Popular Science

The robotic fin study was published this week in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.

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Putting stingray swimming to the test

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When it comes to swimming, not all ray species are alike. Massive manta rays and other pelagic ray species tend to hover near the ocean surface using a flapping motion. Benthic rays, like stingrays who spend their time in more shallow waters, rely on a different undulating movement which often resembles the motion of the very waves they’re swimming in. This second wavy swimming style in particular has fascinated scientists for its apparent simplicity and efficiency. Past research on that swimming method has shown that the undulating motion used by stingrays actually appears to recycle energy from surrounding water more efficiently than brute-force fin flapping.

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Varying styles of stingray fin movements. Image: Yuanhang Zhu/UCR.

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UCR mechanical engineer and paper co-author Yuanhang Zhu had a hunch that the divergence in swimming styles might stem from the different environments ray species inhabit. To test that theory in controlled environments, the team set out to create the robotic fin. By testing the fin under different conditions, the researchers could observe how physical forces in the water affected its movement. The final fin design measured only 9.5 millimeters (about 0.4 inches) thick and was molded from silicone rubber. They also constructed a large water tunnel designed to simulate ocean flow.

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During their experiments, the team placed the robot both near the surface of the tunnel and lower, closer to the artificial sea floor. In both cases, they were looking to see how various levels of ocean flow impact the amount of lift imparted on the fins. Understanding lift is important because it plays a key role in determining whether or not objects moving through space can stay level. For example, birds flying close to the ground experience positive lift keeping them more level and steady. The researchers expected to see something similar occur for the robotic ray swimming near the sea floor. Instead, the exact opposite happened. Their robot was being sucked downwards.

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“This wasn’t what we expected,” Zhu said in a UCR blog post. “Instead of gaining extra lift near the ground, the rays were pulled downward.

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Surprised by the findings, the team made slight adjustments to the robot to try compensate for the negative lift. They found that the downward force could be reduced simply by tilting the robot fin upward by a few degrees. Extrapolating out from that, the researchers suggest that stingrays and other benthic rays naturally swim with a slight upward fin angle, something that wasn’t clear before. During testing with, the stingray-like undulating motion also consistently maintained better clearance from the seafloor than the flapping motion used by pelagic ray species.

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“Nature seems to have already solved the problem,” Zhu added.

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Robots and underwater vehicles of the future

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This isn’t the first time engineers have tried to apply a ray’s unique biology to the world of robotics. In 2018, engineers from UCLA designed a 10 millimeter long tissue-based stingray-style robot made up of a mix of heart cells and flexible electrodes. Researchers from Harvard made an arguably even stranger stingray biohybrid robot in 2017, powered by rat muscles and propelled forward by a propulsion system triggered by light.

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Elsewhere, researchers at the University of Washington are already exploring ways to apply stingray swimming techniques to next generation underwater vehicles. Ultimately, they hope to adapt rays’ structural characteristics to create vehicles that are both more energy-efficient and quieter than current submarines and submersibles.

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When it comes to designing mechanisms of the future, the natural world remains undefeated.

The post Stingray-inspired robot cracks the mystery of how rays swim appeared first on Popular Science.

Halley’s comet may need a new, medieval name

Andrew Paul — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:51:47 -0500

One of most recognizable comets in astronomy may require rebranding. But even if everyone continues to call the famed space rock Halley’s comet, some researchers say an eccentric 11th century monk deserves at least some credit. According to a review of historical materials including the famous Bayeux tapestry, a team from Leiden University in the Netherlands believes it makes more sense to name the icy space rock in honor of Aethelmaer of Malmesbury—a member of the Order of Saint Benedict who also lived with an ill-fated fascination with flying.

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Every 76 years, a comet from the depths of our solar system reaches its nearest point to Earth. Its orbit is anything but new, however. Chinese observers recorded the appearance of a bright light traveling from east to north in the night sky as far back as 240 BCE, while Roman historian Cassius Dio described a similar sounding event in 12 BCE. It wasn’t until 1705 that the English astronomer Edmond Halley concluded that these regularly returning sights weren’t different objects, but a single comet traveling along a predictable trajectory. Today, his discovery is reflected in both the comet’s everyday name as well as its official classification, 1P/Halley.

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But if one really wanted to name the comet after the first person in England to note its significance, some astronomers recommend the honor goes to Aethelmaer of Malmesbury. Also known as Eilmer, the Benedictine monk was already an elderly resident of his abbey when Halley’s comet returned in 1066 CE. However, that particular sighting was of special importance because it’s documented on the famous (and bawdy) Bayeux tapestry. The 770-pound scroll depicts the events surrounding the Battle of Hastings, during which William II invaded England from Normandy, France. The embroidered art also illustrates William II’s victory, as well as his short-lived reign before the last Anglo-Saxon king died in battle.

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King William should have seen his demise coming, according to the medieval omen experts of his era. Halley’s comet appeared not long after he assumed the throne, and everyone at the time knew such cosmic sightings warned of impending disaster. Everyone including the monk, Eilmer.

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Simon Zwart, an astronomer at the Leiden University in the Netherlands, realized this while reviewing the writings of the 12th century chronicler, William of Malmesbury. According to William, when Halley’s comet brightened the sky in 1066 CE, it also jotted Eilmer’s memory. The monk recalled first seeing the same event about 76 years earlier in 989 CE.

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Based on this account, it technically wasn’t Edmond Halley who first proposed that the comet was making regular reappearances. Then again, it’s somewhat understandable why Eilmer’s claims didn’t gain more traction. After all, this was the monk who is otherwise best known for attempting to fly after reading the Greek myth of Daedalus as a child. To test his own theories, young Eilmer strapped a set of makeshift wings to his hands and feet, then jumped off a tower at Malmesbury Abbey. The confident—if misguided—leap of faith broke both his legs and incapacitated him for the rest of life.

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“He used to relate as the cause of his failure, his forgetting to provide himself a tail,” his friend William later wrote.

The post Halley’s comet may need a new, medieval name appeared first on Popular Science.

Lowe’s is blowing out this Craftsman cordless string trimmer with battery and charger for just $29 while they last

Stan Horaczek — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:20:55 -0500

Even if your yard is currently frozen solid, spring cleanup has a way of arriving faster than your motivation. Lowe’s has the Craftsman V20 13-inch cordless string trimmer kit marked down to $29. That’s not a typo: you’re getting the trimmer plus a 2Ah battery and charger for less than the price of Triple Dippers for two at Chili’s. It’s a great tool for cleaning up sidewalks and getting tough grass where the mower can’t reach.

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If you want to keep shopping, there are also some surprisingly aggressive markdowns on other V20 tools (including a $39 high-velocity fan) and a bunch of garage/workshop gear. Everything we pulled from the sale pages is linked below.

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Altra FWD VIA Road-Running Shoes – Men’s $127.73 (was $160.00)

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Craftsman V20 20V Max 13-in cordless string trimmer kit (2Ah battery + charger) $29.00 (was $129.00, 78% off)

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Altra Paradigm 7 Road-Running Shoes – Men’s $126.73 (was $170.00)

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Topo Athletic Phantom 3 Road-Running Shoes – Men’s $108.73 (was $145.00)

Yard and seasonal gear

Topo Athletic Ultrafly 5 Road-Running Shoes – Men’s $108.73 (was $145.00)

Craftsman V20 13-in trimmer/edger kit + replacement spool 3-pack (bundle) $55.98 (was $155.98, 64% off)
Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 5 Road-Running Shoes – Men’s $93.73 (was $125.00)
Craftsman 5-ft x 2-ft vertical resin storage shed (gray) $279.00 (was $399.00, 30% off)
New Balance FuelCell Rebel V4 Road-Running Shoes – Men’s $94.73 (was $139.99)
Craftsman SB650 28-in three-stage snow blower set + cab + cover (bundle) $1,494.98 (was $1,994.98, 25% off)
On Cloud 6 Shoes – Men’s $95.93–$160.00
Craftsman Performance 28 two-stage snow blower set (bundle) $1,594.98 (was $2,094.98, 24% off)
On Cloud 6 Waterproof Shoes – Men’s $129.93–$180.00

Craftsman Select 24-in 2-stage snow blower set (bundle) $1,140.92 (was $1,240.92, 8% off)

Trail runners, hikers, and “do-it-all” outdoors shoes

Craftsman Select 24-in 2-stage snow blower + leaf blower (bundle) $1,048.00 (was $1,148.00, 9% off)

HOKA Speedgoat 6 Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $124.93 (was $155.00)
Craftsman Select 24-in 2-stage snow blower + V20 blower snow-cleanup set (bundle) $1,028.00 (was $1,128.00, 9% off)
HOKA Speedgoat 6 GTX Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $136.93–$170.00
Craftsman Select 24-in 2-stage snow blower + V20 chainsaw (bundle) $1,058.00 (was $1,158.00, 9% off)
HOKA Challenger 8 Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $124.93–$155.00
Craftsman Select 24-in 2-stage snow blower + chainsaw (bundle) $1,148.00 (was $1,248.00, 8% off)

HOKA Mafate Speed 2 Trail-Running Shoes $136.93–$170.00

V20 power tools and kits

Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes – Men’s $126.73 (was $170.00)

Craftsman V20 12-in high-velocity industrial fan (3-speed) $39.00 (was $129.00, 70% off)
Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots – Men’s $123.73 (was $170.00)
Craftsman V20 RP brushless 7-1/4-in circular saw (tool only) $99.00 (was $189.00, 48% off)
Merrell Moab Speed 2 Hiking Shoes – Men’s $104.73 (was $140.00)
Craftsman V20 RP brushless 4.5-in angle grinder (tool only) $99.00 (was $149.00, 34% off)
Merrell Moab Speed 2 Vent 2K SE Shoes – Men’s $104.73 (was $140.00)
Craftsman V20 RP brushless 3-in cut-off tool (tool only) $99.00 (was $139.00, 29% off)
Merrell Moab Speed 2 Leather Waterproof Hiking Shoes – Men’s $118.73 (was $170.00)
Craftsman V20 brushless 1/2-in drill/driver kit (battery + charger) $99.00 (was $129.00, 23% off)
Merrell Tempo EXP Hiking Shoes – Men’s $59.73 (was $80.00)
Craftsman V20 RP brushless 1/2-in drill/driver kit (2 batteries + charger) $119.00 (was $149.00, 20% off)
Merrell Wrapt Shoes – Men’s $68.73 (was $110.00)
Craftsman V20 brushless 1/4-in impact driver kit (battery + charger) $99.00 (was $129.00, 23% off)
Merrell Trail Glove 7 Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $96.73 (was $130.00)
Craftsman V20 4-tool combo kit (2 batteries + charger) $189.00 (was $239.00, 21% off)
Merrell Agility Peak 5 Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $98.93–$104.93 (was $140.00–$150.00)
Craftsman V20 8-tool combo kit (2 batteries + charger) + soft case $459.00 (was $479.00, 4% off)
Salomon X Ultra 5 Low Hiking Shoes – Men’s $111.93–$155.00
Craftsman V20 cordless pet stick vacuum $149.99 (was $199.99, 25% off)
Salomon Speedcross 6 Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $108.93–$150.00
Craftsman V20 RP brushless reciprocating saw (tool only) $99.00 (was $129.00, 23% off)
Salomon Speedcross 6 GORE-TEX Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $123.93–$170.00
Craftsman V20 RP brushless oscillating multi-tool (tool only) $99.00 (was $129.00, 23% off)
Salomon Genesis Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $112.93–$150.00
Craftsman V20 cordless oscillating multi-tool kit (11-piece) $119.00 (was $139.00, 14% off)
Saucony Peregrine 15 Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $115.73 (was $145.00)
Craftsman V20 18-ga brad nailer (battery/charger not included) $129.00 (was $159.00, 19% off)
Saucony Peregrine 15 GTX Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $140.73 (was $175.00)
Craftsman V20 16-ga finish nailer (battery/charger not included) $189.00 (was $219.00, 14% off)
Saucony Freedom Crossport Shoes – Men’s $74.83 (was $150.00)
Craftsman V20 18-ga brad nailer kit (battery + charger) $219.00 (was $259.00, 15% off)
Arc’teryx Norvan LD 4 Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $126.93–$170.00
Craftsman V20 16-ga finish nailer kit (battery + charger) $329.00 (was $379.00, 13% off)
Arc’teryx Kragg Shoes – Men’s $79.83–$111.93 (was $160.00)
Craftsman V20 narrow crown stapler (battery/charger not included) $169.00 (was $189.00, 11% off)
La Sportiva Jackal II Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $114.73 (was $165.00)
Craftsman 10-in variable-speed cordless polisher $49.00 (was $59.00, 17% off)
Craft Nordlite Ultra Trail-Running Shoes – Men’s $111.73 (was $159.95)
Craftsman V20 4.0Ah battery + charger kit $99.00 (was $159.00, 38% off)
NNormal Kjerag Trail-Running Shoes $96.83 (was $195.00)
Craftsman V20 6Ah battery $84.00 (was $139.00, 40% off)

Boots, waterproof, and winter-ready picks

Tool sets and hand tools

Baffin YUKON Boots – Men’s $144.73 (was $195.00)
Xero Shoes Alpine Snow Boots – Men’s $129.93 (was $175.00)
KEEN Revel IV High Polar Waterproof Boots – Men’s $154.73 (was $210.00)
Oboz Bridger 8″ Insulated Waterproof Boots – Men’s $156.93 (was $210.00)
Craftsman Versastack 242-piece mechanics tool set (SAE + metric) w/ hard case $99.00 (was $219.00, 55% off)
HOKA Kaha 2 Frost GTX Hiking Boots – Men’s $224.93 (was $280.00)
The North Face Nuptse Mule Slippers – Men’s $55.73 (was $79.00)
Craftsman Overdrive 121-piece mechanics tool set (SAE + metric) w/ hard case $169.00 (was $199.00, 15% off)
Merrell Tempo Sol Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots – Men’s $74.73 (was $100.00)
Craftsman Overdrive 80-piece mechanics tool set (SAE + metric) w/ hard case $109.00 (was $149.00, 27% off)
Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots – Men’s $93.73 (was $125.00)
Craftsman Overdrive 64-piece mechanics tool set (SAE + metric) w/ hard case $99.00 (was $119.00, 17% off)
Vasque St. Elias Waterproof Hiking Boots – Men’s $131.73 (was $240.00)

Craftsman Overdrive 11-piece metric combination wrench set (6-point) w/ hard case $69.98 (was $74.98, 7% off)

Sandals, slides, clogs, and casual comfort

Craftsman Overdrive 11-piece SAE combination wrench set (6-point) w/ hard case $69.98 (was $74.98, 7% off)

Birkenstock Arizona Crosstown Sandals – Men’s $74.83–$149.95
Craftsman 7-piece 12-point metric combination wrench set w/ pouch $14.98 (was $25.98, 42% off)
Birkenstock Boston Soft Footbed Clogs – Men’s $101.93–$169.95
Craftsman Hi-Vis tape measure set (12 ft / 16 ft / 25 ft) $14.98 (was $24.98, 40% off)
Birkenstock Boston Clogs – Men’s $92.93–$154.95
Craftsman ProReach 16-ft tape measure $13.98 (was $22.98, 39% off)
Teva Original Universal Sandals – Men’s $44.73 (was $60.00)
Craftsman folding retractable utility knife (3-blade) $5.98 (was $10.98, 46% off)
Teva Hurricane XLT2 Sandals – Men’s $23.83–$80.00
Craftsman 16-oz ball peen hammer $19.98 (was $24.98, 20% off)
Teva Langdon Sandals – Men’s $66.73 (was $90.00)
Craftsman 48-in aluminum box beam level (3-vial) $27.98 (was $39.98, 30% off)

Reef Montauk Slides – Men’s $46.83 (was $95.00)

Garage and workshop setup

Smartwool Hudson Trail Slippers – Men’s $55.73 (was $75.00)

Craftsman 2000 Series 32-in freestanding steel garage cabinet (red) $259.00 (was $349.00, 26% off)
Sanuk Hangout Lite Shoes – Men’s $39.73 (was $60.00)

Craftsman 2000 Series 28-in wall-mounted steel garage cabinet (red) $129.00 (was $179.00, 28% off)

Women’s footwear deals

Craftsman Premium 2000 Series 52-in 8-drawer rolling tool cabinet (black) $579.00 (was $724.00, 20% off)

Road-running shoes and daily trainers

Craftsman Premium 2000 Series 40.5-in 6-drawer tool chest (black) $369.00 (was $469.00, 21% off)

HOKA Clifton 10 Road-Running Shoes – Women’s $124.93–$155.00
Craftsman V-Series 41-in 11-drawer rolling tool cabinet (black) $1,199.00 (was $1,399.00, 14% off)
HOKA Mach 6 Road-Running Shoes – Women’s $112.93 (was $140.00)
Craftsman V-Series 41-in 8-drawer tool chest (E-Coat black) $849.00 (was $999.00, 15% off)
Brooks Glycerin 22 Road-Running Shoes – Women’s $125.83–$125.93 (was $165.00)
Craftsman 52-in rolling work bench w/ butcher block top (7 drawers) $349.00 (was $549.01, 36% off)
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 Road-Running Shoes – Women’s $100.83–$120.93 (was $140.00)
Craftsman 63-in rolling work bench w/ butcher block top (9 drawers) $649.00 (was $999.00, 35% off)
Brooks Ghost Max 2 Road-Running Shoes – Women’s $100.83–$120.93 (was $150.00)
Craftsman 37-in rolling work bench (4 drawers) $249.00 (was $399.15, 38% off)
Brooks Glycerin GTS 22 Road-Running Shoes – Women’s $125.93 (was $165.00)
Craftsman VersaTrack 20-piece 48-in storage rail system $84.98 (was $100.00, 15% off)
Saucony Tempus Road-Running Shoes – Women’s $79.73 (was $160.00)
Craftsman Garage Storage System 2000 Series (bundle) $1,046.00 (was $1,286.00, 19% off)
Saucony Guide 18 Road-Running Shoes – Women’s $120.73 (was $150.00)
Craftsman Garage Storage Organization System (bundle) $2,313.89 (was $2,673.89, 13% off)
Saucony Endorphin Trainer Road-Running Shoes – Women’s $149.73 (was $200.00)
Craftsman S2000 26-in open till tool storage collection (bundle) $558.00 (was $598.00, 7% off)
Topo Athletic Ultrafly 5 Road-Running Shoes – Women’s $108.73 (was $145.00)
Craftsman 13-in plastic toolbox (red/black) $11.87

Hiking shoes, trail runners, and waterproof options

Big-shop basics: saws, sanders, vacs, and more

Merrell Moab 3 Hiking Shoes – Women’s $89.73–$104.73 (was $120.00–$140.00)
Craftsman 10-in jobsite table saw w/ folding stand $249.00 (was $279.00, 11% off)
Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots – Women’s $134.73 (was $180.00)
Craftsman 4-in x 36-in benchtop belt sander (5A) $149.00
Merrell Morphlite Trail-Running Shoes – Women’s $74.73–$81.73 (was $100.00–$110.00)
Craftsman 10A 6.3-in benchtop jointer $349.00
HOKA Speedgoat 6 Trail-Running Shoes – Women’s $76.83–$124.93 (was $155.00)
Craftsman 5-gallon 4HP wet/dry shop vacuum (with accessories) $59.98 (was $69.98, 14% off)
HOKA Speedgoat 6 GTX Trail-Running Shoes – Women’s $136.93–$170.00
Craftsman small dry shop-vac filter bags (3-pack) $9.98 (was $14.98, 33% off)
Salomon X Ultra 5 GORE-TEX Low Hiking Shoes – Women’s $126.93–$175.00
Craftsman 3A corded oscillating multi-tool kit (10-piece) w/ case $89.00 (was $109.00, 18% off)

Salomon Speedcross 6 GORE-TEX Trail-Running Shoes – Women’s $123.93–$170.00

Tankless water heaters

Vasque Re:connect Now GTX Hiking Shoes – Women’s $109.73

Craftsman 24kW tankless electric water heater (240V, 4.8 GPM) $299.99 (was $549.99, 45% off)
adidas Terrex Skychaser GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes – Women’s $79.83–$111.93
Craftsman 18kW Pro-Plus multi-application tankless electric water heater $249.99 (was $439.99, 43% off)
Columbia Newton Peak Waterproof Hiking Boots – Women’s $69.93
Craftsman 29kW tankless electric water heater (240V, 5.7 GPM) $349.99 (was $604.99, 42% off)

The post Lowe’s is blowing out this Craftsman cordless string trimmer with battery and charger for just $29 while they last appeared first on Popular Science.

Forgotten, priceless medieval book found in school library

Stan Horaczek — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:52:03 -0500

For generations, a misidentified medieval manuscript was hidden in a 474-year-old English boarding school’s library. After a careful new analysis, a medieval literature researcher can confirm the manuscript is actually the oldest and only known edition of Richard Rolle’s The Emending of Life (Emendatio vitae) written in its original Latin.

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Who is Richard Rolle?

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Most people today may not be familiar with Richard Rolle, but he was almost certainly the Late Medieval Era’s most widely read author. One of a handful of writers known as the Middle English Mystics, Rolle was born sometime around 1300 CE in Yorkshire, England, and spent the majority of his adult life as a hermit until his death in 1349, possibly due to the Black Death.

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To give a sense of Rolle’s popularity: over 650 surviving manuscripts contain his writings today. Compare that to around 144 similar archival pieces from Chaucer. His last work in English, The Form of Living, was his most popular at the time, but The Emending of Life would eventually become far more influential. Written in Latin, it was his most circulated book and detailed 12 stages of spiritual life. Think of it as a self-help book for the medieval reader.

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“Medieval people struggled with distractions as we do today. They were trying to still their wandering minds,” Timothy Glover, a historian at the University of Bergen in Norway said in a recent profile. “Rolle offered practical strategies to help, and some people treated him like a saint for it.”

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The opening page of a chapter on prayer in Richard Rolle’s Emendatio vitae. Credit: University of Cambridge

KEEN Howser II Shoes – Women’s $81.73 (was $110.00)

The misidentification of ‘MS 25’

KEEN Howser III Slide Shoes – Women’s $74.73

Knowing there was likely more to learn about “Richard the hermit” (as he was known), Glover traveled to Shropshire, England, to visit the medieval archives at Shrewsbury School, a private educational institution founded in 1552.

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“As a hermit, Rolle probably didn’t have a regular access to an institutional library and he rarely tells us what he’s been reading. To try to find out, I went looking for early copies of his work,” he explained.

Code word: melliphono

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According to the historian, the “smoking gun” is a single word: melliphono. Or, more accurately, a single, completely made-up word. It’s also one that appeared in multiple of Rolle’s works and nowhere else at the time.

REI sale picks across sneakers, hiking gear, and clothing

The post REI is blowing out sneakers, hiking boots, and casual shoes during its winter clearance sale appeared first on Popular Science.

550-pound Ice Age kangaroos could still hop

Andrew Paul — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:30:00 -0500

Kangaroos have likely been hopping across the planet for much longer than experts previously believed. Not only that, but the ancestors of today’s marsupials landed their leaps while growing much larger than their descendents.

“Melliphono is a very Rolle word,” said Glover. “He’s all about this idea of spiritual song and experience of angelic heavenly music being the highest experience of God. He had an enormous Latin vocabulary and creatively deployed a huge range of very specific terms for music to explain his ultimate experience of God.”

For thousands of years, the planet’s largest hopping animal has remained Australia’s red kangaroo (Osphranter rufus). A male “Big Red” easily reaches over five feet tall, weighs 200 pounds, and travels around 37 mph at a pace of up to six feet per leap. But as big as they are today, their evolutionary relatives were even heftier. During the Ice Age around 45,000 years ago, giant kangaroos in the Sthenurinae subfamily often grew over double the size of present-day marsupials. Paleontologists estimate the largest, Procoptodon goliah, stood 6.5 feet tall and weighed upwards of 550 pounds.

While more people will likely soon race to examine the major historical discovery, for now the unique copy has only been reread by a single individual.

It’s easy to assume P. goliah and other giant kangaroos lost their ability to hop as a result of all that bulk. After all, scaling up the anatomy of a Big Red suggests the physical act becomes mechanically impossible above 330 pounds. But according to University of Manchester evolutionary scientist Megan Jones, that has been the problem.

“I’m the only person since the Middle Ages to have read this knowing that it’s Rolle’s original,” said Glover. “It’s such an important manuscript and it offers a direct connection with an author who deserves far greater recognition.”

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It’s not in your head. Fear drives decision making.

Andrew Paul — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:52:00 -0500

We’re all guilty of putting off that big decision because our brains can’t stop focusing on potential negative outcomes. Dread shapes our decision making and new research published in the journal Cognitive Science explores why spinning those negative scenarios affects us more than the possible positive outcomes.

Scientists analyzed ancient kangaroo bones to see if their anatomy could support hopping. Credit: Megan Jones / UCMP

The team from the University of Bath in England and the University of Waterloo in Canada analyzed data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS). This long-scale survey of roughly 10,000 households in the United Kingdom measures several economic, social, and psychological variables. The team looked at roughly 14,000 individuals between 1991 and 2024, tracking emotional responses to real-world economic choices including investing, changing jobs, or making health decisions.

“Previous estimates were based on simply scaling up modern kangaroos, which may mean we miss crucial anatomical differences,” Jones said in a statement. “Our findings show that these animals weren’t just larger versions of today’s kangaroos, they were built differently, in ways that helped them manage their enormous size.”

They found that this emotional imbalance of focusing more on the potential bad outcomes than the good ones plays a central role in shaping economic behavior. Survey participants who experience stronger negative than positive anticipatory emotions are significantly more likely to avoid risk. They found that the emotional impact of dread is more than six times stronger than the potential happiness they would feel from anticipating equivalent gains. Dread also makes people less likely to wait for delayed positive outcomes like a return on investment, even when that patience may lead to greater rewards.

In a study published today in the journal Scientific Reports, Jones and colleagues lay out the case for a new look at the giant ‘roos of the Ice Age. Their conclusions come from comparing present-day kangaroo skeletal anatomy with the fossils of their marsupial cousins. The team specifically focused on two primary limitations for hopping: foot bone strength and how an ankle could support strong enough tendons to facilitate locomotion.

“Put simply, the emotional pain from anticipating a £10 (about $13) loss is far stronger than savoring the thought of a £10 gain,” Chris Dawson, a study co-author at the University of Bath who researches economics and decision making, said in a statement. “This imbalance shapes how much risk people are willing to take and how long they are prepared to wait, potentially influencing decisions across everyday life, from money and careers to health and wellbeing.”

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Unlike today’s kangaroos, the Sthenurinae megafauna possessed thicker, shorter foot bones and broader heels. This combination likely allowed them to handle the intense downward force of hopping with the help of powerful tendons. At the same time, giant kangaroos almost certainly weren’t constantly hopping across ancient Australian landscapes.

Additionally, the study confirms that when outcomes are experienced, the losses loom larger than gains. The emotional sting of a loss was roughly twice as strong as that of an equivalent gain. According to the team, this research advances a new psychological theory that links risk and time preferences. This could help explain why those who are more risk-averse also tend to be more impatient.

“Thicker tendons are safer, but they store less elastic energy,” said University of Bristol biologist and study co-author Katrina Jones. “This likely made giant kangaroos slower and less efficient hoppers, better suited to short bursts of movement rather than long-distance travel.”

“We see that risk avoidance and impatience are psychologically connected,” added study co-author and University of Waterloo psychologist Dr. Sam Johnson. “People try to avoid choices with possible negative outcomes and also prefer outcomes to be resolved sooner, in order to minimise the emotional burden they experience – the dread of anticipating bad news.”

Jones added that their intermittent hops weren’t simply impressive displays of talent. The giant kangaroos could use them to traverse difficult terrain more easily, or escape imminent danger from predators.

The team also found a lot of variation between individuals. Some experience these anticipatory emotions before making a decision far more vividly than others, helping to explain why attitudes about both risk and patience differ so widely. Notably, anticipatory dread’s effects remained significant even after personality traits, mental health, income, and education were accounted for.

It wasn’t all hopping or walking, either. Analysis of other Sthenurinae fossils suggest a variety of movement options for different giant kangaroo species. The study’s authors theorize some may have hopped for short distances, then walked on either two or all rfour legs as part of a wider “movement repertoire.”

The post 550-pound Ice Age kangaroos could still hop appeared first on Popular Science.

Adorable ferret-sized martens are rebounding in California

Laura Baisas — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:07:00 -0500

It’s understandable if you’ve never heard of the coastal marten. These secretive—but adorable—woodland carnivores nearly went extinct. Fortunately, these ferret-sized mammals are making a slow recovery in the forests of the Pacific Northwest.

The authors believe that the findings have implications for understanding financial decision making, long-term planning, health choices, and other real-world behaviors.

Coastal martens (Martes caurina humboldtensis or the Humboldt marten) are related to weasels, otters, mink, wolverines, and fetters. These rare mammals are smaller than the average house cat with adult males averaging about 20 to 24 inches long and weighing about 1.5 to three pounds. Martens are carnivores known to eat birds and their eggs, small mammals like chipmunks, berries, and nuts.

“The study helps to explain why people often postpone or avoid choices that are objectively beneficial in the long run,” said Dawson. “For example, individuals may delay or avoid medical screening if results take a long time to arrive. Even when screening reduces health risks, the dread of waiting for potentially bad news can discourage testing. Similarly, long waits in areas such as investment decisions can deter engagement simply by prolonging the emotional burden of uncertainty.”

The post It’s not in your head. Fear drives decision making. appeared first on Popular Science.

Eating less ultraprocessed food supports healthier aging, new research shows

Laura Baisas — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:16:16 -0500

This article was originally featured on The Conversation.

They once ranged all over parts of northern California, southern Oregon, and Washington State, but their population and range shrunk during the 20th century. The animals were valued for their fur and often trapped and skinned, while logging destroyed much of their habitat. They were almost considered extinct until a United States Forest Service biologist discovered a small population in the coastal woods of northern California in 1996. They are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and the small populations of martens that remain are at risk due to habitat loss, rodenticides, vehicles, and disease.

Older adults can dramatically reduce the amount of ultraprocessed foods they eat while keeping a familiar, balanced diet – and this shift leads to improvements across several key markers related to how the body regulates appetite and metabolism. That’s the main finding of a new study my colleagues and I published in the journal Clinical Nutrition.

Scientists from Oregon State University (OSU) recently spent three months documenting the marten population in northern California. To get a sense of the population there, they used non-invasive survey tools, including remote cameras and hair snares. These snares use tape and wire to safely sample hair from animals to collect DNA and other data. The team gathered their marten data via 285 hair snares (made from PVC pipe) and 135 cameras.

Ultraprocessed foods are made using industrial techniques and ingredients that aren’t typically used in home cooking. They often contain additives such as emulsifiers, flavorings, colors and preservatives. Common examples include packaged snacks, ready-to-eat meals and some processed meats. Studies have linked diets high in ultraprocessed foods to poorer health outcomes.

Camera footage showing a marten at the opening of one of the hair snares. Image: Oregon State University.

My team and I enrolled Americans ages 65 and older in our study, many of whom were overweight or had metabolic risk factors such as insulin resistance or high cholesterol. Participants followed two diets low in ultraprocessed foods for eight weeks each. One included lean red meat (pork); the other was vegetarian with milk and eggs. For two weeks in between, participants returned to their usual diets.

The genetic analysis of the hair identified 46 different martens (18 females and 28 males) living in Klamath, California. At higher elevations, the biggest groups of martens were observed along forested ridgetops with consistent snowpack in the winter. At lower elevations, they were spotted in ravines and wetlands in coastal forests.

A total of 43 people began the dietary intervention, and 36 completed the full study.

The team’s findings are detailed in a study recently published in the journal Global Ecology and Conservation. Understanding where these carnivores are living is crucial for informing conservation and land management decisions.

In both diets, ultraprocessed foods made up less than 15% of the total calories – a significant reduction from the typical American diet, where more than 50% of total calories comes from ultraprocessed foods. The diets were designed to be realistic for everyday eating, and participants were not instructed to restrict calories, lose weight or change their physical activity.

“Martens tend to select forest stands with greater than 50% canopy cover and lots of large-diameter trees, snags and hollow logs,” Erika Anderson, the study’s lead author and OSU faculty research assistant, said in a statement. “Structural complexity with coarse woody debris helps them hunt and also provides cover from predators and competitors. But despite continued conservation concern over the last 30 years, we have a lot to learn about marten distribution and demography and how forest conditions influence their distribution and density.”

We prepared, portioned and provided all meals and snacks for the study. Both diets emphasized minimally processed ingredients and aligned with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the U.S. government’s nutrient-based recommendations for healthy eating, while providing similar calories and amounts of key nutrients.

The study included organizations from Oregon, California, and Wisconsin and took place on ancestral lands of the Yurok and Karuk Tribes. One-third of the study area is owned by the Yurok Tribe, and that land was previously owned and managed for commercial logging. The Yurok Tribe now manages the land for some timber harvesting, plant and wildlife habitat restoration, and cultural resource conservation.

The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released on Jan. 7, 2026, explicitly recommend eating less ultraprocessed food, but the previous versions of the guidelines did not specifically address food processing. Our feeding study design allowed us, for the first time, to examine the health effects of reducing ultraprocessed foods while keeping nutrient levels consistent with recommended targets.

“Coastal martens like forests with old-growth characteristics and those types of forests are being threatened by the effects of climate change, including more frequent and severe wildfire, and certain forest management practices,” added study co-author and OSU wildlife ecologist Sean Matthews. “Beyond that, there’s a lot we don’t know about this species, including information as basic as what forests do coastal martens still occupy, how many martens are there, and are these populations increasing.”

We compared how participants fared while eating their habitual diets with how they responded to the two diets that were low in ultraprocessed foods. During the periods when participants ate fewer ultraprocessed foods, they naturally consumed fewer calories and lost weight, including total and abdominal body fat. Beyond weight loss, they also showed meaningful improvements in insulin sensitivity, healthier cholesterol levels, fewer signs of inflammation and favorable changes in hormones that help regulate appetite and metabolism.

Matthews also describes coastal martens as “among the most adorable animals that call our Pacific Northwest forests home.”

The post Adorable ferret-sized martens are rebounding in California appeared first on Popular Science.

Penis size may matter more to men than women

Andrew Paul — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:00:00 -0500

Human history is full of juvenile jokes, odd stereotypes, and outright harmful misinformation about the size of a man’s penis. But the long and short of the real science behind size suggests that men themselves are more likely than women to get riled up about the subject. According to a study published today in the journal PLOS Biology, men routinely feel more physically and sexually threatened by well-endowed rivals—regardless of how women feel about the subjects.

These improvements were similar whether participants followed the meat-based or the vegetarian diet.

For years, evolutionary biologists have remained confused by one peculiar aspect of human anatomy. In relation to overall body size, the human penis is usually larger than those belonging to most other primates. The reasons why have remained unclear, although there are plenty of theories related to attracting mates, warding off opponents, and even improving reproductive success.

Why it matters

Examples of the computer-generated, male figures used in the study. Credit: Aich U, et al., 2025, PLOS Biology, CC-BY 4.0

Ultraprocessed foods make up more than half the calories consumed by most U.S. adults. Although these foods are convenient and widely available, studies that track people’s diets over time increasingly link them with obesity and age-related chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. With older adults making up a growing share of the global population, strategies that preserve metabolic health could support healthy aging.

To better understand the psychological influences on humanity’s sexual history, researchers at the University of Western Australia asked over 600 men and 200 women to review computer-generated male bodies with varying shapes, heights, and penis sizes. The men then assessed each example based on how physically and sexually intimidated they felt by them. Meanwhile, the women rated each figure’s hypothetical sexual attractiveness. Each participant either saw a life-sized image or a scaled-to-size alternative.

Most previous feeding studies testing how ultraprocessed foods affect people’s health haven’t reflected real-world eating, especially among Americans. For example, some studies have compared diets made up almost entirely of ultraprocessed foods with diets that contain little to none at all.

Women most often ranked male bodies more attractive when they exhibited a higher shoulder-to-hip ratio (i.e. a V-shape) and a larger penis. That said, these attributes had their limits. There came a point when overall body and penis sizes offered diminishing returns.

Our study aimed to more closely approximate people’s experience while still closely tracking the foods they consumed. It is the first to show that for older adults a realistic reduction in ultraprocessed foods, outside the lab, has measurable health benefits beyond just losing weight. For older adults especially, maintaining metabolic health helps preserve mobility, independence and quality of life.

Men, if you can believe it, were often a bit more sensitive about possible rivals. Unlike the study’s other volunteers, men consistently rated their same-sex opponents more intimidating as both body and penis sizes increased—with no cap on measurements. At the same time, they also viewed men with larger attributes as a greater sexual threat. Compared with the women’s responses, it appears many men really do believe size matters more than it often does.

What’s still unknown

The team says that their work offers the first experimental evidence of its kind that men assess penis size to judge an opponent’s fighting and sexual prowess. The overlapping responses from both sexes also suggest that increased human penis size is an evolutionary adjustment to attract mates.

Our study was small, reflecting the complexity of studies in which researchers tightly control what participants eat. It was not designed to show whether the metabolic improvements we observed can prevent or delay diseases such as diabetes or heart disease over time. Larger, longer studies will be needed to answer that.

“While the human penis functions primarily to transfer sperm, our result suggests its unusually large size evolved as a sexual ornament to attract females rather than purely as a badge of status to scare males,” Michael Jennions, a study co-author and University of Western Australia evolutionary biologist, said in a statement. “Although it does both,” he added.

The post Penis size may matter more to men than women appeared first on Popular Science.

Sony embraces analog and aesthetic with new turntables

Moul Dey / The Conversation — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Friction may play an integral role in how a turntable plays a record, but removing little frictions is definitely a great way to get the vinyl curious (or even returning enthusiasts) interested in playing more than one record. Sony seems to understand this, which is why the new PS-LX3BT and PS-LX5BT turntables are built to be simple and intuitive. No fussy setup, no nervous cueing, no wondering if you need a preamp. Just pulling a record from the sleeve and honoring the analog ceremony of stylus meeting groove.

On the practical side, it’s still unclear whether people can cut back on ultraprocessed foods in their daily lives without structured support, and what strategies would make it easier to do so. It’s also not fully understood which aspects of processing – for example, additives, emulsifiers or extrusion – matter more for health.

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Answering these questions could help manufacturers produce foods that are healthier but still convenient – and make it easier for people to choose healthier food options.

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The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.

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The post Eating less ultraprocessed food supports healthier aging, new research shows appeared first on Popular Science.

Tired? You may have social jetlag.

Julia Daye — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:01:00 -0500

Hours before sunrise, society’s earliest larks begin their day. Tales of Apple’s Tim Cook attending to his email at 3:45 a.m., novelist Barbara Kingsolver writing furiously at 4 a.m., and Michelle Obama starting her gym workout at 4:30 a.m. headline the early bird media fanfare. Early risers are the most celebrated in America’s optimization-obsessed culture that has decided the key to success is being up far before the sun.

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But there’s a lot these “aspirational” narratives leave out, like the fact that pre-dawn wake-ups only work if you’re wired for early rising—they can be downright unhealthy if you’re not.

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What is your chronotype?

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Sleep and wake-up schedules are based on something called chronotype. Your chronotype is your biological inclination to fall asleep and wake up at certain times. And everyone has a different one: there are larks (early to bed, early to rise), doves (in the middle, this is most people), and owls (late to bed, late to rise).

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Chronotype is not only a blueprint for when you’ll get good sleep, but also for what time your brain works best, and the most appropriate times to eat meals. According to experts, schedules are far from one-size fits all. When we regularly go against our body clock, we end up with a condition called social jetlag.

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Social jetlag is the difference in sleep times between work/school days and free days. Coined in 2006 by Professor of Chronobiology Dr. Till Roenneberg at Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, the term points to the idea of being between two time zones: that of your body clock and that of society’s clock.

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Social jetlag can arise from continually needing to wake up for work before your body is ready or from staying out too late because your friends are all late-night barflies. The consequences of social jetlag exceed just needing a cup of coffee. According to research, people with chronic social jetlag can suffer from a roster of health problems.

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“[For] practically every pathology or health deficit that we look at, the more social jetlag you have, the higher your probability of developing it,” Roenneberg tells Popular Science.

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Your biology determines your ideal wake/sleep schedule

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Modern society is organized for early chronotypes, a subset of the population that only accounts for approximately 15 percent of people. For the rest of us (doves at 70 percent and owls at 15 percent), our alarm clocks go off in the middle of our biological night. Roenneberg describes this disparity as “biological discrimination.” He says late types have a significant disadvantage at school when they are young.

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“The late types are not as good in high school and college as they are later when they can choose their own work times,” he says. And even if night owl students are able to function before their biological morning has even begun, they’re still at an academic disadvantage. They are cheated out of the essential part of their sleep in which their brains consolidate what they learned the day before.

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Morning entrance exams for universities and medical schools also skew in favor of early types. And while larks excel in the morning hours, they too are negatively affected by traditional work hours, only later in the day. According to Roenneberg, research has shown that productivity and effectiveness can take a nosedive for early types in the afternoon.

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“We have all these early type doctors who actually make a lot of mistakes when it gets to the afternoon,” he says, referencing a 2018 study that examined surgery mortality rates and time of day.

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In addition to impacting sleep and alertness, living against your body clock can also cause you to do things at the wrong times. Mealtimes are a good example of this. If you’re an owl or a dove waking up at 5 a.m. for work, then having breakfast at 6 a.m., you’re eating a meal in the middle of your biological night, which can have a deleterious effect on your metabolism.

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This perpetual misalignment makes people with social jetlag more likely to become obese, as well as smoke and drink alcohol. Late chronotypes are dealt the most difficult hand in this way. “For very late types, the chances of developing type two diabetes are higher if they work in a nine-to-five job than if they do a night shift,” Roenneberg says.

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Experts recommend eating when you’re hungry, and not just because it’s “mealtime.” Like for sleep, your body will tell you when it’s time. For late types often forced to run around hours before their cells are awake, it’s okay to skip the lark’s early breakfast time and stash something in your bag for later when hunger strikes.

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In an ideal world, all of us would schedule our lives around our chronotype. We wouldn’t use alarm clocks. Instead, we’d wake up with our body and go to work at a time when it’s healthiest to do so. Chronobiologists say the entire social schedule should be re-examined. Until then, however, there are things you can do to slightly adjust your chronotype.

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“Light is the most important factor for setting the brain clock,” Roenneberg says. Natural light, to be specific. The human world has disrupted this signal with all the time we spend indoors and our ability to turn on artificial light whenever we want; not to mention our use of screens that emit blue light at all hours. Artificial light’s suppression of melatonin, at night or in the morning, makes early types earlier and late types later.

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To remedy this, Roenneberg recommends spending time outside. “Get as much light as possible during the day and use as little light—especially blue light—as possible after sunset.” For all types, adhering to the natural light and darkness cycle can help sync your body clock to the sun and reduce your social jetlag.

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In Ask Us Anything, Popular Science answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions, from the everyday things you’ve always wondered to the bizarre things you never thought to ask. Have something you’ve always wanted to know? Ask us.

The post Tired? You may have social jetlag. appeared first on Popular Science.

REI is blowing out sneakers, hiking boots, and casual shoes during its winter clearance sale

Tony Ware — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 17:56:29 -0500

Whether you’re in the market for a new pair of hiking boots, some upgraded running sneakers, or even a comfortable pair of casual shoes, REI has them on clearance right now. This year-end sale has dropped prices pretty much across the board on some of the most familiar outdoor and fitness brands.

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Editor’s Picks

Merrell SpeedARC Surge BOA Hiking Shoes (Men’s) $144.83–$202.93 (was $290.00)

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Sony

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The PS-LX3BT is where the journey begins. This is a Gen Z-friendly “just push play” deck, with one-button full-auto playback, a built-in phono equalizer, and an attached RCA cable so you can be listening as soon as your speakers turn on. Or, with Bluetooth built in (SBC, and aptX Adaptive with compatible devices), just skip the cord. Stream to some new earbuds instead. No shopping for one more box. Low drama, high payoff. A USB output with three-level gain control even lets you digitize your crate-digging easily. Under the clear dust cover (perfect for admiring a colored collectible), you’ll find an integrated cartridge, aluminum platter, and support for 33 1/3 and 45 RPMs (so those 7″ singles will play just as well as the 12″ LPs). Pre-sale starts today at $399.99.

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The PS-LX5BT (below) is the upgrade, there to welcome back vinyl lovers with the same conveniences, plus a more rigid one-piece body, a step-up cartridge on an aluminum tonearm, a rubber mat, and circuit refinements that suppress vibration to preserve purity. It’s still automatic, but intended to deliver a richer, wider presentation. There’s the same wireless flexibility, augmented by a higher-grade wired signal path that you can further refine thanks to the removable cable and gold-plated audio jack. And USB output is still on deck, along with that same speed support in an equally clean, minimalist silhouette. It’s not about more features; it’s about more composure. When you get to that track, you’ll stop folding laundry and admire the gatefold. Pre-sale arrives this spring for $499.99 USD.

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James Webb Space Telescope solves a comet crystal mystery

Andrew Paul — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:45:00 -0500

Some of the solar system’s most distant comets can be very confusing. Many contain crystalline silicates that only form after exposure to high heat, which doesn’t make a lot of sense to astronomers. These comets spend most of their time inside the extremely cold Oort cloud and Kuiper Belt, at temperatures averaging -450 degrees Fahrenheit. So why the heat-related silicates?

