Pop music has gotten sadder over the last 50 years

Surprisingly, some societal traumas like COVID-19 seemed to improve lyric positivity. Credit: Srdjan Randjelovic / Deposit Photos Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Debating the merits of today’s popular music versus the hits of the past is largely a matter of taste.Continue Reading

Librarians can’t keep up with bad AI

One librarian estimated as much as 15 percent of their reference requests are AI-generated. Credit: Deposit Photos Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Generative artificial intelligence continues to have a problem with hallucinations. Although many responses to user queries are largely accurate,Continue Reading

Hellbender salamanders are huge—and in trouble

Eastern hellbenders live under freshwater river rocks. Credit: Deposit Photos Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. The Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) isn’t nearly as fearsome as its name implies. They’re actually somewhat cute, if you can get past the salamander’s slimy,Continue Reading

18th century lead ammo found in Scottish Highlands

The Battle of Culloden effectively ended the Jacobite rising of 1745. Credit: Andy Jepson / University of Glasgow Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Archaeologists in Scotland have excavated over 100 weapon projectiles, including cannon shot and lead musket balls from oneContinue Reading

NASA offers $155,000 to design moon tires

The final LTV design may—or may not—look like the current batch of terrestrial candidates. Credit: Felix and Paul Studios Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. With about two-and-a-half years to go until a planned crewed-mission to the moon, NASA is still decidingContinue Reading