Florida’s SunRail train system is set for a major expansion that will connect more key destinations in the Orlando area including the international airport and the city’s convention center, reports Miguel Rodriguez in Hoodline.

“The proposed extension aims to serve up to 6 million riders annually, a leap from current figures. While ambitious, the expense is seen as necessary, with projected costs reaching a potential $5 billion based on project scope.” The plan is to create new transit connections for both visitors and local commuters and expand transit use in the region.

SunRail launched in 2014 and, since then, has helped spur transit-oriented development (TOD) along its route.

• SunRail
• Orlando
• Orange County
• Passenger Rail
• Trains
• Regional Rail
• Public Transit

An emperor penguin chick waddles to the edge of a cliff and jumps, plummeting 50 feet to the icy waters below. National Geographic captured the daring penguin plunge via a drone camera, marking the first time the behavior had ever been recorded on film. An image (seen below) documenting the moment also made the final list of the magazine’s Pictures of the Year 2024 honorees.

The annual Pictures of the Year list is narrowed down from 2.3 million photographs and celebrate our spectacularly diverse planet. From the imposing sand dunes of Egypt’s Western Desert to a farmer in Romania dealing with a changing environment, the images bring stories to life in stunning detail. For more, visit NatGeo.com.

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The post 5 fascinating wildlife images from National Geographic’s Pictures of the Year appeared first on Popular Science.

Do you know that strange sensation of walking into a room and feeling like you’ve been there before, even though you know you haven’t? Or when you hear someone say something for the first time, but there’s a certain familiarity to it that gives you pause? That’s déjà vu–a phenomenon that’s not well understood, but scientists have some ideas. 

Déjà vu is the eerie feeling that you have had the same novel experience before. It’s a spontaneous, elusive sensation that reveals the workings of consciousness, allowing us to see the separation between what we feel and what we know to be true, explains Akira O’Connor, a psychologist and senior lecturer at the University of St. Andrews School of Psychology and Neuroscience. The experience occurs when certain brain regions, particularly those responsible for recognizing familiarity, “twitch” or send false familiarity signals. This causes a brief mix-up that triggers a sense of recognition and creates a conflict with your current perception. A self-aware déjà vu is your brain’s way of letting you know that the memory you’re experiencing is inaccurate—and that’s a good thing because it means your frontal lobes are working as they should be. 

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“Déjà vu is the process of correcting that error and making sure you don’t act as though you remember that thing,” said O’Connor, one of the few experts on déjà vu. “There are all sorts of reasons why I think that’s the case, but one of them is this paradox that for a memory error, if that’s what it is, déjà vu happens when people’s brains are at their healthiest.” (He added that, for people with certain conditions, like dementia, the frontal lobes may fail to fact-check properly, resulting in repeated sensations of familiarity. This can become disruptive, as everything begins to feel familiar even if those memories aren’t real. It can delay receiving a proper diagnosis since they appear to have regained their memories, even though they haven’t.)

Although it is unclear why humans have this experience, most research into déjà vu suggests that it is a phenomenon related to the brain’s process for retrieving memories. Walking into a room would be the cue that triggers an involuntary retrieval of memory; there’d be no “access to content,” meaning there’s no memory to compare to the current moment, but the feeling of familiarity is there anyway. One small study examining déjà vu used immersive virtual reality to create standard everyday scenes—such as a bowling alley or a garden—which were shown to participants. They were then shown a new scene that was configured to spatially resemble a previously seen one. Study participants were more likely to report the strange feeling that something feels more familiar than it should while viewing these new but structurally similar scenes. Even if a scene isn’t an exact replica of a previous one, if it’s recognizable enough, it can trigger that uncanny feeling of familiarity and the inability to actually recall the original experience. It confirms that déjà vu is a memory error that also trips you out. 

[ Related: Why do people hate the sound of their own voice? ]

But perhaps the biggest gag of all is that there’s no real reason for humans to experience déjà vu; it’s just our brain’s glitchy way of rationalizing a puzzling human experience. “It tells us that we are sense-making machines. We are always trying to make sense of our environments and everything around us,” said O’Connor. “We spot patterns. We try to understand why things that are outside of us are happening.”

“We just notice that it’s weird,” he added, “and then we carry on.”

This story is part of Popular Science’s Ask Us Anything series, where we answer your most outlandish, mind-burning questions, from the ordinary to the off-the-wall. Have something you’ve always wanted to know? Ask us.

The post How does science explain déjà vu? It’s a brain glitch with a purpose. appeared first on Popular Science.

Over four billion years ago, the Red Planet may have been red hot. A 4.45-billion-year-old grain of the mineral zircon in a Martian meteorite found in the Sahara Desert in 2011 indicates Mars may have been home to boiling hot hydrothermal systems similar to Earth’s volcanoes. The findings are detailed in a study published November 22 in the journal Science Advances.

The team analyzed meteorites from a large space rock designated as NWA7034 or “Black Beauty.” While all Martian meteorites have clues about the planet’s geologic history, most of them are igneous rocks like those found on Earth and others are mantle rocks. 

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“What makes Black Beauty so special is that it’s a sample of regolith from the surface, which is similar to soil,” Aaron Cavosie, a study co-author and a planetary scientist from the Space Science and Technology Centre at Curtin University in Australia, tells Popular Science. “It contains hundreds of rock and mineral fragments from lots of different sources on Mars.”

Roughly 20 meteorites have been found here on Earth that are all believed to have been chipped off of Mars during the impact event that hurled the original Black Beauty stone down to Earth. The tiny grain of zircon within the meteorite was first described in a 2022 study. It provided scientists with an early record of crust formation on Mars, but also preserved the damage caused by earlier impacts by meteorites. 

“The Black Beauty meteorites offer an extraordinary buffet of clues that help to fill in the geological puzzle of Mars,” says Cavosie. 

In the new study, Cavosie and the team decided to take a closer look at the grain of Martian zircon, focusing on the trace elements within the space rock for clues about the early history of Mars. They used nano-scale geochemistry and found elemental evidence of hot water on Mars about 4.45 billion years ago. On Earth, these types of systems were essential to the development of life and water was key during the earliest parts of crust formation. 

Nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy helped the team identify the element patterns in the zircon. These include iron, sodium, yttrium, and aluminum. 

“We could tell by the patterns of how the Fe [Iron], Al [Aluminum], and Na [sodium] are found inside the zircon that they were incorporated into the grain as it grew, like layers in an onion,” Cavosie says. 

[Related: Meteorite found in a drawer in 1929 contains ancient evidence of liquid water on Mars.]

On Earth, the only zircons that have patterns like these form in magmatic-hydrothermal systems. These form when water is heated by a “volcanic plumbing system.” This system of hot boiling water then moves through rocks, taking these trace elements with them. The team believes that these elements were added as the zircon formed 4.45 billion years ago. This suggests that water was present during early magma-filled days on Mars. Other studies found that Earth’s moon also used to be full of magma.

“When we did the follow-up trace element study, and found that the martian zircon looks very similar to zircons from the Olympic Dam hydrothermal ore deposit in South Australia, we were very surprised, and even more excited,” says Cavosie. “It not only meant finding evidence for magmatic-hydrothermal systems on early Mars, but it also gave us an idea about what kinds of environments they form in from an Earth perspective.”

The post 4-billion-year-old mineral offers clues about Mars’ steaming hot past appeared first on Popular Science.

One of the realities of hybrid or fully remote work is having to set up multiple desks in each location, which is annoying and time-consuming. Logitech’s Casa Pop Up Desk Kit is the best remedy I’ve found for this situation, and it’s $30 cheaper thanks to an early Black Friday deal. This bundle of peripherals contains everything you need to get work done comfortably and efficiently and can be set up and broken down in only a few minutes.

Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

The kit contains a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard compatible with MacOS, Windows, and ChromeOS, which fits inside a carrying case that doubles as a monitor riser. The Bluetooth accessories work remarkably well, and the monitor riser can elevate a laptop’s display to eye level, which is significantly easier on the neck when working for longer stretches of time. The carrying case has an integrated strap, and each accessory has its own perfectly-cut out pocket to prevent them from getting damaged or spilling out inside a backpack. This is especially helpful when traveling. An additional compartment inside the kit can fit USB-C cables for charging the accessories and a couple of other odds and ends. The Casa Pop Up Desk is an innovative solution to a common problem, and it’s become a must-have travel companion during work trips. Best of all, the entire kit is wireless, so there’re no cables to plug and unplug every time I set it up or break it down.

• Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch With Easy Media Control and Built-in Touchpad $19.99 (Was $27.99)
• Logitech H390 Wired Headset $19.99 (Was $24.99)
• Logitech for Creators Litra Glow Premium LED Streaming Light $47.49 (was $59.99)
• Logitech C920x HD Pro Webcam $49.99 (Was $69.99)
• Logitech MX Anywhere 3S Compact Wireless Mouse $67.99 (Was $79.99)
• Logitech for Creators Blue Yeti USB Microphone $82.24 (Was $129.99)
• Logitech Spotlight Presentation Remote $84.99 (was $99.99)
• Logitech MX Mechanical Wireless Illuminated Performance Keyboard $139.38 (Was $169.99)

The post One of the best home office tech accessories I’ve ever tried is $30 off for Black Friday appeared first on Popular Science.

Over 64 years ago, the ocean quacked. Specifically, sailors aboard an Oberon-class submarine in 1960 detected a series of short, odd noises that resembled an agitated waterfowl. But they weren’t the only people to hear the sounds. In the ensuing decades, multiple instances of the strange audio—nicknamed the “Bio-Duck”—were documented, particularly in the waters surrounding Australia and Antarctica, including a soundscape analysis of the South Fiji Basin in 1982. And while the jury is still out on the quack’s exact culprit–or culprits–there’s a new theory. According to experts, what researchers have described as one of the “largest still unresolved mysteries of the Southern Ocean” may be a conversation between underwater inhabitants.

According to Ross Chapman, a professor emeritus of ocean acoustics at Canada’s University of Victoria, the Bio-Duck sounds may very well come from some kind of animal.

“The sound was so repeatable, we couldn’t believe at first that it was biological,” Chapman said in a statement ahead of this year’s annual Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America. “But in talking to other colleagues in Australia about the data, we discovered that a similar sound was heard quite often in other regions around New Zealand and Australia.”

Chapman wasn’t there for the 1982 Bio-Duck detection, but he began studying the audio in 1986. Since then, the field of ocean acoustics has evolved considerably, allowing scientists better means to study and interpret the noises.

“You have to understand that this type of study of ocean noise was in its infancy in those days,” said Chapman. Focusing on Bio-Duck, however, helped further their understanding of ocean bioacoustics. “As it turned out, we learned something new about sound in the ocean every day as we looked further into the data—it was really an exciting time for us.”

In the case of 1982’s Bio-Duck detection, researchers used what’s known as an acoustic antenna, which includes multiple hydrophones towed behind a ship as it trawls the waters. The antenna’s calibration allows users to hone in on specific directions and better pinpoint the origins of underwater sounds. After reviewing the audio files, Chapman and colleagues are confident Bio-Duck events are almost certainly biological in nature.

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“We discovered that the data contained a gold mine of new information about many kinds of sound in the ocean, including sounds from marine mammals,” he explained.

[Related: A lone dolphin has been yelling into Baltic Sea for years.]

It’s still unclear the exact species making all those quacks, although many experts theorize they come from the Antarctic Minke whale—or, more accurately, whales.

“We discovered that there were usually several different speakers at different places in the ocean, and all of them [were] making these sounds,” said Chapman. “The most amazing thing was that when one speaker was talking, the others were quiet, as though they were listening. Then the first speaker would stop talking and listen to responses from others.”

But even if the Bio-Quack mystery is one day solved for good, the question will always linger as to what those chatty mammals were talking about back in 1982.

“Maybe they were talking about dinner, maybe it was parents talking to children, or maybe they were simply commenting on that crazy ship that kept going back and forth towing that long string behind it,” said Chapman.

The post New theory explains mysterious ocean quacking first heard in the 1960s appeared first on Popular Science.

Public trust in science is declining in the U.S.. As people become increasingly leery of scientists and scientific institutions, belief in mis- and disinformation is on the rise. Some science ‘skeptics’ are pushing back on pasteurization, eschewing vaccines, and buying into speculative, or even dangerous supplements and diet trends. You might have friends and family members who’ve fallen prey to pseudoscientific influencers or who’ve begun to parrot common, but debunked ideas about health. 

Experts in misinformation and psychology say that a complex set of factors explain the worrying trend, but that there are ways to combat the spread of false ‘facts.’ Understanding the root of peoples’ belief in unfounded ideas and deploying certain communication strategies can help. Here’s what you can do.

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In science, simple answers are rare and information is constantly evolving as new data and research emerges. Because of that, identifying the most accurate guidance amid a sea of potential truths is difficult, says Lucy Butler, a psychology researcher who studies misinformation at Northeastern University. In contrast, mis- and disinformation (inaccurate info and intentionally misleading content, respectively), often offer straightforward explanations that “seem plausible,” she says. “Solutions that appear simple and logical are often quite appealing,” Butler adds. 

[ Related: Is raw milk safe? Science has a clear answer. ]

Some well-known, common logical flaws fuel the fire. “People often fall for this naturalistic fallacy, and assume that things that are natural are better,” she says. Hence, the paleo diet fad and also the growing popularity of raw milk, despite no evidence that either carries significant benefits and well-supported knowledge of risks. Yet, lots of things that are natural are deadly and many human-made solutions save lives. Decades removed from the conditions that incited public health changes like widespread pasteurization and vaccination campaigns, cultural memory fades. This “cognitive distance” can make it hard to understand the value of scientific advances in the present, adds Butler. 

Then, there’s our atomized information ecosystem. In recent years, there’s been a migration away from mainstream, centralized media which–though imperfect–is subject to an editorial process, and to platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. In the decentralized information environment facilitated through the internet and social media, “anybody can produce content about anything, regardless of their expertise, regardless of the factual nature of that information,” Butler notes. Low quality information has proliferated, much of it peddled by bloggers and influencers who project likable personas onto the internet. Followers trust the faces and stories they see, often falling into parasocial relationships. Influencers “build these networks, and they’re completely separated from any sort of fact checking process,” she says. 

Sometimes, the people parroting incorrect information aren’t aware they’re spreading falsehoods, but others craft disinformation with the intent of selling a product, says Gale Sinatra, a professor of psychology and education at the University of Southern California and author of the book Science Denial: Why it Happens and What to Do About It. As an example, she points to those pushing ivermectin as a treatment for Covid-19. 

[ Related: Why do we have fevers? It’s more complicated than ‘heat kills bugs.’ ]

“In this wellness industry, millions of dollars in supplements and other things are being sold by many of these influencers,” Sinatra says. In 2023, U.S. influencers carried a $21.1 billion market value, according to analysis from Statista. Through social media algorithms and tech companies’ influencer compensation schemes based on follower count and engagement times, even simply your attention can be enough for spreaders of health and science misinformation to profit.

Though money fuels a subset of influencers, others end up sharing mis- and disinformation for free, as they come to believe it and spread it through their immediate social networks. Many find themselves down the rabbit hole of science and health pseudoscience because they’re trying to resolve a problem or question they’re personally facing, they may feel let down by mainstream medicine or experts, says Butler. Sinatra agrees. Frequently, personal health problems or negative experiences with the healthcare system prompt people to seek alternatives and predispose someone to taking in misinformation, she says. Unfortunately, in the information overload, most are ill-equipped to discern fact from fiction, Butler says.

“We don’t teach science in a way that makes how science works accessible,” notes Sinatra. People tend to learn science as a set body of knowledge, or a list of facts. But the truth is that our understanding continually advances and changes. “Science is a process of finding out information and adjudicating evidence,” she adds. “The strength of science is that it shifts with new evidence. But if you understand it as a list of facts, then you’re like ‘hey, wait a minute. They were wrong.’” 

“When people [lose trust] in one facet of science, they will generalize that to other areas,” says Butler. And thus, recent events like rapidly shifting policies and recommendations over masking during the Covid pandemic has spurred distrust of medical professionals and the entire scientific endeavor writ large. 

