So you’ve chosen your perfect electric bike—well, that’s just the beginning because now it’s time for accessories. You’ll need some core bicycle gear to get started, like a high-impact helmet, a reliable lock, and a floor pump to keep those tires inflated. Then, you can really get into the fun by finding other bicycle accessories to make your ride perfectly unique to you. The more you ride, the more you’ll spot ways to make your bike more comfortable and useful for getting around town, exercise, and outdoor adventures—whether it’s World Bicycle Day or just a day that ends in -y. I’ve curated some of the best electric bike accessories—like the best overall essential, a reliable helmet—to help make trips safer and more comfortable, whether you’re new to budget e-bikes or have been riding for a while. 

• Best helmet for e-bike commuters: Trek Charge WaveCel Commuter Helmet
• Best helmet with crash detection technology: Smith Trace Mips Aleck Crash Sensor
• Best U-lock: Litelok X1
• Best folding bike lock: Seatlock Foldylock Elite
• Best secondary lock for carrying on rides: Ottolock Hexband Cinch Lock
• Best floor pump: Topeak Joe Blow Sport III High Pressure Floor Pump
• Best digital floor pump: Fix Mechanic Eflator Digital Tire Pump
• Best additional lighting: Redshift Sports Arclight Pro Flat Pedals
• Best reflectors: RydeSafe Bike Spokes Reflectors
• Best phone mounting system: Peak Design Mobile
• Best upgrade for rider comfort: Redshift Sports Shockstop Endurance Suspension Seatpost
• Best car rack for e-bikes: Yakima OnRamp XL
• Best pannier for random errands: Specialized Coolcave Pannier
• Best splurge performance sunglasses: Smith Seeker
• Best budget sunglasses: Goodr Mick and Keith’s Midnight Ramble
• Best forgiving shorts: Outdoor Research Freewheel MTB Ride Shorts – Women’s – Men’s 
• Best rain jacket: Pearl Izumi Women’s PRO Rain Jacket 
• Best anti-chafing cream: Chamois Butt’r

I’ve been a dedicated e-bike commuter for years, and not just to get to work. Beyond carefully transporting my work laptop and clothes, my bikes lugged grocery hauls, takeout food, a trail-a-bike with a quasi-cooperative kid, and very frequently, my dog. In addition to my hands-on experimenting with different baskets, racks, bags, bungees, and doodads, I consulted bike experts, the PopSci team, and read over customer feedback to find the best electric bike accessories to help you be ready for whatver an e-bike adventure will bring.

When I first started commuting by e-bike, I went the minimalist route and wore a backpack. As temperatures rose, I opted for a rack and some waterproof panniers to get the load—and sweat—off my back. I’m constantly fine-tuning my setup for different weekend adventures and to mitigate the weather of different seasons, and these are the best e-bike add-ons I’ve discovered to enhance your ride.

Heather Kuldell

• BOA fit system to easily dial in on head size
• Fidlock magnetic buckle closure
• Blendr mount systems for additional accessories
• Washable helmet pads
• Crash Guarantee Replacement for one year

• Could use more ventilation for hotter days
• More colorways would be nice
• Outer matte shell can scuff

• Technology: WaveCell
• Certifications: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (U.S. CPSC) Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets, Dutch Technical Agreement (NTA) 8776 and S-EPAC (speed e-bike) safety standards
• Colors: Two
• Sizes: S, M, L

If you have an e-bike, you need a helmet—and if your helmet is more than five years old or you’ve only been outfitted for traditional bicycles, you might want to upgrade. 

“Since e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 28 mph, it’s advisable to choose a helmet that is rated for e-bike use, as these provide added protection in the event of a higher-speed impact,” according to Mei-ling Wong, the head of communications at e-bike maker Velotric.

