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We smell different as we age. Here’s why.
An odor-producing molecule 2-nonenal is only part of the story.
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‘Less desirable’ males confuse female treefrogs looking for a mate
Things get pretty noisy when it’s time to hook up.
Astronomers discover the existence of a ‘black hole star’
The never-before-seen objects are gargantuan, immensely bright, and ancient.
King Tut was buried with more than a hundred pairs of underwear—all tailored to fit his massive butt
Plus crusty white dogs and other weird things we learned this week.
![This image features data from Webb’s NIRCam (Near Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid Infrared Instrument) to capture the most detailed mid-infrared view yet of the field that hosts the highly evolved star IRS 3, which is located just 0.55 light-years from Sagittarius A*, the Milky Way galaxy's central supermassive black hole. An international team of astronomers have discovered that dust and water can form and survive surprisingly close to this supermassive black hole. The observations reveal that the evolved star IRS 3 continues to enrich its surroundings with newly formed material despite the intense radiation environment around Sagittarius A*. The data in this image were taken with Webb programmes #1939 (J. Lu), #3571 (F. Yusef-Zadeh), #2491 (N. B. Sabha), and #2075 (C. Chan). [Image description: A dense star field fills the entire image, with countless stars scattered across a backdrop of glowing clouds in shades of red, orange, pink, white, and blue. At the centre, a brilliant concentration of stars creates a bright, almost white core surrounded by intricate filaments and wisps of illuminated gas and dust that radiate outward. Dark, irregular patches of opaque dust interrupt the glowing clouds, particularly toward the left side of the image, where they appear as silhouetted shapes against the brighter background. The surrounding stellar population varies in brightness and colour, with cool blue stars and warmer orange and red stars distributed throughout the scene.]](https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IRS3-Star.jpg?quality=85&w=768)
Our galaxy’s supermassive black hole actually doesn’t devour everything
Cosmic dust and water is withstanding radiation near the Milky Way galaxy’s black hole, Saggitarius A*.
China’s experimental bullet train hits 497 mph in 5 seconds
The maglev test vehicle is nearing commercial aircraft speeds.
Tragic piece of WWII history discovered on historic submarine
A tiny valve is all that remains of the doomed USS Trigger.
300-year-old sturgeon are swimming around the Great Lakes
Some of these humble fish were alive during the Civil War.
Do rage workouts really help to blow off steam?
Research suggests that using exercise as an outlet for anger and frustration may be counterproductive.
Hermit crab poop spreads a parasitic plant’s seeds
The crustaceans are both external and internal seed dispersers.
Ancient South American families built massive waterways by themselves
As few as 800 volunteers could finish a project—all without centralized government.
How Yellowstone builds boardwalks beside piping hot thermal pools
Thermal cameras and a lot of planning.
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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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