Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 79)

A large white mushroom cloud explodes into the upper atmosphere in a vintage photograph of a hydrogen bomb.
Physics

When the U.S. almost nuked Alaska—on purpose

Project Chariot intended to detonate six bombs to build a harbor.

Osprey roll-top backpacks on sale at REI on a yellow background
Outdoor Gear

REI is blowing out our favorite Osprey backpacks, hiking bags, and luggage

Whether you're a serious hiker or just looking for a new back-to-school backpack, REI has Osprey bags on sale to fit the bill.

a robot shaped like an antelope
AI

A furry antelope robot is keeping tabs on its organic cousins

The somewhat convincing, life-sized decoy can monitor herds where humans can't.

a a small bird with brown and white feather and a long skinny beak sits on a tree
Birds

Scientists find male bird that laid an egg

Sex reversal may be more common in wild birds than we thought.

a swirling orange cosmic get with yellow at the center
Black Holes

‘Eye of Sauron’ spotted in deep space

A supermassive black hole powers the cosmic jet billions of light-years from Earth.

A blue Velotric Fold 1 Plus folding ebike on its kickstand in front of a colorful mural
Outdoor Gear

Velotric Fold 1 Plus review: A folding e-bike built for more than short hops and tall people

Long range, solid hauling capacity, and commuter-friendly features help it go far beyond “last-mile” duty.

scoop of vanilla ice cream still in scooper on plain background
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Victorians loved ice cream even though it kept killing them 

Plus breathing through your butt and other weird things we learned this week.

A smiling woman bundled in a dark puffer jacket, grey knitted hood, and fingerless gloves applies lip balm in a green tube to her lips. She has light skin, dark hair, and blue eyes, and her gaze is directed slightly off to the right. The background is blurred, showing an outdoor setting with buildings and trees, suggesting a cool or cold day.
Medicine

Lip balm’s surprising history from earwax to Lip Smackers

Behind your favorite lip balm is more than a thousand years of history.

Moultrie Cameras header
Cameras

Amazon is blowing out 2-packs of Moultrie 4G-enabled trail cameras for just $79

Get one of the most popular trail cameras on the market for 49 percent off and keep an eye on the wildlife in your backyard.

Kindle Paperwhites
Tablets

This refurbished Kindle Paperwhite is just $107 and has access to tons of free books

You can get access to tons of free books with this discounted Kindle as part of Amazon's pre-owned program.

a dolphin rides on the bow wave in front of a humpback whale
Whales

Dolphin follows a whale all the way to the seafloor

The video shows a potential form of marine mammal play.

a black and white photo of three scientists holding three sled dogs dogs
Archaeology

Body of scientist lost in 1959 found in Antarctica

British meteorologist Dennis “Tink” Bell was on a surveying mission when he fell through a crevasse.

8 ancient silver coins
Archaeology

Ancient ‘rising sun’ coins reveal far-reaching trade network

Experts link coins found in present-day Bangladesh and Vietnam to a single origin.

Glioblastoma. Absence Of Edema, Generalized Epileptic Seizures Due To Disseminated Cells Which Have Invaded The Cortical Region. Gadolinium Enhanced Mri T1. (Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)
Cancer

Cancer super-survivors may hold keys to new treatments

Researchers typically ask why people get cancer. What if they studied why some survive — or never develop the disease?

a raccoon with a peanut butter jar stuck on its head
Wildlife

Young raccoon saved from a sticky situation

'Hopefully the peanut butter snack was worth it.’

a woman holds a neck ring under a light
Archaeology

Famous Viking treasure contains silver from over 3,000 miles away

The Viking economy was as intricate as it was fierce.

Illustration of suspension bridge connecting mainland Italy to Sicily
Engineering

World’s longest suspension bridge may finally link Sicily to mainland Italy

The dream dates back to ancient Rome. But there are reasons it's never happened.

Tazata speakers in a row
Speakers

Go get this $80 portable Bluetooth speaker for just $25 before it sells out

This $25 speaker is water-resistant, super-loud, and cool-looking. Plus, it's really cheap.

Press image of the Segway Xyber dirt bike-style e-bike on a black and white background
Outdoor Gear

The best fat tire electric bikes for 2025, tested and reviewed

These electric fat bikes—characterized by their wide tires, durable frames, and versatile geometry—are all-terrain beasts.

An artist’s impression of the “Cosmic Grapes” galaxy, composed of at least 15 massive star forming clumps—far more than current theoretical models predict could exist within a single rotating disk at this early time. Credit: NSF/AUI/NSF NRAO/B. Saxton
Space Telescope

Early galaxy looked like lumpy ‘cosmic grapes’

The swirling, chunky mass challenges theoretical models about cosmic evolution.