Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 763)

human skeleton
Health

You’ll never have as many bones as you did at birth (and other strange skeleton facts)

The scoop on your scaffolding.

Osteoclast cells make way for new bone growth in a mouse femur.
Medicine

These trippy images reveal the colorful inner lives of bones

Dive inside the universe of collagen, calcium, cartilage, and more.

smog over LA viewed from plane
Pollution

Decades of U.S. air quality improvements may be slowing, and these areas have it the worst

Millions of Americans breathed unhealthy air in 2018.

a blurred shot of hospital workers wheeling a gurney
Health

Wuhan’s new hospitals are sorely needed, but they won’t stop the spread of disease

It’s impossible to catch every case.

Old photo prints.
Technology

Google’s wants AI to choose your best photos and mail you prints every month

The $7.99 subscription is in its test phase now, but it would get you 10 curated prints per month.

Hands holding an open wallet
Life Skills

Shrink your ever-expanding wallet

It’s mostly junk, really.

a firefly sitting on a leaf
Pollution

Humans are putting fireflies at risk of extinction

A new study identifies three major threats to these beautiful bugs.

A ginger cat with its eyes closed and chin tucked up
Cats

We’re surprisingly bad at reading cats’ facial expressions

An interactive quiz lets people measure their skills, while collecting behavioral data for animal welfare and science.

Totto Renna illustration
Physics

Ranked: the loudest sounds ever measured

These graphs show just how bombastic volcanoes and meteorites can be.

We have no idea how dangerous football really is
Health

We have no idea how dangerous football really is

Is there a scientific case for banning the sport?

A lab with pipettes
Vaccines

A small coronavirus breakthrough could aid in the search for a vaccine

With viral proteins, scientists can start to develop antigens over many months.

A young asian woman stands in an airport holding a passport
Health

The U.S. is barring foreign nationals who’ve traveled to China, due to Wuhan virus. Experts disagree.

Travel bans are not always as useful as they sound.

A closeup image of the sun's surface
Sun

These close-up photos of the sun could help us forecast space weather

The biggest solar telescope ever will help link together and streamline solar physics theories.

Fans at a giant concert
Climate Change

How musicians like Radiohead and Massive Attack are making their tours less stressful on the environment

Concertgoers are part of the problem—and the solution.

Person playing with snow
Weather

What the happiest cold-weather countries on the planet know about winter

Ease your seasonal slump with this international recipe for winter cheer.

artist rendition of jellyfish with implants
Fish

Bionic jellyfish can swim three times faster

A gentle zap of electricity keeps these animals on the move.

A small rodent scurries across the snow.
Animals

Snow is the only thing keeping some plants and animals from freezing to death

There’s a secret refuge beneath the snow.

People climbing up a hill
Psychology

There isn’t much science supporting wilderness therapy for teens

Some programs swear by the pricey intervention, but the results are still up in the air.

For polar bears contending with climate change, it’s ‘survival of the fattest’
Bears

For polar bears contending with climate change, it’s ‘survival of the fattest’

How melting arctic ice has made life harder for lean polar bears.

Person upset at the airport his flight is delayed
Life Skills

Minimize travel hell with these apps and tools

Some call it being in transit. Some call it torture.