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After years of speculation, scientists finally believe they have figured out the crystal conundrum thanks to new imaging from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Their explanation, detailed in a paper published this week in the journal Nature, indicates the answer resides near a distant, young star about the same size as our sun.

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EC 53 is only one of thousands of protostars forming inside the Serpens Nebula about 1,300 light-years from Earth. Like its many siblings, EC 53 is encased by extremely hot dust and gas—exactly the type of environment capable of forging crystalline silicates. It’s also temperamental. After around 18 months of relative calm, the protostar starts a roughly 100-day feeding frenzy in which it inhales the surrounding dust clouds. Meanwhile, outflow jets purge some of this material out to the edges of its protoplanetary disk.

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After aiming the JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) towards the protostar, astronomers identified and mapped the locations of certain materials during EC 53’s active and dormant cycles. They soon noticed crystalline silicates like forsterite and enstatite don’t remain near their stellar birthplace. Jeong-Eun Lee, a study co-author and astronomer at South Korea’s Seoul National University, now believes EC 53 and similar protostars toss their newly created silicates into deep space during these meal times.

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This illustration represents half the disk of gas and dust surrounding the protostar EC 53. Stellar outbursts periodically form crystalline silicates, which are launched up and out to the edges of the system, where comets and other icy rocky bodies may eventually form. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Elizabeth Wheatley (STScI)

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“EC 53’s layered outflows may lift up these newly formed crystalline silicates and transfer them outward, like they’re on a cosmic highway,” explained Lee. “Webb not only showed us exactly which types of silicates are in the dust near the star, but also where they are both before and during a burst.”

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Doug Johnstone, a study co-author and principal research officer at Canada’s National Research Council added, “Even as a scientist, it is amazing to me that we can find specific silicates in space, including forsterite and enstatite near EC 53.These are common minerals on Earth. The main ingredient of our planet is silicate.”

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While EC 53 has been growing for millions of years, the protostar is far from finished. Lee, Johnstone, and their colleagues estimate the protostar may remain surrounded by its dust cloud for another 100,000 years. During all that time, miniscule rocks and debris should continue to to collide and merge into the building blocks of future gas and terrestrial planets. In the end, a new star system similar to the one orbiting the sun will emerge from EC 53—and its ejected silicates may very well be on their way towards their own comets.

The post James Webb Space Telescope solves a comet crystal mystery appeared first on Popular Science.

This robot hand can detach from its arm and crawl around

Mack DeGeurin — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:27:00 -0500

Engineers in Switzerland recently created a detachable, spider-like robot hand capable of grabbing multiple objects and using its fingers to crawl. The unsettling device, reminiscent of a threatening video game creature, can separate itself from a mounted robot arm, tip-toe (or really, tip-finger) its way toward small objects, pick them up, and carry them on its back.

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The symmetrical design and flexible fingers mean that the robot can transport objects on either side of its body. For humans, that would look like holding a ball in your palm while simultaneously grasping a piece of fruit on the back of your hand. But the robot hand’s designers say this bizarre form factor is more than just the product of a creepy fever dream: it’s an example of a design that’s more efficient than the human hand, unburdened by natural selection’s pesky constraints.

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The researchers from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology detailed their findings this week in Nature Communications at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne.

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“Evolution is a slow process, whose path is influenced by a variety of developmental and environmental constraints,” the team writes. “It does not explore all that could be possible.”

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The accompanying video shows the robot hand, still attached to its arm mount, picking up a mustard bottle before flipping over and grabbing a can of potato chips using the opposite side of its palm. In another example, it easily lifts a tomato with two fingers while holding a second object between fingers on its far side. The hand then detaches from the arm and scurries forward towards a bannana, flips it upward and secures it on its backside using a single finger.

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Mixing human dexterity with an Octopus’ multimodal movement

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According to the team, the robot hand’s fully symmetrical design allows its five fingers and dual thumbs to move with as much flexibility backward as they do forward. That adaptability means it can simultaneously hold up to three different objects, with a combined weight of around five pounds. All that added range of motion gives it the ability to replicate 33 different types of human grasping motions.

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”Despite its remarkable capabilities, the human hand’s asymmetrical shape and single opposable thumb, as well as inherent attachment to the human arm, limit its functionality,” the researchers write.

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Though the design is meant to address the biological limitations of the human hand, it also takes some inspiration from nonhuman animals. Specifically, the researchers point to octopuses and certain insects that use their finger-like limbs to move around and manipulate objects in their environments at the same time. Octopuses, in particular, are capable of opening jars faster than some humans.

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There’s also precedent for this kind of dexterity in robotics. Spot, Boston Dynamics’ dog-like quadruped developed, uses its four limbs to walk, but it can also use an additional claw-like appendage to pick up objects and open doors.

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Robot hands are becoming more human

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More fingers aren’t always better

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To build their robot hand, the engineers began by creating a digital library of human hand grasp postures. They then used a computer algorithm to determine the optimal level of movement and number of fingers to solve both for grabbing and moving.

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Interestingly, more fingers aren’t always better. Each additional finger adds mass, increasing the chances that fingers will collide, and making overall movement more clumsy. Researchers found that increasing the finger count from three to five improved the hand’s crawling efficiency, but adding more beyond that resulted in diminishing returns.

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This approach to robot design runs counter to the growing trend in humanoid robots. Major tech companies in the emerging robotics space—including Figure and Tesla—are investing heavily to create hands that instinctively mimic human design. The underlying idea is that designing robots to function like humans allows them to perform tasks humans already do, without needing any additional specialized equipment.

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The hand crawler takes a different approach. While it’s not yet clear whether this design will be implemented in other robots, one can imagine a humanoid using a hand crawler to perform factory work, then deploying the removable hand to reach distant objects or rummage through narrow, cluttered spaces.

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Of course, if all else fails it could also always be used as an incredibly over-engineered prop on a horror film set.

The post This robot hand can detach from its arm and crawl around appeared first on Popular Science.

Snow isn’t actually white

Laura Kiniry — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:02:00 -0500

When someone says “as white as snow,” it’s easy to envision what they’re talking about. We often think of snow as a dazzling white, the same way we immediately conjure up a color when someone says “blood red” or “ocean blue.”

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But here’s the thing: snow isn’t actually white. It’s just tiny ice crystals, afterall, and ice, like water, looks clear to the naked eye. So why, then, does snow appear white? We talked to a couple of experts to find out: Their answers might surprise you.

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What is snow?

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Before determining why a fresh blanket of snow looks white, it helps to know what snow is.

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“Snow is just simply ice,” Jonathan Belles, a senior digital meteorologist for The Weather Channel app and Weather.com, tells Popular Science. All rain starts off as snow, he says, but often melts as it descends through warmer pockets of air before hitting the Earth. Even those warm summer showers in July begin as snow.

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In order for snow to actually fall to Earth, it must remain frozen as it falls through different temperature layers above the ground. In other words, it needs to be cold all the way from the clouds to the ground.

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How do snowflakes form?

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The reason snow appears white has to do with those beautiful natural artworks we call snowflakes. When it snows, “there’s a lot of traffic on the way down,” says Belles. The air, he explains, is riddled with tiny particles like dust, soot, and pollen. For a snowflake to form, a freezing water droplet attaches itself to one of those floating dust, soot, or pollen particles.

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As that ice particle falls, more and more minuscule bits of water vapor freezes to it. Due to the way water molecules bond together when they freeze, a tiny hexagonal form begins to appear. And eventually, you end up with a beautiful six-sided shape we call a snowflake.

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While each snowflake is unique, they all have exactly six points due to the way water molecules freeze. Image: DepositPhotos

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Due to their intricate crystal form, snowflakes reflect light almost like a mirror, and this causes snow to look white. But how exactly does that work?

Why does snow appear white?

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Mark Serreze, the Director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, tells Popular Science that to understand why snow looks white, we have to look to the sun.

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Sunlight “emits all colors of the visible spectrum: red, orange, yellow, blue, green, indigo, and violet.” When these colors hit snow, each multi-sided ice crystal, or snowflake, scatters the colors like a tiny prism. All those colors shine equally in all directions, and our eyes, in turn, perceive all those colors colliding as white.

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But why then does ice and snow look distinct, one clear and one white? “The difference between ice cubes and snowflakes is how light reacts with them,” says Belles.

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“Sometimes with an ice cube, the light will be able to go straight through it. But with snow we’ve got this kind of broken mirror effect, with light bouncing off of all of those jagged edges.”

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Snow can be other colors, too

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Despite its immaculate reputation, snow isn’t always white.

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“Most of the time, snow does look white,” says Belles. “But things like sand grains might turn snow a little more golden brown, or snow might gain a red hue when there’s rust, or even bacteria or algae” in the air or on the ground.

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Take what’s known as “watermelon snow” (a.k.a. pink snow, blood snow, or red snow). These patches of red-hued snow are the result of Chlamydomonas nivalis, a type of cold-loving green algae that thrives in freezing water. The red color comes from a bright red carotenoid pigment that acts like a sunscreen, protecting the algae’s green chlorophyll from harmful UV rays and making snow appear pinkish to reddish. It’s a phenomenon that’s common in high-altitude, snowy areas, such as California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, the French and Italian Alps, and Asia’s Himalayas.

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Watermelon snow, also known as pink snow, blood snow, or red snow, is commonly found in high altitudes. This shot of pink snow was taken along Beartooth Highway (US-212) in Montana. Image: DepositPhotos

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In Antarctica, penguin droppings (guano) often stain snow pink due to pigments from the foods they eat, most notably krill.

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Then there’s the bluish tint of glaciers, often seen in places like Iceland and Alaska. This coloring occurs because deep, compact ice absorbs light’s longer wavelengths—like reds and yellows—and scatters shorter blue wavelengths back toward our eyes.

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What is albedo?

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Albedo is the measure of how much sunlight a surface reflects. While zero albedo means a surface has no reflection at all (freshly paved asphalt has almost zero albedo), one albedo (100 percent reflection) stands for a perfectly white surface.

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“A grass lawn might have an albedo of 0.20,” says Serreze, with tiny molecules called chlorophyll absorbing the red and blue lights that grass needs for photosynthesis, but reflecting green light since grass doesn’t use it in photosynthesis.

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“Very fresh snow can be 0.85 [albedo], or even a little higher, meaning it’s very reflective. However, if you start putting particulates on the snow, like soot or smoke, its reflectivity drops.”

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When snow is full of added particulates, it also absorbs more energy. This causes the snow to melt faster, because darker colors absorb the sun’s rays rather than reflect them as white does. Quickly melting snow has a negative impact on the world’s water sources, causing water scarcity, which contributes to negative global warming trends.

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What are some other factors that affect the ways we see snow?

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Clouds can also often play a role in the way snow looks. “For instance,” says Serreze, “they can contribute to what we call a whiteout,” a severe and dangerous winter weather condition in which it’s nearly impossible to distinguish between snow and sky.

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Low-lying stratus clouds, the kind that cover the sky like a sheet, and a snow-covered surface will reflect light equally, completely messing with your depth perception. It’s often referred to as “flat light,” meaning it’s a diffused light that eliminates shadows, making everything appear uniform.

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There’s also what’s known as photokeratitis, or snow blindness. “Think of snowflakes as the tiny parts of a broken mirror stuck together. Shine a flashlight into those parts and you’re going to blind yourself. When the sun’s light hits all those individual snowflakes, it scatters that light straight back at you,” says Belles.

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Snow’s ability to reflect the sun’s UV light is why you can also get major sunburn when skiing or outside in the snow. Consider wearing sunglasses or wrap-around goggles when it snows to protect your eyes, and use plenty of sunscreen to guard against UV rays.

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And next time you look at a blanket of freshly fallen white snow, remember that what you’re really seeing is all of the colors of the rainbow. Those colors just appear to be pristine white.

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The post Snow isn’t actually white appeared first on Popular Science.

Snow monkeys love hot springs. They’re also good for them.

Laura Baisas — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:08:00 -0500

When the temperatures plunge and snow falls, it’s understandable to envy a snow monkey soaking in a steaming hot spring. Officially called Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), the primates are well known for taking advantage of the warm waters during snowy winters. While the hot water helps keep their bodies toasty in parts of Japan that can be covered with feet of snow for months at a time, there may be more to this unique behavior than meets the eye.

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“Hot spring bathing is one of the most unusual behaviors seen in nonhuman primates,” said Abdullah Langgeng, a Ph.D. student at Kyoto University.

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Unusual and also potentially beneficial. Bathing like this may influence the macaque’s parasites and gut microbes, according to a study Langgeng co-authored that was recently published in the journal Primates.

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Japanese macaques live on three of Japan’s four main islands (Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu) as well as the smaller islands of Awaji, Shodo, Yakushima, Kinkazan, and Kojim. Their northern limit is on the tip of Honshu Island. Over three feet of snow can cover parts of this area for several months out of the year and temperatures can reach as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit. The snow monkeys who live here are considered the world’s northernmost wild populations of all non-human primates.

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In the study, the team traveled to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in central Japan’s Nagano prefecture on Honshu Island. Over two winters, the scientists monitored a group of female macaques, comparing those that regularly bathed in the hot springs with the ones that did not. They also collected fecal samples to monitor the monkeys’ parasites and ran genetic sequencing on the organisms in their gut microbiome.

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Combining the observations and testing helped the team test whether or not bathing influences the macaque holobiont—a biological system made up of a host and all of the parasites and microbes associated with it.

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Japanese macaques, commonly referred to as snow monkeys,” take an open-air hot spring bath, at the Jigokudani (Hell’s Valley) Monkey Park in the town of Yamanouchi, Nagano prefecture on December 7, 2012. Some 160 of the monkeys inhabit the area and are a popular tourist draw. Image: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images.

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They found that bathing in hot springs subtly reshapes the snow monkeys’ relationships with their parasites and gut microbes. The macaques that bathe showed different lice distributions and gut bacteria. Soaking in the warm water may disrupt louse activity or egg placement within their fur.

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As for the gut microbes, the team observed similar subtle shifts. Overall microbiome diversity was similar between bathers and non-bathers. However, several types of bacteria were more abundant in the monkeys who did not bathe. Despite concerns that shared hot springs may increase exposure to intestinal parasites, the bathing macaques did not have higher parasite infection rates or intensities than those that stayed out of the water.

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According to the team, these results demonstrate how behavior can shape the parasites and microbes living on and inside an organism and are an important driver of animal health. It also underscores just how complex behavior-health links are in wild animals, suggesting that hot spring bathing influences some host-organism relationships, but not others.

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“Behavior is often treated as a response to the environment,” Langgeng added. “But our results show that this behavior doesn’t just affect thermoregulation or stress: it also alters how macaques interact with parasites and microbes that live on and inside them.”

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Showing that animal behavior can selectively shape what types of microorganisms are living on their fur or inside their guts can help researchers understand how actions that influence animal health evolved. It can also help us better interpret changes in the microbiome in social animals.

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While more research is needed, it also shows parallels to how human cultural practices such as bathing can affect microbial exposure. While clean water is essential for health, this work challenges the assumption that sharing water sources in natural conditions like hot springs increases disease risk.

The post Snow monkeys love hot springs. They’re also good for them. appeared first on Popular Science.

Do trees really explode in extreme cold?

Andrew Paul — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:03:14 -0500

The majority of the United States is bracing itself for a potentially historic polar vortex winter storm this weekend. The lower 48 states could experience average temperatures of 11 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit, while those in the North and Midwest will likely see that number drop to -25 degrees or lower. But aside from the bitter subzero temperatures, mountains of snow, and damaging ice, some news and social media posts are warning of a completely different kind of problem.

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“EXPLODING TREES are possible in the Midwest and Northern Plains on Friday and Saturday, as temperatures are forecasted to fall 20 degrees BELOW zero!” Max Velocity, a popular meteorology account, cautioned his over 262,000 Facebook followers on January 20.

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Another widely syndicated news article proclaimed,“Meteorologists warn that temperatures falling 20 degrees below zero could cause trees to split suddenly, posing risks to people, homes, vehicles, and power lines across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan.”

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Although the “exploding tree” phenomenon is a real thing, the underlying physics isn’t as worrisome as it sounds. But to understand this relatively common occurrence, it’s far more crucial (and potentially lifesaving) to know about the climate that causes trees to rupture.

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What is a polar vortex?

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The winter deluge set to inundate as many as 230 million people in the U.S. this weekend is only possible through a combination of both the polar vortex and the ongoing climate crisis. Although the vortex usually only makes headlines as it bears down on the country, it’s actually one of the two air formations constantly swirling above the planet’s polar regions.

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In the Northern Hemisphere, the polar vortex remains above the Arctic for most of the year, but occasionally stretches further south after interacting with an unusually warm upper atmosphere. Combine that with moisture from California and the Gulf of Mexico, and you get a mass of bitterly cold air, heavy snowfall, and life-threatening conditions.

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The opposite happens in the Southern Hemisphere, when the polar vortex around Antarctica creeps northward. However, the southern Antarctic polar vortex outbreaks do not typically reach as many populated areas as the northern Arctic polar vortex does.

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If it feels like polar vortex storms are occurring more often than in the past, you’re probably onto something. Multiple studies show a clear increase in linked weather events, many fueled by rapidly warming Arctic temperatures. That certainly seems to be the case right now.According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, Arctic sea ice is currently at an all-time low for this time of year.

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A polar vortex outbreak can quickly turn deadly once it arrives. Anyone without proper protection from the freezing temperatures could start to see the beginning stages of hypothermia within an hour of direct exposure. Downed power lines, automobile accidents, and delayed first responders only add to the dangers, while temperatures often remain below freezing long after the weather subsides.

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Can trees really explode?

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Although many people on the internet are warning about exploding trees, it’s not exactly worth the worry. That’s not to say they don’t happen. Naturalists have described similar experiences for centuries—but few (if any) cite their deadly consequences, and they’re definitely not as dramatic as they literally sound.

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“In the great frost in 1683, the trunks of oak, ash, walnut, and other trees, were miserably split and cleft, so that they might be seen through, and the cracks often attended with dreadful noises like the explosion of fire-arms,” wrote 18th-century Scottish botanist John Claudius Loudon in his Encyclopaedia of Gardening. “In the frost of 1837–8 large bushes of heath had their stems split by the frost into shreds, and the wood of the evergreen oak and that of the sweet bay was cracked and split in a similar manner.”

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Some Indigenous cultures are so familiar with the occurrences that they use them to mark their lunar calendar cycles. For example, the Lakota people of the Dakotas designate one winter period as Cannápopa Wi, the “Moon When Trees Crack From The Cold.”

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Trees explode—or, more accurately crack—similarly to how you lost a favorite water bottle after leaving it in the freezer for too long. Once temperatures dip below 32 degrees, the sap inside certain trees begins to solidify and expand. If it is particularly frigid, around -20 degrees or lower,the outside bark shrinks faster than the bark on the inside. Eventually, the stress wins out and causes the exterior to snap, producing a loud “bang” in the process.

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“This is most likely to happen on clear, calm nights, especially late night into early morning when temperatures fall quickly,” meteorologist Shawn Cable explained. “It can happen to a lot of different types of trees, but some common ones around here include maples, ash, apple or crabapple, poplar or cottonwood, and willow, along with younger trees that haven’t yet developed thicker bark.”

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The damage is occasionally harmful to the tree itself, but even then, it’s often able to continue growing once the spring thaw arrives. In any case, exploding trees aren’t something to avoid—but the polar vortex that can cause it certainly is.

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How to stay safe in extreme cold

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To prepare ahead of extreme cold, the National Weather Service recommends following updated forecasts and adjusting plans accordingly to avoid being stranded in the cold. If driving, also make sure that your car has at least a half a tank of gas so that you can stay warm if you become stranded and be sure your winter car kit is updated.

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The colder it is, the more protective clothing you need to wear. Credit: National Weather Service

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Limit time outside whenever possible during extreme cold. If you need to venture outside, wear layers of warm clothing (and sunscreen) and watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite can set in in 30 minutes or less when the wind chill is -15 degrees or lower.

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Also, be extremely careful when operating a generator due to a power outage. Improper use can result in carbon monoxide poisoning and other dangers.

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If power does go out, follow these tips to help keep you and your family warm safe.

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The post Do trees really explode in extreme cold? appeared first on Popular Science.

How Nissan improved the wireless charging pad for faster phone juice-ups

Stan Horaczek — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

In-car wireless chargers are notoriously finicky. Your phone can slide off the slippery charging pad at a sudden stop, or overheat and stop charging; the case can also prevent your phone from connecting. Often, it’s a pain in the neck, not to mention an added distraction while you’re behind the wheel. Different manufacturers have tried various solutions, like Ram’s grippy upright charger, which features an anti-slip mat and an LED indicator that makes it clear when the phone is charging. However, online Ram forums and Reddit show that users still find their phones overheat, fail to charge, or require removing protective cases to work. No car manufacturer has really solved this most modern problem—yet.

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Automaker Nissan is staking its claim on wireless charging with its 2026 Pathfinder and Murano vehicles, both of which feature newly designed, built-in wireless chargers that keep your gadgets cool and in place while you’re on the move. Plus, Nissan says it’s the first automaker to offer Qi2 wireless charging in the US since the Wireless Power Consortium released the latest version of the Qi2 standard in July 2025. This updated standard supports a consistent 15W charging rate, up from the spotty 5-15W maximum rate set way back in October 2015, when the Qi Extended Power Profile was first introduced. That means one of these Nissans can and will charge your phone at the same rate as plugging it into a wall in your office.

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Nissan’s Qi2 wireless charging solution includes a magnet and a fan, elements that help keep the phone in place and keep it cool. For users, that means less charging angst and more certainty that phones will be charged as expected. For as much as America lives and dies by their smartphones, that’s a critical element.

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An LED light indicates the phone’s charging status. Image: Nissan

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Thermal management and more wattage

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Qi, as defined by tech leviathan Lenovo, is a universal wireless charging standard that uses electromagnetic induction to transfer power from a Qi-enabled charging pad to a device. The key to seamless power transfer is a coil inside both the charging pad and the device; the pad generates an electromagnetic field, which the coil in the smartphone converts to energy that charges the battery.

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Those coils must remain aligned for optimal charging. Smartphones aren’t one-size-fits-all, and there are different sizes and shapes that don’t all fit neatly on the charging pad. Nissan has addressed the issue by integrating a raised magnetized circle above the pad that lines up the coils and gets the electrons moving.

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“If you misplace your phone or it shifts while driving, you’re not going to enjoy a full speed of charge because that off position means you’re losing a lot of charging efficiency to heat,” says Nissan engineer Matt Zimmerman. “By positioning the phone correctly, you’re going to be able to enjoy the maximum efficiency of the charger more at the time.” Plus, if you’re the kind of driver who likes to take corners like a racecar driver, your phone is likely to become a projectile unless it’s securely attached.

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Using a magnet is a simple concept, but it works. Some devices—like later model iPhones, for example—have camera lenses that protrude from the body of the device. Placing a phone with these types of protrusions on a charging pad means it’s not lying flat, and thus is not connected as securely or as evenly.

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The post REI is blowing out sneakers, hiking boots, and casual shoes during its winter clearance sale appeared first on Popular Science.

550-pound Ice Age kangaroos could still hop

Kristin Shaw — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:30:00 -0500

When you place a phone on a charging pad, the phone and pad are in constant negotiation with each other, Zimmerman explains.

“When a phone overheats, it’s talking to our charging pad and our car and communicating that it needs to negotiate a lower charge amount,” he says. “So, keeping the phones and the charging devices properly aligned helps keep them cool. This is all really important to maximize charging speed.”

Nissan also includes an LED light for charging indication; a solid orange light means charging is in progress, and a green light shows the phone is fully charged. A flashing orange light indicates a foreign object is detected, like keys or a wallet that might be getting in the way of your digital lifeblood.

Scientists analyzed ancient kangaroo bones to see if their anatomy could support hopping. Credit: Megan Jones / UCMP

The new wireless charger is a standard feature on the 2026 Murano, already available at dealerships, and on some 2026 Pathfinder models, expected to start showing up on dealer lots early this year.

The post How Nissan improved the wireless charging pad for faster phone juice-ups appeared first on Popular Science.

Sony’s new LinkBuds Clip make situational awareness look clean

Andrew Paul — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:15:00 -0500

Sony’s LinkBuds have always been contrarian. Back in 2022, years before open-ear Bluetooth earbuds were a trend, the original LinkBuds arrived with a donut-shaped ring radiator that hovered at the edge of the ear canal, letting a bit of the world leak in like daylight through blinds. The new LinkBuds Clip keeps that always-aware idea, that link to the world, but trades the sci-fi circle for something a little more convenient as you run errands: an ear cuff-style wireless clip-on so you can stay social, stay aware, and stay in the groove. The C-shaped body and upper band are accommodating to a wide range of ear shapes and sizes, and they spread pressure to avoid soreness. Plus, there are removable Fitting Cushions you can reposition to further stabilize them for different anatomy and different days.

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No, this style isn’t new, just new to Sony. But with its intentionally wearable colorways (black, greige, green, lavender), the LinkBuds Clip reads like an accessory, not a gadget. And on top of that, there are equally colorful case covers so you can create monoblocking masterpieces. They can go with an outfit, not just be part of your gym uniform. But just because the LinkBuds Clip doesn’t look as industrial as other open earbuds doesn’t mean there’s not tech and tuning instincts from the 1000X series packed in.

Inside, there’s a 10mm driver that sits outside your ear canal and fires sound in. Sony builds in three listening modes you can tap-switch thru—Standard playback, Voice Boost for podcasts and voice-led videos, and Sound Leakage Reduction if you’re sharing a particularly quiet environment. Backing those sound profiles are some flagship personalization features in the Sound Connect app, including DSEE upscaling for restoring streaming music’s detail, 360 Reality Audio for spatialization, Adaptive Volume, and a 10-band EQ with presets. When it comes to the call stack and intelligibility, a bone-conduction sensor helps capture your voice, while AI noise reduction scrubs the background. There’s also Multipoint Connection (using the SBC/AAC Bluetooth codecs) and an IPX4 rating for sweat and light splashes. Battery life is rated up to 37 hours with the case, and a 3-minute quick charge can buy about an hour of listening.

We’ve been testing a pair around the house (see below), and the consensus is they’re cute, comfy, and fashion-forward ear jewelry enough to want to wear them out and about. But talking fit, not just your fit, they feel good even if you’re lying on your side on the couch listening to podcasts, which not all in-canal earbuds do. And the sound is pretty full (not to be confused with loud), considering you’re not ensconsed in a noise-cancelling bubble. We’ll share more impressions as we spend time with them.

Tony Ware

The post 550-pound Ice Age kangaroos could still hop appeared first on Popular Science.

Adorable ferret-sized martens are rebounding in California

Tony Ware — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:07:00 -0500

Tony Ware

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The Sony LinkBuds Clip are available now for $229.99 USD / $299.99 CAD; optional case covers and Fitting Cushions are sold separately for $24.99.

The post Sony’s new LinkBuds Clip make situational awareness look clean appeared first on Popular Science.

World’s oldest-known rock art found in Indonesian cave

Laura Baisas — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500

A drawing of a claw-like hand on the wall of a cave in Sulawesi, Indonesia is now the oldest known rock art in the world. The roughly 67,800-year-old art exceeds the previous record holder in the same region of Southeast Asia by 15,000 years or more. The drawing is detailed in a study published today in the journal Nature, and helps fill in the archaeological timeline of how and when Australia was first settled.

What are hand stencils?

Camera footage showing a marten at the opening of one of the hair snares. Image: Oregon State University.

The cave paintings were discovered by an international team of researchers preserved in limestone caves on one of Sulawesi’s satellite islands called Muna. The team found a fragmentary hand stencil on the wall.

A hand stencil is an outline or template of human hands that are often found on ancient cave paintings. The hand may have been made by tracing the hand (or using it as a stencil), putting charcoal powder into a reed like a straw and spraying the powder around the hand’s shape, or simply eyeballing it. Some hand stencil. Some hand stencils are engraved into the wall rather than painted on. Hand stencils have been found in caves in Europe, North America, and throughout Southeast Asia.

Importantly, the hand stencil in this Muna cave is surrounded by more recent painted art. To help determine the art’s age, the team used uranium-series dating techniques, analyzing the microscopic mineral deposits that formed both on top of and, in some cases, beneath other cave paintings.

Hand stencils like the one found in Muna are a common motif in ancient art. Image: Supplied by Max Aubert.

The team dated the hand stencil to a minimum of 67,800 years ago, making it the oldest reliably dated cave art yet discovered. In 2024, the same team discovered a rock painting in Sulawesi that is about 15,000 years younger. The team believes that the paintings were likely created by a population that is closely linked to the ancestors of Indigenous Australians.

This hand stencil also indicates that the Muna cave was used for making art over a long period of time. Paintings were repeatedly produced there for at least 35,000 years, continuing until roughly 20,000 years ago.

Matthews also describes coastal martens as “among the most adorable animals that call our Pacific Northwest forests home.”

The post Adorable ferret-sized martens are rebounding in California appeared first on Popular Science.

Penis size may matter more to men than women

Andrew Paul — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:00:00 -0500

“It is now evident from our new phase of research that Sulawesi was home to one of the world’s richest and most longstanding artistic cultures, one with origins in the earliest history of human occupation of the island at least 67,800 years ago,” Maxime Aubert, a study co-author, archaeologist and geochemist from Australia’s Griffith University, said in a statement.

Map showing the island of Muna, Sulawesi. Image: Generated by M. Kottermair and A. Jalandoni using ArcGIS.

Examples of the computer-generated, male figures used in the study. Credit: Aich U, et al., 2025, PLOS Biology, CC-BY 4.0

Additionally, the team found that this hand stencil is a globally unique variant of this ancient art motif. After the stencil was created, it was changed to deliberately narrow the negative outlines of the fingers. The result is a more claw-like hand. Why the artist used narrowed fingers is not exactly clear.

“This art could symbolise the idea that humans and animals were closely connected, something we already seem to see in the very early painted art of Sulawesi, with at least one instance of a scene portraying figures that we interpret as representations of part-human, part-animal beings,” study co-author and archeologist Adam Brumm added.

Timelines and travel routes

The team believes that this also has far-reaching implications for understanding the history of Australian Aboriginal culture.

“It is very likely that the people who made these paintings in Sulawesi were part of the broader population that would later spread through the region and ultimately reach Australia,” said Dr. Adhi Agus Oktaviana, a study co-author and rock art specialist from Indonesia.

The post Penis size may matter more to men than women appeared first on Popular Science.

Sony embraces analog and aesthetic with new turntables

Laura Baisas — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

The timing of initial human occupation of Sahul—the Pleistocene-era supercontinent that is now Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea—has been debated among archeologists. In what scientists call the short chronology model, the first people entered Sahul about 50,000 years ago. In the opposing long chronology model, people arrived at least 65,000 years ago.

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Dr. Adhi Agus Oktaviana illuminates another hand stencil found on Sulawesi. Image: Supplied by Max Aubert

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“This discovery strongly supports the idea that the ancestors of the First Australians were in Sahul by 65,000 years ago,” Dr. Oktaviana added.

Researchers also believe that there were two main migration routes into Sahul. The northern route to the New Guinea portion of this landmass went through Sulawesi and the Spice Islands. In the more southerly route, sea voyagers traveled directly to the Australian mainland via Timor or nearby islands.

“With the dating of this extremely ancient rock art in Sulawesi, we now have the oldest direct evidence for the presence of modern humans along this northern migration corridor into Sahul,” said Renaud Joannes-Boyau, a study co-author and archaeologist at Southern Cross University in Australia.

With funding from the Australian Research Council, the team will continue to look for more ancient art and other archaeological finds.

“These discoveries underscore the archaeological importance of the many other Indonesian islands between Sulawesi and westernmost New Guinea,” Aubert concluded.

The post World’s oldest-known rock art found in Indonesian cave appeared first on Popular Science.

The 10 weirdest and wildest musical instruments of 2026

Tony Ware — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:35:20 -0500

It’s that time of the year again. No, not the Super Bowl or the Academy Awards—it’s time to announce the finalists for the 28th annual Guthman Musical Instrument Competition. From March 13-14, creators from around the world will assemble at Georgia Tech in Atlanta to demonstrate their unique, innovative, and frequently bizarre music-making contraptions.

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The top ten selections include entries from Australia, Poland, India, and the United Kingdom, but all of this year’s instruments push the boundaries of musicality, performance, and artistry in new, unexpected ways. This year, entrants include the seven-foot-tall synthesis of a double-bass and the classical Indian instrument known as a rudraveena, a “cyborg woodwind,” as well as a device that converts the invisible electromagnetic waves all around us into a “scientific séance.”

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Last year’s first-place winner, the Chromaphone, was a collaborative project that utilized a simple, flat surface to generate synthesizer tones. It remains to be seen what will take the top spot and a $10,000 prize in March, but it’s gonna be hard to top last year’s Dinosaur Choir.

The post Sony embraces analog and aesthetic with new turntables appeared first on Popular Science.

James Webb Space Telescope solves a comet crystal mystery

Andrew Paul — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:45:00 -0500

Take a look at this year’s contestants below. (Click to expand images to full screen.)

The Amphibian Modules

Credit: Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

This modular synth swaps patch cables for a pool of salt water. Its engineering forces components to communicate through liquid, creating a “liquid circuit” where chemical currents and ripples shape the signal. The result is evolving, organic audio that behaves more like a living organism than a machine.

The Demon Box

Credit: Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

A device that turns the invisible electromagnetic world into an instrument of “scientific séance.” Using a grid of 33 inductors, it captures frequencies from everyday electronics—like phones and drills—converting them into 3-channel audio, MIDI, and control voltage. Its triphonic design allows performers to “bow” or “strike” the signals of the modern world to sculpt everything from melismatic drones to synesthetic visuals.

The post James Webb Space Telescope solves a comet crystal mystery appeared first on Popular Science.

This robot hand can detach from its arm and crawl around

Mack DeGeurin — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:27:00 -0500

EV

Credit: Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

The researchers from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology detailed their findings this week in Nature Communications at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne.

This isn’t just an electric violin; it’s a computer disguised as fine lutherie. Built with a curly maple body and four embedded Bela Mini computers (one per string), it uses infrared pickups to analyze every nuance of a bow stroke. The result is a seamless fusion of acoustic warmth and digital synthesis that responds instantly to the player’s touch.

“Evolution is a slow process, whose path is influenced by a variety of developmental and environmental constraints,” the team writes. “It does not explore all that could be possible.”

Fiddle-Henge

Credit: Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

A towering robotic sculpture that mounts four green violins around a bass drum. Instead of human hands, a motorized spinning disk acts as an “infinite bow,” while servos tilt the instruments to switch strings. It blends 3D-printed tech with antique automata, generating everything from stuttering mechanical rhythms to endless, meditative drones.

Mixing human dexterity with an Octopus’ multimodal movement

Gajveena

Credit: Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

Standing nearly seven feet tall, this “bass-veena” hybrid fuses a double bass with Indian classical design. Its hollow neck acts as a sound conduit, channeling audio to a second resonator right by the player’s ear. Engineered with curved brass frets, it allows massive, microtonal string bends previously impossible on a bass.

Kalíptera

Credit: Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

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A robot bat sheds new light on how they hunt in darkness

https://www.popsci.com/technology/robot-bat-hunting/

Robot hands are becoming more human

A “winged” hybrid that evolves the kalimba into a semi-autonomous digital instrument. Its dual resonance boxes are connected by an articulated hub, mapping the opening and closing motion of the “wings” to complex sound processing. Using real-time spectral analysis inspired by George Lewis’s Voyager, the instrument generates its own musical responses to create a non-hierarchical duet between the performer’s physical gestures and the machine’s digital brain.

More fingers aren’t always better

The Lethelium

Credit: Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

Built around a bicycle wheel rim, this 24-string instrument looks like an alien artifact. It spins on a cymbal stand, allowing musicians to strike, pluck, or bow its “spokes” to create sounds ranging from a harp to a steel drum. It’s an upcycled, industrial sound machine that turns scrap metal into a chromatic orchestra.

The Masterpiece

Credit: Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

Shaped like a puzzle piece, this open-source synth prioritizes accessibility without sacrificing power. It uses pressure sensors rather than touch, allowing it to be played with any object or assistive device. Users change sounds by swiping RFID-tagged fabric swatches, helping players with disabilities build auditory-tactile connections while creating complex, polyphonic loops.

Of course, if all else fails it could also always be used as an incredibly over-engineered prop on a horror film set.

The post This robot hand can detach from its arm and crawl around appeared first on Popular Science.

Snow isn’t actually white

Andrew Paul — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:02:00 -0500

Post-Digital Sax

Credit: Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

What is snow?

A cyborg woodwind that merges a real vibrating reed with a digital brain. Instead of tone holes, electromagnets manipulate the reed to change pitch, allowing for impossible notes and infinite bass. It combines the raw, acoustic feel of a sax with joystick-controlled looping and digital manipulation.

Before determining why a fresh blanket of snow looks white, it helps to know what snow is.

VERTO

Credit: Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

Imagine a Hammond organ played with “The Force.” You wear magnetic pickups on your fingertips and hover them over spinning tonewheels to generate sound. This purely analog instrument turns proximity into volume and pitch, letting you sculpt electricity directly with the wave of a hand—no physical contact required.

How do snowflakes form?

The 28th annual Guthman Musical Instrument Competition will take place March 13-14 at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

The post The 10 weirdest and wildest musical instruments of 2026 appeared first on Popular Science.

Why does chocolate turn white? It’s not mold.

Laura Kiniry — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:01:00 -0500

A few years ago, a small baker from the West Coast had a problem. A day or so after baking chocolate chip cookies, the chocolate chips would develop an unpleasant white haze. Confused, she reached out to Richard Hartel, a professor of food science at the University of Wisconsin.

Hartel studies foods like chocolate and ice cream, and he gets questions like this all the time. So what was going on with those chocolate chips?

What is chocolate bloom?

While each snowflake is unique, they all have exactly six points due to the way water molecules freeze. Image: DepositPhotos

Chocolate may look uniform and solid to the naked eye, but if you looked at it under a microscope you would see that it’s actually a mixture of cocoa particles, sugar crystals, and (in milk chocolate) milk powder, all held together by cocoa butter.

Due to their intricate crystal form, snowflakes reflect light almost like a mirror, and this causes snow to look white. But how exactly does that work?

Sometimes, some of those ingredients move around—and that’s what makes the chocolate turn white or “bloom.”

Why does snow appear white?

There are two main kinds of chocolate bloom: sugar bloom and fat bloom.

Mark Serreze, the Director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, tells Popular Science that to understand why snow looks white, we have to look to the sun.

Sugar bloom: the fridge effect

When you take a cold chocolate bar out of the fridge and leave it unwrapped on the counter, water from the surrounding warmer air can condense on the cold chocolate’s surface (just like condensation on a cold window pane). That moisture dissolves some of the sugar on the surface of the chocolate. When the water evaporates, the sugar is left behind in the form of tiny crystals, creating a white, powdery coating.

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But why then does ice and snow look distinct, one clear and one white? “The difference between ice cubes and snowflakes is how light reacts with them,” says Belles.

This is called sugar bloom. The chocolate is still good to eat, just not very pretty.

“Sometimes with an ice cube, the light will be able to go straight through it. But with snow we’ve got this kind of broken mirror effect, with light bouncing off of all of those jagged edges.”

To avoid it, Hartel says “chocolate should be wrapped well for storage in the refrigerator or freezer, then allowed to warm to room temperature before unwrapping.” This prevents condensation from forming on the chocolate.

Snow can be other colors, too

In order to achieve chocolate’s glossy look and melt-on-your-tongue texture, bakers must carefully heat and cool the chocolate in a process known as tempering. Image: DepositPhotos

Despite its immaculate reputation, snow isn’t always white.

Fat bloom: when chocolate gets old or warm

Chocolate can also turn white even when it’s not stored in the fridge. “Think of leaving a chocolate bar in the car on a hot summer day,” says Hartel. “After it cools, it often develops a white, hazy coating.” (Of course, you might not have noticed because you ate the chocolate too fast. That’s totally normal.)

This white, hazy coating is called fat bloom, and it happens when cocoa butter inside the chocolate slowly changes its shape.

Cocoa butter is made of fat molecules that can arrange themselves in six different crystal shapes (which chemists call ‘polymorphs’). Chocolate makers want one special form—called Form V—because it gives chocolate that special glossy look and melt-on-your-tongue texture. They create this form by carefully heating and cooling the chocolate in a process called tempering.

In Antarctica, penguin droppings (guano) often stain snow pink due to pigments from the foods they eat, most notably krill.

But over time, especially in warm places (like a sunny windowsill or a hot car), Form V can change into a more stable form called Form VI. These larger crystals scatter light instead of reflecting it, making the chocolate look dull and white.

Hartel explains that fat bloom “can form on chocolate at almost any temperature, although it is generally slowed as temperature goes down.” That’s why chocolate brands recommend storing chocolate in a cool environment, ideally around 57 to 61 degrees Fahrenheit (the equivalent of 14 to 16 degrees Celsius).

What is albedo?

Some chocolates are more susceptible to fat bloom than others. In 2008, scientists from Canada and Sweden looked at chocolate under a microscope. They discovered that chocolate with a microscopically rough surface was more likely to form fat bloom. All those tiny cracks create more places for fat crystals to grow.

Filled chocolates—like ones with peanut butter centers—are even more likely to bloom. The liquid fat from the filling can move into the chocolate shell, speeding up the process and making the chocolate soft and messy.

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The best chocolate chip cookie recipe, according to science

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What does ‘chance of precipitation’ really mean? A meteorologist explains.

Do you need more sleep in fall and winter? Probably.

So what about that baker’s cookies?

What are some other factors that affect the ways we see snow?

Hartel studied the problem and found that the cookie dough didn’t have enough fat. During baking, fat from the dough normally moves into the chocolate chips, changing how the cocoa butter cools and helping prevent bloom.

“Think about the texture of chips that have been baked in the cookie, it’s soft and gooey, not at all hard like the original chip that was mixed in the dough,” says Hartel. “That’s the result of fat migration, whether it’s butter or shortening.” Without enough fat, the chips cooled the “wrong” way and bloomed.

Once the baker added more fat to her cookie dough recipe, the problem disappeared. “It was so successful she sent me an enormous basket of goodies for Christmas that year,” Hartel recalls. “Another case of being paid in food or candy as a consultant.”

The bottom line

Chocolate bloom is caused by sugar or fat molecules moving around, and usually it’s just a cosmetic issue.

And next time you look at a blanket of freshly fallen white snow, remember that what you’re really seeing is all of the colors of the rainbow. Those colors just appear to be pristine white.

If it’s only on the surface, the chocolate will taste fine—“there is no effect other than the visual turn-off,” says Hartel.

The post Snow isn’t actually white appeared first on Popular Science.

Snow monkeys love hot springs. They’re also good for them.

Clarissa Brincat — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:08:00 -0500

But if the chocolate is very old and the bloom has spread deep inside, the chocolate will be cracked, dry and crusty, possibly with a waxy aftertaste, says Hartel.

“Hot spring bathing is one of the most unusual behaviors seen in nonhuman primates,” said Abdullah Langgeng, a Ph.D. student at Kyoto University.

He confesses to having a chocolate Santa that’s about 30 years old. “Not for eating,” he says.

The post Why does chocolate turn white? It’s not mold. appeared first on Popular Science.

Meze Audio builds on its success, literally, with new STRADA headphones

Tony Ware — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Meze Audio has the ability to present headphones as an expression of design, ritual, feeling. The trick is making engineering feel like craftsmanship, and the Romania company’s new STRADA is no different. If you’ve followed PopSci’s Meze headphones coverage—from the 105 SILVA being framed as a wearable refuge to the POET’s “whirlwind romance” of design and sound—STRADA continues that same human-first thread, but with the door gently pulled shut behind you. It’s a closed-back dynamic driver headphone that offers enough isolation to lean into a voice, a kick drum, a little studio air.

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STRADA is built around a 50mm dynamic driver platform first introduced in the 109 PRO, newly retuned for closed-back control. The carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose composite dome promises to keep treble detail clear with minimal distortion, while a semicrystalline polymer torus, coated with beryllium via Physical Vapor Deposition, adds stiffness and snap. Precision-cut 45.5° grooves refine control, and a copper-zinc alloy stabilizer absorbs micro-vibrations to reduce distortion. How that may translate to tone: punchy, defined lows, a neutral midband that lets guitars and voices keep their true color, and highs that sketch texture and space without turning tracks into a fatigue test.

All that is mounted within exotic Macassar ebony with golden-brown striations (familiar from the LIRIC II), a hand-painted deep-green magnesium chassis with a subtle metallic shimmer, and magnetically mounted pads that snap on with a reassuring little ‘yep.’ At 330 grams, with a soft cross-pattern headband that spreads pressure and lets air flow, it’s made for long sessions as bassline bloom and vocals murmur intimately. Specs stay sensible (5 Hz–30 kHz, 40 Ω, 111 dB, THD <0.1%, dual 3.5 mm jacks), and the whole thing is fully serviceable. Available from today, Jan. 21, for $/€799 worldwide.

