Popular Science

Expedition 13 crew members, Rosocosmos cosmonaut Valery I. Tokarav (left) and former NASA astronaut William McArthur, pose with Christmas stockings in December 2005. Image: NASA.

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The six Expedition 30 crew members assembled in the U.S. Destiny laboratory aboard the space station for a Christmas celebration in December 2011. Image: NASA.

Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses and Neural Band represent the first successful attempt to make “face computing” feel like a feasible tool rather than a demo. A tiny display in the right lens overlays simple interfaces, captions, directions, and AI answers into your field of view, as the built-in microphones, speakers, and camera handle audio and capture in the background. The paired wristband reads small electrical signals from your forearm muscles so subtle finger movements act as clicks and scrolls, instead of relying on loud voice commands or big mid-air gestures. The near-eye display, on-body sensing, and assistant-like software fit into familiar-looking frames in a way that feels like it could exist in the real world. It makes routine tasks—translation, navigation, quick queries—possible without pulling out a phone, while forcing new conversations about what it means to have nearly invisible cameras and always-on AI in social spaces.

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti pictured above the space station on December 20, 2014 during Expedition 42. Image NASA.

Cosmos by Nvidia: A “world model” stack for physical AI

Expedition 50 crew members celebrate the holidays aboard the orbiting laboratory in December 2016. Image: NASA.

Four Expedition 70 crewmates join each other inside the space station and join each other inside the space station’s Unity module for a Christmas Day Meal in December 2023. From left are Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency); Commander Andreas Mogensen from ESA (European Space Agency); and NASA Flight Engineers Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli. Image: NASA.

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NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams shows off a holiday decoration of a familiar reindeer aboard the ISS on December 16, 2024. The Decoration was crafted with excess hardware, cargo bags, and recently-delivered Santa Hats. Image: NASA.

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NASA astronauts Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Don Petit (left) and Commander Suni Williams (right) pose for a fun holiday season portrait while speaking on a ham radio inside the space station’s Columbus laboratory module. Image: NASA.

Cosmos is Nvidia’s toolkit for AI systems that have to deal with the physical world, like robots and autonomous vehicles. Video models can generate realistic scenes and short “futures” so machines can practice in simulation, while data tools clean and search huge logs of real sensor recordings for specific situations. Instead of each developer building their own patchwork of simulators and datasets, Cosmos offers a shared set of models and utilities tuned to Nvidia’s robotics and computing platforms.

To remind us here on Earth that we are all still connected, NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Don Pettit wish a merry Christmas and a happy holiday season to Earth in a message recorded on December 23, 2024.

More infrastructure and logistics are being handed off to automated systems, which need reliable ways to learn about rare or dangerous edge cases without causing real harm. If platforms like Cosmos work as intended, they make it easier to prototype and test those systems in synthetic worlds before they interact with actual streets, warehouses, and people.

Antigravity A1 by Insta360: A 360-degree drone for photo-first flying

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‘Hope in a bottle’ for a deadly cancer and the firefly gene that lit the way

Stan Horaczek — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500

It was as if his muscle memory had evaporated. Twenty-year-old Ethan White couldn’t remember how to use the drumsticks. The snare drum he knew like a part of his own body was suddenly a foreign object. His right hand felt weak, the University of Michigan student thought perhaps it was just fatigue. After all, the Michigan Marching Band had just finished a busy football season with a victory at the 2024 CFP National Championship Game in January. By mid February, Ethan started to notice other odd things—tripping while going up stairs, struggling to hold things in his hands.

In March, an MRI found a tumor on his thalamus, deep in the center of his brain. Ethan was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma (DMG), a cancer that is a death sentence for the vast majority of people who get it. DMG refers to cancerous tumors that grow on the thalamus, brainstem, or spinal cord. Surgery is out of the question, since these parts of the brain are dangerous to operate on, making it one of the most challenging cancers to treat.

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Primarily affecting children and young adults, DMG has an overall survival rate of only 1 percent. Patients are usually given nine to 12 months to live. While DMG’s prognosis has been grim for decades, patients like Ethan are finally starting to see that change.

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Drummer Ethan White first suspected something was wrong when he could not use his drumsticks. Image: Michelle Sherman.

Antigravity’s first drone, developed with action camera maker Insta360, is built around a 360-degree camera instead of a forward-facing one. Rather than aiming a single lens during flight, the drone records everything around it; you decide on the framing later when you edit, turning the same flight into wide landscape shots, vertical clips, or immersive views. By separating “flying” from “camera work,” it lowers the skill barrier for getting usable aerial footage and gives experienced pilots more flexibility in tight or unpredictable environments. It’s a rare case in which a product drastically lowers the learning curve for beginners while substantially expanding creative options for experienced users.

Using a biological flashlight

Pioneer Na by BLUETTI: A sodium-ion power station that works in real cold

A new FDA-approved treatment called Modeyso is giving patients with DMG more time—adding months, even years, and with quality of life intact. It’s “the first change in standard of care in 60-plus years,” Lisa Ward, co-founder of Tough2gether Foundation, tells Popular Science. Her son Jace passed in 2021 from diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a form of DMG. “It’s the first step and a whole new trajectory of hope.”

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Modeyso’s journey into a treatment began a few decades ago. After losing his mother to cancer, Modeyso developer Dr. Joshua Allen became fascinated by cancer defenses that already exist in the human body.

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“Evolution has been working on the cancer problem for a long time, a lot longer than humans,” Allen tells Popular Science. “We all get cancer multiple times throughout our lives. Evolution has given the human immune system ways to recognize and get rid of tumor cells. There’s this really cool stuff in immune cells that can kill tumors but doesn’t cause side effects.”

BLUETTI’s Pioneer Na portable power station swaps common lithium-based cells for sodium-ion batteries. Sodium-ion packs generally store a bit less energy per kilogram but offer several important upgrades. For users, the sodium cells can charge and discharge in cold weather conditions where many lithium units either lock out charging or lose much of their effective capacity. Cold tolerance matters for cabins, unheated garages, winter storms, and field work in colder regions, where backup power often fails right when it’s needed most. As a consumer product, Pioneer Na demonstrates how sodium-ion chemistry is moving from lab prototypes into real devices, suggesting a future mix of storage technologies instead of a single, lithium-only path. The sodium-based cells are built from much more abundant raw materials than their traditional competition.

Modeyso was approved by the FDA in August 2025. Image: Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

UV Printer E1 by Eufy: A desktop UV printer that adds texture to objects

Allen wanted to find a way to bottle this. He began looking for a molecule that could trick tumors into self-destructing. In his research, he used bioluminescence, a tool scientists often use to track how well a cancer treatment is working. The illuminating luciferase gene is the same gene that makes fireflies light up. For Allen, having grown up in Georgia catching fireflies in bottles with his brother, this was full-circle.

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The lab inserted the firefly gene into a TRAIL gene. TRAIL genes are naturally produced by our bodies, and selectively trigger cell death in cancer cells. The fusion of TRAIL and luciferase became a biological flashlight, making cancer cells glow. Whenever a cancer cell turned on the TRAIL gene, it also made luciferase, allowing scientists to detect TRAIL-expressing cells by their bioluminescent signal.

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The missing puzzle piece

The eufyMake UV Printer E1 is a compact UV printer meant for objects, not paper. It uses UV-curable inks and repeated passes to build up millimeters of raised texture on plastics, metals, glass, and other materials, which are handled by fixtures that can hold flat panels, bottles, and long flexible pieces in the same machine. Alignment lasers, an onboard camera, and automatic printhead cleaning are there to keep that process predictable instead of fussy. Bringing this kind of textured, multi-material printing down to a desktop footprint lets small shops and serious hobbyists produce innumerable artistic and practical projects.

The post The 5 coolest gadget innovations of 2025 appeared first on Popular Science.

5 incredible aerospace breakthroughs in 2025

Julia Daye — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0500

2025 was full of efficiency innovations and bold initiatives in the world of aerospace. From the most detailed movie of the night sky ever made to the first commercial soft landing on the moon, this year has been an inflection point for exploring and understanding the vast expanse above our heads. We also saw breakthroughs in small changes to commercial airliners that improve efficiency, as well as a new type of rocket engine that might be the future of extremely high speed air travel, plus the closest view of Mercury we’ve ever seen!

At the same time, bereaved families were donating the bodies of their deceased children to medical research in hopes of finding new treatments, resulting in experts finding an important mutation they didn’t previously know of. Called H3 K27M, the mutation was present in 70 to 90 percent of the children who had died of DIPG. Scientists realized it was also present in other midline brain tumors.

(Editor’s Note: This is a section from Popular Science’s 38th annual Best of What’s New awards. Be sure to read the full list of the 50 greatest innovations of 2025.)

This was the missing puzzle piece for Allen and his colleagues. H3 K27M damages a key “off switch” for genes, causing widespread, uncontrolled gene activity that keeps cells in a multiplying state that causes tumor growth.

Innovation of the Year

Dr. Joshua Allen (right) studies the cancer defenses that already exist in the human body. Image: Penn State University.

Vera C. Rubin Observatory by U.S. National Science Foundation & Department of Energy: World’s largest digital camera to conduct 10-year survey of the night sky

Now, Modeyso reverses that mechanism. The once weekly dose is in pill form, and can be taken by patients over age one. Allen is calling it “hope in a bottle.” And while it’s not a cure, the drug is helping to extend patients’ lives with very few side-effects.

“It’s the first big win, to be able to have more time,” Tammi Carr, co-founder of ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, tells Popular Science. Carr lost her five-year-old son Chad to DIPG a decade ago.

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“When you get a diagnosis like this, you’re told your child has nine to 12 months to live. Every minute matters, and so to be able to have more time is a huge win from a family’s perspective,” Carr says.

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Chad Carr (middle) and his family. Chad died from DIPG at the age of five. Image: Tammi Carr.

Prepare to see space like never before. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is a groundbreaking US-funded project that will capture the most detailed, dynamic map of the night sky ever made. Using the world’s largest digital camera, it will capture a time-lapse of the entire sky every few nights to reveal billions of objects and catch fast-changing events like supernovae and near-Earth asteroids. Its massive dataset will help scientists better understand dark matter, dark energy, and the structure of the universe while also improving planetary defense.

Twenty-year-old Jace Ward started taking Modeyso after his diagnosis in 2019. The young athlete got 17 months that he wouldn’t have had otherwise before he died in July 2021.

The 3,200-megapixel Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) camera is the size of a small car and twice as heavy, tipping the scales at 6,000 pounds. The sensor’s huge number of megapixels is equivalent to 260 modern cell phone sensors. The camera is so powerful, it could snap a clear image of a golf ball from 15 miles away.

“The drug worked very well for him,” says Jace’s mother Lisa. “For 17 months, he could play basketball, golf—he could have Christmas and meet his nephew for the first time. All of these memories got made because, instead of six months, he had 17 good months.”

By making its data widely available, the observatory will also open new doors for discovery for researchers, students, and citizen scientists around the world.

Jace Ward (right) and his mother Lisa. Modeyso helped extend his life by over one year. Image: Lisa Ward.

Riblet-shaped coating on 787 by Japan Airlines: Stabilizing airflow, reducing turbulence, and increasing fuel efficiency

And sometimes, the treatment works even longer. Thirty-nine-year-old Ben Stein-Lobovits has been taking Modeyso for seven years. Eight years ago, he was at a wedding in Chile when he chalked up the numbness on his tongue to a hangover. Soon after, an MRI showed he had a brainstem glioma. After radiation, he started taking Modeyso.

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“I think I’m the longest running patient on it,” Stein-Lobovits tells Popular Science. The father of two has seen a 70 percent reduction in his tumor size, according to his most recent imaging. He now advocates for patients getting on Modeyso as early as they can.

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“The earlier the intervention, the better,” he says.

Deployed on Boeing 787-9 aircraft starting in January, the coating uses tiny, sharkskin-like grooves called riblets to guide airflow smoothly along the aircraft’s surface. By keeping the air more organized and reducing small pockets of turbulence, the riblets cut aerodynamic drag, which normally wastes energy. That reduction in drag translates directly into better fuel efficiency, lowering operating costs and reducing the plane’s carbon emissions. Overall, this smart surface technology gives the 787 a quieter, cleaner, and more efficient ride without changing the aircraft’s shape or engines.

For people with cancer, more time means holidays, family bonding, and milestones. But it also means possibly being around for when there is a cure. The medicine’s minimal side-effects make it easy to combine with other treatments as well.

Blue Ghost lunar lander by Firefly Aerospace: First commercial company to soft land on the moon

The gift of normal

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In June 2024, four months after his eerie moment with the snare drum, Ethan started taking Modeyso. He had completed 30 sessions of radiation that helped to shrink his tumor, and his family and doctors saw an opportunity to layer the new drug with a few other medications to keep the tumor at bay.

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“Having access to [Modeyso] was a major part of keeping him alive,” Ethan’s mother Michelle Sherman tells Popular Science.

The Blue Ghost lander was the first commercial vehicle to soft-land on the Moon, marking a major milestone in the shift from government-only lunar missions to public–private exploration with its March 2 touchdown. Over the summer, Firefly Aerospace was awarded a NASA contract to deliver science and technology instruments to the Moon’s south polar region, an area crucial for studying water ice and future human exploration. Successful delivery will help NASA gather data needed for future Artemis missions while proving that commercial companies can reliably operate on the lunar surface, demonstrating the Blue Ghost lander to be a major step toward a more sustainable, commercially driven lunar economy.

Ethan was able to live a relatively normal college life for over a year after that—rock climbing, going to class, living with friends. Sherman says it’s given him time and quality of life. Ethan graduated with honors from the University of Michigan on December 14, 2025.

The post ‘Hope in a bottle’ for a deadly cancer and the firefly gene that lit the way appeared first on Popular Science.

9 new butterflies discovered in old museum archives

Margherita Bassi — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 12:15:00 -0500

When you think of butterflies, chances are you imagine unmistakable insects with bright, bold wings. But it turns out that individual butterfly species are sometimes shockingly difficult to tell apart. Cue museum collections and genetic analysis—a biological dream team.

Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine by Venus Aerospace: Powering future flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo in under two hours

“Thanks to the genetic revolution and the collaboration of researchers and museums in various countries led by London’s Natural History Museum, century-old butterflies are now speaking to us,” Christophe Faynel, an entomologist at the Société entomologique Antilles Guyane, said in a statement. “By comparing modern DNA with ancient DNA from historical specimens, we can resolve long confused and unnoticed species and uncover greater biodiversity than previously known.”

An international team of scientists in AMISTAD, a new research project led by London’s Natural History Museum, are sorting through the members of a group of blue South American butterflies. Using more than 1,000 samples from collections around the globe, they discovered nine previously unidentified butterfly species in the Thereus genus. This genus gossamer-winged butterfly is found in the neotropics.The teams gave priorities to the Thereus species at risk, since South America’s tropical forests undergo rapid deforestation.

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Plate illustrating the forewing androconia of 16 male butterflies in the Thereus genena species group, revealing distinctive scent-scale patterns used to differentiate the species. Image: Zootaxa

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The team also retrieved genetic material from an over 100-year-old butterfly leg using a cutting-edge DNA sequencing technique. With this material, they could study the tiny physical distinctions between butterflies so visually alike, entomologists thought they were the same species. The genetic examination confirmed the differences concealed right beneath their noses.

Venus Aerospace’s Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) is a new type of rocket propulsion that creates continuous spinning shockwaves to burn fuel far more efficiently than traditional rocket engines. This technology is targeted to enable aircraft to travel at speeds of Mach 4 to Mach 6 (3,069 to 4,603 mph), making routes like Los Angeles to Tokyo possible in under two hours. Because the engine produces more thrust with less fuel, it opens the door to faster, lighter, and potentially more affordable high-speed travel. In short, the RDRE is a key step toward turning ultra-fast, global point-to-point flight from science fiction into realistic transportation.

The team specifically looked at a group of Neotropical butterflies called the genena species group within the subfamily Theclinae, which was thought to consist of just five species. Faynel and his colleague’s results, recently published in Zootaxa, bring to light new information about our fellow terrestrial creatures, helping us understand the various relationships between species and target conservation endeavors in the direction of potentially endangered ones.

BepiColombo by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) & European Space Agency (ESA): Exploring Mercury closer than ever

“Some newly identified species were collected a century ago in habitats that might no longer exist, putting at risk the existence of these species and highlighting the urgency of this work,” said Blanca Huertas, Principal Curator of Butterflies at the Natural History Museum and co-author of the study.

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The newly named species include Thereus cacao, T. ramirezi, and T. confusus, with researchers drawing inspiration from regions, local scientists, and the taxonomic knot they overcame, presumably among others.

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Ultimately, the study is also a testament to the enduring scientific value of collections. The Natural History Museum hosts “five million butterfly specimens which makes up about 6% of the entire collection,” Blanca concluded. “With some of these specimens dating back to the 1600s, the Museum’s collections are an irreplaceable archive of life of our planet, allowing scientists and researchers to study species that may no longer exist, or are known to be at risk.”

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Butt breathing and 5 other ways animals stay warm in winter

Popular Science Team — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 10:03:00 -0500

Winter has officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. With today’s winter solstice, the days will start to get a little bit longer, but the cold will stick around. We humans typically handle the dipping temperatures by staying inside, sleeping more, and dressing in layers. But what about other members of the animal kingdom? Here are some unique ways that animals survive winter’s deep freeze.

BepiColombo is the most ambitious mission ever sent to study Mercury, a planet that’s hard to reach because of the sun’s intense gravity. The spacecraft carries two orbiters—one built by the European Space Agency (ESA) and one by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)—that will map Mercury’s surface, study its thin atmosphere, investigate its magnetic field, and analyze its interior structure. These measurements will help scientists understand how rocky planets form and evolve, including Earth-like worlds in other star systems. By working together, JAXA and ESA are tackling one of the toughest destinations in the solar system and filling in major gaps in our understanding of the innermost planet.

The post 5 incredible aerospace breakthroughs in 2025 appeared first on Popular Science.

22 breathtaking images from the 2025 Landscape Photographer of the Year awards

Popular Science Team — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Earth is stunning. From Iceland’s spectacular fire and ice landscapes to Yemen’s otherworldly Socotra dragon trees, our home planet hosts a diverse lineup of jaw-dropping scenery.

Brumation nation

The 12th annual International Landscape Photographer of the Year award honor professional and amateur photographers who venture far and wide to capture nature’s beauty. (Click to expand images to fullscreen.)

To fend off winter’s chill, some reptiles and all amphibians brumate. Brumation is basically a less intense form of hibernation. Bears and other mammals who hibernate spend a lot of the time sleeping. Instead, brumating amphibians and reptiles go through a period of dormancy with small bursts of activity.

“Moonset Over the Cathedral Range” by Scott Oller, United States
Yosemite National Park, California
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Scott Oller

“During the winter, brumation is like taking a long nap, getting up when it gets a little warmer, going to the bathroom, drinking some water, and then going back to sleep,” Karen McDonald, the STEM program coordinator at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland tells Popular Science. “Hibernation is sleeping all winter and relying on your fat stores.”

“Aurora Eruption” by Max Terwindt, Netherlands
Reykjanesbaer, Iceland
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Max Terwindt

Reptiles and amphibians need to wake up in order to drink water so that they don’t get dehydrated. They will typically get up for that refreshing sip on more mild winter days. If they’re lucky, they’ll get some extra sun in the process.

“Martian Sculptures” by Henrique Murta, Brazil
Tassili N’Ajjer National Park, Algeria
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs
Henrique Murta

Wood frog in Minnesota. Unlike most other frogs that spend their winters underwater, the wood frog stays on land and freezes solid. Image: Jasper Shide / Public Domain.

“Rainbow Tree” by Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove, Iceland
Icelandic Highlands
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove

Frozen frogs

“Porcelain Shrooms” by Albert Dros, Netherlands
Speulder forest, Veluwe Area, the Netherlands.
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Albert Dros

When cold fronts swoop down to Florida, frozen iguanas will inevitably fall out of trees. But for the wood frogs that live across New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest that cold is much more frequent. However, their solution is not brumating. Instead, they freeze solid.

