Featured in science fiction
From the archives: ‘Do beavers rule on Mars?’
In the May 1930 issue of Popular Science, Thomas Elway proposed a very imaginative take on life on Mars.
‘Home@Heart,’ a short story from an alternate future
In the year 2030, will 'we the people' benefit from our data? A sci-fi vision published in partnership with Simply Secure, Consumer Reports, and the Mozilla Foundation.
‘The Memory of Tomatoes,’ a short story from an alternate future
In the year 2030, will 'we the people' benefit from our data? A sci-fi vision published in partnership with Simply Secure, Consumer Reports, and the Mozilla Foundation.
‘Shared Data,’ a short story from an alternate future
In the year 2030, will 'we the people' benefit from our data? A sci-fi vision published in partnership with Simply Secure, Consumer Reports, and the Mozilla Foundation.
What happens if you get diarrhea in space?
Astronauts (both real and fictional) have to deal with a whole range of poop problems.
What do you call a tiny tarantula killer? Jeff Daniels.
The actor says the new species designation "made him smile."
Could humans survive on Dune’s Arrakis?
A supercomputer and climate model reveal the truth behind stillsuits.
The US military wants force fields that could stop nuclear missiles
Force fields are the stuff of science fiction, but directed energy systems to fry drones, or stop people, already exist. Here's what's real about the tech—and what's more fantastical.
Why orange skies fill us with a sense of impending doom
Filmmakers use color wheels created by Isaac Newton to match sci-fi scenes to viewers' emotions.
What if you could design the perfect child?
A science-fiction take on the future of CRISPR and embro editing.