Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 85)

A vibrant stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. In the center, a young wizard is being sorted under a floating hat by a man in a brown suit. Four large, illuminated banners representing the Hogwarts houses—Gryffindor (red), Ravenclaw (blue), Hufflepuff (yellow), and Slytherin (green)—hang from the gothic arches of the Great Hall, while students in robes watch from the sides.
Science

A Harry Potter quiz may predict your career prospects

Researchers solemnly swear they are up to no good.

family of monkeys
Wildlife

11 stunning finalists for the Youth Photographer of the Year prize

From showy peacocks to flying BMXers.

A wide, eye-level photograph of eight young, chestnut-colored polo horses standing in a row on a farm in Argentina. The horses, which are clones, appear nearly identical with similar white markings on their foreheads. They are wearing blue or yellow halters and stand in a dirt paddock with a green field, a small white building, and a large hay pile in the background under a bright, overcast sky.
Science

Field of clones: How horse replicas came to dominate polo

In Argentina, equine cloning in polo is no longer a rarity. It’s now a mature industry — although ethical dilemmas surrounding it persist.

a large dark millipede
Wildlife

These rare, giant millipedes only exist in Florida

When a graduate found a baby Florida scrub millipede, she put it in a kiddie pool. Then it got busy reproducing.

red and green northern lights shine over a tree
Space

February stargazing: A planet parade comes to town

And why 2026 could be a big year for spotting auroras.

ruins of a roman bath
Archaeology

How a hobbyist’s hunch uncovered hidden Roman military camps

The finds are forcing historians to reconsider the extent of the Roman military's advance in Germany.

Two images of king cobras seen on or near trains in India
Endangered Species

King cobras take the train in India

Earth's largest venomous snakes are hitching rides to places they don't belong.

great white shark swimming
Sharks

Great white sharks grow a whole new kind of tooth for slicing bone as they age

Illustration of sailbacked dinosaur vomiting stomach contents
Evolution

Oldest fossilized dinosaur vomit discovered in Germany

The Paleozoic 'regurgitalite' is over 290 million years old.

Two paleolithic skeletons displaying dwarfism in museum exhibit
Archaeology

Skeletons reveal Stone Age mother and daughter had a rare genetic condition

Despite physical limitations, Romito 1 and Romito 2 likely lived into adulthood about 12,000 years ago.

An action-packed photograph of skijoring, featuring a person on skis being pulled through deep snow by a galloping brown horse. The horse is captured mid-stride, kicking up a large spray of white snow, while the skier, dressed in traditional thick wool clothing and a fur-lined hat, leans back and grips the tow lines firmly. A crowd of spectators with their phones out is visible in the background against a backdrop of dark evergreen trees.
Animals

The extreme sport of skijoring, where horses pull skiers at 40 mph

And why the eccentric sport will likely never return to the Olympics.

She-bear and bear-cubs. Adult female of Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) with cubs on the snow in spring forest.
Bears

Facial recognition AI trained to work on bears

The noninvasive method is already monitoring over 100 Alaskan brown bears.

Declaration of Independence broadside
Science

Rare copy of Declaration of Independence going to auction

Only around 175 broadsides copies of the document are believed to exist.

DEWALT Miter saw, table saw, and batteries on sale
Home

Amazon is clearing out Dewalt power tools and batteries: Get a battery 2-pack for just $91.46 shipped

The sale also includes a wide array of 20V MAX drills, saws, drivers, and other power tools.

Lake Lipno frozen with green cyanobacterial blooms in winter
Global Warming

Toxic algae turned a frozen lake green

Climate change and pollution are making rare winter cyanobacteria blooms more common.

three polar bear cubs resting on their mother
Bears

Svalbard polar bears are doing surprisingly well (for now)

In the face of sea ice loss, some of the bears on the Norwegian archipelago are gaining weight.

KHARKIV, UKRAINE - FEBRUARY 25: Construction workers remove the rubble of a damaged building on Pivnichna Saltivka district on February 25, 2023 in Kharkiv Ukraine. Pivnichna (Northern) Saltivka is a residential district in northeastern Kharkiv that sustained the most damage from Russian bombing. (Photo by
Sustainability

From ruins to reuse: How Ukrainians are repurposing war waste

A vintage-style colorized portrait of a middle-aged man with light hair combed back, wearing a blue suit jacket, white shirt, and dark tie. He faces the camera with a neutral expression. The background is a uniform, grainy gray, and the image retains visible texture and noise consistent with an old printed photograph.
Weapons

The only person to win an Olympic medal and a Nobel Peace Prize

Philip Noel-Baker ran middle-distance races at the Olympics before dedicating his life to disarmament.

Dickies clothes on winter sale
Outdoor Gear

This Dickies winter clearance sale has pants, jackets, hoodies, flannels, and more up to 70% off

Dickies makes super durable workwear with classic styles and almost everything is on deep clearance right now.

State park official on beach next to 19th century shipwreck wood
Archaeology

Winter storms uncover 19th-century shipwreck on New Jersey beach

The ‘Lawrence N. McKenzie’ sank in 1890 loaded with oranges from Puerto Rico.