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glacier in water

Earth used to be cooler than we thought, which changes our math on global warming Earth used to be cooler than we thought, which changes our math on global warming

By Philip Kiefer

Karel Čapek's play "R.U.R." in 1921

The first ‘robots’ were made of flesh and bone The first ‘robots’ were made of flesh and bone

By John M. Jordan/MIT Press Reader

A gold-colored mylar emergency blanket.

The life-saving space blanket has humble origins The life-saving space blanket has humble origins

By Keith McCafferty/Field & Stream

A line of protesters with signs standing in a street, just feet from a line of police with riot shields.

DIY

How to save important photos and video from the web How to save important photos and video from the web

By John Kennedy

Capitol Hill aerial view with construction vehicles and work

Washington, D.C. is home to a fascinating labyrinth of tunnels Washington, D.C. is home to a fascinating labyrinth of tunnels

By Joseph Trevithick and Thomas Newdick/The War Zone

A US sailor at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California, prepares Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for rollout

Vaccines conquered smallpox and polio, but COVID-19 looks like a tougher battle Vaccines conquered smallpox and polio, but COVID-19 looks like a tougher battle

By Tyler Santora

Lucy Engleman illustration

The famous Nazca lines aren’t mysterious—but they are ingenious The famous Nazca lines aren’t mysterious—but they are ingenious

By Sara Kiley Watson

There’s no stopping this immortal jellyfish There’s no stopping this immortal jellyfish

By Popular Science Team

an astronaut stands next to an american flag on the moon

Imagine traveling to the moon only to realize you’re allergic to it. One astronaut did. Imagine traveling to the moon only to realize you’re allergic to it. One astronaut did.

By Popular Science Team

Marryam Moma collage

In Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley,’ a Black community battles an industry that threatens its health—and history In Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley,’ a Black community battles an industry that threatens its health—and history

By Megan I. Gannon

Remembering one of history’s greatest whale explosions Remembering one of history’s greatest whale explosions

By Sara Kiley Watson

infected human cell

How the COVID-19 pandemic might end How the COVID-19 pandemic might end

By Wendy Orent/Undark

a woman holding an umbrella

What really happened during the ‘Kentucky meat shower’? What really happened during the ‘Kentucky meat shower’?

By Popular Science Team

A person sitting in a cafe at night, using a laptop.

DIY

5 ways to go back in time on the internet 5 ways to go back in time on the internet

the US flag flying

DIY

Follow along as battleground states tally presidential votes Follow along as battleground states tally presidential votes

By John Kennedy

Atlantis isn’t real, but here are all the places it could have been Atlantis isn’t real, but here are all the places it could have been

By Eleanor Cummins

a hand putting a ballot into a box

The story behind the most fraudulent election in history The story behind the most fraudulent election in history

By Popular Science Team

sand dunes and trees at hither hills state park on long island

We didn’t track hurricanes hundreds of years ago—but trees did We didn’t track hurricanes hundreds of years ago—but trees did

a fried egg on top of tomatoes on a white plate

Egg yolk color doesn’t mean what you think it does Egg yolk color doesn’t mean what you think it does

By Popular Science Team

Landing on the moon only made us love it more Landing on the moon only made us love it more

By Alice Gorman/MIT Press Reader

vaccine generic

A taskforce of Black doctors is independently evaluating COVID-19 vaccine candidates A taskforce of Black doctors is independently evaluating COVID-19 vaccine candidates

By Kate Baggaley

a black pig is smiling

Pig sex and celery have a surprising connection Pig sex and celery have a surprising connection

By Popular Science Team

A Rubik's Cube displayed on a stand

The inventor of the Rubik’s cube doesn’t get why it’s so popular The inventor of the Rubik’s cube doesn’t get why it’s so popular

By Hope Reese/Undark

Nuria Tamarit illustration

Five dolls that changed the world Five dolls that changed the world

By Erin Blakemore

a generic doctors office

America has a long history of forced sterilization America has a long history of forced sterilization

By Kate Baggaley

a woman sits in a metal box while a man speaks to her

This scientist thought he’d found the source of all sexual energy This scientist thought he’d found the source of all sexual energy

By Popular Science Team

Black model in grayscale

Why do beauty filters make you look whiter? Why do beauty filters make you look whiter?

By Candice Wang

Civil War medical dispatch

Times of strife can lead to medical innovation—when governments are willing Times of strife can lead to medical innovation—when governments are willing

By Jeffrey Clemens/The Conversation

Causes of Mortality in the Army

Infographics have helped keep us alive for centuries Infographics have helped keep us alive for centuries

By Murray Dick/MIT Press Reader

Your car is probably full of spiders Your car is probably full of spiders

By Popular Science Team

Japanese anime remembers the atom bomb, decades after Hiroshima Japanese anime remembers the atom bomb, decades after Hiroshima

By Frank Fuller/The Conversation

An Audubon's shearwater over water

Bird names are due for an anti-racist reckoning Bird names are due for an anti-racist reckoning

By Hannah Thomasy/Undark

The Mexico City landscape

Mexico City buried its river and lakes to prevent disease. But then COVID-19 happened. Mexico City buried its river and lakes to prevent disease. But then COVID-19 happened.

By Elena Delavega/The Conversation

A mural in Minneapolis, Minnesota, commemorates George Floyd, who was killed while being restrained by city police officers in May.

