Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 763)

A baseball sits on a pitcher's mound.
Physics

Scientists are one step closer to solving the mystery of MLB’s home run surge

A new study suggests seam height and batting technique could be to blame.

couple building an artificial christmas tree
Sustainability

Your Christmas tree’s environmental impact has nothing to do with whether it’s real or fake

Don’t stress about what kind you buy—stress about what you do about it after the holidays.

Pills.
Medicine

Antibiotic over-prescription is worst for kids in low-income countries

And too many meds can lead to drug resistance and future health dilemmas.

737 Max 8
Aviation

Boeing puts the brakes on 737 Max production

There will be a backlog of commercial-airliner orders as the company works out its safety issues and waits for FAA clearance.

meerkat war dance
Animals

Watch meerkats engage in a fiercely adorable war dance

These little carnivores mean serious business.

Pluto’s horizon
Space

Why the definition of a planet is always changing

The debate didn’t start or end with Pluto.

christmas family
Heart Disease

Of course the most likely time to have a heart attack is on a holiday

Home is where the heart attack is.

1921 tulsa riots
Health

New evidence points to mass graves of people killed in Tulsa’s 1921 race massacre

For forensic scientists, really old crime scenes are a trove of information

a woman with her eyes closed listening to something with headphones
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Listen to this shiver-inducing introduction to the science of ASMR

Get to know this bizarre phenomenon—and the people who hate it.

an image of stars in the center of hte milky way captured by ESO astronomers
NASA

There’s an ancient starburst in the heart of the Milky Way

A stunning new image hints at our galaxy’s tumultuous past.

A northern sea otter swims on its back in Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.
Animals

A modest proposal for hunting sea otters

As the marine mammal takes a bite out of the fishing industry, some are asking if it’s time to cut down on otter numbers.

Phone looking down
Tech Hacks

Want to spend less time on your phone? There’s an app for that.

Fight technology with technology.

embarrassed person
Psychology

Why do other people’s embarrassing acts make us cringe?

When someone does something cringe-worthy, it might be more about you than them.

Ring's security camera.
Security

Tips for keeping your security cameras secure

Prevent your security camera from compromising your privacy.

a man surrounded by vapor
Health

The first long-term study on e-cigarettes confirms that vaping is bad for your lungs

We’re just starting to understand the health impacts.

a circular saw bolted to a jig that makes it into a chop saw
Projects

Save space and money with this chop saw conversion project

Two tools for (almost) the price of one.

Baboon making sounds
Evolution

Monkey mouth sounds could push the evolution of speech back by 27 million years

Only humans have full language, but whether primates had any of language’s key elements is still hotly debated.

smokestacks spewing smoke into the sky
Environment

Everything that happened at COP25, a potentially world-changing climate conference

It showed the power of the people like never before.

Sour cherries at one of Frederiksdal’s orchards.
Science

Denmark’s best wine is made from cherries

The scientific case for cherry wine.

person taking test at desk
Global Warming

Indoor carbon dioxide can make us dumber, and that will get worse with climate change

It’s time to think of the gas itself as a pollutant.