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The Baffling Cases of Spontaneous Human Combustion

The Baffling Cases of Spontaneous Human Combustion

The Real Reasons Permanent Daylight Savings Time Never Stuck

The Real Reasons Permanent Daylight Savings Time Never Stuck

The Experiment That Tried to Weigh the Human Soul

The Experiment That Tried to Weigh the Human Soul

Latest Articles

a large spotted fish called a whale shark swims with its mouth open
Sharks

Massive whale shark just spotted in Florida

The gentle giants are the world’s largest fish—and love the tropics.

By Laura Baisas

Plate of sliced mushrooms.
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

We don’t actually know who pulled the greatest con in mushroom history 

Plus dogs hunting spotted lanternflies and other weird things we learned this week.

By Popular Science Team

Baseball batter readying as pitcher throws ball at him
Robots

Korea’s robot umpires reduce favorable calls for star players

After two seasons, the Automated Ball-Strike system appears to be working.

By Andrew Paul

a large steam train with a crowd of people surrounding it
Engineering

How to track ‘Big Boy,’ the world’s biggest steam locomotive

The 1.2 million-pound-train still has a few stops left on its first coast-to-coast tour.

By Laura Baisas

Representative preflight, in-flight, and postflight hand radiographs. Radiographs of the hand were acquired (A) preflight by a crewmember, (B) in-flight on day 1 after launch (L+1) by a crewmember, and (C) postflight by a non-crew operator using the same imaging protocol. Credit: Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
Space X

Astronauts take first X-rays in space

A SpaceX crew scanned a hand and other body parts during a recent mission.

By Andrew Paul

a microscope image of a parasite. it is round and red
Food Safety

What to know about the rise in cyclosporiasis cases

A public health expert reflects on contracting the illness in 2018.

By Brandon Brown, Iqbal Pittalwala

A crow picks up a cigarette end on the parking of Le Puy du Fou, in Les Epesses, western France on August 14, 2018. - Six crows specially trained to pick up cigarette ends and rubbish were put to work last week at a French historical theme park. (Photo by SEBASTIEN SALOM GOMIS / AFP) (Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN SALOM GOMIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Birds

No, crows aren’t cleaning up cigarette butts in Sweden

At least, not anymore.

By Andrew Paul

The broken circuit breaker switch that nearly ended Apollo 11 (below) and the pen that saved the crew and the mission.
Space

The pen that saved the Apollo 11 astronauts is up for auction

Sotheby’s Space Exploration auction features the life-saving instrument, a Snoopy pin, space-flown flags, and more.

By Popular Science Team

Japanese man dressed in soccer swag cries in close up after team loses.
Mental Health

4 ways being a soccer fan messes with your body

From heart stress to an increased libido.

By Clarissa Brincat

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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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