Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 775)

The blast at the Port of Beirut from August 4 seen on a rendered satellite map.
Military

Why the Beirut blast created a mushroom cloud

While the city's residents don't have to worry about radiation poisoning, other toxins may be lurking in the air.

big lightning strike
Global Warming

This worst-case climate scenario might be the most realistic

Climate scientists are still debating what's the most likely outcome, though none of them are looking good.

canopy trees
Climate Change

Young trees have special adaptations that could save the Amazon

Juvenile trees in the Amazon rainforest have an increased ability to perform photosynthesis while under drought conditions.

Muti illustration
Psychology

How Disney fools your brain to make lines feel magically short

Happily ever after you move through the queue.

satellite view of tropical storm arthur 2020
Global Warming

The 2020 hurricane season might be one of the worst in decades

Over the past four decades, the chance of tropical storms developing devastating winds has grown more likely.

A National Park mountain range against clear blue and lightly clouded skies overlooking a wooded forest area.
Wildlife

The Great American Outdoors Act proves that grassroots advocacy and democracy still work

With dedicated funds from Congress, we can start to fix our national parks and set aside new green spaces for wildlife and public uses.

Baseballs sitting in a grassy field.
Physics

Hitting a baseball is the hardest skill to pull off in sports. Here’s why.

A unique blend of physics and neuroscience makes the skill astronomically difficult.

a man doing a strength exercise on a playground
Life Skills

Stretching is not the key to moving better. This is.

Improving your mobility will help reduce pain.

Family sitting and talking.
Mental Health

How to talk to kids about the coronavirus and other bad news

They might know more than you think, but starting the conversation is tricky.

Devon Island in the Canadian arctic Archipelago.
Mars

Ancient valleys may hold clues to past life on Mars

Understanding whether the Red Planet’s past was warm and wet or cold and icy can offer insights about whether it was ever habitable.

Starry night.
Space

A night in the life of a professional stargazer

There are fewer exchanges with aliens than you’d expect.

Neo Tokyo
Weapons

Japanese anime remembers the atom bomb, decades after Hiroshima

The trauma resurfaces in movies, shows, and comics over and over, showing its deep impression on Japanese families and culture.

Founded in 2017, ClearMask makes plastic face guards for surgeons and other medical practitioners. Now it's turning its attention to pandemic equipment.
Health

Clear masks help the hard of hearing, but they could benefit everybody

As mask wearing becomes the new norm, people who rely on facial expressions and lip reading risk further isolation.

Thales mine system
Military

This robotic maritime bomb squad keeps humans a safe distance away

Thousands of mines lurk in the oceans, and dealing with them is dangerous.

satellite image of hurricane isaias
Climate Change

Hurricane Isaias marks one of the earliest hurricane seasons ever

The record-breaking storm lashed the Southeast US before working up the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

older man working on his computer
Medicine

Older adults have a hard time accessing virtual health care

Telemedicine has been vital during the pandemic, but not everyone is equipped for it.

A Black pregnant person standing in silhouette
Pollution

Black mothers face high death rates. Now they have to contend with climate change, too.

Pollution and heat affect Black pregnancies disproportionately.

Artist’s impression of the thin stream of stars torn from the Phoenix globular cluster, wrapping around the Milky Way (left). Astronomers targeted bright red giant stars (artist’s impression, right) to measure the chemical composition of the disrupted Phoenix globular cluster.
NASA

A local stellar graveyard could reveal our galaxy’s beginnings

The 'Phoenix stream' is home to many ancient stars.

Colombia
COVID-19

COVID-19 raises the stakes for environmental activists in Colombia

The Indigenous Wayuu people have long battled the Cerrejón coal mine. Now a shortage of water and spike in disease are pushing the community to seek international help.

a person working in a lab
COVID-19

Why you might need to sport a mask inside your own home

Here’s everything you need to know this week.