“Salar de Gorbea” by Karol Nienartowicz, Poland
Salar de Gorbea, Atacama, Andes, Chile
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Karol Nienartowicz

For months, wood frogs will burrow underneath leaf litter on forest floors with no breathing, heartbeat, or brain activity. Once the weather begins to warm, they will spring back to life. According to the National Park Service, this strategy allows wood frogs to become active very early in spring. The land thaws and warms more quickly than the ice-covered lakes where other frogs burrow in the mud. This means that the newly active wood frogs can mate and lay eggs in small ponds earlier than other frogs.

“Delta Pool” by Karol Nienartowicz, Poland
Delta Pool, Moab, USA
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Karol Nienartowicz

Take care of those feathers

“Frame” by Jinyi Han, Canada
Vancouver Island BC Canada
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Jinyi Han

Not all bird species survive the winter by flying south to warmer climates. Some, like cardinals, chickadees, and blue jays stay put. In order to survive the cold, they have to take very good care of their feathers. Some species will grow all new feathers for the winter. Other birds will fluff up their feathers to help trap pockets of air around their bodies to stay warm. Preening also helps some birds waterproof their feathers, by spreading oil from a gland near their tails to the rest of their body.

“Deadvlei Magic” by Ngar Shun Victor Wong, Hong Kong
Deadvlei, Namibia
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Ngar Shun Victor Wong

Birds will also find good places to hunker down or huddle up with other birds of the same species. Winterberries and some other plants will also still produce fruit that can help keep them fed until spring. A well-stocked bird feeder can also help, just be sure to keep it clean.

Joyce Bealer, United States
Fairytale Sunrise
Location Details: Patagonia, Chile
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Joyce Bealer

A northern cardinal visits a feeder at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Image: Haley Jackson / Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

“Yawarakai” by Eric Bennett, United States
Nagano, Japan
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Eric Bennett

Blue (crab) Christmas

“Gracefully” by Joyce Bealer, United States
Patagonia, Argentina
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Joyce Bealer

The blue crabs that call the Chesapeake Bay home spend their winters in deeper parts of the bay. There, they burrow into the mud underwater and enter a dormant state.

“Dunes” by Marcin Zajac, Poland
Death Valley National Park, California
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Marcin Zajac

“This is not traditionally considered hibernation because unlike some mammals, crabs don’t undergo physiological changes that reduce their body temperature,” Smithsonian Environmental Research Center senior researcher Matt Ogburn tells Popular Science. “Nonetheless, they are still largely inactive and their metabolism slows down.”

“Fitz Roy and Cascades” by Joyce Bealer, United States
Patagonia, Argentina
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Joyce Bealer

The blue crabs will stay that way until water temperatures reach approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Cathedral” by Marcin Zajac, Poland
Studlagil Canyon, Iceland
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Marcin Zajac

Blue crabs, a keystone species in the Chesapeake Bay, spend their winters buried under the mud in the deepest part of the Bay, in a dormant state. Image: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

“Far and Away” by Dave Drost, United States
Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs “DAVE DROST 949 836 3376”

‘As solitary as an oyster’

Dennis Hualong Zhang, Armenia
Supercell
Location Details: New Mexico of USA
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Dennis Hualong Zhang

We’re not saying that oysters are lonely misers like Ebenezer Scrooge. These filter-feeders are actually very good for the planet. Oyster beds are important storm barriers and the bivalves help keep the water clean. In a single day, an oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water.

“Morning in Dolomites” by Martin Morávek, Czech Republic
Dolomites, Italy
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Martin Mor?vek

They get most of their food by filtering water through their bodies and grabbing nutrients like algae and plankton. However, those food sources dwindle up come winter.

“Incoming” by Shaun Pau, Hong Kong
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, Australia
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Shaun Pau

A restored oyster reef in a sanctuary in Harris Creek, part of the Choptank River in Maryland. Oysters close their shells and live off their glycogen stores from the summer to make it through the winter. Image: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Fisheries Conservation Lab.

“Ureshii” by Justin Leveillee, United States
Zion National Park, Utah, USA
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Justin Leveillee

“Oysters feed frantically in summer, when there’s lots of algae around to filter out of the water, “ says Ogburn. “This helps them store up glycogen that they burn to survive the winter.”

“Lady on the Plains” by Wenbin Xia, China
Socotra Island, Yemen
2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award – Top 101 Photographs Wenbin Xia

The post 22 breathtaking images from the 2025 Landscape Photographer of the Year awards appeared first on Popular Science.

Cozy up (safely) to an e-scooter’s lithium battery yule log

Laura Baisas — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:31:00 -0500

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is well known for getting their point across on social media. A seven-minute montage of mannequins succumbing to 4th of July firework injuries may be an unconventional way to warn about the dangers of recreational explosives—but try forgetting those images when lighting your next bottle rocket. In similar pyrotechnic fashion, the CPSC is warning everyone to take extra care during the holidays when it comes to all kinds of combustible, seasonally appropriate objects.

In winter, they will go dormant and survive on those stores of sugar, similar to what reptiles and amphibians rely on during brumation.

On December 22, the commission illustrated how some gifts are far more flammable than others with its 30-minute Escooter Lithium-Ion Battery Yule Log video. These rechargeable power sources are increasingly common, but their underlying internal chemical reactions also produce flammable gases that can easily burn for hours. They also require much more water to extinguish. A single EV car fire may need over 30,000 gallons to quench, but even smaller vehicles like e-scooters and hoverboards can be dangerous.

Yes, turtles do breathe through their butt

Turtles spend the winter underwater—where they breathe out of their butts. While it may seem a bit unusual to us mammals, breathing through their butt is an important survival strategy.

“It allows turtles like snapping turtles and painted turtles to remain frozen under the ice and still breathe under water,” says McDonald.

“If you’re shopping for an e-bike, e-scooter, or hoverboard this holiday season, make sure you buy it from a retailer you know and trust. Also, make sure you charge your battery safely,” the CPSC explained in its post. “Always follow the manufacturer instructions for charging your battery. Never charge your batteries overnight, [and] only use approved replacement batteries.”

This process is called cloacal respiration, where they exchange gasses through the tissues lining their cloaca—the end of their digestive tract. This allows them to stay submerged underwater for longer periods of time.

The post Butt breathing and 5 other ways animals stay warm in winter appeared first on Popular Science.

Lost in space: How ’digital twins’ saved NASA’s robots

Andrew Paul — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 08:02:00 -0500

A standard ballpoint pen will not write in space. Without gravity, the ink refuses to flow. This simple failure illustrates a profound headache in space exploration: tools designed for terrestrial use often become useless in a microgravity environment. Robots, for all their technological sophistication, are no exception.

Fire risks don’t only apply to the gifts under a tree, however. In some instances, the tree itself is a hazard. The difference between how flames spread in a dry holiday centerpiece versus a well-watered one is clear in the CPSC’s side-by-side comparison video posted on December 20th. A Christmas tree becomes a literal tinderbox when dry, igniting in a matter of seconds. While still a danger, a watered tree takes much longer to smolder before going up in flames.

Autonomous free-flying robots aboard the International Space Station (ISS) frequently lose their bearings. Without gravity to distinguish up from down, even precision sensors suffer from accumulating errors, causing the machines to drift. Until recently, astronauts sometimes had to intervene manually, interrupting their tightly scheduled work.

It’s all potentially lifesaving information to keep in mind—details that the CPSC manages to distill down into a simple, easy-to-remember metaphor: You wouldn’t gift your children an enchanted scorpion, so don’t gift them complicated and potentially dangerous presents.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has found a solution to this persistent problem through a collaboration with Professor Pyojin Kim and his team at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST). An expert in navigation technology, the science of enabling robots to determine their 3D position and orientation, Professor Kim has proposed an algorithm to significantly suppress these errors. By reducing the ’absolute rotation error’ to within about 1–2 degrees on average, the team has enabled robots to perform long-term missions without requiring human intervention.

Alright, maybe it’s not exactly a “simple” metaphor. But like the 4th of July PSA, it’s one that certainly sticks with you.

The post Cozy up (safely) to an e-scooter’s lithium battery yule log appeared first on Popular Science.

Ace Hardware has Craftsman power tools for clearance prices right now

Yook JiHun — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:16:04 -0500

Santa may not bring you the power tools you want this year. But, that’s OK. Ace Hardware has a ton of Craftsman power tools on very deep discount right now so you can play Santa for yourself. If you have a local Ace store, you can order online and go pick them up in person so you don’t have to wait for shipping. Grab what you want now before the deals sell out.

We spoke with Professor Kim to discuss how he adapted technology for the cosmos and the breakthrough that keeps NASA’s robots on track.

Editor’s picks

Saving space robots with digital twin navigation

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Craftsman V20 4Ah Starter Kit + Wet/Dry Vac — $99.00 (was $299.00)

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Craftsman

The International Space Station is a colossal orbital laboratory, roughly the size of a soccer field. It was built by connecting modules that were developed by different nations. Inside the Japanese Experiment Module ’Kibo’, a free-flying NASA robot named Astrobee is hard at work. Its mission is to take over routine chores, freeing astronauts to concentrate on research. With days scheduled to the minute, any time spent on maintenance is a costly distraction for the crew.

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In actual operation, however, Astrobee didn’t work as flawlessly as expected. It frequently lost its bearings, requiring astronauts to step in for recalibration. NASA engineers and Professor Kim’s team collaborated to find a way for the robot to operate reliably without supervision, so the astronauts could focus on their critical research.

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The root of the disorientation is the absence of distinct gravity. Terrestrial robots rely on an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to sense tilt and orientation relative to the gravity vector. Professor Kim points out that “Terrestrial navigation algorithms are designed based on gravity, making them difficult to apply directly in space where reference points are missing.“ As a result, tiny errors compound over time causing the robot to completely lose its sense of direction.

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Craftsman V20 4 Ah Lithium-Ion Battery — $59.00 (with Ace Rewards) (was $119.00)

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To counter this, the team turned to Visual-Based Navigation (VBN), enabling the robot to deduce its orientation by seeing its surroundings through cameras. At first, the team presumed that simply adopting established technology would be sufficient. They were wrong.

Craftsman

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The station’s interior is a chaotic jumble of cables, experimental rigs, and floating personal items. A view available one minute might be blocked by a drifting tablet the next. This unpredictability confounded standard navigation systems. “We thought we could apply Earth-based technology,“ recalls Professor Kim. “It did not perform reliably in the ISS environments.“

If you’re already in the V20 ecosystem, extra batteries are the least exciting upgrade—and the one you’ll appreciate most when you’re not waiting on a charger mid-project. This price requires Ace Rewards.

Unlike the cluttered reality of the International Space Station (left), the digital twin (right) is free of visual distractions. Image: KimPyoJin. GIST

The breakthrough came in the form of ’digital twins’, precise 3D replicas of the physical space. Using NASA’s blueprints, the team constructed a sanitized virtual model of the ISS, stripped of all transient clutter. The robot was programmed to cross-reference the messy real-time footage from its cameras with the pristine images generated from the digital twin.

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Craftsman V20 1/2 in. Impact Wrench Kit — $199.00 (was $269.99)

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Craftsman

Bears have attacked over 100 people in Japan since March

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Professor Kim explains, “The digital twin serves as a ground truth, enabling the robot to filter out visual noise and recalibrate its position.“

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With this corrected data, the robot interprets its environment as a collection of lines and planes. These extracted geometric features serve as a ’visual compass,’ providing an absolute directional reference. The system leverages the ’Manhattan World Assumption’, a principle positing that man-made environments consist primarily of orthogonal surfaces such as walls and floors meeting at right angles. The boxy modules of the ISS are an ideal testbed for this approach. By locking onto these structural geometries, the robot can triangulate its position with minimal error.

Great for lug nuts, stubborn bolts, and anything else that laughs at a regular ratchet. If you do your own tire rotations or basic car work, an impact wrench pays for itself in saved frustration pretty quickly.

The team achieved a ’drift-free’ navigation capability. Upon applying the new technology, the average rotational error was reduced to 1.43 degrees—a figure that does not increase over time. The robot no longer requires a human hand to guide it.

No Ace Rewards required

Professor Kim anticipates that this technology will be valuable on Earth, not just in space. It could serve as a guide for drones and robots in indoor environments where GPS signals cannot reach. The system relies on visual data to detect structural patterns, making it ideal for buildings filled with lines and planes. Professor Kim notes that “orientation techniques based on these structural features are applicable not only to space stations but also to typical urban settings.“

These deals should apply without logging in.

Insights from the NASA collaboration

Power tools

Ask Professor Kim why humanity should venture into orbit, and his answer is refreshingly blunt: “Because space now holds real economic and industrial value, showing commercial potential.“

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With SpaceX proving that space can be a business rather than just a frontier, a wave of startups has emerged, targeting everything from lunar mining to satellite assembly. Yet, NASA remains the silent partner behind this private-sector explosion. Its decades of accumulated technology and talent form the bedrock upon which these new enterprises are built.

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It was this ecosystem that drew Professor Kim, originally a drone specialist, into the fold. His journey began with an internship at the NASA Ames Research Center during his doctoral studies. The center was then in the thick of developing Astrobee. To mimic microgravity, researchers floated the robot on air-bearing tables using carbon dioxide jets, manipulating the lighting to rigorously test its ability to locate itself.

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Professor Kim Pyo Jin of GIST collaborated with NASA to develop navigation technology for Astrobee, the autonomous free-flying robot aboard the International Space Station. Image: Popular Science Korea

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This research was a natural fit for Professor Kim’s expertise. His time at the agency revealed that terrestrial drones and space robots share the same theoretical foundation, despite their vastly different environments. The logic behind mapping an environment and determining location is universal, differing in its application.

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The connections made then have lasted nearly a decade, evolving into the current joint research. Kim expressed his gratitude: “This research would have been impossible without the help of my mentor at the time, Dr. Brian Coltin, my NASA colleagues, my current co-researcher Dr. Ryan Soussan, and Dr. Terry Fong, who provided the opportunities for the internship and joint research.“

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Professor Kim was particularly struck by the agency’s attitude toward failure. During his time there, he witnessed NASA pursuing bold experiments, backed by substantial budgets and exceptional talent. “Because only successful projects are publicized, it appears as though they never fail,“ Professor Kim said. “But behind every public triumph lie dozens of quiet failures.“ He notes the agency’s strength lies in its willingness to endure those setbacks to achieve a single breakthrough.

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This focus on real impact shaped their assessment standards as well. Beyond conventional academic metrics, NASA placed particular emphasis on the real-world impact and practical significance of the research. While it is common practice to submit two papers upon completing a Ph.D, some researchers submitted only one, or opted to share their results on preprint servers like arXiv rather than in formal journals.

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“Despite its conservative nature as a government agency, NASA is surprisingly open in its approach to research,“ Kim recalled. “I was impressed by the culture of valuing the intrinsic value and contribution of the research over mere outcomes.“

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Sustained investment in science has paved the way for a vast industrial infrastructure and countless space startups led by NASA alumni. Professor Kim points to the robust U.S. ecosystem of manufacturers specializing in ’space-grade’ components capable of withstanding extreme conditions. It has created a virtuous cycle where government investment nurtures talent and technology, fueling a wave of startups that drive the private sector.

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For those aspiring to join the agency, Professor Kim offers advice grounded in realism.

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“I want to give you some realistic advice. The researchers I met at NASA were all from the world’s top universities. It may sound cliché, but you must excel at mathematics and your studies in general. While it is good to dream big, making that dream a reality requires overwhelming competence. The door to the global stage is always open. If you work hard to build your skills, the opportunity will surely follow.“

Batteries & power

This article was produced as part of the NASA Impact Series by Popular Science Korea.

The post Lost in space: How ’digital twins’ saved NASA’s robots appeared first on Popular Science.

How to recover your deleted files

David Nield — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0500

Sinking feelings don’t come much worse than when you think you delete something you really need. Many of us now have files synced to the cloud from our phones and laptops, but sometimes data can disappear from there too—maybe through a click of the wrong button or a swipe across the wrong menu option.

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If this happens to you, don’t lose hope–most cloud storage services come with a deleted file restore function that’s similar to the Recycle Bin on Windows and the Trash folder on macOS.

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It means that any files that you delete, deliberately or not, can be recovered without too much fuss. You just need to recognize your mistake quickly. We’ll take you through your options for when files in the cloud get deleted in error, and how you can bring them back.

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How cloud file sync typically works

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Most cloud services, including Google Drive and iCloud, keep up a two-way sync between the cloud and your devices. That means if you add, modify, or delete a file on your phone, the same changes get copied to your cloud storage, and vice versa. It means backups are instant and automatic, but it can lead to issues where files disappear unexpectedly.

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It also means that if files and folders are accidentally erased in one location, they’re also erased in another, which rather defeats the point of having a cloud backup in the first place. Thankfully, the redundancy features we’ve outlined below can help you get your data back after it’s been wiped from the cloud.

Shop, cleanup & lighting

Files can be uploaded manually to the cloud as well as synced. Screenshot: Google

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While two-way sync is usually the default setting, it doesn’t always have to be. You can upload files separately to your cloud storage. With iCloud Drive on the web, for example, click the upload button above the file list (the arrow pointing to a cloud) to pick a file from your computer—this will stay in the cloud no matter what happens to the local copy.

Tool sets, sockets & bits

It’s the same with Google Drive on the web. In any folder you can click New and then File upload or Folder upload to copy something from your computer, with no two-way sync attached. Hopefully that should make everything clearer when it comes to how files are moved around and handled locally and in the cloud, so we can now turn our attention to recovering files.

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Recovering Google Drive files

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If you’ve deleted a file you want to get back in Google Drive, whether or not the deletion was triggered from a sync with your devices, you’ve got 30 days to bring them back. After that time, they’ll be gone from Google Drive forever—unless you’ve got them backed up somewhere else, you won’t be able to get them back.

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If you’re on the web, click the Trash link in the left-hand menu bar to see everything that’s been deleted recently: You can sort through the files using the filters at the top, but you can’t open a file unless you restore it first. These files will be automatically deleted after 30 days, but you can clear them out immediately en masse by clicking the Empty trash button in the top right corner.

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Recovering files from Google Drive on Android. Screenshot: Google

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To restore a file, right-click on it and choose Restore (rather than Delete forever). To restore multiple files, use the Shift key or the Ctrl/Cmd (Windows/macOS) key to select all the files you want to bring back, then right-click on them. The files will be returned to the same folders in your Google Drive that they were deleted from.

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The process is pretty similar if you’re using the Google Drive apps for Android or iOS. Tap the top left menu button (three horizontal lines), then Trash, to see recently deleted files: You can then tap the three dots next to an individual file and pick Restore to bring it back. You can also press and hold on the list to select multiple files, then tap the three dots (top right) to find the Restore option.

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Recovering Apple iCloud files

Hand tools & accessories

Everything works in a similar way over on the iCloud cloud storage service run by Apple. There’s a 30-day window during which you can restore files that you’ve erased, and after which they’re gone forever—so past that point you’ll either have to retrieve them from somewhere else or do without them.

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The easiest place to do this is actually iCloud on the web. From the opening screen, head down the page and click on the Data Recovery section—this leads you to a screen where you can access files, contacts, bookmarks, and calendars that have been recently erased across your Apple devices.

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Recovering files from iCloud on an iPhone. Screenshot: Apple

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Follow the Restore Files link, and you can bring back some or all of your recently deleted files: Either select them individually, or use the Select All link to select everything on screen. At the bottom of the dialog box you’ll be met with two options: Delete the files permanently, or restore them to their original place in iCloud.

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The same feature is available in the Files app on your iPhone. Tap Browse, then Recently Deleted: You can either press and hold on individual files to find the Recover and Delete Now options, or tap the three dots (top right) then choose Select to pick out multiple files at once. The delete and restore options then show up at the bottom of the screen.

The post How to recover your deleted files appeared first on Popular Science.

Bears in Italy inbreed more, but are less aggressive

Margherita Bassi — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 10:18:00 -0500

While bear attacks seem to have become a significant problem in Japan—with the country going as far as deploying the army—new research reveals that an Italian bear species has evolved to be less aggressive.

