Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 743)

Someone holding a cellphone and wearing a mask
COVID-19

All the info you need to refute 5G conspiracy theories

First things first, it doesn’t give you COVID-19.

Medical physicist Joanna Harper
Biology

The science behind sex, gender, and athletic competition is still pretty shaky

Joanna Harper’s work has catapulted her into a century-long debate about who gets to play women’s sports.

Police spraying pepper spray
Projects

How to handle a pepper spray attack

Everything you need to know about a protest’s most unwanted guest.

An artists interpretation of a telescope receiving radio bursts from deep space.
Deep Space

Astronomers spot repeating radio burst patterns from deep space

Fast Radio Bursts may flash with some rhyme and reason.

police body camera
Military

Police body cameras were supposed to build trust. So far, they haven’t.

Here’s what the research reveals about the controversial cop technology.

the new zealand flag on a flagpole against a blue sky
COVID-19

What we can learn from New Zealand’s successful fight against COVID-19

The island nation knows COVID-19 will likely return—but it’s prepared.

Solar panels
Fossil Fuels

The US could shift to 90-percent renewable energy by 2035 at no extra cost

A new report shows dramatic benefits for the environment, economy, and public health.

people holding hands
COVID-19

Sex during a pandemic can be risky. Here’s how to do it safely.

The desire to be close to others and to engage in sexual behavior is common during stressful times.

An MLB umpire calls a strike or a ball during a 2019 game.
Robots

Major League Baseball is nearing the era of the robot umpire

Teams might experiment with a controversial new technology in the delayed 2020 season.

woman wearing mask sitting on suitcase in airport
COVID-19

The truth about asymptomatic COVID-19

The World Health Organization’s recent comments are confusing, but you shouldn’t stop taking precautions.

Microsoft noise suppression
Social Media

AI is here to mask barking dogs and screaming kids from your video calls

Google and Microsoft are rolling out impressive automatic features to remove background noise during web conferences.

oil gas pipeline
Environment

Trump’s latest executive order could let agencies shirk environmental responsibility

If projects proceed under the directive, officials would no longer need to fully consider harms to the environment and communities.

TV in the street
Tech Hacks

How to level-up the picture quality of your cheap TV

It might not even be your set’s fault.

Big Q body parts
Evolution

Why your body looks so weird

From our ears to our toes, here’s why our bodies turned out the way they did.

a playground with tape around it that reads "danger, do not enter"
COVID-19

New Zealand has eliminated COVID-19. Here’s how they’re keeping it that way.

Epidemiologists are starting to predict when various aspects of life will get back to normal.

A cluster of spawning sockeye salmon.
Pollution

The battle over Alaska’s Pebble Mine is about to get more dramatic

The country’s most controversial mine is up for a significant permit. Here’s why critics say the government shouldn’t approve it.

Protesters in Washington, D.C. faced off with canisters of tear gas at the end of May.
COVID-19

Tear gas during COVID-19 is a public health disaster

Case studies on the crowd-control weapon show just how dangerous it can be for the lungs.

iPhone
Tech Hacks

Twenty-one tips for making the most of your Apple subscriptions

Get your money’s worth.

ship deck looking over icy water
Global Warming

Ice sheets can melt much faster than we thought

Thousands of years ago, an Antarctic glacier receded faster than we’ve ever seen, and it has glaciologists rethinking things.

Pesticide-killed locusts
Agriculture

An unprecedented locust swarm is creating unlikely allies

In an effort to save farmers’ livelihoods, Pakistan and India have teamed up for a sophisticated surveillance system along the border.