The mainstream media environment doesn’t always help. Cutting edge science and health findings or emerging research are generally nuanced, and most coverage doesn’t or can’t tell the full story within the format, says Sinatra. “Nuance is really hard to convey to the general public,” she notes. Simplifying research and excluding complicating information to avoid confusion can leave gaps that are easily filled by false facts. Most health and science findings involve statistics and risk assessment which “we do struggle as human beings to understand,” Sinatra adds. 

The mathematical probabilities underlying something like a public health decision by the CDC are not intuitive. What is intuitive, in contrast, are stories, she says. Peoples’ decisions and beliefs are often unduly influenced by narrative and individual anecdotes, even if these are the exception. You may hear about one person experiencing a very rare vaccine side effect, and erroneously decide that the risk of that shot is greater than the risk of the disease it defends against. 

It can be frustrating to watch misunderstanding spread. And it’s woefully easy to dismiss or disparage anyone who expresses skepticism or concerns about scientific ideas as unhinged or unintelligent, says Sinatra. But that would be inaccurate and ineffective. It’s important to remember that anyone can fall for a falsehood, and that people generally come to their beliefs with good intentions.

“People are, almost all of the time, trying to do what’s best for themselves and their families,” says Butler. Health ends up at the center of so many conspiracies and disinformation campaigns because people care deeply about their own well-being and that of their loved ones. And in some ways, it can feel like we’re collectively losing control over our health. Rising rates of chronic disease like hypertension and diabetes, cancer among young people, and even depression–all of these real trends can spur desperation for answers and action that leads, again, to the overly-simplistic answers offered by digital wellness brands and grifters. “There’s nothing psychologically weird about wanting to be well and healthy,” says Sinatra.

So if you find yourself in a conversation with a family member who seems misinformed about a hot-button health topic, one of the most critical aspects of bridging the divide is approaching them with empathy, respect, and understanding–and without judgment, say both Sinatra and Butler. 

[ Related: What science actually says about seed oils ]

Sharing personal experience and narrative, if applicable, can potentially help build trust and connection–via the same human tendency to favor familiar faces and stories that influencers exploit. But well-sourced, reliable information remains more critical, they each note. 

“We’ve got pretty consistent evidence now that corrections work, especially for people who aren’t so staunch in their beliefs,” says Butler. “You might not necessarily convince everybody… but clear, accessible evidence [can] often really shift peoples’ belief,” she adds. There used to be concern within the field of misinformation psychology that corrections backfired–making people defensive and doubly-assured in their unfounded beliefs–yet newer assessments conducted by Butler and others have found that concern doesn’t bear out, she explains. 

It has to be understandable, it has to be well-explained, it should account for nuance, and it has to be delivered with respect, says Sinatra, but under these conditions, accurate information can prevail, particularly when delivered by a close social connection like a friend or family member. 

If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t pretend to. It can be tempting to exaggerate risk or fabricate examples, in a heated discussion, but creating new falsehoods will only lead to more distrust. Instead, make sure you have a good strategy for evaluating information sources, and arm yourself with a few key facts. “We all need to become more digitally literate and learn how to assess information online,” says Sinatra. A critical first step to combatting belief in misinformation is for all of us to “become better fact-checkers.”

The post How to talk to your ‘skeptic’ family about science misinformation appeared first on Popular Science.

Hey, gamer. We’re giving you exclusive access to our best Black Friday gaming deal a full week early because you just have to see this: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for cheaper than your Starbucks latte. 

New and existing users can get a 3-month membership for $36.49 (reg. $50.97)—that’s just $12 per month. That’s more Dortios, Cheetos, and Takis for game nights and less spent on subscription fees. But you have to be fast because we have less than 75 codes left in stock. 

You already know what’s up. But you probably don’t know that you can stack up to five discounted codes to get 28 percent off the next 15 months of membership (wowza).

Will you be new to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate? Here’s a quick rundown of what’s included:

• Access to new games on release day (hello, GTA VI!)
• 500+ games for Xbox, PC, mobile, and the cloud
• Online console multiplayer
• Member deals and discounts on purchases
• EA Play membership to play The Sims, Madden, and Battlefield

Many Xbox gamers get the membership simply to play online, but it’s also an awesome way to try out tons of new games without buying any outright. Play the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, something silly like Goat Simulator: Remastered, or a classic like Minecraft Legends.

This Black Friday Xbox Game Pass Ultimate discount is only valid while codes last. Less than 75 are left at $36.49 (reg. $50.97).

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: 3-Month Membership – Stackable & Global – (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows – Digital Code) – Final Sale – $36.49

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The post Black Friday early access: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now cheaper than coffee appeared first on Popular Science.

Arduino kits are great for teaching students about science, technology, engineering, and math. The Interaction Design Institute in Turin, Italy, created Arduino in 2005 to provide people of all ages with an easy, inexpensive way to build electronic devices and control them with rudimentary code. By making Arduino an open-source platform, the Institute made the technology freely available to anyone, which led to a vast array of starter kits. Today, everyone from young children to seasoned professional techies uses them to build everything from simple devices that turn on the lights to robots controlled remotely via Wi-Fi. Given their popularity, there are a lot of kits available, like our best overall pick, the Official Arduino Starter Kit. We look at some of the best Arduino kits and break down what you’ll find and how to choose one suited to your project and learning goals.

• Best overall: Official Arduino Starter Kit
• Best upgrade: Sunfounder Mega2560 R3 Project Kit
• Best WiFi set: GAR Monster Starter Kit for Arduino
• Best budget: Elegoo UNO Project Basic Starter Kit

Arduino kits have many similarities, so making our selection was not easy. Often, with our reviews, there are several key components to highlight, but Arduino starter kits have dozens, if not hundreds, of elements. In this case, it’s not a very practical approach. What we’ve done instead is ensure that a kit includes key elements, then focus on how each kit satisfies the needs of a particular learner. Does it suit a complete beginner? An intermediate user? Does it meet the criteria for STEM learning? By doing that, we believe we’ve provided a broad selection that offers something for just about everyone.

Most Arduino starter kits are very affordable and make for excellent STEM toys. That said, we included a premium option for those enthusiastic makers who want to develop multiple projects without having to shop for more components. Not surprisingly, larger kits also tend to offer greater versatility. No matter what you’re looking for, we’ve got an option here for you.

Why it made the cut: This kit, from the company that invented the Arduino system, teaches makers of all ages how software and hardware interact to produce real-world results.

Specs

• Board: UNO R3
• Number of Components: Over 100
• Projects Included: 15

Pros

• High-quality components
• 170-page project book is easy to understand
• Many additional free resources available online

Cons

• Premium price
• Software must be downloaded

Picking the best Arduino starter kit is no easy task, given the huge variety. That said, nobody has more expertise teaching beginners than the Arduino organization, and its official starter kit provides a wide-ranging yet easy-to-understand introduction to coding and electronics.

The Official Arduino Starter Kit is ideal for STEM learning or for adult hobbyists or professionals interested in these areas. It features the latest UNO R3 microcontroller board and more than 100 components. The array of switches, sensors, actuators, motors, and displays offers terrific versatility. The kit includes an excellent project guidebook. The Arduino software (called Integrated Development Environment, or IDE) isn’t supplied but is available as a free download.

Buyers pay a premium for the name, but the official Arduino starter kit is backed by an array of online resources that allow makers to expand their learning and undertake projects far beyond the 15 provided within this excellent kit.

Why it made the cut: Budget Arduino starter kits are great for introducing beginners to coding and electronics, but eager learners soon want more. The SunFounder kit provides the logical ‘next step’ and great value for money.

Specs

• Board: MEGA2560 R3
• Number of Components: 291
• Projects Included: 40

Pros

• MEGA2560 board offers increased versatility
• Online tutorials extend capabilities
• Convenient storage case

Cons

• Not ideal for beginners

Inexpensive entry-level Arduino kits are a great way to learn about coding and electronics. However, their versatility is somewhat limited, and those eager to continue learning may soon want more. Fortunately, they don’t need to spend much money to extend their skill set. This SunFounder kit offers an extensive collection of components and is of great value.