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Apennine brown bears (Ursus arctos marsicanus) have been in close contact with humans for generations. Their small, endangered population exists only in central Italy, and previous research suggests that this population split off from other European brown bears 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. As a result, they have been thoroughly isolated from other bears since the days of the Roman Empire. Compared to European, North American, and Asian brown bears, Apennine brown bears have distinctive facial and head traits, smaller bodies, and are less aggressive.

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“One major cause of decline and isolation,” Andrea Benazzo, a biologist at the University of Ferrara, said in a statement, “was probably forest clearance associated with the spread of agriculture and increasing human population density in Central Italy.”

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Japan deploys army to fight bears

Robotic ‘Super Monster Wolves’ are guarding Japanese towns against bears

Storage & organization

Benazzo is lead author of a study recently published in Molecular Biology and Evolution. He and his colleagues from the University of Ferrara used genomic analysis to investigate how humans have recently changed the Apennine brown bear’s evolution. They found, unsurprisingly, that Apennine brown bears exhibited less genomic diversity and greater inbreeding than other brown bears due to their isolation.

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“More interestingly, however,” added Giulia Fabbri, a study co-author and molecular biologist , “we showed that Apennine brown bears also possess selective signatures at [the] genes associated with reduced aggressiveness.”

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Their results indicate that the selection of behavior-related genetic variants—probably induced by humans eliminating bears with greater aggression—promoted a significantly less aggressive population of bears. They also suggest what might seem like a paradox.

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“The general implications of our findings are clear,” said study co-author and geneticist Giorgio Bertorelle, “human-wildlife interactions are often dangerous for the survival of a species, but may also favor the evolution of traits that reduce conflict,” he added. “This means that even populations that have been heavily and negatively affected by human activities may harbor genetic variants that should not be diluted.”

The post Bears in Italy inbreed more, but are less aggressive appeared first on Popular Science.

Amazon is blowing out Razer gaming gear including keyboards, mice, headsets, and chairs

Stan Horaczek — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:02:54 -0500

Gaming isn’t fun if your setup can’t keep up with your skills. Right now, Amazon has a ton of Razer gear, including chairs, mice, headsets, microphones, and more. If you’re planning on spending extended parts of your holiday break playing games, get yourself an upgrade and save some money at the same time.

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Editor’s picks

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Razer Barracuda Wireless Gaming & Mobile Headset (Black) is $69.99 (56% off)

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Craftsman 16 in. Classic Tool Box $12.98 (was $13.99)

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This one makes sense if you bounce between a console/PC and your phone. The headphones perform well for music listening, but the advanced microphone makes in-game communication clear.

Outdoor & yard

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Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset (Black) is $104.99 (48% off)

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Comfort matters for long sessions, but clarity matters every single minute. If you’re constantly repeating yourself on Discord or party chat, a better headset is the fastest fix — and this discount is big enough to bring it near impulse purchase territory.

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A chair upgrade is not exciting until your back stops complaining. The breathable mesh vibe is especially clutch if you run hot, and the ergonomic shape will really come in clutch after hours of playing.

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Headsets

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Keyboards and keypads

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Hand tools & accessories

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Storage & organization

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The post Ace Hardware has Craftsman power tools for clearance prices right now appeared first on Popular Science.

Ditch the antibacterial soap this cold and flu season

Alisha McDarris — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0500

The most dreaded time of year rolls around every winter like clockwork: cold and flu season. The time when hand washing increases, sanitizing surfaces intensifies, and old and young schedule regular seasonal vaccines in an attempt to prevent sickness from descending on their households. But there’s one piece of ammunition you should absolutely skip this season—and all year-round—because it does more harm than good: antibacterial hand soap.

Mice

While hand washing is vitally important to curb the spread of disease, soap advertised as antibacterial not only doesn’t protect you better from disease, it has far-reaching and possibly harmful effects on your health and the environment. Here’s why to ditch it and use plain soap instead.

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How does soap even work?

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Regular soap can come in many forms: foaming liquid, bars, and gels. It is little more than a combination of fat or oil, alkaline substances (lye), and water. When you wash your hands with it, it loosens the bond microbes (of which viruses and bacteria are a subset) have made with your skin, which allows water to easily wash them away down the drain.

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Antibacterial soap has a similar formula, but with the addition of one or more of three biocide chemicals: benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, and chloroxylenol. These were not part of the list of 19 antiseptics the FDA banned in consumer wash products in 2016, but they have been flagged as potentially dangerous. The FDA cited the importance of further study to “fill safety and efficacy data gaps,” but rule-making has been deferred for the last nine years.

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These antimicrobial chemicals kill microbes instead of simply scrubbing them away. But they don’t differentiate between good and bad bacteria; they kill whatever is most susceptible.

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However, “you don’t need to kill the bacteria, you just need to remove the bacteria,” says Rebecca Fuoco, director of science communications at the Green Science Policy Institute.

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Antibacterial soap can also disrupt helpful bacteria on your skin that support healthy pH, barrier function, and pathogen defense, she explains. Chemical residues can also linger on skin, extending the disruptive biocide effect beyond the act of washing.

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With plain soap, the surviving microbes and new arrivals from the environment can quickly recolonize, which helps keep the skin microbiome healthy, Fuoco states.

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Bacteria aren’t always the enemy

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Some of those good bacteria also prevent colonization of bad. Only a small fraction cause disease; most are biologically important for digestion, immunity and healthy ecosystems. Many help keep gut and skin microbiomes functioning properly, which helps prevent infections naturally.

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“When that balance is repeatedly disrupted by killing off large portions of these microbial communities, their protective functions can break down and leave us more vulnerable to infection,” Fuoco says.

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That’s a problem for internal biological systems, but also industrial ones. Many bacteria are used in wastewater treatment systems nationwide to help convert ammonia into nitrogen. When overuse of antibacterial soap runs down drains in large quantities, it has the potential to shut down entire plants.

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In San Luis Obispo, California, this likely happened in September of 2020 when the vital process of nitrification—which occurs when bacteria convert toxic ammonia into nitrate, a form of nitrogen readily usable by plants—came to a screeching halt. It only recovered after treatment with expensive anti-antibacterial agents.

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After plenty of tests, the most likely culprit became clear: college students returning to school and overloading the wastewater system with quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), a class of chemicals used in disinfectants, soaps, wipes and sprays.

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The harmful health impacts of antibacterial products

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Scientists are just starting to understand the extent to which these products are linked to human disease, but the downsides are pervasive, and not just when people are first exposed. When soaps, wipes and sprays get washed down the drain, the QACs enter waste treatment systems.

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“Because QACs are not fully removed by wastewater treatment and tend to concentrate in sludge that is applied to land, they can enter rivers and other waters that recharge groundwater or supply drinking water and recycled water systems,” Fuoco describes. QACs were recently detected in New York state drinking water.

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“We’re using it so much that it’s coming back to us,” Fuoco says. In fact, researchers measured QACs in people’s blood before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in a paper published in 2021, levels increased by 77 percent, indicating bioaccumulation is significant.

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People also absorb QACs through skin contact, inhaling aerosol from sprays or inadvertently ingesting contaminated house dust. Children may be especially susceptible thanks to their close contact with floors and treated surfaces and hand-to-mouth behaviors, Fuoco notes. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns against using antimicrobial products around children.

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Studies show correlations between antibacterial products and asthma and COPD in healthcare workers who are frequently exposed to these products in their workplace. Many types of contact can lead to ulcerative skin lesions and contact dermatitis in humans, and rodent studies have linked it to reduced fertility and neurodevelopment, even colitis-associated colon cancer in mice.

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Overuse of antibacterial products can also accelerate antimicrobial resistance, leading to superbugs that are immune to the biocides and critical lifesaving antibiotics, Fuoco warns. Antimicrobial resistance is already a global crisis, with resistant infections spreading faster than the development of new antibiotics.

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“We don’t know how much of this crisis is driven by antibiotic versus biocide overuse. The contribution of biocides like QACs has largely been overlooked by global authorities, but we [scientists who study these chemicals] are hoping that will change soon,” Fuoco says. The World Health Organization believes antibiotic-resistant disease could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050 if nothing is done to curb use; currently, there are about 700,000 per year.

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Overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture has long been identified as a driver of the global antimicrobial resistance crisis, Fuoco says, but there is growing evidence that antibacterial product use is contributing, too.

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Bad for the environment

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When products containing QACs are washed down the drain, the chemicals are often released into aquatic environments. Since they are toxic to some fish and many invertebrates, the backbone of the aquatic food web, ecosystem balances can be thrown out of whack.

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QACs also accumulate in the soil and on sludge from wastewater treatment plants that is often spread on agricultural products as fertilizer. These chemicals, like PFAS, are persistent, meaning they can be found in soil and other environments years after they are no longer in use.

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Antibacterial soaps are not more effective

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Independent studies show (and the FDA agrees) that there’s no meaningful health benefit to choosing antibacterial hand soap over plain soap and water when it comes to eliminating microbes on hands and preventing illness. That includes E.coli, viruses, and the “bad” bacteria.There is little evidence that disinfecting wipes, sprays, and laundry sanitizer in homes provides added health benefits beyond regular cleaning and proper laundering, either, Fuoco says.

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Additionally, most antibacterial products have to be left wet on surfaces—including hands—for several minutes in order to be as effective as they claim. Most consumers don’t follow those instructions, so products aren’t nearly as effective as they may think.

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What to look out for

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According to Fuoco and many other scientists, the best and safest choice is to avoid antibacterial and antimicrobial products altogether, particularly those containing QACs or chloroxylenol. Hand washes marketed as antibacterial must list their active antiseptic ingredients. So on labels, look for terms like “antibacterial” or “antiseptic” and check ingredient labels for the ingredients benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, and chloroxylenol.

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When wiping down surfaces in your home or office, opt for plain soap and water instead of disinfectant wipes and sprays. “It’s usually unnecessary to disinfect surfaces in your household,” Fuoco states. The exception is when there’s been blood, fecal matter, or vomit from a sick person on surfaces. Other options like diluted bleach, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol-based products, or citric-acid-based disinfectants can do the job while generally posing fewer health and environmental concerns, she continues.

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So, ditch the antibacterial products altogether and fight cold and flu season the old-fashioned way: with plain soap and water. You’ll fare just as well and leave your long-term health and that of the environment better for it.

The post Ditch the antibacterial soap this cold and flu season appeared first on Popular Science.

Why do we have five fingers and toes?

Stan Horaczek — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:01:00 -0500

The popular nursery rhyme This Little Piggy is an early childhood memory for many of us. It’s a poem that involves five little piggies, each corresponding to one of our fingers or toes. Kids love it, but if you pause to think, this simple rhyme raises a curious question: Why do humans have five digits on each of our four limbs in the first place?

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The simple answer is it’s just how we evolved, but determining where these fingers came from and how is a different story. “When you’re talking about why we have five—not six or not four—fingers and toes, I think that’s quite a difficult question,” says Tetsuya Nakamura, an associate professor at Rutgers University’s department of genetics. To find the answer, we need to go back millions of years.

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It all starts with a common ancestor

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All tetrapods, a group that include amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, derive from a common fish ancestor. “If you ask, ‘where did we come from?’ Our common ancestor was fish,” says Nakamura.

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Fish initially developed limbs to walk on land during Earth’s Devonian Period, which occurred approximately 360 million years ago. A relatively short time later (evolutionarily speaking), the first four-limbed creatures—which had up to eight digits on each extremity—shed their extra digits. From then on out, five fingers and five toes became a standard feature for the world’s inaugural tetrapods.

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This extinct Devonian fishlike aquatic animal, Tiktaalik roseae, was one of the first vertebrates on land. Image: DepositPhotos

Mousepads

That five-digit plan soon became encoded in our early ancestors’ Hox genes, a set of master control genes that act as a genetic blueprint, assuring that body parts, organs, and limbs end up in their correct locations. Ever since, those Hox genes have determined that all our common ancestors have evolved from that five-digit blueprint.

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Of course, not every living vertebrate has five fingers and toes, but more than 99% of tetrapods (all land species with vertebrae) share the same five-fingered bone structure. This includes sea lions, whales, and seals, which have five finger-like protrusions hidden inside their flippers, and bats, born with webbed fingers that form the structure of their wings. Even horse and bird embryos briefly start off with five digits before redeveloping into hoofs or (in the case of avians) a lesser number of toes.

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Only one in 500 to 1,000 humans are born with extra fingers or toes. This birth difference is known as polydactyly, and is linked to an overexpressive gene known as sonic hedgehog (you read that correctly!).

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Tracing it back to fish

The best mechanical keyboards, tested and reviewed

Still, it wasn’t until 2016 that a group of scientists from the University of Chicago determined how a fish’s fin rays (which are the bony skeletal elements that provide structure, flexibility, and added support for fish fins) eventually evolved into fingers and toes. Nakamura was a member of the team.

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The scientists used tiny, ray-finned fishes like the zebrafish, medaka, and other tropical fish that you often find in home aquariums for their study. They then utilized CRISPR-Cas, a gene-editing technique that allowed them to alter fishes’ DNA, to delete Hox genes required for limb development.

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From there, the scientists compared embryonic cells in these mutant fish to mice as they grew and developed, eventually determining a genetic connection between the two. “We found that our fingers and fish fin rays use the same Hox genes and their functions to develop,” says Nakamura. In other words, fish fin rays and our fingers derive from the same genetic toolkit.

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The post Amazon is blowing out Razer gaming gear including keyboards, mice, headsets, and chairs appeared first on Popular Science.

Dive into 2025’s most stunning deep-sea wildlife encounters

Andrew Paul — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:54:00 -0500

There are plenty of annual recap lists circulating around this time of year, but few of them involve the amount of work put in by California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). Over the past year, researchers guided remotely operated vehicles more than 3,000 feet down to survey the vast biodiversity within some of the oceans’ deepest and darkest regions. The data and footage collected during these trips will help experts fill in the gaps towards understanding the planet’s hardest-to-reach ecosystems.

This massive humpback whale skeleton shows the five finger-like bones hidden inside the massive animals’ flippers. Image: DepositPhotos

To celebrate the past 12 months of discoveries, MBARI released a video highlighting some of 2025’s most stunning, strange, and mysterious creature sightings. The glimpses of sea sponges, translucent squid, jet-black fish, and even “longhorn” crustaceans were collected using their underwater robots’ ultra high-definition 4K cameras—some of which were spotted for the very first time.

What it all means

While their research pinned down a direct correlation between the fin rays of fish and the digits of tetrapods, there’s still a lot to learn about how humans developed fingers and toes. “We found that our fingers probably evolved from fin rays, despite the fact that they’re very different structures,” says Nakamura.

“Many questions remain,” he says. “For example, how did they transform to fingers? And what kind of genes and molecules regulated this transformation?” With better gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9, a more precise kind of CRISPR-Cas system, appearing on the scene over the last decade, Nakamura believes that answers may come sooner than later.

“Our observations of life in the deep contain a trove of important information about ocean health, but more importantly, help connect audiences with our deep-sea neighbors and inspire the next generation of ocean explorers,” MBARI explained in the video’s accompanying description. “Together, we can find ways to safeguard the future health of marine ecosystems. We invite everyone to join us on a journey of exploration, science, and stewardship.”

Other commonalities

Although it doesn’t make an appearance in the highlight video, MBARI showcased another remarkable species earlier this month. During a recent expedition into Monterey Bay, oceanographers spotted an extremely rare seven-armed octopus (Haliphron atlanticus). The run-in marked MBARI’s fourth encounter with the species in the organization’s nearly 40 years of existence.

The post Dive into 2025’s most stunning deep-sea wildlife encounters appeared first on Popular Science.

Last-minute holiday gift guide: Over 30 editor-approved gadgets for everyone on your list

Laura Kiniry — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:50:22 -0500

Some people get their holiday shopping done on a responsible schedule. They budget, strategize, and stay organized for a stress-free season. Then there’s the rest of us. Last-minute holiday shopping is a time-honored tradition, and we’re here to help make it a lot easier. So this year, skip the gift cards and get everyone on your list gear they actually want and/or can really use.

According to Nakamura, tetrapods and fish are genetically similar in other ways as well. For example, the hind limbs of land vertebrates evolved from the pelvic fins of ancestral lobbed-fin fish, while shoulder girdles (the bony structure that forms the foundation of our shoulders) developed from fish gill arches, which are the skeletal loops that support a fish’s gills for breathing and feeding.

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Anker Prime Power Bank (20K, 220W)

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“Although fish don’t have necks,” says Nakamura, “somehow during evolution, humans separated the skull bone from the shoulder girdle, creating the neck space.” This allowed us to move our heads independently from our bodies for things like hunting and scanning the horizon.

Portable chargers don’t typically have the electrical oomph needed to keep up with a powerful laptop. This burly bank, however, can output up to 220W spread across three USB ports (two USB-C and one USB-A). It supports fast charging up to 140W, which is plenty of power, even for souped-up MacBook Pros and portable gaming rigs. The built-in display and companion app let you track performance and temperature as you charge, so you can ensure things are going smoothly.

It’s what’s known as an “evolutionary innovation,” a new trait or feature that allows organisms to further function and adapt, much like how we came to have fingers and toes. “We took the structures that existed in fish fins,” says Nakamura, “and our bodies changed their development over time to finger-like tissues that are more suitable for land.”

It’s just a number

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As to why we have five fingers and five toes? That remains inconclusive, but the number sure does make for a good nursery rhyme.

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In Ask Us Anything, Popular Science answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions, from the everyday things you’ve always wondered to the bizarre things you never thought to ask. Have something you’ve always wanted to know? Ask us.

The post Why do we have five fingers and toes? appeared first on Popular Science.

Ultimate procrastinator’s gift guide: 62 digital and subscription gifts you can buy instantly from your phone

Stan Horaczek — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 21:09:31 -0500

OK, so you waited too long to order a present online. You don’t want to brave the crowds. And you do’t want to disappoint everyone during the holidays. We got you. This list contains more than 60 digital and subscriptions gifts that are more personal and interesting than a boring vanilla gift card. So, while Christmas Vacation may have given jelly of the month clubs a bad name, there are some great subscriptions out there taht anyone would love to receive.

The best gifts are things someone needs, but would never buy for themselves. This compact little box is an essential piece of emergency gear for anyone with a car. The built-in compressor can top off the air in a tire, while the integrated LED can light the way in the dark. The built-in battery can charge smartphones and other devices, but more importantly, it’s powerful enough to jump start the car itself. Batteries get finicky, especially in winter, which makes a jump starter a no-brainer for any roadside emergency kit. Get one for everyone you know and smile knowing that they’re safer for it.

Editor’s picks

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Bokksu (Snack Box Subscription) — Every month, this subscription box offers more than 20 snacks otherwise exclusive to Japan.

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CuriosityStream — A reliable gift for curious people: documentaries that feel smarter than scrolling.

This 14-inch display has a glare-resistant coating that makes it suitable for just about any spot in the house. It has 32GB built-in storage, but it’s expandable all the way up to 128GB. It’s a particularly great gift because you can set up the WiFi connection in advance so your recipient can open it and start gawking at the pretty pictures. A companion app allows several users to add photos remotely so the content always stays fresh.

MasterClass (Gift) — Big-name instructors, slick production, and a fast way to spark a new hobby.

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Airthings View Plus indoor air-quality monitor

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Brilliant (Subscription) — Interactive learning that makes math and science feel like puzzles, not homework.

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Trade Coffee (Gift Subscription) — A monthly upgrade to their mornings, with beans matched to taste.

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DoorDash (Gift Card) — The most practical gift on the list: dinner without dishes.

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Food subscriptions and delivery

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HelloFresh (Gift Cards) — Meal kits that remove planning while still letting them cook.
Purple Carrot (Meal Kits) — Plant-based meal kits that make weeknights easier.
Home Chef (Gift Cards) — Comfort-forward meal kits with lots of options.
CookUnity (Gift Cards) — Chef-made meals delivered for busy people who still want real food.
Daily Harvest (Digital Gift Card) — Freezer-friendly meals and smoothies for quick, decent eating.
Sakara Life (Digital Gift Card) — A premium wellness-food pick for the health-focused friend.
DoorDash (Gift Cards) — Dinner coverage when life gets hectic.
Uber Eats / Uber (Gift Cards) — Useful for food delivery and rides in one place.
Instacart (Gift Cards) — Groceries delivered, which is a real quality-of-life upgrade.
ButcherBox (eGift Cards) — High-quality meat delivery for home cooks and grill people.