Need to turn a corner into a STRADA listening station? The recently revealed iFi iDSD Phantom is a $4,499 all-in-one DAC/network streamer/amp that’s hilariously overhill in the best way. This compact stack features quad Burr-Brown conversion, a streaming engine up to 768kHz/DSD512, DSD2048 and K2HD “remastering,” USB-B 3.0, coaxial, AES/EBU, TOSLINK and Ethernet inputs, and enough Class A power (7,747mW peak) to make even the most stubborn headphones behave. No matter what you need to stream or convert, the iDSD Phantom can feed it to 3.5mm, 4.4mm balanced, 4-pin XLR, dual 3-pin XLR, and both positive and inverted phase 6.3mm outputs. And then there’s iFi’s signature ability to season to taste, with J-FET solid state snap or GE5670 tube glow, XBass Pro, XSpace Pro, and various filters. Plus, iFi already knows what Meze’s warmth wants. The ZEN CAN Signature MZ99 was tuned around the 99 Classics’ voicing, so synergy isn’t guesswork.

We’re looking forward to auditioning one, if not both, of these for future coverage.

The post Meze Audio builds on its success, literally, with new STRADA headphones appeared first on Popular Science.

Jabra transforms headsets into headphones with new Evolve3 75 & 85

Laura Baisas — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

I’m in the lobby of a Las Vegas hotel and casino, where roller bag wheels hiss across marble and slot-machine chimes compete for oxygen. Everything is auditioning for my attention, but I’m transfixed by someone reaching into a purse and pulling out headphones carrying cases so slim I assume they’re empty. But these are no hollow accessories. Inside are Jabra’s new Evolve3 line: low-profile, fold-flat headsets built for hybrid work and the hours that blur around it, engineered to disappear into your day and bag.

The post Snow monkeys love hot springs. They’re also good for them. appeared first on Popular Science.

Do trees really explode in extreme cold?

Tony Ware — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:03:14 -0500

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So, the Evolve3 85 (over-the-ear, above) and Evolve3 75 (on-the-ear, bottom of the page) headphones pack easily. What’s equally impressive is what Jabra has packed inside them. They ditch the usual boom arm for Jabra ClearVoice—a deep neural network model paired with multi-mic algorithms that claims to learn what “you” sounds like in a crowded room, so there’s no more shouting in a corner. (Trained on 60+ million sentences by parent company GN’s hearing division, it promises 96% word capture; 99% in an open office.) Adaptive ANC responds in real time to both your environment and how the headset seals, and it keeps working during calls, not only in the quiet moments between them. Spatial Sound places voices with a little more front-to-back realism, so long meetings feel less like they’re happening inside your head until you throw it back in frustration.

What is a polar vortex?

Despite the understated profile, these headphones pack stamina: up to 25 hours of calls and 120 hours of music on Evolve3 85 with ANC/busylight off (22/110 on Evolve3 75), plus a 10-minute fast charge for up to 10 more hours, and wireless charging for desk-drop life. One-touch voice access is integrated for GenAI prompts and high-accuracy transcription. Bluetooth 5.4 with LC3 codec is made for the playlists that fuel productivity. For IT teams, there’s secure Bluetooth Low Energy with a pre-paired adapter included, UC-certified virtual meeting platform variants, Bluetooth Native for direct device connections, and centralized fleet control through Jabra Plus Management; users get personal tweaks through the Jabra Plus app (with a desktop version planned for later in 2026). Replaceable batteries and parts, recycled/bio-circular materials, and TCO generation 10 certification round out the “one device you only buy once” mindset.

Who says hybrid work has to be messy? Evolve3 85 and 75 in Black arrive March 1, 2026, for $649 and $463 (list price at launch), with Warm Gray landing in April.

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The post Jabra transforms headsets into headphones with new Evolve3 75 & 85 appeared first on Popular Science.

The swinging sex lives of Alaska’s beluga whales

Andrew Paul — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Among marine mammals, beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) are particularly difficult to study in their icy habitat. To better understand and protect this endangered species, scientists must piece together bits of their lives from fragments, including one of the most important behaviors of any species—mating.

One small population of beluga whales living in southwest Alaska’s Bristol Bay appears to have a surprising strategy. Over several years, both male and female belugas mate with multiple partners. This method may reduce the risk of inbreeding in the group of just 2,000 whales and help maintain genetic diversity. The findings are detailed in a study published today in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.

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+ Read more about weather preparedness

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Can trees really explode?

A surprising strategy

Over 13 years, scientists collected genetic samples from 623 beluga whales in Bristol Bay, while simultaneously observing their ages and social groupings. The largely isolated population has little or no mixing with other populations elsewhere in the Arctic and subarctic. This degree of isolation gives biologists a unique opportunity to study them as a distinct population.

The team wanted to determine which mating style this population of beluga engaged in—polygynous, polyandrous, or polygynandrous. In polygynous mating, one male mates with multiple females, as seen in many bird species. In polyandrous animals, one female mates with multiple males, similar to what female mice do. Polygynandrous mating is when both males and females have multiple mates.

Since belugas live 30 to 50 years on average—with some living as long as 80 years—the team focused on what happens during one mating season instead of over a whole lifetime.

The team found that this beluga whale population engages in a polygynandrous system, where both males and females mate with multiple partners over several years. Instead of reproductive success being dominated by a few individuals, it is more spread out. This mate switching also results in many half-sibling offspring and few full-sibling offspring and could reduce the risk of inbreeding and help maintain genetic diversity in the small population.

An aggregation of adult beluga whales in a bay during the summer in the High Arctic. Image: Greg O’Corry-Crowe and Cortney Watt, Arctic Whale Research Program – FAU/DFO.

According to the team, these findings upend scientists’ earlier notions about beluga mating. Since males are much larger than females and are not frequently seen with mothers and calves, researchers thought that the whales were highly polygynous. In these settings, males spend significantly more time competing for mates and only a few dominant males end up fathering most of the calves.

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“Our findings tell a very different story,” Greg O’Corry-Crowe, a study co-author and biologist at Florida Atlantic University, said in a statement. “In the short term, males are only moderately polygynous. One explanation we think lies in their incredible longevity—belugas can live perhaps 100 years or more. Rather than competing intensely in a single season, males appear to play the long game, spreading their reproductive efforts over many years. It appears to be a ‘take your time, there’s plenty of fish in the sea’ strategy.”

Mating matters

The colder it is, the more protective clothing you need to wear. Credit: National Weather Service

The findings also indicate that female belugas have their own equally fascinating reproductive strategy. Instead of sticking with one partner, they frequently switch mates from one breeding season to the next. This could be a form of risk management, allowing the females to avoid pairing with low-quality males and increasing the likelihood of creating healthy and genetically diverse offspring.

“It’s a striking reminder that female choice can be just as influential in shaping reproductive success as the often-highlighted battles of male-male competition,” O’Corry-Crowe added. “Such strategies highlight the subtle, yet powerful ways in which females exert control over the next generation, shaping the evolutionary trajectory of the species.”

Also, be extremely careful when operating a generator due to a power outage. Improper use can result in carbon monoxide poisoning and other dangers.

Two beluga whale cow-calf pairs in a shallow river estuary in the High Arctic. Image.
Greg O’Corry-Crowe and Cortney Watt, Arctic Whale Research Program – FAU/DFO.

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According to the team, these findings underscore how important understanding mating systems is for conservation methods, particularly in small or isolated populations like the Bristol Bay Belugas. In polygynandrous systems like these, mate choice, partner switching, and shared reproductive opportunities is what spreads genes more evenly. This maintains genetic diversity, limits inbreeding, and offsets the devastating impacts a small population size can have.

The post Do trees really explode in extreme cold? appeared first on Popular Science.

How Nissan improved the wireless charging pad for faster phone juice-ups

Laura Baisas — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

“Understanding these dynamics matters for conservation. If only a few males father most calves, the effective population size becomes much smaller than the number of whales actually present,” said O’Corry-Crowe.

The Indigenous communities of Bristol Bay were key in getting this study together. They helped study these elusive whales, melding scientific research with Indigenous knowledge to protect the belugas in a changing Arctic and subarctic.

“We cannot afford to be complacent. Small populations still face the dangers of genetic erosion,” concluded O’Corry-Crowe. “But we can be optimistic that beluga whale mating strategies provide evidence of nature’s resilience and offers hope for those working to save and recover small populations of any species.”

The post The swinging sex lives of Alaska’s beluga whales appeared first on Popular Science.

13 gorgeous black-and-white images of the animal kingdom

Popular Science Team — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:04:00 -0500

While our world is filled with brilliant colors, seeing it in monochrome can be striking.

An LED light indicates the phone’s charging status. Image: Nissan

The 2025 Nature Photography Contest celebrates the “enduring power of black and white photography” and its ability “to deepen our connection with the natural world,” according to a press release. This year’s contest welcomed submissions from 82 countries and the winners include stunning and intimate photographs of wildlife, all in black and white.

Thermal management and more wattage

“Emperors”
Emperor penguin family together after feeding the chick.
Credit: Risto Raunio / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

Photographer Lidija Novković earned top honors in the Professional category for a powerful image of a horse (seen below). Janet Gustin won the Non-Professional category for a playful photo of a fox kit nipping at its mother. Visit Exposure One for a full gallery of the honorees. (Click to expand images to full screen.)

“Zacudno”
Credit: Lidija Novković / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

“Ouch!”
While siblings nurse below, one kit fox pup demands attention the only way he knows how – by gently biting mom’s face. The tender chaos of motherhood captured in a single frame. Even in the wild, kids compete for affection, and sometimes getting noticed means being a little bit bold.
Credit: Janet Gustin / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

“A Sea of Horns”
I took this photo on my iPhone as I was helping my sister move goats around the yards….the dust billowed up so much one could hardly see!
Credit: Rachael Ryan / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

“The Dive”
Credit: Fabi Fregonesi / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

“Deadly Fluff”
Thick fur hides claws and power. The bear’s paws show both strength and comfort, made to endure the endless winter.
Credit: Wouter Van Hofwegen / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

Nissan’s new charging pad uses a raised magnet to connect the coils inside the pad and receiving device. Image: Nissan

“Ghost of the Savannah”
In the moonlit stillness of Kenya’s Shompole wilderness, a hyena emerges from the darkness – its silhouette etched in dust and backlight. The photograph captures the raw, nocturnal spirit of the African savannah, where every sound and shadow tells a story of survival.
Credit: Caesar Sengupta / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

Stick it and go

“Holy Waters”
The iconic Christ of the Abyss statue lies in ~30′ of water off Key Largo. For decades, divers scrubbed it clean, but several years back, that became illegal, and set out for this shoot after several years of coral growth – not too much, not too little.
Credit: Chris Gug / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

“The Sardine Run”
The sardine run in Mexico is a feeding frenzy, sea lions, striped marlins, whales and the list goes on and on. The ocean truly alive.
Credit: Frederico Cerdeira / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

When you place a phone on a charging pad, the phone and pad are in constant negotiation with each other, Zimmerman explains.

“Flight Lines”
Photographed above Lake Magadi, flamingos lift off, their bodies forming loose diagonals across dark water. In flight, the flock becomes a study in rhythm—wings catching light in brief, alternating intervals crossing the frame. Movement becomes pattern, rendered in stark contrast from the air.
Credit: Holly Kirkland / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

“Under a Veil of Algae”
Credit: Jana Hejzlarova / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

“Naturally Unfolding”
At the foot of Wyoming’s Tetons the waning day brings a cast of characters together to mingle for a moment of refreshingly untouched nature.
Credit: Michael Paul / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

The post 13 gorgeous black-and-white images of the animal kingdom appeared first on Popular Science.

How to really spot AI-generated images, with Google’s help

Kristin Shaw — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:09:44 -0500

It’s harder than ever to tell AI-generated images from real photographs and illustrations produced by flesh-and-blood human beings. And in recent years, the fakery produced by AI models has become a lot more realistic and a lot more convincing. We’re now firmly past the uncanny valley.

The new wireless charger is a standard feature on the 2026 Murano, already available at dealerships, and on some 2026 Pathfinder models, expected to start showing up on dealer lots early this year.

The post How Nissan improved the wireless charging pad for faster phone juice-ups appeared first on Popular Science.

Sony’s new LinkBuds Clip make situational awareness look clean

Tony Ware — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:15:00 -0500

However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to spot AI pictures: There are still signs to watch out for, checks you can make, and tools you can use to distinguish the genuine from the synthetic. As is the case with AI-generated video, you don’t have to give up just yet.

You may not be able to definitively determine this one way or the other each and every time, but in a lot of cases you can make a pretty educated guess. And in an age of disinformation and AI slop, being able to make the distinction is a skill that’s worth honing.

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Use AI spotting tools

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Some chatbots are now putting hidden watermarks into their image outputs, identifying them as AI-generated. While these watermarks aren’t difficult to remove—a simple screenshot of the image will do it—they’re a good place to start when it comes to trying to tell if an image has been made by AI.

Anything produced by Google Gemini, for example, will have what’s called a SynthID watermark embedded somewhere in it. To test the authenticity of an image, you can upload a picture to Gemini on the web, and simply ask “was this image made by AI?”. Gemini will be able to find the SynthID watermark, if it’s there.

Google’s SynthID can be used to label AI content. Image: Google

There’s another standard way of labeling AI images, which is developed by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA): the labeling itself is called C2PA, and it’s supported by companies including OpenAI, Adobe, and Google. If you head to a C2PA checking website such as Content Credentials, you can upload an image and get it analyzed for evidence of AI creation.

Tony Ware

If an image passes these checks, it’s not a guarantee that it’s genuine—but it’s worth running through them anyway, because they will catch some AI generations, and even tell you which model was used to make the picture in many cases. If you’re still not sure, you can move on to looking at the context around an image.

Tony Ware

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Check the context

The Sony LinkBuds Clip are available now for $229.99 USD / $299.99 CAD; optional case covers and Fitting Cushions are sold separately for $24.99.

No image is an island: It will have come from somewhere, and been shared by someone. You can rely on respected publications (such as the one you’re reading) to honestly label images that have been generated by AI, and properly attribute other images that haven’t. You’ll know exactly what you’re looking at.

The post Sony’s new LinkBuds Clip make situational awareness look clean appeared first on Popular Science.

World’s oldest-known rock art found in Indonesian cave

David Nield — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500

On the wilds of social media of course, the lines are much more blurred. Here, content is posted and reposted without context or attribution, and it’s much more likely that something on Facebook or X has been faked. That’s especially true if the picture is designed to attract engagement, through controversy or cuteness or any of the other emotional levers that get pulled.

What are hand stencils?

Imagine getting six near-identical kittens to actually line up like this. Image: AI generated, Gemini Made with Google AI

Another trick you can try, especially when it comes to images associated with news stories, is to look for complementary pictures taken from different angles. Are the pictures consistent? Do the details match up from different viewpoints and across different time periods? For illustrations and graphic art, you can again check to see if any credits have been applied: See if what you’re looking at has a link back to the artist and their portfolio.

A reverse image search can sometimes reveal where an image has come from, and help you find other copies on the web: TinEye is perhaps the best resource for this. If there are no other matches, that points towards AI—especially if it’s been posted without context on social media, and especially via an account trying to monetize or sell something.

Look for the signs

Hand stencils like the one found in Muna are a common motif in ancient art. Image: Supplied by Max Aubert.

We know AI bots aren’t actually taking any photographs or sketching any pictures: They’re producing approximations of images based on prompts and their training data (which is vast amounts of creative work done by people). That approach can lead to a certain generic sheen that gives away a lot of AI-generated content.

Anime characters look like generic anime characters, trees look like generic trees, and city streets look like generic city streets. There’s even a recognizable ChatGPT font that the AI bot reverts to whenever you ask for some text without any specific style—like an average of all the fonts ever created—and you’ll recognize it if you try and generate a few pictures with text in ChatGPT.

A generic boy on a generic street, with a newspaper showing the standard ChatGPT font. Image: AI generated, ChatGPT

Physics is still a problem, though the errors aren’t as egregious as they used to be. Try rendering a view of a castle or a vast office block interior in an AI bot and you’ll notice turrets appear in pointless places, staircases lead to nowhere, and elevator doors don’t actually lead to elevators. There are often logical inconsistencies, because AI doesn’t really understand buildings or interior space, just how to create a decent simulation of them in visual form.

Map showing the island of Muna, Sulawesi. Image: Generated by M. Kottermair and A. Jalandoni using ArcGIS.

We may be past the point of six fingers on hands, but faces and limbs regularly look squished and unnatural, and details are often fuzzy and blurred. Sometimes these problems will be easier to spot than others, but with a little practice and a few test renders of your own, you should get better at being able to identify them.

The post How to really spot AI-generated images, with Google’s help appeared first on Popular Science.

Amazon is blowing out Cuddl Duds base layers and and thermal underwear just in time for frigid temperatures

Laura Baisas — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:42:40 -0500

Cold weather is mostly a physics problem: your body makes heat, and winter tries to steal it via wind, convection, and damp fabric. A decent base layer helps by trapping warm air close to your skin and keeping you more comfortable whether you’re shoveling, walking the dog, working in an unheated garage, or hiking. Right now, Amazon has solid deals on Cuddl Duds base-layer sets and lounge-ready pajamas. These are more versatile than outdoor-specific base layers, so you can wear them on the hill or on the couch.

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The team believes that this also has far-reaching implications for understanding the history of Australian Aboriginal culture.

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Dr. Adhi Agus Oktaviana illuminates another hand stencil found on Sulawesi. Image: Supplied by Max Aubert

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“This discovery strongly supports the idea that the ancestors of the First Australians were in Sahul by 65,000 years ago,” Dr. Oktaviana added.

You can wear this under pretty much any outfit. The fleece lining adds noticeable warmth without forcing you into bulky outerwear, which matters if you still need to move around (walking, commuting, or doing anything that requires bending your knees).

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With funding from the Australian Research Council, the team will continue to look for more ancient art and other archaeological finds.

If you’re shopping by price first, this is another solid pick from the batch, and it’s the easiest way to make standing outside less miserable.

“These discoveries underscore the archaeological importance of the many other Indonesian islands between Sulawesi and westernmost New Guinea,” Aubert concluded.

The post World’s oldest-known rock art found in Indonesian cave appeared first on Popular Science.

The 10 weirdest and wildest musical instruments of 2026

Andrew Paul — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:35:20 -0500

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Take a look at this year’s contestants below. (Click to expand images to full screen.)

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Credit: Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

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The 28th annual Guthman Musical Instrument Competition will take place March 13-14 at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

The post The 10 weirdest and wildest musical instruments of 2026 appeared first on Popular Science.

Why does chocolate turn white? It’s not mold.

Stan Horaczek — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:01:00 -0500

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Scottish distillery wants to bottle whisky in aluminum, not glass

Andrew Paul — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:31:53 -0500

Scotland’s smallest whisky distillery also hopes to be one of the most innovative in time for its first batch’s debut. But with only around two years until Sterling Distillery’s inaugural liquor matures, it remains to be seen if the company can ditch traditional glass bottles for a material associated more with cheap beer than fine whisky—aluminum.

Hartel studies foods like chocolate and ice cream, and he gets questions like this all the time. So what was going on with those chocolate chips?

Any serious distillery uses glass bottles for the good stuff. The reason is as much about aesthetics as it is about chemistry. From a psychological standpoint, the hefty, translucent glass implies the painstaking artisanal craft required to produce an elevated batch of whisky (the “whiskey” spelling is generally only used by Irish and American distillers). The material also is guaranteed to not interact with a whisky’s delicate flavor profile, that can only be achieved after years or even decades of aging.

What is chocolate bloom?

There are serious sustainability problems with the industry’s reliance on glass. Most glass manufacturing still requires vast amounts of energy at a major environmental cost. What’s more, all those heavy whisky bottles then ramp up pollution and other problems as they’re transported around the world. Once a bottle is finally empty, recycling is harder than you might think. Manufacturers have long offered popular drinks—both with and without alcohol—in much more sustainable aluminum containers. So why haven’t distilleries made the leap?

Sterling Distillery recently approached chemical scientists at Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University to provide some answers. Researchers spent months analyzing how aluminum can affect the liquor’s chemical composition and flavor profile. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the team first measured how alcohol and metal atoms interacted when whisky is stored in aluminum. While they found that contact with the metal often reduced or eliminated important compounds like gallic acid, volunteer taste testers didn’t differentiate between whisky housed in glass and aluminum bottles.

Sometimes, some of those ingredients move around—and that’s what makes the chocolate turn white or “bloom.”

From there, the team used plasma mass spectrometry to measure the actual metal levels in the whisky. The small samples used for the taste test were comparatively safe, but they soon determined a potentially major branding issue: no one wants metal poisoning from their whisky dram.

There are two main kinds of chocolate bloom: sugar bloom and fat bloom.

“We know that certain organic acids naturally present in matured whisky can react with aluminum, which can lead to aluminum entering the liquid,” Dave Ellis, a chemist at Heriot-Watt University, said in a statement. “If we stir samples with aluminum metal, the levels were well above what would be considered acceptable for drinking water.”

Sugar bloom: the fridge effect

The reason this isn’t an issue in other aluminum containers like soup cans is due to their linings. For decades, soup cans and other products featured a transparent coating as much as 10 micrometers thick made from various epoxy resins and Bisphenol A (BPA) plastics. Because BPA plastic has plenty of its own health and environmental issues, industries have slowly switched to alternative liners—but it remains to be seen if any of them can hold up to a potent whisky.

“Any innovation has to respect the craft of whisky making while meeting the highest standards of safety,” added Annie Hill, a researcher at Heriot-Watt’s International Center for Brewing and Distilling. “In this case, the liner within the can wasn’t sufficient to prevent aluminum from passing into the spirit.

This is called sugar bloom. The chocolate is still good to eat, just not very pretty.

The team added that aluminum whisky bottles aren’t impossible in the future. However, distillers and scientists still need to find a lining that could withstand years—and sometimes decades—on a whisky aficionado’s shelf. Sterling Distillery wants to have aluminum bottling ready for the debut of its first matured whisky in 2027, so it still has some time to locate a liner. But if there’s one thing whisky teaches you, it’s that you can’t rush a good thing.

The post Scottish distillery wants to bottle whisky in aluminum, not glass appeared first on Popular Science.

Dinosaur bones found underneath parking lot in Dinosaur, Colorado

Andrew Paul — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:11:01 -0500

For a place named Dinosaur, it’s been a while since the small Colorado town revealed any actual fossils. But after a 101 year lull in discoveries, work was paused on a new parking lot near Dinosaur National Monument, after construction crews uncovered a section of unexpected sandstone. Park staff and paleontologists soon examined the find, and identified sauropod bones most likely belonging to Diplodocus—a massive, long-necked dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period.

Located on the Colorado-Utah border at the meeting of the Green and Yampa rivers, Dinosaur National Monument was established as a federally protected site in 1915. Its nearly 330 square miles of land encompasses over 800 separate paleontological sites dating back 150 million years to the Jurassic era. The Carnegie Museum oversaw the very first excavations from 1909 to 1922, followed by projects from the Smithsonian Museum and the University of Utah in 1923 and 1924.

In order to achieve chocolate’s glossy look and melt-on-your-tongue texture, bakers must carefully heat and cool the chocolate in a process known as tempering. Image: DepositPhotos

The region is largely arid desert landscape today. However, over 150 million years ago, a vast river bed regularly received the remains of dinosaurs as they floated downstream. These bones slowly fossilized in the sandstone and conglomerate rock, resulting in one of the continent’s best preserved and diverse collections of ancient megafauna. Today, the nearby national monument offers visitors a glimpse at the range of species that once roamed North America such as Allosaurus, Deinonychus, and Stegosaurus.

Fat bloom: when chocolate gets old or warm

After identifying the new Diplodocus bones in a parking lot, paleontologists worked with park staff, the Utah Conservation Corps, and local volunteers between September and October 2025 to remove around 3,000 pounds of rocks and fossils. The finds were then moved to the Natural History State Park Museum in Vernal, Utah, where they can be viewed in the institution’s public fossil preparation lab. Additional examples are already on display at the Dinosaur National Monument’s Quarry Exhibit Hall. Also known as the Wall of Bones, the exhibit hall is situated over an intact section of the original Carnegie quarry dig showcasing an estimated 1,500 dinosaur fossils still embedded in rock.

Researchers are now continuing to clean and examine the parking lot discoveries that broke the century-long dry spell for Dinosaur, Colorado. That said, the town wasn’t always so aptly named. Originally known as Baxter Springs, the location was eventually retitled Artesia during an oil rush in the 1940s oil boom. In 1966, the small hub finally received its current Dinosaur designation.

The post Dinosaur bones found underneath parking lot in Dinosaur, Colorado appeared first on Popular Science.

This deadly dog ‘spaghetti’ has ancient origins

Laura Baisas — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Every year, millions of dogs come face-to-face with a life threatening parasite coiled up inside one of their vital organs—heartworm. The spaghetti-looking parasite can be fatal when left untreated.

This white, hazy coating is called fat bloom, and it happens when cocoa butter inside the chocolate slowly changes its shape.

New research into the widespread canine parasite suggests that heartworm has a deeper and more complex history than scientists previously believed and some may have originated in Australian dingoes. The findings are detailed in a study published today in the journal Communications Biology.

Heartworm disease is caused by the parasite Dirofilaria immitis. It is spread to dogs by mosquitoes and can be fatal. Adult worms live in the blood vessels of the heart and lungs and can grow up to 11.8 inches long (30 centimeters). Dog owners and veterinarians often report that worms can look like a strand of spaghetti in the heart.

Heartworms taken from a dog’s heart. Image: University of Sydney.

In the new study, an international team of researchers looked at over 100 heartworm genomes collected from pet dogs and wild canids from around the world. They used whole-genome sequencing to compare heartworms found in different regions, which helped them reconstruct population histories and track how the parasites diverged over time. They then pinpointed distinct regional heartworm populations that were shaped by the how and when ancient canids moved across the earth during ice ages.

They found that ancient canid hosts such as wolves and dingoes played a pivotal role in shaping how heartworms have been distributed across the globe for thousands of years.

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“For decades, we assumed heartworms were spread mainly through recent human activity,” Dr. Rosemonde Power, a study co-author and University of Stockholm paleogeneticist, said in a statement. “What we’re seeing instead is evidence of deep co-evolution between heartworms and their canine hosts, even before humans were part of the picture.”

So what about that baker’s cookies?

One of the study’s most interesting findings relates to Australia. Genetic signatures in Australian heartworms suggest that they might share ancestry with parasites found in Asia. According to the team, this raises the possibility that heartworm may have arrived in Australia with the continent’s first dingoes. The wild canids are believed to have migrated from Asia thousands of years ago.

However, the team cautions that the evidence is not conclusive. Heartown also may have been introduced to Australia more recently, following European colonization.

“While our data suggest an ancient link between Australian and Asian heartworms, the sample size means we need to be careful about drawing firm conclusions,” said study co-author and University of Sydney veterinarian Jan Slapeta. “What we can say with confidence is that heartworm evolution is far older and more complex than a simple story of parasites hitchhiking with modern dogs.”

Graphic showing canid migrations and heartworm specimen sites. Image: University of Sydney.

The bottom line

Despite being separated by thousands of years, understanding how these ancient parasites evolved does have implications for animals living today. Like with antibiotics, resistance to common heartworm treatments and prevention methods is growing.

Chocolate bloom is caused by sugar or fat molecules moving around, and usually it’s just a cosmetic issue.

“Understanding where heartworms come from and how different populations are related helps us respond more effectively to disease and drug resistance,” added Slapeta. “Heartworms are not the same everywhere, and local history matters.”

If it’s only on the surface, the chocolate will taste fine—“there is no effect other than the visual turn-off,” says Hartel.

In future studies, more sampling, particularly from regions that are more underrepresented regions could help explain more about the parasite, including that mystery of where Australia’s heartworm first originated.

But if the chocolate is very old and the bloom has spread deep inside, the chocolate will be cracked, dry and crusty, possibly with a waxy aftertaste, says Hartel.

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The post This deadly dog ‘spaghetti’ has ancient origins appeared first on Popular Science.

A robot bat sheds new light on how they hunt in darkness

Clarissa Brincat — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Biologists and engineers have joined forces to build a new robot bat that’s helping us understand how real bats use echolocation to hunt for food. By creating a robot that can echolocate, the team mimicked a bat’s flight path and explained how bats can quickly determine whether or not their prey is on a leaf. This new bat’s eye view is detailed in a study recently published in the Journal of Experimental Biology

He confesses to having a chocolate Santa that’s about 30 years old. “Not for eating,” he says.

The study was led in part by bat scientist and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute research associate Inga Geipel. In fact, the robot’s performance largely confirmed Geipel’s hypothesis about real bats. While she expected these results, she still found them gratifying, not so much for herself, but for her furry subjects.

The post Why does chocolate turn white? It’s not mold. appeared first on Popular Science.

Meze Audio builds on its success, literally, with new STRADA headphones

Tony Ware — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

“I’m always Team Bat,” Geipel tells Popular Science. “They always trick me, they always outsmart me.”

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Echolocation for people in a hurry

Meze Audio

World’s largest carnivorous bats are big softies

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Bats use echolocation to find their way and hunt for prey. The winged mammals emit rapid clicking sounds from their mouths and listen for the echoes as those sounds bounce off nearby objects, which could include potential meals. By interpreting the timing and strength of those returning echoes, bats can build a detailed acoustic picture of their surroundings.

That sonar-based perception process is somewhat akin to the way autonomous vehicles use LiDAR sensors to create a mini map of the world around them. But while self-driving cars rely on dozens of cameras and sensors working in concert, bats accomplish the same task intuitively, with just two ears and a mouth.

Though scientists have long known that bats used echolocation, it was still unclear exactly how they utilize it in the real world, especially in densely packed jungles and rainforests where there are virtually unlimited empty leaves vying for a hungry bat’s attention.

Common big-eared bat (Micronycteris microtis) eating a freshly-caught dragonfly. Image:
Christian Ziegler.

Entering a bat’s world

To fly into a bat’s world, the team built on Geipel’s nearly 20 years of research. She says her fascination began when she glimpsed one of the flying mammals deftly fluttering through a lightless night sky. Also a lifelong admirer of music and sound, Geipel was captivated by the notion that these creatures could use those senses to “see” in ways humans can’t comprehend. She hoped her future work would shed some light on that intellectual darkness.

We’re looking forward to auditioning one, if not both, of these for future coverage.

The post Meze Audio builds on its success, literally, with new STRADA headphones appeared first on Popular Science.

Jabra transforms headsets into headphones with new Evolve3 75 & 85

Tony Ware — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

“Seeing the world through sound is a sensory system that is alien to us,” Geipel said. “I find it highly fascinating that bats can fly in total darkness.”

The new robot bat study is something of a spiritual “sequel” to Geipel’s PhD research on bat foraging. That earlier work showed that big-eared bats (Micronycteris microtis) initially approach leaves at a specific angle so that their sonar clicks reflect off smooth forest leaves like an echolocation mirror. Leaves with objects on them, such as insects, scatter the sonar, resulting in the bat receiving a stronger return pulse. From the bat’s perspective, stronger echoes can mean a tasty lunch.

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But while that basic theory makes intuitive sense, it also presents a practical problem. For the proposed system to work, bats would seemingly need to know the orientation and position of every leaf they pass, whether or not it holds potential prey. In a forest, a hungry bat would be overwhelmed by the need to constantly analyze a cacophony of echoes from countless leaves muddying its sonar. The bat would essentially spend all its time toiling over the correct angle of approach.

“Behavioral experiments had already suggested how these bats might solve the problem of finding prey-occupied leaves, but we wanted to know whether that explanation was actually sufficient to make the behavior work,” paper co-author and University of Cincinnati associate professor of biology, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering Dieter Vanderelst said in a statement.

That’s where the idea for the robot came into play. The robo-bat was designed to function as a mechanical stand-in for the real thing, allowing researchers to analyze how the winged mammals approach leaves with and without prey. To do that, the team brought together experts from both biology and engineering in pursuit of a common goal—an interdisciplinary collaboration that isn’t all that common. Geipel says the team drew on the combined knowledge of biologists like herself and engineers capable of modeling the physical world through robotics.

“By building the bat’s hypothesized foraging strategy into a robot and testing it in the physical world, we could ask whether a simple, elegant solution can succeed under complex acoustic conditions, ” Vanderelst added.

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Designing a bat robot

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When designing the robot, the team wanted a system that closely modeled a bat’s natural foraging technique without adding unnecessary complexity. The resulting bat robot” prioritizes function over form. It consists of a robotic arm with a built-in sonar emitter meant to mimic the chirps a bat produces. At the end of the arm are binaural microphones that serve as the robot bat’s “ears.”

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The post Jabra transforms headsets into headphones with new Evolve3 75 & 85 appeared first on Popular Science.

The swinging sex lives of Alaska’s beluga whales

Mack DeGeurin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The entire apparatus is mounted on a 9.8-foot -long (or three meters) linear track, which functions as a highly condensed flight path. The track is so condensed that it fits in what looks like a small office.

Common big-eared bat (Micronycteris microtis) approaching a katydid resting on a leaf. Image: Inga Geipel, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

The robot performs the tasks necessary to collect crucial research data, but it certainly wouldn’t fool anyone into thinking it was a true doppelganger of its biological inspiration. Personally, Geipel says she would have favored adding googly eyes, but they ultimately passed on the idea for the sake of professionalism.

A surprising strategy

The “leaves” in this case were 3D-printed cardboard. Some of them had a roughly 3.5-inch-long (nine-centimeters) 3D-printed cardboard dragonfly pinned to their centers to represent potential prey. During the experiment, the robot moved along the track, emitting successive sonar pulses with about a 0.5-second delay between them. The resulting signal data formed what the researchers call an “echo envelope,” which was then wirelessly sent back to the computer controlling the robot arm.

Robotic arm equipped with a sonar head searching and finding an artificial dragonfly on artificial leaves. The laser indicates where the SONAR head is looking. CREDIT: Dieter Vanderelst, University of Cincinnati

Since belugas live 30 to 50 years on average—with some living as long as 80 years—the team focused on what happens during one mating season instead of over a whole lifetime.

In total, the team conducted more than 45 trials of the robo-bat flying past various leaf configurations, both with and without prey. The system performed remarkably well. The robot successfully detected leaves with a pinned dragonfly 98 percent of the time and falsely identified prey on empty leaves only 18 percent of the time.

Critically, the bat robot achieved these results without first assessing the orientation or angle of the leaves, one of the primary questions the researchers aimed to answer. The bat appeared to follow a simple framework: track strong, stable echoes above a certain threshold and ignore those that don’t meet it.

An aggregation of adult beluga whales in a bay during the summer in the High Arctic. Image: Greg O’Corry-Crowe and Cortney Watt, Arctic Whale Research Program – FAU/DFO.

While this work specially looks at big-eared bats (Micronycteris microtis), the researchers are hopeful they could apply it to other species.

Bat inspired robots come in several shapes and sizes

Bats have inspired other robots in past studies. In 2017, engineers at Tel Aviv University developed Robat the Robot, a first-of-its-kind autonomous, wheeled device that navigated and explored its surroundings solely using echolocation. Although it couldn’t fly, Robat was equipped with an ultrasonic speaker that emitted bat-like chirps every 30 seconds. It processed the returning echoes through an onboard machine-learning model, which allowed it to identify and avoid obstacles in real time.

Mating matters

Before that, researchers from Caltech and the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign designed Bat Bot, a bat-inspired robot with soft, articulating wings that weighed just 3.2 ounces (93 grams). The major innovation there was the creation of synthetic wings capable of changing shape as they flap, much like those of a real bat. The team achieved this by developing a custom-made, ultra-thin silicone membrane for the wings.

Two beluga whale cow-calf pairs in a shallow river estuary in the High Arctic. Image.
Greg O’Corry-Crowe and Cortney Watt, Arctic Whale Research Program – FAU/DFO.

The robot Geipel and her colleagues helped create, by contrast, might be less visually impressive than these two earlier examples. However, its function arguably provides researchers with richer data to actually understand with better detail how real living and breathing bats operate.

Looking ahead, Geipel says she and her team hope to expand the research to include a wider range of bat species and see if they can understand more clearly how bats distinguish between different kinds of possible prey clinging to leaves. When it comes to studying bats more broadly, she adds, there is still plenty left to uncover.

“We are just scratching the surface here,” Geipel said.

The post A robot bat sheds new light on how they hunt in darkness appeared first on Popular Science.

This weirdly shaped pillow might help you sleep better and it’s 40% off at Amazon right now

Laura Baisas — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 20:51:53 -0500

A pillow is a very personal choice. But, if it has been a while since you replaced yours—or you have been waking up with a sore neck or shoulder—it’s probably time to upgrade. Right now, Amazon has this uniquely shaped neck support pillow for its lowest price ever. Not only does it do a better job of supporting your neck than a typical flat pillow, it has a dedicated place for your arm, which is crucial for side sleepers like me. I’ve been using a similar pillow for the past few weeks and it has seemingly made a difference, especially in the shoulder I usually squish while I’m sleeping.

Editor’s picks

The post The swinging sex lives of Alaska’s beluga whales appeared first on Popular Science.

13 gorgeous black-and-white images of the animal kingdom

Stan Horaczek — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:04:00 -0500

While our world is filled with brilliant colors, seeing it in monochrome can be striking.

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“Emperors”
Emperor penguin family together after feeding the chick.
Credit: Risto Raunio / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

This one is trying to solve two common problems at once: neck support and overheating. The contoured shape is meant to “catch” your head and neck instead of letting you crank sideways all night, and the cooling angle is nice if you’re the kind of sleeper who flips the pillow to find the cold side. It’s $35.98 (40% off), which is about as low-risk as these specialty pillows get.

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“Zacudno”
Credit: Lidija Novković / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

If you want the “cooling cervical pillow” idea without overthinking it, this is a straightforward pick at $35.99 (40% off). A contoured pillow can be especially helpful for side sleepers who need a consistent gap-fill between shoulder and head. If you’re trying to stop waking up with that stiff, “what did I do yesterday?” neck feeling, this is a reasonable place to start.

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Not everyone wants a “cooling” cover, and not every bedroom needs more specialty fabric. This one is a simpler cervical-style option that still aims for better alignment, and it’s $39.98 (29% off). If you’re experimenting with contour pillows for the first time, pay attention to whether your chin feels pushed up or down—either one is a sign the loft isn’t right for you.

“The Dive”
Credit: Fabi Fregonesi / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

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The post This weirdly shaped pillow might help you sleep better and it’s 40% off at Amazon right now appeared first on Popular Science.

British soldier’s long-lost memoir rediscovered in Cleveland

Popular Science Team — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0500

A long-lost second memoir penned by a famed 19th-century British soldier named Shadlock Byfield resurfaced in a rather unexpected place—Cleveland, Ohio. As explained in a study recently published in the Journal of British Studies, Byfield’s second book depicts a very different war veteran than the one described in his first autobiography written 11 years earlier.

Who was Shadrack Byfield?

Although he may not be a household name, many early American history buffs are well acquainted with Shadrack Byfield. The British soldier served at Fort George near the Niagara River during the War of 1812, fighting in multiple battles over the course of the roughly three year-long conflict.

“Under a Veil of Algae”
Credit: Jana Hejzlarova / Exposure One Awards – 2025 Nature Photography Contest

At one point, a musket ball wound forced doctors to amputate Byfield’s left forearm—without anesthesia. After learning his limb had been tossed into a “dung-heap,” the recuperating soldier reportedly retrieved it himself so he could bury it in a makeshift coffin.

The post 13 gorgeous black-and-white images of the animal kingdom appeared first on Popular Science.

How to really spot AI-generated images, with Google’s help

Andrew Paul — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:09:44 -0500

Byfield returned to England after the war, but his disability prevented him from going back to his previous job as a weaver. After dreaming of an “instrument” to solve the problem, Byfield asked a nearby blacksmith to build the tool for him. In 1840, the veteran published A Narrative of a Light Company Soldier’s Service, a memoir detailing these and other experiences.

A new chapter

For over 200 years, historians believed the 1840 book to be Byfield’s only manuscript. However, Cambridge University historian Eamonn O’Keeffe recently discovered the only known copy of an entirely separate book in the Western Reserve Historical Society’s library in Cleveland, Ohio. But unlike Byfield’s first publication, his 1851’s History and Conversion of a British Soldier tells his life story from a very different angle.

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“In the 1840 narrative, Byfield sought to impress wealthy patrons by presenting himself as a dutiful soldier and deserving veteran,” O’Keeffe said in an accompanying statement. “The 1851 memoir, by contrast, was a spiritual redemption story, with Byfield tracing his progress from rebellious sinner to devout and repentant Christian.”

The second book is also far more confessional. Where A Narrative explored the experiences of a Byfield “comfortably” supporting his family for almost 20 years after receiving his prosthetic forearm, History and Conversion describes his chronic pain and everyday difficulties due to the injury.

“It now pleased the Lord to afflict me with a violent rheumatic pain in my right shoulder, from which the [musket] ball was cut out,” Byfield writes in the latter book. “I was in this condition for nearly three years…oftentimes I was not able to lift my hand to my head, nor a tea-cup to my mouth.”

Google’s SynthID can be used to label AI content. Image: Google

Other memories were more unflattering, such as abandoning his army duties to engage in a plundering excursion with other soldiers.

“Such unflattering incidents are conspicuously absent from Byfield’s earlier accounts of his military service,” said O’Keeffe. “In the 1851 memoir, the veteran also dwells on periods of indebtedness, illness and unemployment after returning to England.

New details of resilience

Check the context

Byfield’s difficulties didn’t end after publishing History and Conversion. In 1853, fellow church parishioners accused him of injuring a rival’s eye and face using his prosthetic’s iron hook. The dispute was part of a larger entanglement over rightful control of the village chapel, which eventually grew to include arson, vandalism, and even a riot. Although never convicted of a crime, Byfield and his supporters eventually lost the fight and his job at the time.

By 1856, Byfield was a widower and returned to his hometown. While he married a second wife, he continued to sometimes struggle financially. In 1867, he published another personal narrative, The Forlorn Hope, and died at the age of 84 in 1874. No copies of this third and final book are known to exist.

“Uncovering these new details about his life provides remarkable insight into the suffering and resilience of Britain’s homecoming soldiers,” said O’Keeffe. “Byfield’s 1851 memoir emphasises the challenges of post-war reintegration, especially for veterans with disabilities, in the decades after the Napoleonic Wars.”

The post British soldier’s long-lost memoir rediscovered in Cleveland appeared first on Popular Science.

Veronika the Cow shocks scientists by using a tool

David Nield — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500

The smart animal club continues to add new members, and the newest might surprise you. A pet cow in Austria named Veronika picks up sticks with her mouth and uses them to scratch herself—which a team at University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna in Austria believes is tool use. Veronika and her ground-breaking scratching are detailed in a study published today in Current Biology.

Imagine getting six near-identical kittens to actually line up like this. Image: AI generated, Gemini Made with Google AI

“The findings highlight how assumptions about livestock intelligence may reflect gaps in observation rather than genuine cognitive limits,” Alice Auersperg, a study co-author and cognitive biologist at the university, said in a statement.

Veronika uses different scratching techniques on different body areas. Image: Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró.

Why tool use is a big deal

Look for the signs

In biology, tool use is defined using an external object to achieve a goal through mechanical means. It is used by both biologists and anthropologists as a key indicator of a species’ brain and cognitive development. In humans, the Oldowan tool kit—three specific stone tools that date back roughly 2.9 million years—is considered the earliest known example of our species using stone tools.

Elsewhere in the animal kingdom, chimpanzees use sticks as tools to access bugs and honey, while crows also use sticks to probe for hidden sources of food. Humpback whales catch fish using “bubble nets,” which some scientists also consider to be a type of tool use.

Meet Veronika

A generic boy on a generic street, with a newspaper showing the standard ChatGPT font. Image: AI generated, ChatGPT

Veronika is a 13-year-old Swiss Brown cow that is not farmed for meat or milk. She belongs to organic farmer and baker Witgar Wiegele as a companion. Over 10 years ago, Witgar noticed that Veronika would occasionally grab sticks and use them to scratch. Study co-author and animal cognition researcher Antonio Osuna-Mascaró tells Popular Science that Witgar said Veronika was very clumsy at first, but has improved her technique considerably over the years.

Witgar recorded a video of the behavior and shared it with Auersperg.

The post How to really spot AI-generated images, with Google’s help appeared first on Popular Science.

Amazon is blowing out Cuddl Duds base layers and and thermal underwear just in time for frigid temperatures

Laura Baisas — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:42:40 -0500

“When I saw the footage, it was immediately clear that this was not accidental,” she recalls. “This was a meaningful example of tool use in a species that is rarely considered from a cognitive perspective.”

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The wonderful Veronika. Image: Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró.

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Along with Osuna-Mascaró, Auersperg conducted systematic behavioral tests with Veronika. In a series of controlled trials, they presented the cow with a deck brush that was positioned on the ground in random spots. They then recorded which end Veronika selected and which body region she targeted.

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Across repeated sessions, they found that her choices were consistent and functionally appropriate for the body regions she targeted.

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“We show that a cow can engage in genuinely flexible tool use,” added Osuna-Mascaró. “Veronika is not just using an object to scratch herself. She uses different parts of the same tool for different purposes, and she applies different techniques depending on the function of the tool and the body region.”

