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Psychology

What 38 million obituaries reveal about how Americans define a ‘life well lived’

Obituaries provide a window into the prevailing traditions and moral values of their time.

astronauts standing together
Science

6 science milestones turning 40 this year

In 1986, we had huge leaps forward, tragic steps back, and life-changing innovations.

pills of various sizes laid out in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and pink order
Diseases

Addiction is puzzling. Scientists are trying to understand why.

New book explores the philosophy of addiction.

Woman in pyjamas stretching and yawning surrounded by alarm clocks.
Health

Why do we wake up shortly before our alarm goes off? It’s not by chance.

You can't hit snooze on your brain.

Close up of microwave vacuum dried beet chips and hands reaching to grab them
Nutrition

Food scientists cook up healthier chips that don’t taste awful

Microwave Vacuum Drying, or MVD, may be a real MVP for snack foods.

several united states quarters
Science

5 new quarters commemorate 250 years of American independence

The new designs honor the Constitution, Civil War, and more.

A group of three African elephants walking through tall, dry yellow grass in a savanna. The central elephant is facing forward with its large ears fully fanned out, flanked by two others with visible tusks.
Ask Us Anything

Why do elephants have such big ears? There’s not one answer.

The multi-use appendages are kind of like their superpower.

A young Asian man heading to a clothes shelf in a store before taking a closer look at a t-shirt.
Pollution

What your cheap clothes cost the planet

A global supply chain built for speed is leaving behind waste, toxins, and a trail of environmental wreckage.

Stanley cooler and tumbler on a space background
Fitness Gear

Amazon is clearing out Stanley tumblers, water bottles, food containers and more during this limited sale

Stay hydrated and keep all of your drinks cold all year with these drinkware deals from Stanley.

bug spray held by woman's hand over water
Best of What's New

5 cool innovations in sports and outdoors in 2025

From the most effective brain-protective helmet to a new type of insect repellent.

a yellow flag with a coiled rattle snake and the words "dont tread on me"Gadsden Flag, Vikkram, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0.
Land

How the timber rattlesnake became a symbol of American independence

The very real reptile warned enemies ‘Dont tread on me,’ and urged the colonies to ‘Join, or die.'

Close up of yellow banana slug
Wildlife

An ode to slugs, the mascots of post-holiday laziness

They’ve got 500 million years of evolution on their side, after all.

A colorful, cartoon-style illustration of three stylized robots standing together, surrounded by a chaotic tangle of multicolored wires against a purple background.
AI

Slop, vibe coding and glazing: AI dominates 2025’s words of the year

Cambridge Dictionary, Dictionary.com, and Oxford University Press all select words connected to artificial intelligence.

hand in glove holding a chip
Best of What's New

5 remarkable engineering innovations of 2025

From an autonomous drone system to wood that's stronger than steel and 6 times lighter.

A peaceful landscape photograph of a cemetery at sunset, with numerous simple stone headstones scattered across a lush green lawn. Tall pine trees are silhouetted against a bright, warm sun that is filtering through the forest.
Technology

Cremation or casket? Here’s the most eco-friendly burial option.

The greenest choice turns out to be the simplest one.

solar flares on the sun
Environment

26 Popular Science stories you loved in 2025

From radioactive water to $25 vintage airplanes to a WWII shipwreck mystery.

a full moon rises over a snowy mountain
Moons

January stargazing: A supermoon, asteroid, and one very large planet

The Wolf Moon rises on January 3.

A close-up, angled shot of a silver waiter's corkscrew in the process of opening a wine bottle. The metal lever of the corkscrew is braced against the lip of the dark glass bottle, while the black spiral "worm" is drilled deep into the center of the natural wood cork. The background is a soft, out-of-focus gradient of green and grey.
Archaeology

The corkscrew began as a tool for muskets, not merlot

The wine key helped make airtight wine bottles—and modern wine culture—possible.

A dense thicket of green rivercane (Arundinaria gigantea) with long, slender, pointed leaves growing in a lush cluster. The canes stand tall in the foreground, partially obscuring a grassy area and a paved path that leads toward a line of trees in the background.
Climate Change

How a species of bamboo could help protect the South from future floods

In the face of mounting climate disasters, tribes, scientists, and Southern communities are rallying around a nearly forgotten native plant.

tvs, microphones, and headphones
Best of What's New

The 5 coolest entertainment innovations of 2025

From a TV that creates color in a totally different way to room-aware surround sound.