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Coffee and snack subscriptions

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Trade Coffee (Gift Subscriptions) — A better coffee routine delivered on repeat.
Goldbelly (Gift Cards) — Regional food shipped to their door, great for long-distance comfort cravings.
Atlas Coffee Club (Gift Subscription) — Coffee that keeps things interesting month to month.
Murray’s Cheese (Digital Gift Cards) — A direct line to excellent cheese and very good snacking.
MistoBox (Coffee Gift Subscription) — Curated coffee for people who like variety but want quality control.
Bean Box (Coffee of the Month Club) — A steady stream of better beans than most grocery aisles.
Bokksu (Digital Gift Card) — Japanese snacks with enough variety to feel like a monthly surprise.

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Science, documentaries, and cinephile streaming

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CuriosityStream (Gift) — Smart docs across science, history, tech, and nature.
Nebula (Creator Streaming) — A streaming home for creator-led series and deep dives.
The Great Courses Plus (Gift) — Lecture-series bliss for people who love going deep on a topic.
The Criterion Channel (Gift) — For the film nerd: classics, restorations, and curated collections.

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Audio and reading

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Audible (Gift Membership) — Audiobooks plus a monthly credit, ideal for commutes and errands.
Libro.fm (Gift Membership) — Audiobooks with a support-local-bookstores angle.
Blinkist (Subscription) — Nonfiction summaries for people who want the core ideas fast.
Readwise (Gift) — Saves and resurfaces highlights so reading actually turns into retained knowledge.
Instapaper Premium — A calmer way to save long reads and actually get to them later.
Kindle Unlimited — A lot of books for people who burn through titles quickly.
Pocket Premium — Offline-friendly reading and a better system for your saved links.
Calm (Gift) — Sleep help, meditations, and soundscapes for anyone who needs to unwind.

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Learning and skills

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MasterClass (Gift) — Polished instruction that can kickstart a new interest fast.
Skillshare (Gift Membership) — Creative and practical classes that are easy to sample and stick with.
Pluralsight (Gift) — Career-boosting training in IT, security, dev, data, and cloud.
Coursera Plus — A huge course catalog for structured learning across topics.
Codecademy Pro — Guided coding paths with practical projects.
DataCamp (Subscription) — Data skills in Python, SQL, and analytics, taught in small, steady steps.
O’Reilly Online Learning — A deep library of tech books and courses for builders and problem-solvers.
Rosetta Stone (Language Learning) — A classic pick for anyone planning travel or learning for work.

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Software and digital tools

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Setapp (App Bundle) — One subscription for a large library of useful Mac and iOS apps.
Descript (Subscription) — A friendly way to edit audio and video, especially for podcast and creator projects.
Notion (Subscription) — Notes, docs, and organization tools for people who love systems.
Todoist (Pro) — A clean task manager that helps people stay on top of a busy life.
Fantastical / Flexibits Premium — Better scheduling and calendar tools for power users.
YNAB (You Need A Budget) Gift — A practical gift that helps people build better money habits.
1Password (Gift Cards) — A password manager that reduces account chaos and improves security.
Proton (Privacy Tools) — Privacy-focused email and related services for people who care about data control.
JetBrains (Developer Tools) — Professional IDEs for coding and building projects faster.

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Privacy, backup, and account protection

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Bitwarden Premium — Password manager upgrades for people who want strong security without fuss.
NordVPN (Retail Codes) — Extra privacy for travel, public Wi-Fi, and everyday browsing.
Backblaze Personal Backup — Automatic backups that can save someone from a laptop disaster.

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Outdoors, maps, and planning

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AllTrails+ (Gift) — Offline maps, better trail intel, and fewer navigation mistakes.

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Fitness, recovery, and wellness

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ClassPass (Gift Cards) — Lets them try different workouts without committing to one studio.
WHOOP (Gift) — A recovery-first wearable membership for data-minded athletes.
Oura (Gift Cards) — A strong sleep and recovery gift for people trying to feel better day to day.
Myprotein (Supplements and Nutrition) — Protein and workout fuel for gym regulars.
Courier Socks (Gift Card) — A simple way to upgrade an everyday essential.

The post Ultimate procrastinator’s gift guide: 62 digital and subscription gifts you can buy instantly from your phone appeared first on Popular Science.

How to spend your remaining FSA balance before it expires

Heather Kuldell-Ware — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:25:05 -0500

It’s been a rough stretch for many budgets, thanks to tariffs and rising grocery bills. If you stashed money this year in a Flexible Spending Account (aka a Flexible Spending Arrangement) and managed to dodge major medical expenses, now’s the time to put those hard-earned, pre-tax dollars to work for you and stock up for 2026 before your plan’s deadline.

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While FSAs are best known for covering copays and over-the-counter basics—like anti-inflammatories and cold & flu meds, first-aid and emergency kits, and vision and eye-care—you may also be able to put that balance toward high-tech health wearables, mobility and recovery gear, or even certain specialty mattresses and e-bike setups with a doctor’s note. You’ve already used the funds to lower this year’s tax liability; now let them enhance next year’s life.

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When FSA funds expire, and how the deadline works

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A health FSA is an employer-sponsored benefit that lets you set aside part of each paycheck—up to $3,300 for 2025—into an account for out-of-pocket medical costs. You decide whether to opt in when you start a job or during annual open enrollment or other qualifying life events, and then determine how much to contribute from each paycheck. Think of it as a single-year health nest egg you can use for deductibles, copayments, prescriptions, and a range of eligible medical expenses.

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Traditionally, you submit a claim to your FSA administrator with proof of what you bought and confirmation that insurance didn’t cover it. Many plans now offer a debit card you can swipe like a checking account, but it’s still smart to save your receipts in case your plan—or the IRS—asks for documentation later.

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An FSA can be a powerful budgeting tool for people with predictable, recurring medical costs, such as a payment plan for braces, monthly insulin refills, or a new annual supply of contact lenses. But if your FSA is more of a “just in case” cushion, it’s easy to reach the end of the year with a surprising amount of money sitting there—and a countdown to spend it.

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Unlike Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), FSAs require you to spend your balance by December 31 or you forfeit the funds. Some employers offer a small rollover—up to $660—or a grace period of an extra month or two to use the remaining funds. For your plan’s exact rules, check with your employer.

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Ladies and gentlemen of the class of ’99: Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. karrastock.gmail.com/depositphotos

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What you can buy with FSA money

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What’s covered by FSA reimbursement is determined by the IRS and must be a “qualified medical expense.” In the IRS docs, that’s defined as “costs related to the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or expenses that affect the structure or function of the body.” First-aid supplies and over-the-counter meds may come to mind first, but it can also include things like:

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Broad-spectrum sunscreens (SPF 15+), including lip balms and mineral formulas
Menstrual care products (tampons, pads, cups, liners)
Contraceptives and condoms
Acne treatments (benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and some prescription-strength topicals)
At-home diagnostic tests (COVID-19, flu, UTI, pregnancy, ovulation)
Baby health gear like digital thermometers, nasal aspirators, and infant sunscreen
Hot/cold therapy packs and reusable compresses
Orthotic insoles and support braces for feet, knees, or wrists
Medical-grade skincare (eczema creams, scar treatments)
Smoking cessation products (nicotine gum, patches, lozenges)

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Your FSA provider is ultimately the referee here. If you’re hoping to get reimbursed for something that isn’t clearly listed as an eligible expense, you may need a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN)—essentially a note from your doctor explaining why you need it for a specific condition. With an LMN, some plans will cover things like vitamins, exercise equipment or fitness trackers, specialty pillows or mattresses, and even massage guns, as long as they’re prescribed to treat a documented medical issue and your plan signs off.

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Where can I buy FSA-eligible items online?

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It’s easy to find FSA-eligible items online; many vendors clearly label FSA and HSA items, and large retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and CVS have dedicated portals.

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Best FSA-eligible gear to stock up on right now

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Skincare and sun protection

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Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen – SPF 40 – Clear & Invisible Face Sunscreen + Broad Spectrum + Makeup-Gripping Primer – 1.7 fl oz

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Supergoop!

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This staff favorite is one of the few sunscreens that some of us will put on our faces. It goes on invisible—no smeary white to rub in—and is virtually weightless. How does a liquid leave a powdery feel? We’re not sure about the chemistry, but we know it happens. And if you’re outdoorsy, it’s not just important during sunny summer, so it’s a perfect Add to Cart.

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Banana Boat Sport Ultra SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion, 12oz

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Banana Boat

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Need a bigger bottle to smear on the kids? This family size provides SPF 50 protection that resists sweat and water. But remember: You’re supposed to put a shot glass’s worth of sunscreen on each time you head out in the rays.

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At-home medical devices

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OMRON Platinum Blood Pressure Monitor for Home Use & Upper Arm Blood Pressure Cuff

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OMRON

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Blood pressure probably isn’t top of mind unless you know yours is too high or too low. Having a reliable monitor at home provides a convenient way to check your blood pressure more often than random clinical visits, which can help spot sudden changes or changing trends. Versions with arm cuffs, like this Omron Platinum model, tend to be more accurate than the wrist-worn kind. This model stores up to 100 readings for two users and syncs with the OMRON connect app to easily share reports with your doctor.

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Stelo Glucose Biosensor & App by Dexcom

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Dexcom

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Part of the promise of tech-infused health care is more personalized care. The cost of devices like at-home glucose monitors has come down enough that people can now see how different foods, workouts, and even sleep affect their blood sugar in real time. This particular device was created for people with Type 2 diabetes not using insulin, those with prediabetes, and health-conscious adults.

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First-aid kits and supplies

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BAND-AID Brand Travel Ready Portable Emergency First Aid Kit for Minor Wound Care

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Johnson & Johnson

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This compact first-aid kit is small and inexpensive enough to stash anywhere you tend to do everyday damage and suddenly need a bandage. Inside are 80 pieces of essential care—hand-cleaning wipes, extra-strength Tylenol, gauze, Neosporin, and more—all in a package that fits easily in a glove box, desk drawer, or carry-on bag.

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FriCARE Self-Adhesive Bandage Wrap, Medical Tape in First Aid Kit

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FriCARE

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We stash these self-adhesive rolls of tape in all sorts of places: first-aid kits, sports bags, most notably. They’re latex-free, great for sprains or just holding gauze or large bandages in place without using the kind of tape that feels like it’s going to rip your skin off when you remove it. It’s even useful for furry family members (animal or human).

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Vision and eye care

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Biotrue Hydration Plus Contact Lens Solution with Lens Case (Pack of 2)

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Biotrue

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Contact solutions do expire, but regular users often find they fly through these 10-ounce bottles faster than they expect. This two-pack of multipurpose cleaner also comes with a new contact case to replace your crusty one.

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ThinOptics Universal Pod Case + Rectangular Reading Glasses

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ThinOptics

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We know two things about readers: either you refuse to wear them, or you own a pair that’s never where you actually need it. ThinOptics solves that with ultra-slim specs that tuck into a case and attach to the back of your phone. They’re armless, resting on your nose like an old-timey pince-nez, and come in standard 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 magnifications.

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At-home testing kits

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iHealth COVID-19, Flu A&B 3-in-1 Antigen Rapid Test

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iHealth

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Is the coughing and sneezing some dust or something bigger? Stock up on these rapid 15-minute tests to get your first indications whether you have flu or COVID, and then plan out your next steps.

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Clearblue Early Detection Pregnancy Test, 5 Ct

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Clearblue

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Preggers? Not preggers? Whichever outcome you want, this early-detection test finds even low concentrations of the pregnancy hormone and features a wide tip for, uh, easier collection.

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Unexpected FSA-eligible products most people don’t know about

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Some of the more surprising gadgets and big-ticket buys aren’t “swipe your FSA card and walk away” purchases; they usually require you to pay in full and do a little extra after checkout. But if you’re not afraid of some paperwork, some cool splurges can help you improve your health. For many, brands partner with a program like Truemed, which has you fill out a health survey after purchase so a licensed provider can review your situation and, if you qualify, issue a Letter of Medical Necessity. Then you simply submit the letter plus your receipt (sometimes only for the amount above a “basic” version), and your FSA administrator processes repayment. Here are just a few examples of tech you might have thought was cool, but could also be FSA reimbursable (confirm with your insurance/doctor before any major purchase).

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Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarers (Gen 2)

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Ray-Ban

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Glasses are one of the most fun (or at least most functional) ways to burn through FSA funds—and if you wear prescription lenses, that can even include Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarers, aka AI glasses in disguise. They correct your vision and let you whisper questions to Meta AI (“What’s the currency conversion?” “Where’s the nearest coffee?”) while casually snapping photos and videos without doing the full phone-fumble. (This is a joy we’ve experienced first-hand on rocky ridges with the dog, where you need all your hands free but still want a picture of your furry friend against the horizon.)

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They’re also a great way to escape the tyranny of noise-canceling headphones: tiny speakers and mics aim sound at your ears so you can play music, get reminders, and still hear the real world happening around you. Plus, upcoming software updates will likely expand the capabilities, including their use as hearables (though there are already dedicated Nuance Audio hearing frames you can purchase as an FSA-eligible prescription pair if you’re more concerned with what’s audible than what’s AI).

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There are other Meta models that qualify. But no matter what frame shape you select, we also highly recommend getting Transitions lenses, so they pull seamless double duty as both your everyday specs with blue light filters and your stylish sunnies.

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One caveat: super-strong prescriptions (the kind that usually require high-index lenses) may not work in Meta Ray-Bans due to the delicate electronics, which could be damaged by the pressure required to insert the optics.

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Oura Ring 4

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Oura

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A discreet, screenless health tracker, the Oura Ring 4 goes far beyond sleep. It automatically tracks activity, blood oxygen, heart and respiratory rate, and skin temperature changes, then turns those metrics into clear, behavior-focused guidance in the app. You can even log personal factors—like caffeine intake or alcohol consumption—to see what’s affecting your rest. It’s ideal for people who care more about health insights than hardcore fitness training stats, and who want something smaller and subtler than a smartwatch. To unlock the full features of the ring, a membership is also required.

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Other wearables—Garmin smartwatches, for example—can qualify for reimbursement with a post-purchase Truemed assessment and approval. While select sleep and heart-rate monitors (and smart scales) don’t even require that.

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Select Ride1Up e-bikes

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Ride1Up

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Exercise is a huge part of staying healthy—and yes, some e-bikes can qualify for FSA spending. We’re talking Class 1 e-bikes only: operable pedals, no throttle, and a max assist speed of 20 mph to make sure you get some sort of workout.

At Ride1Up, for example, you can choose from the road-ready CF Racer1 (pictured above), the off-road TrailRush, or the commuter-friendly Prodigy v2. After checkout, Ride1Up will send you a quick Truemed health survey, and if you’re approved, you’ll get the Letter of Medical Necessity you need to submit your purchase for FSA reimbursement. If there’s another ebike brand you’ve been eyeing, it’s worth checking their site.

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Select Purple mattresses

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Purple

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Much like e-bikes, mattresses usually require a Letter of Medical Necessity, and not every model qualifies. You need features that go beyond a basic bed—pressure relief, targeted support, cooling layers, or designs that help with pain or sleep issues—which means going beyond a basic bed’s price. For example, Purple’s RestorePlus Hybrid (pictured above) fits the bill with three inches of GelFlex Grid that contours to your body, supports your lower back, and sleeps cooler than traditional materials. Funds will come in handy when purchasing a multithousand-dollar mattress, but as owners of a Purple RejuvenatePremier (as well as a lumbar back cushion for long-haul flights), we can vouch for the namesake material’s relief return on investment.

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Keep in mind that often only part of the mattress is eligible for reimbursement—usually the amount that exceeds the price of a basic mattress. After purchase, Purple partners with Truemed, which sends a quick medical survey plus simple instructions for submitting that eligible portion to your HSA/FSA administrator. Other mattress manufacturers may have similar setups.

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Chirp Halo Wireless Muscle Stim

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Chirp

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Chronic pain sufferers might be interested in the Halo, a $199.99 device that combines TENS and EMS technologies to deliver electrical pulses that both block pain signals and increase blood flow to sore areas. The charging case holds two Halo pucks, a rechargeable remote, extension cables, and a set of reusable magnetic pads. Not sure where to place the pads? The companion app shows you exactly where to apply them based on your pain points. You can choose from six preset programs and still adjust the intensity and duration to your comfort level. Purchases through the Chirp website can be made with FSA/HSA cards, though the company notes you may need additional documentation for reimbursement.

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Theragun PRO Plus percussion massager

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Theragun

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There are massage guns and then there are Theraguns. The $649.99 PRO Plus doesn’t just hammer whatever hurts; the app gives you smart, guided routines so you’re treating the right muscles (often the ones around the sore spot). When you connect a Garmin, Apple Watch, Strava, or Google Fit, it pulls in your activity to build personalized recovery plans based on your goals, actual workouts, and current science.

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Hardware-wise, it’s fully loaded: hot attachments for soothing warmth, built-in LED light therapy (a miniaturized panel like those skin tone/texture therapy Glo masks, which are also FSA eligible), plus all the classic heads—standard ball, dampener, thumb, wedge, and micro-point. If you want to go full hot-and-cold recovery geek, you can even add a separate cold attachment. It’s basically a high-end recovery studio.

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KT Tape recovery tools and sports medicine solutions

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KT Tape

Bears have attacked over 100 people in Japan since March

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KT Tape offers a range of products for bodies that keep writing checks their muscles almost can’t cash. When building your kit of recovery tools, start with the classics to promote blood flow and lymphatic drainage: pre-cut kinesiology strips with rounded corners, featuring cotton for everyday use or Pro Extreme synthetic when you need extra-strength, extra-adhesive support to survive sweat and showers for days. After that, flesh out the ecosystem with Activate warming magnesium cream (with arnica) to loosen up pre-activity, Pro Ice Tape for some menthol-cooling support, and Ice Sleeves to wrap joints that need a real time out for swelling relief.

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FSA spending checklist

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Before your deadline hits, run through this quick list to make sure you’re getting the most out of your FSA balance:

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Check your balance: Log into your FSA portal or app and see exactly how much money you have left.
Confirm your deadline: Look up whether your plan ends on December 31, offers a grace period, or has a different cutoff.
Verify rollover eligibility: See if your employer allows you to roll over a portion of unused funds into next year—and how much.
Catch up on care: If you postponed any care (like fillings or other treatments), try to book appointments now before the end of the year, keeping in mind December slots go fast.
Stock up on essentials: Focus on FSA-eligible basics you know you’ll use—OTC meds, first-aid supplies, vision care, etc. Avoid overstocking items that expire quickly (like sunscreen) if you’re not sure you’ll use them.
Buy long-lasting health gear: If you still have room, look at eligible health tech, support gear, or other durable items that fit your needs.
Check for Letters of Medical Necessity: Some items require a clinician’s note for reimbursement. Request this early—providers are busiest at year’s end, and they may say no.
Submit any reimbursement claims: Gather receipts, upload documentation, and file all eligible expenses before your plan’s deadline.

The post How to spend your remaining FSA balance before it expires appeared first on Popular Science.

Inside the labs where glasses are redesigned for a hyper-visual world

Heather Kuldell-Ware — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:45:00 -0500

Restaurants are surprisingly good age tests. When the menu lands, do you squint at the tiny fonts, tilt the page toward some inadequate candle, or blast it with your phone flashlight just to read it? Do you ask a friend to tell you the options because you refuse to wear the readers you know, in your heart, you probably need?

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And when did restaurants get so loud? Can you still follow the jokes from the far end of the table, or do you quietly converse with the person next to you because that’s all you can hear?

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These aren’t quirks. They’re brutal little reminders of your own mortality before the appetizers arrive—and I’m noticing them more when I go out with friends, some of whom have their phone fonts so big a single word takes up a line. Middle age doesn’t announce itself all at once—it’s sneakier than that. And that oh-so-helpful smartphone? It’s part of the reason eye strain is showing up earlier and more often.