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Researchers observed that Veronika typically prefers to use the bristled end of a deck brush when scratching the broad, firm areas of her body such as her back. However, when targeting the softer and more sensitive regions of her lower body, she switches over to the smooth stick end.

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She also adjusts how she handles the tool. When scratching her upper body, Veronika uses more wide and forceful movements, while her lower-body scratching is slower, more careful, and highly controlled.

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What makes Veronika tick?

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The team believes that Veronika’s actions meet the standard definition of tool use, but also go one step further. They describe her scratching as flexible, multi-purpose tool use, meaning that she uses different features of the same object to achieve a different outcome. Multi-purpose tool use like this is extraordinarily rare. Outside of our species, it has only previously been documented convincingly in chimpanzees.

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“Because she is using the tool on her own body, this represents an egocentric form of tool use, which is generally considered less complex than tool use directed at external objects,” said Osuna-Mascaró. “At the same time, she faces clear physical constraints, as she must manipulate tools with her mouth. What is striking is how she compensates for these limitations, anticipating the outcome of her actions and adjusting her grip and movements accordingly.”

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Veronika using the broom with the bakery as background. Image: Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró.

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Importantly, the authors note that Veronika’s life circumstances may have played a major role in the emergence of this behavior. Most cows do not live to 13 or spend their days in open and complex environments. They are also rarely given the opportunity to interact with a variety of manipulable objects. Her long lifespan, daily contact with humans, and access to an engaging physical landscape likely created favorable conditions for her to explore and innovate.

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The team plans to investigate which environmental and social conditions allow these kinds of behaviors to pop up in livestock species, and see how many similar cases may have gone unnoticed simply because no one was looking for them.

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“Because we suspect this ability may be more widespread than currently documented,” Osuna-Mascaró said, “we invite readers who have observed cows or bulls using sticks or other handheld objects for purposeful actions to contact us.”

The post Veronika the Cow shocks scientists by using a tool appeared first on Popular Science.

Tyrannosaurus rex took 40 years to reach full size

Margherita Bassi — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Tyrannosaurus rex is arguably the world’s most famous dinosaur, yet paleontologists are still learning more about this giant “tyrant lizard king.” T. rex roamed the western United States during the Cretaceous Period about 145 to 66 million years ago, and was likely alive when the meteor that kicked off all non-avian dinosaur’s extinction struck.

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Based on the annual growth rings (like those on trees) within fossilized leg bones, scientists estimate that T. rex usually reach adulthood at around 25 years old. However, new research argues that their growth phase lasted significantly longer. They may have become fully grown—approximately eight tons—after 40 years. The paper was recently published in the journal PeerJ.

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To produce an updated timeline of tyrannosaur growth, scientists studied 17 tyrannosaur specimens of all ages.

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“We came up with a new statistical approach that stitches together growth records from different specimens to estimate the growth trajectory of T. rex across all stages of life in greater detail than any previous study,” Nathan Myhrvold, a mathematician and paleobiologist at Intellectual Ventures and co-author of the new study said in a statement. “The composite growth curve provides a much more realistic view of how Tyrannosaurus grew and how much they varied in size.”

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The team then studied bone slices from the specimens with a type of light that unveils previously overlooked growth rings within the bones. The T. rex bone slices—or cross sections—only consist of the animal’s most recent one to two decades.

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“Examining the growth rings preserved in the fossilized bones allowed us to reconstruct the animals’ year-by-year growth histories,” said Holly Woodward, a study co-author and a professor of anatomy at Oklahoma State University.

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Together, with co-author and Chapman University paleontologist Jack Horner, Myhrvold and Woodward, assembled a large T. rex data set. From all of this data, it appears that the iconic beast followed the tortoise’s advice—it grew more slowly and steadily than what researchers thought.

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A graph showing how the Tyrannosaurus rex may have grown Image: Dr. Holly Woodward Ballard.

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What’s more, the dinosaur’s long growth period might have enabled it to carry out diverse ecological roles before becoming fully grown, Horner explained. This also might be one of the reasons why they ruled at the top of the food chain toward the end of the Cretaceous Period.

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The study also indicates that some of the 17 tyrannosaur specimens might actually not be T. rexes, joining other research suggesting the misidentification of some T. rex specimens. For example, a 2025 study argues that some small fossils, which some researchers thought were young T. rexes, actually belonged to a smaller relative, Nanotyrannus.

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According to the team, these earlier propositions are still controversial and heavily debated. However, their study highlights the possibility that two famous specimens, dubbed Jane and Petey, might not be the same species, as well as other potential reasons why their growth curves are statistically incompatible. Interestingly, these are the same specimens that other recent research categorized as two different Nanotyrannus species.

The post Tyrannosaurus rex took 40 years to reach full size appeared first on Popular Science.

Amazon has this 262-piece Craftsman Mechanic Tool set for just $129 (down from $249)

Stan Horaczek — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 23:12:36 -0500

If your tool situation is currently “one decent drill, three mismatched sockets, and a growing sense of regret,” these CRAFTSMAN deals are a solid excuse to get organized. There are a few big-ticket upgrades here (cordless kits and rolling storage), plus the cheap-but-useful stuff (blades, bits, and sockets) that makes weekend projects go a lot smoother.

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This is the “stop borrowing tools and start fixing your own stuff” bundle. You get a deep mix of sockets and wrenches (SAE and metric) plus a drawer setup that keeps the small parts from turning into a chaotic pile. If you do basic car work, bike maintenance, or even just assemble a lot of furniture, a comprehensive kit like this saves time because you actually have the right size on hand.

Cuddl Duds Women’s Fleece-Lined Thermal Set (Chili Red) $34.98 (was $42.99)

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CRAFTSMAN V20 RP 1/2-inch Brushless Impact Wrench Kit (4Ah + charger) (CMCF900M1) $169 (was $219)

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Craftsman

Cuddl Duds Women’s Fleece-Lined Thermal Set (Boysenberry Purple) $34.98 (was $42.99)

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An impact wrench is the fast lane for lug nuts and stubborn bolts that laugh at a regular ratchet. This one runs on the V20 platform and includes a 4Ah battery and charger, so it’s a legit starter kit if you don’t already own into the ecosystem. It’s also the kind of tool you’ll use once, then wonder why you waited.

Cuddl Duds Women’s Fleece-Lined Thermal Set (Hunter Green) $34.98 (was $42.99)

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CRAFTSMAN TRADESTACK Rolling Tower (CMST60420) $134 (was $199)

- - - - -

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Scientists watch how mice learn, one synapse at a time

Cuddl Duds Women’s Fleece-Lined Thermal Set (Variant ASIN: B0FQW1MDBD) $34.98

+ -

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Craftsman

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Women’s pajama & lounge sets

If your “workshop” is really a corner of the garage (or the trunk of your car), rolling storage is the difference between being prepared and digging through a mess. A modular tower like this keeps larger tools separated from small parts, and the wheels make it realistic to move everything in one trip instead of five. It’s especially useful if you bounce between indoor projects and outdoor fixes.

Cuddl Duds Women’s Button-Down PJ Set (Variant ASIN: B0FLMWDYPB) $48.00

Tool deals

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Power tools and kits

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The post Amazon is blowing out Cuddl Duds base layers and and thermal underwear just in time for frigid temperatures appeared first on Popular Science.

Scottish distillery wants to bottle whisky in aluminum, not glass

Andrew Paul — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:31:53 -0500

Blades, bits, and sockets

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CRAFTSMAN 21-piece drill bit & screwdriver set (CMAM3211) $19.99 (38% off)

CRAFTSMAN hex bit socket set, 3/8″ drive SAE, 6-piece (CMMT34447) $19.20 (42% off)

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Big tool set upgrade

The post Scottish distillery wants to bottle whisky in aluminum, not glass appeared first on Popular Science.

Dinosaur bones found underneath parking lot in Dinosaur, Colorado

Andrew Paul — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:11:01 -0500

CRAFTSMAN 262-piece mechanic tool set with 3-drawer VERSASTACK box (CMMT45309) $129.00 (48% off)

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CRAFTSMAN plastic tool box with drawers (CMST17804) $37.98 (21% off)

The post Dinosaur bones found underneath parking lot in Dinosaur, Colorado appeared first on Popular Science.

This deadly dog ‘spaghetti’ has ancient origins

Stan Horaczek — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

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Heartworms taken from a dog’s heart. Image: University of Sydney.

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They found that ancient canid hosts such as wolves and dingoes played a pivotal role in shaping how heartworms have been distributed across the globe for thousands of years.

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However, the team cautions that the evidence is not conclusive. Heartown also may have been introduced to Australia more recently, following European colonization.

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The post Amazon has this 262-piece Craftsman Mechanic Tool set for just $129 (down from $249) appeared first on Popular Science.

Toyota is drag racing hydrogen-powered trucks in the Arizona desert

Laura Baisas — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0500

Filling up a hydrogen tank is much like filling up a gas-powered car in both the basic experience and in the time it takes. That’s been a major barrier for EVs thus far; adding 20 minutes or more for each recharge on a road trip is not nearly as appealing as pulling up to a Chevron station and getting out of there in a few minutes. However, hydrogen hasn’t yet caught on as a large-scale solution largely due to funding, even though even the US Department of Energy says it has “several benefits over conventional combustion-based technologies currently used in many power plants and vehicles.”

Graphic showing canid migrations and heartworm specimen sites. Image: University of Sydney.

In December, Toyota announced its intention to amp up US hydrogen infrastructure by investing in FirstElement Fuel, the largest retail hydrogen fueling infrastructure provider in California. The automaker has spent the last 30 years researching and developing hydrogen fuel cells; in fact, Toyota has a full campus in Gardena, California, dedicated just to hydrogen research. While it has been refining hydrogen fuel-cell technologies since 2001, the campus was just renamed the Toyota North American Hydrogen Headquarters (which it calls H2HQ), in 2024.

Toyota debuted the hydrogen-powered Mirai sedan back in 2015, but so far it’s only available in California, the only place in the country where hydrogen pumps are available for passenger cars. At its Arizona proving grounds, Toyota also tests its heavy-duty class 8 hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, racing them against their diesel siblings. I had the chance to ride shotgun in the FCEV and diesel-powered semi on two separate test runs, and the hydrogen truck is vastly cleaner, quicker, and spits water from its tailpipe instead of noxious fumes. However, getting the rest of the country to adopt H2 is a long game.

Toyota has been researching and testing hydrogen-powered vehicles for the last three decades. Image: Nissan

How hydrogen fuel cells work

The post This deadly dog ‘spaghetti’ has ancient origins appeared first on Popular Science.

A robot bat sheds new light on how they hunt in darkness

Kristin Shaw — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Bearing the symbol H and atomic number 1, hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe. It can be produced via steam methane reformation, electrolysis, and biomass gasification and hydrogen separation. Fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction, not combustion, and are used to provide power for homes, businesses, and transportation. They don’t need to be periodically recharged like batteries, just access to a source of more fuel.

A fuel cell is composed of an anode, cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. According to the D.C.-based Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association, this is how the process works:

“I’m always Team Bat,” Geipel tells Popular Science. “They always trick me, they always outsmart me.”

Hydrogen atoms enter at the anode while oxygen passes through the cathode.

Echolocation for people in a hurry

A catalyst strips atoms of their electrons, separating the protons.

Positively charged protons pass through the porous electrolyte membrane to the cathode, and negatively charged electrons are forced through a circuit, generating electricity.

After passing through the circuit, the electrons combine with the protons and oxygen from the air to generate the fuel cell’s byproducts: water and heat

“I think a lot of folks think it’s a very complex system, but it’s just a battery with an anodic cathode; the chemical reaction happens silently as you add hydrogen to the system,” says Debby Byrne, an executive program manager at Toyota North America. “There’s no moving parts, so you get that benefit as well. You’re not taking it into the dealership for oil changes, and you get less wear and tear compared to a piston-driven engine.”

Common big-eared bat (Micronycteris microtis) eating a freshly-caught dragonfly. Image:
Christian Ziegler.

Oil- and gas-fueled vehicles aren’t a risk-free process either. Gasoline tanks can be dangerous if they’re not made with high-quality materials and processes, and even though the safety measures have come a long way you’ll still see warnings about static electricity on gas pumps across America. Oil is expensive to collect, too, but the infrastructure and support is well established.

Entering a bat’s world

Toyota uses the same level of detail and attention to safety when it comes to building its hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles as it does for its gas and hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs. Plus, hydrogen sensors detect a leak or a collision, Toyota says; in case of an accident, the hydrogen tank valves are designed to close, preventing any additional hydrogen from escaping.

Hydrogen fueling is not widely available yet, but Toyota hopes to change that. Image: Toyota

“Seeing the world through sound is a sensory system that is alien to us,” Geipel said. “I find it highly fascinating that bats can fly in total darkness.”

Convincing the skeptics

- - -

Hydrogen is a clean energy that may be produced using solar power, wind, and biowaste. Toyota and Connecticut-based FuelCell Energy launched the first-of-its-kind “Tri-gen” system in 2023, which uses biogas from a nearby wastewater treatment facility to produce renewable electricity, renewable hydrogen, and usable water. These products are used for port vehicle processing operations at Toyota Logistic Services Long Beach. .

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Toyota says the use of renewable electricity helps reduce more than 9,000 tons of anticipated CO2 emissions per year, while unused electricity is returned to the local utility. Every day, the Tri-gen facility produces up to 1,200 kilograms of hydrogen daily for fuel-cell electric vehicles, including large class 8 semi trucks, and it recycles about 1,400 gallons of water every day.

- - - -

That recycled H2O is used to wash vehicles just arriving from the plant in Japan prior to delivery, which reduces water waste from the local plant. Notably, Toyota and FuelCell’s Tri-gen facility was honored with the US Department of Energy’s 2025 Better Project Award in May. The Better Project Award recognizes innovation in energy, water, and waste reduction efficiency.

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Toyota sees it as a “game changer” for the world, but it has its fair share of skeptics and naysayers. Toyota hosted me and a select group of journalists for a tour of its 12,000-acre testing ground in Arizona recently, and Caleb Jacobs from The Drive entered a skeptic and emerged enlightened, if not completely convinced about hydrogen power. It became clear, he says, that Toyota views hydrogen as a solution for a future not yet clear to the everyday person.

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Toyota’s H2-Overlander concept truck was built to show how H2 emissions could be put to use as a non-potable water source while camping. Image: Toyota

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Take Toyota’s H2-Overland concept, unveiled at the SEMA show in November, which collects and filters water produced by the fuel cell. Users can then use that replenishing water supply for non-potable functions like washing hands or dishes.

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“Imagine that same idea,” Jacobs says, “but with industrial generators and power supplies.”

The post Toyota is drag racing hydrogen-powered trucks in the Arizona desert appeared first on Popular Science.

Female mice often have multiple sexual partners—for survival

Margherita Bassi — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 10:17:00 -0500

If a female house mouse mates with multiple male house mice, her litter could have multiple fathers. Polyandry, as this mating practice is called, is common for various species. Yet scientists are still investigating its purpose and the potential benefits of birthing half siblings within the same litter.

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“Such multiply-sired litters have been suggested to produce benefits in low-quality environments that may be masked in higher-quality environments,” the researchers write in a study recently published in BMC Ecology and Evolution. “So far, however, the effect of environmental quality has only been tested in birds with equivocal evidence.”

- - - -

Within this context, two researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Germany investigated polyandry in western house mice (Mus musculus domesticus). The team put hundreds of mice in each of a number of enclosures mimicking wild habitats. For four years, they gave the mice in some of the enclosures a high-quality diet. The others received a typical, less nutritious diet.They then tracked the mice’s mating behaviors and the results to shed light on reproduction methods in the face of this resource variable.

- - - -

Ultimately, around one-third of litters in both the high-quality and lower-quality food habitats had more than one father. However, larger litters (the benefit of polyandry quantified by the study) only came from the lower-quality food habitats, with mothers birthing large litters in high-quality food habitats no matter the number of fathers. This indicates that the benefit of polyandry likely depends on the environment, particularly the food quality for the mother.

The new robot bat study is something of a spiritual “sequel�� to Geipel’s PhD research on bat foraging. That earlier work showed that big-eared bats (Micronycteris microtis) initially approach leaves at a specific angle so that their sonar clicks reflect off smooth forest leaves like an echolocation mirror. Leaves with objects on them, such as insects, scatter the sonar, resulting in the bat receiving a stronger return pulse. From the bat’s perspective, stronger echoes can mean a tasty lunch.

- Related Mouse Stories

+ Related Stories

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Mice may be able to recognize their own reflections

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World’s largest carnivorous bats are big softies

A furry antelope robot is keeping tabs on its organic cousins

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How bats avoid crashing into one another

“Our results suggested that polyandry provides greater lifetime fitness benefits when resources are of poorer quality,” the team explains in the study. “In other words, polyandry potentially yields its greatest advantages when resources are a limiting factor, but contributes little when conditions are already favourable.”

- - - -

The results also highlight that a specific reproductive behavior can result from particular situations. In times of lower quality resources, females might engage in polyandry in a way that raises the probability of some babies’ survival. This strategy is called bet-hedging, and it might not be as needed when there is lots of food. However, females still usually engage in it, pointing toward another inquiry—why?

The study paves the way for future research into how and why shifts in ecological pressures impact animal mating behaviors, potentially furthering our understanding of certain differences among species in changing habitats.

The post Female mice often have multiple sexual partners—for survival appeared first on Popular Science.

A huge iceberg becomes a deadly trap for penguins

Yook JiHun — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

A massive iceberg has triggered a catastrophic die-off of Emperor Penguin chicks in Antarctica, blocking thousands of parents from reaching their young. The event claimed the lives of approximately 14,000 chicks at the Coulman Island colony in the Ross Sea, the region’s largest breeding ground.

According to a research team led by Dr. Jeong-hoon Kim of the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), survival rates at the colony plummeted by 70 percent. Satellite analysis and drone surveys reveal that the population of new chicks fell from roughly 21,000 last year to just 6,700 this season.

A geographical trap

The primary cause of this event was an iceberg, spanning nearly 14 kilometers. Field observations by KOPRI researchers Jong-U Kim and Youmin Kim confirmed that the ice had obstructed the critical gateway connecting the breeding ground to the open ocean.

Designing a bat robot

Satellite analysis indicates the iceberg calved from the Nansen Ice Shelf in March 2025. It drifted northward before grounding against Coulman Island. By late July, this blockage had effectively cut off the penguins’ migration route.

An overview of the geographical blockade. The massive iceberg is shown obstructing the inlet between the Ross Sea and Coulman Island, effectively sealing off the Emperor Penguin colony. Image: Provided by KOPRI

The obstruction occurred at a critical phase in the breeding cycle. Under normal conditions, females depart to forage at sea after laying their eggs in June, leaving males to incubate the clutch. The survival of the hatchlings relies on the mothers returning 70 to 80 days later to deliver the first meal.

Common big-eared bat (Micronycteris microtis) approaching a katydid resting on a leaf. Image: Inga Geipel, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

This year, however, returning females were intercepted by an ice mass roughly the size of 5,000 soccer fields. The iceberg formed a deceptive trap. while its seaward face offered a gentle slope that allowed the penguins to ascend with ease, the side facing the inland colony dropped off into a sheer vertical cliff. Upon reaching the crest, the mothers found themselves stranded, unable to descend to the breeding ground below.

“The iceberg’s seaward approach has a gentle gradient, making it accessible, but the edge facing the breeding ground forms a precipitous cliff,” Dr. Kim explained. “Mothers following their usual route over the sea ice were suddenly confronted by this insurmountable barrier.”

@@ -3371,105 +3332,80 @@ -

Drone imagery captured a scene of desperate frustration. Hundreds of adult penguins were massed at the base of the ice cliff, pacing nervously as the topography barred them from the colony. The surrounding ice was heavily scarred with guano, evidence that the birds had been stranded there for a prolonged period.

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For the males waiting above, the blockade was catastrophic. Having already fasted for more than 70 days to incubate their young, they were pushed to their physiological breaking point.

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”Males must survive to ensure future breeding opportunities,” Dr. Kim explains, outlining the brutal calculus of nature. ”It is highly likely they were eventually compelled to abandon the chicks and retreat to the ocean, unable to endure the starvation any longer.”

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Researchers estimate that the surviving 30 percent of chicks were fed by mothers who managed to find alternative routes around the blockage. ”If the iceberg clears before the next breeding season, there is potential for recovery,” Dr. Kim said. ”But if the blockage persists, we may see long-term impacts, including the forced relocation of the entire colony.”

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Carcasses of Emperor Penguin chicks have been discovered at the Coulman Island colony. The presumed cause is starvation. Image: Provided by KOPRI

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Penguins pushed to the brink

- - - -

The Ross Sea serves as a vital sanctuary for Emperor Penguins. Whereas areas like the Antarctic Peninsula have struggled with early ice breakup and chick fatalities, the Ross Sea has remained comparatively stable. Sheltered deep within the continent, it benefits from robust sea ice and protection from rapid temperature shifts.

- +

However, the arrival of this iceberg introduces a volatile new threat to their survival. The incident was an anomaly. After calving from the Nansen Ice Shelf, the iceberg collided with drift ice near Coulman Island, a crash that diverted its path and sealed off the colony’s entrance. KOPRI researchers warn that this is not an isolated event but a harbinger of things to come. As global warming accelerates, frequent iceberg calving increases the risk that such blockades will occur again.

Icebergs of similar magnitude are still frequently observed in the region, traveling along drift paths that intersect with other Emperor Penguin habitats. While icebergs from the Nansen Ice Shelf typically follow established routes, analysis suggests this specific iceberg veered off course after striking underwater terrain or other ice masses—a deviation that led it straight to the colony.

Adult Emperor Penguins blocked by the iceberg’s sheer cliff face. The black dots visible at the top and bottom of the frame represent individual penguins unable to descend. Image: Provided by KOPRI

While this work specially looks at big-eared bats (Micronycteris microtis), the researchers are hopeful they could apply it to other species.

The team also noted that 14km iceberg also skirted Cape Washington, another major breeding ground. Researchers warn that if a future iceberg were to collide with this site and block its migration corridor, it could trigger another mass mortality event.

Bat inspired robots come in several shapes and sizes

Dr. Jin-ku Park, who analyzed the satellite data, expressed concern about the wider implications. “The trajectories of icebergs calving from the Nansen Ice Shelf frequently traverse other major habitats,” he said. “This indicates that the disintegration of ice shelves poses a latent but potent threat to Emperor Penguins and other Antarctic wildlife.”

KOPRI plans to submit these findings to international bodies next year, including the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Although discussions to designate the Emperor Penguin as a ’Specially Protected Species(SPS)’ are ongoing, progress has been blocked by objections.

“Objective, scientific evidence is a prerequisite for designating a species as protected,” Dr. Kim emphasized. “The Coulman Island case will serve as critical empirical proof of just how specific and lethal the threats posed by climate change are to the Emperor Penguin.”

Since 2017, KOPRI has monitored the Antarctic ecosystem as part of a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries initiative focused on the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area. The institute aims to use the data from this incident to refine its remote sensing techniques and accelerate Antarctic conservation efforts.

“This catastrophe underscores the unpredictable dangers climate change poses to the Antarctic ecosystem” said Dr. Hyoung-chul Shin, President of KOPRI “We plan to intensify satellite monitoring and field surveys during the next breeding season and continue investigating the impact of climate change on this fragile environment.”

The story was produced in partnership with our colleagues at Popular Science Korea.

The post A huge iceberg becomes a deadly trap for penguins appeared first on Popular Science.

Backcountry.com’s 3-day clearance flash sale dropped jackets, hoodies, fleeces, and more up to 70% off

Mack DeGeurin — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:54:37 -0500

If you’re looking for outdoor gear, Backcountry.com is a great spot to find just about everything. The site just dropped a 3-day flash sale with discounts up to 70 percent on jackets, snow pants, hoodies, fleeces, base layers, and just about everything else you could need to spend time outside. There are even some great deals on summer gear if you’re trying to stock up for when the weather gets warm.

If you’re looking for new shades, go check out these Backcountry sunglasses deals up to 70 percent off.

“We are just scratching the surface here,” Geipel said.

The post A robot bat sheds new light on how they hunt in darkness appeared first on Popular Science.

This weirdly shaped pillow might help you sleep better and it’s 40% off at Amazon right now

Stan Horaczek — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 20:51:53 -0500

Editor’s picks

Men’s pick: Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket — $88.50 (was $295.00) (70% off)

Ultra Pain Relief Cooling Pillow for Neck Support (Adjustable Cervical Pillow) $36 (40% off)

- +

- This is one of the most versatile jackets you could own. + The shape looks weird, but it might help you sleep better. -

Cotopaxi

Cozyplayer

@@ -3479,7 +3415,7 @@ - + See It @@ -3487,805 +3423,809 @@ -

This is the kind of cold-weather staple that actually earns its closet space. A hooded puffer works for everything from winter commutes to shoulder-season hikes, and this discount is big enough to justify grabbing it now.

Cozyplayer True Cooling Cervical Neck Pillow for Pain Relief $36 (40% off)

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Men’s pick: Backcountry Cardiac GORE-TEX 3L Bibs — $207.60 (was $519.00) (60% off)

- - - - -

- -

- - It doesn’t matter how bad you are at snowboarding, your butt will stay dry in these. - -

Backcountry

- - This lightweight jacket is easy to pack. - -

- - - - See It +

- -

Effective Pain Relief Cervical Neck Pillow for Sleeping $40 (29% off)

The higher coverage helps keep cold air and powder where it belongs, and “GORE-TEX 3L” in the name is a solid signal this is meant for nasty weather days, not just fair-weather laps.

- -

Women’s pick: Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket — $44.99 (was $179.95) (75% off)

- - - - -

- -

Outdoor Research

+ + Go all Fast and Furious on your Nissan Maxima with this kit. + +

Cervical pillows on sale

- - - - See It - -

Ultra Pain Relief Cooling Pillow for Neck Support (Adjustable Cervical Pillow) $35.98 (40% off)

This one is easy to justify at this price. Chuck it in a daypack, keep it in the car, or pack it for travel so a surprise downpour doesn’t turn into a soggy, miserable afternoon.

Cozyplayer True Cooling Cervical Neck Pillow for Pain Relief $35.99 (40% off)

Men’s deals

Effective Pain Relief Cervical Neck Pillow for Sleeping $39.98 (29% off)

The post This weirdly shaped pillow might help you sleep better and it’s 40% off at Amazon right now appeared first on Popular Science.

British soldier’s long-lost memoir rediscovered in Cleveland

Andrew Paul — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0500

Ski & snow jackets, bibs, and pants

Who was Shadrack Byfield?

Backcountry Cottonwoods GORE-TEX Shell Bib Pant – Men’s — $224.50 (was $449.00)

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A new chapter

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Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Pant – Men’s — $100.00 (was $205.00)

Helly Hansen Ullr D Pant – Men’s — $90.00 (was $200.00)

Helly Hansen Elevation Infin Shell Bib Pant – Men’s — $390.00 (was $650.00)

Other memories were more unflattering, such as abandoning his army duties to engage in a plundering excursion with other soldiers.

Helly Hansen Odin 9 Worlds Infinity 3L Jacket – Men’s — $330.00 (was $600.00)

Helly Hansen Victor Insulated Jacket – Men’s — $100.00 (was $200.00)

New details of resilience

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Rab Khroma Latok GORE-TEX Jacket – Men’s — $408.00 (was $680.00)

Rab Khroma Converge Pant – Men’s — $210.00 (was $525.00)

The post British soldier’s long-lost memoir rediscovered in Cleveland appeared first on Popular Science.

Veronika the Cow shocks scientists by using a tool

Laura Baisas — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500

Stoic Insulated Snow Pant – Men’s — $53.70 (was $179.00)

Strafe Outerwear Capitol Pant – Men’s — $220.03 (was $488.95)

Veronika uses different scratching techniques on different body areas. Image: Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró.

Trew Gear Jefferson Jacket – Men’s — $197.37 (was $349.00)

Why tool use is a big deal

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Trew Gear Popover Jacket — $129.48 (was $329.00)

Trew Gear Jefferson Bib – Men’s — $197.37 (was $349.00)

Meet Veronika

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L1 Aftershock Jacket – Men’s — $107.98 (was $269.95)

Witgar recorded a video of the behavior and shared it with Auersperg.

686 Cruiser Pant – Wide – Men’s — $45.50 (was $130.00)

Airblaster Trenchover Jacket – Men’s — $103.98 (was $259.95)

- +

The wonderful Veronika. Image: Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró.

Rain shells & wind layers

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Across repeated sessions, they found that her choices were consistent and functionally appropriate for the body regions she targeted.

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Sierra Designs Hurricane Rain Jacket – Men’s — $64.98 (was $129.95)

Helly Hansen Vancouver Rain Jacket – Men’s — $72.00 (was $120.00)

Outdoor Research Foray II Jacket – Men’s — $123.72 (was $224.95)

Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pant – Men’s — $58.48 (was $129.95)

prAna Encinitas Windbreaker – Men’s — $58.98 (was $117.95)

Columbia Cove Beach Windbreaker – Men’s — $50.00 (was $100.00)

Down & insulated jackets

What makes Veronika tick?

Marmot Guides Down Hooded Jacket – Men’s — $164.97 (was $274.95)

Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket – Men’s — $88.50 (was $295.00)

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Jacket – Men’s — $181.49 (was $349.99)

Veronika using the broom with the bakery as background. Image: Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró.

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hooded Jacket – Men’s — $197.99 (was $379.99)

Mountain Hardwear StretchDown Jacket – Men’s — $161.99 (was $289.99)

Mountain Hardwear Temescalborz Down Jacket – Men’s — $107.99 (was $180.00)

The post Veronika the Cow shocks scientists by using a tool appeared first on Popular Science.

Tyrannosaurus rex took 40 years to reach full size

Margherita Bassi — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Cotopaxi Teca Calido Hooded Jacket – Men’s — $52.50 (was $150.00)

Cotopaxi Solazo Down Parka – Men’s — $135.00 (was $300.00)

To produce an updated timeline of tyrannosaur growth, scientists studied 17 tyrannosaur specimens of all ages.

Cotopaxi Solazo Hooded Down Jacket – Men’s — $108.00 (was $240.00)

Florence Marine X Lava Primaloft Puffer – Men’s — $165.00 (was $330.00)

Black Diamond Alpine Start Insulated Hoodie – Men’s — $144.50 (was $289.00)

Rab Xenair Alpine Light Jacket – Men’s — $90.00 (was $225.00)

- +

Fleece, hoodies & midlayers

A graph showing how the Tyrannosaurus rex may have grown Image: Dr. Holly Woodward Ballard.

Mountain Hardwear Oakoram Fleece Full-Zip Jacket – Men’s — $34.00 (was $85.00)

Marmot Reactor 2.0 Fleece Jacket – Men’s — $57.72 (was $104.95)

Helly Hansen Alpha Zero Fleece Jacket – Men’s — $77.00 (was $140.00)

The post Tyrannosaurus rex took 40 years to reach full size appeared first on Popular Science.

Amazon has this 262-piece Craftsman Mechanic Tool set for just $129 (down from $249)

Stan Horaczek — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 23:12:36 -0500

Helly Hansen Evolved Air 1/2-Zip Midlayer – Men’s — $78.00 (was $130.00)

Editor’s picks

The North Face Tekware Grid Hybrid Full Zip Jacket – Men’s — $78.00 (was $130.00)

+ +

CRAFTSMAN 262-Piece Mechanic Tool Set with 3-Drawer VERSASTACK Box (CMMT45309) $129 (was $249)

+ + + + +

+ +

Craftsman

The North Face Glacier Fleece Pullover – Men’s — $51.00 (was $85.00)

+ + + + See It + +

The North Face Re-Grind Denali Jacket – Men’s — $132.00 (was $220.00)

Helly Hansen Daybreaker Snap Pullover Jacket – Men’s — $40.50 (was $90.00)

+ +

CRAFTSMAN V20 RP 1/2-inch Brushless Impact Wrench Kit (4Ah + charger) (CMCF900M1) $169 (was $219)

+ + + + +

+ +

+ + This kit is much more affordable than similar offerings from another brand. (You know what I’m talking about). + +

Mountain Hardwear Polartec Power Grid Half-Zip Jacket – Men’s — $83.99 (was $139.99)

+ + If you’re a tool person, you can hear the sound it makes in your head right now. + +

Craftsman

+ + + + +

+ + + + See It + +

Howler Brothers Allegheny Fleece Overshirt – Men’s — $87.00 (was $145.00)

Outdoor Research Essential Fleece Pullover Hoodie – Men’s — $56.23 (was $124.95)

Outdoor Research Ferrosi Anorak Jacket – Men’s — $34.48 (was $114.95)

+ +

CRAFTSMAN TRADESTACK Rolling Tower (CMST60420) $134 (was $199)

+ + + + +

+ +

Craftsman

Scientists watch how mice learn, one synapse at a time

+ + + + See It -

Mountain Hardwear HiCamp Fleece Printed Pullover – Men’s — $58.50 (was $129.99)

+ +

Mountain Hardwear Logo M Pullover Hoodie – Men’s — $32.99 (was $64.99)

Airblaster Fleece 1/2-Zip Jacket – Men’s — $44.98 (was $99.95)

Tool deals

KAVU Core Crew Sweatshirt – Men’s — $34.98 (was $99.95)

Power tools and kits

The North Face 40th Anniversary Mountain Heavyweight Graphic Hoodie – Men’s — $54.00 (was $90.00)

CRAFTSMAN V20 RP 1/2-inch brushless impact wrench kit (CMCF900M1) $169.00 (23% off)
Florence Marine X Florence Flag Hoodie – Men’s — $37.48 (was $74.95)
CRAFTSMAN V20 cordless ratchet wrench kit, 3/8-inch drive (CMCF930D1) $124.00 (27% off)
Icebreaker Merino 200 Sonebula Long-Sleeve Crew – Men’s — $60.00 (was $120.00)
CRAFTSMAN V20 cordless stick vacuum kit (CMCVS001D1) $149.00 (25% off)

Hiking pants, joggers & everyday bottoms

Batteries and charging

Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pant – Men’s — $59.37 (was $98.95)
CRAFTSMAN V20 charger + 150W power inverter (CMCB1150B) $49.00 (29% off)
Outdoor Research Zendo Pant – Men’s — $40.03 (was $88.95)
CRAFTSMAN V20 2.0Ah battery (CMCB202) $39.00 (19% off)
Outdoor Research Tungsten II Pant – Men’s — $179.53 (was $398.95)
CRAFTSMAN V20 2.0Ah battery 2-pack (CMCB202-2) $79.00

Outdoor Research Cirque Lite Pant – Men’s — $55.58 (was $138.95)

Blades, bits, and sockets

Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Pant – Men’s — $178.75 (was $325.00)

CRAFTSMAN 21-piece drill bit & screwdriver set (CMAM3211) $19.99 (38% off)
Black Diamond Notion Pant – Men’s — $38.00 (was $99.00)
CRAFTSMAN hex bit socket set, 3/8″ drive SAE, 6-piece (CMMT34447) $19.20 (42% off)
prAna Stretch Zion Field Pant – Men’s — $48.98 (was $98.00)
CRAFTSMAN bi-metal oscillating tool blade set, 3-pack (CMAO552) $19.99 (21% off)
The North Face Paramount Convertible Pant – Men’s — $54.00 (was $90.00)
CRAFTSMAN oscillating tool blades, 7-piece set (CMAO200) $9.63 (45% off)
The North Face Paramount Pro Convertible Pant – Men’s — $75.00 (was $125.00)
CRAFTSMAN oscillating tool blades, 3-piece cutting set (CMAO202) $17.98 (28% off)
The North Face Cedar Canvas Work Pant – Men’s — $42.00 (was $120.00)
CRAFTSMAN jigsaw blades, T-shank 13-piece set (CMAJ1SET13) $9.99 (34% off)
The North Face Wander Jogger 2.0 – Men’s — $42.00 (was $70.00)
CRAFTSMAN 11-piece reciprocating saw blade kit with case (2058838) $15.98 (30% off)

Shirts, tees & sun hoodies

Big tool set upgrade

The North Face Adventure Sun Hoodie – Men’s — $30.25 (was $55.00)
CRAFTSMAN 262-piece mechanic tool set with 3-drawer VERSASTACK box (CMMT45309) $129.00 (48% off)

Outdoor Research Astroman Sun Hoodie – Men’s — $49.48 (was $98.95)

Tool storage and organization

Mountain Hardwear Sunshield Hoodie – Men’s — $49.50 (was $98.99)

CRAFTSMAN VERSASTACK zippered tool bag with 31 pockets (CMST17622) $49.98 (23% off)
The North Face Dune Sky Long-Sleeve Crew – Men’s — $30.00 (was $60.00)
CRAFTSMAN plastic tool box with drawers (CMST17804) $37.98 (21% off)
The North Face Sunriser Long-Sleeve Shirt – Men’s — $30.00 (was $60.00)
CRAFTSMAN VERSASTACK deep tool box, lockable 17-inch (CMST17825) $29.98 (19% off)
The North Face 40th Anniversary Mountain Jacket Heavyweight T-Shirt – Men’s — $30.00 (was $50.00)
CRAFTSMAN VERSASTACK rolling tool box with wheels, lockable 20-inch (CMST17835) $49.98 (36% off)
Columbia Silver Ridge Utility Lite Plaid Long-Sleeve Shirt – Men’s — $31.50 (was $70.00)

CRAFTSMAN VERSASTACK 30-gallon quick-access rolling tool chest (CMST17870) $69.98 (22% off)

Shorts, boardshorts & warm-weather staples

- - - -

Florence Marine X Standard Issue Elastic Short – Men’s — $27.65 (was $79.00)
Florence Marine X Airtex Short – Men’s — $42.50 (was $85.00)
The North Face Lightstride 9in Short – Men’s — $35.75 (was $65.00)
The North Face Lightstride 7in Short – Men’s — $29.25 (was $65.00)
Volcom Frickin Modern Stretch 21 Short – Men’s — $19.23 (was $54.95)
CRAFTSMAN TRADESTACK 3-drawer unit (CMST21405) $79.00 (28% off)
Roark Shorey Boardshort – Men’s — $27.51 (was $69.00)
CRAFTSMAN TRADESTACK system tool box with 6 small parts containers, 21-inch (CMST21415) $34.98
Roark Passage Boardshort – Men’s — $32.48 (was $65.00)
CRAFTSMAN TRADESTACK waterproof stackable tool box, lockable 21-inch (CMST21430) $44.98 (39% off)
Roark Passage Hemp Boardshort – Men’s — $34.48 (was $69.00)
CRAFTSMAN TRADESTACK tool box with wheels, 22.5-inch (CMST21445) $69.98
Vissla Solid Sets 17.5in Ecolastic Short – Men’s — $26.98 (was $59.95)

CRAFTSMAN TRADESTACK tool bag, 22.5-inch (CMST21450) $69.98

Unisex / one-size picks

CRAFTSMAN 37-inch rolling tool box with wheels, lockable (CMST37025) $99.98

Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Down — $142.97 (was $259.95)
CRAFTSMAN TRADESTACK rolling tower (CMST60420) $134.00 (33% off)

The post Amazon has this 262-piece Craftsman Mechanic Tool set for just $129 (down from $249) appeared first on Popular Science.

Toyota is drag racing hydrogen-powered trucks in the Arizona desert

Kristin Shaw — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0500

Women’s deals

- - - -

Ski & snow jackets, bibs, and pants

- - - -

Backcountry Cottonwoods GORE-TEX Shell Bib Pant – Women’s — $269.40 (was $449.00)
Backcountry Cottonwoods GORE-TEX Shell Jacket – Women’s — $287.40 (was $479.00)
Backcountry CrestCarver GORE-TEX Shell Jacket – Women’s — $189.50 (was $379.00)
Backcountry CrestCarver GORE-TEX Shell Pant – Women’s — $104.70 (was $349.00)
Backcountry Cardiac GORE-TEX 3L Bib Pant – Women’s — $207.60 (was $519.00)
Backcountry Cardiac GORE-TEX 3L Jacket – Women’s — $239.60 (was $599.00)
Outdoor Research Archangel Bib Pant – Women’s — $244.63 (was $698.95)

Outdoor Research Hemispheres II Bib Pant – Women’s — $292.03 (was $648.95)

Outdoor Research Snowcrew Pant – Women’s — $69.63 (original price varies by color/size)

Toyota has been researching and testing hydrogen-powered vehicles for the last three decades. Image: Nissan

Outdoor Research Snowcrew Jacket – Women’s — $115.13 (was $348.95)

How hydrogen fuel cells work

Trew Gear Astoria Bib – Women’s — $148.03 (original price varies by color/size)

Trew Gear Chariot Primo Bib – Women’s — $259.48 (was $518.95)

A fuel cell is composed of an anode, cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. According to the D.C.-based Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association, this is how the process works:

Trew Gear Trillium Jacket – Women’s — $184.48 (original price varies by color/size)

Hydrogen atoms enter at the anode while oxygen passes through the cathode.
Trew Gear Trillium Bib – Women’s — $184.48 (original price varies by color/size)
A catalyst strips atoms of their electrons, separating the protons.
Flylow Foxy Bib Pant – Women’s — $165.25 (was $429.95)
Positively charged protons pass through the porous electrolyte membrane to the cathode, and negatively charged electrons are forced through a circuit, generating electricity.
Flylow Billie Coat – Women’s — $193.48 (was $429.95)
After passing through the circuit, the electrons combine with the protons and oxygen from the air to generate the fuel cell’s byproducts: water and heat

Helly Hansen Powderqueen Bib Pant – Women’s — $180.00 (was $300.00)

Helly Hansen Courchevel Stretch Suit – Women’s — $650.00 (was $1300.00)

Roxy Dusk Warmlink Snow Jacket – Women’s — $215.00 (was $430.00)

Roxy Chloe Kim Snow Jacket – Women’s — $112.48 (was $374.95)

Hydrogen fueling is not widely available yet, but Toyota hopes to change that. Image: Toyota

Roxy Chloe Kim Snow Pant – Women’s — $73.48 (was $244.95)

Convincing the skeptics

Roxy Nadia Technical Snow Pant – Women’s — $108.00 (was $180.00)

Armada Lunara Insulated Jacket – Women’s — $107.98 (was $269.95)

Armada Sterlet Insulated Jacket – Women’s — $69.99 (was $279.95)

Rain shells, technical hardshells & weatherproof layers

Marmot PreCip Eco Jacket – Women’s — $59.97 (was $99.95)

Toyota’s H2-Overlander concept truck was built to show how H2 emissions could be put to use as a non-potable water source while camping. Image: Toyota

Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket – Women’s — $44.99 (was $179.95)

Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pant – Women’s — $64.98 (was $129.95)

“Imagine that same idea,” Jacobs says, “but with industrial generators and power supplies.”

The post Toyota is drag racing hydrogen-powered trucks in the Arizona desert appeared first on Popular Science.

Female mice often have multiple sexual partners—for survival

Margherita Bassi — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 10:17:00 -0500

Outdoor Research Aspire II Jacket – Women’s — $67.48 (was $225.00)

Rab Latok Alpine GTX Jacket – Women’s — $330.00 (was $600.00)

Rab Kangri GTX Jacket – Women’s — $233.75 (was $425.00)

Mammut Alto Guide HS Hooded Jacket – Women’s — $166.05 (was $369.00)

- +

+ +

+ Related Mouse Stories

+ +

The dye in Doritos can make mice transparent

Mice may be able to recognize their own reflections

Earth welcomes baby mice from space

Insulated jackets, down layers & puffers

Backcountry ALLIED Down Apres Parka – Women’s — $209.40 (was $349.00)

Helly Hansen Verglas Glacier Down Jacket – Women’s — $162.00 (was $360.00)

The post Female mice often have multiple sexual partners—for survival appeared first on Popular Science.

A huge iceberg becomes a deadly trap for penguins

Yook JiHun — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Helly Hansen Explorer Puffy Parka – Women’s — $175.00 (was $350.00)

Outdoor Research Helium Down Hooded Jacket – Women’s — $179.37 (was $298.95)

A geographical trap

Cotopaxi Fuego Down Hooded Pullover – Women’s — $137.50 (was $275.00)

WHITESPACE Insulated Puffy Parka Jacket – Women’s — $170.55 (was $379.00)

Stoic Printed Quilted Puffer – Women’s — $38.70 (was $129.00)

Stoic Cropped Boxy Snap Front Puffer – Women’s — $41.65 (was $119.00)

- +

Fleece, hoodies & midlayers

Mountain Hardwear Oakoram Fleece Full-Zip Jacket – Women’s — $38.25 (was $85.00)

Fjallraven Vardag Lite Fleece – Women’s — $65.97 (was $119.95)

Helly Hansen Daybreaker Fleece Jacket – Women’s — $48.00 (was $85.00)

The North Face Canyonlands Hooded Jacket – Women’s — $45.00 (was $100.00)

Outdoor Research Vigor Quarter Zip Jacket – Women’s — $53.37 (was $88.95)

For the males waiting above, the blockade was catastrophic. Having already fasted for more than 70 days to incubate their young, they were pushed to their physiological breaking point.

