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[ad_1] Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Popular Science may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Copyright © 2019 Popular Science. A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. [ad_2] Written By Alex Schwartz

[ad_1] Pokémon Go's augmented reality feature made a big splash, but the technology is good for even more than gaming. (John Kennedy/) Augmented reality, or AR, is making big strides on mobile. Looking through your phone's camera to see a bit of the digital world blended with the real one is exactly the kind of thing that makes us feel like we're living in the future. But AR is not only about cute filters that give you doggy ears and tracking Pokémon as you try to catch 'em all at the park. Apple, Google, and a growing list of companies and developers are all busy pushing the current limits of AR technology, so if you're wondering how you can find new, practical uses for AR on your devices, you’ve come to the right place. Measuring the world around you Modern phones give a whole new new meaning to "drop a line." (Google/) Whether you're wondering about the height of a tree or the size of your kitchen, AR can help you assess length, height, width, and v...

[ad_1] iPad screen sizes are getting out of control. The water-proofing really has come a long way, though. (Stan Horaczek/) It’s Labor Day here in the United States, which means summer is officially over and we’re headed into the heart of new gadget season. You can expect heaps of new devices appearing between now and the Consumer Electronics Show in January, including the new iPhone and some other, more surprising gadgets. But, even though the temptation of a true long weekend is strong, we couldn’t keep ourselves away from the studio microphones. So, we present you with this bonus episode of Techathlon, which consists only of the 10-question Decathlon. We’ll be back next week with a full episode of the show, but this week you can expect to learn about upcoming smartphones, self-driving cars, and a new era of Chromebooks. You can listen in the player above, check us out on Stitcher, follow us on Anchor, subscribe via iTunes, or add the show on Spotify. You can...

[ad_1] "Bright suns, traveler." As you wander through the winding streets of Batuu, a remote outpost on the edge of the galaxy, you'll be greeted with this popular saying. The Batuuans, the inhabitants of this planet, are eager to meet new travelers and, of course, eager to entice them to spend some credits, the money of the realm, in their shops. The second iteration of Disney's expansive and immersive new theme park land, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, opened on Thursday in Orlando, Florida. The 14-acre expansion to the Hollywood Studios park has a similar layout to the one that opened in Anaheim, California in May, save for a few small details. Whether you plan on visiting Batuu in California or Florida, you're going to need a plan to make the most of your trip to a galaxy far, far away. The sun rises on the spires on Batuu at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Anaheim, California. Sarah Whitten Even before you enter the park, if you want to experience Oga's C...

[ad_1] Sure, nuclear explosions are terrifying, but you're more likely to be exposed to radiation through more mundane means. (U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency/) On Aug. 8, residents of Severodvinsk, Russia, witnessed a tremendous explosion. Experts across the world are still trying to piece together exactly what happened—and Russian media outlets are demanding answers from the Kremlin—but it seems clear the explosion came from somewhere close to the Russian Navy's nearby missile-testing range. The current theory is that the blast, which killed five scientists and blanketed the immediate region with a still-unknown amount of radiation, most likely involved a missile equipped with a miniature nuclear reactor. Though the incident doesn’t seem to have involved a live nuclear warhead, submarines armed with such weapons are a key component of Russia’s nuclear deterrence strategy—same as in the United States. And following the collapse earlier this year o...

[ad_1] It may not seem very woodsy, but for the sake of convenience, it's hard to beat a gas fire pit. They're self-contained, can be placed just about anywhere from the front porch to a back deck, and light up with the press of button. On those late-winter or spring nights, a full tank of propane is all you need for hours of toasty reflection. [ad_2] Written By by The Editors at Outdoor Life

[ad_1] The movement to ban miniature toiletries isn’t likely to make a dent in the global plastic crisis. (vaidehi shah/Flickr, CC BY/) InterContinental Hotels Group will replace mini-shampoos and conditioners with bulk products by the year 2021. Marriott Hotels recently followed suit, vowing to ban miniature toiletries by next year. But environmental activists shouldn't rejoice just yet. These announcements are yet another example—such as banning plastic straws, false sustainability claims, and corporate commitments that are far in the future—that seem to be more of a PR exercise than real attempts to move the needle. I'm a professor of engineering and the director of the MIT Center of Transportation and Logistics. As I argue in my book *Balancing Green: When to Embrace Sustainability in a Business (And When Not To*), announcements of these kinds distract us from legitimate—and more challenging—measures we need to put in place to avoid environmental catast...

[ad_1] Kick the coffee habit without losing the boost entirely. (Joanna Kosinka via Unsplash/) There has been an endless debate on whether coffee is good for you. For some, not even the coffee's science-backed association with longevity can overcome the downsides, like restless sleep, jitters, and withdrawal headaches. No matter where you stand on the 'is coffee good or bad' issue, coffee shortages are coming due to climate change. The good news is that there are plenty of healthy coffee alternatives out there for your morning (or afternoon) pick-me-up. Here are our favorites. It’s a gooey black substance that packs a punch of energy. (Amazon/) Shilajit is a resin formed by the decomposition of nutrient-dense plants that’s reputed to boost energy levels. For the people of Nepal and northern India, shilajit is a traditional breakfast staple, taken with milk in the mornings. Sherpas claim it as their secret for strength and longevity, but we like to drink it mixed in with tea...