The kit is based on the MEGA2560 board, which is larger than the UNO and provides a wider range of connectivity options. That allows users to employ more complicated wiring. Used in conjunction with items like an ultrasonic ranging module, joystick, and tilt switch, makers can build more complex mechanisms. Although the kit includes 40 projects, many more can be developed using online resources.

Users must download the IDE separately. While SunFounder provides some code, it, like instructions, is not as comprehensive as it might be. It’s less detailed than some competitors’, meaning learners may have to find solutions elsewhere or use other online resources to maximize the kit’s potential. While these challenges are not difficult to overcome, we would not recommend this kit for beginners.

Why it made the cut: It’s expensive, but the GAR Monster starter kit can help beginners build and control complex wireless systems.

Specs

• Board: MEGA2560, UNO R3, NANO, ESP32 Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
• Number of Components: Over 500
• Projects Included: None (see description)

Pros

• One of the largest component collections available
• Includes three different microcontroller boards
• Wireless capabilities

Cons

• Expensive
• May be overwhelming for beginners

Goliath Automation and Robotics (GAR) claims its Monster starter kit for Arduino is second only to its $500 Colossus kit as the largest kit available.

While the Monster starter kit is not cheap, it is impressively comprehensive. Although it will appeal to more advanced users, it includes basics like the UNO R3 board that make it suitable for beginners. As a maker’s skills and knowledge increase, the MEGA2560 board allows them to pursue more complex projects, and the NANO and ESP32 platforms make it possible to develop wireless systems. The GAR Monster starter kit is also compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and Raspberry Pi.

The instructions are fairly basic, and the main repository for projects is online. GAR offers an expanding library, but that’s just the start. Given the number and variety of components provided, those wishing to extend their knowledge will find hundreds of suitable projects online.

Why it made the cut: Elegoo makes a number of highly-rated Arduino starter kits. This one may be the most affordable one you’ll find, but it offers all the basics needed to get started.

Specs

• Board: UNO R3
• Number of Components: Over 100, though many are duplicates
• Projects Included: 8

Pros

• Remarkably low cost
• Good quality components
• IDE included on CD

Cons

• Breadboard (a plastic board used to prototype projects) is smaller than some expect
• Limited project scope

The Elegoo UNO Basic Starter Kit is designed for those who want to try Arduino without spending much money. It includes the UNO R3 microcontroller, a reasonable assortment of components, and a CD that contains a PDF tutorial and the IDE software.

The tutorials focus on introducing the concepts of using code to drive electronic devices. It is a valuable introduction for beginners. The tutorials are very informative, and produce real-world results like illuminating an LED, activating a buzzer, and other fun projects). That said, keen learners will soon seek more demanding challenges, and although they’ll find other projects online, the variety of components included in this kit may limit their ability to pursue them.

The kit offers a couple hundred components, but many of them are duplicates. For example, it includes five red LEDs, five green LEDs, etc. Although it includes 130 resistors, they are limited to 10 types. Every component has its use in basic projects, but this kit does not offer the versatility that might appear at first glance.

Arduino is an open-source hardware and software platform, which means anyone can copy the designs to produce an Arduino starter kit. As a result, many are essentially clones of the original and are largely similar. That said, the quality and content of each kit can vary considerably. Here’s what to look for.

The core of every Arduino starter kit is a board that contains a microcontroller. This can interpret a signal (input) and perform an action (output) based on instructions supplied by the user. For example, pressing a button might turn on a light or move an object.

Arduino UNO, MEGA2560 and NANO are the most common boards, but many others are available. Each has its own specification, which will become of greater importance as a maker’s knowledge increases. Size may be a consideration if the goal is to build the board into, say, a robot or other confined space. UNO is the most basic and usually recommended for beginners. One of MEGA’s key features is the ability to accept more connections if the project’s wiring is complicated.

Most Arduino starter kits come with a number of projects or tutorials. These may be contained within a booklet or a DVD containing a PDF. Quantity varies from a single tutorial to the 40 projects included in our best value suggestion.

The creative possibilities of a particular kit usually exceed what is covered by the tutorials, however. Manufacturer’s websites, and those run by Arduino enthusiasts, provide almost limitless expansion and variation. Video tutorials are common. Note however that if they are not specific to a particular kit, buying additional components may be necessary.

There are literally thousands of Arduino components and modules available. It’s certainly an area worth exploring. For beginners, it is undoubtedly easiest to buy a starter kit and follow the tutorials provided. A ‘breadboard’ is a key component, allowing circuits to be built without soldering.

While many Arduino components are available individually, there is a compelling argument for buying additional starter kits, even for those people who have gained some experience. This is especially true if a maker has a particular project or range of projects in mind. Larger starter kits frequently contain parts for related projects, and buying one can often be easier than compiling an extensive shopping list. They are convenient and may offer better value. Compatibility issues aren’t common—all components should follow the Arduino standard—but buying from the same manufacturer ensures everything works together.

The cost of an Arduino starter kit largely depends upon its complexity. The GAR Monster Starter Kit for Arduino, for example, which allows users to build wireless systems, has a list price of more than $225. But those looking to begin with a less expensive option can learn the fundamentals with the Elegoo UNO Project Basic Starter Kit.

It’s a difficult question to answer because all Arduino starter kits are essentially aimed at those with little or no prior knowledge. Our selections above offer a variety of solutions suitable for all learning levels and budgets.

It depends on the kit, though its contents usually give some idea. Once you understand the basics, you can build movement sensors, smoke or fire alarms, timers, air quality sensors, lighting controls, and basic robots. Every kit includes tutorials, but many others are available online. Once you’ve gained a little experience, you can also develop your own variations and share them with other Arduino engineers.

In basic terms, Arduino is designed for real-world building of models and prototypes, using simple coding for control. It teaches the interaction between software and hardware. A Raspberry Pi is a mini-computer for learning programming and software development. It can be extended to activate hardware, but that’s not its primary purpose.

• Best overall: Official Arduino Starter Kit
• Best upgrade: Sunfounder Mega2560 R3 Project Kit
• Best WiFi set: GAR Monster Starter Kit for Arduino
• Best budget: Elegoo UNO Project Basic Starter Kit

We can’t think of a better place to start the Arduino adventure than with the official Arduino starter kit. It provides a number of excellent examples of how software and electronics have real-world impact. However, it does come at a premium price. The Elegoo Uno is an Arduino starter kit for those who want to test the waters at minimal cost. Nevertheless, it has sufficient content to prove absorbing and deliver satisfying results.

The post The best Arduino starter kits of 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Nothing says “Black Friday deal” like a low price on a huge TV. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your HD set, or jumping up to a bigger size, you’re in luck. Right now, you can get a 65-Inch 4K Smart TV from Roku for $378 as an early Black Friday deal. This TV has all the latest features, from HDR (High Dynamic Range) support to a bezel-less design that makes the television look great on a home entertainment center or hung on a wall. The best part is if you shop now you’ll be able to watch football (or anything else you’d like) on Thanksgiving and Black Friday from the comfort of your home.

Roku

The Roku Select Series TV’s biggest immediate selling points are its immense size and high resolution. However, there’s a lot going on under the hood that helps this TV stand out. It runs RokuOS, which we’ve found to be the best user interface of any smart TV platform. The bundled remote is easy to use, app icons on the screen itself are large and easy to read, and there’re physical buttons that allow you to access popular streaming services immediately. The included remote also has a microphone, which allows you to access the shows and services you want using your voice. The Select Series TV is outfitted with three HDMI ports, a coaxial input, RCA inputs, an optical audio jack, Ethernet jack, and headphone jack. You’ll have plenty of space to plug in a game console, soundbar, and any other accessories without relying on a splitter. If you’re looking to treat yourself to a big screen TV, but don’t want to break the bank, we can’t think of a better early Black Friday deal.

