Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 872)

The science of superstition
Psychology

The science of superstition

And why people believe in the unbelievable.

By Neil Dagnall and Ken Drinkwater/The Conversation

winter storm january 2018
Climate Change

2018 has been full of weird weather so far

Huzzah for snow in June and ice in Florida!

By Sara Chodosh

Earth from space
Evolution

Earth’s first animals probably triggered a change in climate

Of course, they warmed things up over millions of years, not a couple hundred.

By Neel V. Patel

Wildfires are burning across the country—here’s how to prepare
Environment

Wildfires are burning across the country—here’s how to prepare

Only YOU can protect your home from a wildfire.

By Mary Beth Griggs

Descended testicles: DNA study drops new hints on secrets of low hanging glands
Evolution

Descended testicles: DNA study drops new hints on secrets of low hanging glands

Keeping everything outside the body seems like a strange choice.

By Neil Adams/The Conversation

This is Jaguar’s first real attempt to take on Tesla
Electric Vehicles

This is Jaguar’s first real attempt to take on Tesla

New I-Pace is a breakthrough achievement—and a hell of a fun car.

By Eric Adams

a girl looks at a touch screen
Climate Change

Climate change forced a famously old-school museum to go digital

How do you keep an exhibit up to date when the data is still rushing in?

By Eleanor Cummins

Another giant study confirms that your coffee habit is probably good for you
Health

Another giant study confirms that your coffee habit is probably good for you

Enjoy your morning cup of joe with a dash of smugness.

By Sara Chodosh

koala in tree
Animals

Koala genes might reveal how they survive a toxic diet

And might help us save them from chlamydia.

By Kat Eschner

asteroid collision
Space

200,000 asteroids trace their origins to just a handful of obliterated parents

And that’s only the inner asteroid belt.

By Mary Beth Griggs

Why suicide is on the rise in the U.S.—even as it falls in Europe
Mental Health

Why suicide is on the rise in the U.S.—even as it falls in Europe

Could inequality be to blame?

By Steven Stack/The Conversation

Beauty vitamins promise shinier hair, stronger nails, and suppler skin, but do they work?
Medicine

Beauty vitamins promise shinier hair, stronger nails, and suppler skin, but do they work?

Cosmetic supplements have a lot of claims, but not enough science.

By Julissa Treviño

Is an artificial tan safer than the real thing?
Health

Is an artificial tan safer than the real thing?

Sunless tanners work for the same reason a steak turns brown.

By Sara Chodosh

How to find your way out of the woods without tools—or your phone
Life Skills

How to find your way out of the woods without tools—or your phone

Navigate back to civilization.

By Dan Seitz

The potential for habitability on these exoplanets is tilting in the right direction
Exoplanets

The potential for habitability on these exoplanets is tilting in the right direction

Life needs a stable climate.

By Neel V. Patel

This self-driving grocery delivery car will sacrifice itself to save pedestrians
Self Driving

This self-driving grocery delivery car will sacrifice itself to save pedestrians

The vehicles will take part in a pilot program with Kroger in the fall.

By Rob Verger

map of world with yellow and blue dots on it.
Space

How to tell an asteroid from a comet, even when its from outside our solar system

An ‘Oumuamua by any other name would still be as fascinating.

By Mary Beth Griggs

A woman texting in a virtual reality experiment.
Technology

Can your smartphone stop you from getting hit by a car?

Scientists say, probably not.

By Anna Brooks

Two-by-fours are not actually 2-by-4—here’s why
Technology

Two-by-fours are not actually 2-by-4—here’s why

We measure wood in a weird way.

By Eleanor Cummins

If we don’t want to run out of water, we should look to the sun
Climate Change

If we don’t want to run out of water, we should look to the sun

Next generation solar technology could drive down the cost of scrubbing salt from seawater.

By Jeremy Deaton