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A nuclear explosion from an air-dropped hydrogen bomb test shows a plate-shaped cloud developing over ground zero as it rises through the atmosphere, 1964. The image was later used in a public health educational film on medical self-help. Image courtesy CDC. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Weapons

New satellite system could detect nukes in space

‘You can fake intelligence, but you can’t fake physics.’

Beautiful fluffy tabby cat portrait, walks from a wooden old rural fence, green grass of the garden, summer sunny day
Cats

Beyond birds and mice, free‑ranging cats eat a surprising number of insects

At least 7% of the species cats eat are insects and other invertebrates, particularly beetles.

An example of variolitic pillow lavas in the Whundo Group. The black spots are a feature known as varioles, which form in water-rich lavas.
Archaeology

Ancient rocks suggest water has shaped earth for 3.1 billion years

Some of the planet’s oldest volcanic rocks can still be found in Western Australia.

A fresh-shelled Luigi (left) next to his older and molted shell (right).
Animals

Super rare orange lobster molts at New York Aquarium

Lobsters like Luigi often chow down on their old skin.

Bad quality photo of U.F.O. in sky. Black and white grainy photo of circular alien flying object. Sky with clouds and unknown spaceship.
Deep Space

AI labels a lot of stuff as alien life

‘It’s a very serious vulnerability.’

Smoke emanates from smokestacks at the Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery in Linden, New Jersey, on March 18, 2026. Oil prices surged Wednesday following a strike on a major Iranian gas facility as the Federal Reserve raised its inflation forecast while holding interest rates steady. (Photo by kena betancur / AFP)
Pollution

Air pollution may be changing sperm

Harmful nitrogen dioxide and ozone levels could affect fertility and pregnancies.

a painting of a man on an elephant in battle
Wildlife

Mystery of Hannibal’s infamous Alps crossing gets a major clue

In 218 BCE, the Carthaginian general crossed the rugged mountain range with 40,000 men, 7,000 horses and 37 war elephants.

Point of view from the top of the first drop on The Rattler wooden rollercoaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Internet

Wild ’90s video shows wooden rollercoaster track shaking with each ride

When it opened in 1992, The Rattler was the world’s fastest and tallest wooden coaster of its kind.

This image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was taken on 18 January 2026 with the FORS2 instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT). It is a stack of several images spanning 14 minutes. As the comet moves on the sky, the stars appear as trails in the background.
Solar System

Comet 3I/ATLAS is older than the sun

At over 9 billion years old, the rare interstellar visitor is more than twice the sun’s age.

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Popular Science has been demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872. We explain the inner workings of the phone in your pocket, explore world-changing innovations, and examine everything from the marvels of deep space to the secret lives of staples like bread. We deliver an engaging, approachable, and inclusive look at emerging technologies and scientific advances.
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