Millions of you have converted to Popular Science Every month in 2024 to see the latest scientific breakthroughs, technological disasters, and everything in between. Using a secret formula for readership stats, social activity, and organizing instinct, we’ve collected 22 stories (why not!) covering everything from DIY home tips to (so-called) Gates of Hell to (real) see-through mice. See our most popular titles of 2024 below and click to read the stories.
We love answering our readers’ questions in our series Ask us anything. When you’re asked the question of what to do with the growing piles of e-waste on the floor, the plastic, the microwaves, the bed bug-infested couches, the beach carriers, what have you…one of our readers had the idea to unleash it all into the world with the sun. Popular Science Contributor Harry Weber seriously considered the proposal and consulted experts to see if it was viable in one of our most-read stories of the year. Short answer: No, but why? The answer is… practical. (If you’re feeling inspired, you can always submit your burning questions using This model. Obviously nothing is too outrageous for us to deal with.)
If you were using the internet at all during the first two years of the pandemic, you probably saw a lot of events Persistent meme Float around. She insisted that while we were isolated in our homes by well-meaning health authorities, the lack of human activity in the outside world had led to a kind of environmental renaissance. It turns out that was not actually true. Popular Science Contributor Lauren Lever delved into the real science behind the viral (but fake) phenomena. And no, the dolphins were not swimming in Venice’s canals. Sorry.
The Mastervoice Butler in a Box was the original home voice assistant, first introduced in 1983, costing over $4,000 in today’s money. Our intrepid video team set out to find and revitalize it more than forty years later. It’s been a trip! Watch us discover the rich history of the ancient instrument and try to make it work.
What happens if you take collagen? A 4 billion dollars The market will tell you that its benefits are plentiful, especially if you’re trying to revitalize your skin’s youthful glow. Contributor Hannah Siu delves into the claims at the granular level… nay, at the molecular level. To learn more about collagen drinks, dermatologist advice, and the wild world of unregulated supplements, read the story.
Did you know that you can recycle, upgrade and repair your old sunglasses instead of contributing to piles of trash (which, as we repeat, you can’t release into the sun) and wasting money? Among the countless projects, tips, and guides we’ve published this year, there’s something about sunglasses that has piqued your interest. 😉
It may sound like something out of science fiction, but with the help of physics and chemistry, scientists have managed to turn the stomachs of live lab mice semi-transparent, allowing an unobstructed view of their pumping and pulsing internal organs. Oh, they also used a dye common in most of your orange-colored snacks. Wild! You can read our featured story through interviews with scientists and Catch us on NPRif you don’t believe us.
Normally, killer whales hang out and hunt in packs, but this solitary creature with a taste for blood took down one of the most powerful predators on Earth single-handedly. Our resident expert on all things under the sea, Laura Paysas, noticed this bizarre display of nature.
We love a good heist…and planes! Writer Andrew Ball discovered this creativity in particular earlier this year. All this effort and creativity, but the alleged smugglers did not escape punishment this time.
This was the first documented case of two life forms merging into one, in an extremely rare case Primary endosymbiosis. In a laboratory experiment, a type of marine algae and bacteria were combined into one organism. Scientists expect that this event could not have occurred during the past billion years…that we know of!
There are many natural landmarks on our planet that are named after a biblical destination of eternal damnation. But this sector in particular seems to be growing. Uh oh.
In another popular video about the history of lost technology, we explore RCA’s ill-fated attempt to create the Selectavision 400 home media system. It was a disaster for the company. Of course, we had to get one of these and try to make it work. The struggle was real.
Did you know there’s a sweet spot for the perfect battery power for your Android phone? We know it’s shocking, but it’s not 100%. Popular Science Contributor and tech extraordinaire David Nield breaks down the mechanism behind perfect charging. Whether or not you can handle it psychologically is up to you.
Did you know that coffee grounds can reduce odor and enhance compost? And we haven’t even inspired DIY’er Debbie Wolfe to point out this and many other uses for this supposed waste product. For more at-home tips from Debbie, check out our herb dehydration guide, food pickling instructions, and microwave cleaning tips.
Man grows and changes. It’s part of our nature. Not this guy. The sagittal gar has been found to have the slowest rate of molecular evolution of all jawed vertebrates, with its genome changing much more slowly than other walking and swimming vertebrates around the world. That might explain the “old soul” look in Gar’s eyes.
Christine Shaw, our contributor to all things automotive, delved into the history of Ski-Doo, the only snowmobile quiet enough to be allowed in Yellowstone National Park. If you are interested in rules, regulations, and snowmobile design, please enjoy this deep dive.
We were told to squash as many of these brightly patterned insects as possible, but did it make a difference? In this comprehensive feature from Lauren Leffer, we not only answer your burning question, but we explain exactly how to classify and deal with invasive species. Read it and explore the scientific mysteries of ecological imbalance. Meanwhile, keep crushing.
We’ll let the scientists talk about it: “Watching an invasive predator swallow a whole-sized deer right in front of you is something you’ll never forget.” Yes! Visit nature’s evil snippet again and try to unsee it.
These basic but very important tips that apply to both Windows and macOS will not only keep your computer running smoothly, but will also help you organize your life. Try them and find out for yourself.
Have you ever touched the soft sacs of flesh hanging from your ear and wondered, what are the sacs for? (Plus wearing earrings, of course.) We’ve delved into the latest science on vestigial organs and presented some very compelling theories about the evolutionary mystery of earlobes in this Ask us anything feature.
Have you ever wondered how electronic drums and cymbals work? What do you look like? What do they feel? This hands-on walkthrough from Stan Horaczek provides a detailed look at the technology.
This was close to Andrew’s heart, and we are delighted that our readers shared this concern. At the intersection of luck and technology, meet the kid who finally “beat” this game, see the look on his face, and learn more about the history of kill screens, mods, and “hyper-tapping” in Tetris.
Laura spotted this extremely rare specimen A local news outlet in New Hampshire She interviewed the scientists who received it as a donation. Take a better look at its trailing claws and see how it got that way. Then stay tuned for more amazing animals, groundbreaking inventions and helpful tips in 2025.
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