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This is the first generation to live such intensely digital, hyper-visual lives—and human vision simply wasn’t built for it. EssilorLuxottica, the powerhouse of modern vision care, acknowledges this and invited international journalists to the company’s facilities in Paris to learn about presbyopia, how this very normal age-related loss of near vision is changing, and how the company is evolving lens technology while pushing eyewear beyond simple correction.

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A universal eyesight problem in a digital world

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Even if people aren’t familiar with the term “presbyopia,” most know vision gets worse with age. And it’s surprisingly universal. Everyone will eventually be affected because eye lenses become less flexible over time, but when exactly is individual. Presbyopia affects about 85% of people over 40 years old, which is about 826 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

Traditionally, people notice symptoms starting between 40 and 45—things like eyestrain after staring at a computer screen, difficulty reading in dim light, or suddenly holding things at arm’s length to read. But as daily screen time rises, presbyopia is emerging as early as 35 years old in some populations, particularly among women and urban residents, according to EssilorLuxottica experts who accompanied us on our tour of the labs.

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And screen time continues to rise, with global daily use averaging six hours, though it’s more like 10 for office workers. Devices are also getting closer. The experts explained that we hold books about 16 inches from our faces, but smartphones hover at about 8 to 12 inches, and smartwatches tend to be even closer. It’s often called multitasking, but really, it’s rapid task-switching that creates focus challenges, particularly for older eyes. Digital eyestrain is now one of the first symptoms for most presbyopes, but it’s easy to brush it off as just being tired.

For the individual, the world up close gets blurrier and blurrier, while you end up quietly engineering your life around what you can still see. But zoom out, and it’s not a quirky inconvenience; it’s a global productivity problem. WHO estimates that vision impairment costs about $411 billion annually in lost productivity, even though addressing unmet vision correction would be about $25 billion.

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The fix is simple: glasses. A pair of readers, bifocals, or progressive lenses corrects the problem. Don’t love glasses? Contact lenses are an option, as are eye drops that constrict pupils for a few hours. Access and affordability matter, of course, but denial might be the biggest hurdle of all—especially for younger wearers.

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Think back to the restaurant where nearly each of those acts—turning on a light to see a menu or leaning in to hear your tablemate—could be brushed off as the restaurant’s problem. You don’t need glasses; the restaurant is too dark. It’s not your hearing; the restaurant is too loud. Sound familiar?

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From grandpa’s glasses to AI-customized vision

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EssilorLuxottica is one of those companies most people have used without ever connecting the product to the name. If you wear glasses, there’s a good chance you’ve interacted with something they made, sold, or helped design.

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They come from two giants. Essilor, founded in France in 1849, built its reputation on lenses and introduced the first Varilux progressive lens in 1959. Luxottica, an Italian company founded in 1961, became a powerhouse for frames, including brands you see everywhere (such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol) and luxury labels (think Chanel and Prada). When they merged in 2018, they formed a single company that can handle the entire pipeline: designing, measuring, making, and selling both lenses and frames. They also build diagnostic tools and manufacturing equipment, and they own major retailers like LensCrafters.

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That scale matters. When the company makes a breakthrough, it can change how opticians measure vision, how lenses are designed and manufactured, how frames are built around them, and how millions of people experience their glasses.

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For instance, progressive lenses are supposed to be a simple solution for people with mixed vision needs: one pair of glasses that works for distance, computer range, and reading. But for many people, the first pair is frustrating. Part of that is the unwelcome red flag that you’re aging. Part of it is practical. If a progressive lens doesn’t match how you specifically move your eyes and head, you get edge distortion, a “swimming” sensation, headaches, and a long, uncomfortable adjustment period.

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EssilorLuxottica leans hard into user-centric design, collecting mountains of data on how people see in real life. You feel that immediately at the company’s R&D center in Créteil (a southeastern suburb of Paris). The place isn’t about glamorous frames like the Luxottica Digital Factory and showroom in Milan. It’s about the unglamorous mechanics of vision: how people scan text, how they tilt their head toward a phone, how fast their eyes hop between distances, and how those habits change with age and fatigue.

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Some researchers measure those behaviors directly, using sensor-equipped frames to track things like light exposure and screen use instead of relying on people to remember what they did. Others zoom out and study environments, looking at how small design choices can make public spaces easier to navigate for people with vision impairments, such as airports that add guidance and signage at floor level rather than assuming everyone can comfortably scan overhead boards.

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Taken together, that work points to a broader shift: EssilorLuxottica is treating eyewear as one layer in a more medical approach to eye health. Working with Dassault Systèmes, the company is building digital twins of the eye and visual system, an advanced modeling approach that lets teams explore how disease and aging processes progress over time without the need for active participants and decades. And in the labs, they don’t stop with virtual models. They also build human-scale ones.

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I’ve managed to dodge the need for near-vision correction so far, but spent decades wearing glasses for distance until I got LASIK a few years ago. In Créteil, a researcher strapped me into an optical simulator to try progressives: a virtual reality headset, a treadmill, the works. I’d never worn bifocals or progressives before, so I had no muscle memory to lean on. I kept turning my whole head instead of just shifting my eyes, and it became painfully obvious that I would need some time to figure out how to use progressives.

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However, the simulator isn’t for patients. Engineers use it to test and refine lens ideas before they’re prototyped. What the experience highlighted was how little I’d thought about lenses when I picked out new glasses. I would obsess over how frames look and let insurance limits dictate the lenses, even though the lenses were the entire point.

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EssilorLuxottica’s experts told me my thrown-into-the-deep-end experience is precisely what not to do. It’s easier to adapt to progressives when your prescription is still mild, but most people wait until their vision has significantly shifted, then leap into complex lenses. Your eyes were not built for this, so EssilorLuxottica is building responsive systems that are easier on your eyes.

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The R&D work at Créteil complements the data EssilorLuxottica gathers at scale. In LensCrafters stores, opticians can fit would-be Varilux wearers with a small sensor clipped to the frames and run them through guided viewing tasks that capture how they naturally hold their head and move their gaze. Over time, those measurements have built a huge dataset with consistent patterns: how far people hold objects, how much their eyes drop when reading, whether they steer more with their eyes or their head, and even subtle left-right offsets.

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That dataset trained the AI model behind Varilux XR—the company’s most advanced progressive lens technology. When a new prescription comes in, the system uses the model to predict how that person is likely to look and move, even if the store doesn’t have the full measurement setup. The precise positioning of focus zones is then calculated point by point using both the prescription and the predicted behavior, aligning with how the wearer views the world rather than forcing the wearer to adapt. From there, additional algorithms refine binocular vision, how the two eyes and head work together, so switching between distances feels steadier and less “swimmy.”

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The result is bespoke optics at scale: faster adaptation, less distortion, and progressives that feel more intuitive. It also clarifies why progressives have such a mixed reputation. The label covers wildly different experiences. The cheapest options lean on averages and symmetry, even though most people’s eyes differ from left to right and don’t move in perfect unison. For first-time wearers, especially in midlife, that mismatch can feel like “progressives don’t work,” when it’s really a poor fit between lens design and a particular person.

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Bringing innovation into focus

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At EssilorLuxottica’s new Laboratoire d’Excellence (LABEX) facility outside Paris, the company is testing its ideas where they matter most: on a working factory floor with real throughput, real deadlines, and real operators. The site plugs fresh ideas into live production lines and sends the results back to collaborators for refinement. That feedback is an essential part of the company’s innovation.

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LABEX produces prescription lenses for the French market, with a focus on premium products, including high-end Varilux lenses. For many orders, turnaround is about 24 hours. That speed sounds like logistics until you remember what’s being shipped: lenses made on demand, starting as clear plastic blanks [shown below] and becoming individualized optical devices through surfacing, polishing, coating, and inspection. The end product is individual. The scale, meanwhile, is industrial. The facility can handle around 4 million prescription lenses a year, plus additional volume in distribution, while still serving as a reference model for how the rest of EssilorLuxottica’s manufacturing network can evolve.

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Sustainability is built in as infrastructure. LABEX runs on green electricity, uses solar panels for part of its energy, and recycles water used during surfacing, enough to process roughly a million lenses before the system needs refreshing. Heat from equipment is captured and reused.

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Inside, it feels closer to an advanced robotics lab than the old mental image of someone hand-polishing glass. Robots and autonomous vehicles move trays of lenses through different stages. The layout keeps production largely in line, minimizing handoffs and unnecessary handling. A lens gets its prescription cut, then coated for durability and clarity, then routed toward inspection.

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Cosmetic inspection is one of the most challenging jobs for staff in modern lens-making. It’s specialized, repetitive, and unforgiving, and qualified inspectors are increasingly difficult to find and retain. At LABEX, AI-powered systems take on much of that load, scanning finished lenses for surface issues—think tiny scratches or microscopic chips—that can slip past even trained eyes after hours of repetition. The real value is catching those defects, shift after shift, without fatigue creeping into the process.

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EssilorLuxottica sells many of the machines and technologies used along the production line, so the same tools can end up in other labs, including those run by competitors. But company representatives say their advantage in execution lies in line design, sequencing, tolerance discipline, and the day-to-day know-how that turns high tech into consistent output.

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When eyewear becomes something else

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In addition to the Rx factory, LABEX houses a showroom that asks a deceptively simple question: once you’re already wearing something on your face to correct your vision, what else could it do?

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That idea starts modestly. Varilux progressive lenses reduce the need for multiple pairs of glasses by combining distance, intermediate, and near vision into a single lens. Transitions lenses, in various colors for different aesthetics and conditions, push that logic further. Embedded with trillions of reactive molecules that cluster in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) light, EssilorLuxottica’s photochromic lenses darken outdoors and reset to clear indoors, eliminating the constant swap between regular glasses and sunglasses. Layering these features does raise the price, but the comparison isn’t one lens versus another. It’s one pair versus many.

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From there, the showroom takes a sharper turn. Ray-Ban and Oakley Meta smart glasses recast eyewear as a platform rather than a static prescription. Meta smart glasses function like an extension of a smartphone, minus the tyranny of a screen. Cameras built into the frames capture photos and short videos from your perspective. Open-ear speakers in the arms play music, podcasts, calls, or directions while keeping you aware of your surroundings. Microphones handle calls and voice commands, and Meta’s AI assistant can answer questions, translate phrases, or identify landmarks without pulling out a phone. If you’re already spending your FSA funds on a new prescription, there may be more you can get out of that investment.

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Touring EssilorLuxottica’s GrandOptical store on the Champs-Élysées, staff told us that Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarers are especially popular with tech-savvy, middle-aged customers, even if the marketing skews younger. As premium frames, they’re not wildly out of band for shoppers already accustomed to spending on high-end eyewear—and unlike ordinary glasses, software updates can continue to expand what the frames can do.

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Nuance Audio glasses explore the platform idea from a more intimate angle. Instead of cameras and AI assistants, they weave hearing support directly into eyeglass frames, prescription lenses or not. These Food and Drug Administration-cleared, over-the-counter glasses tuck directional microphones and open-ear speakers into classic frames, offering subtle, situational amplification for people who fall below the bar for traditional hearing aids. Through a companion app, users can choose presets based on common hearing-loss patterns, then fine-tune volume, background noise reduction, and microphone direction. I have a pair of these I specifically use at restaurants and bars, and it sounds like a joke: I turn down the music in the car to see signs better, and I put on glasses to hear. But they help.

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Walking through the showroom, I realized the biggest shift is psychological, not technological. Many of these products feel like permission slips for people to accept a little help without making a big deal about aging. Lenses that adjust to light automatically. Smart features that borrow a few jobs from your phone. Hearing support that fades into the frame. None of it promises a cure-all. The argument is smaller and more persuasive than that: eyewear can remove more of the everyday friction, in specific moments, if you’re willing to let it. Then you can just lean back, laugh, and enjoy the appetizers.

The post Inside the labs where glasses are redesigned for a hyper-visual world appeared first on Popular Science.

Lamborghini’s new hybrid supercar includes a three-level drift mode and three axial flux motors

Kristin Shaw — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:12:00 -0500

Lamborghini’s legacy gas-only machines have been unapologetically loud, brash, and in your face with sonorous symphonies conducted by fuel-guzzling V12 and V10 engines. Today, the brand is in its electrification age, with three plug-in hybrids: the Urus SE SUV, the top-tier Revuelto, and the newest Raging Bull, the Temerario. Don’t call them PHEVs, though. Lamborghini calls them HPEVs, or high-performance electric vehicles. Emphasis is on the performance, not the efficiency, although the hybrid lineup benefits from both.

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While skeptics may have not believed a Lamborghini hybrid could match the excitement of its predecessors, the statistics prove them wrong. Just compare the Temerario to the car it’s replacing, the iconic Huracán. The power delta alone is impressive; the Temerario boasts a total of 907 horsepower generated by a brand-new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that’s boosted by three electric motors, while the most powerful versions of the V10-toting Huracán tapped out at 631 hp.

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Can the Temerario match the popularity of the Huracán, Lamborghini’s best-selling supercar ever? Automobili Lamborghini Chief Technical Officer Rouven Mohr says yes.

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“To be honest, the Temerario is a much more mature car,” he says. “It has a performance level that was never possible before. It’s in a different league and it’s even more enjoyable.”

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As a cherry on the proverbial sundae, the Temerario is the first Lamborghini supercar equipped with Drift Mode. Push a button on the steering wheel to activate its tail-wagging prowess, and you’re ready to go. Riding on grippy Potenza Sport tires co-developed with Bridgestone, the Temerario is eager to slide sideways on the track as though it’s on ice.

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The Temerario is powered by a hybrid system including an all-new 4.0-liter V8 that’s assisted by three axial flux motors. Image: Lamborghini

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Revving it up to 10… thousand

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The Temerario’s hybrid setup is all new, carrying over nothing from the Huracán’s fierce powertrain, Mohr says. Using a “hot V” setup, which places the turbochargers inside the V-shape of the piston configuration, the turbos spool up faster than they do in a “cold V,” in which the turbos are further from the heat.

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A cold V can only rev up to 7,500 rpm, Mohr says, and Lamborghini was targeting a higher number. With a “hot V,” the turbochargers are nestled closer to the exhaust manifolds, so the gases have a shorter path to the turbine. As a result, there is better pressure consistency, temperature and speed, improving efficiency. And better efficiency means less turbo lag—honestly, nobody wants a supercar with turbo lag.

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Lamborghini says the Temerario is the first and only production super sports car engine able to reach 10,000 rpm, a feat typically only achieved in motorsports. That’s no lie; even the newest Ferrari in the stable, the non-hybrid 6.5-liter V12 powered 12Cilindri supercar, falls slightly behind the Temerario at a rate of up to 9,500 revolutions per minute.

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In order to achieve the Lamborghini model’s performance curve with a turbocharged engine, Mohr and team started from zero. They decided to go with huge turbochargers to enable a power explosion at high revs, but they also needed to balance that with good drivability without turbo lag, Mohr explains.

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The magic behind this supercar is a triple electric motor infusion, one at each front wheel and one between the engine and the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. All three are axial flux motors built by YASA, a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz. Axial flux electric motors are 50 percent lighter and 20 percent of the depth of a typical radial machine used in many EVs, YASA states. The difference visually evokes the difference in width between vintage television or computer and today’s flat screen TVs, and the performance is even more important than the looks. Using stacked construction, an axial flux motor packs a dense amount of power into a compact machine.

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Three levels of drift are available to drivers in the Lamborghini Temerario. Image: Lamborghini

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Training the body for a new engine experience

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The first time he drove the Temerario, Mohr says, he had to train himself for the new driving character. That required him to change the way he shifted gears.

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“You have in your brain two categories: the naturally aspirated [engine], which has no low torque at all, so you have to rev it up because otherwise you feel bored and slow,” Mohr says. “And you have the turbo category, which gives you high torque at low revs, but then nothing is really happening. If you rev it up it gets a bit louder but it’s missing this extra punch.”

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The Temerario, he explains, combines both. There’s the linearity, the boost, the torque level and a seemingly never-ending power curve. At first Mohr automatically started shifting at about 6,000 rpm and he says he forced himself to learn to stay on the throttle. What he found was that what happens between 6,000 rpm and 10,000 is breathtaking.

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“There are not even many naturally aspirated engines in the world that rev up to 10,000,” he says. “For a turbo engine there is only one other in my mind: the Formula 1 base engine.”

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The Temerario has a completely different character than the Revuelto, Mohr says. In contrast, the pricier Revuelto is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine plus three electric motors. Starting at $600,000-plus, this is the flagship vehicle of the Lamborghini brand, representing what Mohr calls the “pinnacle” of the product range.

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On the other hand, the Temerario was designed more as a daily driver. Everything from the body design to the aerodynamics to the engine were calibrated for a fun, more casual experience than the elegantly engineered Revuelto. Kind of like an exuberant puppy in the same kennel as a mature show dog.

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For the first time in any of its cars, Lamborghini added a true drift mode to the Temerario. That’s not to say that some people haven’t drifted other models before this, of course. However, this factory-equipped drift mode enables and even encourages the slip and slide from a button on the steering wheel. The driver can choose between three levels of drift that get progressively looser.

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“You might say other manufacturers have done this before, and yes, that is partially right. But we do it in a different way,” Mohr explains. “We are not braking; we are using the front axle with torque vectoring to control the driving, which gives it a more natural feeling.”

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Level 1 allows oversteer while limiting the angle of yaw, the result of shifting the weight of the vehicle from its center of gravity to one side or another. Boosting it up to Level 2, the Temerario allows 30 degrees of drifting angle, doubling what it offers at Level 1. Level 3 takes it up another notch to 40 degrees, a thrilling option for experienced drifters. All three levels create experiences commensurate with the Lamborghini name. If this is the future of hybrid supercars, bring it on.

The post Lamborghini’s new hybrid supercar includes a three-level drift mode and three axial flux motors appeared first on Popular Science.

Newborn African penguin named after a hot dog

Andrew Paul — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:30:00 -0500

An aquarium in New Jersey welcomed two new residents, just in time for the holidays. On December 20, staff at Adventure Aquarium in Camden revealed the recent births of Duffy and Oscar, a pair of African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) and some much needed good news in light of ongoing conservation concerns.

“These milestones are incredibly important for the critically endangered African penguin population, and we couldn’t be more proud to play a role in their future,” the aquarium just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania wrote in a social media post.

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The post Newborn African penguin named after a hot dog appeared first on Popular Science.

James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes snap images of same nebula, 10 years apart

Andrew Paul — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:01:00 -0500

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The post James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes snap images of same nebula, 10 years apart appeared first on Popular Science.

9 festive ISS holiday celebrations through the years

Laura Baisas — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:03:00 -0500

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Browse through a quarter century of ISS holiday celebrations below. (Click to expand images to full screen.)

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Expedition 4 crew members, former NASA astronauts Daniel Bursch and Carl Walz, along with Rosocosmos cosmonaut Yuri Onifriyenko, pose for a Christmas photo in December 2022. Image: NASA.

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Expedition 13 crew members, Rosocosmos cosmonaut Valery I. Tokarav (left) and former NASA astronaut William McArthur, pose with Christmas stockings in December 2005. Image: NASA.

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The six Expedition 30 crew members assembled in the U.S. Destiny laboratory aboard the space station for a Christmas celebration in December 2011. Image: NASA.

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ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti pictured above the space station on December 20, 2014 during Expedition 42. Image NASA.

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Expedition 50 crew members celebrate the holidays aboard the orbiting laboratory in December 2016. Image: NASA.

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To remind us here on Earth that we are all still connected so many mileas away, NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Chris Williams, and JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, send warm holiday wishes in this message recorded on December 17, 2025.

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The post 9 festive ISS holiday celebrations through the years appeared first on Popular Science.

‘Hope in a bottle’ for a deadly cancer and the firefly gene that lit the way

Julia Daye — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0500

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Drummer Ethan White first suspected something was wrong when he could not use his drumsticks. Image: Michelle Sherman.

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Using a biological flashlight

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Modeyso was approved by the FDA in August 2025. Image: Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

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The missing puzzle piece

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Dr. Joshua Allen (right) studies the cancer defenses that already exist in the human body. Image: Penn State University.

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Chad Carr (middle) and his family. Chad died from DIPG at the age of five. Image: Tammi Carr.

