Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 78)

A factory on the edge of a cliff
AI

Certain AI prompts generate 50x more CO₂ than others

Think twice before you ask an LLM a complex question.

Air conditioner in house window on Summer day.
Science

New paint ‘sweats’ to keep buildings cool

The cement-infused material could help reduce electricity use as temperatures climb.

The best portable printers on a plain white background.
Peripherals

The best portable printers for 2025, tested and reviewed

Open up the world of printing anywhere in the world with these portable printers from Canon, HP, Epson, and Kodak.

Alan Turing portrait atop his papers
Science

Saved from the shredder, Alan Turing’s papers sell for $627,000

The archive contextualizes one of the 20th century's most brilliant thinkers.

a beige and brown moth on a stone
Endangered Species

Migrating moths can read the stars

Even with brains smaller than a grain of rice, Bogong moths are expert navigators.

This image shows a detailed, thousand-colour image of the Sculptor Galaxy captured with the MUSE instrument at ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT). Regions of pink light are spread throughout this whole galactic snapshot, which come from ionised hydrogen in star-forming regions. These areas have been overlaid on a map of already formed stars in Sculptor to create the mix of pinks and blues seen here.
Space

Sculptor Galaxy shines in 1,000 spectacular colors

The large spiral galaxy is 11 million-light-years away from Earth.

Young woman lifting weights at gym
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Could women actually be better suited to weight lifting than men are? 

Plus horny fruit flies and other weird things we learned this week.

illustration of a large lizard with a bulging head carrying a large egg
Biology

Bones of a raccoon-sized prehistoric lizard sat in a jar for 20 years

The formidable lizard is named for Tolkien’s goblin prince, Bolg.

Peak Design Pro Tripods arranged in a row
Cameras

Peak Design’s Pro Tripods are packed with carbon fiber and clever features

Peak Design built these high-end tripods to maintain stability despite offering maximum portability.

The best ice makers on a plain white background.
Appliances

The best ice makers for 2025, chosen by refreshment enthusiasts

Stay frosty while you give your refrigerator/freezer a break with countertop ice makers that make sure the glass is always half full.

A person using AllTrails Peak in the woods
Outdoor Gear

The new AllTrails Peak subscription offers customizable routes, real-time trail conditions, and more

Our favorite hiking app has a new flagship subscription option that adds tons of customizability to its already robust featureset.

Huge wave breaking. Ocean spray is thrown into the air. World famous surf break named Jaws on the Northshore of Maui, Hawaii.
Ocean

What’s the formula for the ‘perfect wave’?

But ask a surfer—or a scientist—and you’ll find that perfection is both elusive and everywhere.

a long black amphibian with feathered gills called an axolotl swims in a fish tank
Wildlife

Axolotl mucus peptides attack breast cancer cells and MRSA

'The peptides specifically kill cancer cells without attacking healthy breast tissue cells.'

Nordic runes etched into stone slab illuminated by flashlight
Archaeology

Runes found in Canadian wilderness baffle archaeologists

'Why was it carved here? Why this text? There are no answers.'

A Guatemalan tiger rump tarantula (Davus pentaloris) in a terrarium with reflections.
Spiders

Tarantulas adapt their running style after losing legs

Six legs can work just fine for the flexible Guatemalan tiger rump tarantula.

Fuzzy beetle on red flower
Insects

Most bugs can’t see red—but these beetles can

Two species found in the Mediterranean can see what many of their relatives cannot.

Large truck towing ANITA atmospheric survey system in Antarctica
Deep Space

Physicists can’t explain mysterious radio wave emissions in Antarctica

The anomalous readings ‘appear inconsistent with the standard model of particle physics.’

A great hammerhead shark swimming close to the surface in Bimini, Bahamas, Caribbean Sea.
Ocean

Young hammerhead sharks love Biscayne Bay. Leave them alone, humans.

The estuary in southern Florida is a nursery and refuge for this critically endangered species.

Human head covered by smoke from factory chimneys. Air pollution, emmisions, climate change concept. Vector illustration.
Pollution

What warped the minds of serial killers? Lead pollution, a new book argues.

Ted Bundy, the Green River Killer, and others terrorized the Pacific Northwest. "Murderland" asks what role polluters played.

Model of human brain floating over bed in dark room
Ask Us Anything

What’s the purpose of dreaming? 

Dream experts have plenty of possible answers.