Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.

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Rachel Feltman

Rachel Feltman

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Valentine’s Day 1946: The first general-purpose electronic computer blossoms
Technology

Valentine’s Day 1946: The first general-purpose electronic computer blossoms

The ENIAC was a 30-ton ‘numerical monster’—and pivotal in the history of consumer technology.

couple sitting on sofa together
Psychology

Quiet couples: Alone time together

The right kind of silence can be golden, revitalizing and strengthening a relationship.

A selection of the mummified bodies in the exhibition area of the Egyptian museum in Cairo.
Archaeology

What do Egyptian mummies smell like? Surprisingly pleasant.

Scientists and sniffers teamed up to study the ancient scents for the first time.

Cut and impact marks indicating cannibalism on various human parts of the skeleton from the Maszycka Cave.
Archaeology

Butchered skulls point to Europe’s Ice Age cannibals

‘It… seems unlikely that cannibalism was practiced out of necessity.’

one jaw fossil and six vertebrae fossils lined up
Wildlife

500,000 years ago, a bunch of animals fell into a Florida sink hole

Hobby fossil hunters found over 500 fossils in the murky waters of the Steinhatchee River.

Once considered vestigial, the appendix may play an essential role in gut health.
Ask Us Anything

Which body parts do humans not need?

Evolution left us with some organs and functions we no longer need.

A California condor spreads its wings atop a mountain in Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park, in Baja California, Mexico.
Birds

Return of the California condor

North America’s largest bird disappeared from the wild in the late 1980s. Reintroduction work in the United States and Mexico has brought this huge vulture back to the skies. This is the story of its comeback.

HEGER Brock (usa), Polaris, Sébastien Loeb Racing - RZR Factory Racing, SSV T4, portrait during the Stage 9 of the Dakar 2025 on January 14, 2025 between Riyadh and Haradh, Saudi Arabia - Photo Frédéric Le Floc'h / DPPI
Vehicles

A promising rookie takes on the world’s most grueling off-road race

A duo of Americans and Polaris take home the win in the 2025 Dakar’s SSV Class.

ROV screenshot of OceanGate Titan wreckage tail section
Ocean

Listen to chilling underwater audio of the OceanGate ‘Titan’ implosion

The controversial submersible’s catastrophic failure killed five passengers en route to the ‘Titanic.’

Own a piece of science history.

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Popular Science has been demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872. We explain the inner workings of the phone in your pocket, explore world-changing innovations, and examine everything from the marvels of deep space to the secret lives of staples like bread. We deliver an engaging, approachable, and inclusive look at emerging technologies and scientific advances.
Daily, PopSci unpacks the science behind the top current new stories, dissects the latest technology and digital trends, and helps readers live smarter, safer, and happier through clever DIY projects.

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