Ask Us Anything

Popular Science answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions, from the ordinary to the off-the-wall.

Latest in Ask Us Anything

flying with cellphone airplane mode

Why do we still have to use airplane mode? Why do we still have to use airplane mode?

The long finger sticking out of the Sun at the bottom left of this image is a coronal mass ejection. It was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory on August 31, 2012.

Does the Sun make noise? Does the Sun make noise?

an orange cat with green eyes with its tongue out

Why do some cats have orange fur? New hue clues in an old mystery. Why do some cats have orange fur? New hue clues in an old mystery.

By Clarissa Brincat

Anything with mass cannot reach lightspeed.

What would happen to the human body moving at near lightspeed? What would happen to the human body moving at near lightspeed?

By Lauren Leffer

a slice of jelly toast faced down on the floor

Is the five-second rule true? Don’t push your luck. Is the five-second rule true? Don’t push your luck.

By Clarissa Brincat

dog kissing human licking face

Why do dogs lick humans? It could be a sign of affection. Why do dogs lick humans? It could be a sign of affection.

By Lauren Leffer

A Tesla Model 3 engaged in the so-called ‘Full Self Driving’ mode reportedly plowed through a deer without ever detecting it. While more advanced driverless systems use a mix of sensors including LiDAR, Tesla is trying to attain full autonomy using only cameras.

Why are ‘driverless’ cars still hitting things? Why are ‘driverless’ cars still hitting things?

By Mack DeGeurin

mercury broken thermometer

Are ‘heavy metals’ dangerous? Yes, but not everything you’ve heard is true. Are ‘heavy metals’ dangerous? Yes, but not everything you’ve heard is true.

By Lauren Leffer

Peach and Blossom, the National Thanksgiving Turkeys, are seen on the South Lawn of the White House before recieving a Presidential Pardon from US President Joe Biden in Washington, DC, on November 25, 2024.

How did Thanksgiving turkeys get so darn big? How did Thanksgiving turkeys get so darn big?

By Mack DeGeurin

a body on a morgue table with only the feet showing and a toe tag on the big toe

What happens when you donate your body to science? What happens when you donate your body to science?

By RJ Mackenzie

How does science explain déjà vu? It’s a brain glitch with a purpose. How does science explain déjà vu? It’s a brain glitch with a purpose.

By Julia Craven

Why do humans have toenails? Because we’re evolutionary ‘weirdos.’ Why do humans have toenails? Because we’re evolutionary ‘weirdos.’

By Lauren Leffer

the sound of your own voice

Why do people hate the sound of their own voice? Why do people hate the sound of their own voice?

By Julia Craven

raw milk poured into a glass

Is raw milk safe? Science has a clear answer. Is raw milk safe? Science has a clear answer.

By Lauren Leffer

An image of the Sun from June 20, 2013, at 11:15 p.m. EDT.

Why can’t we just launch all of Earth’s garbage into the sun? Why can’t we just launch all of Earth’s garbage into the sun?

young woman in bed with alarm clock and eyes opened suffering insomnia and sleep disorder thinking about his problem on dark studio lighting in sleeping and nightmare issues

What causes you to jolt awake right before falling asleep? What causes you to jolt awake right before falling asleep?

Without humans, what would happen to Earth? Without humans, what would happen to Earth?

By Lauren Leffer

A graphic depicting the inner workings of a 2024 Toyota Mirai, showing the vehicle's hydrogen storage system, fuel cell, and electric motor.

Why aren’t we driving hydrogen powered cars yet? There’s a reason EVs won. Why aren’t we driving hydrogen powered cars yet? There’s a reason EVs won.

Janet Leigh screaming during iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho.'

Why do jump scares terrify us so much? Blame evolution. Why do jump scares terrify us so much? Blame evolution.

poppy seed bagel

What causes positive drug tests? It’s not just drugs… or poppy seeds. What causes positive drug tests? It’s not just drugs… or poppy seeds.

By Lauren Leffer