Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 778)

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.

a bucket of penis fish
Ocean

Get to know the very charismatic penis fish invading a California beach

They shoot jets of water out of their butts to toss their poop into the air.

Facebook wants your messages to be 100-percent private. The government has other ideas.
Security

Facebook wants your messages to be 100-percent private. The government has other ideas.

In a new letter, officials from WhatsApp and Messenger explain why they won’t give law enforcement a way to see encrypted messages.

It’s A Wonderful Life
Science

The psychology behind our love of Christmas movies

Holiday movies offer viewers a glimpse into the world as it could be.

electric seaplane
Electric Vehicles

Watch an electric seaplane take to the skies for the first time

Battery-powered planes are coming. The flights just have to be short.

Samsung Galaxy S10 phone
Tech Hacks

Turn your phone into a PC with Samsung DeX

It’s like two devices for the price of one.

a meteorite in space
Mars

Meteorite-eating microbes could help us look for alien life

The peculiar bugs could illuminate what signs to look for on Mars and beyond.

activated charcoal face mask
Health

The truth about activated charcoal in beauty products

There’s no evidence to support the use of activated charcoal in beauty or health products.

The way we see our bodies might be different than how our surgeon does.
Medicine

Studying the human gaze could transform breast reconstruction surgery

Not everyone likes their busts and other body parts the same way.

earthworms in soil
Global Warming

Invasive earthworms are burrowing into boreal forests worldwide

Worms can be a surprisingly destructive force.