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How smart are octopuses? Smart enough to use a mirror.
Mollusk, mollusk on the wall who’s the cleverest of them all?
Fat Bear Week 2026 winner: Backpack is your champion!
Backpack edged out Bear #910 in an incredibly close vote.
Fat Bear Week semi-final results: Backpack and Bear #910 advance to final
Goodbye, Bucky Dent and Bear #132. You were very worthy bears.
Fat Bear Week, Round 2 results: Bucky Dent, Backpack, 132, and 910 triumph
The next round of voting starts Monday.
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NASA wants to send humanoid robots to the moon
Don’t worry. Actual astronauts aren’t out of a job.
Butterfly wings create dazzling optical illusions
Their many intricate wing patterns baffle predators.
How to watch Jackie the bald eagle’s memorial service
The resilient eagle’s story inspired millions around the world.
October skygazing: Two meteor showers and two planets at full opposition
The Draconids and Orionids will light up the October sky.
Cold War espionage added $4.6 billion to East Germany’s economy
Stolen trade secrets boosted the country’s output—to a point.
Generous paternal leave policies improve maternal and newborn health
Studies show it can also help family finances and workplace equality.
Since 1934, the Federal Duck Stamp has raised $1.3 billion for habitat conservation
Minnesota artist Robert Hautman has now won the annual contest four times.
The world’s loudest birds squawk as loud as a jackhammer
The calls of the bare-throated bellbird and red-legged seriema can exceed 120 decibels.
Why haven’t we had an Atlantic hurricane yet? Thank El Niño.
The record-breaking oceanic phenomenon isn’t just raising global temperatures — it’s also canceling Atlantic tropical cyclones.
Bald eagles Shadow and Kaydee share a peaceful morning, Jackie’s memorial service approaches
Mating season is drawing closer, and the pair has begun to settle into a new routine.
How to help wildlife after a nor’easter
Always check fallen trees for animals before chopping them up.
Robot dog runs a marathon faster than the average human, all on a single charge
RAIBO2’s official marathon time was 4 hours, 19 minutes, and 52 seconds.
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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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