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Hardt Hyperloop used magnetic levitation to lift a pod up and propel it through a test track at 18 miles per hour.

Technology

Hyperloop’s not dead, apparently Hyperloop’s not dead, apparently

By Mack DeGeurin

an illustration of a small bird with light brown, black, and white plummage. it has a long beak with sharp teeth

Environment

‘Weird’ prehistoric bird had a weaponized beak with teeth ‘Weird’ prehistoric bird had a weaponized beak with teeth

By Laura Baisas

Polaris Dawn Crew Dragon capsule detaching from SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket

Science

Polaris Dawn is on its way to attempt first-ever commercial spacewalk Polaris Dawn is on its way to attempt first-ever commercial spacewalk

child playing with fidget spinner

Science

Does fidgeting really help you focus? Does fidgeting really help you focus?

By Lauren Leffer

Germany’s North and Baltic Seas are littered with munitions from the First and Second World Wars, such as shells—as shown here—once fired from German battleships.

Technology

The big Baltic bomb cleanup The big Baltic bomb cleanup

By Paul Hockenos / Hakai Magazine

a whale surfaces next to a large fishing trawler

Environment

Whales need krill to survive. We want it for supplements. Whales need krill to survive. We want it for supplements.

By Laura Baisas

People taking photos of the new iPhone 16 Pro with their iPhones

Gear

Hands on: Apple introduces new iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watches Hands on: Apple introduces new iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watches

Mini mum is one of the smallest frogs in the world, described by Mark D. Scherz and his colleagues in 2019. These tiny frogs from southeastern Madagascar live in amongst the leaf litter and feed on tiny mites. They are amongst the target species of the GEMINI project, because their closest relatives are ten times larger.

Science

Researchers want to unlock genetics of the world’s tiniest animals Researchers want to unlock genetics of the world’s tiniest animals

Technology

Ford files patent for a car with holographic cops and guard dogs Ford files patent for a car with holographic cops and guard dogs

By Mack DeGeurin

Electrostatic hydraulic robot leg

Technology

Oil-filled ‘muscles’ give this robot leg a spring in its step Oil-filled ‘muscles’ give this robot leg a spring in its step

an x-ray image of an eel escaping from a fish's stomach

Environment

Watch an eel escape a fish’s stomach through its gills Watch an eel escape a fish’s stomach through its gills

By Laura Baisas

Starship Titanic promo art displaying the ship's in-game bots

Technology

The improbable voyage of Starship Titanic, the 1998 Douglas Adams video game filled with ‘unhinged’ chatbots The improbable voyage of Starship Titanic, the 1998 Douglas Adams video game filled with ‘unhinged’ chatbots

DIY

How to create custom AI chatbots in Google Gemini How to create custom AI chatbots in Google Gemini

The Boeing Starliner.

Science

The Boeing Starliner has returned to Earth without its crew. Now what? The Boeing Starliner has returned to Earth without its crew. Now what?

By Michael E. Fossum / The Conversation

text says "VR in 1994" with photo of backpack device

Technology

Interactor: The ’90s VR backpack gamers hated Interactor: The ’90s VR backpack gamers hated

By Popular Science Team

Early warning systems save lives during disasters.

DIY

How to sign up for local emergency alerts before natural disasters strike How to sign up for local emergency alerts before natural disasters strike

By Natasha Uzcátegui-Liggett / The Markup

jars filled with different types of fruits and vegetables in liquid

DIY

How to start pickling food How to start pickling food

By Debbie Wolfe

two images: an astronaut on a spacewalk and a scuba diver

Science

Astronauts and aquanauts: What does the sea have to do with space? Astronauts and aquanauts: What does the sea have to do with space?

By Alisha McDarris

Science

What’s that smell—and how’d you know? What’s that smell—and how’d you know?

By Daniela Hirschfeld / Knowable Magazine

the google tasks interface on a cell phone

DIY

Google Tasks is the best Google tool you’re not using Google Tasks is the best Google tool you’re not using

an illustration of a striped tasmanian tiger with sharp teeth eating the body of a wombat-like creature

Environment

New bone-crushing Tasmanian tiger species dug up by paleontologists New bone-crushing Tasmanian tiger species dug up by paleontologists

By Laura Baisas

A black and white image shows a silvery sheet of material toward the bottom

Science

NASA releases first photo of 860-square-foot solar sail in orbit NASA releases first photo of 860-square-foot solar sail in orbit

Turns out, micro and nano plastics degrade differently.