Outdoor Research Polartec 200 Hoodie – Women’s — $62.53 (was $138.95)

Pants, joggers & everyday bottoms

The North Face Aphrodite Jogger – Women’s — $48.00 (was $80.00)

Carcasses of Emperor Penguin chicks have been discovered at the Coulman Island colony. The presumed cause is starvation. Image: Provided by KOPRI

Fjallraven Keb Curved Trouser – Women’s — $129.22 (was $234.95)

Penguins pushed to the brink

Toad&Co Balsam Wide Leg Pant – Women’s — $60.00 (was $120.00)

Outdoor Research Cirque II Softshell Pant – Women’s — $95.37 (was $158.95)

Dresses, rompers & jumpsuits

Backcountry Destination Dress – Women’s — $34.65 (was $99.00)

Backcountry Destination Trail Dress – Women’s — $41.65 (was $119.00)

Backcountry Wasatch Ripstop Romper – Women’s — $44.55 (was $99.00)

Helly Hansen Viken Recycled Dress – Women’s — $28.00 (was $80.00)

Patagonia Garden Island Jumpsuit – Women’s — $58.53 (was $139.00)

Patagonia Fleetwith Jumpsuit – Women’s — $58.53 (was $139.00)

Unisex / one-size picks

Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Down — $142.97 (was $259.95)

The story was produced in partnership with our colleagues at Popular Science Korea.

The post A huge iceberg becomes a deadly trap for penguins appeared first on Popular Science.

Backcountry.com’s 3-day clearance flash sale dropped jackets, hoodies, fleeces, and more up to 70% off

Stan Horaczek

Whether you're looking for new winter gear or stocking up for summer, grab it all on deep discount right now at Backcountry.

The post Backcountry.com’s 3-day clearance flash sale dropped jackets, hoodies, fleeces, and more up to 70% off appeared first on Popular Science.

Backcountry.com is blowing out dozens of sunglasses for clearance prices during this flash sale

Stan Horaczek — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:54:07 -0500

Once you’ve got a new pair of shades, go check out more deals on outdoor gear for up to 70 percent off at Backcountry.

If you’re looking for new shades, go check out these Backcountry sunglasses deals up to 70 percent off.

Editor’s picks

Smith Shift MAG ChromaPop Sunglasses $171.00 (was $337.00)

Men’s pick: Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket — $88.50 (was $295.00) (70% off)

- +

- The extra coverage is clutch for outdoor activities. + This is one of the most versatile jackets you could own. -

Smith Optics

Cotopaxi

@@ -4295,7 +4235,7 @@ - + See It @@ -4303,28 +4243,28 @@ -

If you actually do “move fast, sweat a lot” activities, these are built for it. The magnetic lens swap system makes it realistic to switch lenses without smudging everything up, and the shape is more performance-first than fashion-forward—which is exactly what you want on long rides and runs.

Zeal Ridgway Sunglasses – Men's — $63.60 (was $159.00)

Men’s pick: Backcountry Cardiac GORE-TEX 3L Bibs — $207.60 (was $519.00) (60% off)

- +

- Treat yourself with a bold pattern. + It doesn’t matter how bad you are at snowboarding, your butt will stay dry in these. -

Zeal

Backcountry

@@ -4334,7 +4274,7 @@ - + See It @@ -4342,1556 +4282,1432 @@ -

If you want a pair you can beat up a little, these are a good “throw them on and go” option: polarized lenses to cut glare off snow/water/traffic, a grippy fit for hikes and bike days, and an Rx-ready frame if you’re tired of choosing between sunglasses and seeing clearly.

The higher coverage helps keep cold air and powder where it belongs, and “GORE-TEX 3L” in the name is a solid signal this is meant for nasty weather days, not just fair-weather laps.

Zeal Manitou Sunglasses – Men’s — $103.05 (was $229.00)
Photochromic lenses are the move for “sun in the parking lot, clouds on the trail, sun again at the summit” days. These automatically lighten/darken as conditions change, and they’re polarized for glare control, so you’re not constantly swapping eyewear or squinting through reflections.

+ +

Women’s pick: Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket — $44.99 (was $179.95) (75% off)

+ + + + +

+ +

+ + This lightweight jacket is easy to pack. + +

Outdoor Research

- - Jeans aren’t made for hiking. - -

RAEN optics Squire Polarized Sunglasses $61.50 (was $205.00). A rare “nice sunglasses” deal. These lean classic and wearable, so they work as everyday shades, not just trail gear. If you want something that looks good with a puffy jacket and also doesn’t feel out of place at brunch, this is the move.

+ + + + See It + +

Electric Crasher 49 Polarized Sunglasses $124.98 (was $249.95). This is the kind of 50%-off deal that makes upgrading feel justified. You’re getting polarized lenses and a sturdier, lifestyle-friendly frame that’s more “all day” than “one specific sport.”

This one is easy to justify at this price. Chuck it in a daypack, keep it in the car, or pack it for travel so a surprise downpour doesn’t turn into a soggy, miserable afternoon.

Smith Optics deals

Men’s deals

Smith Embark ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $135.00 (was $257.00)

Ski & snow jackets, bibs, and pants

Smith Lowdown 2 ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $123.00 (was $277.00)

Backcountry Cottonwoods GORE-TEX Shell Bib Pant – Men’s — $224.50 (was $449.00)
Smith Venture ChromaPop Sunglasses $142.20 (was $297.00)
Backcountry Cardiac GORE-TEX 3L Bibs – Men’s — $207.60 (was $519.00)
Smith Guide’s Choice XL ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $178.20 (was $297.00)
Backcountry CrestCarver GORE-TEX Shell Pant – Men’s — $174.50 (was $349.00)
Smith Shift MAG ChromaPop Sunglasses $171.00 (was $337.00)
Black Diamond Recon Stretch Ski Pant – Men’s — $240.00 (was $400.00)
Smith Lowdown Split ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $123.00 (was $215.00)
Black Diamond Recon Insulated Pant – Men’s — $255.00 (was $425.00)
Smith Leadout Pivlock Polarized Sunglasses $125.40 (was $235.00)
Flylow Chemical Pant – Men’s — $145.98 (was $364.95)
Smith Joya ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $129.00 (was $297.00)
Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Pant – Men’s — $100.00 (was $205.00)
Smith Guide’s Choice Sunglasses $178.20 (was $327.00)
Helly Hansen Ullr D Pant – Men’s — $90.00 (was $200.00)
Smith Resolve ChromaPop Sunglasses $101.40 (was $227.00)
Helly Hansen Elevation Infin Shell Bib Pant – Men’s — $390.00 (was $650.00)
Smith Attack MAG MTB ChromaPop Sunglasses $161.40 (was $285.00)
Helly Hansen Odin 9 Worlds Infinity 3L Jacket – Men’s — $330.00 (was $600.00)
Smith Rockaway ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $125.40 (was $269.00)
Helly Hansen Victor Insulated Jacket – Men’s — $100.00 (was $200.00)
Smith Layback Polarized Sunglasses $119.40 (was $215.00)
Outdoor Research Hemispheres II Bib Pant – Men’s — $389.37 (was $648.95)
Smith Pursuit ChromaPop Sunglasses $171.00 (was $337.00)
Rab Khroma Latok GORE-TEX Jacket – Men’s — $408.00 (was $680.00)
Smith Shift XL MAG ChromaPop Sunglasses $184.20 (was $337.00)
Rab Khroma Converge Pant – Men’s — $210.00 (was $525.00)
Smith Eastbank ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $99.00 (was $195.00)
Stoic Insulated Snow Pant – Men’s — $53.70 (was $179.00)
Smith Boomtown ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $118.20 (was $237.00)
Strafe Outerwear Capitol Pant – Men’s — $220.03 (was $488.95)
Smith Monterey ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $113.40 (was $249.00)
Trew Gear Jefferson Jacket – Men’s — $197.37 (was $349.00)
Smith Flywheel ChromaPop Sunglasses $111.00 (was $185.00)
Trew Gear Powfunk Jacket – Men’s — $207.58 (was $518.95)
Smith Roam ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $123.00 (was $205.00)
Trew Gear Popover Jacket — $129.48 (was $329.00)
Smith Shift Split MAG ChromaPop Sunglasses $165.00 (was $337.00)
Trew Gear Jefferson Bib – Men’s — $197.37 (was $349.00)
Smith Lake Shasta ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $123.00 (was $217.00)
Trew Gear Tatoosh Bib – Men’s — $221.37 (was $419.00)
Smith Wander ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $129.00 (was $227.00)
L1 Aftershock Jacket – Men’s — $107.98 (was $269.95)
Smith XC Chromapop Sunglasses $142.20 (was $237.00)
686 Cruiser Pant – Wide – Men’s — $45.50 (was $130.00)
Smith Spinner ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $142.20 (was $237.00)
Airblaster Trenchover Jacket – Men’s — $103.98 (was $259.95)

Smith Lowdown Slim2 ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $151.90

Rain shells & wind layers

Smith Bobcat ChromaPop Sunglasses $160.55

The North Face Antora Jacket – Men’s — $65.11 (was $110.00)
Smith Lowdown XL 2 ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $151.90
Marmot Waypoint GORE-TEX Jacket – Men’s — $151.22 (was $274.95)
Smith Shoutout CORE Polarized Sunglasses $161.85 (was $249.00)

Sierra Designs Hurricane Rain Jacket – Men’s — $64.98 (was $129.95)

Pit Viper deals

Helly Hansen Vancouver Rain Jacket – Men’s — $72.00 (was $120.00)

Pit Viper The Single Wides Polarized Sunglasses $49.84 (was $99.69)
Outdoor Research Foray II Jacket – Men’s — $123.72 (was $224.95)
Pit Viper The Skysurfer HDPV Polarized Sunglasses $60.00 (was $100.00)
Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pant – Men’s — $58.48 (was $129.95)
Pit Viper The Slammer Sunglasses $38.33 (was $69.69)
prAna Encinitas Windbreaker – Men’s — $58.98 (was $117.95)
Pit Viper The Flip-Offs Polarized Sunglasses $97.50 (was $130.00)
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The post Backcountry.com is blowing out dozens of sunglasses for clearance prices during this flash sale appeared first on Popular Science.

What were books like in ancient Greece and Rome?

Konstantine Panegyres / The Conversation — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 11:01:00 -0500

This article originally appeared in The Conversation.

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If you were to visit a bookshop in the ancient world, what would it be like?

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You don’t just have to imagine it. The ancient Roman writer Aulus Gellius, who lived in the 2nd century CE, gives us a number of descriptions of his adventures at bookstores. In one passage, he describes an encounter at one in Rome, which he was visiting with a poet friend:

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I chanced to be sitting in a bookshop in the Sigillaria with the poet Julius Paulus […] There was on sale there the Annals of Quintus Fabius Pictor in a copy of good and undoubted age, which the dealer maintained was without errors.
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Gellius then tells us that, while they are sitting there, another customer enters the shop. The new customer has a disagreement with the dealer. He complains that he “found in the book one error”. The dealer says that’s impossible. Then the customer brings out evidence to prove the dealer wrong.

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In different passage, Aulus tells us about some bookstalls he came across when he arrived by ship at the port of Brundisium on the Adriatic coast. The books, he records, were “in Greek, filled with marvellous tales, things unheard of, incredible […] The writers were ancient and of no mean authority”.

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The volumes themselves, however, were filthy from neglect, in bad condition and unsightly. Nevertheless, I drew near and asked their price; then, attracted by their extraordinary and unexpected cheapness, I bought a large number of them for a small sum.
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Engraving of Aulus Gellius (1706). Image: Public Domain

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Aulus goes on to describe in excited language all the weird facts he derived from these books – like how people in Africa can “work spells by voice and tongue” and through this witchcraft cause people, animals, trees and crops to die.

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The origins of writing

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These sorts of stories bring us close to how ordinary people in ancient Greek and Roman times obtained books and engaged with books. But if we read stories like this it might lead us to want to know more. How did books and writing come into existence? And how were books written and produced?

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Many people in the ancient world thought that writing had been invented by gods or heroes. For example, the ancient Egyptians believed the god Thoth was the first to create signs to represent spoken sounds.

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The origins of writing are certainly mysterious. It’s unclear when writing began and who invented it.

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The earliest written text is a wooden tablet radiocarbon dated to before 5000 BCE. This is known as the Dispilio tablet, because it was discovered at a neolithic lakeside settlement at Dispilio in Greece. It is carved with strange linear markings. These have not been deciphered, but most scholars think they are a form of writing.

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Model of the Dispilio Tablet. Image: Мико/ CC BY-SA

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Evidence for writing appears early in different parts of the world. In Mesopotamia and Egypt, the oldest texts, such as the Kish limestone tablet at Uruk or the Narmer Palette at Hierakonpolis, date to before 3000 BCE. In the Indus Valley, the Harappan script, which remains undeciphered, appeared around the same time. In China, the earliest characters, the Dawenkou graphs, also date to around 3000 BCE.

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One of the most interesting aspects of early writing is that there is such a variety of different scripts. For example, the earliest known texts in the Greek language are written in the Linear B script, which was used from around 1500-1200 BCE, and wasn’t deciphered until 1952. Linear B is not an alphabet, but a syllabary of more than 80 different signs. A syllabary is a kind of writing system where each sign represents a syllable.

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By around the 8th century BCE, most Greeks had starting using an alphabet instead of a syllabary. Unlike a syllabary, in an alphabet each letter represents a vowel or consonant. The Greeks adapted their alphabet from the Phoenician alphabet, probably via interactions with Phoenician traders. The Phoenician alphabet had only 22 letters, making it much easier to learn than the 80-plus syllabary signs of Linear B.

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Our English alphabet comes from the Romans, who in the 8th and 7th century BCE also got their alphabet from the Phoenicians, via the Greeks.

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A papyrus document from ancient Egypt, written in hieratic script. The text describes anatomical observations and the examination, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of numerous medical problems (c.1600 BCE) Image: Public Domain

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The origins of books

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People in ancient times used many different things as writing materials.

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The Roman writer Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE) tells us that the earliest people in the world

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used to write on palm-leaves and then on the bark of certain trees, and afterwards folding sheets of lead began to be employed for official muniments, and then also sheets of linen or tablets of wax for private documents.
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However, the most popular writing material in the ancient Mediterranean was papyrus, from which we get our word “paper”.

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To make papyrus, you get the pith of the papyrus plant (Cyperus papyrus), cut it into slender strips, then press it together. Once dried, it forms a thin sheet that you can write on.

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Papyrus sheets were usually glued together into rolls. These rolls could be very long. Some of the most lavish Egyptian papyrus rolls were more than 10 metres long, such as the recently discovered Waziri Papyrus containing parts of the Book of the Dead.

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When papyri were rolled up they were stored in shelves or boxes. Labels were attached to the handles of the papyri so you could identify their contents. In his play Linus, Greek playwright Alexis (c. 375-275 BC) has one character tell another how to look through a bunch of rolls to find what he wants:

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go over and pick any papyrus roll you like out of there and then read it… examining them quietly, and at your leisure, on the basis of the labels. Orpheus is in there, Hesiod, tragedies, Choerilus, Homer, Epicharmus, prose treatises of every type…
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Papyrus seems flimsy to the eye, but it is a durable writing material, stronger than modern paper. Many papyri have survived for thousands of years stored in jars or sarcophagi or buried under the sand.

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The oldest surviving papyrus text is the so-called Diary of Merer (which you can listen to here), the logbook of a man named Merer, who was an inspector during the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza under Pharaoh Khufu. This papyrus, which dates to around 2600 BCE, gives a day-by-day account of how Merer and his team of about 200 men spent time hauling and transporting stone and doing other work.

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Papyrus was susceptible to being eaten by insects or mice. But there were ways to prevent this. Pliny the Elder, for example, advises that sheets of papyrus soaked in citrus-oil won’t be eaten by moths.

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How to write a book in antiquity

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If you were living in ancient Greece or Rome and wanted to write a book, how would you do it?

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First, you would buy sheets or rolls of papyrus to write on. If you couldn’t afford it, you’d have to write on the back or in the margins of papyri you already owned.

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If you didn’t own any papyri already, then you would have to write on other materials. According to the Greek historian Diogenes Laertius (3rd century CE), the philosopher Cleanthes (c. 331-231 BCE) “wrote down lectures on oyster-shells and the blade-bones of oxen through lack of money to buy papyrus”.

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Second, you would get your ink. In the ancient world, there were many varieties of ink. Normal black ink was made from the soot of burnt resin or pitch mixed with vegetable gum. When buying ink, it would come in powder form, and you would need to mix it with water before using it.

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Third, you would get your pen. It would be made from reed, hence it was called the “calamus” by Greeks and Romans (“calamus” is the Greek word for reed). To sharpen your pen you would need a knife. If you made a mistake, you would erase it with a wet sponge.

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Now you have all the materials you need. However, you don’t need to use the pen and papyrus yourself. If you want, you can get a scribe to write down your words for you.

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The Greek orator Dio Chrysostom (c.40-110 CE) even advised writers not to use the pen themselves:

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Writing I do not advise you to engage in with your own hand, or only very rarely, but rather to dictate to a secretary.
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If you needed to consult other books while writing, you could get friends to send them to you or ask book dealers to make you a copy. In a papyrus from the 2nd century CE found at Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, and written in Greek, the writer asks his friend to find the books that he needs and make copies of them. Otherwise, you would go to a library, though the best libraries at Alexandria, Rome and Athens might be far away.

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When you finished drafting your book you would need to revise and correct it. You could then publish it by having many copies made by scribes and delivering these copies to friends and booksellers.

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When all this was done, your book would be out in public. Perhaps someone like Aulus Gellius would stumble across it in a busy Roman bookshop. Maybe he’d even buy it.

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The post What were books like in ancient Greece and Rome? appeared first on Popular Science.

Baby chimpanzees like to free fall through trees

Margherita Bassi — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 10:08:00 -0500

Given the many similarities between humans and chimpanzees, one might assume that both species similarly engage in risky behavior within the same age range. For humans, that’s obviously adolescence. However, according to a study recently published in the journal iScience, it turns out that in chimps, it’s the infants you have to watch out for.

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After studying videos of 119 wild chimpanzees, researchers found that chimpanzees’ risky behavior peaks in their infancy, and then lessens as they get older. Specifically, they documented that infants were three times more likely, juveniles were 2.5 times more likely, and adolescents were 2.1 times more likely than adults to undertake risks. Chimps are typically classified as infants from birth to around five years old.

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“One of the main findings is that all chimpanzee kids are risky, and that infant and juvenile chimpanzees are even more risky than adolescents,” Lauren Sarringhaus, lead-author of the recent study and a biologist at James Madison University, said in a statement. “That’s noteworthy because that is not what you see in humans.”

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Chimps’ risk-taking was not associated with their sex, nor how high up in the trees they were. In other words, it was equally probable for male and female infants to undertake physical risks at any height. The specific risky behavior studied in chimps was free flight—when they purposefully fall from a branch or jump from one branch to the next without any hold.The risk in free flight is falling and then getting hurt.

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Compared to chimpanzees, it’s more difficult to investigate physical risk-taking in humans. We can’t recreate the behavior in a lab, but even studies based on observations or survey data run into the issue that risky behavior in children (such as doing monkey bars) doesn’t usually continue into adulthood (such as skydiving), and vice-versa.

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Interestingly, this study appears to suggest something novel about our own species. Simply put, the results indicate that while chimp mothers can only restrain their children as long as they can maintain them physically close, human parents and caregivers can continue monitoring them and human children are simply supervised more. What’s more, if we didn’t have this extended overwatch, our risky behavior might also peak earlier instead of being delayed to adolescence.

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“Bryce found that in fact the youngest chimps were doing all of these crazy leaps and drops, and it declined gradually as they aged. We were really scratching our heads thinking, ‘What is going on?’”said co-senior author Laura MacLatchy, a professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan, referring to co-author Bryce Murray. “We realized that the littlest chimps were unrestricted in what they do, as soon as they were out of arm’s reach of their mom and no longer clinging and riding around on their mom.”

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According to indications by earlier work, chimpanzee play might help them exercise abilities related to movement, or understand the results of risky behavior during a particular period of their lives—they are young, lightweight, have “spongier” bones, and have fewer chances of injury

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Indeed, infant chimps frequently take the risks in question while playing, MacLatchy explained, to gain the physical competencies and confidence necessary for an arboreal existence. “Competency as an adult really depends on practice when you’re little,” she added. “Play as practice might be part of what’s going on with these kids. Then again, there may be no stopping them.”

The post Baby chimpanzees like to free fall through trees appeared first on Popular Science.

How to avoid the iPhone’s notorious ‘silent alarm’ bug

David Nield — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

You might’ve seen recent reports of users complaining that they’ve slept through alarms set on their iPhones–or even encountered it yourself. But it’s not a new bug. The silent iPhone alarm issue has plagued users for at least a couple of years, and still keeps affecting people (even though Apple has previously promised to fix it).

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The bug causes alarms to go off, but silently—there’s no audible ring, and no vibration. That’s not ideal if you need to get up for work, a flight, or anything else you have to do. So what exactly is going on? Here’s what we know about the so-called silent alarm bug on the iPhone and what you can do about it.

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What is the silent arm bug?

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Being caught out by silent alarms? You’re not alone. Screenshot: Apple

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If you set an alarm, it’s important that it actually alerts you at the right time. But these silent alarms that users have been noticing on their iPhones don’t make any sound and don’t trigger any vibrations. They do appear on screen as normal, but they’re completely silent.

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As for what’s causing it, no one seems certain. Back in 2024, Apple said it was fixing the issue, without going into much detail about what was behind it—but users are finding that it’s still happening. Sometimes it seems that a particular iOS version will patch the problem, only for it to show up again in a subsequent version.

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Given that it’s been happening for a long time, and affecting a substantial number of users (but not everyone), it’s possible that there are multiple causes. While there’s been no official guidance from Apple about how to fix it, there are steps you can take to minimize the likelihood of silent alarms.

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Fixes you can try

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Disabling Attention-Aware Features can help in some cases. Screenshot: Apple

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First, make sure your alarms are set as intended from the Alarms tab of the Clock app. Tap on an alarm and you can check the Sound option to see the noise it triggers and the Repeat option to check the frequency—it may be that your alarm is set to go off some days and not others. If a specific alarm isn’t ringing, try deleting it and creating it again.

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You can get to the audio settings for your iPhone by opening up Settings, then choosing Sounds & Haptics. Look at the volume slider under Ringtone and Alerts to make sure it’s high enough. You might also want to turn off Change with Buttons to make sure you’re not adjusting the alert volume accidentally. Alarms shouldn’t be affected by the Silent Mode toggle, but you can try turning this off anyway.

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Under Bluetooth in Settings, make sure your iPhone isn’t connected to any speakers or headphones that it shouldn’t be—otherwise it could be piping your alarm sounds through a different device and not your iPhone speakers.

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Some users have found they can overcome the silent alarm bug by turning off the Attention-Aware Features toggle switch, which you’ll find under Face ID & Passcode in Settings. This changes certain iPhone behaviors, including the level of alarm sounds, if it thinks you’re looking at the screen. It could explain certain silent alarms—though it should only ever lower the alarm volume level, not mute it completely.

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It’s worth saying that the Do Not Disturb mode and any other modes you’ve got set up in Focus in Settings shouldn’t make any difference to alarms—they just control the volume for app notifications—but it’s perhaps worth reviewing them anyway.

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Finally, be sure to keep your iPhone up to date with the latest version of iOS. While it seems as though this bug is persisting in the latest software releases, hopefully at some point Apple will squash it for good, and when that happens you’re going to want to get the update as soon as possible.

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Alternative alarm apps

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Alarmy is one of the best alternative alarm apps. Screenshot: Alarmy

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Something else you can do to try and avoid silent alarms is to install a third-party alarm app, and there are lots to choose from. Alarmy actually prides itself on the loudness of its alarm alerts, so you should have no problems waking up. You can get some extra premium features and remove the ads by paying $4.99 a month, but the basic functionality is free.

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Then there’s Galarm, which packs alarms and reminders into one app, with a host of options available. You can categorize alarms and add notes to them, for example, and go into plenty of detail when it comes to when alarms should repeat. Again, you can opt to subscribe for more features and an ad-free experience, which costs $0.99 a month.

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Sleep Cycle is another app worth considering. Not only will it wake you up, it also has a smart alarm feature that aims to rouse you at the most beneficial time in your sleep cycle (within a preset window). It’ll track your sleep too—there’s a lot to it. You get the basics for free, with a pile of premium features (including weather reports and more sleep stats) available for a $2.99-per-month subscription.

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Or you can invest in a smart alarm clock. Or just an old-fashioned alarm clock with the big red numbers and real buttons.

The post How to avoid the iPhone’s notorious ‘silent alarm’ bug appeared first on Popular Science.

Duluth Trading’s winter clearance drops its toughest coats, pants, and outerwear up to 70% off

Stan Horaczek — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Alaskan Hardgear (AKHG) is Duluth Trading’s hardcore outdoors line. Where the main Duluth catalog leans into hard-wearing workwear, flannels, and versatile casual gear, AKHG is the brand’s more technical side. It’s built for outdoor use, versatile layering, and employs fabrics meant to handle sweat, weather, and abrasion. Right now, Duluth Trading has a huge clearance sale going on, which drops prices by up to 70 percent. That includes AKHG, which rarely goes on sale compared to typical fare. Grab new outdoor kit now and stay warm all winter (and for a bunch of future winters). You can literally dress like an Alaskan to stay warm.

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This is the deal for replacing your default jeans with something that’s actually meant for being outside. A solid pair of hiking-style pants earns its keep fast especially on windy days, travel days, and any time you’re climbing over stuff that isn’t a curb.

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A long, insulated parka is the move for truly cold days because it keeps your core warm and doesn’t leave your thighs out in the wind. If you spend any real time outside in winter, this is the kind of layer that makes the whole season less miserable.

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If winter where you live is more wet-snow-and-freezing-rain than fluffy powder, a waterproof down parka is the right kind of overkill. It’s a long, insulated layer meant to keep you warm while still standing up to ugly weather.

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The whole point of a 3-in-1 is that you’re not stuck committing to one level of warmth all day. It’s the kind of kit that makes sense if your week is split between commuting, dog walks, and the occasional cold weekend hike.

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Midlayers and fleeces

Dresses, rompers & jumpsuits

Women’s AKHG Midnight Sun Short Sleeve Dress $24.99 (70% off)
Backcountry Destination Dress – Women’s — $34.65 (was $99.00)
Men’s AKHG Crosslayer Fleece 1/4 Zip Mock $38.97 (51% off)
Backcountry Destination Trail Dress – Women’s — $41.65 (was $119.00)
Women’s AKHG Trail Tech Fleece Full Zip Mock $43.97 (51% off)
Backcountry Wasatch Ripstop Romper – Women’s — $44.55 (was $99.00)
Men’s AKHG Crosslayer Standard Fit Fleece Hoodie $43.97 (51% off)
Helly Hansen Viken Recycled Dress – Women’s — $28.00 (was $80.00)
Women’s AKHG Crosslayer Fleece Hoodie $62.97 (30% off)
Patagonia Garden Island Jumpsuit – Women’s — $58.53 (was $139.00)
Men’s AKHG Blackburn Standard Fit 1/4 Zip Mock $43.97 (51% off)
Patagonia Fleetwith Jumpsuit – Women’s — $58.53 (was $139.00)

Women’s AKHG Blackburn Pullover Mock $43.97 (51% off)

Unisex / one-size picks

Men’s AKHG Blackburn Standard Fit Full Zip Hoodie $48.97 (51% off)

Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Down — $142.97 (was $259.95)

The post Backcountry.com’s 3-day clearance flash sale dropped jackets, hoodies, fleeces, and more up to 70% off appeared first on Popular Science.

Backcountry.com is blowing out dozens of sunglasses for clearance prices during this flash sale

Stan Horaczek — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:54:07 -0500

You should be wearing sunglasses when you’re outdoors, even in the winter. A good pair provides complete eye protection and a more comfortable, squint-free experience. Right now, Backcountry.com has a surprise 3-day clearance sale happening, which has dropped prices on popular models by up to 70 percent. Grab a pair that fits your style and eye protection needs. Then wear them to look cool.

Women’s AKHG Blackburn Full Zip Hoodie $48.97 (51% off)

Once you’ve got a new pair of shades, go check out more deals on outdoor gear for up to 70 percent off at Backcountry.

Women’s Plus AKHG Blackburn Full Zip Hoodie $48.97 (51% off)

Editor’s picks

Men’s AKHG Graveltec Standard Fit Full Zip Mock $69.99 (36% off)

+ +

Smith Shift MAG ChromaPop Sunglasses $171.00 (was $337.00)

+ + + + +

+ +

Smith Optics

Women’s AKHG Northern Light Fleece Mock $38.97 (51% off)

+ + + + See It + +

Women’s AKHG Northern Light Fleece Vest $31.97 (50% off)

Men’s AKHG Boundary Line Popover Hoodie $48.97 (51% off)

+ +

Zeal Ridgway Sunglasses – Men's — $63.60 (was $159.00)

+ + + + +

+ +

- - This is one of the best gifts I can recommend. - -

Women’s AKHG Boundary Line Popover Hoodie $48.97 (51% off)

+ + Treat yourself with a bold pattern. + +

Zeal

+ + + + +

+ + + + See It + +

Men’s AKHG Kindler Pile Fleece Full Zip Jacket $78.97 (47% off)

Women’s AKHG Kindler Pile Fleece Full Zip Jacket $78.97 (51% off)

- +

Vests

Men’s AKHG Blackburn Standard Fit Vest $38.97 (51% off)

Women’s AKHG Blackburn Vest $38.97 (51% off)

Smith Optics deals

Men’s AKHG Puffin Mock Vest $53.97 (51% off)

Smith Embark ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $135.00 (was $257.00)
Women’s AKHG Puffin Mock Vest $53.97 (51% off)
Smith Lowdown 2 ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $123.00 (was $277.00)
Women’s AKHG Outer Limit Hybrid Vest $53.98 (51% off)

Smith Venture ChromaPop Sunglasses $142.20 (was $297.00)

Pants, bibs, and leggings

Smith Guide’s Choice XL ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $178.20 (was $297.00)

Women’s AKHG Roadless Slim Leg Pants $28.99 (71% off)
Smith Shift MAG ChromaPop Sunglasses $171.00 (was $337.00)
Women’s AKHG Access Point Pull-On Slim Leg Pants $21.99 (70% off)
Smith Lowdown Split ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $123.00 (was $215.00)
Men’s AKHG Stone Run Standard Fit Pants $48.97 (51% off)
Smith Leadout Pivlock Polarized Sunglasses $125.40 (was $235.00)
Men’s AKHG Stone Run Relaxed Fit Pants $48.97 (51% off)
Smith Joya ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $129.00 (was $297.00)
Men’s AKHG Stone Run Slim Fit Pants $48.97 (51% off)
Smith Guide’s Choice Sunglasses $178.20 (was $327.00)
Men’s AKHG Free Rein Standard Fit Pants $43.97 (51% off)
Smith Resolve ChromaPop Sunglasses $101.40 (was $227.00)
Men’s AKHG Free Rein Relaxed Fit Pants $43.97 (51% off)
Smith Attack MAG MTB ChromaPop Sunglasses $161.40 (was $285.00)
Men’s AKHG Boundary Line Fleece Pants $48.97 (51% off)
Smith Rockaway ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $125.40 (was $269.00)
Women’s AKHG Boundary Line Fleece Pants $48.97 (51% off)
Smith Layback Polarized Sunglasses $119.40 (was $215.00)
Women’s AKHG Roadless Pull-On Joggers $43.99 (51% off)
Smith Pursuit ChromaPop Sunglasses $171.00 (was $337.00)
Women’s Plus AKHG Roadless Lined Pants $33.99 (70% off)
Smith Shift XL MAG ChromaPop Sunglasses $184.20 (was $337.00)
Men’s AKHG Roadless Lined Pants $72.99 (30% off)
Smith Eastbank ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $99.00 (was $195.00)
Men’s AKHG Triple Slope Bibs $145 (42% off)
Smith Boomtown ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $118.20 (was $237.00)
Women’s AKHG Triple Slope Bibs $123.97 (50% off)
Smith Monterey ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $113.40 (was $249.00)
Women’s AKHG Trail Tech Leggings $43.98 (51% off)
Smith Flywheel ChromaPop Sunglasses $111.00 (was $185.00)
Women’s AKHG Trail Tech Ridge Leggings $46.98 (50% off)

Smith Roam ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $123.00 (was $205.00)

Base layers and tops

Smith Shift Split MAG ChromaPop Sunglasses $165.00 (was $337.00)

Men’s AKHG Mountain Stream Relaxed Fit Short Sleeve Shirt $18.97 (71% off)
Smith Lake Shasta ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $123.00 (was $217.00)
Women’s Plus AKHG Crosshaul Overshirt $27.99 (70% off)
Smith Wander ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $129.00 (was $227.00)
Men’s AKHG Tun-Dry Standard Fit Long Sleeve T-Shirt $18.97 (52% off)
Smith XC Chromapop Sunglasses $142.20 (was $237.00)
Men’s AKHG Tun-Dry Standard Fit Short Sleeve T-Shirt $16.97 (51% off)
Smith Spinner ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $142.20 (was $237.00)
Men’s AKHG Trailmarker Short Sleeve Crew $16.97 (51% off)
Smith Lowdown Slim2 ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $151.90
Women’s AKHG Trailmarker Long Sleeve Crewneck $18.97 (52% off)
Smith Bobcat ChromaPop Sunglasses $160.55
Women’s AKHG Renew Bamboo Short Sleeve Tee $18.97 (52% off)
Smith Lowdown XL 2 ChromaPop Polarized Sunglasses $151.90
Women’s AKHG Renew Bamboo Long Sleeve Tee $21.97 (51% off)
Smith Shoutout CORE Polarized Sunglasses $161.85 (was $249.00)

Women’s AKHG Renew Bamboo Long Sleeve Mock $23.97 (52% off)

Pit Viper deals

Men’s AKHG Renew Bamboo Hoodie $31.97 (50% off)

Pit Viper The Single Wides Polarized Sunglasses $49.84 (was $99.69)
Women’s AKHG U.P. Stream Shirt $21.98 (51% off)
Pit Viper The Skysurfer HDPV Polarized Sunglasses $60.00 (was $100.00)
Men’s AKHG Midnight Sun Relaxed Fit Shirt $36.97 (50% off)
Pit Viper The Slammer Sunglasses $38.33 (was $69.69)
Men’s AKHG Boar’s Nest Standard Fit Flannel Shirt $41.97 (50% off)
Pit Viper The Flip-Offs Polarized Sunglasses $97.50 (was $130.00)
Men’s AKHG Boar’s Nest Relaxed Fit Flannel Shirt $41.97 (50% off)
Pit Viper The Original HDPV Polarized Sunglasses $56.00
Men’s AKHG Stone Run Standard Fit Overshirt $69.99 (30% off)
Pit Viper The Admirer HDPV Polarized Sunglasses $75.00
Men’s AKHG Crosshaul Standard Fit Overshirt $46.97 (50% off)
Pit Viper The Original Sunglasses $75.00
Men’s AKHG Elk Flats Flannel Shirt Jac $48.97 (51% off)

Pit Viper The Highball HDPV Polarized Sunglasses $75.00

Shorts, skorts, and swim

Pit Viper The Turboshaft HDPV Polarized Sunglasses $75.00

Women’s AKHG Outer Limit 3″ Shorts With Liner $18.99 (71% off)
Pit Viper The Synthesizer Sunglasses $97.50
Men’s AKHG Lost Lake 11″ Swim Board Shorts $26.98 (51% off)
Pit Viper The Showroom Sunglasses $34.84 (was $69.69)

Men’s AKHG Wanderwear Performance 8″ Shorts $23.98 (52% off)

Premium and boutique picks

Men’s AKHG Outer Limit 8″ Shorts $28.98 (51% off)

Oakley Crankshaft Polarized Sunglasses $160.50 (was $214.00)
Men’s AKHG Free Rein 8″ Shorts $38.97 (51% off)
Electric Crasher 49 Polarized Sunglasses $124.98 (was $249.95)
Men’s AKHG AlpineFlex Standard Fit 10″ Shorts $38.97 (51% off)
Electric Noli Polarized Sunglasses $124.98 (was $249.95)
Women’s AKHG Roadless 5″ Shorts $38.97 (51% off)
RAEN optics Squire Polarized Sunglasses $61.50 (was $205.00)

The post Backcountry.com is blowing out dozens of sunglasses for clearance prices during this flash sale appeared first on Popular Science.

What were books like in ancient Greece and Rome?

Stan Horaczek — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 11:01:00 -0500

This article originally appeared in The Conversation.

Women’s AKHG Trail Tech Flow Skort $28.98 (51% off)

If you were to visit a bookshop in the ancient world, what would it be like?

Women’s Plus AKHG Access Point Pull-On Skort $31.98 (50% off)

Women’s AKHG Access Point Pull-On Skort $31.98 (50% off)

+
I chanced to be sitting in a bookshop in the Sigillaria with the poet Julius Paulus […] There was on sale there the Annals of Quintus Fabius Pictor in a copy of good and undoubted age, which the dealer maintained was without errors.
+

Women’s AKHG Roadless Skort $33.97 (51% off)

Women’s AKHG Lost Lake Swim Dress $48.98 (51% off)

Women’s Plus AKHG Lost Lake Swim Dress $48.98 (51% off)

+
The volumes themselves, however, were filthy from neglect, in bad condition and unsightly. Nevertheless, I drew near and asked their price; then, attracted by their extraordinary and unexpected cheapness, I bought a large number of them for a small sum.
+

Women’s AKHG Lost Lake Swim One-Piece $43.98 (51% off)

Engraving of Aulus Gellius (1706). Image: Public Domain

Women’s Plus AKHG Lost Lake Built-In Bra Tankini $38.98 (51% off)

Women’s AKHG Lost Lake Built-In Bra Tankini $38.98 (51% off)

The origins of writing

Women’s Plus AKHG Lost Lake 5″ Swim Shorts $31.98 (50% off)

Men’s AKHG Lost Lake 8″ Swim Shorts With Liner $28.98 (51% off)

Men’s AKHG Lost Lake 10″ Swim Shorts With Liner $31.98 (50% off)

The origins of writing are certainly mysterious. It’s unclear when writing began and who invented it.

Women’s AKHG U.P. Stream Cover-Up Dress $33.98 (51% off)

Women’s AKHG Outer Limit Easy Tank Dress $28.98 (51% off)

Model of the Dispilio Tablet. Image: Мико/ CC BY-SA

Women’s Plus AKHG Trail Tech Flow Dress $46.98 (50% off)

Women’s Plus AKHG Trail Tech 9″ Shorts $33.98 (51% off)

- +

Accessories and extras

AKHG About Face Ball Cap (Performance Fit) $13.98 (53% off)

Our English alphabet comes from the Romans, who in the 8th and 7th century BCE also got their alphabet from the Phoenicians, via the Greeks.

AKHG Flex Patch Hat $13.98 (53% off)

AKHG Knit Beanie $18.98 (52% off)

The origins of books

AKHG Knit Gaiter $18.98 (52% off)

People in ancient times used many different things as writing materials.

Men’s AKHG Bailout Belt $34.99 (30% off)

The Roman writer Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE) tells us that the earliest people in the world

Men’s AKHG Dry on the Fly Sport Bullpen 3D Boxer Briefs $23.97 (54% off)

+
used to write on palm-leaves and then on the bark of certain trees, and afterwards folding sheets of lead began to be employed for official muniments, and then also sheets of linen or tablets of wax for private documents.
+

Hubble spots three young stars going through growth spurts

Andrew Paul — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:57:00 -0500

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured a trio of young stars in the process of becoming their best selves in the constellation Scorpius. Posted to the agency’s site on January 16 as part of its Hubble Stellar Construction Zones series, the three T Tauri stars—seen at the bottom right, upper center, and left along with many other stellar objects in the background—are forming inside the hazy Lupus 3 cloud about 500 light-years from Earth. While the image appears somewhat serene, the interior forces at play are anything but tranquil.

A T Tauri star is a young star, usually less than 10 million years old. During this phase, the still-growing stellar object sees the dust and gas surrounding it begin to disappear as stellar winds, radiation, and other ionized particles bombard it. This dynamic environment is reflected in the star’s brightness, which randomly fluctuates depending on the material interactions underway in its accretion disk. More regular shifts in brightness can also occur as sunspots move in and out of view to astronomers here on Earth.

The T Tauri examples seen in Hubble’s image have a long way to go before they resemble the stars most observers recognize. Gravity will continue to bear down on the object until it forces hydrogen and helium elements to fuse in the star’s core, at which point it will finally become a main sequence stellar object.

The stars in Scorpius are further along in their growth than the protostars highlighted by NASA on January 14, however. About 1,300 light-years away, protostars in the “sword” of Orion are getting their start inside the constellation’s Orion Molecular Cloud complex. Astronomers aimed Hubble toward this area of the sky to better understand outflow cavities—areas where a protostar’s gas and dust is shaved away by nearby stellar winds.

The post Hubble spots three young stars going through growth spurts appeared first on Popular Science.

You need a portable jump starter in your car and Amazon has these GOOLOO models for clearance prices

Konstantine Panegyres / The Conversation — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:45:19 -0500

My car battery died last weekend. Cold weather is notorious for playing havoc with car batteries and mine bit the dust at an inconvenient time. Luckily, I had a portable jump starter as part of my car emergency kit and I managed to get where I needed to go without becoming a popsicle. Right now, Amazon has GOOLOO portable jump starters at or even below their all-time low prices. Grab one before you need one.

+https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCR8n7qS43w%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26start%3D0 +

Editor’s picks

How to write a book in antiquity

If you were living in ancient Greece or Rome and wanted to write a book, how would you do it?

- -

GOOLOO GT4000S Jump Starter (4000A, 100W fast charging) (Yellow) — $99.99 (33% off)

- - - - -

- -

GOOLOO

- - Low tire pressure is dangerous, but the built-in compressor can help. - -

- - - - See It +

First, you would buy sheets or rolls of papyrus to write on. If you couldn’t afford it, you’d have to write on the back or in the margins of papyri you already owned.

- -

Keep it in the trunk, forget it exists, then use it once every couple years to feel like a genius. The integrated cables won’t get lost in your car and you won’t have to depend on a kind stranger for a jump. The 100W charging matters, too—on road trips it can pull double duty as a legit power bank for phones, tablets, and other USB-C stuff.

- -

GOOLOO A5 Jump Starter with Air Compressor (4000A, 160 PSI) — $99.99 (47% off)

- - - - -

- -

GOOLOO

- - - - See It - -

Now you have all the materials you need. However, you don’t need to use the pen and papyrus yourself. If you want, you can get a scribe to write down your words for you.

If you’re trying to cover the two most likely roadside problems with one device, this is the pick. Jump the car when the battery gives up, then top off a tire after you’ve been ignoring that warning light for a while. The inflator’s auto-off feature is underrated: you set the target pressure and let it stop itself.

The Greek orator Dio Chrysostom (c.40-110 CE) even advised writers not to use the pen themselves:

- -

GOOLOO GP2000 Jump Starter (2000A) — $49.99 (38% off)

- - - - -

- -

- - The rugged case can endure a life spent in the trunk. - -

+
Writing I do not advise you to engage in with your own hand, or only very rarely, but rather to dictate to a secretary.
+

GOOLOO

+ + Jeans aren’t made for hiking. + +

- - - - See It - -

Sometimes you just want the affordable, no-drama option. Compact, cheaper than a tow, and capable of bailing out most everyday vehicles without taking up half your trunk, it’s well worth the price.

When you finished drafting your book you would need to revise and correct it. You could then publish it by having many copies made by scribes and delivering these copies to friends and booksellers.

Big power jump starters (4000A–6000A)

When all this was done, your book would be out in public. Perhaps someone like Aulus Gellius would stumble across it in a busy Roman bookshop. Maybe he’d even buy it.

If you drive something larger, live somewhere cold, or just want the most headroom, start here.

The post What were books like in ancient Greece and Rome? appeared first on Popular Science.

Baby chimpanzees like to free fall through trees

Margherita Bassi — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 10:08:00 -0500

GOOLOO GT4000S Jump Starter (4000A, 100W fast charging) (Yellow) $99.99 (33% off)

GOOLOO GT4000S Jump Starter (4000A, 100W two-way fast charging) $99.98 (33% off)

GOOLOO GT4000 Jump Starter (4000A, 100W, -40°F pre-heating tech) $109.99 (31% off)

GOOLOO GP4000 Jump Starter (4000A peak) $79.99 (43% off)

GOOLOO 4000A Peak Car Jump Starter (Orange) $99.99 (23% off)

GOOLOO GT6000 Jump Starter (6000A, 100W bi-directional fast charge) $129.98 (24% off)

Mid-range jump starters (2000A–3000A)

If you drive a typical commuter car, this tier is often plenty—and it’s the easiest on the wallet.

GOOLOO GP2000 Jump Starter (2000A) $49.99 (38% off)

GOOLOO GP2000 Jump Starter (2000A) (Red) $49.98 (38% off)

GOOLOO Upgraded GP3000 Jump Starter (3000A peak) $59.98 (29% off)

The post Baby chimpanzees like to free fall through trees appeared first on Popular Science.

How to avoid the iPhone’s notorious ‘silent alarm’ bug

David Nield — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

GOOLOO GP3000 Jump Starter (3000A) $69.99 (30% off)

GOOLOO GT3000 Jump Starter (3000A, 65W quick charge) $69.97 (30% off)

What is the silent arm bug?

