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Vector illustration of a teenage girl and boy holding a smartphone and being shocked and surprised by ban on social media or the use of smartphones. The background shows a smartphone screen with several app icons with blocked symbols.
Social Media

What can we learn from Australia’s social media ban for teens?

The Aussie experiment comes amid a lack of clear evidence that the apps harm the majority of adolescents. It may take a dramatic research pivot to finally reveal what’s going on and how to fix it.

Screencap of an AI chatbot search window
AI

Why you shouldn’t trust everything you find in an AI web search

Your new web search option is far from infallible. Here’s how to weight the answers it gives you.

Dyson sphere. Alien mega structure around a star.
Space Telescope

Sorry, aliens didn’t build Dyson spheres around these dwarf stars

Searching for E.T. is full of disappointments.

a dog with short brown hair
Dogs

Say hello to the TSA’s Cutest Canine of 2026

Let’s have a round of ‘apaws’ for Bolt the German shorthaired pointer.

June 1944, the D-Day Invasion of Normandy. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Weather

Forecasters recreate the weather that made D-Day possible

A single day was the difference between success and disaster.

a woman swims up to a large whale shark and puts a tag on its fin
Sharks

How do you tag the world’s biggest fish? Fins and flexibility.

Marine biologists are studying the Atlantic’s whale sharks to understand their gathering spots.

Woman holding in hands iced orange tonic or trendy bumble coffee. Youth culture.
Science

How do ice cubes cool a drink?

Cheers to a tasty, cool drink!

Japanese man walks past vending machines at night in Tokyo.
Ask Us Anything

The surprising science behind Japan’s vending machine obsession

The country’s machines can serve hot ramen, spot fake coins, and even withstand earthquakes.

iPhone 4S camera
Cameras

Looking back on iPhone 4S: The device that finally convinced the photography world that smartphones were “real cameras”

By 2011, the iPhone was already a photographic force to be reckoned with, but the 4S era was a huge step toward its current dominance.

Budapest's Rock of Starvation resurfaced in the Danube River during low water levels.
Global Warming

‘Rock of Starvation’ reappears in Budapest during historic drought

Seeing this hunger stone in the Danube River is not a good sign.

a robot with two legs and one eye stands on a desk with a computer screen
Robots

Microduck is a robot built to fall down—and learn new tricks

The lampshade-sized robot comes with a simulated twin that uses reinforcement learning to acquire new skills.

Image of 220P/McNaught comet in night sky
Space Telescope

Look up! Now’s your chance to spot an unusually luminous comet

Comet 220P/McNaught won’t be visible again until 2031—if it lasts that long.

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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.
Daily, Popular Science unpacks the science behind the top current new stories, dissects the latest technology and digital trends, and helps readers live smarter, safer, and happier through clever DIY projects.

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