• TCL 55-Inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart TV, $239.99 (Was $329.99)
• SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class Crystal UHD 4K DU7200 Series HDR Smart TV, $347.99 (Was $379.99)
• Hisense U7 Series 55U7N 55-Inch ULED 4K Smart TV, $477.99 (Was $798)
• Hisense U6 Series 65U6N 65-Inch ULED 4K Smart TV, $497.99 (WAs $698)
• Hisense U8 Series 65U8N 65-Inch ULED 4K Smart TV, $897.99 (Was $1,499.99)
• SAMSUNG 75-Inch Class QLED 4K Q60D Series Quantum HDR Smart TV, $897.99 (Was $1,197.99)
• LG 48-Inch Class OLED evo C4 Series Smart TV 4K, $996.99 (Was $1,599.99)
• Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X77L Series: LED Smart Google TV, $998 (Was $1,498)
• SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class OLED 4K S90D Series HDR+ Smart TV, $1,397.99 (Was $2,197.99)

The post Get a 65-Inch 4K Roku TV for just $378 with this early Black Friday deal appeared first on Popular Science.

I have tested a ton of solar generators and, at this point, I recommend them to pretty much everyone I know. These powerful backup batteries can save the day in an emergency, or just make a camping trip or outdoor party a lot more enjoyable. Solar generators aren’t cheap, but they typically experience huge discounts on Black Friday. This year, the deals are particularly outrageous, dropping prices lower than we’ve seen this year—and some of these are the lowest prices ever. You want to buy one of these before the emergency comes along, so don’t hesitate on these deals since many of them will likely sell out before they expire.

Jackery

This is a ton of battery backup for $400. The 1,070Wh capacity battery can charge a typical smartphone up to 74 times or a drone up to 20 times. It also works as an uninterruptible power supply, so you can keep your devices plugged into it, and when the power goes it, it automatically switches to battery power in just 20 milliseconds. That’s crucial for things like routers or mini fridges. This package weighs less than 25 pounds and you’ll never regret having it around when you need it.

• Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station, 2042Wh LiFePO4 Home Backup Battery $799 (was $1,499)
• Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300 $169 (was $259)
• Jackery Solar Generator 3000 PRO 400W, 3024Wh Power Station with 2x200W Solar Panels $1,999 (was $3,999)
• Jackery Solar Generator 4000 Kit, Explorer 2000 Plus and 1X PackPlus E2000 Plus Expandable Battery with 2X200W Solar Panel $2,599 (was $4,999)
• Jackery Explorer 100 Plus Power Station, 99Wh LiFePO4 Battery Power Bank, 3-Port 128W Portable Charger $89 (was $149)
• Jackery 1000 Plus Solar Generator Kit – 2528Wh Portable Power Station, 2x100W Solar Panels $1,399 (was $2,099)
• Jackery Explorer 240 v2 Portable Power Station $179 (was $249)
• Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 $284 (was $499)
• Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus Portable Power Station with 40W Book-sized Solar Panel $279 (was $379)
• Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (6kWh)+Manual Transfer Switch, 6128 Wh Home Backup Power System $3,599 (was $6,799)
• Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus with Smart Transfer Switch $3,499 (was $4,999)

• Anker SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station $999 (was $1,999)
• Anker SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station, 3840Wh $2,399 (was $3,999)
• Anker SOLIX F2000 Solar Generator, 2048Wh Portable Power Station with LiFePO4 Batteries and 400W Solar Panel $1,499 (was $2,989)
• Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station, 1800W (Peak 2400W) Solar Generator $449 (was $999)
• Anker SOLIX C300 Portable Power Station, Outdoor 288Wh LiFePO4 Battery $179 (was $249)
• Anker SOLIX C300 DC Power Bank Station, Outdoor 288Wh (90,000mAh), Portable Power Station $139 (was $199)
• Anker 521 Portable Power Station Upgraded with LiFePO4 Battery $159 (was $219)
• Anker Power Bank Power Station 60,000mAh,Portable Outdoor Generator $89 (was $139)
• Anker SOLIX C800 Portable Power Station, 1200W (Peak 1600W) Solar Generator $399 (was $599)

• BLUETTI Portable Power Station Elite 200 V2, 2073.6Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup $1,099 (was $1,999)
• BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC180, 1152Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup $479 (was $999)
• BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC200L with 200W Solar Panel Included, 2048Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup $1,199 (was $1,899)
• BLUETTI Power Station AC300&B300K Expansion Battery $1,599 (was $2,999)
• BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC70 with 200W Solar Panel, 768Wh Solar Generator $699 (was $999)
• BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC50B, 448Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup $279 (was $399)
• BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC180P, 1440Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup $699 (was $899)
• BLUETTI CPAP Backup Battery X60 Powerful 614Wh Power Supply with Comprehensive Cable Set $399 (was $649)
• BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC60P, 504Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup $449 (was $699)
• BLUETTI Solar Generator AC500 & B300K with 4 200W Solar Panels Included $3,198 (was $4,599)
• BLUETTI Energy Storage System 2 AC300 & 2 B300K $3,899 (was $5,799)
• BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC200PL, 2304Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup $1,399 (was $1,999)
• BLUETTI Solar Generator AC500 & 2 B300K with 350W Solar Panel Included $3,498 (was $4,999)
• BLUETTI Solar Generator AC300 & 2 B300K Modular Power System with 350W Solar Panel Included $3,198 (was $4,599)
• BLUETTI Solar Generator 2 AC500 & 2 B300K, 5529.6Wh Power Station $4,299 (was $5,999)
• BLUETTI Solar Backpack Power Station Handsfree 1, 268.8Wh 300W LiFePO4 Solar Generator $299 (was $429)
• BLUETTI Solar Backpack Power Station Handsfree 2 with 100W Solar Panel Included $599 (was $749)

• EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station Delta 2, 1024Wh LiFePO4 (LFP) Battery $399 (was $999)
• EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station DELTA 2 Max, 2400W LFP Solar Generator $999 (was $1,899)
• EF ECOFLOW Solar Generator 4096Wh DELTA Pro 3 with 2X400W Portable Solar Panels $3,599 (was $5,999)
• EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station 3600Wh DELTA Pro $1,899 (was $3,699)
• EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station RIVER 2, 256Wh LiFePO4 Battery $168 (was $219)
• EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station DELTA 3 Plus (2024 New) $649 (was $899)
• EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station RIVER 3, 245Wh LiFePO4 Battery Power Station $159 (was $259)
• EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station RIVER 2 Max 500 $278 (was $499)
• EF ECOFLOW Solar Generators, DELTA 2 Portable Power Station with 2PCS 100W 12V Solar Panels $579 (was $1,099)
• EF ECOFLOW Solar Generator River 2 Pro 768Wh Portable Power Station & 160W Portable Solar Panel $549 ($899)
• EF ECOFLOW DELTA Pro Ultra 6144Wh Power Station $4,649 (was $5,999)
• EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station DELTA 1300, 1260Wh Solar Powered Generator $594 (was $699)

The post These are the best Black Friday solar generator deals we have ever seen appeared first on Popular Science.

An eReader is more than a convenient way to carry an entire collection of James Paterson novels onto an airplane. Today’s eReader screens are stunning, with sharp text that looks just like real ink and paper. These displays separate eReaders from tablets, making them the best way to read digital books. Modern eReaders are friendly and inviting, like our best overall pick, the Kindle Paperwhite. They encourage reading and provide services and apps you won’t find on traditional smartphones and tablets. With the best eReaders, you’ll access books, audiobooks, magazines, and more in a format dedicated to useability and your eyes.

• Best overall: Kindle Paperwhite
• Best for kids: Kindle Kids
• Best for seniors: Amazon Kindle
• Best for manga: Kobo Sage
• Best for students: Kindle Scribe
• Best color eReader: BOOX Note Air 4 C
• Best budget: Kobo Clara BW

The writers and editors working on this article have spent thousands of hours reading on paper books and electronic devices. We’ve felt the sting of tired eyes and are glad to leave the world of papercuts behind. 

Taking a critical look at eReaders starts with display clarity. These devices are designed for easy reading, and the best of the bunch must have an impressive, crisp look as close to analog ink and paper text as possible. 