GOOLOO G7 Jump Starter (3000A, built-in cable) (Deal A) $59.97 (40% off)

Being caught out by silent alarms? You’re not alone. Screenshot: Apple

GOOLOO G7 Jump Starter (3000A, built-in cable) (Deal B) $66.99 (33% off)

- +

Jump starter + air compressor combos

If you only want to throw one thing in your trunk and call it a day, pick from this section.

GOOLOO A5 Jump Starter with Air Compressor (4000A, 160 PSI) $99.99 (47% off)

Fixes you can try

GOOLOO A3 Jump Starter with Air Compressor (3000A, 150 PSI) $66.48 (40% off)

Disabling Attention-Aware Features can help in some cases. Screenshot: Apple

GOOLOO A7 Jump Starter with Air Compressor (6000A, 160 PSI, inflate/deflate) $149.99 (29% off)

GOOLOO A2 8-in-1 Jump Starter with Air Compressor (150 PSI) $59.99 (14% off)

Tire inflators (for the “I’ll do it later” crowd)

If your car doesn’t have a full-size spare (most don’t), this is a smart add.

GOOLOO GT160 Tire Inflator (160 PSI) $49.99 (38% off)

GOOLOO A6 Gear Tire Inflator (160 PSI) $39.99 (33% off)

OBD2 scanners (turn the dashboard light into actual information)

Alternative alarm apps

If you’re tired of guessing why the check-engine light came on, a scanner can save time (and sometimes a trip) by giving you a starting point.

Alarmy is one of the best alternative alarm apps. Screenshot: Alarmy

GOOLOO DS900 OBD2 Scanner (8″ touchscreen, Bluetooth 5.0) $299.98 (40% off)

GOOLOO DEEPSCAN DS200 OBD2 Scanner (Bluetooth wireless) $59.99 (40% off)

Compressed air dusters (because your keyboard is disgusting)

Not car gear, but still useful: rechargeable air dusters are basically a reusable can of compressed air. They’re handy for keyboards, PC fans, car vents, and all the places dust likes to hide.

Or you can invest in a smart alarm clock. Or just an old-fashioned alarm clock with the big red numbers and real buttons.

The post How to avoid the iPhone’s notorious ‘silent alarm’ bug appeared first on Popular Science.

Duluth Trading’s winter clearance drops its toughest coats, pants, and outerwear up to 70% off

Stan Horaczek — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

GOOLOO F3 Compressed Air Duster (150,000 RPM) $29.98 (40% off)

Editor’s picks

GOOLOO F5 Compressed Air Duster (180,000 RPM, dual removable batteries) $89.99 (31% off)

The post You need a portable jump starter in your car and Amazon has these GOOLOO models for clearance prices appeared first on Popular Science.

How to make a Blockbuster VHS sleeve for any movie

Andrew Paul — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:27:08 -0500

It’s difficult to explain the Blockbuster experience to those who did not get to experience it. If you never visited one of the video rental chain’s over 9,000 locations during the VHS tape heyday, there’s even a good chance it may be impossible to understand the ritual of scouring shelves for the perfect Friday night movie: the smell of hundreds of plastic clamshell cases, the distinctly garish interior designs of the 1990s, and early 2000. It is all but a memory, unless you make a pilgrimage to the last brick-and-mortar locale in Bend, Oregon.

- - - -

That’s not to say you can’t recreate at least some of those nostalgic aesthetics. A highly accurate tape case design was first uploaded online in 2024 by programmer Ryan Finnie. At the time, however, making your own sleeves required a fair amount of manual input and adjustment. As spotted by BoingBoing, digital strategist and creator Tex Jernigan recently debuted the streamlined, free-to-use Blockbuster Sleeve Generator. Like the name implies, the website allows anyone to print out customized, highly accurate tape case labels that look nearly identical to the iconic blue-and-yellow slips once seen lining video store aisles. All the customizable elements are also integrated into a single program for any cinephiles yearning for a bit of VHS roleplaying.

- - - -

“[Blockbuster] closed in 2010, but it lives on in our hearts as a beloved symbol of video rental culture,” Jernigan explained on the project’s website.

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While this movie came out long after Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy, you can still make a sleeve for it. Credit: Blockbuster Sleeve Generator / Popular Science

- - - -

The generator is also integrated with a film database to automatically fill in backsleeve information like cast, director, summary, release year, and approximate runtime. To make your case really look like the real thing, Jernigan even gives it an inventory barcode. After using the site’s Store Search tool (also free), users can identify the childhood Blockbuster store’s retail location number, then add on the movie’s unique code as well as the hypothetical inventory’s copy number.

- - - -

It’s a nifty craft project for people looking for something to do with that old box of VHS tapes in the back of their closet. Jernigan also tells Popular Science that the best way of porting a show or movie onto a blank VHS tape (yes, they’re still available to buy).

- - - -

“It’s funny, the best way is still the same: you hook a VCR up to any TV, and then press record and watch the TV while it records in real time,” he says, adding that there are also cheap HDMI-to-AV converters you use for converting from a laptop or computer.

- - - -

“It does a slight squeezing of 1080p video so that it fits onto the screen. I think it does a great job,” he says.

- - - -

Jernigan does note it’s worth mentioning that his personal project is “focused on the design and nostalgia side” of VHS culture, and is not intended to help illegal copying or redistribution.

- - - -

“I always try to encourage people to be mindful of copyright and local laws and to respect the original creators,” he says.

+ +

Men’s AKHG Stone Run Standard Fit Pants $48.97 (51% off)

+ + + + +

+ +

Duluth Trading

- It’s simple to connect and emphasizes voices so movies and TV shows are easier to understand. + This is a great option for layering. + +

+ + + + See It -

But for your own home, there are few ways to better respect the pinnacle of video rental outlets than trying out Blockbuster Sleeve Generator.

The post How to make a Blockbuster VHS sleeve for any movie appeared first on Popular Science.

Bose is clearing out refurbished audio products, including a soundbar for just $99

Tony Ware — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:24:54 -0500

Whether you’re looking for movie dialogue you don’t have to decipher, a commute cone of silence, or the ability to transform any patch of pavement into a party, Bose has your back. And thanks to certified refurbished gear, you can upgrade without the full price sting. Act now, and you can grab a soundbar with voice-focused tuning to pull whispers and punchlines forward. Snag earbuds to erase HVAC hum and coffee shop chaos so your thoughts can collate. Or snatch a speaker you can toss in your bag so that the vibe always follows you from pool to park to porch. No matter what you choose, Bose has a sonic signature that’s warm and non-fatiguing with clear vocal presence at what are clearly unbeatable prices.

+ + -

Editor’s picks

Bose Solo Soundbar Series II (Refurbished) $99 (50% off)

Men’s AKHG Ursa Major Parka $190 (41% off)

- +

Duluth Trading

@@ -5901,7 +5717,7 @@ https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCR8n7qS43w%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26start%3D0 - + See It @@ -5909,26 +5725,28 @@ https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCR8n7qS43w%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26start%3D0 -

This low-effort upgrade for your TV is a simple set-and-forget solution to coax dialogue out from behind explosions and background music. Sidestep those tiny, tinny built-in speakers with an easy, one-connection setup. It supports Dolby decoding and is compact and clean-looking, tuned to make voices sound crisp at sane volumes and without redoing your living room.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Refurbished) $169 (43% off)

Women’s AKHG Ursa Major Waterproof Down Parka $158.97 (50% off)

- +

- Get excellent noise canceling in a small package. + Your thighs will appreciate the extra length. + +

Duluth Trading

@@ -5938,7 +5756,7 @@ https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCR8n7qS43w%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26start%3D0 - + See It @@ -5946,26 +5764,28 @@ https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCR8n7qS43w%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26start%3D0 -

When the world won’t stop being loud, QuietComfort earbuds are the low-key solution. Bose noise cancellation is top-tier, and the fin-secured fit never feels clunky. The sound lands rich and controlled, offering a pocketable escape pod from the hustle and bustle. If you want serious focus without a serious investment, this is the move—ideal for flights, commuting, or making an open office feel a lot less open.

Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) (Refurbished) $99 (38% off)

Women’s AKHG Triple Slope 3-in-1 Jacket $103.99 (70% off)

- +

- The built-in loop lets you hang it from a carabiner. + This is one of the most versatile jackets you could own. + +

Duluth Trading

@@ -5975,7 +5795,7 @@ https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCR8n7qS43w%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26start%3D0 - + See It @@ -5983,387 +5803,526 @@ https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCR8n7qS43w%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26start%3D0 -

Whether you want background music or event audio, this is the kind of portable speaker that makes everyday listening better. It’s compact, rugged, ready for spills and designed for thrills. The sound is punchy with balance but satisfying bass, whether you’re into podcasts in the kitchen, music in the backyard, or chill hangouts that don’t need a gigantic party speaker.

All refurbished Bose deals

All AKHG deals

Soundbars and TV audio

Outerwear and big warm layers

Bose Solo Soundbar Series II (Refurbished) $99 (50% off)
Bose Smart Soundbar (Refurbished) $349 (36% off)
Women’s AKHG Triple Slope 3-in-1 Jacket $103.99 (70% off)
Bose TV Speaker (Refurbished) $229 (18% off)

Women’s AKHG Snowpack Stretch Down Jacket $61.99 (70% off)

Headphones and earbuds

Women’s AKHG Puffin Parka Jacket $83.97 (50% off)

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (Refurbished) $199 (45% off)
Women’s Plus AKHG Puffin Long Parka $83.97 (50% off)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Refurbished) $279 (35% off)
Women’s AKHG Ursa Major Waterproof Down Parka $158.97 (50% off)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Refurbished) $169 (43% off)
Men’s AKHG Puffin Mock Jacket $63.97 (46% off)
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (Refurbished) $179 (40% off)

Men’s AKHG Puffin Hooded Jacket $80 (38% off)

Portable Bluetooth speakers

Women’s AKHG Puffin Hoodie Jacket $80 (43% off)

Bose SoundLink Micro (Refurbished) $79 (34% off)
Women’s Plus AKHG Puffin Hooded Jacket $68.97 (51% off)
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) (Refurbished) $99 (38% off)
Women’s AKHG Puffin Mock Jacket $75 (42% off)
Bose SoundLink Plus (Refurbished) $219 (19% off)
Men’s AKHG Outer Limit Hybrid Jacket $97.97 (30% off)
Bose SoundLink Max (Refurbished) $319 (20% off)
Men’s AKHG Snowpack Stretch Down Jacket $103.97 (48% off)
Bose SoundLink Revolve II (Refurbished) $159 (27% off)
Men’s AKHG Triple Slope 3-in-1 Jacket $205 (41% off)
Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II (Refurbished) $179 (40% off)
Men’s AKHG Ursa Major Waterproof Down Jacket $175 (42% off)
Bose Portable Smart Speaker (Refurbished) $319 (20% off)
Men’s AKHG Ursa Major Parka $190 (41% off)

Home theater add-ons

Midlayers and fleeces

Bose Bass Module 500 (Refurbished) $449 (18% off)

Women’s AKHG Midnight Sun Short Sleeve Dress $24.99 (70% off)

Specialty gear

Men’s AKHG Crosslayer Fleece 1/4 Zip Mock $38.97 (51% off)

Bose A30 Aviation Headset (Refurbished) $999 (23% off)

The post Bose is clearing out refurbished audio products, including a soundbar for just $99 appeared first on Popular Science.

In ancient Arabia, people dined on sharks and stingrays

Andrew Paul — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:13:32 -0500

A 7,000-year-old grave site in present-day Oman indicates that the region’s Neolithic communities sometimes turned to an unexpected trade to not only survive, but thrive in the harsh desert landscape. According to findings published in the journal Antiquity, the people of southern Arabia actually hunted sharks and even stingrays.

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Since 2020, researchers from the Archaeological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague (ARÚ) have investigated Wadi Nafūn, an ancient grave site megalith (a structure built with large stones) used by Neolithic locals during the 5th century BCE. Amid their excavations, researchers found the skeletal remains of over 70 men, women, and children. But this wasn’t a single generation of people. The crypt’s size and subsequent radiocarbon dating indicate that Wadi Nafūn was built and maintained communally for over 300 years.

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“This monument was not built by a single small group. It represents cooperation, shared beliefs, and repeated return to a common ceremonial landscape,” project director lžběta Danielisová recently told Arkeonews.

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Neolithic hunters likely also wore shark teeth as pendants. Credit: ARÚ Prague

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However, Danielisová and collaborators faced an immediate challenge. Biological materials like teeth and skeletal fragments usually do not retain many organic components after being exposed to Oman’s arid climate for thousands of years. To properly understand their discoveries, the team needed to ship the materials back to the Czech Republic. There, they utilized isotopic analysis to examine a mineralized substance called bioapatite that remains on bones even after collagen disappears.

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They particularly focused on traces of carbon, oxygen, and strontium to pinpoint some of each Neolithic person’s dietary sources of protein. But it was the discovery of certain nitrogen isotopes that surprised them most, as these compounds are only found in very specific marine animals.

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“We know that these were not just ordinary proteins, but proteins from the top of the food chain,” Danielisová said in a university statement.

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For hundreds of years, it appears the Neolithic communities of southern Arabia regularly hunted and consumed sharks. They didn’t only eat the apex predators, either. Throughout Wadi Nafūn, archaeologists excavated shark tooth pendants, additional tiger shark teeth, fishing tools, and stingray barbs. In order to harvest all these materials, the Neolithic hunters appear to have even used their own teeth to help process and prepare their catches.

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“The teeth of this community have an interesting pattern. This indicates a specific diet and also that people used their teeth as tools,” explained ARÚ Prague anthropologist Jiří Šneberger.

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Additional evidence gleaned from the isotopic analysis also showed that some of the individuals buried at Wadi Nafūn weren’t technically locals. Strontium and oxygen levels suggest certain adults buried here at least spent their childhoods over 30 miles inland. Taken altogether, the shark and human evidence illustrate a highly dynamic, resourceful, and collaborative region that used everything at their disposal to flourish.

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“For the very first time, we were able to use natural science data to document specialized hunting of marine predators, directly by analyzing the local buried community,” said Danielisová. “The connection of this burial community with sharks is very interesting and is a new finding not only in prehistoric Arabia, but in the area of all Neolithic cultures of the arid zone.”

The post In ancient Arabia, people dined on sharks and stingrays appeared first on Popular Science.

Don’t pick up frozen iguanas

Laura Baisas — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:20:36 -0500

In Florida, giant invasive pythons, the state’s signature alligators, and bears that sometimes roam around theme parks are typically among the most upfront wildlife in the news. But when the temperatures drop, one reptile stands ready to take the limelight and also drop—iguanas.

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When air temperatures get cold enough, the reptiles will get stunned (or freeze) and fall from trees. Today, morning temperatures in Jacksonville and Tallahassee dipped as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit overnight, while Orlando hit the mid-30s, and Miami fell to the upper 40s. All temperatures that are cold enough to temporarily freeze an iguana.

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Reptiles like iguanas are cold-blooded—or ectothermic—reptiles that rely on external environmental conditions to regulate their body temperature. By comparison, warm-blooded or endothermic animals like humans and other mammals have a more consistent body temperature. Since the outside temperature has such a drastic effect on their bodies, cold-blooded animals often adapt their behavior as a response. They may bask in the sun to warm up or find shade to cool down and achieve a more balanced body temperature.

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Men’s AKHG Kindler Pile Fleece Full Zip Jacket $78.97 (47% off)

CREDIT: Florida Lad.

Women’s AKHG Kindler Pile Fleece Full Zip Jacket $78.97 (51% off)

+ -

When it gets cold, iguanas may also enter a dormant state called cold-stunning or freezing since they are not adapted to life in colder temperatures. Iguanas can start to slow down if the temperature gets below 50 degrees, and stun once they hit the 40s or 30s.

Vests

“When that happens, they may lose their grip and fall from the trees,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. “It’s a unique cold-weather hazard in Florida.”

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After they fall from a tree, they may appear to be dead. However, their critical body functions will all still be working and they will continue to breathe. Once temperatures rise, they can jump back into action as if nothing happened.

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Iguanas can grow up to seven feet long and weigh upwards of 30 pounds, so it is best to be cautious when walking under palm trees in colder weather. Getting hit by a reptile of that size could be dangerous.

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If you see a frozen iguana on the ground, do not rush in to warm them up. Joe Gonzalez from the Iguana Police told WPTV in West Palm Beach that relocating or interfering with an iguana can lead to more problems.

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“If you capture an iguana in your own yard and don’t move it anywhere else, that’s fine,” Gonzalez said. “But if you relocate it, you’re essentially taking your problem and dumping it somewhere else. This can have legal consequences, including fines.”

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Instead, it’s best to just leave the iguana alone. It will usually be fine once it gets over 50 degrees again.

The post Don’t pick up frozen iguanas appeared first on Popular Science.

Why do cats lick you? An expert explains.

Sarah Durn — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500

If you’ve ever been around a cat, you know they can get the sudden urge to groom themselves at just about any moment. You’re petting them on the couch. They’re purring. Everything seems lovely and content. Then, they lose all interest in you and start licking their butt.

Pants, bibs, and leggings

But some felines don’t just lick themselves: They also lick you. A cat will be busy grooming themselves. Then, without warning, they’ll turn their spiky tongues on their unsuspecting humans. Other cats can’t be bothered and won’t ever groom or lick their human friends, or other kitty friends for that matter.

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So, why do some cats lick their owners? Are they trying to clean you, too? We asked an animal behaviorist and cat expert to help us sort out exactly what is going on when your cat licks you.

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Mama cats regularly groom their babies

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For a mother cat, grooming is an important part of child rearing. When a mama cat licks her kittens it serves two important purposes: keeping her kittens clean and promoting social bonds, Kristyn Vitale, an animal behaviorist at Maueyes Cat Science and Education tells Popular Science.

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On the one hand, “mother cats are going to groom their kittens to help keep them clean and healthy,” says Vitale. Kittens can be especially susceptible to diseases, and “anybody who’s raised young kittens knows how dirty they can get, and a mother cat is not going to obviously bathe their kitten in a tub. They’re going to use their tongue to clean them.”

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Cats learn to groom from their mothers. Image: DepositPhotos

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But grooming also helps a mother cat strengthen her relationship with her kittens, says Vitale. A mother licking her babies is “one of the kitten’s first forms of social interaction.”

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It’s essentially a way for mothers to say, “I love you and I care for you.”

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How grooming shifts for cats in adulthood

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Kittens learn to groom from their mom, and usually start grooming themselves when they’re around four weeks old. Pretty soon after that, some cats “begin to reciprocate [their mother’s] grooming and they’ll groom their siblings or other unrelated cats and also preferred people in the house,” says Vitale.

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If your cat grooms other cats, animal behaviorists like Vitale call those cats their “preferred associates.” For instance, bonded cats often groom each other as a way to reinforce their bestie status. For cats, grooming other cats becomes “a very important social behavior that helps build bonds between the individuals.”

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Wild cats lick each other, too

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We also see the same behavior in wild cats where mothers groom their cubs to keep them clean and strengthen their connection, says Vitale. In adulthood, wild cats might continue to groom others. You don’t have to search hard to find adorable videos online of lions and tigers licking their besties.

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Like domestic cats, lions will lick their feline buddies. Video: Lions Cuddling and Licking Each Other/ DerpDerp

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But Vitale says there is one big difference here. A lot of wild cats, like tigers or even the closest relative of domestic cats, the African wild cat, “don’t live in social groups the same way the domestic cat does.” So they don’t always have the same opportunities to shower their buddies with love, because, well, they just don’t really have many buddies.

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Cats lick humans to strengthen your relationship

Base layers and tops

So why, then, do some cats licks their owners? In general, if your cat licks you, it’s them saying (in so many licks) that they love you.

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Vitale says when her cat licks her, she sees it as them “engaging in a social behavior with me” that’s strengthening our relationship. “I’m thinking in my mind that they’re just in a happy mood and looking to hang out together and interact a little bit.”

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What if your cat doesn’t lick you?

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While all cats groom themselves (which is why you don’t really need to worry about baths for most cats), not all cats groom other cats or their human friends. But should you feel bad if your cat doesn’t lick you? Does it mean they don’t love you? “No!” says Vitale.

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“Licking’s just one social behavior they could engage in. If your cat just sits on your lap, or sits near you, or your cat’s rubbing up against you, or your cat plays with you, those are all other social behaviors that show there’s a bond,” she says. Cats show love for their owners in all sorts of ways, she emphasizes. “Licking is just one thing a cat could do.”

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Vitale has three cats, and of the three she says only one licks her, “very, very sparingly, like once or twice a month.”

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So, don’t worry, whether they’re a licker or not, your cat loves you. They might just have a different way of showing it.

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The post Why do cats lick you? An expert explains. appeared first on Popular Science.

The best folding electric bikes for 2026, tested and reviewed

Stan Horaczek — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:40:04 -0500

All sorts of interesting one- and two-wheeled vehicles crisscross my city streets, including an increasing number of affordable, portable forms of tech-packed personal transportation . Spandex-clad cyclists take advantage of protected lanes, while electric scooters zip over sidewalks (and anywhere else). Occasionally, an odd unicyclist or one-wheeler breaks up the predictability. I particularly like to watch foldable e-bike riders who go from trail to train, transforming their personal transit into a cube to carry through a crowd. These now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t collapsible electric bikes offer power assistance for commuting or errands without taking up valuable real estate in an apartment or townhouse. These flexible options can often fit into an SUV or RV for extended outdoor adventures without the need for a heavy-duty, and often expensive, rack. We’ve updated the most reliable options—like our best overall, the Lectric XP4—so you can find the best folding electric bikes to match your riding style and needs.

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+ + + +

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Men’s AKHG Renew Bamboo Hoodie $31.97 (50% off)

+ + + +

Women’s AKHG U.P. Stream Shirt $21.98 (51% off)

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Men’s AKHG Midnight Sun Relaxed Fit Shirt $36.97 (50% off)

+ + + +

Men’s AKHG Boar’s Nest Standard Fit Flannel Shirt $41.97 (50% off)

+ + + +

Men’s AKHG Boar’s Nest Relaxed Fit Flannel Shirt $41.97 (50% off)

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Men’s AKHG Stone Run Standard Fit Overshirt $69.99 (30% off)

+ + + +

Men’s AKHG Crosshaul Standard Fit Overshirt $46.97 (50% off)

+ + + +

Men’s AKHG Elk Flats Flannel Shirt Jac $48.97 (51% off)

+ + + + +

Shorts, skorts, and swim

Best overall: Lectric XP4
Women’s AKHG Outer Limit 3″ Shorts With Liner $18.99 (71% off)
Best for urban and multimodal commuters: Brompton Electric G Line
Men’s AKHG Lost Lake 11″ Swim Board Shorts $26.98 (51% off)
Best for off-road adventures: HeyBike Mars 3.0
Men’s AKHG Wanderwear Performance 8″ Shorts $23.98 (52% off)
Best for long-range rides: Velotric Fold 1 Plus
Men’s AKHG Outer Limit 8″ Shorts $28.98 (51% off)
Best lightweight: Urtopia Carbon Fold 1
Men’s AKHG Free Rein 8″ Shorts $38.97 (51% off)
Best value: Ride1Up Portola
Men’s AKHG AlpineFlex Standard Fit 10″ Shorts $38.97 (51% off)
Women’s AKHG Roadless 5″ Shorts $38.97 (51% off)
Women’s AKHG Trail Tech Flow Skort $28.98 (51% off)
Women’s Plus AKHG Access Point Pull-On Skort $31.98 (50% off)
Women’s AKHG Access Point Pull-On Skort $31.98 (50% off)
Women’s AKHG Roadless Skort $33.97 (51% off)
Women’s AKHG Lost Lake Swim Dress $48.98 (51% off)
Women’s Plus AKHG Lost Lake Swim Dress $48.98 (51% off)
Women’s AKHG Lost Lake Swim One-Piece $43.98 (51% off)
Women’s Plus AKHG Lost Lake Built-In Bra Tankini $38.98 (51% off)
Women’s AKHG Lost Lake Built-In Bra Tankini $38.98 (51% off)
Women’s Plus AKHG Lost Lake 5″ Swim Shorts $31.98 (50% off)
Men’s AKHG Lost Lake 8″ Swim Shorts With Liner $28.98 (51% off)
Men’s AKHG Lost Lake 10″ Swim Shorts With Liner $31.98 (50% off)
Women’s AKHG U.P. Stream Cover-Up Dress $33.98 (51% off)
Women’s AKHG Outer Limit Easy Tank Dress $28.98 (51% off)
Women’s Plus AKHG Trail Tech Flow Dress $46.98 (50% off)
Women’s Plus AKHG Trail Tech 9″ Shorts $33.98 (51% off)

How we selected the best folding electric bikes

Accessories and extras

We don’t test these bikes in a lab—we take them out into the wild. That means folding and unfolding them on sidewalks, rolling them into elevators to see if they actually fit, and lifting them into car trunks to find out if it’s a one-person job or a two-person struggle. We ride the same loops we’d take to work or the store—complete with potholes, stoplights, sketchy shoulders, and plenty of zippy scooters.

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Every bike gets pushed on performance: full pedal assist, lights on, up and down hills until the battery taps out. We pay attention to what it’s like to live with the thing—how it rides, how it folds, and whether we’d actually want to use it every day.

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The best folding electric bikes: Reviews & Recommendations

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Folding e-bikes are all about space efficiency, but what that looks like depends on the rider and what accessories you might want to carry. If you’re an urban commuter navigating a cramped apartment, crowded train platforms, and zero bike parking, you want something that folds fast, rolls easy, and doesn’t make enemies in the elevator. On the flip side, RVers, van-lifers, or campers may want a more rugged ride with enough power and range to cruise trails, run errands, or sub in for a car when you’re off-grid.

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All folding e-bikes promise one thing: they take up less space when you’re not riding them. Most have shorter wheelbases, lower standover heights thanks to smaller diameter wheels, and upright riding positions that keep you visible in traffic and balanced at low speeds. But the real magic is in the fold, whether that’s a single hinge or a multi-jointed origami routine. If you’re just tucking it into a hallway or closet, weight might not be a dealbreaker. But if you’re hauling it into a trunk or up a flight of stairs, make sure it’s something you can lift without needing an ice pack after.

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If you’re used to riding full-sized bikes, folding e-bikes do take some getting used to (as do all e-bikes). Taller riders might feel like they’re perched on a circus act, while smaller riders often find the compact fit more confidence-inspiring. The sharper turning radius is a win in tight spaces, but some gearing setups can leave you spinning without much payoff. Ride a few miles, though, and most people settle into the rhythm quickly.

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Best overall: Lectric XP4

Hubble spots three young stars going through growth spurts

Andrew Paul — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:57:00 -0500

+ + + +

The post Hubble spots three young stars going through growth spurts appeared first on Popular Science.

You need a portable jump starter in your car and Amazon has these GOOLOO models for clearance prices

Stan Horaczek — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:45:19 -0500

+ + + +

Editor’s picks

GOOLOO GT4000S Jump Starter (4000A, 100W fast charging) (Yellow) — $99.99 (33% off)

- +

- + This is one of the best gifts I can recommend. -

Lectric

GOOLOO

@@ -6373,23 +6332,820 @@ https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCR8n7qS43w%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26start%3D0 - + See It +

+ + + +

+ + + + +

- Pros

GOOLOO A5 Jump Starter with Air Compressor (4000A, 160 PSI) — $99.99 (47% off)

Front oil suspension fork
Rear rack that can hold up to 150 pounds
Five levels of pedal assist plus throttle
Front and rear 602 hydraulic brakes
Integrated headlights and rear lights

+ +

+ + Low tire pressure is dangerous, but the built-in compressor can help. + +

GOOLOO

+ See It

+ + + +

+ + + + +

+ +

GOOLOO GP2000 Jump Starter (2000A) — $49.99 (38% off)

+ + + + +

+ +

+ + The rugged case can endure a life spent in the trunk. + +

GOOLOO

+ + + + + See It + + +

+ + + +

Sometimes you just want the affordable, no-drama option. Compact, cheaper than a tow, and capable of bailing out most everyday vehicles without taking up half your trunk, it’s well worth the price.

+ + + +

Big power jump starters (4000A–6000A)

+ + + +

If you drive something larger, live somewhere cold, or just want the most headroom, start here.

+ + + +

GOOLOO GT4000S Jump Starter (4000A, 100W fast charging) (Yellow) $99.99 (33% off)
GOOLOO GT4000S Jump Starter (4000A, 100W two-way fast charging) $99.98 (33% off)
GOOLOO GT4000 Jump Starter (4000A, 100W, -40°F pre-heating tech) $109.99 (31% off)
GOOLOO GP4000 Jump Starter (4000A peak) $79.99 (43% off)
GOOLOO 4000A Peak Car Jump Starter (Orange) $99.99 (23% off)
GOOLOO GT6000 Jump Starter (6000A, 100W bi-directional fast charge) $129.98 (24% off)

+ + + +

Mid-range jump starters (2000A–3000A)

+ + + +

If you drive a typical commuter car, this tier is often plenty—and it’s the easiest on the wallet.

+ + + +

GOOLOO GP2000 Jump Starter (2000A) $49.99 (38% off)
GOOLOO GP2000 Jump Starter (2000A) (Red) $49.98 (38% off)
GOOLOO Upgraded GP3000 Jump Starter (3000A peak) $59.98 (29% off)
GOOLOO GP3000 Jump Starter (3000A) $69.99 (30% off)
GOOLOO GT3000 Jump Starter (3000A, 65W quick charge) $69.97 (30% off)
GOOLOO G7 Jump Starter (3000A, built-in cable) (Deal A) $59.97 (40% off)
GOOLOO G7 Jump Starter (3000A, built-in cable) (Deal B) $66.99 (33% off)

+ + + +

Jump starter + air compressor combos

+ + + +

If you only want to throw one thing in your trunk and call it a day, pick from this section.

+ + + +

GOOLOO A5 Jump Starter with Air Compressor (4000A, 160 PSI) $99.99 (47% off)
GOOLOO A3 Jump Starter with Air Compressor (3000A, 150 PSI) $66.48 (40% off)
GOOLOO A7 Jump Starter with Air Compressor (6000A, 160 PSI, inflate/deflate) $149.99 (29% off)
GOOLOO A2 8-in-1 Jump Starter with Air Compressor (150 PSI) $59.99 (14% off)

+ + + +

Tire inflators (for the “I’ll do it later” crowd)

+ + + +

If your car doesn’t have a full-size spare (most don’t), this is a smart add.

+ + + +

GOOLOO GT160 Tire Inflator (160 PSI) $49.99 (38% off)
GOOLOO A6 Gear Tire Inflator (160 PSI) $39.99 (33% off)

+ + + +

OBD2 scanners (turn the dashboard light into actual information)

+ + + +

If you’re tired of guessing why the check-engine light came on, a scanner can save time (and sometimes a trip) by giving you a starting point.

+ + + +

GOOLOO DS900 OBD2 Scanner (8″ touchscreen, Bluetooth 5.0) $299.98 (40% off)
GOOLOO DEEPSCAN DS200 OBD2 Scanner (Bluetooth wireless) $59.99 (40% off)

+ + + +

Compressed air dusters (because your keyboard is disgusting)

+ + + +

Not car gear, but still useful: rechargeable air dusters are basically a reusable can of compressed air. They’re handy for keyboards, PC fans, car vents, and all the places dust likes to hide.

+ + + +

GOOLOO F3 Compressed Air Duster (150,000 RPM) $29.98 (40% off)
GOOLOO F5 Compressed Air Duster (180,000 RPM, dual removable batteries) $89.99 (31% off)

+ + + +

The post You need a portable jump starter in your car and Amazon has these GOOLOO models for clearance prices appeared first on Popular Science.

How to make a Blockbuster VHS sleeve for any movie

Andrew Paul — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:27:08 -0500

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“[Blockbuster] closed in 2010, but it lives on in our hearts as a beloved symbol of video rental culture,” Jernigan explained on the project’s website.

+ + + +

While this movie came out long after Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy, you can still make a sleeve for it. Credit: Blockbuster Sleeve Generator / Popular Science

+ + + +

“It does a slight squeezing of 1080p video so that it fits onto the screen. I think it does a great job,” he says.

+ + + +

Jernigan does note it’s worth mentioning that his personal project is “focused on the design and nostalgia side” of VHS culture, and is not intended to help illegal copying or redistribution.

+ + + +

“I always try to encourage people to be mindful of copyright and local laws and to respect the original creators,” he says.

+ + + +

But for your own home, there are few ways to better respect the pinnacle of video rental outlets than trying out Blockbuster Sleeve Generator.

The post How to make a Blockbuster VHS sleeve for any movie appeared first on Popular Science.

Bose is clearing out refurbished audio products, including a soundbar for just $99

Tony Ware — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:24:54 -0500

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Editor’s picks

+ + + + +

+ +

Bose Solo Soundbar Series II (Refurbished) $99 (50% off)

+ + + + +

+ +

+ + It’s simple to connect and emphasizes voices so movies and TV shows are easier to understand. +

+ + + + + See It + + +

+ + + +

+ + + + +

+ +

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Refurbished) $169 (43% off)

+ + + + +

+ +

+ + Get excellent noise canceling in a small package. +

+ + + + + See It + + +

+ + + +

+ + + + +

+ +

Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) (Refurbished) $99 (38% off)

+ + + + +

+ +

+ + The built-in loop lets you hang it from a carabiner. +

+ + + + + See It + + +

+ + + +

All refurbished Bose deals

+ + + +

Soundbars and TV audio

+ + + +

Bose Solo Soundbar Series II (Refurbished) $99 (50% off)
Bose Smart Soundbar (Refurbished) $349 (36% off)
Bose TV Speaker (Refurbished) $229 (18% off)

+ + + +

Headphones and earbuds

+ + + +

Bose QuietComfort Headphones (Refurbished) $199 (45% off)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Refurbished) $279 (35% off)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Refurbished) $169 (43% off)
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (Refurbished) $179 (40% off)

+ + + +

Portable Bluetooth speakers

+ + + +

Bose SoundLink Micro (Refurbished) $79 (34% off)
Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) (Refurbished) $99 (38% off)
Bose SoundLink Plus (Refurbished) $219 (19% off)
Bose SoundLink Max (Refurbished) $319 (20% off)
Bose SoundLink Revolve II (Refurbished) $159 (27% off)
Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II (Refurbished) $179 (40% off)
Bose Portable Smart Speaker (Refurbished) $319 (20% off)

+ + + +

Home theater add-ons

+ + + +

Bose Bass Module 500 (Refurbished) $449 (18% off)

+ + + +

Specialty gear

+ + + +

Bose A30 Aviation Headset (Refurbished) $999 (23% off)

The post Bose is clearing out refurbished audio products, including a soundbar for just $99 appeared first on Popular Science.

In ancient Arabia, people dined on sharks and stingrays

Andrew Paul — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:13:32 -0500

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Neolithic hunters likely also wore shark teeth as pendants. Credit: ARÚ Prague

+ + + +

“We know that these were not just ordinary proteins, but proteins from the top of the food chain,” Danielisová said in a university statement.

+ + + +

“The teeth of this community have an interesting pattern. This indicates a specific diet and also that people used their teeth as tools,” explained ARÚ Prague anthropologist Jiří Šneberger.

+ + + +

The post In ancient Arabia, people dined on sharks and stingrays appeared first on Popular Science.

Don’t pick up frozen iguanas

Laura Baisas — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:20:36 -0500

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+ + + + +

+ +

CREDIT: Florida Lad.

+ + + +

“When that happens, they may lose their grip and fall from the trees,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. “It’s a unique cold-weather hazard in Florida.”

+ + + +

Instead, it’s best to just leave the iguana alone. It will usually be fine once it gets over 50 degrees again.

The post Don’t pick up frozen iguanas appeared first on Popular Science.

Why do cats lick you? An expert explains.

Sarah Durn — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500

+ + + +

So, why do some cats lick their owners? Are they trying to clean you, too? We asked an animal behaviorist and cat expert to help us sort out exactly what is going on when your cat licks you.

+ + + +

Mama cats regularly groom their babies

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Cats learn to groom from their mothers. Image: DepositPhotos

+ + + +

But grooming also helps a mother cat strengthen her relationship with her kittens, says Vitale. A mother licking her babies is “one of the kitten’s first forms of social interaction.”

+ + + +

It’s essentially a way for mothers to say, “I love you and I care for you.”

+ + + +

How grooming shifts for cats in adulthood

+ + + +

Wild cats lick each other, too

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+ + + + +

+ +

Like domestic cats, lions will lick their feline buddies. Video: Lions Cuddling and Licking Each Other/ DerpDerp

+ + + +

Cats lick humans to strengthen your relationship

+ + + +

So why, then, do some cats licks their owners? In general, if your cat licks you, it’s them saying (in so many licks) that they love you.

+ + + +

What if your cat doesn’t lick you?

+ + + +

Vitale has three cats, and of the three she says only one licks her, “very, very sparingly, like once or twice a month.”

+ + + +

So, don’t worry, whether they’re a licker or not, your cat loves you. They might just have a different way of showing it.

+ + + +

The post Why do cats lick you? An expert explains. appeared first on Popular Science.

The best folding electric bikes for 2026, tested and reviewed

Heather Kuldell-Ware — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:40:04 -0500

+ + +

+ + + +

Best overall: Lectric XP4
Best for urban and multimodal commuters: Brompton Electric G Line
Best for off-road adventures: HeyBike Mars 3.0
Best for long-range rides: Velotric Fold 1 Plus
Best lightweight: Urtopia Carbon Fold 1
Best value: Ride1Up Portola

+ + + +

How we selected the best folding electric bikes

+ + + +

The best folding electric bikes: Reviews & Recommendations

+ + + +

Best overall: Lectric XP4

+ + + + +

+ + + + + +

+ +

Lectric

- - Finally get all your desk cords under control with this burly docking station. - -

+ + + + + See It + + + +

+ Pros

+ +

Front oil suspension fork
Rear rack that can hold up to 150 pounds
Five levels of pedal assist plus throttle
Front and rear 602 hydraulic brakes
Integrated headlights and rear lights
Front and rear fenders
Removable battery
External charging port

Specs

- -

- - Folded bike: - - - 800 mm x 680mm -
- - Motor: - - - 500W peak rear hub motor w/ 42Nm torque -
- - Battery: - - - 252Wh lithium-ion -
- - Riding range: - - - Up to 40 miles -
- - Class: - - - 2 -
- - Top speed: - - - 20 mph -
- - Bike weight: - - - 29 pounds -
- - Maximum rider weight: - - - 220 pounds -

- - - -

The Urtopia Carbon Fold 1 is a shockingly delightful but diminutive Shimano Altus 8-speed commuter that folds up fast and rides even faster. Thanks to its brightly painted carbon fiber frame and fork (the company’s signature material, Saffron Yellow colorway shown above), this bike weighs just 29 pounds. That makes it light enough to toss into small car trunks or an RV for road trips, camping, or other overlanding adventures. And makes it a dream if you live in a multi-story walkup and/or need to factor subway rides into your commute. Despite its compact build (which arrives fully assembled), it can support riders from 5’1’’ to 6’1’’ and up to 220 pounds in total weight, though taller or long-legged riders may feel somewhat cramped.

- - - -

Little details make a big difference: Built-in magnets keep the bike securely folded while you move it around—no awkward flopping. Heavy-duty latches lock it back into riding position. Cable management is clean. A central cutout serves as a handle and place to thread your chain, so no one can fold the bike off its lock.

- - - -

Out on the road, the 500W peak rear hub motor and 42Nm of torque provide quick, zippy acceleration, allowing you to reach speeds of up to 20mph. Its low standover height makes it super-easy for frequent stopping and standing during city rides. It also has a short wheelbase, making it excessively nimble—great for dodging cars illegally parked in the bike lane and weaving through potholes, cones, or people staring at their phones. Plus, the TEKTRO hydraulic disc brakes are responsive. It’s surprisingly fun for something whose main function is to be practical.

- - - -

The 252Wh battery is cleverly hidden in the seat post (which can be fully removed for charging/storing … or to deter thieves, because a bike with no seat is just an extremely inconvenient scooter). It powers the motor, but also the color screen and integrated headlight/taillight. It feels like it’s designed for several short jaunts rather than significant mileage; however, as the published 40-mile range seems optimistic, especially on assist levels above Eco (Touring mode felt closer to the 20s).

- - - -

My version two wishlist includes a more sensitive torque sensor and a bigger battery, but for anyone short on space—or anyone who wants a travel bike without messing with a rack—the Carbon Fold is a blast. The Carbon Fold 1’s recommended retail price is $2,500, but it has been consistently on sale for $1,600.

- - - -

Urtopia

- - - -

Best value: Ride1Up Portola

- - - - -

- - - - - -

- -

- - - - - - -

- - - - - See It - - - -

- Pros

- -

Five pedal assist modes plus throttle
Front suspension fork
Dual-piston hydraulic brakes
Front and back fenders
Rear rack holds up to 130 pounds
Integrated front and rear bikes
Folding pedals
Chainguard stay
Short velcro strap to hold the bike together when folded
1-year warranty

- Cons

- -

Long-range battery available for extra
Well-organized, but external wires and cords
Taller riders may find leg extension lacking

- Specs

- -

- - Unfolded bike: - - - 66.2 inches long by 19 inches wide by 44.4 inches tall -
+ +
- Folded bike: - 33 inches long by 19 inches wide by 29.5 inches tall + 800 mm x 680mm
- Motor: - 750W geared hub motor with 65Nm torque + 500W peak rear hub motor w/ 42Nm torque
- Battery: - 500Wh + 252Wh lithium-ion
- @@ -7329,28 +7926,28 @@ https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCR8n7qS43w%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26start%3D0 Class: - Switchable to 1, 2 or 3 + 2
- Top speed: - 28 mph + 20 mph
- Bike weight: - 59 pounds + 29 pounds
- - Carrying capacity: + Maximum rider weight: - 300 pounds + 220 pounds

@@ -7360,341 +7957,46 @@ https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCR8n7qS43w%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26start%3D0 -

The Ride1Up Portola has a big ol’ motor—750W, the largest of this roundup. It also features a front suspension fork, 8-speed drivetrain, hydraulic brakes, and a muscular welded rear rack that can hold up to 130 pounds. These details are surprising to find on a folding e-bike and downright shocking to find on one that costs less than a grand.

- - - -

The Portola offers a lot to like, especially at the price point. Sturdy 20-inch by 3-inch tires and a front suspension fork work together to keep the rider relatively comfortable. There’s only one frame size, which Ride1Up calls “one size fits most,” or in this case, means riders from 4’10” to 6’4”—though taller riders or long-legged ones note they’d like a little more extension when they pedal.

- - - -

The Portola initially starts with a 10.4Ah battery, but an upgrade to 13.4Ah is only $100 more. With five pedal-assist levels and a throttle, you might want the extra juice. The range is up to 40—or 45 with the larger battery. The e-bike also can be switched between Class 1, 2, or 3, depending on whether you want to limit or unleash a potential top speed of 28 mph. And here’s one very simple but very nice touch that many folding bike makers overlook: The Portola has a small velcro strap to secure the bike when it’s folded. It takes some fussing to get the wheels and handlebars just right, but folding bike owners frequently add their own bungees or straps because nothing was included.

- - - -

What to consider when searching for the best folding electric bikes

- - - -

Usually, a search for an e-bike begins with sticker shock, especially if you don’t ride other bicycles. You can find budget electric bikes under $1,000, though models quickly get into the multiple thousands. Expect to find more powerful motors with more torque, larger batteries, and frames made of higher-quality, often lighter-weight materials as the price climbs. They’re like cars: You can find a reasonably priced, reliable model or spend serious bucks on high-end components, luxury features, and eye-grabbing designs. While the options may be daunting, there is a model out there to suit your tastes and budget, whether you’re looking for the best electric commuter bike or the best fat tire electric bike.

- - - -

It’s also worth checking whether your state offers tax credits or rebates for e-bikes to encourage adoption.

- - - -

E-bike classes: What they mean for folding bikes

- - - -

E-bike classes help define how fast your bike can go with motor assist and where you’re legally allowed to ride. This matters a lot if you plan to ride on bike paths, public trails, or shared-use routes. However, the rules will vary from state to state and from locality to locality. Before buying, check your local laws because some states treat e-bikes like regular bikes, while others (like Alaska and New Mexico) regulate them more like mopeds. (Check out the non-profit advocacy group People for Bikes’ guide for state laws.)

- - - -

To make this even muddier, many e-bikes allow the owners to change classes through the display or an app. This is usually called “unlocking,” but it’s a simple setting that lets you set a top speed of 20 or 28 miles per hour. Similarly, some e-bikes have throttles that can be enabled, disabled, or totally removed.

- - -

Class	How it works	Assist limit	What it means for you
Class 1	Pedal-assist motor only	Stops assisting at 20 mph	Usually allowed on bike paths and trails
Class 2	Throttle and pedal assist	Stops assisting at 20 mph	Throttle use may be restricted in some areas
Class 3	Pedal-assist motor only	Stops assisting at 28 mph	Sometimes banned from shared-use paths and may have age and/or helmet rules

- - -

Hub motor vs. mid-drive: What’s the difference?