Resharing videos of violence against Black people can spark more trauma Resharing videos of violence against Black people can spark more trauma

By Candice Wang

massive caldera

A massive volcanic eruption may have contributed to the rise of the Roman Empire A massive volcanic eruption may have contributed to the rise of the Roman Empire

By Kate Baggaley

The Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville, Illinois, mark the site of one of the biggest pre-Colombian civilizations in the US.

Colonial bias gave us an incorrect history of North America’s Indigenous people Colonial bias gave us an incorrect history of North America’s Indigenous people

By Sturt Manning/The Conversation

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.

General Charles Q. Brown Jr. is a historic choice to lead the Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr. is a historic choice to lead the Air Force

By Dan Pimentel/Flying Mag

Person holding a bread-and-butter pickle sandwich

DIY

The history and mystery of America’s long-lost pickle sandwich The history and mystery of America’s long-lost pickle sandwich

By Eric Kim/Saveur

Black kids with binoculars

Black birders have never been safe or celebrated Black birders have never been safe or celebrated

By Jacqueline L. Scott/The Conversation

The 160-year-old reason you’re obsessed with your lawn The 160-year-old reason you’re obsessed with your lawn

Jerrie Cobb and Mercury

A brief history of menstruating in space A brief history of menstruating in space

By Amy Shira Teitel

Why barrier contraceptives (like diaphragms) are so unpopular Why barrier contraceptives (like diaphragms) are so unpopular

By Donna J. Drucker/MIT Press Reader

a baseball player swings a bat

Why baseball players ‘bone’ their bats Why baseball players ‘bone’ their bats

By Popular Science Team

The Sebring-Vanguard

Electric vehicles have come a long way since the 1890s Electric vehicles have come a long way since the 1890s

By Sara Kiley Watson

Pamela Smith in her lab

This scientist studies alchemy to turn historical handicrafts into modern innovations This scientist studies alchemy to turn historical handicrafts into modern innovations

By Kate Baggaley

a war propaganda poster

Carrots were once a crucial tool in anti-Nazi propaganda Carrots were once a crucial tool in anti-Nazi propaganda

By Popular Science Team

alaska permafrost lab

Inside a frozen tunnel hiding the galaxy’s biggest secrets Inside a frozen tunnel hiding the galaxy’s biggest secrets

By Madeline Ostrander/Undark

A still life of books, a quill, old spectacles, and candles

This 17th-century plague diary hits a little too close to home This 17th-century plague diary hits a little too close to home

By Ute Lotz-Heumann/The Conversation

An abelisaur, a short-snouted predatory dinosaur, rests while several pterosaurs fight over leftovers from a carcass.

The Sahara Desert was once flooded with history’s most vicious dinosaurs The Sahara Desert was once flooded with history’s most vicious dinosaurs

By Kate Baggaley

a group of New Yorkers participating in the 1970 Earth Day demonstrations in New York City

Looking back on 50 years of Earth Days Looking back on 50 years of Earth Days

By John Kennedy

Oscar Bolten Green illustration

Tomatoes, tempura, and other foods whose origins will surprise you Tomatoes, tempura, and other foods whose origins will surprise you

By Eleanor Cummins

Lena Vargas illustration

Three ancient optical illusions explained by modern science Three ancient optical illusions explained by modern science

construction dig site

Archaeologists and construction workers are teaming up to unearth historic relics Archaeologists and construction workers are teaming up to unearth historic relics

By Megan Gannon

Twelve classic products that were perfect from the start Twelve classic products that were perfect from the start

By Stan Horaczek and Rob Verger

a screenshot of a video game

Animal Crossing’s most elusive fish has a bizarre real-life backstory Animal Crossing’s most elusive fish has a bizarre real-life backstory

By Popular Science Team

woman drinking coffee and smiling

Does coffee make you poop, or is that just me? Does coffee make you poop, or is that just me?

By Popular Science Team

There was only ever one true Ferris Wheel, and we blew it up There was only ever one true Ferris Wheel, and we blew it up

By Popular Science Team

a cattle skull mounted on wood

Five surprising ways people have used (and are still using) bones Five surprising ways people have used (and are still using) bones

By John Kennedy

king louis xiv of france

Thank syphilis for these three major fashion trends Thank syphilis for these three major fashion trends

By Popular Science Team

Katherine Johnson at NASA Langley Research Center in 1980

Katherine Johnson, whose calculations enabled the first moonwalk, dies at 101 Katherine Johnson, whose calculations enabled the first moonwalk, dies at 101

A view over a plaza in Wuhan, China

The prejudice stemming from the coronavirus outbreak isn’t new The prejudice stemming from the coronavirus outbreak isn’t new

By Marisa Peryer/Undark

An elephant causing chaos inside a restaurant

How much acid should you give an elephant? These scientists learned the hard way. How much acid should you give an elephant? These scientists learned the hard way.

By Popular Science Team

a woman is about to bite into a giant leek, for some reason

The ‘chew chew cult’ is a Victorian diet fad that should really, really never come back The ‘chew chew cult’ is a Victorian diet fad that should really, really never come back

By Popular Science Team

a hand holding a thermometer

Our average body temperatures seem to be dropping Our average body temperatures seem to be dropping