Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 857)

How are dinosaurs named?
Dinosaurs

How are dinosaurs named?

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Amazon didn’t pick your city for its HQ2, but it sure gathered a lot of data about it
Technology

Amazon didn’t pick your city for its HQ2, but it sure gathered a lot of data about it

Everything the company knows about your town after its year-long search.

Planet phone
Tech Hacks

Eight science apps that turn your phone into a laboratory

Monitor earthquakes, play with a virtual particle accelerator, and more.

Volcanoes might have formed on Mars the same way they did in Hawaii
Mars

Volcanoes might have formed on Mars the same way they did in Hawaii

By studying Martian meteorites, scientists think they've found an explanation for ancient eruptions on the Red Planet.

Neptune and Triton
Pluto

The outer solar system awaits—but getting there may not be as easy as we’d like

We're under a time crunch.

Oceans are losing a football field of seagrass every 30 minutes
Ocean

Oceans are losing a football field of seagrass every 30 minutes

And with it, a vital tool for cleaning up heat-trapping carbon pollution.

A frozen super-Earth is just six light years away
Exoplanets

A frozen super-Earth is just six light years away

It's close, but you won't want to visit.

Delivering groceries with self-driving cars may be even trickier than transporting people
Self Driving

Delivering groceries with self-driving cars may be even trickier than transporting people

Delivering cooked soup is easy, but it turns out delivering the ingredients to make it is hard.

Here’s how much exercise you should get—and why it’s okay if you fall short
Fitness & Exercise

Here’s how much exercise you should get—and why it’s okay if you fall short

New guidelines for Americans emphasize physical activity at any level.

Air pollution might make it harder to get pregnant
Pollution

Air pollution might make it harder to get pregnant

Public health researchers across the country have found growing evidence of a relationship between air pollution and fertility.

That time a bunch of underwater mines exploded and the sun was the only suspect
Space

That time a bunch of underwater mines exploded and the sun was the only suspect

Some serious space weather at play.

Photo editing presets make big money for influencers, but you’re better off making your own
Projects

Photo editing presets make big money for influencers, but you’re better off making your own

Ever wonder why many Instagram photos look the same? The answer is presets.

Wildfires can hurt you from miles away
Environment

Wildfires can hurt you from miles away

Only one kind of mask can truly protect you from the smoke.

forest fire fight
Environment

California’s forest management isn’t the problem

Despite accusations, the state has excellent manage policies—it's just also built to burn.

Want your kid to be an elite athlete? Let them play the field.
Health

Want your kid to be an elite athlete? Let them play the field.

Specializing in one sport won’t turn your child into an elite athlete—and it might get them hurt.

This change can make your online browsing faster and more private
Security

This change can make your online browsing faster and more private

Consider choosing what DNS service you use. Don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds.

Do plants poop?
Environment

Do plants poop?

And other important questions.

How architects made California’s Getty Museum fireproof
Engineering

How architects made California’s Getty Museum fireproof

Suppressing sparks isn’t easy in wildfire-prone Los Angeles.