Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 856)

Termites built themselves a landfill the size of Great Britain

Termites built themselves a landfill the size of Great Britain

The insect architects have been building these trash heaps for 4,000 years.

By Charlie Wood

This new ‘ion drive’ airplane flew straight out of science fiction

This new ‘ion drive’ airplane flew straight out of science fiction

The quiet propulsion system has no moving parts.

The CDC says everyone needs to toss their romaine

The CDC says everyone needs to toss their romaine

And don't buy more.

By Rachel Feltman

NASA’s 2020 rover will search Mars for signs of life

NASA’s 2020 rover will search Mars for signs of life

And now we know exactly where it's going to poke around.

By Neel V. Patel

The kilogram has a new definition

The kilogram has a new definition

A physicist explains why and how we redefined a basic unit of measure.

By Kevin Pimbblet/The Conversation

Dark mode is easier on your eyes—and battery

Dark mode is easier on your eyes—and battery

Why user experience designers are going gray.

By Eleanor Cummins

the planet mars

NASA’s new Mars lander is in for ‘seven minutes of terror’ on Monday

InSight will tell us about the planet's interior, but it's got to stick the landing first.

By Shannon Stirone

The fastest way to thaw a frozen turkey—or any other food

The fastest way to thaw a frozen turkey—or any other food

Hunks of meat, baked goods, and veggies all require different defrosting methods.

We finally know how wombats poop cubes

We finally know how wombats poop cubes

An engineer got the scoop on square poop.

california fire air quality

The air quality in San Francisco is so bad, being there for a day is like smoking 10 cigarettes

Particulates in the air from wildfires make going outside a health risk for many Californians.

By Nicole Wetsman

How to eat healthy when the munchies strike

How to eat healthy when the munchies strike

Keep snacking under control.

By Stephanie Lee

A Black Friday timeline to help you maximize deals and minimize misery

A Black Friday timeline to help you maximize deals and minimize misery

Shop smarter.

california fires five year infographic

See how much of California has burned in the last five years

It's a lot.

By Sara Chodosh

Visualizing California’s current fires, some of the deadliest and most destructive on record

These graphics show how the fires have spread over the last few days.

By Sara Chodosh

Google Maps data could help you avoid Thanksgiving crowds on the road—and at the liquor store

Google Maps data could help you avoid Thanksgiving crowds on the road—and at the liquor store

Go get the cake before you get that bottle of wine.

By Stan Horaczek

Dry cleaning is dirtier than you think. Meet the neurotoxin hiding in your winter coat.

Dry cleaning is dirtier than you think. Meet the neurotoxin hiding in your winter coat.

Freshly-laundered clothes mask an environmental and social blight.

By Eleanor Cummins

Cleaning your baby’s pacifier with spit might have surprising benefits

Cleaning your baby’s pacifier with spit might have surprising benefits

Saliva seems to help babies avoid allergies.

By Sara Chodosh

How are dinosaurs named?

How are dinosaurs named?

New species get identified and named every year, even though you've probably never heard of them.

By Julissa Treviño

an illustration of an asteroid hitting ice and sending debris into the air

There’s a giant crater the size of a city hiding under Greenland

But not everyone agrees it's from an asteroid impact.

By Neel V. Patel

Online birth control is safe—and the only option for some women

Online birth control is safe—and the only option for some women

Getting the pill from online sites could make the contraception method far more accessible.

By Julissa Treviño

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