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

the sound of your own voice
Science

Why do people hate the sound of their own voice?

By Julia Craven

raw milk poured into a glass
Health

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.
Science

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

By Harri Weber

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
Science

What causes you to jolt awake right before falling asleep?

By Andrew Paul

Pompeii ruins
Science

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.
Science

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

By Harri Weber

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

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

By Andrew Paul

poppy seed bagel
Science

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

By Lauren Leffer

Group of Snow Geese in elegant flight against blue sky at Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge in New Mexico in winter.
Environment

Why do birds migrate? Scientists have a few major theories.

By Lauren Leffer

A variety of behaviors can foster muscle tension and lead to knots.
Science

What is a muscle knot actually? A pain in the neck, but not a knot.

By Harri Weber

This artist concept illustrates the frenzied activity at the core of our Milky Way galaxy. The galactic center hosts a supermassive black hole in the region known as Sagittarius A*, or Sgr A*, with a mass of about four million times that of our sun.
Science

Can the black hole in the center of our galaxy expand to our solar system? 

By Alex Hazlett

Using the microwave oven to heat food. Woman's hand puts plastic container with broccoli and buckwheat in the microwave
Science

Seriously, stop microwaving your food in plastic

By Lauren Leffer

a space craft floats in space
Science

What human-made object is the farthest from Earth? 

By Alex Hazlett

Contrail clouds from passing jet planes streak the sky over the Utah desert.
Science

Why airplanes leave white streaks in the sky

By Lauren Leffer

child playing with fidget spinner
Science

Does fidgeting really help you focus?

By Lauren Leffer

Human ear closeup
Science

Why do we have earlobes? They make no evolutionary sense.

By Lauren Leffer

couple in bed
Science

Do aphrodisiacs work? What the science says.

By RJ Mackenzie

hands reaching out to tickle you
Science

Why are we ticklish? The science of the silly response.

By Lauren Leffer

baby sloth poses for the camera on the tree
Science

Which animals can and can’t fart? 

By Alex Hazlett

Pouring cooking oil from bottle into frying pan, closeup
Health

What science actually says about seed oils

By Lauren Leffer