Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 925)

optical illusion
Science

Something in our brain is making these spirals look like they are moving

Snakes on a plane.

These hermit crabs shack up inside living coral instead of mere shells
Animals

These hermit crabs shack up inside living coral instead of mere shells

When your roommate is also your room.

beelzebufo illustration
Animals

Giant ancient frogs might have snacked on baby dinosaurs

The frog from hell had a powerful bite.

Earthquakes are even harder to predict than we thought
Environment

Earthquakes are even harder to predict than we thought

Like it was ever easy.

jellyfish
Fish

These jellyfish don’t have brains, but still somehow seem to sleep

Their strange ways could tell us about the evolution of snoozing.

To save the planet, scientists figured out how to fix cow farts
Agriculture

To save the planet, scientists figured out how to fix cow farts

The secret to climate-friendly cattle.

Scientists want to use your cell phone data and pee to track drug use
Health

Scientists want to use your cell phone data and pee to track drug use

Cellular data could be the key to flushing out wastewater's valuable secrets.

When growing their penises for the season, ducks bend to social pressure
Animals

When growing their penises for the season, ducks bend to social pressure

Nothing to quack about.

A frog couple has sex. The male is yellow.
Evolution

These frogs might change color to avoid confusion during orgies

Yellow means go (away).

hurricane maria map
Weather

Hurricane Maria proves how difficult it is to predict a storm’s devastation

It exploded from a tropical storm to a category five in just 27 hours.

This scorching black exoplanet takes in all the light it can and gives almost nothing back
Exoplanets

This scorching black exoplanet takes in all the light it can and gives almost nothing back

As black as day.

Plimp
Drones

The Plimp is a plane-blimp mashup that promises safe air transport

The plummet-proof design is a drone for now, with dreams of carrying people

11 new iOS 11 features to try
Tech Hacks

11 new iOS 11 features to try

Augmented reality, a redesigned App Store, and other new tricks your iPhone just learned.

Siri has a peppy new voice. But that’s not the most important thing.
AI

Siri has a peppy new voice. But that’s not the most important thing.

We spoke to vocal experts about the digital assistant’s new pipes.

Your DNA probably didn’t make you do it
Science

Your DNA probably didn’t make you do it

Judges and juries aren’t swayed by genetics.

alcohol after party
Mental Health

Is my drinking normal, or could I be an alcoholic?

Alcoholism rose 49 percent in the last decade.

Cassini just smashed into Saturn’s atmosphere. What comes next for solar system exploration?
Pluto

Cassini just smashed into Saturn’s atmosphere. What comes next for solar system exploration?

Europa, the outer solar system, and a lot of questions.

coral
Weather

All the ways hurricanes can harm—and help—the ecosystems they hit

What Harvey and Irma left behind.

It’s actually really dangerous to go down a slide with your kid
Health

It’s actually really dangerous to go down a slide with your kid

Children sliding on laps are liable to break their legs.

What Earth looks like to far-out celestial bodies
Space

What Earth looks like to far-out celestial bodies

Glance at the stars, glance back in time.