Most eReaders on the market offer similar stats for battery life and storage space, so we focused on the factors that separate the readers—namely screen lights, screen size, and file options. An eReader must be as easy to see as it is to navigate, and generic budget-priced eReaders are notoriously clunky with interfaces that look more like a calculator screen than a soothing, inviting digital library. We ran through the eReader menus, checking for speed and intuitiveness. If we hit a roadblock and had to click the “help” function to figure out what to do, it was a big red flag for casual readers. 

Lastly, we considered price. Devices over $250 must have something special to offer (like a color display), or why spend the money? And devices less than $70 seem sketchy from the start and will likely crash regularly. 

Today’s eReaders are sophisticated tablets capable of displaying text and images in a wide variety of eye-friendly ways. But with so many eReaders on the market, finding the device that suits your needs and reading habits can be difficult. Do you want an eReader with a clean, simple interface? Do you want an eReader with a lot of file options? Do you want an eReader for teens or younger children? One of the choices below should check all your boxes so you can spend more time ereading and less time searching the internet for the best eReaders.

Amazon

Why it made the cut: The Amazon Paperwhite is not only thin, it has enough storage to load up thousands of PDFs, and the little eReader has no problem displaying PDFs on its gorgeous e-ink screen. 

Specs

• Screen size: 7-inch screen 
• Waterproof: Yes
• Resolution: 300 ppi
• Front light: 17 LED lights
• Storage: 16 GB

Pros

• Easy to add and read PDFs without lag
• Lightweight and thin enough for pockets
• Screen looks good even in sunlight

Cons

• Can’t read every file format, such as EPUB
• Easy to lose
• Must connect to a computer for file transfer

The Kindle Paperwhite represents a sweet spot for readers with a bit more cash to spend on an Amazon eReader for a few noticeable creature comforts. The 7-inch, 300 ppi screen may not seem like a huge improvement over the base model’s 6-inch display, but that extra fraction of an inch actually translates into more words on screen and fewer page turns during each reading session. That translates into thousands or even millions fewer turns over the device’s lifespan.

The Paperwhite relies on 17 LEDs for its illumination, compared to just four in the standard Kindle. You can also adjust the color temperature of the Paperwhites LEDs to give either warm or cool tones.

For readers who want to consume their literature (or pulp) in the bath or at the beach, the Paperwhite’s IPX8 rating allows it to survive full submersion in freshwater (up to an hour) or seawater (up to three minutes). The standard Kindle doesn’t offer any real weatherproofing.

The Paperwhite generally offers a fairly great reading experience. The pages turn quickly, the navigation has been streamlined from previous versions, and it offers USB-C charging. Hence, you’re one step closer to finally recycling all those old MicroUSB cables.

I personally opted for the ad-supported version, which shows advertisements on the lock screen in exchange for a $20 discount on the device itself. That may not be worth it for you if your brain hasn’t become as hopelessly desensitized to ads as mine has.

Amazon

Why it made the cut: The Kindle Paperwhite Kids tablet encourages youngsters to read more sans distractions

Specs

• Screen size: 6-inch screen 
• Waterproof: No
• Resolution: 300 ppi
• Front light: Yes; 4 LED
• Storage: 16GB

Pros

• Long-lasting battery
• Amazon Kids+ subscription
• Two-year warranty

Cons

• Expensive for a kid-themed gadget

Finding an eReader that’s kid-proof can be tough, but Amazon has made it easier by introducing the Kindle Kids, a more child-friendly version of its entry-level eReader. On a technical level, the Kindle and Kindle Kids are identical. Both have a six-inch 300ppi e-ink display, four LED backlights, and a battery that can last for weeks at a time without needing to be plugged in.

The difference is that Amazon offers the Kindle Kids with a case, a two-year warranty, and one year of access to its Kids+ subscription service. Kids+ functions similarly to Amazon Kindle Unlimited: Children get unlimited access to a library of age-appropriate titles, which they can download and read at their leisure. Major titles that are available via Kids+ are the entire Chronicles of Narnia, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Harry Potter series. This service costs $4.99 per month, so getting a free year cuts the Kindle Kids’ up-front cost in half.

The Kindle Kids also has friendly features like Word Wise, which shows synonyms and definitions above difficult words, and Vocabulary Builder, which allows kids to highlight words they don’t know and create flashcards from them. These features allow children to build their reading skills independently rather than asking an adult. The Kindle Kids is pretty pricey as far as kids tech goes, but it’s less expensive (not to mention distracting) than most tablets.

Amazon

Why it made the cut: The iconic Amazon Kindle is still one of the best eReaders for any age, but seniors will especially love the reading light, the user-friendly text options, and the low price. 

Specs

• Screen size: 6-inch screen
• Waterproof: No
• Resolution: 300 ppi
• Front light: 4 LEDs
• Storage: 16 GB

Pros

• 4-week battery life when used for 30 minutes a day
• Affordable
• Simple design with no screen clutter
• Robust text size, spacing, and style options

Cons

• Front lights not as bright or bigger than others on this list
• No video features

The Amazon Kindle has come a long way since the first generation of eReaders. The most recent model added front lights for easy reading in the dark. The e-ink screen looks great even in sunlight, and the fonts can be adjusted to suit the reader’s needs, making it the best eReader for seniors. 

Seniors will love the simplicity of the basic Kindle. The menu screens are barebones, and browsing the library is straightforward. Buying books is also a breeze, but make sure the readers understand how it works before they unknowingly rack up thousands of dollars in John Grisham debt.  

The Amazon Kindle can also be used as an audiobook player, and a subscription to Audible makes listening to books cost-effective. But there is no internal speaker, so you need some noise-canceling Bluetooth earbuds (or a wireless speaker if you’re in a quiet place). We wish the screen were a bit bigger, as some seniors will still have trouble seeing the 6-inch display even when the size of the text is blown up. The next biggest Kindle size would be the Oasis, an upscale device that costs more than double the price of the standard Kindle. Save your money and stick with the affordable option. 

Why it made the cut: The Kobo Sage can handle just about every file format you want, a huge plus for Manga readers whose taste goes beyond Amazon’s limited offerings. And the big display makes art and text look great.

Specs

• Screen size: 8-inch screen
• Waterproof: Yes
• Resolution: 300 ppi
• Front light: Yes; LEDs unknown
• Storage: 32 GB

Pros

• Big 8-inch screen
• Looks good in wide landscape mode
• Supports multiple file formats
• Nice, tactile buttons for easy page-turning

Cons

• Buttons can feel a little slow
• Black and white only
• Expensive

Japanese graphic novels (manga) come in every genre imaginable from a wide variety of sources, so you’ll want an eReader that can handle every type of file format to read it all. The Kobo Sage’s large e-ink screen makes black-and-white manga look great, almost as good as physical paper. And holding the Kobo Sage sideways in landscape mode adds to the feeling of reading a real graphic novel. 

The Kobo Sage is the best eReader for manga because it can read comic book files CBZ and CBR, plus ebook files EPUB, EPUB3, MOBI, FilePub, and PDFs. Navigating through a comic is easy, thanks to the side buttons. And the front lights allow for nighttime reading. It’s also waterproof for those who love to read at the beach or pool.

The biggest drawbacks are the price and the lack of color. For reading colorful American comics, you’ll be better off with a standard tablet like an iPad. However, this eReader does look better in sunlight than the glossy screen of an iPad. And manga fans will love the Koba Sage, even with the limitations.  

Why it made the cut: An easy-to-use interface and note-taking abilities mean you can use this eReader in and out of class.

Specs

• Screen size: 10.2-inch screen
• Waterproof: No
• Resolution: 300 ppi
• Front light: 35 LEDs
• Storage: 16, 32, or 64 GB

Pros

• Big, beautiful display
• High refresh rate
• Easy-to-use interface

Cons

• Expensive
• Only available with a stylus

The Scribe is Amazon’s first big-screen Kindle in over a decade, and this return to form should be welcomed by digital readers everywhere. The Scribe’s 10.2-inch display has the same 300 ppi screen density as its smaller siblings, making text look as crisp as ever. The screen also refreshes at the same rate, which means you can turn pages quickly without seeing long-lasting artifacts from the previous one on your screen. 

Similarly, the Scribe has the same intuitive, gesture-based user interface as other Kindles, so you’ll be right at home if you’re familiar with any of Amazon’s eReaders. If you already have a collection of Kindle books, they’ll be available on the Scribe from the moment you first activate it, which is very helpful. 

