Popular Science Homepage

The Brilliant 10: The most innovative up-and-coming minds in science

These US-based engineers, psychologists, chemists, and more are taking on society's biggest challenges across the world.

By Bill Gourgey

Soy sauce, cilantro, broth, and other umami foods on a pink and purple background

What is umami? No, really.

It translates to 'mouthfulness.'

By Elana Spivack

The new issue of PopSci is full of bright young peeps
The fall digital edition is ready to read today. By Corinne Iozzio
Slack’s new video tool is @here—and you might already be able to use it
These are all the new features Slack says you can expect in the coming months By Colleen Hagerty
There’s only one country doing its Paris Agreement homework
Major greenhouse gas emitters still have lots of work to do. By Sara Kiley Watson

Science

A black and white photo of 1918, nurses load a patient into an ambulance.

The COVID-19 death toll just surpassed another historic American milestone

The disease has now killed more Americans than the 1918 influenza pandemic—and experts predict another 100,000 will die from COVID by the end of the year.

By Hannah Seo

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Tech

Meat vending machines are just the latest way the pandemic has reinvented eating

New forms of digital ordering—and the remodeling of an older idea—are changing the pandemic dining experience.

By Charlotte Hu

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Space

Inside NASA’s mission to blast a giant, gold-coated telescope into deep space

By Marcia Rieke/The Conversation

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Life Hacks

Tortoise on the ground surrounded by plants

How to turn your garden into a tortoise sanctuary

By Natalie Wallington

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Animals

North american porcupine sitting on the ground among wild flower

How to not get pricked by a North American porcupine

By Natalie Wallington

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Health

Pfizer’s data on COVID vaccines for young kids has some important footnotes

By Philip Kiefer

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Latest

What scientists learned when they tried to raise a chimp with a human baby

By PopSci Staff Sep 21, 2021

Science

What scientists learned when they tried to raise a chimp with a human baby

Plus other fun facts from The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week.

Grime-loving bacteria could save priceless art

By Erin Fennessy Sep 20, 2021

Science

Grime-loving bacteria could save priceless art

We think of bacteria as dirty, but sometimes they can actually clean up after us humans.

Cryptocurrency scammers are mining dating sites for victims

By Colleen Hagerty Sep 20, 2021

Technology

Cryptocurrency scammers are mining dating sites for victims

Here’s how to identify and protect yourself from the latest online scammer tactic.

The technology behind Shrinky Dinks can make better robots

By Rahul Rao Sep 20, 2021

Science

The technology behind Shrinky Dinks can make better robots

Shape-memory polymers can expand and shrink and reshape themselves back to their true form.

That new car smell? It’s got a gassy explanation.

By Rob Stumpf Sep 19, 2021

Technology

That new car smell? It’s got a gassy explanation.

Plus, watch a video of a Nissan engineer smelling things.

How to forage your way through your neighborhood

By Ellen Airhart Sep 19, 2021

DIY

How to forage your way through your neighborhood

The world is your grocery store.

You need to protect yourself from zero-click attacks

By Shira Feder Sep 17, 2021

Technology

You need to protect yourself from zero-click attacks

The latest Apple vulnerability was an example of both a zero-click attack and a zero-day exploit. Here's what to know.

How Bentley took over and transformed a World War II air base

By Kristen Lee/The Drive Sep 17, 2021

Cars

How Bentley took over and transformed a World War II air base

A site steeped in history is now a rough-and-tumble test track for luxury cars.

Transform your Twitter timeline with these 11 features and add-ons

By David Nield Sep 17, 2021

DIY

Transform your Twitter timeline with these 11 features and add-ons

Tweet like a pro.

This high-tech gunsight could allow soldiers to shoot around corners, Matrix-style

By Kelsey D. Atherton Sep 17, 2021

Technology

This high-tech gunsight could allow soldiers to shoot around corners, Matrix-style

The system includes an AR display, and it's designed to attach to a traditional rifle, like an M4 carbine.

The Brilliant 10: The most innovative up-and-coming minds in science

What is umami? No, really.

The new issue of PopSci is full of bright young peeps

Slack’s new video tool is @here—and you might already be able to use it

There’s only one country doing its Paris Agreement homework

Science

The COVID-19 death toll just surpassed another historic American milestone

The next generation of skincare might come from frog foam

COVID has made it tougher for some young kids to communicate

How much water should you drink in a day?

Tech

Meat vending machines are just the latest way the pandemic has reinvented eating

The 5 best new features in the iOS 15 update

A centuries-old magic trick is helping us make holograms we can feel

Charge your lithium-ion battery devices for maximum longevity

Space

Inside NASA’s mission to blast a giant, gold-coated telescope into deep space

SpaceX’s Inspiration4 safely returns to Earth after a historic 3-day orbit

First Martian rock samples from Perseverance edge closer to settling water question

SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission and launch in 9 photos

Life Hacks

How to turn your garden into a tortoise sanctuary

Pour all your creativity into digital art with these drawing tools and apps

5 Google Calendar tricks to ensure you never miss a date

Everything you need to cure your smartphone addiction

Animals

How to not get pricked by a North American porcupine

This 120-million-year-old bird may have been one of the first to shake its tail feathers

Schoolkids in New Zealand discovered a new species of giant penguin

Cyclones can be fatal for seabirds, but not in the way you think

Health

Pfizer’s data on COVID vaccines for young kids has some important footnotes

What would possess someone to eat a Carolina Reaper pepper? This writer tried to find out.

Who gets COVID boosters? The FDA’s expert panel says it’s complicated.

The Kinsey Scale Test and 3 other ways to find where you fall on the sexuality spectrum

Environment

If climate change is impacting your desire to have kids, you’re not alone

Potty-trained cows could seriously help the planet

Ask Us Anything

What would a dinosaur taste like?

What would happen if I ate my computer? Asking for a friend.

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Latest

What scientists learned when they tried to raise a chimp with a human baby

Grime-loving bacteria could save priceless art

Cryptocurrency scammers are mining dating sites for victims

The technology behind Shrinky Dinks can make better robots

That new car smell? It’s got a gassy explanation.

How to forage your way through your neighborhood

You need to protect yourself from zero-click attacks

How Bentley took over and transformed a World War II air base

Transform your Twitter timeline with these 11 features and add-ons

This high-tech gunsight could allow soldiers to shoot around corners, Matrix-style