Science

Scientists finally get a 3D view of degrading microplastics Scientists finally get a 3D view of degrading microplastics

By Mack DeGeurin

a sedan sitting in front of concrete structures

Technology

Lucid reinvents the electric motor by thinking small. Really small. Lucid reinvents the electric motor by thinking small. Really small.

By Kristin Shaw

Human ear closeup

Science

Why do we have earlobes? They make no evolutionary sense. Why do we have earlobes? They make no evolutionary sense.

By Lauren Leffer

Technology

How do you keep pilots and passengers of sea planes safe? How do you keep pilots and passengers of sea planes safe?

By Barbara Peterson / Hakai Magazine

a pterosaur speices flaps its wings to fly, while another uses them to soar

Science

‘Remarkable’ fossils offer clues to perplexing pterosaur question ‘Remarkable’ fossils offer clues to perplexing pterosaur question

By Laura Baisas

Technology

Man with AI song catalog ‘defrauds’ streaming services of $10 million Man with AI song catalog ‘defrauds’ streaming services of $10 million

This squishy robot uses electrical signals processed from King Oyster mushroom mycelia to scoot back and forth.

Technology

This robot is being controlled by a King oyster mushroom This robot is being controlled by a King oyster mushroom

By Mack DeGeurin

A container of Yellow #5 dye.

Science

The dye in Doritos can make mice transparent The dye in Doritos can make mice transparent

By Lauren Leffer

Meteorite impacts and volcanic eruption producing glass beads on the Moon.

Science

Volcanoes may have existed on the moon far more recently than we thought Volcanoes may have existed on the moon far more recently than we thought

A powerful laser shines into a jet of gas, creating a bright plasma and generating ultraviolet light. The light leaves a visible white line as it interacts with leftover gas in the vacuum chamber. This process helps scientists precisely measure the energy needed to excite the thorium-229 nucleus, which is the core of a future nuclear clock.

Technology

Move over, atomic clocks: Nuclear clocks are on the way Move over, atomic clocks: Nuclear clocks are on the way

Sunset behind the IceCube Lab

Science

Astronomers really like the South Pole, but why? Astronomers really like the South Pole, but why?

By Briley Lewis

several loaves of golden rustic looking bread on a table

Environment

How farming helped humans evolve to get more energy from carbs How farming helped humans evolve to get more energy from carbs

By Laura Baisas

horses in a field

Environment

Where and when were horses domesticated? Where and when were horses domesticated?

By William Taylor / The Conversation

Steaming pipes at Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant. This image is shot using a drone.

Technology

‘The world is not prepared:’ How AI energy thirst might tap into geothermal power ‘The world is not prepared:’ How AI energy thirst might tap into geothermal power

By Mack DeGeurin

Illustration of Sasayamagnomus saegusai

Science

Tiny triceratops ancestor named after gnomes Tiny triceratops ancestor named after gnomes

a northern elephant seal with wide eyes looks into a camera next to an underwater acoustic monitoring device

Environment

Northern elephant seals know a ‘dinner bell’ when they hear one Northern elephant seals know a ‘dinner bell’ when they hear one

By Laura Baisas

a woman scratches several red mosquito bites on her shoulder

Health

‘Ancient, funny’ cells are to blame for itchy mosquito bites ‘Ancient, funny’ cells are to blame for itchy mosquito bites

By Laura Baisas

Peach blossom jellyfish

Environment

Invasive jellyfish ‘clones’ are spreading into Canada Invasive jellyfish ‘clones’ are spreading into Canada

Technology

The Accelerationists’ app: How Telegram became the ‘center of gravity’ for a new breed of domestic terrorists The Accelerationists’ app: How Telegram became the ‘center of gravity’ for a new breed of domestic terrorists

By James Bandler/ProPublica, A.C. Thompson/ProPublica and FRONTLINE, Karina Meier/FRONTLINE

Starliner docked with ISS with Earth in background

Science

NASA can explain Starliner’s spooky, pulsing sounds NASA can explain Starliner’s spooky, pulsing sounds

Titanic bow wreckage underwater

Science

The famous railing from ‘Titanic’ has broken off from Titanic The famous railing from ‘Titanic’ has broken off from Titanic

remnants of a sunken village in a very dry reservoir

Environment

Drought reveals a sunken village in Greece Drought reveals a sunken village in Greece

By Laura Baisas

The communities of soil microbes known as biocrusts are common in arid ecosystems.