If all you want is a big-screen Kindle, you’re in luck: The Scribe gets full marks in this regard. Unfortunately, Amazon designed this eReader with a secondary purpose: note-taking. The Kindle Scribe is bundled with a basic or premium stylus, depending on how much you pay. Tapping the screen with your stylus allows you to create digital, handwritten notes, which you can refer back to later. You can annotate e-books and PDFs synced to your Kindle Scribe or create original notes on a blank canvas that can be accessed through the cloud. 

Annotation on the Kindle Scribe works well enough, but it feels like this feature should be optional rather than mandatory. A Kindle Scribe with 16GB of storage and the Basic Pen runs costs $340. That’s tough to swallow if you don’t see yourself using the Scribe to write very often, if at all. A $300 basic Scribe with no pen would be easier to recommend. Still, if you have a library of Kindle books and want a large-screen eReader, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Why it made the cut: While color e-ink technology is still in its infancy, the BOOX Note Air 3 C eReader is leading the pack with a good color display and responsive touchscreen, making it the best of this limited marketplace. 

Specs

• Screen size: 10.3-inch screen
• Waterproof: No
• Resolution: 150 ppi
• Front light: Yes; LEDs unknown
• Storage: 64 GB

Pros

• Paper-like texture
• Handles all standard file types
• Stylus is good for taking notes

Cons

• Costs as much as an iPad but does less

Color e-ink displays are still a niche technology, but the BOOX Note Air 3 C is the best option yet, thanks to BOOX’s continued investment in improving its displays. Besides its display, the big differentiator with this eReader is that it runs Android, a much more capable operating system than the one found on Kindles and Kobos. You can download apps to read books from different digital libraries and even browse the web. The tradeoff is that e-ink displays don’t refresh information nearly as quickly as an LCD screen on your phone or tablet, so the experience will be a lot more limited.

The Kaleido 3 color screen of the BOOX Note Air 3 C uses light filtering to create colors, not actual color microcapsules. You’re looking at monochrome microcapsules through a layer of filters to create color. This latest generation of the technology has 30% better color saturation and 50% more pixels per inch than the one used on previous Boox tablets. The BOOX Note Air 3 C is capable of displaying up to 4096 different colors, which will cover many of the hues and shades of primary colors. If you’re expecting the vividness of an Android or Apple tablet, you will be disappointed, but it’s still really impressive for an eReader. 

As a regular, black-and-white eReader, the BOOX Note Air 3 C does a good enough job, but you’re paying extra for the color functionality. If you’re not interested in the color, there’s not much else this eReader offers that you can’t find in cheaper devices like the Kindle or the Kobo products. The only other benefit of this device is the stylus; it’s responsive and a good eReader for annotations and jotting notes. The color ink Kaledio 3 technology was introduced recently, and it’s the cream of the crop in terms of color variety and speed. We don’t know when or if color e-ink will ever be perfected, so this is the best color eReader of the bunch as of now and the best splurge. 

Kobo

Why it made the cut: Access to ad-free reading and flexible file access is only a little over $100.

Specs

• Screen size: 6-inch screen
• Waterproof: No
• Resolution: 212 ppi
• Front light: Yes; LEDs unknown
• Storage: 8 GB

Pros

• Thin and lightweight
• Glare-free screen
• Connects to OverDrive

Cons

• Syncing issues

Technically, this eReader costs more than the base model of the Amazon Kindle. However, Kindles without on-screen ads have different prices. Enter the Kobo Clara BW, a little less expensive than the adless Kindle with more flexibility. You can download EPUB and PDF files or connect this eReader to OverDrive to easily access books from your local library. And, with the Kobo Desktop App, syncing your library has never been easier. You can also read it in the bathtub or at the beach thanks to its IPX8 rating.

With advances in e-ink tech and touch screens, the problems of first-generation eReaders are all but gone. There are no more weird visual artifacts and lag when turning a page. You won’t need to struggle with dark screens that are impossible to see at night. And unlike the early 2000s, you have more than one or two eReaders to choose from.  Here’s what to know when starting a new chapter with your eReader adventure:

Tablets have become affordable options for casual computing. So why would you need a separate eReader when your tablet (or phone) can access all the popular ebook apps? In a word: Readability. As colorful and bright as LCD tablet screens have become, grayscale e-ink displays are gentler on the eyes. The gray contrast lets the eye relax and focus on the text. And because eReaders are made for books, the page-turning controls are more responsive and text options are more varied than tablets and smartphone apps. Plus, eReaders are generally smaller and more travel-friendly than tablets.  

Most eReaders only display text and images in simple monochromatic grays. While there are a few color eReaders available, the technology of color e-ink has yet to be perfected. In the past few years, Kaledio has led the way for color eReaders like the BOOX Note Air 3 C, and the results are pretty good—but not great. The color of these eReaders is dull, like a photo viewed through sunglasses. And when you look at the screen from certain angles, the color all but vanishes. This is fine for reading some books and PDFs, but those looking for slap-you-in-the-eye colors are better off with a full-color iPad or Microsoft Surface tablet.

Amazon’s line of Kindles loves the proprietary AZW file type, but they can also handle PDFs, MOBI, standard doc files, and more. However, Kobo eReaders are versatile and can digest more types of saved files. Kobo has more options if you want to access a wide variety of books and comics. The downside: Not all file types will work as smoothly as the standard PDF and EPUB files. When moving files over to the eReader, some formatting may shift. This isn’t a deal-breaker but can impact the reading experience. 

An eReader costs between $99-$450 depending on size, features, ppi, waterproofing, on-screen ads, and more.

The best size for an eReader is a 6-inch screen. That has become the industry standard for Kindles, Kobos, and more. It’s roughly the size of a typical mass-market paperback book. You can always adjust the text size if needed. For storage sizes, anything bigger than 2 GB will house at least a thousand books or more, enough for the typical reader. Currently, 8 GB seems to be the norm for all popular eReaders, and most offer a 32 GB model at a higher price point.

Kobo can read Kindle books, but you need to convert the file to do so, which can be a hassle. Kobo and Kindle don’t like to play together for obvious reasons. But a program like Calibre can transform the Amazon file into a Kobo-friendly file. It requires file juggling, exporting, and importing, but it can be done. 

The Kindle Paperwhite is the easiest eReader to use. The menus are simple and user-friendly. There is no background clutter or extra apps to worry about. And the interface is quick and responsive. The Kindle Oasis is also a good choice, but the light options and sensors can confuse those new to eReader features. Amazon also provides high-quality customer service if you need help. For simply reading books, the Kindle Paperwhite is the easiest Reader. 

The e-ink display built into eReaders doesn’t create light like the LCD on a smartphone or tablet, which puts less strain on your eyes. Rather than competing with other sources of light in your room—like lamps or the sun—it uses them to illuminate what’s on its screen, much like a paper book. Using an eReader with backlights on will put more strain on your eyes, but still not as much as an LCD screen would.

This depends on the operating system the eReader runs on. Some eReaders allow you to access the internet, but the experience will be slow because of an e-ink display’s relatively low refresh rate compared to phones or tablets. This feature will be useful in a pinch but don’t expect an eReader to replace a tablet fully.

If you read regularly but travel often or don’t have enough space on your shelf, an eReader is a great investment. You can take thousands of books with you and read them anytime, anywhere.

Nearly all eReaders today offer simple WiFi connectivity.  And most books will download to your device in seconds. WiFi-only models should give you enough internet juice for the average reader to load up on books at home before a long vacation or trip into a world without internet (perish the thought). If you want a 4G cellular connection to download books anywhere, you’ll need to spend more for a 4G-ready eReader. And you’ll need a data plan. Those extra expenses are only worth it if you absolutely, positively need internet access wherever you travel. Because no matter where you are, sometimes you need a quick dose of Jack Reacher’s unique brand of justice.