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Twenty-year-old Jace Ward started taking Modeyso after his diagnosis in 2019. The young athlete got 17 months that he wouldn’t have had otherwise before he died in July 2021.

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Jace Ward (right) and his mother Lisa. Modeyso helped extend his life by over one year. Image: Lisa Ward.

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“The earlier the intervention, the better,” he says.

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The gift of normal

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“Having access to [Modeyso] was a major part of keeping him alive,” Ethan’s mother Michelle Sherman tells Popular Science.

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The post ‘Hope in a bottle’ for a deadly cancer and the firefly gene that lit the way appeared first on Popular Science.

9 new butterflies discovered in old museum archives

Margherita Bassi — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 12:15:00 -0500

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Plate illustrating the forewing androconia of 16 male butterflies in the Thereus genena species group, revealing distinctive scent-scale patterns used to differentiate the species. Image: Zootaxa

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The post 9 new butterflies discovered in old museum archives appeared first on Popular Science.

Butt breathing and 5 other ways animals stay warm in winter

Laura Baisas — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 10:03:00 -0500

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Brumation nation

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Wood frog in Minnesota. Unlike most other frogs that spend their winters underwater, the wood frog stays on land and freezes solid. Image: Jasper Shide / Public Domain.

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Frozen frogs

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Take care of those feathers

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A northern cardinal visits a feeder at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Image: Haley Jackson / Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

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Blue (crab) Christmas

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The blue crabs that call the Chesapeake Bay home spend their winters in deeper parts of the bay. There, they burrow into the mud underwater and enter a dormant state.

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The blue crabs will stay that way until water temperatures reach approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Blue crabs, a keystone species in the Chesapeake Bay, spend their winters buried under the mud in the deepest part of the Bay, in a dormant state. Image: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

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‘As solitary as an oyster’

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They get most of their food by filtering water through their bodies and grabbing nutrients like algae and plankton. However, those food sources dwindle up come winter.

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“Oysters feed frantically in summer, when there’s lots of algae around to filter out of the water, “ says Ogburn. “This helps them store up glycogen that they burn to survive the winter.”

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In winter, they will go dormant and survive on those stores of sugar, similar to what reptiles and amphibians rely on during brumation.

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Yes, turtles do breathe through their butt

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Turtles spend the winter underwater—where they breathe out of their butts. While it may seem a bit unusual to us mammals, breathing through their butt is an important survival strategy.

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“It allows turtles like snapping turtles and painted turtles to remain frozen under the ice and still breathe under water,” says McDonald.

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The post Butt breathing and 5 other ways animals stay warm in winter appeared first on Popular Science.

Lost in space: How ’digital twins’ saved NASA’s robots

Yook JiHun — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 08:02:00 -0500

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We spoke with Professor Kim to discuss how he adapted technology for the cosmos and the breakthrough that keeps NASA’s robots on track.

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Saving space robots with digital twin navigation

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Unlike the cluttered reality of the International Space Station (left), the digital twin (right) is free of visual distractions. Image: KimPyoJin. GIST

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Professor Kim explains, “The digital twin serves as a ground truth, enabling the robot to filter out visual noise and recalibrate its position.“

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Insights from the NASA collaboration

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Ask Professor Kim why humanity should venture into orbit, and his answer is refreshingly blunt: “Because space now holds real economic and industrial value, showing commercial potential.“

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For those aspiring to join the agency, Professor Kim offers advice grounded in realism.

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This article was produced as part of the NASA Impact Series by Popular Science Korea.

The post Lost in space: How ’digital twins’ saved NASA’s robots appeared first on Popular Science.

How to recover your deleted files

David Nield — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0500

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If this happens to you, don’t lose hope–most cloud storage services come with a deleted file restore function that’s similar to the Recycle Bin on Windows and the Trash folder on macOS.

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How cloud file sync typically works

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Files can be uploaded manually to the cloud as well as synced. Screenshot: Google

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Recovering Google Drive files

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Recovering files from Google Drive on Android. Screenshot: Google

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Recovering Apple iCloud files

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Recovering files from iCloud on an iPhone. Screenshot: Apple

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The post How to recover your deleted files appeared first on Popular Science.

Bears in Italy inbreed more, but are less aggressive

Margherita Bassi — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 10:18:00 -0500

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Japan deploys army to fight bears

Robotic ‘Super Monster Wolves’ are guarding Japanese towns against bears

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The post Bears in Italy inbreed more, but are less aggressive appeared first on Popular Science.

Amazon is blowing out Razer gaming gear including keyboards, mice, headsets, and chairs

Stan Horaczek — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:02:54 -0500

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Editor’s picks

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Razer Barracuda Wireless Gaming & Mobile Headset (Black) is $69.99 (56% off)

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+ + This headset doubles as a solid pair of over-the-ear wireless headphones. + +

Razer

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This one makes sense if you bounce between a console/PC and your phone. The headphones perform well for music listening, but the advanced microphone makes in-game communication clear.

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Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset (Black) is $104.99 (48% off)

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+ + The onboard microphone is great for doing 1980s Madonna impressions + +

Razer

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Razer Fujin Mesh Ergonomic Gaming Chair is $399.99 (38% off)

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+ + Your back deserves the good life. + +

Razer

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Headsets

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Razer Barracuda Wireless Gaming & Mobile Headset (Black) $69.99 (56% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset (Black) $104.99 (48% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless PlayStation Gaming Headset (Black) $104.99 (48% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless Xbox Gaming Headset $104.99 (48% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless PlayStation Gaming Headset (White) $108.99 (45% off)
Razer Kraken Kitty V2 USB Wired Headset $65.99 (34% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Headset $79.99 (38% off)
Razer Barracuda Wireless Gaming & Mobile Headset (Quartz Pink) $119.99 (25% off)
Razer Barracuda X Wireless Gaming & Mobile Headset (Black) $67.48 (33% off)
Razer Barracuda X Wireless Gaming & Mobile Headset (Mercury White) $64.99 (35% off)
Razer Barracuda X Wireless Gaming & Mobile Headset (Quartz Pink) $65.99 (34% off)
Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense Wired USB Gaming Headset $99.99 (14% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset (Black) $31.99 (47% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset (Green) $37.99 (37% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset (White) $34.99 (42% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset (Quartz Pink) $33.99 (43% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 X PlayStation Gaming Headset $37.99 (24% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 X Xbox Gaming Headset (Quartz Pink) $39.99 (20% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 X Xbox Gaming Headset (White) $39.99 (20% off)
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless PlayStation Gaming Headset (White) $108.99 (45% off)

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Keyboards and keypads

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Razer Huntsman Mini 60% Gaming Keyboard (White) $65.99 (49% off)
Razer Huntsman Mini 60% Gaming Keyboard (Black) $69.99 (46% off)
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Esports Gaming Keyboard $147.99 (41% off)
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL Esports Gaming Keyboard $147.99 (33% off)
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Mini 60% Esports Gaming Keyboard $127.99 (29% off)
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Mini 60% Esports Gaming Keyboard $136.99 (24% off)
Razer BlackWidow V4 Mini HyperSpeed Wireless Hot Swappable 65% Gaming Keyboard $87.99 (32% off)
Razer BlackWidow V4 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Green Switches) $129.99 (28% off)
Razer BlackWidow V4 X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard $104.99 (19% off)
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Orange Switches) $199.99 (20% off)
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Yellow Switches) $198.99 (20% off)
Razer Joro Portable Wireless Gaming Keyboard $111.14 (21% off)
Razer Tartarus V2 Gaming Keypad $59.99 (25% off)

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Mice

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Razer Orochi V2 Mobile Wireless Gaming Mouse (Black) $33.99 (51% off)
Razer Orochi V2 Mobile Wireless Gaming Mouse (White) $33.99 (51% off)
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro Gaming Mouse (Black) $99.99 (33% off)
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse (White) $69.99 (29% off)
Razer Basilisk V3 X HyperSpeed Customizable Wireless Gaming Mouse $39.98 (43% off)
Razer DeathAdder V3 Wired Gaming Mouse $39.99 (43% off)
Razer DeathAdder V2 X HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Mouse $33.99 (43% off)
Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Mouse $64.99 (35% off)
Razer Viper V3 Pro Wireless Esports Gaming Mouse (Black) $129.99 (19% off)
Razer Viper V3 Pro Wireless Esports Gaming Mouse (White) $129.99 (19% off)
Razer Viper V3 HyperSpeed Wireless Esports Gaming Mouse $49.99 (29% off)
Razer Naga V2 Pro Wireless MMO Gaming Mouse $149.99 (17% off)
Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed Wireless MMO Gaming Mouse $76.99 (23% off)
Razer Basilisk V3 Customizable Ergonomic Gaming Mouse $34.99 (50% off)

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Controllers and fighting-game gear

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Razer Kitsune All-Button Arcade Controller $234.99 (22% off)
Razer Kishi Ultra Gaming Controller for Android / iPhone / iPad $99.99 (33% off)

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Gaming chairs and ergonomics

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Razer Fujin Mesh Ergonomic Gaming Chair $399.99 (38% off)
Razer Iskur V2 X Ergonomic Gaming Chair (Light Gray Edition) $249.99 (17% off)
Razer Iskur V2 X Ergonomic Gaming Chair (Black) $249.99 (17% off)
Razer Enki Gaming Chair $429.99 (14% off)
Razer Enki X Essential Gaming Chair $349.99 (12% off)

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Docks and desk connectivity

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Razer USB 4 Dock: 14 Ports (Black) $189.99 (27% off)
Razer USB 4 Dock: 14 Ports (Mercury) $195.49 (25% off)
Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock: 10 Ports (Mercury White) $264.62 (17% off)
Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock: 10 Ports (Chroma Edition) $269.99 (18% off)
Razer Handheld Dock Chroma: Charging Hub $69.99 (22% off)

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Desk accessories

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Razer Monitor Stand Chroma $169.99 (26% off)
Razer Laptop Cooling Pad: Adaptive Smart $129.99 (24% off)
Razer Gaming Mouse Bungee V3 Chroma $24.99 (38% off)

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Console charging stands

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Razer Quick Charging Stand for PlayStation 5 (Red) $19.99 (50% off)
Razer Quick Charging Stand for PlayStation 5 (White) $37.50 (6% off)
Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox Series X|S $19.99 (13% off)

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Mousepads

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Razer Gigantus V2 Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad (XXL) $22.99 (23% off)

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Also worth a read on PopSci

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The post Amazon is blowing out Razer gaming gear including keyboards, mice, headsets, and chairs appeared first on Popular Science.

Dive into 2025’s most stunning deep-sea wildlife encounters

Andrew Paul — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:54:00 -0500

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The post Dive into 2025’s most stunning deep-sea wildlife encounters appeared first on Popular Science.

Last-minute holiday gift guide: Over 30 editor-approved gadgets for everyone on your list

Clarissa Brincat — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:50:22 -0500

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Anker Prime Power Bank (20K, 220W)

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Anker

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WOLFBOX Megavolt 24 Air 4-in-1 Jump Starter with Air Compressor & Tire Inflator

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+ + This is an essential part of a car emergency kit. + +

Wolfbox

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ARZOPA WiFi 14" FHD IPS Touch Screen Digital Picture Frame

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+ + Give the gift of your beautiful face. + +

Azorpa

Scientists figured out the optimal cup of coffee

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Airthings View Plus indoor air-quality monitor

+ @@ -6492,360 +9254,93 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im -

And then there’s the chocolate chips. Thanks to the unique crystal structure of cocoa butter—the fat in chocolate—chocolate chips maintain their shape as they melt, just enough to create gooey pockets of chocolate in the cookie, without dissolving in the dough, explains Tran.

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Try these science-based baking hacks

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Tran has a few favorite tricks for engineering the perfect cookie. First of all, butter temperature can make or break the texture. Room-temperature butter traps air when it’s creamed with sugar, giving you lighter, softer cookies. Melted butter can’t hold that air, so the dough stays denser—and so do your cookies.

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- Related Stories

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Are induction stoves better? These chefs think so.

Can one big meal really make you gain weight?

Is microwave cooking nuking all the nutrients?

What are ultra-processed foods and are they bad for me?

Does eating spicy food help you lose weight? Science has a clear answer.

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She also recommends using a mix of sugars. Brown sugar brings molasses to the party, which adds deeper flavor, a darker color, and a chewier texture. White sugar yields crispier edges and more spread. Combine them, Tran says, and you get “the best of both worlds.”

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Next up: chill the dough. “Even just 30 minutes will allow the flour to hydrate more evenly and flavors to develop,” Tran says. Cold dough also spreads more slowly in the oven, giving you taller, thicker, chewier cookies.

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And when your cookies are in the oven, don’t wait for the centers to look fully done. Cookies continue to cook from the residual heat they retain after being removed from the oven. So Tran suggests pulling them out of the oven “when the centers look a little soft, to give you a crispy exterior with a gooey center.”

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Experiment like a scientist

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Tran suggests approaching cookies the way you would any experiment: change one variable at a time. Use cake flour instead of all-purpose flour. Substitute brown sugar for white sugar. Add an extra egg.

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“Make some observations, taking notes on how each variable impacts the cookie’s overall taste and texture,” she says. “Continue refining the recipe in this way until you land on your version of the perfect chocolate chip cookie!”

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Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to put these tips to the test.

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The post The best chocolate chip cookie recipe, according to science appeared first on Popular Science.

2025 holiday gift guide: 40+ editor-approved presents for everyone on your list

Clarissa Brincat — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 14:36:01 -0500

Your friends and family deserve the best possible gifts. But shopping can be tricky. You don’t want to give them something impersonal, like a gift card, but you also can’t resort to drawing them a card with a Christmas tree on it again. It’s our job to find the best products and deals, so we’ve spent way too much time digging up a ton of products that pretty much anyone would like. There’s something to fit most budgets and tastes. We’ll be regularly updating this list until the last possible moment, so get your shopping done now and save yourself the last-minute stress. Also, feel free to send us any of these items because they’re all great and we’ve been really, really good this year. Promise.

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Aura Mason 9-inch HD Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame

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Aura Frames

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Anyone invited by this digital picture frame’s owner can send photos and videos directly to it from their phone. It’s Instagram for that relative who is perpetually OFFline. Simply connect the frame to Wi-Fi and use the Aura app to set up access and other preferences. For instance, it’s how our managing editor in D.C. and his brother in Japan regularly send pictures to their mother in Alabama. A 1600 x 1200 HD display gives stunning clarity to phone camera photos, and there’s no limit on how many photos you can upload to the frame. There’s also a built-in speaker for video playback, allowing you to watch babies crawl and cats snuggle like you’re there. The frame also includes other smart features like automatic screen brightness and cropping, and auto turn-off at night. The Aura is one of the best digital picture frames and will bring a smile to a (grand)parent’s face. (And there are a bunch of other frame sizes, colors, and vertical orientations—like the Carver, the Aspen, and the Walden.)

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4-in-1 Jump Starter with Air Pump

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Wolfbox

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WOLFBOX’s MegaVolt 24Air is the kind of road-trip insurance you don’t notice until you need it. It pairs a 4,000A jump starter and 24,000mAh battery with a 160 PSI, 45 L/min air compressor, so you can revive a dead 12V car battery or top off a low tire without hunting for help. It also works as a 65W USB-C power bank and a 400-lumen emergency light. Keep it in the trunk for winter commutes, too.

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Logitech Alto Keys K98M

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Logitech

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This wireless 98-key mechanical board uses a UniCushion gasket structure to damp vibrations for a softer feel and cleaner sound. Hot-swappable linear switches, durable PBT keycaps, and white backlighting make it easy to tune the typing experience without diving into mods. It pairs with up to three devices via Bluetooth or the included Logi Bolt receiver and can run for months with backlighting off across Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, iPadOS, and more.

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WOLFBOX MF100 Compressed Air Duster

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Canned air will clean your car’s dashboard and center console, but it’s terrible for the environment and lacks the power necessary to get every last crumb. This rechargeable blower has a fan inside that spins at 150,000 RPMs to create wind speeds up to 190 MPB. It offers three speeds, so you don’t need to go full hurricane mode all the time. Despite all that power, it operates relatively quietly so it won’t bother your coworkers or roommates. The 6,000 mAh battery provides up to 100 minutes of airflow on a single charge, so it won’t give up when you’re trying to inflate your favorite pool toy or hide the evidence after eating the last of the tortilla chips after everyone else went to bed. You’re literally giving the gift of cleanliness.

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Use code: POPsci10 and get $10 off any order through the end of 2025.

Try these science-based baking hacks

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Kaleidescape Strato V & E Movie Players

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- - Your movies and eyeballs deserve it. - -

Kaleidescape

Scientists figured out the optimal cup of coffee

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+ Related Stories

- - - See It +

Are induction stoves better? These chefs think so.

Can one big meal really make you gain weight?

Is microwave cooking nuking all the nutrients?

What are ultra-processed foods and are they bad for me?

Does eating spicy food help you lose weight? Science has a clear answer.

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Kaleidescape will make it hard to go back to lowly streamed movies ever again. The company’s Strato V and Strato E movie players provide high-bitrate 4K video output with SDR, HDR10, and Dolby Vision. Kaleidescape movies are downloaded, not streamed, so there is never buffering or degradation. That allows for the highest possible fidelity across the board. All Kaleidescape movie players support lossless multi-channel and spatial object-based audio, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Strato V stores roughly 10 Kaleidescape 4K movies while Strato E stores about 6, and both can be grouped with Terra movie servers for more storage. There are thousands of titles available for purchase or rent from the Kaleidescape movie store.

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Red Wing IRON RANGER Men's 6-Inch Boot in Black Harness Leather

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Experiment like a scientist

Not all hiking trails involve dirt. Have you ever had a connection in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport? Spent a weekend in Manhattan? OK, these are heritage boots, not hikers, but they’re worth going through airport security barefoot, even with TSA PreCheck. And they can handle a scenic overlook in between coffee shops and saloons. Originally designed for Minnesota miners, the Iron Ranger is made with full-grain Black Harness leather, a double-layer toe, nickel hardware with speed hooks, Goodyear welt, and Vibram 430 mini-lug sole that can grip gravel and shake off city grime. And they look so good with raw denim. Like many relationships, things start stiff but break in beautifully.

- -

OKAPA 17 Oz. Water Bottle

- - - - -

- -

- We don’t look like this, but maybe you could … + We love a gift that can save someone in an emergency. + +

- - - - See It - -

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to put these tips to the test.

The OKAPA is functionally a durable, vacuum-tight water bottle. The OKAPA (shown here in Goldie Samba, one of six high-gloss/glamour colorways) is visually a conversation starter. It’s medical-grade materials, precision-machined and assembled with Swiss-watch obsessiveness. OKAPA poured eight years and 10,000 prototypes into this bottle, which opens with a satisfying thump to reveal its pleasingly moulded mouthpiece. We pour filtered water or steaming tea into the borosilicate glass carafe, cradled in laser-carved anodized aluminum. It’s pro-luxury, as at home sitting on a drafting table or ergonomic computer desk as it is next to a yoga mat or glampfire, giving hygienic hydration with overkill energy.

The post The best chocolate chip cookie recipe, according to science appeared first on Popular Science.

2025 holiday gift guide: 40+ editor-approved presents for everyone on your list

Stan Horaczek — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 14:36:01 -0500

Saris SuperClamp G4 2-Bike Hitch Rack

Aura Mason 9-inch HD Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame

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Saris

Aura Frames

- - ON SALE NOW @@ -6853,7 +9348,7 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im - + See It @@ -6861,30 +9356,30 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im -

There comes a point when the cyclist in a household graduates from neighborhood loops to “let’s drive somewhere with actual elevation,” and that’s when a real hitch rack matters. The Saris SuperClamp G4 steps in as a slim, 45-pound rack that still carries two bikes up to 60 pounds each—ebikes included. Spring-loaded, lockable arms secure the tires (even with fenders), and rear-wheel straps flip out of the way, turning bike loading/unloading into a quick, low-drama operation. The SuperClamp’s real strength is flexibility: it fits wheelbases up to 52 inches, tire diameters from 20 to 29 inches, and widths up to 3 inches. It works with both 1.25-inch and 2-inch hitch receivers using the included adapter. Some ebikes do exceed the 60-pound limit, and fat-tire bikes won’t fit, but for many setups, this rack hits the sweet spot between capacity, convenience, and not totally taking over the back of the car. Pro tip: Saris is offering 20% bike racks and home storage solutions through Dec. 22.

