Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 753)

a group of New Yorkers participating in the 1970 Earth Day demonstrations in New York City
Environment

Looking back on 50 years of Earth Days

How Earth Day came to be and what’s changed over the years.

smog over shanghai
COVID-19

Air pollution has made the COVID-19 pandemic worse

Both attack our lungs and incite a similar response by the immune system.

grand teton
COVID-19

Many national parks remain open during the pandemic. The man in charge explains why.

COVID-19 is putting our system of public land management to the test.

a drawing of a large worm
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Welcome to Earth, home to human-sized salamanders and skin-eating worms

Celebrate Earth Day with some truly bizarre facts about our world.

Rotten Fruit
DIY

Carrot-top pesto, beet ketchup, and other recipes for using up odds and ends in your fridge

Honor Mother Nature by cooking with what you’d normally throw away.

a smiling woman
Mental Health

Eight science-backed tricks to make you feel less sad

Cheap and easy mood-boosters with evidence to back them up.

Car garage care
Vehicles

How to care for your car if you’re not driving it very often

Your car needs driving, even when there’s nowhere to go.

A woman in a face mask touching her face
COVID-19

Face masks are now recommended for all, but how much do they help?

The coverings alone won’t keep you healthy, but they will provide some protection.

Youth climate activists gathered online on a Saturday night in early April to make posters in preparation for the Earth Day march.
Climate Change

Will social distancing sidetrack the climate movement?

The 50th anniversary of Earth Day was supposed to be one of the biggest US climate marches yet. Now organizers are scrambling to find ways to protest online.

bacteria on our tongues
Biology

This photo confirms that your tongue is basically a microbe party

Microbes live in communities together with their buds, the new image shows.

Oscar Bolten Green illustration
Science

Tomatoes, tempura, and other foods whose origins will surprise you

Some ingredients have traveled far to become part of a national cuisine.

dog running
AI

Google taught a robot dog new tricks by having it mimic the real thing

Programming a machine to walk is hard, so researchers had it learn from nature.

a selection of invasive, edible weeds on a gray surface, with a knife among them
Life Skills

Ten weeds you can eat

Your backyard could be loaded with edibles.

washing hands
COVID-19

Simple tips to heal your hands after constant washing

The more you scrub, the more your skin gets stressed out.

a wall-mounted wine rack made out of a reclaimed wood pallet, with a chalkboard and a wine glass holder
Projects

The cheapest way to build your own wine rack

Heck, add a chalkboard and a wine glass holder to make it even fancier.

kimchi
Science

We finally know which bacteria give kimchi its power

Inside the microscopic world of this fermented staple.

English setter puppy works on basic retrieving with a pigeon.
Military

‘Super puppies’ keep calm and carry on in the most stressful situations

Trainers are reducing stress on young hunting dogs by selectively adding it.

person leaning against his bike with his phone
COVID-19

Can smartphone apps track COVID-19 without violating your privacy?

Bluetooth and QR codes offer an alternative to using location data for contact tracing.

Quarantine scam
Security

Scams are thriving during COVID-19. Here’s what to watch out for.

How to avoid some of the most common privacy and security issues.

Lena Vargas illustration
Science

Three ancient optical illusions explained by modern science

Aristotle observed these bizarre occurrences.