Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 766)

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers pulls his 7-foot frame into a well-balanced dunk form.
Physics

The physics behind iconic NBA slam dunks

Will this year’s slam dunk contestants perfect the science better than Jordan?

asteroids flying past earth
Space

No matter how badly you want an asteroid to hit Earth, it’s not happening this weekend

Rumors of our impending death have been greatly exaggerated.

young women kissing
Evolution

We might have started kissing to share chewed up food (and other delicious facts about smooching)

Science for your smoocheroos.

cassiopea jellyfish
Fish

Upside-down jellyfish lob tiny grenades to kill prey

This mucus packs a punch.

two fish side by side with one poking a bone into the other, but in a sexy way
Evolution

This ancient bony fish was a sexual pioneer

The first sex on record was a Scottish square dance.

White Arkitekter Oslo image
Technology

These images show some of the coolest designs to keep floodwaters at bay

“Instead of working against nature, we’ve begun to work with it.”

aquatic life illustration
Ocean

Is it loud in the ocean?

Evidence suggests our ruckus has a profound impact on marine life.

File conversion
Tech Hacks

How to convert any file to any format

Organize your work your way.

total femur
Medicine

Titanium femurs are real, but so are their risks

Big artificial bones are a last resort for surgeons trying to prevent amputations.

Archery is not nearly as easy as movies make it seem
Life Skills

Archery is not nearly as easy as movies make it seem

Here’s how to shoot a traditional bow.

A close-up of a spherical microbe covered in protrusions.
COVID-19

The novel coronavirus finally has a name—two of them, actually

The virus is SARS-CoV-2, but the disease is COVID-19.

Jaguar F-Type
Vehicles

First drive in the new $103,200 Jaguar F-Type

The 186-mph vehicle sports louder styling but a quieter engine.

Azawakh dog in the forest.
Evolution

Meet the Azawakh, the latest breed to enter the Westminster Dog Show

Get to know the smart, loyal, and graceful ancient breed.

artists impression of a polluted white dwarf star
Sun

Asteroids go to pieces when their host star dies

Dying stars may spin asteroids apart from afar.

MOS Nutrition
Nutrition

Tasty homemade ‘energy balls’ could help French soldiers get the fuel they need

“It’s an explosion of flavors!” one commando gushes.

small monkey sitting on a branch looking up and to the right
Global Warming

Climate change may not claim as many species as we thought

A new estimate has some good news, but some regions could still be hard hit.

Person watching laptop and taking notes.
Life Skills

How to learn new skills online

Treat yo’self by educating yo’self.

generic vaccine
Cancer

Cervical cancer could soon be a disease of the past

Researchers think the disease could be eliminated in the U.S. within a few decades.

An elephant causing chaos inside a restaurant
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

How much acid should you give an elephant? These scientists learned the hard way.

From government mind control to an elephant on LSD.

a brake rotor on a partially disassembled car
Projects

Meet the machine parts salesman who turned a brake rotor into a lamp and never looked back

One man’s car part is another man’s lamp part.