 36 civilizations, to be exact.

hummingbird
Birds

Hummingbirds can see colors we can’t even imagine

The birds can distinguish hues in combinations of ultraviolet and visible light that puts our own technicolor vision to shame.

Person taking selfie
Tech Hacks

Take better selfies with these lighting and angle tips

Anyone can smile and press a button, but a good selfie is an art form.

Kampfmittelaufklärung und-identifizierung
Military

This 1.9-ton steel arm can spot bombs and lift soldiers out of harm’s way

The appendage is 33 feet long and a new part of the German Army’s IED identification system.

four hands with different skin colors next to each other on a table
Psychology

Anti-Black bias affects just about everyone. What’s the best way to deal with implicit racism?

We all suffer from unconscious biases.

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.
Air Force

General Charles Q. Brown Jr. is a historic choice to lead the Air Force

The decorated pilot boasts 36 years of service, largely in the Pacific command.

a person checking their blood sugar
COVID-19

Doctors add diabetes to the list of COVID-triggered conditions

Infection with the novel coronavirus may set off stress-related diabetes.

Mario Lego
Technology

This new Lego set brings classic Super Mario games into the real world

several police officers standing in a road holding weapons
Psychology

Can implicit bias training help cops overcome racism?

Schooling police on how to push past prejudice won’t make disparities disappear, but some experts say it’s a necessary step.

iPhone with Spotify
Tech Hacks

Eight ways to cut down on your monthly subscriptions

Subscribe, unsubscribe, re-subscribe, repeat.

ancient ancestor of the modern crocodile, which walked on two feet.
Animals

Crocodiles’ ancient ancestors may have walked on two legs

Footprints in South Korea show a distinctive bipedal gait.

drugs generic
COVID-19

Scientists are working on at least 135 different coronavirus vaccines

Here’s everything you need to know about the pandemic this week.

Planning to hit the road and bunking at a hotel or Airbnb while you travel? You'll want to take certain precautions.
COVID-19

Tips for staying in campgrounds, hotels, and rentals in the time of COVID-19

Even though you need a vacation, the virus isn’t taking one.

fruits vegetables scattered on white marble
Cancer

The latest guidance on how to prevent cancer

What the American Cancer Society says about what to eat and do to stay healthy.

A knife shaving bamboo shoots.
Life Skills

Eight survival knife skills you might need in an emergency

Blades aren’t just for cutting.

people at a protest for black lives matter
Health

Collecting missing demographic data is the first step to fighting racism in healthcare

Ensuring that racial and ethnic data is included in CDC and local health agency reports is crucial to solving public health issues.

Person holding a bread-and-butter pickle sandwich
Projects

The history and mystery of America’s long-lost pickle sandwich

In which one writer seeks to understand the Depression-era (maybe?) staple.

Your brain won’t let you see all 12 dots in this image
Science

Your brain won’t let you see all 12 dots in this image

Our entire visual field is not made the same.

A woman working from home on the floor.
Health

Working from home can ravage your spine, but good posture can help fix it

You’re quarantining to stay healthy—don’t let your posture sabotage that.