- - - -

Most folding e-bikes use hub motors, usually built into the rear wheel. They’re simple, affordable, and beginner-friendly. The power comes on smoothly—more like a steady push than a sudden surge—which makes them great for casual riders or flat city commutes.

- - - -

Mid-drive motors, which sit at the cranks, are more efficient and offer better torque for climbing hills or hauling loads. They feel more like traditional cycling because they work with your gears. You’ll find them less often on folding bikes due to their cost and complexity, but if you do, it’s a premium upgrade.

- - - -

Motor power is usually measured in watts, ranging from 250W to the legal U.S. max of 750W. More watts can mean more speed and stronger acceleration, but torque is what really helps with hill climbs and quick takeoffs. If you’re in a hilly area or want zippier starts, look for motors with high torque ratings.

- - - -

Batteries: Range, charging, and what really matters

- - - -

Range is one of those features e-bike makers love to hype—and it’s getting better all the time. These days, even folding models often boast 60, 70, or even 85 miles on a single charge without needing a second battery. But actually hitting those numbers? That depends.

- - - -

Published ranges usually list a minimum and a maximum, and the real-world number lives somewhere in between. Terrain, rider weight, cargo, temperature, tire pressure, and how hard you push the motor (pedal assist vs. throttle, low vs. max level) all make a difference. For example, my commute in the summer takes a quarter of my fully charged battery, but in extreme headwinds or freezing temps, it can easily eat up more than half of my battery. Same ride, same battery, different conditions. If your planned ride is 15 miles round-trip, don’t buy a bike with a 15-mile max and hope for the best—get something with some buffer.

- - - -

Removable batteries are especially helpful for folding bikes. You can charge them inside, swap in a spare for long rides, or remove them for storage. Integrated batteries keep things sleek and tamper-resistant, but mean bringing the whole bike to an outlet. Bigger batteries weigh more, but they also give you more flexibility and less range anxiety.

- - - -

One last thing: battery safety isn’t optional. Look for certifications like UL 2849 (entire system), UL 2271 (battery only), or EN 15194 (European standard). These show that the battery’s been tested against overheating, impact, and general misuse.

- - - -

FAQs

- - -

Q: What are the downsides of folding electric bikes?

Folding e-bikes can be game-changers for commuters, but they come with a few trade-offs. They’re usually more expensive than non-electric bikes and heavier than standard folders. You’ll also need a place to charge—or look for a model with a removable battery you can charge indoors. Over time, batteries degrade and need to be replaced. And while most bike shops can service standard parts, proprietary systems or wiring may need brand-specific help. Folding frames also introduce additional wear points, such as hinges, latches, and clamps, which may loosen over time and with repeated use.

Q: Can folding e-bikes go long distances?

Yes. Many folding e-bikes advertise up to 40 to 80 miles of range, but real-world numbers depend on terrain, assist level, rider and cargo weight, and weather. If you ride mostly flat roads on low assist, your battery will stretch much farther than if you’re using throttle up steep hills. As for comfort, smaller wheels and minimal suspension mean you’ll feel more of the road, so “long distance” might come with more bumps.

Q: How much do folding electric bikes weigh?

Folding e-bikes generally weigh between 35 and 70 pounds. Lighter models made with carbon fiber or smaller motors can dip below 35, while more powerful or accessory-loaded models hit the upper end. They’re still easier to maneuver than traditional e-bikes thanks to their compact shape and smaller wheels—but lifting one into a trunk or up stairs? That’s where the real test comes in.

Q: Are folding e-bikes allowed on trains and buses?

In most cities, yes. Transit systems usually allow folding bikes on board, especially if they’re compact and folded before boarding. Just be prepared to carry or roll it quickly, and avoid peak commute times if the bike takes up space. Always check local transit rules—some systems restrict e-bikes by weight, battery size, or class.

- - -

Final thoughts on the best folding electric bikes

- - - -

Best overall: Lectric XP4
Best for urban and multimodal commuters: Brompton Electric G Line
Best for off-road adventures: HeyBike Mars 3.0
Best for long-range rides: Velotric Fold 1 Plus
Best lightweight: Urtopia Carbon Fold 1
Best value: Ride1Up Portola

- - - -

Folding electric bikes are a funny sort of transportation. They’re purpose-built to be easy to transport or store, which may mean some compromises in riding comfort. However, this category of bikes has come a long way, incorporating fatter tires, more suspension systems, and hydraulic brakes for superior stopping power, along with more options than ever before. Find the model that fits—literally—into your apartment, car, or commute, and enjoy the ride.

The post The best folding electric bikes for 2026, tested and reviewed appeared first on Popular Science.

Black hole space volcano erupts after 100-million-year nap

Andrew Paul — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:58:16 -0500

A supermassive black hole is reawakening inside a distant galaxy cluster—and after almost 100 million years of slumber, astronomers now say it’s making up for lost time. According to a study published today in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, J1007+3540 is erupting like a volcano and spewing plasma across interstellar space.

- - - -

A black hole isn’t constantly devouring its unfortunate galactic neighbors. In fact, it can lay dormant for eons. But when one of these gargantuan entities finally reawakens, the resulting display isn’t only impressive—it illustrates the chaotic battle between its own cosmic forces and the pressures of the universe around it.

- - - -

One of the most striking glimpses of such an event was recently captured by a team led by Shobha Kumari at India’s Midnapore City College. Supermassive black holes rarely emit magnetized, radio-emitting plasma, but according to Kumari, J1007+3540 is especially unique. After analyzing data collected by the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) in the Netherlands and India’s Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (uGMRT), researchers say there is undeniable evidence of multiple eruptions stretching deep into the universe’s past.

- - - -

“It’s like watching a cosmic volcano erupt again after ages of calm—except this one is big enough to carve out structures stretching nearly a million light-years across space,” Kumari said in a statement.

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The same images with labels showing the compressed northern lobe, curved backflow signature of plasma and the inner jet of the black hole. Credit: LOFAR / Pan-STARRS / Kumari et al.

- - - -

Radio imaging revealed a small, bright interior jet indicative of J1007+3540’s internal forces revving back up. But surrounding this illumination is an older layer of fading, distorted plasma from previous active eras.

- - - -

“This dramatic layering of young jets inside older, exhausted lobes is the signature of an episodic [active galactic nucleus]—a galaxy whose central engine keeps turning on and off over cosmic timescales,” added Kumari.

- - - -

The supermassive black hole’s forces are unfathomably strong, but the influences of the giant galaxy cluster around it can’t be ignored either. The surrounding plumes of incredibly hot gas exert their own pressure, in this case even higher than most other radio galaxies. These cosmic regions then mangle and distort J1007+3540’s plasma jets as they race outward. For example, LOFAR’s imaging depicts a compressed northern lobe that is curving to one side due to the galactic gas. Complimentary data from uGMRT reveals a very steep radio spectrum indicative of old, weakened plasma particles.

- - - -

“J1007+3540 is one of the clearest and most spectacular examples of episodic AGN with jet-cluster interaction, where the surrounding hot gas bends, compresses, and distorts the jets,” added Surajit Paul, a study coauthor and astronomer at the Manipal Center for Natural Sciences in India.

- - - -

Moving forward, Kumari, Paul, and their collaborators hope to employ higher-resolution equipment to peer into J1007+3540’s core. In doing so, researchers can better chart how the black hole’s reignited jets travel through the galaxy cluster, as well as how often such events actually occur.

The post Black hole space volcano erupts after 100-million-year nap appeared first on Popular Science.

Congress trying to make it easier to unsubscribe (again)

Andrew Paul — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:05:00 -0500

Two elected officials hope their new bipartisan bill will help finally put an end to the mountains of unwanted subscription renewal fees plaguing everyday consumers. Mark Takano, D-Calif. and Mark Amodei, R-Nev. reintroduced the Unsubscribe Act this week, which aims to ban companies from employing unnecessarily complex and obtuse cancellation policies.

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“Subscription traps have become an accepted inconvenience for American consumers. Too many companies rely on deceptive business models that force people to jump through hoops just to cancel,” Representative Amodei said in a joint statement. “We all live busy lives, and remembering to cancel after a free trial shouldn’t be another item on the to-do list.”

- - - -

Surprise subscription renewal fees are difficult enough to track in everyday life, but passing legislation to rein in the costly annual expenditures seems even harder to accomplish. After years of bipartisan lobbying efforts, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finally announced a “click-to-cancel” rule in 2023. However, courts nullified the FTC ruling on a technicality in July 2025–just days before it was set to go into effect. Since then, the fight has continued to fix a broken system that regularly costs households as much as $200 a year in sneaky, unwanted subscriptions.

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“During a time when everything is more expensive, corporations are cashing in subscription models that rely on a consumer forgetting to cancel a free trial,” Rep. Takano added. “Corporations haven’t put into place commonsense reforms like ending a subscription just as easily as signing up for one.”

- - - -

If enacted, the new law would require all companies to receive explicit opt-in confirmations from customers before charging them full price after the end of a free or discount-rate trial. The sign-up process must also “clearly and conspicuously” explain subscription terms, and make it as easy to cancel as it was to initially enroll.

- - - -

As The Guardian first reported on January 13,, Rep. Takano has regularly advocated for similar legislative action since 2017. His most recent attempt in 2021 only garnered Democratic support in the House, although a companion Senate bill has had bipartisan backing for years.

- - - -

So far under the Trump administration, the FTC has selectively enforced certain subscription fee-related actions, such as a $7.5 million settlement with the ed-tech company Chegg in September 2025. Comprehensive reforms have yet to materialize, however. The FTC quietly published a consumer group-led click-to-cancel petition in December 2025, and accepted public comments on it until January 2, 2026.

- - - -

With the Unsubscribe Act, legislators hope to bypass the ongoing regulatory hold-up.“This time…there’s interest across the aisle,” explained Rep. Takano.

The post Congress trying to make it easier to unsubscribe (again) appeared first on Popular Science.

Mummified cheetahs could help save the critically endangered big cats

Laura Baisas — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500

Seven naturally-mummified cheetahs are more than just an exciting paleontological find. The specimens discovered in five caves near the city of Arar in northern Saudi Arabia offer a glimpse of hope for reintroducing the species to the Arabian Peninsula. The findings are described in a study published today in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

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Cheetahs once lived in much of Africa, and Western and Southern Asia, but their range in Asia has decreased by 98 percent over the past several thousand years. As a whole, cheetahs only occupy nine percent of the territory they used to. On the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait) cheetahs were found as recently as 1977, when a hunter in Oman killed an adult female cheetah. However, the animals are now considered locally extinct in the region. There are five cheetah subspecies, and the Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) is believed to have been the only subspecies that lived in present-day Saudi Arabia. The Asiatic cheetah is currently considered critically endangered, with only one small wild population remaining in Iran. Whether or not cheetahs could be reintroduced in the area is debated, largely due to continued habitat destruction.

- - - -

During digs in five caves in 2022 and 2023, field biologist Ahmed Boug from Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife and his team uncovered skeletal remains of 54 other cats and seven naturally-mummified cheetahs. In desert regions, natural mummification is common due to the dry conditions where fungi and bacteria can’t thrive on a decomposing corpse. Deserts also have the right mineral content in the sand for preservation.

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- -

- - - -

The oldest of the cat skeletal remains date back about 4,000 years ago. The mummified cheetah remains were much younger—ranging from only 130 to 1,870 years ago.

- - - -

They also extracted complete genome sequences from three of the seven mummified cheetahs. According to the team, this is the first time that this kind of genetic material extraction has been done on naturally-mummified big cats. While the most recent specimen is genetically closest to the Asiatic cheetah, the two older specimens are more similar to the Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki). This critically endangered species is found in the Sahara and several countries in northwestern Africa.

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One of the mummified cheetahs as it was found in situ in a cave in northern Saudi Arabia. Image: National Center for Wildlife – Saudi Arabia

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The authors say that their results indicate that cheetah subspecies could support the re-establishment of cheetahs in Saudi Arabia. An increased available genetic pool from other subspecies would make rewilding efforts more feasible, as subspecies can generally interbreed and create fertile offspring that further the population. The team also suggests that their method shows that ancient DNA records from similar specimens can inform future reintroduction plans for other endangered species.

The post Mummified cheetahs could help save the critically endangered big cats appeared first on Popular Science.

Amazon has just about every Anker docking station, power bank, and portable power station on sale right now

Heather Kuldell-Ware — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:43:27 -0500

I’ve been doing my work at a local coffee shop lately, which has helped me kick some of the winter blues by getting me out of the house. It’s a great spot, but it lacks outlets, which means I’ve been relying heavily on portable chargers and other backup devices. The Anker Prime Pro power bank has been a go-to for me, but there are currently a ton of other Anker products on sale at Amazon right now, so stock up and never run out of juice again. You can even score huge deals on Solix portable power stations and solar generators.

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Editor’s picks

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Anker Prime Docking Station (14-Port, 160W Max, Dual 4K) $169.99 (37% off)

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Anker

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If your laptop is doing its best impression of a desktop every day, this is the kind of dock that makes the whole setup feel intentional. You get a ton of ports in one box, dual 4K monitor support, and up to 160W of power delivery so you can park your laptop, plug in, and stop juggling dongles.

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Anker Prime MagSafe Charger (3-in-1 Charging Station, Qi2 25W) $160.99 (30% off)

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- - Power up an iPhone, AirPods, and an Apple Watch all at once. - -

Anker

- - The built-in handle and wheels make it easy to lug just about anywhere. - -

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Urtopia

This is the move for people who are fully integrated into the Apple ecosystem. It’s a 3-in-1 stand that does Qi2 wireless charging (up to 25W) plus spots for your earbuds and watch. It’s the sort of thing that makes nightly charging feel less like a scavenger hunt.

Best value: Ride1Up Portola

Anker SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station (Powerhouse 767) $899.00 (55% off)

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Anker

@@ -7703,1562 +8005,1549 @@ https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCR8n7qS43w%3Fwmode%3Dtransparent%26start%3D0 - + See It -

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For outages, tailgates, or job sites, a big power station is basically a silent generator you can lug anywhere. The SOLIX F2000 has a huge 2,048Wh-class battery and enough output to run appliances and tools then recharge your smaller gadgets on top. This is one of the steepest discounts in the list, so it’s worth a look if you’ve been waiting for a real price drop.

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Wall chargers and travel adapters

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Anker 100W Max USB-C Charger Block (3-Port GaN, Silver) $59.99 (14% off)
Anker Prime Charger (100W 3-Port GaN, Foldable) $59.99 (14% off)
Anker Nano Charger (70W 3-Port USB-C, White, Cable Included) $39.99 (20% off)
Anker Charger (65W 3-Port Fast Compact Foldable) $25.99 (35% off)
Anker Nano Travel Adapter (5-Port, 1 AC + 2 USB-A + 2 USB-C) $25.99

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Power strips and desktop charging stations

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Anker Prime Charging Station (240W 8-in-1 USB-C Power Strip) $89.99 (31% off)
Anker Prime 6-in-1 USB-C Charging Station (140W) $59.99 (45% off)
Anker Charging Station (100W) 9-in-1 USB-C Power Strip (300J) $39.99
Anker Power Strip Surge Protector (2100J, 12 Outlets + USB) $28.99

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Power banks

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Anker Prime Power Bank (26,250mAh, 300W Max) $199.99 (13% off)
Anker Prime Power Bank (20,100mAh, 220W Max) $149.99 (17% off)

+ Pros

+ +

Five pedal assist modes plus throttle
Front suspension fork
Dual-piston hydraulic brakes
Front and back fenders
Rear rack holds up to 130 pounds
Integrated front and rear bikes
Folding pedals
Chainguard stay
Short velcro strap to hold the bike together when folded
1-year warranty

+ Cons

+ +

Long-range battery available for extra
Well-organized, but external wires and cords
Taller riders may find leg extension lacking

+ Specs

+ +

+ + Unfolded bike: + + + 66.2 inches long by 19 inches wide by 44.4 inches tall +
+ + Folded bike: + + + 33 inches long by 19 inches wide by 29.5 inches tall +
+ + Motor: + + + 750W geared hub motor with 65Nm torque +
+ + Battery: + + + 500Wh +
+ + Riding range: + + + Up to 40 miles +
+ + Class: + + + Switchable to 1, 2 or 3 +
+ + Top speed: + + + 28 mph +
+ + Bike weight: + + + 59 pounds +
+ + Carrying capacity: + + + 300 pounds +

Anker MagGo Power Bank (Qi2 15W, 10,000mAh, Stand; iPhone 15/14/13/12) $71.99 (20% off)

Anker MagGo Power Bank (Qi2 15W, Ultra-Slim 10,000mAh) $79.86

Anker Nano Power Bank (Qi2 15W, 5,000mAh, Magnetic) $54.99

USB-C hubs and docking stations

What to consider when searching for the best folding electric bikes

Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station (14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5) $399.99

Anker Prime Docking Station (14-Port, 160W Max, Dual 4K) $169.99 (37% off)

It’s also worth checking whether your state offers tax credits or rebates for e-bikes to encourage adoption.

Anker Laptop Docking Station (13-in-1 USB-C, Triple Display) $199.99

E-bike classes: What they mean for folding bikes

Anker Laptop Docking Station (14-in-1 USB-C Hub, Triple Display) $48.99 (30% off)

Anker USB-C Hub (11-in-1 Docking Station, Dual Monitor) $53.99 (22% off)

Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1, 4K HDMI, 10Gbps, Ethernet) $49.99

Class	How it works	Assist limit	What it means for you
Class 1	Pedal-assist motor only	Stops assisting at 20 mph	Usually allowed on bike paths and trails
Class 2	Throttle and pedal assist	Stops assisting at 20 mph	Throttle use may be restricted in some areas
Class 3	Pedal-assist motor only	Stops assisting at 28 mph	Sometimes banned from shared-use paths and may have age and/or helmet rules

Hub motor vs. mid-drive: What’s the difference?

Anker 6-in-1 USB-C Hub (65W PD, 4K HDMI, Ethernet) $31.99 (29% off)

Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI, 90W PD) $12.99 (35% off)

Anker USB-C to HDMI Adapter (4K@60Hz) $11.99 (40% off)

Anker USB-C Adapter (2 Pack) USB-C to USB-A $8.99 (44% off)

Batteries: Range, charging, and what really matters

Qi2 wireless chargers and MagSafe-style stations

Anker Prime MagSafe Charger (3-in-1 Charging Station, Qi2 25W) $160.99 (30% off)

Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Station (Qi2 15W, Foldable) $89.99 (17% off)

Anker MagGo UFO 3-in-1 Charger (Qi2 15W, Foldable Travel Pad) $61.98 (31% off)

Anker MagSafe Charger Stand (3-in-1 Cube, 30W USB-C Charger Included) $97.49 (35% off)

FAQs

Anker Zolo Magnetic Wireless Charger (2-Pack, Qi2 15W) $25.99 (35% off)

Q: What are the downsides of folding electric bikes?

Q: Can folding e-bikes go long distances?

Q: How much do folding electric bikes weigh?

Q: Are folding e-bikes allowed on trains and buses?

Anker MagSafe Charger Pad (Qi2 15W, Adapter Included) $24.99 (11% off)

Final thoughts on the best folding electric bikes

Car charging

Best overall: Lectric XP4

Anker Prime MagSafe Car Mount Charger (Qi2 25W, TEC Cooling) $67.49 (25% off)
Best for urban and multimodal commuters: Brompton Electric G Line
Anker Nano Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Qi2 15W, Adjustable Mount) $39.99 (33% off)
Best for off-road adventures: HeyBike Mars 3.0
Anker USB-C Car Charger (75W Max, Retractable Cable) $24.98 (38% off)

Best for long-range rides: Velotric Fold 1 Plus

Portable power stations and off-grid gear

Best lightweight: Urtopia Carbon Fold 1

Anker SOLIX C300 Portable Power Station (288Wh) $214.94 (28% off)
Best value: Ride1Up Portola

Anker SOLIX C300 DC Power Bank Station (288Wh) $249.99

The post The best folding electric bikes for 2026, tested and reviewed appeared first on Popular Science.

Black hole space volcano erupts after 100-million-year nap

Stan Horaczek — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:58:16 -0500

Anker 521 Portable Power Station (256Wh) $149.99 (25% off)

Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station (1,056Wh) $449.00 (44% off)

Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station (1,024Wh) $469.99 (41% off)

Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station (2,048Wh) $719.10 (52% off)

The same images with labels showing the compressed northern lobe, curved backflow signature of plasma and the inner jet of the black hole. Credit: LOFAR / Pan-STARRS / Kumari et al.

Anker SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station (Powerhouse 767) $899.00 (55% off)

Anker SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station (3,072Wh) $1,299.99 (23% off)

Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus Portable Power Station (3,840Wh) $2,699.00 (31% off)

Anker SOLIX EverFrost 2 58L Cooler (Road Trip Kit) $749.99

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The post Amazon has just about every Anker docking station, power bank, and portable power station on sale right now appeared first on Popular Science.

Anker Prime Power Bank (20K, 200W) review: Plenty of power for laptops and more

Andrew Paul — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:25:11 -0500

A typical power bank is meant to resurrect a dead smartphone or extend tablet usage through a long flight. But laptops fall into an entirely different category when it comes to backup power. The same goes for other power-hungry devices like drones and even high-end cameras. I’ve been testing the Anker Prime Power Bank (20K, 200W) for several weeks with a number of different devices. In that time, I’ve found it to be powerful, simple to use, and full of welcome features that make it enjoyable to use. It’s not perfect, but if you want one battery pack that can keep up with modern USB-C gear—and you’re willing to carry it—this is a great option.

The post Black hole space volcano erupts after 100-million-year nap appeared first on Popular Science.

Congress trying to make it easier to unsubscribe (again)

Andrew Paul — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:05:00 -0500

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Review: Anker Prime Power Bank (20K, 200W)

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- - The coffee shop is where this powerful backup battery shines. - -

Stan Horaczek

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- Pros

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Real laptop output: Up to 140W on a single USB-C port, with 220W total available across ports.
Fast to refill: 100W input means it can recharge in under an hour with the right charger and cable.
Actually useful smarts: The on-device display gives real-time wattage and time estimates; the app is there if you want deeper tweaks.

- Cons

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Price: It’s an investment, especially if you add accessories like the charging base.
Weight: It’s “pocketable” on paper, but at over a pound you’ll feel it.
Capacity reality check: This is a 20K-class pack (about 72Wh), not a full replacement for a laptop battery.

Design and Build

The Anker Prime 20K is roughly the size of one of those skinny Diet Coke cans, but it’s a squared-off soda can with real heft. It measures 1.73 × 1.99 × 5.79 inches and weighs 1.12 lbs (510 g), which makes it easy to stash in a backpack or camera bag—and a little silly to carry in a jacket pocket unless you’re committed.

Build quality is a standout. It’s a dense block of hardware rather than a hollow plastic shell, which matters when you’re throwing it into bags, bouncing between locations, or generally living the clumsy reality of travel.

Anker’s display is also genuinely helpful. Instead of the old system of four mystery LEDs, you get clear readouts for charge level, real-time wattage in/out, and time-to-empty or time-to-full estimates. When you’re trying to decide whether you have enough juice for a flight, a shoot, or a long coffee shop session, that kind of clarity is the difference between guessing and knowing. The shiny surface on the front of the device does pick up smudges and fingerprints easily, but that doesn’t matter much to me.

With the Unsubscribe Act, legislators hope to bypass the ongoing regulatory hold-up.“This time…there’s interest across the aisle,” explained Rep. Takano.

The post Congress trying to make it easier to unsubscribe (again) appeared first on Popular Science.

Mummified cheetahs could help save the critically endangered big cats

Laura Baisas — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500

Port layout is straightforward and practical: two USB-C ports and one USB-A across the top. In day-to-day use, I found it easier to lay it flat with the screen facing up so it’s less likely to tip if a stiff cable gets bumped.

How I tested Anker’s Prime Power Bank

In the several weeks I spent with this device, I used it to fuel my 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Max chip inside. I also used it to charge an iPhone 17 Pro Max, a DJI drone, a Canon R5 Mark II camera, and other devices. In each case, I was able to hit maximum charging speeds with each device and even keep up with the MacBook Pro output during high-intensity tasks like exporting files from Adobe Lightroom.

The “System” Approach

You can absolutely buy the battery by itself and be happy. The main story here is that it refills fast enough (up to 100W input) that it’s easy to keep topped off between sessions—plug it in while you eat lunch, and you’ll get a meaningful chunk of capacity back.

The oldest of the cat skeletal remains date back about 4,000 years ago. The mummified cheetah remains were much younger—ranging from only 130 to 1,870 years ago.

If you want a cleaner workflow that’s always ready, Anker also sells a separate $99 charging base that uses pogo pins and charges the bank at the same 100W rate. It’s not required, but if this power bank is part of your daily desk kit, docking it like a gadget from the future is undeniably convenient.

Performance

One of the mummified cheetahs as it was found in situ in a cave in northern Saudi Arabia. Image: National Center for Wildlife – Saudi Arabia

The “220W” in the name is the combined ceiling across ports. In practical terms, it means you can run a laptop at serious speed and still charge other devices without everything collapsing into “slow charge” mode.

The post Mummified cheetahs could help save the critically endangered big cats appeared first on Popular Science.

Amazon has just about every Anker docking station, power bank, and portable power station on sale right now

Stan Horaczek — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:43:27 -0500

Single port: One USB-C port can deliver up to 140W (PD 3.1), which is enough to charge a MacBook Pro at full speed.

Editor’s picks

Multi-device: With 220W total available, you can keep a laptop happy while also topping off a phone, tablet, camera, or accessory—without feeling like you have to “schedule” charging.

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Anker Prime Docking Station (14-Port, 160W Max, Dual 4K) $169.99 (37% off)

+ + + + +

+ +

+ + Finally get all your desk cords under control with this burly docking station. + +

Thermals are solid, too. High-wattage power banks often get uncomfortably warm when they’re actually delivering big power for long stretches. This one stayed surprisingly composed during sustained use, which inspires more confidence than raw spec-sheet bragging ever could. It felt noticeably warm to the touch when it was charging up its own internal batteries, but it never got hot.

Anker

+ + Power up an iPhone, AirPods, and an Apple Watch all at once. + +

+ + + + See It + +

The companion app is a nice touch, but I didn’t find myself using it all that often during normal use. The built-in screen typically told me what I needed to know.

At this price point, I would have liked an integrated cable and possibly wireless charging as it requires a separate cable to input and output power. That’s not super common with models in this class, so it’s not a point against this model, but both features would have been welcome.

Comparison: Anker Prime 20K vs. The Competition

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Anker Prime MagSafe Charger (3-in-1 Charging Station, Qi2 25W) $160.99 (30% off)

+ + + + +

+ +

Anker

+ + + + See It -

The Anker Prime 20K sits in a sweet spot: smaller and lighter than the max-capacity carry-on limit bricks, but far more capable than the average travel power bank.

+ +

Feature	Anker Prime 20K (220W)	EcoFlow RAPID Pro (27,650mAh)	Shargeek Storm 2	Anker 737 (24K, 140W)
Capacity	20,100mAh (~72Wh)	27,650mAh (99.54Wh)	25,600mAh (93.5Wh)	24,000mAh
Max Output	220W total (140W single USB-C)	300W total (up to 140W single)	100W (single-port fast charge class)	140W max total
Max Input	100W	320W (with matching station)	100W in/out	140W two-way charging class
Ports	2× USB-C, 1× USB-A	4 total (incl. built-in retractable USB-C cable)	USB-C + USB-A + DC + more	2× USB-C, 1× USB-A
Weight	1.12 lb (510g)	699.4g	591.3g	630g
Unique Feature	Optional pogo-pin charging base + strong on-device display	Built-in retractable cable + modular accessories	“Gadget-core” transparent design + DC output	More affordable entry to 140W-class charging

The Specs

Category	Specification
Model	Anker Prime Power Bank (20K, 220W)
Capacity	20,100mAh (~72Wh) Carry-on compliant under 100Wh
Ports	2× USB-C, 1× USB-A
Single USB-C Max	Up to 140W
Combined Max Output	Up to 220W total
Recharge Speed	Up to 100W (USB-C) / Up to 100W (charging base)
Connectivity	Bluetooth (Anker app)
Dimensions	1.73 × 1.99 × 5.79 inches
Weight	1.12 lb (510g)

+ +

Anker SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station (Powerhouse 767) $899.00 (55% off)

+ + + + +

+ +

+ + The built-in handle and wheels make it easy to lug just about anywhere. + +

Verdict

Anker

How pilots avoid thunderstorms—and what happens when they can’t

+ + + + See It + +

If you’re truly a power user—or you just have a laptop that laughs at most power banks—this Anker Prime makes a compelling case. The headline isn’t just big number wattage. It’s that the wattage shows up in real use: no slow-charger warnings, no weird throttling, and no all-night recharge penalty once you’ve drained it.

If you only need to charge a phone, this is unnecessary weight and money. But for photographers, frequent travelers, and anyone trying to keep a MacBook and a few other devices alive away from the wall, the Prime 20K feels like the first power bank that actually behaves like it belongs in a modern USB-C workflow.

The post Anker Prime Power Bank (20K, 200W) review: Plenty of power for laptops and more appeared first on Popular Science.

Is turbulence really like Jello-O? Pilots weigh in.

Cat Rainsford — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:02:00 -0500

A young woman pushes a balled-up piece of napkin into a cup of Jell-O, asking the viewer to imagine that it is an airplane, high in the air.

Wall chargers and travel adapters

“That is you flying through the sky,” she tells the camera. “There’s pressure from the bottom, pressure from the top, from the sides, pressure coming from everywhere.”

Anker 100W Max USB-C Charger Block (3-Port GaN, Silver) $59.99 (14% off)

She taps the top of the Jell-O, making the suspended napkin ball quiver.

Anker Prime Charger (100W 3-Port GaN, Foldable) $59.99 (14% off)

“This is what happens when there’s turbulence,” she says. “You feel the plane shaking, but [it] is not just going to fall down.”

Anker Nano Charger (70W 3-Port USB-C, White, Cable Included) $39.99 (20% off)

The video is by Australian TikToker Anna Paul. Just days after she uploaded it in June 2022, it had accumulated more than 15 million views and thousands of comments from people saying it had cured their fear of flying. Paul says she got the tip “from a real pilot.”

Anker Charger (65W 3-Port Fast Compact Foldable) $25.99 (35% off)

But how accurate is the analogy? Is turbulence really like Jell-O?

Anker Nano Travel Adapter (5-Port, 1 AC + 2 USB-A + 2 USB-C) $25.99

@anna..paull
Fear of flying tip
♬ original sound – Anna Paul

Power strips and desktop charging stations

The origins of the Jell-O analogy

Anker Prime Charging Station (240W 8-in-1 USB-C Power Strip) $89.99 (31% off)

The Jell-O analogy is the brainchild of former airline captain Tom Bunn, who is now a licensed therapist and founder of the SOAR program, which helps people overcome their fear of flying. Over years of listening to clients express their worries, Bunn realized that explaining the science of flight was often not enough to reassure people that flying was truly safe.

Anker Prime 6-in-1 USB-C Charging Station (140W) $59.99 (45% off)

“Clients would say they look up in the sky and see a plane and it doesn’t look like it should be there,” he says. “It should fall because they don’t see anything holding it up.”

Anker Charging Station (100W) 9-in-1 USB-C Power Strip (300J) $39.99

Because these nervous flyers lacked understanding of the forces holding a plane in the air, they would feel the jolts during turbulence and panic, imagining the plane was about to drop from the sky. To help them overcome this fear, Bunn looked for an analogy that would convince the emotional part of their brains that the plane was not going to fall.

Anker Power Strip Surge Protector (2100J, 12 Outlets + USB) $28.99

He found it by asking them to recall the familiar sense of air resistance growing as speed increases.

Power banks

“If you walk across the room, air doesn’t slow you down,” he says. However, “if you’re in a car and push forward with your hand out the window, it feels about the same as putting your hand in a swimming pool and pushing against the water.”

Anker Prime Power Bank (26,250mAh, 300W Max) $199.99 (13% off)

Appealing to this logic, Bunn would ask his clients to imagine the air getting thicker as the plane accelerated down the runway. By the time they were in the air, it was the consistency of Jell-O, supporting them on all sides.

Anker Prime Power Bank (20,100mAh, 220W Max) $149.99 (17% off)

Bunn acknowledges that the analogy is not completely accurate scientifically. But it is an emotionally resonant way of visualizing the forces that hold a plane up during flight.

Anker MagGo Power Bank (Qi2 15W, 10,000mAh, Stand; iPhone 15/14/13/12) $71.99 (20% off)

“Technically, it involves Bernoulli’s theorem,” he says. “It has to do with the fact that the bottom of the wing is pretty much flat and the top is curved.”

Anker MagGo Power Bank (Qi2 15W, Ultra-Slim 10,000mAh) $79.86

If you’ve ever put your hand out of the window in a car, you’ve felt the same kind of pressure that helps keep planes in the air when they fly. Image: DepositPhotos

Anker Nano Power Bank (Qi2 15W, 5,000mAh, Magnetic) $54.99

The science that keeps planes flying

USB-C hubs and docking stations

Daniel Bernoulli was an 18th-century Swiss mathematician and physicist who formulated several key concepts in fluid dynamics. The most famous is Bernoulli’s principle, which states that an increase in the speed of a fluid decreases the pressure exerted by the fluid.

Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station (14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5) $399.99

In a river, for example, water speeds up as it passes through narrower sections. The water pressure is lower in these constricted areas, as the acceleration is caused by higher pressure behind the constriction than within it.

Anker Prime Docking Station (14-Port, 160W Max, Dual 4K) $169.99 (37% off)

Air behaves much like a fluid. When it encounters an obstacle, it compresses or speeds up as it flows around the object in its path.

Anker Laptop Docking Station (13-in-1 USB-C, Triple Display) $199.99

“When the plane runs into the air, the air that goes across the top of the wing has to catch up,” Bunn explains. Because of the curve on the wing’s top, the air “has to take a longer route, so the molecules spread out slightly. So, they don’t push as much on the top of the wing as on the bottom.”

Anker Laptop Docking Station (14-in-1 USB-C Hub, Triple Display) $48.99 (30% off)

As Paul says in her TikTok video, there is pressure coming from the air above and below the airplane. But the wing’s design means that the air pressure is greater below it than in the faster-moving air above it, pushing the wing upwards. This is the phenomenon known in aerodynamics as “lift.”

Anker USB-C Hub (11-in-1 Docking Station, Dual Monitor) $53.99 (22% off)

“The faster you go, the more powerful the Bernoulli effect,” Bunn explains. This is why, as a plane flies through the air at nearly 600 miles an hour, the pressure under the wings holds it in the sky as securely as a napkin ball in Jell-O.

Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1, 4K HDMI, 10Gbps, Ethernet) $49.99

Turbulence happens when blocks of air rub past each other at different temperatures, pressures or speeds. It can have many different causes, from thunderstorms to the centrifugal force of the earth’s rotation, which pushes bands of air outwards. Its strength ranges from mild, causing little more discomfort than a slight trembling, to severe, in which passengers or flight crew can be thrown around the cabin and risk injury if not wearing seatbelts.

Anker 6-in-1 USB-C Hub (65W PD, 4K HDMI, Ethernet) $31.99 (29% off)

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- Related 'Ask Us Anything' Stories

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How do airplane toilets work?

What do TSA bag scanners actually see?

Why do our ears pop on a plane? An audiologist explains.

Why do we put seatbacks up for landing? An aviation expert explains.

Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI, 90W PD) $12.99 (35% off)

Turbulence is less scary than it feels

Anker USB-C to HDMI Adapter (4K@60Hz) $11.99 (40% off)

But while strong turbulence can feel alarming, Patrick Smith, a commercial pilot and writer of the Ask the Pilot blog, says that “people tend to have a very exaggerated sense of what the airplane is actually doing.”

Anker USB-C Adapter (2 Pack) USB-C to USB-A $8.99 (44% off)

“Airplanes have what we call positive stability,” he says. “When they’re disturbed from their position in space, by their nature they want to return to where they were.”

Qi2 wireless chargers and MagSafe-style stations

During turbulence, every jolt down is matched by an equivalent jolt up, holding the plane steady on its course—as if it were suspended in Jell-O.

Anker Prime MagSafe Charger (3-in-1 Charging Station, Qi2 25W) $160.99 (30% off)

“There has never been a plane crash from turbulence,” Paul says in her video. Is this true?

Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Station (Qi2 15W, Foldable) $89.99 (17% off)

Bunn recalls one incident in the 1960s when a flight departing Japan’s Tokyo airport encountered severe turbulence off the side of Mount Fuji, causing it to suffer structural damage and crash into a forest. But, he emphasizes, such an incident would never happen today. For one, commercial jets would never fly so close to a mountain, knowing that these can disrupt air flows and cause strong forms of turbulence close to solid ground, where planes are naturally most vulnerable.

Anker MagGo UFO 3-in-1 Charger (Qi2 15W, Foldable Travel Pad) $61.98 (31% off)

For another, improvements in airplane technology mean that planes are now much better constructed to withstand even the strongest forms of turbulence.

Anker MagSafe Charger Stand (3-in-1 Cube, 30W USB-C Charger Included) $97.49 (35% off)

During testing of modern airliners, “you can almost bend the wing double [in half] and it won’t break,” Bunn says. In real situations, “you never see even a tenth that much wing flex.”

Anker Zolo Magnetic Wireless Charger (2-Pack, Qi2 15W) $25.99 (35% off)

So, is turbulence really like Jell-O? Not exactly. But if you’re a nervous flyer, perhaps the image can help reassure you that the only real dangers from turbulence can be solved by simply wearing a seatbelt.

Anker MagSafe Charger Pad (Qi2 15W, Adapter Included) $24.99 (11% off)

As Paul says: “You can just chill there. You’re just wriggling in jelly.”

Car charging

Anker Prime MagSafe Car Mount Charger (Qi2 25W, TEC Cooling) $67.49 (25% off)

The post Is turbulence really like Jello-O? Pilots weigh in. appeared first on Popular Science.

Wikipedia’s 25 most popular entries of all time

Andrew Paul — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:30:00 -0500

It’s hard to imagine the internet without Wikipedia. But in the immediate years following its debut in 2001, many critics scoffed at the idea that a free, volunteer-run online encyclopedia could ever be considered a reputable source of information. If you were in high school or college during the early 2000s, you probably remember a teacher or two forbidding students from even using Wikipedia for their research projects.

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January 15th marks the 25th anniversary of Wikipedia’s premiere, and the digital landscape around it is nearly unrecognizable. After two-and-a-half decades, the free encyclopedia encompasses over 7.1 million entries in English alone, most still written, edited, fact-checked, and maintained by tens of thousands of volunteers around the world. There are still plenty of issues with a website that runs under those parameters, but more often than not, a Wiki entry can serve as a starting point towards finding other helpful sources.

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But what are most Wikipedia visitors interested in learning about? The website’s parent organization, the Wikimedia Foundation, provided Popular Science with a list of the top 25 most searched Wikipedia subjects of all time. While the Wikimedia Foundation says its data only goes back to 2008, it’s safe to say these remain the highest trafficked topics across the millions of entries.

Subject	Page Views
1. List of Deaths by Year	647,025,321
2. United States	328,501,200
3. Donald Trump	325,397,973
4. Elizabeth II	253,385,102
5. India	210,779,909
6. Cristiano Renaldo	209,262,818
7. Barack Obama	200,619,072
8. Elon Musk	197,557,694
9. World War II	196,185,039
10. United Kingdom	180,986,829
11. Lionel Messi	169,027,752
12. Michael Jackson	168,519,508
13. Game of Thrones	166,648,136
14. Adolf Hitler	163,955,099
15. Eminem	159,866,098
16. Taylor Swift	157,243,638
17. World War I	156,010,435
18. The Beatles	153,857,741
19. Dwayne Johnson	141,840,884
20. List of presidents of the United States	138,880,465
21. Canada	137,871,236
22. Lady Gaga	137,724,118
23. Academy Awards	137,543,219
24. Freddie Mercury	134,515,769
25. List of highest-grossing films	133,992,783

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As it turns out, a lot of people wonder who died recently. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the list is mostly a mix of politics, pop culture, sports, and history—but it’s still more than enough to get you up to speed for your next trivia night.

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As AI slop continues to flood search engines and generative media blurs the lines between reality and fiction, human-centric endeavors like Wikipedia are becoming increasingly critical for staying informed on everything from biomedical research and historical events, to…the Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas.

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Wikipedia still faces its fair share of critics, some with very valid issues. Instead of a lack of sources, certain detractors are now claiming (without much evidence) that the encyclopedia is filled with supposed political biases. But as Wikipedia has shown so far, it’s probably up to the task of proving the naysayers wrong. There’s even a well-sourced entry about it.

The post Wikipedia’s 25 most popular entries of all time appeared first on Popular Science.

Without forests, mosquitoes turn to human blood

Stan Horaczek — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

If you’re someone who mosquitoes just adore, we feel your pain. Unfortunately, new data indicates the number of mosquito species that feed on humans is increasing—and it’s likely to get worse.

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Dr. Sérgio Lisboa Machado, a microbiologist from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, is the co-author of a study published today in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution on a potential link between deforestation and mosquitoes’ increasing preference for human blood.

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Whose blood is it anyway?

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In the study, Machado and his colleague Dr. Jeronimo Alencar examined the feeding habits of several mosquito species in the Atlantic Forest, a moist broadleaf forest that stretches along the eastern coast of South America.

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According to Machado, the project began as an attempt to figure out which local animals these mosquitoes were feeding on.

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“When we started our research, our main goal was to find the preferred blood source that some species of female mosquitoes use for reproduction,” Machado tells Popular Science

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The process of identifying the blood in the creatures’ stomachs was time-consuming. The first step was identifying which of the region’s roughly 40 mosquito species were biting. This involved careful scrutiny of the creatures with a stereoscope.

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“The identification itself is not complicated,” Machado says, “but there is a shortage of entomologists to perform it.”

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Anker Prime Power Bank (20K, 200W) review: Plenty of power for laptops and more

Tom Hawking — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:25:11 -0500

This fact, along with the need to transport the mosquitoes back to Rio de Janeiro for analysis, meant by the time the samples were analyzed, the DNA and RNA inside of them had started to break down. Even with these difficulties, the analysis provided Machado with a pretty good idea of which mammal species the mosquitoes in question preferred for dinner. In several cases, this blood was human.

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“This was something we didn’t expect,” Machado says. “Since we were in a forest reserve, we expected to find DNA from vertebrates in the local fauna.”

Stan Horaczek

Scientists engineer mosquito STD to combat malaria

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What would a world without mosquitoes look like?

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Real laptop output: Up to 140W on a single USB-C port, with 220W total available across ports.
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Capacity reality check: This is a 20K-class pack (about 72Wh), not a full replacement for a laptop battery.

Shifting tastes

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Design and Build

So why so much human blood? The researchers hypothesize that the Atlantic Forest’s changing environment has led these species to develop a taste for human blood.

“We believe it’s a matter of opportunity given the lack of a preferred food source,” Machado says. “It seems that if mosquitoes can’t find their preferred blood source, they seek out whatever is available.”

As biodiversity declines and animal species go extinct, more mosquito food sources are disappearing. However, unlike many of the animals on which they feed, mosquitoes are adaptable creatures. There’s almost always a ready-made alternative, including humans.

While this might be good news for the mosquitoes, it risks being terrible news for humans. As an increasing number of mosquito species develop a taste for humans, so too does the risk that species which have not been particularly problematic in the past could act as new vectors for blood-borne diseases.

Once mosquitoes acquire a new food source, they tend to develop a preference for that particular blood—and humans are one species whose availability is most definitely not declining. Today, the Atlantic Forest occupies barely a quarter third of its former area, and it’s not alone. With every passing year, more wilderness is lost to human incursion.

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The answer seems to be first arresting, and then reversing, this process of deforestation and habitat destruction. But it’s not altogether clear that the damage is so easily reversible. Humans certainly aren’t going anywhere, so who’s to say that the mosquitoes won’t just keep feeding merrily on us regardless?

Machado expresses cautious optimism on how we can address how deforestation affects what mosquitoes eat.

The “System” Approach

“We believe this is a reversible process, but this will require restoring the biome while simultaneously continuing our study. We are still seeking more evidence that [these] mosquitoes have a preferred food source. For now, we are observing that there is a possibility that they are adapting to different sources and do not [prefer] human blood.”

Jumping species

Nevertheless, humanity continues to play with fire as it pushes further and further into previously unspoilt ecosystems. A landmark 2001 study found that new diseases are twice as likely to be zoonotic—transmissible between animals and humans—than existing ones. The danger posed by such diseases was exemplified by COVID-19, which jumped from bats to humans to catastrophic effect.

Performance

While disastrous scenarios surrounding a novel pathogen spread by mosquitoes are hypothetical, there are also very real dangers linked to deforestation. For instance, the malaria parasite in the Amazon is largely spread by the Anopheles darlingi mosquito. It was thought to have been eradicated in the 1960s, but re-emerged in the 1990s, and is now common. Another study found that cleared forest patches had created a perfect breeding environment for the insect, helping its return.

Ultimately, Machado stresses that it’s important to control the emergence of new disease vectors and thus mitigate further risks.

Single port: One USB-C port can deliver up to 140W (PD 3.1), which is enough to charge a MacBook Pro at full speed.

“The re-establishment of ecosystems will certainly contribute to this and should minimize the climate changes we are experiencing,” he says. “We need to learn that our actions today, however small, will always have global repercussions in the future.”