The Trek Charge WaveCel Commuter Helmet meets U.S. and Dutch safety standards for bike helmets, covering more of the head than most bike helmets to better protect from higher-speed crashes. It’s also styled for riders who want to look less like they’re cosplaying a Tour de France segment. WaveCel, the main tech in this helmet, is a lightweight 3D structure that flexes and crumples on impact and helps absorb the rotational impact that rattles your brain. It’s also a breeze to properly size and secure with an easy-twisting BOA fit system and magnetic buckles. I’ve managed to scuff the outer shell a bit, but I also don’t treat helmets with kid gloves when I store them. At about $160, it’s not cheap, but safety is priceless, making this the most essential of our best electric bike accessories.

Heather Kuldell

• Aleck Crash Detection Sensor w/ app
• 18 vents
• Ionic+ antimicrobial lining
• Lightweight

• Bluetooth and app connections require periodic charging
• Less popular routes/less population-dense areas may not have app heroes to help out in case of a crash

• Technology: MIPS Brain Protection System, Koroyd
• Certifications: U.S. CPSC Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets, European Union (CE EN) 1078 safety standard
• Colors: 10 options
• Sizes: S, M, L

I ride solo a lot—as most commuters do—and somewhere in the back of my mind is my mom’s voice asking what happens if I wipe out. Smith must have heard it, too, or at least that’s the vibe I get from the Trace MIPS Aleck Crash Sensor. The $270 helmet is packed with head protection tech, including a roll cage, MIPS (which stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System) to redirect rotational force, and Koroyd, another lightweight structure that absorbs a hit. But the mom-pleasing part: An Aleck Crash Detection Sensor built-in to the band adjuster that sends alerts to pre-programmed emergency contacts and other users of the Aleck app. After an impact, a rider has 30 seconds to cancel an alert.

In fairness, I didn’t wreck myself to see if one of the app’s users would come to the rescue. The system relies on the kindness of strangers—but many trails always have. Less densely populated areas and very isolated paths may not find many users around them, and if your cell has no signal, your alert won’t go out. Still, I’ll take those odds. 

Litelok

• Made of Barronium, which deters angle grinders
• Eco-rubber outside to prevent scratching frame
• Includes frame mount
• Reflective strips for visibility
• Comes with two keys and pouch
• Three-year warranty

• Mount works best on a traditional triangle frame

Specs

• Size: 10.35 inches tall by 5.62 inches wide 
• Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Certifications: Sold Secure Bicycle Diamond and ART4

Bike locks are a bummer to buy because anyone who sells them will remind you that no lock will definitively 100 percent ensure your bike will be where you locked it. Instead, you’re aiming to be the bike that’s too much of a hassle to try to steal. Learn how to properly lock up and think about multiple locks. Consider the security of the area you’re locking your bike and how long it will be there. Most lock manufacturers also include a scale of how secure they consider their locks; of course, the hardiest options will also be the most expensive. All that said, a lock is the second-most essential of the best electric bike accessories after a helmet.

The Litelok X1 is beloved by the bicycle community despite a price tag of about $180 for one. Made of a barronium alloy, the Litelok X1 resists angle grinders—a pro-thief tool of choice—better than other locks on the market. It has the highest rating possible from Sold Secure, an independent non-profit lock testing organization, and the Dutch ART Foundation ranks it as high enough quality to protect motorcycles. The main complaint is the cost, and a quibble is that the included mount works best on frames with a traditional triangle shape and plenty of room. However, on the Litelok site, it boasts a 4.8-star rating with more than 1,200 reviews, plus accolades from bicycling publications. Buying two X1s as a bundle will save you about $25.

Seatlock

• Foldable
• Hardened steel with drill-protected rivets
• Rattle-free holder for carrying while riding
• Come with three keys
• Three-year warranty

• May be too large for mounts on frames that aren’t a traditional triangle
• Heavy at more than four pounds

• Circumference: 43.3 inches
• Size when folded: 9.37 inches tall by 2.71 inches wide by 1.85 inches thick
• Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Certifications: Sold Secure Bicycle Gold and ART3

“Locks are about two things: stopping and deterring thieves,” explains Pav Bryan, master cycling coach at Humango. “Unfortunately, cheaper locks make your bike an easy target.” 

