Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 887)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A woman texting in a virtual reality experiment.
Technology

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

Scientists say, probably not.

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.

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.

For the closest shave, get naked—doctor’s orders
Life Skills

For the closest shave, get naked—doctor’s orders

Dermatologists say to shave in the shower.

These charts reveal America’s complicated relationship with exercise
Fitness & Exercise

These charts reveal America’s complicated relationship with exercise

New data shows just how few of us are meeting the recommended guidelines.

the great blue hole
Ocean

Here’s some rare good news about coral reefs

Belize shows that a little local action can go a long way.

Power-multiplying exoskeletons are slimming down for use on the battlefield
Military

Power-multiplying exoskeletons are slimming down for use on the battlefield

The technology has been long-anticipated by military commanders.

Our first contact with aliens might be with their robots
AI

Our first contact with aliens might be with their robots

Cyborgs, and interstellar probes, and AI.

stack of green books
Science

How we discovered three poisonous books in our university library

Arsenic and old manuscripts.

Immigrant children in U.S. detention camps could face yet another health hazard: contaminated water
Military

Immigrant children in U.S. detention camps could face yet another health hazard: contaminated water

Toxic chemicals common on military bases are especially dangerous for children.

Koji strip steak
Projects

This Japanese fungus can dry-age a steak in 48 hours. Here’s how.

This barbecue season, try cooking with koji.

These apps give you the best features of iOS 12 before the update rolls out
Tech Hacks

These apps give you the best features of iOS 12 before the update rolls out

Don't wait until September.

Labeling GMOs might not actually make them seem scarier
Science

Labeling GMOs might not actually make them seem scarier

Vermonters seem less averse to bioengineered food once it's identified.

a pattern of colorful lego blocks
Technology

Lego blocks could be the key to detecting nerve gases in the field

The worst toys to step on may yet be redeemed.

Blame loose screws and ‘excessive optimism’ for the latest delay of NASA’s new space telescope
Space Telescope

Blame loose screws and ‘excessive optimism’ for the latest delay of NASA’s new space telescope

James Webb is now slated for a 2021 launch—only a bajillion years late.