Proper drainage is the key to keeping houseplants alive. These tricks can help.

In plant health, as in sinus health, drainage is key. Teona Swift / Pexels Growing plants can seem intimidating, but we believe anyone can create a thriving home conservatory of any size. We’re here to help nurture your skills and help make that happen, so please feel free to send any plant-related questions of your own to ask@popsci.com with “Plants”...

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A tiny crabby robot gets its scuttling orders from lasers

The crab-shaped micro-robot sitting on a coin. Northwestern University A new army of micro-robots just burst into the scene. One of the stand-out forms is a peekytoe crab-shaped figure (with pincers) that’s less than 1 millimeter across. The details on the geometrically varied group are described this week in the journal Science Robotics. The...

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Space stations could wage war on hitchhiking bacteria with self-cleaning tech

Surfaces, equipment, and space suits on the International Space Station are all at risk of microbial contaminants. NASA The International Space Station is home to an entire ecosystem of microscopic hitchhikers. Keeping these tiny, potentially harmful invaders, like bacteria and other potentially dangerous microorganisms, from following humans into...

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This strange 500-million-year-old sea urchin relative lost its skeleton

Reconstruction of the prehistoric Yorkicystis haefneri adapted from fossil evidence, created by Hugo Salais. Metazoa Studio This article was originally featured on The Conversation. After four years of digging for fossils in a churchyard in York, Pennsylvania, amateur paleontologist Chris Haefner made an intriguing find. “I knew it was worth...

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Forecasters predict an abnormally high number of storms for this hurricane season—again

Hurricane Gonzalo, imaged by NOAA satellite in 2014. NOAA The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts that 2022 will be yet another above-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic.  NOAA predicts with 70 percent confidence that from June 1 to November 30, the eastern US coast will see up to 21 named storms. Six to 10 of those...

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Best soundbars under $100 of 2022

Stan Horaczek Best overall Roku Streambar ...

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From the archives: How a medical ‘outsider’ discovered insulin

“Insulin—a miracle of science” by Donald Harris appeared in the September 1923 issue of Popular Science Monthly. Popular Science To mark our 150th year, we’re revisiting the Popular Science stories (both hits and misses) that helped define scientific progress, understanding, and innovation—with an added hint of modern context. Explore the Notable pages and...

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A network of 1,000 cameras is watching for Western wildfires—and you can, too

Deposit Photos Across the Western United States, there’s a network of cameras streaming images of mountain peaks, coastal communities, quiet suburbs, and thick forests, revealing dramatic sunrises and the occasional wildlife encounter. The 24/7 feeds are free and accessible online, provided with the hope that the public will not only tune in but also...

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How to only watch the best bits and other tricks to upgrade your YouTube experience

Optimize your YouTube viewing. Christian Wiediger / Unsplash Whether you’re occasionally dipping into the world of YouTube or enjoying several hours of viewing time in it every day, knowing how to find your way around videos can be helpful. The quicker you can navigate around videos, the more videos you can watch—or the more time you’ll have to spend...

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Sleep easy with this Casper mattress Memorial Day sale on Amazon

Casper A good night’s sleep is important to every process in the body. A bad mattress—and many restless nights because of it—can impact that important process and how we go about our day-to-day. However, now is the perfect time to purchase a new mattress on Amazon, which is offering up to 20-percent off of Casper mattress products and more for Memorial...

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