Folding locks offer flexible options for e-bikes that tend to have thicker and unusually shaped frames than traditional bikes. They offer space to lock a front wheel and frame to an immovable object, plus the on-frame mount makes it easier to ride with than a U-lock or massive chain. 

Bryan recommends the Seatylock folding range. At about $140, the Foldylock Elite, for example, unfurls to about 44 inches and is rated Bicycle Gold by Sold Secure, which, on a scale of bronze to diamond, indicates a higher level of theft resistance to certain commonly used tools. The downside is that it’s heavy at more than 4 lbs. and may be too large for the placement of some mounts. 

Heather Kuldell

• Lightweight
• Rolls into a coil with fasteners to keep it in place
• Six layers of stainless steel wrapped in aramid fiber. 
• Keyless combination

• Can be difficult to reset the combination from default
• Cold fingers can make it difficult to dial in the right combo
• You’ll still want a heavier-duty lock for long-term lockups

• Size: Available in 18-, 30- or 60-inch lengths by 0.75 inch wide by 0.125 inches thick
• Weight: About 0.4 pounds

The Ottolock HEXBAND Cinch Lock is meant for quick stops like snacks or bathroom breaks where you might be tempted not to lock up. Think of it as a very large zip-tie made of six layers of steel wrapped in a fiber coating that won’t scratch your frame. At less than half a pound, it’s very lightweight and rolls up to fit in most bags fairly easily. Starting at $69, the HEXBAND comes in three different lengths that can be paired with other sturdier locks. For example, you may have been taught to use a U-lock and then weave a cable through both sets of wheels. The problem with that is cables are very easily snipped. Instead, you can cinch your wheels to the frame with the HEXBAND or use it as an additional locking point to a rack or bench … or as additional security on a car rack. I’ve also used them in a pinch to attach items to my bike rack.

The HEXBAND doesn’t require keys. You can program a three-digit code, though that takes some finger strength and dexterity. Ditto unlocking: Be sure to lock up where you can see the code without becoming a contortionist, as sometimes the numbers can be challenging to spin into place.  

Topeak

• Large, easy-to-read pressure gauge
• TwinHead DX pump head fits Presta, Schrader, and Dunlop valves
• Includes ball and bladder needles for other inflation needs

• Manual pumps are always a workout for a truly flat tire
• Sometimes it takes a time or two to properly attach to valves
• This is for your garage or home, not to carry on rides

• Size: 29.1 inches tall by 7.3 inches wide by 9.8 inches long
• Weight: 3 pounds, 11 ounces

“All bicycle riders should own a full-size floor pump to keep at home,” says Justin Christopher, owner of RideCX and bicycle industry expert. “All bicycle tires bleed some air over time, and this doesn’t mean that you have a flat tire or puncture. It’s normal and expected to need top-off tire pressure, and you should do so regularly to protect the tire and rim from damage. Proper tire pressure can also help extend the range (battery life) of your e-bike too!”

The Topeak Joe Blow floor pump is a classic, reliable floor pump that’s usually under $60. I have an older model of this—seriously, it’s about 15 years old—that works exactly how it did the day I bought it, except with a slightly yellowed plastic handle. It’s always a workout to pump up a tire from flat, though topping off a few pounds of pressure is much easier. Plus, the built-in pressure gauge is easy to read, and you can connect Presta or Schrader valves without fussing with adapters. 

• Four tire pressure presents
• Inflates up to 100+ max PSI
• Choose between PSI, KPE, BAR, or KG/CM2 inclination units
• Valve chuck works for Schrader and Presta valves
• Built-in flashlight
• Nylon carry bag
• One-year warranty

• A bit large to carry on rides, but not impossible
• Quite noisy 76 dB average noise level
• USB-C cord included, but wall adapter is not

• Size: 5.4 inches tall by 3.5 inches wide by 1.89 inches deep
• Battery capacity: 2000 mAh

Humango master cycling coach Pav Bryan says electric floor pumps are becoming increasingly popular and recommends the Eflator Digital Floor Pump. This pump does most of the work for you: Set a tire pressure target, hit a button, and the Eflator cuts off when it hits it. This tiny air compressor is loud when it operates, but it can be used with other things like pool toys, balls … whatever needs inflating. It comes with a USB-C cable to keep the battery charged, but does not include the wall adapter. It’s a little large to toss in a saddle bag, but it’s not impossible. 