The post Without forests, mosquitoes turn to human blood appeared first on Popular Science.

Australian police smash e-bikes in crackdown on unruly teens

Stan Horaczek — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0500

Australian police are cracking down on groups of unruly teenagers who they say are using deceptively speedy e-bikes and scooters to engage in “antisocial riding behavior.” Their solution: confiscate the popular micromobility devices and crush them.

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The roundup, dubbed Operation Moorhead, began last week in the suburbs of Perth in southwestern Australia. Police reportedly received complaints about menacing youths riding recklessly, evading officers, and “intimidating members of the public.”

In some cases, the teens hurled objects at other vehicles and posted videos of their pranks on social media. One of those clips reportedly shows a 12-year-old zipping by on an e-bike capable of reaching speeds approaching 50 miles per hour. The ensuing crackdown led to the arrests of 25 youths between the ages of 11 and 18 and the seizure of 36 e-rideables. Western Australia (WA) police are now reportedly planning to ramp up e-bike seizures across the state.

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A video posted on Facebook by Western Australian police shows several seized e-bikes and electric scooters being grabbed by an excavator’s claw and crushed flat. The claw then releases the broken bikes and pounds them down once more for good measure. What remains of the mangled metal is then chucked into a large pile of scrap.

“WA police will not tolerate anti-social behaviour that targets our community,” Joondalup police Acting Inspector Scott Gillis said during the press release. “It’s totally unacceptable.”

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Feature	Anker Prime 20K (220W)	EcoFlow RAPID Pro (27,650mAh)	Shargeek Storm 2	Anker 737 (24K, 140W)
Capacity	20,100mAh (~72Wh)	27,650mAh (99.54Wh)	25,600mAh (93.5Wh)	24,000mAh
Max Output	220W total (140W single USB-C)	300W total (up to 140W single)	100W (single-port fast charge class)	140W max total
Max Input	100W	320W (with matching station)	100W in/out	140W two-way charging class
Ports	2× USB-C, 1× USB-A	4 total (incl. built-in retractable USB-C cable)	USB-C + USB-A + DC + more	2× USB-C, 1× USB-A
Weight	1.12 lb (510g)	699.4g	591.3g	630g
Unique Feature	Optional pogo-pin charging base + strong on-device display	Built-in retractable cable + modular accessories	“Gadget-core” transparent design + DC output	More affordable entry to 140W-class charging

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The Specs

E-bikes, electric scooters, and other micromobility devices have surged in popularity as a convenient, easy way to navigate cities that lack reliable public transportation. But their relatively high maximum speeds—compared with traditional bicycles—have also led to a major uptick in accidents and sparked backlash from critics who argue they should be treated and regulated more like motorcycles.

Category	Specification
Model	Anker Prime Power Bank (20K, 220W)
Capacity	20,100mAh (~72Wh) Carry-on compliant under 100Wh
Ports	2× USB-C, 1× USB-A
Single USB-C Max	Up to 140W
Combined Max Output	Up to 220W total
Recharge Speed	Up to 100W (USB-C) / Up to 100W (charging base)
Connectivity	Bluetooth (Anker app)
Dimensions	1.73 × 1.99 × 5.79 inches
Weight	1.12 lb (510g)

Verdict

Micromobility-related injuries are also on the rise, and not just Down Under. A 2024 U.S. A Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) survey found injuries, both for riders and pedestrians, involving the devices increased nearly 21 percent between 2021 and 2022. A separate study published in the American Journal of Public Health estimates e-bike and scooter injuries increased by a staggering 293 percent and 88 percent respectively between 2019 and 2022. That data notably doesn’t specify how many of the injuries involved rampaging teens.

Injuries both for riders and pedestrians, involving the devices increased nearly 21 percent between 2001 and 2002. Image: Western Australia Police.

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Is turbulence really like Jell-O? Pilots weigh in.

Mack DeGeurin — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:02:00 -0500

A young woman pushes a balled-up piece of napkin into a cup of Jell-O, asking the viewer to imagine that it is an airplane, high in the air.

Cops are cracking down on e-bikes

“That is you flying through the sky,” she tells the camera. “There’s pressure from the bottom, pressure from the top, from the sides, pressure coming from everywhere.”

Local governments in the U.S. are beginning to pass new laws aimed at reining in potentially dangerous riders. Last month, Houston’s City Council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance putting in place a curfew that restricts e-scooter use between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. South Carolina also recently enacted a law allowing police to fine e-bike riders up to $500 if they are caught pushing the devices past 12 miles per hour. Police in New York City have likewise increased penalties for e-bike–related offenses, a move some critics fear could disproportionately target delivery drivers who have embraced the devices.

She taps the top of the Jell-O, making the suspended napkin ball quiver.

Back in Australia, Willis says part of the problem, at least when it comes to teens, stems from the vehicles’ deceptive appearance. Parents unfamiliar with modern advances in e-rideable technology buy their children bikes and scooters without realizing they are capable of reaching such high speeds. They are also often unaware of laws already on the books that restrict where and how the devices can be used.

“This is what happens when there’s turbulence,” she says. “You feel the plane shaking, but [it] is not just going to fall down.”

“We would like to remind the community that e-rideables are a type of vehicle so all road laws that apply to vehicles apply to e-rideable as well, unless expressly excluded.”

The post Australian police smash e-bikes in crackdown on unruly teens appeared first on Popular Science.

Deer markings actually glow

Laura Baisas — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:04:00 -0500

Animals see the world around them in ways that we humans can only imagine. Arctic reindeer’s eyes change color with the season to help them find food, while giant squid have eyes the size of dinner plates. Many species take advantage of seeing ultraviolet (UV) light that’s invisible to humans—including deer.

The woodland mammals appear to be using UV as a way of communicating. Their scrapes—markings they make in the dirt or on wood and fill with secretions—glow under UV light that they can see and we can’t. The same goes for their rubbings, or the secretion-filled marks their antlers make on trees and fence posts. According to the findings published in the journal Ecology & Evolution, the photoluminescence is potentially a way for the mammals to find a mate.

But how accurate is the analogy? Is turbulence really like Jell-O?

“People have been hypothesizing about if this glow exists in the environment, but nobody had gone out yet to try and connect it to the deer until now,” Daniel DeRose-Broeckert, a study co-author and ecologist at the University of Georgia’s Deer Lab, said in a statement. “As we got closer to breeding season, those markings increased in visibility as deer prepared for it.”

Over three months, the Deer Lab team searched for white-tailed deer markings in Whitehall Forest near Athens, Georgia, during the day. By night, they investigated them with UV lights. They analyzed 109 antler rubs on trees and 37 urine-marked acres across 800 acres of forest.

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The glowing deer rubs and scrapes look unassuming during the day. Image: Daniel DeRose-Broeckert.

The origins of the Jell-O analogy

“Their vision is vastly different from ours. Once the sun is slightly gone around dusk and dawn, the UV light dominates for deer since it’s not being washed out by the visible light spectrum from the sun,” said DeRose-Broeckert.

The team believes that rubs’ glow may be made from a combination of plant and tree sap and secretions from the animal’s forehead glands. The scrapes’ glow is likely from urine.

“Clients would say they look up in the sky and see a plane and it doesn’t look like it should be there,” he says. “It should fall because they don’t see anything holding it up.”

“In the process of scraping the bark off a tree with their antlers, they are depositing glandular secretions. Likewise, when they make a scrape, a different gland is also between their toes,” added study co-author and ecologist Gino D’Angelo. “Deer have lots of ways to interact with the environment, and they are leaving those signatures out there to smell and glow.”

The researchers believe the glow may help deer to leave messages for potential mates. Image: Daniel DeRose-Broeckert.

He found it by asking them to recall the familiar sense of air resistance growing as speed increases.

Earlier studies suggest that other mammals also glow under UV light, but the reasons why have been vague. Deer use the same scrapes as a way to communicate through scent, so the team on this study believes that the glow offers a visual way for deer to communicate

“The scrapes become a communication hub where other deer will visit it after it’s created and contribute to it. It’s like a phone booth out in the city when trying to make nighttime plans at a meeting point,” D’Angelo said.

During deer mating season from mid-October through December, marking is particularly important.

Bunn acknowledges that the analogy is not completely accurate scientifically. But it is an emotionally resonant way of visualizing the forces that hold a plane up during flight.

“We’ve known that there’s an olfactory component, but now we know the deer are also getting stimulated in two senses, both olfactory and visually,” said DeRose-Broeckert. “Both males and females utilize scrapes to advertise their presence in the environment and their breeding status and fitness level.”

The post Deer markings actually glow appeared first on Popular Science.

Iron Age teeth reveal the hidden lives of ancient Italians

Andrew Paul — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:00:00 -0500

Archaeologists often focus on what skeletal remains can tell about how and when ancient peoples died. But an individual’s final moments are far from their complete life story. By analyzing features like their teeth, researchers can better understand not only the person as an adult, but how they developed over the course of their life.

“Technically, it involves Bernoulli’s theorem,” he says. “It has to do with the fact that the bottom of the wing is pretty much flat and the top is curved.”

In Italy, a team at Rome’s Sapienza University has conducted the first dental study of its kind for an Iron Age community 35 miles south of present-day Naples. After analyzing the microscopic makeup of teeth from ancient Italians, it appears that the people living near Pontecagnano enjoyed a diverse diet that reflected a time of increased interactions with nearby Mediterranean societies. Their findings are detailed in a study published today in the journal PLOS One.

If you’ve ever put your hand out of the window in a car, you’ve felt the same kind of pressure that helps keep planes in the air when they fly. Image: DepositPhotos

Archaeological records at Pontecagnano span multiple cultures and date as far back as the Copper Age (3500–2300 BCE). By the 7th century, the region was home to the Etruscans, who occupied the area until the Roman Empire’s arrival in the late 4th century. The Etruscans often interred their deceased in necropolises, which is where the Sapienza University team recovered 30 teeth from 10 individuals who died during the 7th and 6th centuries.

The science that keeps planes flying

“The teeth of Pontecagnano’s Iron Age inhabitants opened a unique window onto their lives: we could follow childhood growth and health with remarkable precision,” study co-author and archaeologist Roberto Germano said in a statement.

They analyzed the growth patterns displayed in dental tissues, and then compared the resultant data between canines and molars to contextualize the first six years of each person’s life. This revealed minor stress events linked to dietary shifts, often between the ages of one and four. According to researchers, the changing sources of nutrition likely made the young children susceptible to diseases, which left lingering evidence in their teeth.

However, their diets were incredibly diversified by the time of adulthood. Dental plaque examinations showed remnants from an array of foods, including legumes and cereals as well as “abundant carbohydrates and fermented foods.” These chemical traces are supported by the existing historical understanding of the era, which featured increased trade with other societies around the Mediterranean.

Air behaves much like a fluid. When it encounters an obstacle, it compresses or speeds up as it flows around the object in its path.

The team believes that their approach represents a proof-of-concept for using dental analysis to offer personalized insights into the individual lives of ancient peoples. While not intended as findings representative of the larger Etruscan region, the analysis illustrates a more intimate look at Iron Age existence.

“The study…makes it possible to go beyond the narrow focus on the period close to their death, and brings to the forefront the life of each of them during their early years,” explained study co-author Alessia Nava.

The post Iron Age teeth reveal the hidden lives of ancient Italians appeared first on Popular Science.

100 mystery sounds under review for signs of extraterrestrial life

Cat Rainsford — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:56:00 -0500

After reviewing almost 30 years of signals, University of California Berkeley researchers have identified 100 mysterious, deep-space radio blips they want to review for signs of extraterrestrial life. And they couldn’t have done it without 11 years of volunteer work from millions of PC owners around the world.

What is SETI@home?

Even with today’s advanced computers, the world’s most complex data problems can’t be solved by a single machine. Instead, it’s far more efficient to break up tasks among many separate computers. For decades, however, the technology to handle even these distributed responsibilities was relegated to well-funded companies and government institutions. But with the rise of personal computers (PCs), UC Berkeley researchers like David Gedye and David Anderson realized that the untapped pool of citizen scientists could be a vital asset. And what bigger data pool was there to draw from than the vastness of interstellar space?

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In 1999, the computer scientists teamed with astronomers Eric Korpela and Dan Werthimer to launch SETI@home. The project relied on individuals downloading a client program to their home PC designed to parse data passively collected by a 984-foot-wide radio telescope at the now-shuttered Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Although Arecibo’s line of sight only encompassed about a third of the entire sky, that still included most stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

Turbulence is less scary than it feels

“We [were], without doubt, the most sensitive narrow-band search of large portions of the sky, so we had the best chance of finding something,” Korpela said in a recent UC Berkeley profile.

Before launching SETI@home, project organizers estimated they’d receive around 50,000 volunteers. In only a few days, they surpassed 200,000 participants from over 100 countries. By the program’s one-year anniversary, the SETI@home client had been downloaded onto over 2 million PCs.

“Airplanes have what we call positive stability,” he says. “When they’re disturbed from their position in space, by their nature they want to return to where they were.”

SETI@home relied on the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, which collapsed in 2020. Credit: Deposit Photos

During turbulence, every jolt down is matched by an equivalent jolt up, holding the plane steady on its course—as if it were suspended in Jell-O.

Looking for ET

“There has never been a plane crash from turbulence,” Paul says in her video. Is this true?

The data itself wasn’t collected by simply aiming Arecibo at a section of space and listening for ET whisperings. Earth is constantly moving around the sun, and the same likely goes for any source of alien life. This required Korpela and colleagues to design a protocol to mathematically reconfigure frequency clips to account for any Doppler drifts.

“We actually had to look at a whole range of possible drift rates—tens of thousands—just to make sure that we got all possibilities. That multiplies the amount of computing power we need by 10,000,” said Anderson. “The fact that we had a million home computers available to us let us do that. No other radio SETI project has been able to do that.”

For another, improvements in airplane technology mean that planes are now much better constructed to withstand even the strongest forms of turbulence.

By the time SETI@home officially ended in 2020, the team was staring down around 12 billion signals of interest. Combing through those files ultimately required enlisting the help of a supercomputer—in this case an installation at Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics. From there, researchers could winnow down their suspects to a couple million signals, then rank them by likelihood of ET origin after accounting for radio frequency interferences from sources like orbital satellites, TV broadcasts, and even kitchen microwaves.

During testing of modern airliners, “you can almost bend the wing double [in half] and it won’t break,” Bunn says. In real situations, “you never see even a tenth that much wing flex.”

Korpela and Werthimer eventually settled on about 100 final contenders worth additional examinations. Since July 2025, they have used China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) to collect new data from these sections of sky. The approach was detailed in two studies published last year in The Astronomical Journal, and showcases both the project’s highlights and places where future endeavors can improve on their work.

“Some of our conclusions are that the project didn’t completely work the way we thought it was going to. And we have a long list of things that we would have done differently and that future sky survey projects should do differently,” explained Anderson. “[But] if we don’t find ET, what we can say is that we established a new sensitivity level. If there were a signal above a certain power, we would have found it.”

As Paul says: “You can just chill there. You’re just wriggling in jelly.”

The power of crowdsourcing

However, Anderson and the others aren’t holding their breath. According to Korpela, Arecibo’s limited field-of-view and a lack of any particularly striking radio blips so far means a sudden ET revelation isn’t likely just yet.

The post Is turbulence really like Jell-O? Pilots weigh in. appeared first on Popular Science.

Wikipedia’s 25 most popular entries of all time

Andrew Paul — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:30:00 -0500

“There’s a little disappointment that we didn’t see anything,” he said. “In order to probe farther distances, you need bigger telescopes and longer observing times. It’s always best if you are able to control the telescope for your project. We weren’t able to control what the telescope was doing.”

Regardless, SETI@home speaks to the power of both crowdsourcing and citizen science. When combined with all of the PC advancements since 1999, there’s a chance that an heir to the project may finally find that extraordinary, history-altering space signal.

“I think it still captures people’s imagination to look for extraterrestrial intelligence,” said Korpella. “I think that you could still get significantly more processing power than we used for SETI@home and process more data because of a wider internet bandwidth.”

The post 100 mystery sounds under review for signs of extraterrestrial life appeared first on Popular Science.

14,000-year-old woolly rhinoceros DNA extracted from wolf’s stomach

Andrew Paul — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:32:00 -0500

Towards the end of the last ice age, an ancient wolf feasted on a young woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis). When the wolf died, it ended up buried in Siberian permafrost for about 14,000 years until it was uncovered by paleontologists in 2015. Luckily for scientists, some woolly rhinoceros tissue remained inside of the wolf’s stomach. Now, these genetic detectives analyzed the woolly rhino’s genome and found that the species likely went extinct due to rapid population collapse and not a slow decline as Earth’s climate warmed. The findings are detailed in a study published today in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution.

Subject	Page Views
1. List of Deaths by Year	647,025,321
2. United States	328,501,200
3. Donald Trump	325,397,973
4. Elizabeth II	253,385,102
5. India	210,779,909
6. Cristiano Renaldo	209,262,818
7. Barack Obama	200,619,072
8. Elon Musk	197,557,694
9. World War II	196,185,039
10. United Kingdom	180,986,829
11. Lionel Messi	169,027,752
12. Michael Jackson	168,519,508
13. Game of Thrones	166,648,136
14. Adolf Hitler	163,955,099
15. Eminem	159,866,098
16. Taylor Swift	157,243,638
17. World War I	156,010,435
18. The Beatles	153,857,741
19. Dwayne Johnson	141,840,884
20. List of presidents of the United States	138,880,465
21. Canada	137,871,236
22. Lady Gaga	137,724,118
23. Academy Awards	137,543,219
24. Freddie Mercury	134,515,769
25. List of highest-grossing films	133,992,783

“Sequencing the entire genome of an Ice Age animal found in the stomach of another animal has never been done before,” Camilo Chacón-Duque, a study co-author and paleogenomicist at Stockholm University in Sweden, said in a statement. “Recovering genomes from individuals that lived right before extinction is challenging, but it can provide important clues on what caused the species to disappear, which may also be relevant for the conservation of endangered species today,” he said.

An illustration of what a woolly rhinoceros would have looked like. Image: ДиБгд via WikimediaCommons CC By 4.0

Frozen in time

The post Wikipedia’s 25 most popular entries of all time appeared first on Popular Science.

Without forests, mosquitoes turn to human blood

Laura Baisas — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The woolly rhino lived from 5.3 million to about 8,700 years so in present-day Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The large mammals had two large horns towards the front of the skull, and a thick coat of hair. Stone Age painters frequently included the woolly rhino in their work, including on cave paintings in France’s Chauvet–Pont d’Arc dating back about 30,000 years.

The woolly rhinoceros DNA found inside of the ice age wolf was discovered in permafrost near the village of Tumat in Siberia. When scientists performed an autopsy on the ancient wolf, they identified a small fragment of preserved woolly rhino tissue inside of its stomach. Radiocarbon dating indicated that the tissue was about 14,400 years old, making it one of the youngest specimens of woolly rhinoceros ever discovered.

Whose blood is it anyway?

A permafrost-preserved woolly rhinoceros (not part of this paper) in Yakutsk, Russia. Image: Mammoth Museum of North-Eastern Federal University.

Since genetic material degrades over time, mapping the genome of animals like these that died thousands of years ago is incredibly difficult. The wolf’s own DNA also further complicates the analyses.

According to Machado, the project began as an attempt to figure out which local animals these mosquitoes were feeding on.

“It was really exciting, but also very challenging, to extract a complete genome from such an unusual sample,” added Sólveig Guðjónsdóttir, a study co-lead author, who carried out the work as part of her master’s thesis at Stockholm University.

“When we started our research, our main goal was to find the preferred blood source that some species of female mosquitoes use for reproduction,” Machado tells Popular Science

Comparing genomes

To get a sense of how genome diversity, inbreeding levels, and harmful mutations changed throughout the last ice age, the team then compared the Tumat rhinoceros’ genome with two other high-quality genomes from older specimens. Both of these specimens were older, dating back to about 18,000 and 49,000 years ago.

“The identification itself is not complicated,” Machado says, “but there is a shortage of entomologists to perform it.”

They did not find any signs of genetic deterioration due to a lack of suitable mates as the woolly rhinos approached its extinction. This indicates that the species as a whole probably maintained a stable and relatively large population until just before it disappeared around 8,700 years ago.

The piece of woolly rhino tissue found inside the stomach of the Tumat-1 puppy. Note that the small cut marks are from the DNA sampling done at the Centre for Palaeogenetics in Stockholm. Image: Love Dalén.

“This was something we didn’t expect,” Machado says. “Since we were in a forest reserve, we expected to find DNA from vertebrates in the local fauna.”

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“Our analyses showed a surprisingly stable genetic pattern with no change in inbreeding levels through tens of thousands of years prior to the extinction of woolly rhinos,” said study co-author and paleogenomicist Edana Lord.

Shifting tastes

Additionally, there was no evidence of a long-term gradual population decline within the genome. The extinction appears to have occurred relatively quickly, likely due to global warming at the end of the ice age.

So why so much human blood? The researchers hypothesize that the Atlantic Forest’s changing environment has led these species to develop a taste for human blood.

“Our results show that the woolly rhinos had a viable population for 15,000 years after the first humans arrived in northeastern Siberia, which suggests that climate warming rather than human hunting caused the extinction,” concluded study co-author and evolutionary genomicist Love Dalén.

The post 14,000-year-old woolly rhinoceros DNA extracted from wolf’s stomach appeared first on Popular Science.

Why is okra so slimy? Blame the mucilage.

Tom Hawking — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:02:00 -0500

Okra is one of those vegetables with a polarizing reputation. Whether you call it slimy, gooey, sticky, or slippery, if you’ve eaten okra, you probably have an opinion about its unique texture, which is more properly described as “mucilaginous.”

Some okra recipes strive to minimize slime; others celebrate and embrace the thickening it provides to dishes like Louisiana gumbo. But did you ever wonder why okra is so gooey? What’s the source, and what purpose does it serve for the okra plant?

Mucilage protects okra seeds

The edible part of okra is the plant’s immature seedpods, which contain high levels of a substance called mucilage. Food science writer Harold McGee described mucilage in his book On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen as “a complex mixture of long, entangled carbohydrate molecules and proteins that helps plants and their seeds retain water.” Basically, mucilage is the watery slime around the okra seeds. As the seeds develop, their moist coating protects them from drying out.

Okra likely evolved its slime (or, more accurately, mucilage) as a water-conserving adaptation for growing in hot, dry climates. McGee notes that the okra plant “originated in either southwest Asia or eastern Africa, and came to the southern United States with the slave trade.” Today, okra is popular in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and is known for its high tolerance to heat and drought when compared with other crops.

Mucilage is found across the plant world

Machado expresses cautious optimism on how we can address how deforestation affects what mosquitoes eat.

Okra is not the only plant with goo-producing levels of mucilage. It’s a common feature of desert plants like cacti and succulents, which have a similar need to store water. Other edible examples include some seaweeds, and leafy greens such as Malabar spinach, native to Asia, and molokhia, popular in parts of Africa and the Middle East.

Mucilage is actually produced in smaller quantities by almost all plants, as well as by some microorganisms. Single-celled protists like amoebas propel themselves on a trail of mucilage, similar to the slime trail of a snail. Japanese natto, made from fermented soybeans, gets its signature stretchiness from bacterial cultures.

Jumping species

Japanese natto, made from fermented soybeans, takes advantage of mucilage to get its signature stretch. Image: DepositPhotos

“The majority of plants produce mucilage from the seed coat,” according to a 2021 research review. However, the way that mucilage keeps seeds moist can vary. While okra seeds grow inside a mucilage coating, in other plants, mature seeds that have been shed produce mucilage by absorbing water from their surroundings. You can see this yourself when you soak chia seeds to make a chia pudding, or flaxseeds to make a “flax egg” for vegan baking. Each tiny seed sucks up water to form a layer of mucilage, creating a gel-like texture.

There are also other ways plants use mucilage beyond water conservation. Carnivorous sundews use droplets of mucilage as glue traps for insects. Sierra Mixe or olotón, an heirloom variety of corn from Oaxaca, Mexico, has exposed roots that drip with mucilage. This slime shelters symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria. As a result, says a 2020 UC Davis report, “Sierra Mixe corn receives much of the nitrogen it needs from the atmosphere,” and thrives in nitrogen-poor soil.

Ultimately, Machado stresses that it’s important to control the emergence of new disease vectors and thus mitigate further risks.

People have many uses for mucilage, too

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Australian police smash e-bikes in crackdown on unruly teens

Andrew Coletti — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0500

The human uses for mucilage go far beyond food. Historically, plant mucilage was used as a natural hair gel, and as an adhesive for paper stamps and labels. In medicine, mucilage can act as a demulcent, a substance that soothes irritated mucus membranes by forming a protective layer over them. Examples include slippery elm tea for sore throat and aloe ointment for sunburn. Mucilage is also the active ingredient in fiber supplements such as psyllium husk, and is found in some cosmetics.

Scientists also increasingly look to mucilage for industrial purposes. A 2021 research review describes plant mucilage as “a renewable and cost-effective source of plant-based compounds” that are both biodegradable and environmentally friendly. In the case of okra specifically, its mucilage has been used to make biodegradable food packaging film and for filtering particles from wastewater.

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How to handle mucilage when cooking okra

Some cultures actively celebrate mucilage as a part of the culinary experience. In Japan, the texture of ingredients like okra and natto, known as neba-neba, is prized. In Nigeria, dishes made with okra and other viscous ingredients are called “draw soups,” because they’re so thick they draw back into the pot on their own when lifted. However, some don’t like the slimy texture, which is why there are many methods to make okra less slimy in the kitchen, rather than more so.

“WA police will not tolerate anti-social behaviour that targets our community,” Joondalup police Acting Inspector Scott Gillis said during the press release. “It’s totally unacceptable.”

Science writer Jared Levan noted in a 2018 article for Food Republic that “mucilage’s viscosity increases when heat is applied.” Short cooking preparations of okra, such as frying or sauteeing, release less mucilage than long ones, such as stewing. Adding acidic ingredients like tomatoes to okra also helps reduce the slime. And because the mucilage is concentrated in the center of the okra pods, chopping or slicing them releases more slime than cooking them whole.

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Even if you’re not a fan of okra’s mucilage, there are still many ways to enjoy the vegetable without it. Or perhaps mucilage will go down a little easier when you remember just how useful it is, for both plants and people.

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The post Why is okra so slimy? Blame the mucilage. appeared first on Popular Science.

Medieval plague victims likely found in mass grave in Germany

Mack DeGeurin — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:48:08 -0500

The Black Death (Yersinia pestis) killed as much as half of Europe’s total population between 1346 and 1353, so there are a lot of bodies buried across the continent. For example, contemporary accounts from Thuringia—a state in central Germany—report that about 12,000 plague victims died around Erfurt amid the city’s outbreak in 1350. But despite multiple accounts attesting to this devastation, none of the 11 mass graves could be pinpointed for centuries.

Now, an archaeological team including researchers from Leipzig University believe they have finally located one of those infamous burial sites. According to their study recently published in the journal PLOS One, land near the deserted medieval village of Neuses contains clear evidence of human remains, as well as the hastily mixed soil that covered the bodies.

Injuries both for riders and pedestrians, involving the devices increased nearly 21 percent between 2001 and 2002. Image: Western Australia Police.

“Our results strongly suggest that we have pinpointed one of the plague mass graves described in the Erfurt chronicles,” explained study co-author and Leipzig University geographer Michael Hein.

Cops are cracking down on e-bikes

The suspected burial plot is fascinating not only for what it contains, but how it was identified. Instead of accidentally discovering archaeological evidence amid a construction project (as is often the case), Hein and colleagues used interdisciplinary techniques to seek out the potential Black Death burials. To do this, the team analyzed the ground beneath them using a process called electrical resistivity mapping. Every type of geologic material possesses some degree of electrical conductivity, which can be charted by firing currents into the earth and measuring resultant voltages. This allows researchers to correlate voltage to various soil and rock types.

At one location, Hein’s team identified a roughly 33 by 49 by 11.5 foot site with noticeably disturbed subsurface sediment distributions. Subsequent drilled core samples produced mixed geologic materials along with the fragments of human remains. Additional radiocarbon dating indicated the remnants dated back to the 14th century. Taken altogether, it strongly suggests a medieval mass grave.

Apart from the bodies, the sediment composition itself supports the Black Death burial theory. The village of Neuses was likely settled in part due to its fertile soils known as chernozems. However, the grave pit is located in a drier region near a valley edge of the Gera River. It stands to reason that instead of interring Black Death victims in wetter soils closer to the town, the residents of Neuses opted to place them in drier conditions far outside the village walls.

“We would like to remind the community that e-rideables are a type of vehicle so all road laws that apply to vehicles apply to e-rideable as well, unless expressly excluded.”

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Deer markings actually glow

Andrew Paul — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:04:00 -0500

“This finding aligns with both modern soil science and the medieval ‘miasma theory,’ which held that diseases spread through ‘bad air’ and ‘vapours’ arising from decaying organic matter,” said study co-author Martin Bauch of the Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe.

The team’s hypothesis won’t be confirmed without an actual excavation at the site, but until then, their novel approach paves the way for additional searches. This technique isn’t relegated to plagues of the distant past, however. Hein, Bauch, and their collaborators believe similar approaches can be applied to various other archaeological searches.

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Amazon is blowing out LEVOIT air purifiers so you can filter out irritants

Laura Baisas — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:30:00 -0500

If your sinuses are staging a revolt or your living room smells suspiciously like last night’s stir-fry, it’s probably time to call in a serious air purifier. LEVOIT’s lineup routinely tops our lists because models cover everything from compact bedroom workhorses to family-room heavy hitters, and these Amazon deals are a chance to upgrade your home air quality before the next wave of wildfire smoke, pet shedding, or pollen hits. And there are also humidifiers on sale. Fewer particulates can make a huge difference in your home’s comfort level, and saving money can do wonders for your mood. You’re spending more time indoors anyway, so buy now and breathe easier all winter.

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LEVOIT Core 300-P Air Purifier for Room Up to 1,073 ft² — $85 (was $105)

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The glowing deer rubs and scrapes look unassuming during the day. Image: Daniel DeRose-Broeckert.

The LEVOIT Core 300S-P Smart Air Purifier (up to 1,051 ft²) won’t dominate your room, but it will own your air quality, making it perfect for bedrooms, nurseries, and home offices that still want serious clean-air punch. It pairs 3-stage filtration with AirSight Plus real-time air quality sensing, plus Smart Wi-Fi controls through the VeSync app (schedules, timers, and remote tweaks) and voice control with Alexa or Google Assistant so you can adjust air on autopilot. It’s also impressively low-key: QuietKEAP can drop noise to 22 dB, making it the kind of purifier you forget is running—until you notice you’re breathing easier.

The team believes that rubs’ glow may be made from a combination of plant and tree sap and secretions from the animal’s forehead glands. The scrapes’ glow is likely from urine.

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The researchers believe the glow may help deer to leave messages for potential mates. Image: Daniel DeRose-Broeckert.

The LEVOIT Core 600S-P Smart Air Purifier (up to 2,933 ft²) is the go-big-or-go-back-outside option in the Core series. Designed for truly large spaces, it combines a 3-in-1 filter with HEPA Sleep Mode, an onboard PM2.5 monitor, Smart WiFi, and Alexa compatibility so you can see and control your air quality in real time. It’s AHAM VERIFIDE, so you’re not just guessing that it’s working—and when wildfire season or city smog rolls in, this is the kind of coverage you want on your side.

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During deer mating season from mid-October through December, marking is particularly important.

The LEVOIT EverestAir-P Air Purifier (up to 2,655 ft²) is the “I want it all” flagship, built for big rooms and bigger allergy problems. A 3-channel air quality monitor gives you at-a-glance feedback, while the washable pre-filter and HEPA Sleep Mode help tackle pet hair, dust, smoke, and everyday funk. With Alexa control and an AHAM VERIFIDE rating, it’s a smart, set-and-forget solution if you want cleaner air on autopilot in open-plan spaces.

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Iron Age teeth reveal the hidden lives of ancient Italians

Andrew Paul — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:00:00 -0500

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LEVOIT Top Fill Humidifiers for Bedroom, 2.5L Tank for Large Room $28 (was $39)

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Idaho once dropped 76 beavers from airplanes—on purpose

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Winter dryness can be brutal. It can make your eyes feel tired, your sinuses hurt, and your skin itchy and painful. A humidifier can help, and this popular Levoit model is on sale right now at 25 percent off its normal price. The 2.5-liter reservoir lasts up to 25 hours on a single fill. Rather than having a separate tank to carry to the sink, this is a top-fill model, so you simply remove the cover and pour in the water. This is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to upgrade your quality of life, especially in the winter.

More of the best LEVOIT deals

LEVOIT Core Mini Air Purifiers for Bedroom Home Dorm $39 (was $49)

LEVOIT Core 400S-P Smart Air Purifier (up to 1,733 ft²) $189 (was $249)

LEVOIT Core 200S-P Smart Air Purifier $69 (was $95)

The post Iron Age teeth reveal the hidden lives of ancient Italians appeared first on Popular Science.

100 mystery sounds under review for signs of extraterrestrial life

Tony Ware — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:56:00 -0500

LEVOIT Vital 100S-P Air Purifier (up to 1,073 ft²) $114 (was $149)

What is SETI@home?

LEVOIT Vital 200S-P Air Purifier (up to 1875 Ft²) $159 (was $189)

LEVOIT Humidifiers for Large Room, (6L) Cool Mist Top Fill Essential Oil Diffuser, App Control $64 (was $79)

LEVOIT LV600S Smart Warm and Cool Mist Humidifiers for Large Room, (6L) App & Voice Control $94 (was $109)

“We [were], without doubt, the most sensitive narrow-band search of large portions of the sky, so we had the best chance of finding something,” Korpela said in a recent UC Berkeley profile.

LEVOIT LVAC-200 Essential Cordless Stick Vac $149 (was $199)

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Is it illegal to own an axolotl? It depends.

Andrew Paul — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:55:00 -0500

The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a confusing creature, and not simply because it looks like a real-life Pokémon. Despite its cultural prominence, even the most optimistic conservationists estimate that less than 1,000 of the foot-long amphibians can be found living in a single location—Mexico City’s Lake Xochimilco. At the same time, captive-bred axolotls are an increasingly popular exotic pet in the United States. But due to their status on the IUCN Red List and potential problems as an invasive species, it can be difficult to determine when, where, or even if it’s okay to adopt your own axolotl pal.

SETI@home relied on the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, which collapsed in 2020. Credit: Deposit Photos

A good example of the ongoing amphibian conundrum recently occurred at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. According to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) social media post earlier this month, inspectors flagged a shipment containing “smuggled” axolotls inside a commercial import of live fish intended for pet resale. Already listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), regulators also added them to the Lacey Act in 2025 an “injurious species” because of their potential to spread disease to native amphibians if released. Despite this, comments from both impassioned axolotl fans and wary observers quickly inundated the FWS.

Looking for ET

“These are commonly bred in captivity. Why the fuss?” one user asked. Another claimed that, “Making them illegal was a mistake. They will still be bought and sold everywhere.”

The tiny axolotls were seized within a larger illegal shipment, according to FWS. Credit: Amanda Dickson/USFWS

Many others noted another mixed message from the FWS, this time in the post’s accompanying photo. Unlike Mexico’s dark-colored amphibians, these pinkish-white axolotls appeared to be leucistic, meaning they lacked their standard pigmentation. Leucistic axolotls are routinely bred in captivity—you may have even seen some in a local pet store. So, what’s the deal? Can or can you not own axolotls?

“Even though wild axolotls are imperiled, many of these animals are bred in captivity to be sold as pets. These animals are often cross bred with other species (such as tiger salamanders) and may be both genetically and behaviorally different than wild populations,” FWS senior public affairs specialist Christina Meister tells Popular Science.

Meister explains that while they are illegal to own in some states, that isn’t the case everywhere. At the same time, the axolotl’s recent addition to the Lacey Act’s injurious species list makes it illegal to import the amphibians into the U.S. It’s also unlawful to transport them from the continental U.S. to either the District of Columbia or any U.S. territories without a proper permit. And because Meister says the Lacey Act “broadly prohibits” the sale or transfer of basically any wildlife in violation of federal, state, tribal, or foreign law, that means that you really need to check the fine print before acquiring your axolotl.

Axolotl ownership legality depends on where you live in the US. Credit: Amanda Dickson/USFWS

The power of crowdsourcing

In the case of the recent incident at O’Hare Airport, the FWS clarified the exotic pets were part of a larger shipment that violated the Lacey Act, and included, “other wildlife that was not properly declared or labeled, violating both the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Lacey Act’s trade provisions.”

Axolotl demand now goes beyond pet owners, however. Meister says animal traffickers are particularly attracted to them due to their “unique appearance and inability to defend themselves make them a relatively easy target.” Meanwhile, they’re coveted by many researchers—particularly in the biomedical industries—because the critically endangered amphibians possess a remarkable ability to regenerate limbs and even certain organs.

So although they aren’t illegal everywhere in the U.S., Meister highly recommends people consult both federal and state wildlife laws before considering purchasing an axolotl. And when you do, be sure to buy them from reputable vendors and not those trying to sneak them through airports.

The post Is it illegal to own an axolotl? It depends. appeared first on Popular Science.

Father and son reclaim Guinness World Record for fastest quadcopter drone

Andrew Paul — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:55:19 -0500

A YouTuber and his father have once again reclaimed the Guinness World Record for fastest quadcopter drone. Soaring through the air at an average speed of 408 miles per hour, Luke and Mike Bell’s Peregrine 4 highlights the latest intersection between engineering, creativity, and 3D-printing technology. The Bells’ achievement arrives barely a month after Australian aerospace engineer Ben Biggs and his Blackbird drone set the now-previous world record at 389 mph.

The post 100 mystery sounds under review for signs of extraterrestrial life appeared first on Popular Science.

14,000-year-old woolly rhinoceros DNA extracted from wolf’s stomach

Andrew Paul — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:32:00 -0500

According to Luke Bell’s recent video update, he and his father have spent the past five months improving “every aspect” of their Peregrine design through a combination of simulation runs, stress tests, and equipment experimentation. This time around, they built much of their drone frame using a Bambu Lab H2D dual-extruder 3D-printer. This allowed them to print Peregrine 4’s main body, camera mount, and landing system as a single, unified component.

An illustration of what a woolly rhinoceros would have looked like. Image: ДиБгд via WikimediaCommons CC By 4.0

“That gave us smoother aerodynamics and a much higher surface finish quality than before,” Luke explained.

Frozen in time

Other alterations included upgrading to four, 900 kV T-Motor 3120 brushless motors—an increase of 100 kV over their previous motor choices. The Peregrine 4’s frame is also slightly larger than earlier models, but that clearly didn’t seem to affect its overall performance.

As in past verification trials, Guinness World Record officials followed the industry-standard rubric of averaging two flight runs in opposing directions to offset any windspeed influences.

It remains to be seen how long the Bells can hold on to their title now. The title has shifted multiple times over the past few years. After topping their own initial achievement in April 2024, two other inventors increased the drone speed records twice more before the duo set the bar even higher in June 2025. After supplanting Biggs’ subsequent efforts, this now marks the Bells’ third time as Guinness World Record holders. Like the drones themselves, the speed at which bragging rights changes hands seems to be constantly accelerating.

The post Father and son reclaim Guinness World Record for fastest quadcopter drone appeared first on Popular Science.

Abandoned pigs rescued on Tennessee’s Looney Islands

Laura Baisas — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:38:00 -0500

A team from the Young-Williams Animal Center in Knoxville recently rescued two pigs stranded on a group of islands in the Tennessee River. After receiving multiple calls about the animals that appeared to be abandoned on Looney Islands, the team worked with the Knoxville Fire Department and Knox County Rescue to get to the islands.

A permafrost-preserved woolly rhinoceros (not part of this paper) in Yakutsk, Russia. Image: Mammoth Museum of North-Eastern Federal University.

After some searching, the two pigs were found together and rescued thanks to a bit of patience and the team’s “pig whisperer.” This pig whisperer is Mary Nussbaum, the Young-Williams Animal Center’s Director of Medical Operations. Nussbaum has over 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine, including working at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and its Veterinary Medical Center.

“She also is passionate about the care and protection of animals. Since the pigs were stranded on Looney Islands in January, available food resources were scarce, and the rescue team was able to lure the pigs with a whole lot of patience and several snacks,” Janet Testerman, CEO of the Young-Williams Animal Center tells Popular Science. “As soon as Mary started offering them food, they approached and were comfortable coming to her.”

Comparing genomes

The pigs were brought back to the rescue center and received a medical evaluation. As of now, it is not clear how they made it to the islands. If an owner comes forward to reclaim the pigs, Young-Williams will inquire further. If no one claims ownership, the duo will be made available for adoption.

The municipal no-kill shelter takes in over 10,000 animals every year, primarily stray cats and dogs. “But we also see our share of roosters, chickens, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, snakes, turtles, and pigs,” says Testerman.

The two-year-old facility accepts animals no matter the severity of sickness or injury and is considered a “no-kill” shelter. According to the Animal Human Society, in order to be considered a no-kill, a shelter or rescue must have an at least a 90 percent animal placement rate.

“The story of the pigs is but one of thousands of calls we have responded to in less than two years that have led to better options for the community and our animals,” says Testerman.

The post Abandoned pigs rescued on Tennessee’s Looney Islands appeared first on Popular Science.

In medieval France, murderous pigs faced trial and execution

Laura Baisas — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:01:00 -0500

It’s a common scene in many films set in medieval Europe: a wooden cart wheeling its way through a jeering crowd of townsfolk, taking a condemned prisoner to the gallows.

The post 14,000-year-old woolly rhinoceros DNA extracted from wolf’s stomach appeared first on Popular Science.

Why is okra so slimy? Blame the mucilage.

Anne Ewbank — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:02:00 -0500

However, reality is sometimes stranger than fiction. Because sometimes the criminal wheeled about town wasn’t human. Occasionally, the prisoner at the end of the rope was a pig, hung upside down until dead. In medieval Europe, pigs went to trial—and the gallows—surprisingly often.

Most of us don’t live on farms today, so it can be easy to forget how dangerous domesticated animals can be. Cows can trample people to death, horses can deliver fatal kicks, and those are just the herbivores. Pigs, on the other hand, are omnivorous. Throughout history, this made them useful as they could be fed kitchen scraps and waste. Yet a pig allowed to wander freely could easily overpower a small child, and as a result, there are hundreds of records of pigs killing and eating children across medieval Europe.

Mucilage protects okra seeds

Medieval pigs could and would kill children

In 1379, a group of pigs in the village of Saint-Marcel-lès-Jussey in eastern France killed a swineherd’s child. In 1386, a sow in Falaise, Normandy, savaged a young boy, who died of his injuries. In 1457, a sow killed five-year-old Jehan Martin in the village of Savigny in Burgundy. Gruesomely, the sow’s six piglets were nearby, covered in blood.

“We are used to this pink, fluffy, or quite chubby animal that would be quite slow, but pigs in the Middle Ages were much closer to the wild boar,” says Sven Gins, a historian and a researcher at the University of Groningen, as well as the author of Casting Justice Before Swine: Late Mediaeval Pig Trials as Instances of Human Exceptionalism. “So they were very fast, very strong, and they ate everything, including human meat sometimes.”

Mucilage is found across the plant world

In the Middle Ages, pigs were more like wild boars. Image: Public Domain

Some pigs even went to trial for their crimes

In France, these incidents often resulted in trials, with the pig treated almost as a human defendant. “A lot of the records are saying, ‘This pig went to jail. This pig was transported in a cart. We got an executioner from Paris, and we paid him,’” says Gins. “These are very serious legal proceedings, in many cases. Almost mundane, actually. To us, it’s sensational that they would put a pig on trial, but to people at the time, it seemed [like] an ordinary thing to do.”

Japanese natto, made from fermented soybeans, takes advantage of mucilage to get its signature stretch. Image: DepositPhotos

Gins notes that, as wild as pig trials sound, their purpose may have been practical. “One thing that is often not mentioned is that justice in general at the time was very much focused on reconciliation between the two parties,” he says. Sometimes, all it took was a payment from one side to the other to resolve an issue. “But then if a child is killed, that’s quite major, and money isn’t always going to cut it. So in that case, it helps if the law steps in and says, ‘We’ll take over from here.’”

Taking a pig to trial gave authorities a chance to dig deeper. “They sometimes wanted to know, was there any ill-intent present in this? If you know that a pig is dangerous, why would you let it wander about in the presence of young children? Sometimes even the parents themselves were suspect. They wanted to know if it was an unwanted child that they had left near the pigs, or if it was simply the owner who had been neglectful,” says Gins. “I would say that the court really stepped in to gain clarity and provide a coherent narrative for everyone.”

Some pig trials even went before local dukes

People have many uses for mucilage, too

Sometimes, higher authorities would get involved in local pig trials. In the 1379 case, a group of pigs, some belonging to the local abbey, were charged with killing a swineherd’s son.

The abbey, Gins says, wrote to the Duke, Philip the Bold. Gins sums up the letter: “Can you please let our pigs go? Because we are sure that they were not involved in the killing. They are well-behaved pigs.” The Duke listened, and wrote a letter of pardon for the abbey’s pigs.

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