Castelli PERFETTO RoS 3 JACKET

4-in-1 Jump Starter with Air Pump

- +

Wolfbox

- - ON SALE NOW @@ -6892,7 +9387,7 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im - + See It @@ -6900,28 +9395,28 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im -

If you’re like us, you (or someone you plan to gift to) are a weekend warrior who wants to feel pro vibes but may find it hard to establish a rhythm for tempo rides. If someone doesn’t have time to wait for the perfect time, the Castelli Perfetto RoS 3 jacket makes sure crisp, messy days don’t get in the way of (wide) shoulder-season saddle time. Built from Polartec AirCore, a brand-new PFAS-free laminate, this “jacket” is a nano-fiber force field. It’s more like a die-hard race jersey—stretchy, close, with long sleeves, drop tail, and big rear pockets—featuring an electrospun membrane that’s windproof, highly water-resistant, but breathable so it won’t leave you with a boil-in-the-bag feel. Rated for about 39-57 degrees Fahrenheit, you can switch from lightweight base layer to thermal underneath and be covered for fast fall spins or flirting with freezing.

RUX Waterproof Tote Bag 30L

Logitech Alto Keys K98M

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- + Fill the holiday air with the sound of clicking and clacking. -

RUX

Logitech

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Meet the modern Mary Poppins bag. The RUX Waterproof Tote is built for anyone whose tote quietly works as a grocery hauler, gym bag, work carryall, and “toss it all in, we’re leaving” bin. It brings expedition-level durability to an everyday silhouette, standing upright instead of collapsing into a sad puddle thanks to a foam base and a fully welded 840D TPU-coated nylon body. Discreetly tucked inside is a 420D TPU-coated roll-top liner that turns the tote into a dry bag, delivering true waterproof protection without leaky zippers. This 30L workhorse hits the sweet spot for daily life: big enough for laptops, kids’ sports gear, or a chaotic market haul, but still manageable on crowded sidewalks and trains. Multiple lash points make it equally at home strapped into trucks, boats, or roof racks when the agenda shifts from errands to adventure. Sustainability is baked into the design, too. Every strap and handle is replaceable, and a lifetime guarantee backs the entire kit.

BACKBONE Pro Multiplatform Mobile Gaming Controller for iPhone 15/16/17 & Android – USB-C or Bluetooth

WOLFBOX MF100 Compressed Air Duster

- +

- + Those snack crumbs don’t stand a chance. -

Backbone

WOLFBOX

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The Backbone is the easiest, most seamless way to turn your phone into a legit handheld console. Snap it on, and mobile games from Apple Arcade to Genshin Impact, Fortnite, or Blops gain responsive face buttons with low-latency controls and proper analog sticks. (For a limited time, new Backbone Pro purchases and current Backbone Pro owners can unlock the Clyde Outfit in Fortnite.) It also unlocks the real power of remote play for PlayStation and Xbox, so you can stream your console games to your phone when the TV is held hostage by movie night. Even if you don’t want to attach your phone, you can connect the Backbone Pro via Bluetooth to any iOS, Android, or PC device. Versatile and compact, the Backbone will make touch controls feel like just a bad dream you once had. Go Pro for more features and better buttons, but the One is also fun for a snap-on spine to make mobile gaming stand on its own.

+ + + +

Use code: POPsci10 and get $10 off any order through the end of 2025.

Bartesian Duet Compact Home Bartender Cocktail Machine

Kaleidescape Strato V & E Movie Players

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- + Your movies and eyeballs deserve it. -

Bartesian

Kaleidescape

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The Bartesian Duet is like having a bartender who never judges your pour or your playlist. Drop in a pod from one of many flavourful spirit-specific variety packs, pick your strength, and watch your glass fill with something bright and balanced without bar math. This one comes with two glass bottles, but there’s a version with four (as well as one with five) if you like to vary your vibe more. It’s sleek, compact, and dangerously convenient … perfect for pregaming or maybe just having friends over for a party that never has last call. You know you’re spending too much money on TouchTunes, anyway.

Bushnell Wingman HD Golf GPS Speaker

Red Wing IRON RANGER Men's 6-Inch Boot in Black Harness Leather

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- + -

- - - -

Bushnell

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Bushnell’s been helping golfers find flags since before half the foursome on the tee box was born, so appealing to the Bluetooth everything generation is more than a gimmick. It’s the logical next step. The Wingman HD’s GPS brain puts critical data from thousands of courses on the 3.5-inch color HD touchscreen and essential audio accompaniment on the 2x15W speakers with two passive radiators. All the front/center/back yardage, hole layouts, hazard info, and 360-degree sound fits in a rechargeable IP67 brick that clamps conveniently to the cart magnetically. It’s a legacy of reliability upgraded with a volume knob, great for a buddy trip, so you can sing along over the distance and the chorus.

L.A.B. Golf Putters

OKAPA 17 Oz. Water Bottle

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- + -

- - - -

LAB Golf

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Know a golfer who has tried “feel,” watched every YouTube tip video, switched grip multiple times, and still complains about putting? Introduce them to L.A.B., or Lie Angle Balance, and let physics take over for a while. These hand-balanced putters may look weird (like asking a CAD file how it would improve its short game), but the zero-torque tech is like an exoskeleton that stops the head from twisting open and closed during your wobbly lil stroke. The mallet just wants to stay square and roll the ball on line. Fitting feels more like a personality test than a club demo, but the payoff is brutal consistency from 10 feet and in. Sure, it’ll start “What is that?!?” conversations, but you’ll have more time to explain because you have less three-putts.

ROG Xbox Ally X & ROG Xbox Ally

Saris SuperClamp G4 2-Bike Hitch Rack

- +

- Don’t settle for boring mobile games when you’re on the move. + -

ROG

Saris

+ + ON SALE NOW @@ -7126,7 +9615,7 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im - + See It @@ -7134,30 +9623,30 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im -

This handheld gaming PC puts your library in your hands and plays nicely with Xbox services. Dock it to a TV for couch co-op, or keep it portable for Game Pass on the go. You can dock it to a TV for couch co-op or keep it portable for full PC titles on the road. Upgradable storage and broad accessory support make it feel more like a tiny console than a phone.

Oakley Meta HSTN with Prizm Ruby

Castelli PERFETTO RoS 3 JACKET

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- Let your fans see what you see. - -

Oakley X Meta

+ We don’t look like this, but maybe you could …

+ + ON SALE NOW @@ -7165,7 +9654,7 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im - + See It @@ -7173,28 +9662,28 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im -

Oakley and Meta collaborated to make sunglasses that blend Oakley’s HSTN frame and Prizm lenses with hands-free photo capture, calls, and voice assistance. On-board controls and a straightforward companion app make setup and daily use simple. The design looks like proper shades while quietly packing Meta’s connectivity and camera features.

AirFly Pro 2 Deluxe

RUX Waterproof Tote Bag 30L

- +

- Don’t pay for in-flight WiFi anymore. + -

AirFly

RUX

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This tiny 3.5mm Bluetooth adapter lets you use wireless headphones with seat-back screens, gym machines, older TVs, and more. It can connect two pairs at once for shared watching, and it switches into receiver mode to add Bluetooth to a car or stereo you already own. The long battery life and simple one-button pairing make it easy to toss in a carry-on and forget about until you need it.

Blueair PetAir Pro

BACKBONE Pro Multiplatform Mobile Gaming Controller for iPhone 15/16/17 & Android – USB-C or Bluetooth

- +

- You love your pet, but you don’t need to sneeze. + -

Blueair

Backbone

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If fur and dander are part of daily life, this purifier focuses on capturing pet pollutants while running quietly in the background. It is easy to live with in a bedroom or living room and helps with odor control during shedding season. A multi-stage filter and a low-profile design make it practical for apartment dwellers and multi-pet households alike.

Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL

Bartesian Duet Compact Home Bartender Cocktail Machine

- +

- It looks cool and sounds great. + -

Govee

Bartesian

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This cordless smart lamp doubles as a JBL speaker, so it handles bedtime playlists and ambient lighting from the same spot on your nightstand. It syncs light to music, supports Matter for simple control, and includes preset scenes for study sessions or wind-down time. The rechargeable battery keeps the setup cable-free for desks, dorms, and side tables.

Leatherman Signal

Bushnell Wingman HD Golf GPS Speaker

- +

- It’s a gift that could literally save a life. + -

Leatherman

Bushnell

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This multi-tool brings everyday essentials plus backcountry extras like a ferro rod and blade sharpener. It is the kind of “fix almost anything” pocket gear that earns a permanent place in a pack, glovebox, or tackle box. One-handed access and a solid pocket clip make it useful even when you are mid-task.

Satechi FindAll Smart Glasses Case

L.A.B. Golf Putters

- +

- Never lose a glasses case again. + -

Satechi

LAB Golf

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You will lose your glasses less often with this rechargeable case that works with Apple Find My for pings and left-behind alerts. It folds flat in a bag, plays a loud chime when you are hunting around the house, and fits most everyday frames and many XR/AR glasses. A built-in battery powers the locator features without relying on disposable cells.

Theragun Mini Plus

ROG Xbox Ally X & ROG Xbox Ally

- +

- The PopSci.com editors use a Theragun every day. + Don’t settle for boring mobile games when you’re on the move. -

Therabody

ROG

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This palm-size massager adds soothing heat to quick percussive sessions, which helps loosen stiff shoulders and calves after travel or workouts. It is quiet, easy to toss in a carry-on, and turns five minutes on the couch into real relief. Multiple attachments and speed settings let you target different muscle groups without guesswork.

ROLL Recovery R8 Plus

Oakley Meta HSTN with Prizm Ruby

- +

- That looks like it feels awesome. + Let your fans see what you see. -

Roll

Oakley X Meta

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The spring-loaded arms clamp around your legs to deliver deep pressure to quads, hamstrings, and IT bands without a floor routine. Adjustable tension lets you go gentle for warm-ups or dial it in after long runs and hikes. The portable design fits in a gym bag so you can recover right after a workout.

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

AirFly Pro 2 Deluxe

- +

- Your giftee can get a head start on their New Year’s resolution. + Don’t pay for in-flight WiFi anymore. -

Shokz

AirFly

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Open-ear bone-conduction headphones keep you aware of traffic while still delivering punchy sound for runs and rides. They are sweat-resistant, stable on sprints, and include a reflective strip for visibility during early-morning or after-work miles. The quick-charge feature adds juice for a workout when you are headed out the door.

YETI 16 oz Insulated Food Jar

Blueair PetAir Pro

- +

- Keep your Spaghetti-Os hot all day. + You love your pet, but you don’t need to sneeze. -

Yeti

Blueair

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Pack hot chili or cold yogurt and trust it to hold temperature until lunch. You could also pack hot yogurt, I guess, but that would probably be pretty weird. The wide mouth makes it easy to fill and clean, and the leak-resistant design stands up to daily commutes and trail time. A durable exterior resists chips and dings so it looks good after a season of use.

- - - -

Belkin UltraCharge 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Charger with Qi2 25W

Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL

- +

- Nobody likes a messy nightstand. + It looks cool and sounds great. -

Belkin

Govee

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This compact stand powers your phone, earbuds, and watch from a single outlet, then folds flat for a tidy bag or nightstand. Magnetic alignment keeps your phone in place, which is helpful for video calls or StandBy mode. A single cable simplifies travel and reduces charger sprawl on the desk.

Victorinox Huntsman Swiss Army Knife

Leatherman Signal

- +

- I carry one of these every day. + It’s a gift that could literally save a life. -

Victorinox

Leatherman

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This 91 mm Swiss Army Knife adds a real wood saw to everyday essentials like the blade, scissors, can and bottle openers, and tweezers, so it is equally useful in a camp kit or desk drawer. The slim profile still fits a pocket organizer, but the corkscrew, awl, and parcel hook give you handy tools you will actually use. The durable build and easy-to-clean scales make it a reliable multitool you can keep for years.

REI Co-op Campwell Fleece Pullover

Satechi FindAll Smart Glasses Case

- +

- You can blend in with the ficus at your office. + Never lose a glasses case again. -

REI

Satechi

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This midweight pullover uses soft recycled fleece that feels cozy on its own and layers cleanly under a shell. The snap-neck lets you dump heat on the move, and the kangaroo pocket keeps hands warm while holding keys or a trail pass. It works as an everyday layer for cool commutes, camp mornings, and weekend chores.

Patagonia Men’s Work Hoody Sweatshirt

Theragun Mini Plus

- +

- This hoodie looks great and will last for years. + The PopSci.com editors use a Theragun every day. -

Patagonia

Therabody

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This heavy-duty hoodie handles job-site scuffs and weekend projects while staying warm and comfortable. Reinforced details and durable fabric mean it can take real wear without retiring early. The roomy fit layers easily over base layers and under a shell.

Epson Lifestudio Flex Full HD Portable Lifestyle Projector

ROLL Recovery R8 Plus

- +

- Turn your home into a movie theater with cheaper popcorn. + That looks like it feels awesome. -

Epson

Roll

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This portable smart projector includes built-in Android TV, so you can stream from popular apps without hooking up a separate device. The long-life LED light source starts quickly and delivers consistent brightness, while keystone and focus adjustments help you get a sharp, square image in different rooms. Its compact design and built-in speakers make it easy to move from living room viewing to backyard movie nights.

Chrome Urban Ex Backpack 30L

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

- +

- You can transport your cargo without getting it wet. + Your giftee can get a head start on their New Year’s resolution. -

Chrome

Shokz

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This weatherproof rolltop is made for bike commutes and unpredictable forecasts. It protects a laptop, swallows gym gear, and shrugs off downpours with welded seams and a tough, minimalist shell. The structured back panel and quick-access pockets keep essentials organized.

Darn Tough Men’s ABC Cushioned Hiking Boot Socks

YETI 16 oz Insulated Food Jar

- +

- You’ll probably still want to wear both boots when you go out. + Keep your Spaghetti-Os hot all day. -

Darn Tough

Yeti

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Merino wool regulates temperature and manages moisture, while underfoot cushion keeps feet happy on long days. The lifetime guarantee is a huge plus for people like me who abuse footwear. The durable knit resists pilling and holds its shape after repeated washes.

+ + + +

Belkin UltraCharge 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Charger with Qi2 25W

ororo Men’s 5-Zone Insulated Heated Bomber Vest

- +

- This guy is warmer than he looks. + Nobody likes a messy nightstand. -

ororo

Belkin

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Five heat zones warm your core without adding bulky layers, which makes dog walks and sideline time more comfortable. You can pick your heat level, pop in the battery, and slide it under a jacket when temperatures drop. The water-resistant shell and hand-warmer pockets make it practical even without the heater turned on.

Dickies Tradebuilt Shirt Jacket

Victorinox Huntsman Swiss Army Knife

- +

- What’s he looking at? Not a cooler jacket, that’s for sure. + I carry one of these every day. -

Dickies

Victorinox

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This durable shacket handles cool mornings and shop chores better than a hoodie. It layers easily, resists scuffs, and gives you pockets you will actually use. The snap-front closure speeds up on-and-off when you are bouncing between tasks.

- - - -

Grillo’s x P.F. Candle Co. Pickle Candle

REI Co-op Campwell Fleece Pullover

- +

- Cinnamon has officially been replaced as the holiday scent. + You can blend in with the ficus at your office. -

Grillo’s x P.F. Candle Co.

REI

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It smells like a fresh jar of pickles, which makes it a perfect kitchen gift for the person who adds brine to everything. The clean-burning wax and quality jar make it more than a novelty. It’s a unique smell that will cover up the acrid stench you created while trying to roast your own chestnuts.

HexClad Griddle Tool Set (8-pc)

Patagonia Men’s Work Hoody Sweatshirt

- +

- Smash your burgers in style. + This hoodie looks great and will last for years. -

Hexclad

Patagonia

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Heat-resistant handles and rigid blades on these high-class griddle tools give you control when you are flipping or scraping. It comes with a pair of tongs that open and lock closed with one hand. You also get an extremely burly burger smasher and four silicon egg rings so you can make epic breakfast sandwiches with minimal mess.

Gozney Tread Portable Pizza Oven

Epson Lifestudio Flex Full HD Portable Lifestyle Projector

- +

- You’ll never order takeout pizza again. + Turn your home into a movie theater with cheaper popcorn. -

Gozney

Epson

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This compact oven heats fast and bakes blistered pies wherever you set up. A pair of burly handles on top make it easier to lug around than a typical cooler. Plus, it can hit the same super-high temperatures as larger pizza ovens so you can have the classiest possible camping grub you could ever want.

Superfeet Best Sellers Bundle

Chrome Urban Ex Backpack 30L

- +

- It’s the next best thing to walking on sunshine. + You can transport your cargo without getting it wet. -

Superfeet

Chrome

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Trying supportive insoles can be the fastest route to happier feet during long shifts or travel days. This bundle makes it easy to dial in fit and alignment without guessing at the store wall. The trim-to-fit design and arch options let you customize support for different shoes.

Traeger Flatrock 3 Zone Griddle

Darn Tough Men’s ABC Cushioned Hiking Boot Socks

- +

- Cooking inside is boring. + You’ll probably still want to wear both boots when you go out. -

Traeger

Darn Tough

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Three independent heat zones let you run eggs, smash burgers, and veggies at once without juggling pans. The broad surface and grease management keep a crowd fed and the cleanup sane after weekend cookouts. The thick plate holds heat evenly so you can sear and sauté without hot spots.

Native Union Pocket Cable

ororo Men’s 5-Zone Insulated Heated Bomber Vest

- +

- Put it on your keychain because you can always use a cable. + This guy is warmer than he looks. -

Native Union

ororo

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This short, tangle-free charging cable lives in a hard case so it stays clean in pockets and sling bags. It is the dependable backup you forget about until the moment you really need it. The integrated keeper prevents frayed ends and mangled connectors.

Anker Prime Charger (250W, 6 Ports, GaNPrime)

Dickies Tradebuilt Shirt Jacket

- +

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Dickies

@@ -8146,7 +10632,7 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im - + See It @@ -8154,28 +10640,31 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im -

This desktop hub shares up to 250W across four USB-C and two USB-A ports, with USB-C1 delivering up to 140W for fast laptop top-offs. PowerIQ 4.0 and adjustable modes balance output intelligently, while the LCD and app controls let you see and fine-tune distribution at a glance. The compact GaN build keeps heat in check and replaces a mess of bricks with one travel-friendly unit.

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Grillo’s x P.F. Candle Co. Pickle Candle

Dremel 8150-N/20 Brushless USB-C Rechargeable 8V Rotary Tool

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@@ -8185,7 +10674,7 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im - + See It @@ -8193,127 +10682,30 @@ A plaid dress while standing next to a small ceramic dog figurine." class="wp-im -

A cordless rotary tool unlocks sanding, cutting, polishing, and small fixes without dragging a cord around the bench. The included accessories help beginners jump straight into repairs and craft projects. Variable speeds and a compact grip give you control for delicate jobs.

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The post 2025 holiday gift guide: 40+ editor-approved presents for everyone on your list appeared first on Popular Science.

Young moths hiss at predators

Margherita Bassi — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0500

A caterpillar-looking bug hangs out on a stem, minding its own business. Suddenly, forceps emerge, moving towards the creature. As soon as they touch the chunky insect, it hisses and whips its body side-to-side.

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The peeved individual is a mature larva of the buff-leaf hawkmoth (Phyllosphingia dissimilis), and its irritation is warranted, since the forceps are meant to imitate a predator. In fact, it’s desired. This scene is from a lab where researchers were investigating how the species’ larvae and pupae make their shockingly noisy defense sounds.

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Scientists had previously documented some moths making noises to keep predators away during various life phases. “We became interested in this topic when we noticed that the larvae and pupae of a hawkmoth species produced surprisingly loud sounds when stimulated,” Shinji Sugiura, an ecologist at Kobe University and co-author of a study recently published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, said in a statement. Larva is the second stage of many insects’ metamorphosis, and it takes place after the animal hatches from the egg and before it becomes a pupa.

