Read the latest articles from Popular Science (Page 961)

Pollution
Environment

After a brief pause, carbon emissions are back on the rise

Time to turn words into action.

Hurricane Matthew
Environment

The 2017 hurricane season is finally fading away. But what comes next?

In some ways, this year wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Electroshock therapy is actually still in use—and could help treat PTSD
Mental Health

Electroshock therapy is actually still in use—and could help treat PTSD

The treatment has changed a lot in the last few decades.

31 ways to optimize your smartphone
Tech Hacks

31 ways to optimize your smartphone

Be ready for anything life throws your way.

Music only helps you concentrate if you’re doing the right kind of task
Science

Music only helps you concentrate if you’re doing the right kind of task

If the task requires creativity or mental rotation, music can increase performance.

We’d rather that bridges never wobbled—but here’s why they do
Engineering

We’d rather that bridges never wobbled—but here’s why they do

And we'd really prefer that they don't fall down.

Meet the very good dogs who hunt down invasive species
Dogs

Meet the very good dogs who hunt down invasive species

They can sniff out troublesome weeds and other pests.

You can use aluminum foil to strengthen your Wi-Fi signal
Internet

You can use aluminum foil to strengthen your Wi-Fi signal

But we don't 100 percent think you actually need to do this.

feather star
Ocean

The ocean harbors unimaginable secrets, but we need to explore them responsibly

Familiarity breeds exploitation.

How to make a sourdough starter—and keep it alive
Life Skills

How to make a sourdough starter—and keep it alive

The perfect loaf starts with some bacterial friends.

A psychologist explains why those Facebook product ads are so darn compelling
Psychology

A psychologist explains why those Facebook product ads are so darn compelling

Brands know exactly how to play into your mistrust of. . . brands.

More evidence that the dinosaurs were super unlucky with regards to that whole asteroid thing
Dinosaurs

More evidence that the dinosaurs were super unlucky with regards to that whole asteroid thing

Location matters. Especially to extinction-causing asteroids.

This truly bizarre exploding star might be a zombie of sorts
Space

This truly bizarre exploding star might be a zombie of sorts

It just keeps exploding.

How to test your tap water for lead
Life Skills

How to test your tap water for lead

Nearly half of Americans suspect that their water might be unsafe.

silvertip shark
Sharks

Why some sharks are like blimps, and others are like airplanes

A brief lesson in buoyancy and aerodynamics.

Here’s the weird alphabet soup that scientists use to name stuff in space
Space

Here’s the weird alphabet soup that scientists use to name stuff in space

I is for interstellar.

Gene therapy just saved a young boy’s life—by giving him new skin
Gene Editing

Gene therapy just saved a young boy’s life—by giving him new skin

It’s an early success for stem cell therapies.

2017 is set to be among the three hottest years on record—and that’s even worse than it sounds
Environment

2017 is set to be among the three hottest years on record—and that’s even worse than it sounds

It's the hottest year without an El Niño boost.

human body quiz
Health

Do you know enough basic anatomy to keep yourself healthy? It’s time to find out.

Because most people don't.

The physics keeping Star Wars’ Cloud City afloat
Science Fiction

The physics keeping Star Wars’ Cloud City afloat

And why it has a limited lifespan in the sky.