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 popular science team


Wood storks to be removed from federal Endangered Species List

Popular Science

But the only native stork found in the U.S. is not out of the woods just yet. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. After over 40 years of recovery efforts, one population of the wood stork ()is being removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife. The large birds are as tall as 45 inches with wingspans that can reach 65 inches and are the only native storks in the United States. They are primarily found in the southeastern United States, where they feed on fish.


How hibernating hamsters could help astronauts

Popular Science

Special cells can repair muscles, even when some animals are dormant. A hibernating Syrian hamster that was part of the study. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. With the freezing temperatures that have recently pummeled parts of the northeastern United States, the idea of curling up for the winter and snoozing until spring sounds very appealing. There's just one problem for our species--well, actually, there would be many.


Downhill skiing's biggest hurdle? Friction.

Popular Science

How skis meet snow be the difference between winning gold or silver. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Every ski and snowboarding event at the 2026 Winter Olympics is won through a combination of sheer athleticism, quick thinking, creativity, and persistence. But like so many other sports, competitors know their choice of equipment can mean the difference earning the gold or silver medal. A ski is built for function over form, and manufacturers have spent decades adapting and honing their products to ensure wearers get the best results.


No, bears don't actually hibernate

Popular Science

Their winter survival trick is a months-long power-save mode--and scientists think it could help humans, too. This bear woke up like this. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. For many animals that live in cold climates, winter means low-power mode. But no creature is more tied to the image of a long, cozy winter than hibernating bears all snuggled up in their dens.


9 rare animals caught on camera in the 'Amazon of Asia'

Popular Science

A 2025 survey in the forests of Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia uncovered several rare and endangered animals. A pig-tailed macaque is caught on camera in a Cambodian forest. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. The results of a new camera-trap survey in Southeast Asia is revealing a bevy of hidden biodiversity tucked within the Annamites mountain range . This largely unexplored wildlife hotspot has a forest stretching 683 miles (1,100 kilometers) across the countries of Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia.


How do birds stay warm in winter?

Popular Science

How do birds stay warm in winter? Puffing up is just the start. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Then you notice a robin hopping from branch to branch. Nearby, ducks are calmly swimming in the pond and waddling around on the ice.


16 astonishing images from the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards

Popular Science

Playful bear cubs and a swirling superpod of dolphins compete for People's Choice honors. Josef has wanted to photograph lynxes for a long time. He was delighted when the opportunity arose to spend two weeks observing them from a hide at Torre de Juan Abad, Ciudad Real, Spain. It's common for young lynxes to play with their prey before killing it. This one repeatedly threw the rodent high in the air and caught it again.


The toddler who survived a 54-degree body temperature

Popular Science

Humans aren't built for the cold, but have survived frigid temperatures in some amazing cases. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Winter is not for the faint of heart. In New York City, skyscrapers turn Manhattan into a series of freezing wind tunnels. In Sapporo, Japan, the snowfall is almost 200 inches each winter. Even so, humans have developed plenty of clever ways to wait out the cold. But what would happen if instead of bundling up inside with a hot chocolate, you were left in the frigid cold--just how cold can humans get and recover?


Man solves ceiling fans' most annoying problem

Popular Science

Technology Engineering Man solves ceiling fans' most annoying problem His 3D-printed device finally shows a ceiling fans' speed. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Anyone who's used an overhead ceiling fan knows it can be a pain to work. Yanking its chain gets the motor running, but there's no easy visual indication of what speed setting the fan is on. The blades can also take a frustratingly long time to reach their full speed.


11 stunning finalists for the Youth Photographer of the Year prize

Popular Science

Reichert captured this family of monkeys on Pidurangala Rock, Sri Lanka. The photographer describes how this image particularly struck him because of the gaze of the little monkey in the middle of the picture and'the strong sense of family, even among animals'. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Young people have a different perspective on our world, both literally and figuratively. Their eyes see things differently and if you hand them a camera, you might understand more.