Science

The dirt on biocrusts: Why scientists are working to save Earth’s living skin The dirt on biocrusts: Why scientists are working to save Earth’s living skin

By Jude Coleman / Knowable Magazine

a pregnant porbeagle shark swims under water with two tags. one is on her dorsal fin and the other is on her back

Environment

Who ate the pregnant porbeagle shark? Who ate the pregnant porbeagle shark?

By Laura Baisas

Science

Do aphrodisiacs work? What the science says. Do aphrodisiacs work? What the science says.

By RJ Mackenzie

Osprey backpacks in a line for Labor Day sale

Gear

Our editors love these Osprey hiking backpacks, and they’re up to 40% off during Amazon’s Labor Day sale Our editors love these Osprey hiking backpacks, and they’re up to 40% off during Amazon’s Labor Day sale

By Stan Horaczek

food made out of garbage using fungus

Science

Chefs are using fungus to transform food garbage into fancy, fully edible dishes Chefs are using fungus to transform food garbage into fancy, fully edible dishes

By Mack DeGeurin

concept of busy airport

DIY

Old-school strategies for flying in the age of new technology Old-school strategies for flying in the age of new technology

By Christopher Schaberg / The Conversation

A lab technologist with the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness holds test tubes full of liquified mosquito remains in a lab at Health Department headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.

Health

How climate change is expanding the reach of EEE, a rare and deadly mosquito-borne illness How climate change is expanding the reach of EEE, a rare and deadly mosquito-borne illness

By Zoya Teirstein/Grist

six bouquets of different herbs hanging upside down on a wood backdrop

DIY

How to dry herbs at home (and why you should) How to dry herbs at home (and why you should)

By Debbie Wolfe

screenshot of freetube

DIY

Freetube is the best way to watch YouTube Freetube is the best way to watch YouTube

Microsoft MS-DOS user's guide in front of old computer

DIY

How to get MS-DOS up and running on Windows or macOS How to get MS-DOS up and running on Windows or macOS

Histones, best known for acting as scaffolding support for DNA and for regulating gene activity, turn out to also play critical metabolic roles in the cell.

Science

These proteins have been secretly managing your cells These proteins have been secretly managing your cells

By Viviane Callier / Knowable Magazine

Science

September stargazing: A second supermoon and partial lunar eclipse September stargazing: A second supermoon and partial lunar eclipse

By Laura Baisas

blue sportscar on a track

Technology

Driving the $2 Million, 2,000-horsepower Rimac Nevera EV Driving the $2 Million, 2,000-horsepower Rimac Nevera EV

Timelapse image of springtail jumping backwards

Environment

Watch the world’s fastest backflipping bug Watch the world’s fastest backflipping bug

a huge swarm of thousands of mosquitoes

Environment

Mosquitoes can barely see–but a male’s vision perks up when they hear a female Mosquitoes can barely see–but a male’s vision perks up when they hear a female

By Laura Baisas

Various artifacts recovered from Temple of Buto

Science

Egyptologists uncover 2,500 year-old observatory full of precise tools Egyptologists uncover 2,500 year-old observatory full of precise tools

hypercar in a dark room

Technology

The coolest technology in the Bugatti Tourbillon hypercar is… analog? The coolest technology in the Bugatti Tourbillon hypercar is… analog?

By Kristin Shaw

hands reaching out to tickle you

Science

Why are we ticklish? The science of the silly response. Why are we ticklish? The science of the silly response.

By Lauren Leffer

Yukon river Alaska

Environment

Thawing Alaskan permafrost is unleashing more mercury, confirming scientists’ worst fears Thawing Alaskan permafrost is unleashing more mercury, confirming scientists’ worst fears

By Anita Hofschneider/Grist

birds have culture

Environment

Birds have ‘culture.’ Just look at these nests. Birds have ‘culture.’ Just look at these nests.

By Lauren Leffer