Popular Science

Detail of the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) on the USS Ponce. The laser gun is a white cylinder on top of a gray ship.

And they might be winning

Created as a defense system against drones, more laser weapons are making their way to the battlefield. But there’s a problem: Their flying targets have begun to defend…

Science

Some of the most common maps don't accurately depict Earth's surface. But it's not for lack of trying.

We have dozens of map projections that can't manage to accurately depict the Earth's surface. But it's not for lack of trying--it's really difficult to do.

Space

BILI is like radar for biomolecules

A device originally designed to scan for toxins, pathogens, and other bio-hazards may one day come in handy on a Mars rover.

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Science

Our 10 favorite images of the week

Our favorite 10 images from this week in space, science, and technology news.

Entertainment

Finally, a computer enemy is learning how to win virtual wars

AI is going to learn how to war in video games.

Technology

How to see more diverse opinions on your timelines

Does anyone remember how we interacted online before this election cycle? Surely, there was once a time before every far-flung Facebook friend posted memes about nuclear…

Blog: Eastern Arsenal

Rocket launchers, supersonic cruise missiles, and more.

Missiles at Zhuhai included the GS-6A stealth cruise missile, Mach 4 CM-302 cruise missile, and a space launch rocket on an ICBM launcher.

Health

Why some safe sex advocates are against enforcing condom use in porn

When it comes to California’s Proposition 60, which enforces condom use in porn, the Democratic Party and Republican Party of California agree: Vote “no.”…

Technology

Everything will be all right.

Polls have only been open a few hours, but voting stations are already running into technical trouble. According to the Washington Post, this morning the laptop computer…

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Environment

The most polluted city on Earth scored 999 on an index that maxes out at 500

Some areas of the city have smog levels five times higher than what the EPA considers unhealthy…

Animals

Even snails use online dating

Finding a soul mate has never been easy, and it's even harder if you're a snail who's a “lefty”.

President Obama Giving An Address On Cyber Security In 2009

Technology

Lessons for the 45th President from a week of not understanding email

It's easy to scan a lot of emails for duplicates and the former head of the DIA should know this.

DIY

Qubie can count how many people are waiting to vote

The prototype Qubie device can count how many people are waiting to vote at a polling place.

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Space

In an exclusive interview, the executive producers of NatGeo's 'Mars' miniseries discuss colonizing the red planet

Half documentary and half dramatization, Mars is a six-part miniseries about colonizing the red planet, and it debuts on November 14 at 9pm Eastern.

Aviation

Researchers claim she died on a desert island, but the evidence is inconclusive

It’s generally been assumed that the pioneering aviator crashed into the ocean. One group rejects this explanation, but their evidence is wanting.

Science

Democrats who chose Trump through inaction were facing a trolley problem

The psychology behind the trolley problem could explain why Trump won the election despite a historically low favorability rating.

Animals

Something stinks

The sulfurous smell of dying algae might be the opposite of appealing to you, but to certain seabirds it signals a feast. But the scent of dangerous plastic is similar.

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