Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 81)

Apple and Asus laptops are the best 15-inch laptops
PC Gaming

The best 15-inch laptops

These large-screen laptops make it easy to run multiple apps at once on-the-go.

Close up of man's hand on chin while he's thinking
Evolution

Humans really don’t need chins

Homo sapiens are the only primates that have them, but they don't make us special.

Platinum Silver Sony WF-1000XM6 true wireless ANC earbuds sitting in a bowl of crystals
Earbuds

Sony’s new WF-1000XM6 ANC earbuds disappeared in my ears so the outside world and inner demons vanished from my mind

Sony's flagship refresh offers bigger brains in a streamlined silhouette. Here are our first impressions.

a zookeper places a piece of apple inside of an elephant's trunk
Wildlife

Elephants are smart. So are their whiskers.

Their 1,000 whiskers make them dextrous enough to pick up a tortilla chip.

EF EcoFlow portable power stations
Outdoor Gear

Grab these EF EcoFlow portable power stations and solar generators for blowout prices during this flash sale

Just about everything in the EF EcoFlow lineup is on sale from simple portable chargers to full-on solar generators that can kick in when the grid goes down.

a whale swimming
Whales

The oldest-known humpback whale recording was hiding in an archive

The audio, etched onto a plastic disc in 1949, predates the era when researchers could even recognize whale calls.

These observations by NASA’s SPHEREx show the infrared light emitted by the dust, water, organic molecules, and carbon dioxide contained within comet 3I/ATLAS’s coma during the mission’s December 2025 campaign.
Space Telescope

Comet 3I/ATLAS is leaving the solar system with a dramatic light show

The interstellar space rock shows off the illuminating effects of its brush with the sun.

a bobsledder backlit
Vehicles

The U.S. Olympic bobsled team borrowed Honda’s wind tunnel for test runs

In West Liberty, Ohio, Team USA athletes boarded their bobsleds to gather data on aerodynamics.

A vintage, colorful movie poster for the 1931 film Frankenstein. In the center, a large, dramatic close-up of Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster looms over the other characters. He has a pale, squared-off head, visible scarring on his forehead, and heavy-lidded eyes looking downward with a somber expression. The poster is divided into segments: Bottom left: A well-dressed man in a suit and a woman in a pink dress look off-camera with concerned expressions. Bottom right: Two men are engaged in a tense conversation; one appears to be Dr. Frankenstein, gesturing animatedly with his hands toward an older man. The overall aesthetic is dark and atmospheric, using a "vignette" style with deep blacks and pops of green and blue in the background.
Science

Human head transplants’ gory, Frankenstein-esque history

From two-headed Soviet dogs to modern 'brotech.'

Stirling, Scotland - August 1, 2020, old medieval cemetery around Port of Menteith Parish Church
Archaeology

Medieval elite still received fancy burials despite disease stigma

939 skeletons reveal complex social politics during the Middle Ages.

Castle Geyser erupts with hot water and steam with pools of thermophilic bacteria and it's a cone geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States.
Environment

Yellowstone’s supervolcano is creating a 19-mile bulge

But scientists aren't that worried.

Wolfbox 4-in-1 Jump Starter with Air Compressor | Wolfbox MegaVolt 24Air
Gear

I tested the Wolfbox 4-in-1 Jump Starter with Air Compressor during a real-world emergency

This multi-function device earns its spot in any car emergency kit with multiple functions, most of which come in handy during a crisis.

white bird poop on a black car
Archaeology

Bird poop powered this pre-Hispanic kingdom

The Chincha Kingdom likely used seabird guano to fertilize their corn.

An illustration symbolizes new battery technology: Proteins (red) hold tiny clusters of metal (silver). Each yellow ball in the structures at center represents a single atom of nickel or iron. Credit: Maher El-Kady / UCLA
Engineering

Thomas Edison’s failed rechargeable battery may get a second life

The famed inventor's nickel-iron idea isn't suited for EVs, but it could help solar farms and data centers.

A broadcast drone hovers as Britain's Makayla Gerken Schofield competes in the freestyle skiing women's moguls qualification 1 during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park, in Livigno (Valtellina), on February 10, 2026. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP)
Drones

The tech behind the Olympics: High-speed cameras, sensors, and annoying drones

Sports pushes the science of keeping time forward.

A large brown bear rests in a snowy den, its fur dusted with fresh white snow. Only the bear's head and upper back are visible as it huddles at the entrance of a dark opening nestled under evergreen branches. The bear's eyes are closed, appearing to be in a deep sleep or state of torpor.
Bears

No, bears don’t actually hibernate

Their winter survival trick is a months-long power-save mode—and scientists think it could help humans, too.

Two rows of businesspeople working on computers
Mental Health

The workplace wasn’t designed for humans – and it shows

Work designed for maximum output often treats people like expendable resources—and burnout is the predictable result.

a monkey standing up on two legs in a forest
Land

9 rare animals caught on camera in the ‘Amazon of Asia’

A 2025 survey in the forests of Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia uncovered several rare and endangered animals.

Cup of fresh espresso out of a espresso machine.
Nutrition

Does coffee raise your blood pressure? Here’s how much it’s OK to drink

Blood caffeine levels peak between 30 minutes and two hours after a cup of coffee.

Flashforge 3D printers on sale at Amazon
Gear

Amazon just dropped the prices on these editor-approved Flashforge 3D printers and filaments

If you've been thinking about getting into 3D printing—or upgrading your current printer—this Amazon sale is a great opportunity.