• Best overall: Kindle Paperwhite
• Best for kids: Kindle Kids
• Best for seniors: Amazon Kindle
• Best for manga: Kobo Sage
• Best for students: Kindle Scribe
• Best color eReader: BOOX Note Air 4 C
• Best budget: Kobo Clara BW

Digital books are more than a fad. And an eReader with a gorgeous e-ink display helps you get the most out of your reading experience. They have come a long way since the days of built-in keyboards and glitchy page-turning lag. These sleek, simple readers are gentle on the eyes and fast on the fingers. With the best eReaders, staying up to date on reading is as easy as tapping a screen. 

The post The best eReaders in 2024, tested and reviewed appeared first on Popular Science.

Good luck trying to twirl your fork around the world’s thinnest piece of spaghetti. This nanofiber is about 200 times thinner than a human hair and was created by a team at University College London (UCL). While it won’t be making its way onto the menu of an Italian restaurant anytime soon, this creation was cooked up in a lab because nanofibers have wide applications in medicine and industrial design. The tiny fiber is detailed in a study published November 21 in the journal Nanoscale Advances.

The next thinnest known pasta is su filindeu–or threads of God– and is made by hand by a pasta maker in the town of Nuoro, Sardinia. Su Fillindeu is estimated at about 400 microns wide, making it roughly 1,000 times thicker than this new electrospun laboratory creation. At 372 nanometers, this new lab-made spaghetti is narrower than some wavelengths of light.

“I don’t think it’s useful as pasta, sadly, as it would overcook in less than a second, before you could take it out of the pan,” study co-author and UCL pharmaceutical materials scientist Gareth Williams said in a statement. 

Nanofibers are any fibrous material that are less than 100 nanometers (nm). One nanometer is equal to a billionth of a meter. For scale, a human hair is roughly 80,000 to 100,000 nanometers wide.

Nanofibers that are made from starchy plant materials that store excess glucose are particularly promising. They could be used in bandages that aid wound healing because the nanofiber mats are very porous. This allows water and moisture into the wound, but keeps bacteria out. It could also be used as a type of scaffolding for bone regeneration and to deliver medicine into the body.

[Related: Silkworm-inspired weaving techniques can produce better nanofibers.]

“In addition, nanofibers are being explored for use as a scaffold to regrow tissue, as they mimic the extra-cellular matrix–a network of proteins and other molecules that cells build to support themselves,” said Willams.

However, these types of nanofibers rely on starch being extracted from plant cells and purified. Extracting the starch requires a large quantity of energy and water, so chemists are looking for a more efficient way to spin these nanofibers. 

“Starch is a promising material to use as it is abundant and renewable–it is the second largest source of biomass on Earth, behind cellulose–and it is biodegradable, meaning it can be broken down in the body,” study co-author and UCL chemist Adam Clancy said in a statement. “But purifying starch requires lots of processing.”

A more environmentally friendly method would be to create nanofibers directly from a starch-rich ingredient like flour. After all, flour is the basis for pasta.

In the new study, the team describes making spaghetti that is only 372 nanometres across. To do this, they used a technique called electrospinning. An electric charge pulls threads of flour and liquid through the tip of a needle. This highly detailed work was performed by UCL student Beatrice Britton as part of her master’s degree in chemistry.

“To make spaghetti, you push a mixture of water and flour through metal holes,” said Clancy. “In our study, we did the same except we pulled our flour mixture through with an electrical charge. It’s literally spaghetti but much smaller.”

The needle that contains the mixture and the metal plate where the mixture is deposited create two ends of a battery. Adding an electrical charge makes the mixture complete the circuit. It streams out of the needle and onto the metal plate.

Also, electrospinning using a starch-rich ingredient like white flour is more challenging than using pure starch. The flour has more impurities–the protein and cellulose–which make the mixture more viscous and unable to form fibers.

To account for this, the team used flour and formic acid instead of water. The formic acid breaks up the giant stacks of spirals–or helices–that make up starch. The acid tears them up because the layers of helices stuck together are too big to be the building blocks of nanofibers. The heat from cooking has the same effect on the starch as the formic acid. It rips apart the layers of helices, making the pasta digestible.

[Related: New material neutralizes 96-percent of virus cells using nanospikes.]

The formic acid eventually evaporates as the noodle flies through the air to the metal plate. The team also had to carefully warm up the mixture for several hours before they could slowly cool it back down and get the right consistency. 

The new “nanopasta” also formed a mat of nanofibers about 2 centimeters (less than one inch) across. While the mat itself is visible, each individual strand is too narrow to be clearly captured by any form of visible light camera or microscope. To measure their widths, the team used a scanning electron microscope.

“We’ve shown that a simpler way to make nanofibers using flour is possible,” said Clancy. “The next step would be to investigate the properties of this product. We would want to know, for instance, how quickly it disintegrates, how it interacts with cells, and if you could produce it at scale.”

The post Behold the world’s thinnest spaghetti appeared first on Popular Science.

Whether you’re looking to get someone a great gift or start a new hobby of your own, we can’t recommend the Bird Buddy enough. Our reviewer thoroughly enjoyed just about everything about it and now it’s on-sale for its lowest price ever during Amazon’s early Black Friday sale. This was our most popular product on Black Friday last year and we expect it will be similarly popular this year with its even lower price. They do tend to sell out, however, so grab one now if you want in.

This bird feeder has a built-in wide angle camera that records photos and videos of feathered friends as they show up to feast. The camera sends images to the companion app, which uses AI to identify the birds and provide you with interesting and useful information about them. The pictures and videos are extremely cool and checking the app becomes almost addictive over time. This model has a built-in solar panel so it charges passively with daylight. That means fewer trips to take it down and charge it. It’s truly great and makes an incredible gift. Also be sure to check out our list of gifts for the home.

While we recommend spending the extra money to get the Bird Biddy as it’s our best overall smart bird feeder, there are some solid cheaper models out there. Note that many of them require a subscription if they offer AI bird identification.

• VINGUYS® Bird Feeder with Camera Solar Powered, Smart Bird Feeder Camera $99 (was $199)
• NETVUE by Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with Camera $144 (was $199)
• NETVUE by Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder Camera, Bird Watching Camera $127 (was $169)
• NETVUE by Birdfy AI Smart Bird Feeder with Camera Solar Powered $229 (was $279)
• Bird Feeder with Camera with AI Identify Bird Species Solar Panel $94 (was $169)
• SOLIOM BF08- Metal Solar Bird Feeder Camera with AI Identify Bird Species $99 (was $159)

The post The Bird Buddy smart bird feeder was last year’s most popular Black Friday deal and it’s now cheaper than ever appeared first on Popular Science.

If you’re trying to read more, or shopping for a voracious reader who wants to take their entire library with them everywhere they go, the best early Black Friday Deal is Amazon’s discounted Kindle Paperwhite. The latest generation of Amazon’s best Kindle for most people only came out a couple of months ago, but it’s already been marked down, which is great news for anyone who’s been looking for an upgrade or wants to try a dedicated digital reading device for the first time. In fact, we think it’s the best overall e-reader around.

Amazon

The Kindle Paperwhite is the e-reader we’ve been continually recommending over the years because it hits the sweet spot of features and price. This latest-generation Paperwhite has a larger 7-inch screen, and a faster processor that increases speed of page turning by 25%. This speed increase is significant, because it’ll make the e-reader feel even more like a real book. The Kindle Paperwhite has 16GB of internal storage, which is enough space to hold thousands of titles. You can also download audiobooks to the device and stream them to speakers or headphones over Bluetooth.

The Kindle Paperwhite is compatible with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited subscription, which offers unfettered access to a library containing over four million books. Amazon is offering a three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited if you pick up a Paperwhite, which is discounted by $30 on its own. There is a Kindle app available for smartphones and tablets, but the benefit of reading on an actual Kindle e-reader is its e-ink display, which is monochromatic and doesn’t reflect sun like the LCD or OLED screen on most electronics. Plus, you can actually focus on reading rather than getting distracted by apps or notifications. If you care about reading digital books at all, don’t skip this deal.

• Kindle, $84.99 (Was $109.99)
• Kindle Kids, $94.99 (Was $129.99)
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, $154.99 (Was $199.99)

The post The Kindle Paperwhite is the best e-reader for most people and it’s $30 off for Prime Day appeared first on Popular Science.