Tony Ware

• Aluminum pedals include two light modules each
• 9/16-inch threading compatible with most modern bicycles
• Sensors determine whether light color (white or red) depending on which way it’s facing
• Magnetic mounts hold lights in pedals
• Rechargeable individually with USB-A port or included dock that holds all four lights
• Auto on and off
• Mountain bike-style studs for better grip
• Weather-proof 

• Takes two hours to fully charge
• Steady light has battery life of about three hours
• Must select mode using button on each light module

• Colors: Black and silver
• Weight: 602 grams (pedals), 26 grams (each light module)
• Water-resistance: IP64 rated
• Threading: Standard 9/16-inch
• Traction pens: 10 replaceable

Most, but not all, e-bikes come with built-in lights, but that might not be enough for you to feel seen in dark riding environments, especially on busy roads and intersections. Though I’ve seen plenty of bike and accessory makers boasting their lights give you “360-degree visibility”—as in you can be seen from any angle—that usually means a thin sliver of a light that wraps around the frame. Redshift’s Arclight Pro Flat Pedals take a completely different approach. Replace your current pedals with this mountain bike-inspired set that has studs for grip, houses two rechargeable LED modules, and illuminates the center of your bike. Regardless of how much you spin your pedals, a smart sensor keeps the forward light colored white and the rear one red, indicating which way your bike is facing even if you’re stopped. 

Headlights are for the cyclist to see where they’re going, but the Pro Flat Pedals are so others on the road can see the cyclists—up to 57 percent more than without the pedals. These pedals also come in other styles: the more flat, shin-friendly Arclight City Pedals or Pro Clipless Pedals for anyone who wants to snap in. They’re truly a cool bike accessory with three settings to ration out your battery life with either a steady glow for three hours, a flash for 11, or eco-flash for up to 36 hours. And if you have multiple bikes, you can buy multiple pedal sets but use the same LED modules. 

Heather Kuldell

• Easy installation
• Multiple shapes and colors to choose from

• Permanent installation till you cut them off
• Only visible when light shines on them

• Number of stickers included: 12 per sheet

Sometimes, simple solutions are the best, like these reflective stickers from RydeSafe. For about $36, you get a set of reflective stickers that you place on your spokes. So anything that shines a light on your bike should see it from the side, thanks to prismatic reflective technology—no batteries or charging required. Choose from chevron, circular, or “squircle” shapes or white, red, and fluorescent yellow. Wipe spokes down with rubbing alcohol, fold the sticker over the spoke, pinch the sticker, and you’re done. RydeSafe makes a ton of other reflective stickers, too, if you’re comfortable with stickers on your frame. 

Peak Design

• Sturdy connection
• Peak Design supports an interchangeable system of products, including motorcycle, car, and other accessories like wallets and stands
• Physical attachment in addition to MagSafe (on applicable phones)
• Made of bluesign-approved nylon canvas, rubberized TPU bumper, molded buttons, and ultralight polycarbonate body
• Available in six colors

• Availability of cases is better for newer phone models
• Screen protector not included

• Phone models supported: iPhone 12-16, Pixel 7/8/9, Samsung Galaxy S23/S24 (older phones have single color options)

Placing a smartphone on handlebars can be a worrisome experience and I personally have challenged the impact claims of many cases that went flying, doing some serious screen damage in the process. Peak Design, however, combines magnetic and mechanical connections to create a seriously sturdy mobile ecosystem. The Everyday Case (roughly $50, depending on the phone model and size) allows MagSafe attachment and has a SlimLink ceramic aperture that locks into place on any other Peak Design accessories. The Out Front Bike Mount v2 (about $70) and the Universal Bike Mount (about $50) both firmly held my phone in place without so much as a wobble despite riding over wooden bridges, a few potholes, and some unfortunately large roots pushing through trails. It takes pinching two buttons to release the SlimLink connection. Two things to note: There isn’t an included screen protector, and if there were steady rain, I would likely pop my phone into a pocket or something to prevent water damage. 