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To study this noise making, Sugiura and his colleagues conducted experiments on buff-leaf hawkmoth larvae and pupae in which they mimicked an attack, similar to a bird peck or predator bite, by touching the bugs with forceps. During the simulation, they noted the animals’ resulting noise and body movement, in addition to analyzing their internal organs’ involvement in producing sound.

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According to the study, most of their mature larvae and half of the pupae responded to physical contact by making noise and moving quickly. The team conducted some of their tests underwater, revealing that the animals’ respiratory openings were unleashing these hisses, producing bubbles.

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A pupa releases bubbles when bothered underwater. Image: Shinji Sugiura

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“Until now, pupal sound production was thought to occur only through physical friction between body parts or against the substrate. This is the first evidence demonstrating a sound production mechanism in pupae that is driven by forced air,” explained Sugiura.

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“Larvae and pupae of this species have one pair of small openings (spiracles) on the thorax and eight pairs on the abdomen. They take in air through these spiracles,” he added to Popular Science. “In this species, larvae and pupae produce sounds by expelling air through specific spiracles like a whistle.”

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Except for the noise itself doesn’t sound like a whistle. The buff-leaf hawkmoth larvae and pupae’s acoustic patterns are comparable to snakes’ warning sounds.

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“Because hawkmoth larvae and pupae are likely preyed upon by birds and small mammals—animals that may themselves be attacked by snakes—we hypothesize that this hawkmoth species acoustically mimics snake warning signals to protect itself,” Sugiura said in the statement.

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It will require further study to determine if other groups of animals have similar mechanisms and how potential predators respond to the furious noises.

The post Young moths hiss at predators appeared first on Popular Science.

Man with metal detector stumbles on perplexing Viking Age grave

Margherita Bassi — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 14:07:00 -0500

It’s been a good year for metal detectorists. From a giant Iron Age hoard to tens of thousands of ancient coins and a 19th century shipwreck, it’s a wonder everyone isn’t having a go at the treasure-hunting trade. And now there’s yet another discovery to add to the list.

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Archaeologists in Norway have excavated a Viking Age grave of an individual bedecked in costume and jewelry, as reported by Norwegian SciTech News, an outlet that publishes research news from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the Scandinavian research group SINTEF.

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The team began their work after metal detectorist Roy Søreng discovered an oval brooch in Trøndelag County and reached out to researchers. They have since been excavating in secret to preserve the area and its archaeological riches.

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Archaeologists work on the skeleton remains. Image: Raymond Sauvage, NTNU University Museum

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“The Viking Age grave contains what we believe to be a woman, buried with a typical Viking Age costume and jewelery set from the 800s,” Raymond Sauvage, head engineer at the NTNU Museum’s Department of Archaeology and Cultural History, told the outlet. “This indicates that she was a free and probably married woman, perhaps the mistress of the farm.” Sauvage also works as the archaeological surveys’ project manager.

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The grave includes skeletal remains, two oval brooches (including the one Søreng found) that attach to a suspender dress’s straps, and a ring buckle used to close a petticoat’s neck opening. The most notable feature, however, is two scallop shells that partly covered the deceased’s mouth. While scallop shells were a Christian symbol related to the cult of St. James during the Middle Ages, they are exceedingly rare in pre-Christian graves.

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“This is a practice that is not previously known from pre-Christian graves in Norway. We don’t yet know what the symbolism means,” Sauvage explained. He and his team also identified bird bones, likely wing bones, along the grave. According to Norwegian SciTech News, the shells and bird bones were probably meant to communicate symbolic meaning to the people who observed the burial.

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The excavation follows the previous discovery of a pristine skeleton, recorded this same year at the same field. According to Hanne Bryn, field supervisor also from the Department of Archaeology and Cultural History, the recently discovered individual is likely one to three generations younger.

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“During the inspection, we quickly realized that we were facing a new skeletal grave that was in acute danger of being damaged during the next ploughing,” Bryn explained. Thankfully, landowner Arve Innstrand let the excavation continue.

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Next comes the analysis. “We will examine the skeleton, preserve the objects and take samples for dating and DNA analysis. The goal is to learn more about the person and about possible kinship to the previous find from the same place,” Sauvage said. Researchers will also investigate body height, gender-defining traits, and potential traces of disease.

The post Man with metal detector stumbles on perplexing Viking Age grave appeared first on Popular Science.

These earbuds just won one of our top innovation awards and they’re on sale for a limited time

Tony Ware — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0500

True wireless earbuds are a great gift to give because they’re a gift that keeps on giving, through commutes, workouts, Zoom calls, quiet nights in, etc. They’re small enough to be stocking stuffers and still a big upgrade to the daily routine. And Technics’ EAH-AZ100 earbuds are one of 2025’s biggest level-ups for audiophiles who bounce between laptop, phone, tablet, etc., thanks to triple-source multipoint and Bluetooth LE via Auracast. This kind of futureproofing is just one of the reasons these earbuds won a coveted Popular Science Best of What’s New award, and why we’d recommend them at full price. But we don’t have to do that if you act fast, because they’re at least $50 off for a limited time.

Technics EAH-AZ100 Wireless Stemless Earbuds — $245 (was $299)

HexClad Griddle Tool Set (8-pc)

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Hexclad

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If you’re shopping for pocket hi-fi, you’ve found it. Technics’ 10mm Free-Edge Magnetic Fluid Drivers use trickle-down tech from the reference-class $1K EAH-TZ700 wired in-ear monitors to keep cones centered, reducing distortion so the bass hits deep without fuzz and cymbals stay crisp. Adaptive noise cancellation seals the world off so you can enjoy that seductive clarity, and Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC and Dolby Atmos (available from compatible devices/services) ensures you get the highest resolution and most immersive presentation. Add in the ability to pair with/hop between three devices and a battery that lets you listen for 10 hours, and you’ve got earbuds that sound great on paper and amazing in your ears, with different colorways at different discounts.

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More last-minute personal audio gift deals

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EarFun Air Pro 4 Adaptive Hybrid Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds w/ aptX Lossless $54 (was $79)
Skullcandy Method 360 ANC Wireless Earbuds with Sound by Bose $79 (was $129)
SoundPEATS Air5 Pro+ Adaptive ANC Earbuds with 10mm Composite Diaphragm + MEMS Speaker and aptX Lossless $104 (was $129)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) $249 (was $299)
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds $229 (was $299)
Bose QuietComfort Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones $199 (was $349)
Bose New QuietComfort Ultra ANC Bluetooth Headphones (2nd Gen) with Spatial Audio $399 (was $449)
Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE Bluetooth ANC Headphones w/ 100-hour Playback, aptX Lossless & EQ $249 (was $299)
Nothing Headphone (1) Hybrid Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones w/ Hi-Res KEF-Tuned Sound $239 (was $299)

The post These earbuds just won one of our top innovation awards and they’re on sale for a limited time appeared first on Popular Science.

Save up to 56% ARZOPA’s digital picture frames and portable gaming monitors in time for the holidays

Stan Horaczek — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 11:36:42 -0500

If you’re going to spend large chunks of your life staring at screens, you might as well make it enjoyable. Right now Arzopa has its touch-enabled digital picture frame and portable gaming monitor on deep discount. They make great gifts for just about anyone on your list and they’re more affordable than you might expect.

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ARZOPA D14 WiFi 14-inch touchscreen digital picture frame — $144.99 (34% off)

Gozney Tread Portable Pizza Oven

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Arzopa

Gozney

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If you’re shopping for someone who never backs up photos but loves seeing them, a connected digital picture frame is one of the easiest “set it and forget it” gifts. Arzopa’s frame uses a 14-inch FHD IPS touchscreen with anti-glare treatment, so it looks more like a clean display piece than a cheap tablet propped on a shelf. The real win, though, is the remote sharing workflow: ARZOPA’s app is designed to let multiple family members send photos and videos to the frame from anywhere, so the recipient doesn’t have to be the one doing the uploading.

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You can pre-load photos and even pre-set Wi-Fi so the frame is ready to go when it comes out of the box. For storage, it supports unlimited cloud uploads, plus 32GB onboard storage for offline playback, and it can expand via a TF card up to 128GB (card not included). It also packs a handful of extras—weather, alarms, calendar—and a smart sleep mode so it’s not blasting light all night. Setup note for tech support duty. It’s built around 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (and may not play nicely with WPA3-only networks), so plan accordingly if you’re installing it for someone else.

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Extra savings: The product page lists a $20-off code: ARZOPAD14 (availability may change).

ARZOPA Z3FC 16.1-inch 2.5K 180Hz portable gaming monitor — $159.99 (56% off)

Superfeet Best Sellers Bundle

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The Z3FC is the rare portable monitor that’s clearly tuned for gaming instead of just being a second screen. You’re getting a 16.1-inch 2560×1440 panel with a 180Hz refresh rate. That makes motion look dramatically cleaner than a standard 60Hz portable display when you’re playing fast shooters, racing games, or anything with lots of camera panning. It also looks great when you’re scrolling quickly through spreadsheets.

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The panel is rated at 400 nits, covers 107% sRGB, and supports HDR10. Physically, it’s built to survive in a backpack. An aluminum alloy chassis, built-in stand, and a listed 780g weight with a 9.3mm thickness. Connectivity is practical, too: two USB-C ports (with DP output and PD power support) plus a mini-HDMI 2.0 port. One more detail gamers will care about: ARZOPA notes that DisplayPort over USB-C can run up to 180Hz, while HDMI tops out at 144Hz—so if you’re chasing the full refresh rate, cable choice matters.

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Shop the deals

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Digital picture frame deal

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ARZOPA D14 WiFi 14-inch FHD Touchscreen Digital Picture Frame $144.99 (34% off)

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Portable monitor deal

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ARZOPA Z3FC 16.1-inch 2.5K 180Hz Portable Gaming Monitor $159.99 (56% off)

The post Save up to 56% ARZOPA’s digital picture frames and portable gaming monitors in time for the holidays appeared first on Popular Science.

Teeny tiny orange toadlet found in Brazil

Laura Baisas — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:17:00 -0500

A new pumpkin toadlet species was recently discovered in the mountains of southern Brazil. Bracycephalus lulai is just over one centimeter (only 0.39 inches) long and the size of a pencil tip. It’s a completely new species of frog, and detailed in a study published this week in the journal PLOS One.

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“This new species is unique due to a combination of many characteristics,” Marcos R. Bornschein, a study co-author biologist at the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) in São Paulo, Brazil, tells Popular Science. “But it stands out because of its orange coloration and particular features of its advertisement call, including the presence of four pulses per note.”

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The newly described pumpkin toadlet Brachycephalus lulai, discovered in the mountain forests of Serra do Quiriri, southern Brazil, and named in honor of Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Photo: Luiz Fernando Ribeiro. Image: Luiz Fernando Ribeiro.

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In fact, that unique advertising call (when animals send out some kind of sound to find a mater or announce their presence) is what led Bornschein and the team to this discovery. They used several tools and techniques including CT scans and DNA analysis to be sure that this tiny orange frog was distinct from its relatives in the genus Bracycephalus. There are 22 known Bracycephalus species, and Bracycephalus lulai is most closely related to two species that live in southern Brazil’s Serra do Quiriri mountain range. Its species name lulai honors Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

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These tiny amphibians boast a bright orange body with green and brown freckles. The males are 8.9 and 11.3 millimeters and females are between 11.7 and 13.4 millimeters. According to the team, they are among the smallest four-legged animals on the planet. Fortunately, these tiny frogs are well protected in their habitat, where they live among the leaf litter.

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“The new species occurs in highly preserved forests that are very difficult to access, which means it is not threatened with extinction,” says Bornschein. “It is one of the few Brachycephalus species that are not threatened, which is very reassuring for us.”

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Divergent color variation of Brachycephalus species. Image: Bornschein et al., 2025, PLOS One.

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Even with their non-threatened status, the team is still calling for immediate conservation efforts to protect this frog and its relatives. Amphibians are among the most threatened group of animals due to habitat loss and the greater effects of climate change.

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For Bornschein, the discovery highlights the incredible biodiversity of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. He discovered the first Brachycephalus species as a student in southern Brazil in 1988. Since then, 22 species in this genus have been found in the region.

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“That’s roughly one new species every year and a half,” Bornschein says. “It is a great privilege to see how much science has advanced from a modest initial discovery, but we should not assume that all discoveries have already been made. I believe that as many as eight to 10 new species of these remarkable toadlets may still be described in southern Brazil over the next 10 to 15 years.”

The post Teeny tiny orange toadlet found in Brazil appeared first on Popular Science.

Rivian announces AI chip in move towards self-driving future

Kristin Shaw — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:00:00 -0500

Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe hosted the EV manufacturer’s first Autonomy and AI Day this week, announcing a slew of big advancements from his no-longer-fledgling company. Appropriately, from Rivian’s headquarters in Silicon Valley, the automaker revealed a project it has been keeping under wraps: a silicon chip of its own design.

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The chip is a processor that powers the next version of Rivian’s on-board computer. Dubbed Autonomy Compute Module 3, it’s capable of 1600 sparse INT8 (8-bit integer) TOPS (trillion operations per second) and 5 billion pixels per second of processing power. Without getting too deep into the bits and bytes, these numbers are indicative of bar-setting performance.

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Rivian’s new chip will power the automaker’s next generation of vehicles. Image: Rivian

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Rivian is talking about data with numbers that boggle the mind. For scale, Rivian says this new setup will quadruple the capabilities of the Nvidia-chip-centered system it’s currently using.

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Rivian focuses on the neural engine and a new middleware stack

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Semiconductors are the brains that run just about everything digital in our lives now, from smartphones to cars. Chip manufacturing generally requires a multi-billion dollar facility with cleanrooms and an incredibly complex process that results in tiny silicon-based wafers. That’s not what Rivian is doing; the automaker sources the chip itself, but the design and housing are all done in-house by Rivian. Designing an in-house chip was just a dream a couple of years ago, but it’s a massive advantage.

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“We’re cognizant of the fact that we are a car company, not a full time chip company,” says Vidya Rajagopalan, Rivian’s senior vice president of electrical hardware. Rajagopalan worked on the Model 3 at Tesla and for several silicon and systems companies before joining Rivian in 2020, and she knows what she’s talking about. Rivian works with ARM and uses the company’s microprocessor while Rivian designed the core, which is the neural engine. That’s the most important part of the chip, Rajagopalan says, and that’s where Rivian adds the most value.

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“Building a chip is time consuming and requires a world class team,” Rajagopalan says. “But the benefits are velocity, performance, and cost. This means we’re able to get to market sooner with a cutting-edge AI product and we can optimize our silicon for our use cases with room for models of the future. We don’t carry the overhead with a design that was designated for another purpose.”

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In other words, designing the chip allows Rivian to customize the system along the way instead of receiving a universal chip and figure out how to make it fit. Customizing its use of AI is a major tenet of the company’s game plan, underpinning its software, autonomy research and mapping, and Rivian Assistant, its new voice command setup. Wake it up with “Hey Rivian” and the system can handle complicated, multi-part requests, interruptions, and a texting interface that circumvents the need for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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Another aspect of the equation is Rivian’s new middleware stack, also developed in-house. Middleware is the glue that ties the pieces together, acting as a bridge to connect different applications, databases, and services. It maximizes flexibility and speeds up testing and development, scaling across various platforms and computing hardware.

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From its headquarters in the middle of silicon valley, Rivian is preparing for an AI- and autonomous-driving-heavy future. Image: Rivian

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Rivian forges ahead with a plan for ubiquitous artificial intelligence

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Rivian also unveiled its next-generation autonomy platform, which will be run by its new chips. The proprietary, purpose-built silicon was designed to “achieve dramatic progress in self-driving,” Scaringe says, as part of his road map to reshape the future of the industry with artificial intelligence.

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“AI is enabling us to create technology and customer experiences at a rate that is completely different from what we’ve seen in the past,” Scaringe says. “If we look three or four years into the future, the rate of change is an order of magnitude greater than all the experience from the last three or four years.”

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As the market debates a potential “AI bubble” that could crash like the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s, technologists, politicians, and ecological specialists have expressed their concerns. AI, for all of its potential, also represents threats to the environment due to its vast energy requirements and job loss.

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“The integration and adoption of AI in real-world settings can be complex and create unwanted outcomes as we pave our way forward,” says Ali Shojaei, a professor at Virginia Tech. “For example, the environmental impact and energy consumption of AI cannot be overlooked. Data privacy and security are also valid concerns with the increased use of AI and automation of sensitive information.”

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Scaringe insists we’re in the middle of a technology inflection point.

“The way that we approach AI in the physical world has shifted dramatically, and the idea of not having fully capable artificial intelligence across every domain of our lives will be almost impossible to even imagine,” the CEO predicted in a video released this week.

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Traeger

Up until about five years ago, Scaringe says approach was centered on a rules-based environment with a set of perception sensors to identify and classify objects. A few years ago, it became clear that the approach needed to shift to a neural net-like understanding of how to drive.

+ + + + See It + +

All this will come to fruition on the upcoming R2 model with Rivian Autonomy Processor 1 chips and a new LiDAR sensor, combined with cameras and radar technology. Waymo’s driverless rideshare vehicles, for example, use LiDAR sensors all around the vehicle, sending laser pulses in all directions to detect objects. Rivian’s main lidar sensor is built into the car above the windshield instead of the Waymo-style dome that screams “taxi.”

Scaringe’s updated vision for self-driving Rivians kicks off in 2026, when the automaker will roll out point-to-point navigation in the R2 and via over-the-air updates for its second generation vehicles. Rivian is clearly aiming for self driving that doesn’t require the driver to keep their eyes on the road without the need to be engaged in the operation of the vehicle. And after that, the CEO says, is level 4 autonomy, which means the car could drop the kids off at swim practice for you.

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Native Union Pocket Cable

+ + + + +

+ +

+ + The built-in display lets you track how fast your gadgets charge. + +

Rivian engineers admit its autonomy is a work in progress, and every R2 vehicle will be eligible to provide crowd-sourcing training for the system via AI. When asked about the multiple instances of Waymo vehicles illegally passing school buses, director of product and programs of autonomy Nick Nguyen pointed out that the driver is still responsible in level 2 autonomy situations. This is not yet at level 4.

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Native Union

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+ + + + See It + +

“We will not be able to handle every single situation the car can encounter, but if the person is looking at the road [which is required at this level], in that situation the driver should take over,” Nguyen emphasizes.

The company will start charging for its Autonomy+ software platform next year; customers can either pay $2,500 up front or a $49.99 monthly subscription. That’s less than Tesla’s FSD system, which requires either $8,000 in a lump sum or $99 per month.

The post Rivian announces AI chip in move towards self-driving future appeared first on Popular Science.

Librarians can’t keep up with bad AI

Andrew Paul — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:33:00 -0500

Generative artificial intelligence continues to have a problem with hallucinations. Although many responses to user queries are largely accurate, programs like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot are still prone to offering made-up information and facts. As bad as that is on its own, the issue is further complicated by a tendency for these AI programs to produce seemingly reputable, yet wholly imaginary, sources. But as annoying as that is for millions of users, it’s becoming a major issue for the people trusted to provide reliable, real information: librarians.

“For our staff, it is much harder to prove that a unique record doesn’t exist,” Sarah Falls, a research engagement librarian at the Library of Virginia, told Scientific American.

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Anker Prime Charger (250W, 6 Ports, GaNPrime)

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Falls estimated that around 15 percent of all the reference questions received by her staff are written by generative AI, some of which include imaginary citations and sources. This increased burden placed on librarians and institutions is so bad that even organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross are putting people on notice about the problem.

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“A specific risk is that generative AI tools always produce an answer, even when the historical sources are incomplete or silent,” the ICRC cautioned in a public notice earlier this month. “Because their purpose is to generate content, they cannot indicate that no information exists; instead, they will invent details that appear plausible but have no basis in the archival record.”

Instead of asking a program like ChatGPT for a list of ICRC reports, the organization suggests you engage directly with their publicly available information catalogue and scholarly archives. The same strategy should be extended to any institution. Unfortunately, until more people understand the fallibility of generative AI, the burden will remain on human archivists.

+ +

Dremel 8150-N/20 Brushless USB-C Rechargeable 8V Rotary Tool

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Dremel