• Available for 27.2, 30.4, 30.9, or 31.6mm stems in multiple lengths
• Additional shims available to expand compatibility
• Two springs and adjustable stiffness for customization
• Comes with required hardware

• Learning curve for new users to adjust the seatpost’s pre-load/stiffness
• Can be confusing to figure out whether your e-bike model is compatible

• Travel: Up to 35mm
• Weight: 497g – 732g, depending on length
• Rider weight limit: 242 lbs. – 264 lbs., depending on diameters

The first instinct for a sore bum from riding is usually to upgrade the saddle. Not a bad thought, but you’ll get more joy from upgrading to a suspension seatpost like Redshift Shockstop Endurance Suspension Seatpost. Even when the price tag is around $225, the reduction in fatigue without diffusing your pedal power is worth it. Suspension posts add motion to the seatpost, absorbing some of the impact that the rider would normally get. Seriously, consider it if you ride a very stiff or rigid frame that otherwise doesn’t have a suspension fork, or you find yourself frequently standing on pedals to diffuse upcoming bumps. Yes, bike shorts with a chamois can help this, too, but very frequently, e-bike riders are in street or work clothes, not cycling outfits. Upgrading to one of these aluminum alloy seatpost makes the bike more comfortable by reducing vibration up to 60 percent, regardless of what the rider wears. 

Installing a suspension post isn’t too hard, but it’s also the kind of task a local bike shop is happy to help with. Consult with Redshift customer service if you’re unsure whether your e-bike model is compatible with their seatposts (there are also models for more gravel- and race-focused cyclists). The more customized or oddly shaped your e-bike frame is (a particular concern with carbon fiber frames), the more likely the seatposts won’t be compatible. 

Yakima

• Comes in 1.25-inch and 2-inch hitch options that carry 70 pounds per bike and 80s pounds, respectively
• Carries two bikes with dual wheel straps
• Integrated on-ramp that stows within rack
• Telescoping bike trays to adjust to wheelbases from 34 to 54 inches
• StadiumSeating aims to prevent bikes bumping into each other
• Three-position tilt folds flat against vehicle back or out to allow access to trunk
• Off-roading compatible, but maximum bike weights drops to 48 pounds
• RV compatible
• HitchLock to secure rack to vehicle receiver

• Adjustability can lead to a long time getting everything all set
• No built-in locking system

• Size: 25 inches long by 40 inches wide by 75 inches tall
• Weight: 53.50 pounds

“E-bikes are heavy; they need a hitch bike rack to support the weight,” says Stephanie Holbrook, an endurance coach and Level 2 USA Cycling coach. “Many heavier-duty bike racks also have a ramp for easier loading.” 

Holbrook recommends the Yakima OnRamp LX, which has ramps built-in to the rack, and highly adjustable trays and claw hooks to accommodate most bikes, even with fatter wheels and fenders. Trays adjust to different wheelbases, so kids’ bikes or large cargo e-bikes. Switching bikes in and out, however, will mean a lot of fussing to get the trays and frame holders properly aligned. While the rack can lock into the vehicle receiver, you must supply bike locks for transport (see our favorite options above).

The 2-inch hitch model can carry two bikes at up to 80 pounds each, while the 1.25-inch hitch model accommodates up to 70-pound bikes. Both models run about $900, and if you drive bikes around a lot, consider the additional purchase of the Yakima Lit Kit, which supports brake lights and turn signals. 

• Rigid structure
• Cargo net top included
• Quick-release KlickFix mounting system

• Open top is exposed to the elements
• Heavier than fabric panniers
• Would prefer two handles for carry heavy loads off-bike

• Dimensions: 16.5 tall by 13.4 wide by 9.4 inches deep
• Capacity: About 19 liters
• Weight limit: About 22 pounds
• Materials: Rigid plastic, 50% of which is recycled

Sometimes, you just need a big ol’ box—and that’s exactly what the Specialized Coolcave Pannier is. While most panniers are soft bags with rolltops, zippers, and a tangle of straps to keep your gear tidy and road grime-free, the Coolcave keeps it refreshingly simple. It’s a rigid plastic bucket that mounts to your rear rack. No frills or fuss: just toss your stuff in and go.

That’s the magic of the Coolcave: It holds whatever you throw into it. Backpack? Groceries? Tools? A jumble of oddly shaped cargo? Just the jacket that got too hot? No problem. The crew at my local bike shop said they fill theirs with ice and load it with beer and other beverages for long, leisurely rides. Genius. It comes with a cargo net to keep things from bouncing out, and the quick-release KlickFix system fits most racks. Just double-check compatibility if you’re riding an e-bike with a beefier cargo rack. And like with any pannier, make sure your heels don’t strike it when pedaling, which is most likely to happen on smaller bike sizes.

• Autolock hinges keep arms open or closed
• Lightweight, scratch-resistant lenses with tint, photochromic, or polarized options
• Grippy arms and nosepad to prevent sliding
• Subtle slits to use optional paracord leash
• Case includes an attached lens cleaner

• Hard case would be preferred
• Side shields are a love-it-or-leave-it feature

• Fit: Medium fit with medium coverage
• Dimensions: 48 mm lens height by 57 mm lens width. 15 mm bridge width. 140mm temple (arm) length.
• Frames: Evolve bio-based plastic
• Lens: ChromaPop polycarbonate

Cyclists wear sunglasses roughly the size of a small windshield—not just for the sun, but also to block random debris and the surprising number of bugs that can fly into their eyes. And when you’re flying along at the top speeds e-bikes can hit, even gnats really hurt. I don’t have the confidence to sport retro wraparounds, but the Smith Seeker serves my riding needs well. 

The Seeker performance sunglasses feature a lightweight, bio-based frame with grippy nose pads and arms that ever-so-gently hold them in place, despite sweat, sunscreen, quick movements, and most importantly, looking down. You can choose between different tints, polarized, and photochromic ChromaPop lenses, depending on where and when you ride. I ride at all different times of day, from dusky early morning to setting suns, and in and out of the shadows of big ol’ buildings and tree-lined trails, so I opted for photochromic lenses that adapt tint to the sun rather than switching between different pairs. 

Smith designed the Seeker for a variety of outdoor activities, so it’s as good on a hike as it is on the bike. These sunglasses don’t wrap around, but slim side shields offer additional protection from UV rays and the elements without blocking 100% of your peripheral vision. The ends of the arms have a small slit to use an included paracord leash for extra security, and the cute roll-top sunglasses case has a built-in lens cleaning cloth and loops to lash to bags or other gear.

• Super affordable
• Playful frame and lens color combinations
• UV400 protection
• Soft-touch nose grip

• Not as high-clarity lenses as other performance brands
• Soft drawstring case doesn’t offer much protection

• Fit: Medium fit
• Dimensions: 42 mm lens height by 53 mm lens width. 18 mm bridge width. 133 mm temple (arm) length
• Frames: Co-polyester frame with soft-touch coating
• Lens: Polarized triacetate cellulose

It’s not hard to find affordable sunglasses, but they often lack polarization. Goodr’s entire mission was to create cheap sunglasses that didn’t bounce all over the place on a run, and it has since expanded its line to include more sports. Mick and Keith’s Midnight Run is a part of the company’s OG line, an everyday frame with bright blue polarized lenses. But the soft-touch plastic and grippy-enough nose pad keep them from sliding down again and again on a ride. The lenses may not have the clarity or color-balancing features of other performance brands, but at $25 a pair, that’s more than OK. And if you’re looking for a more flamboyant, cycling look, check out the different color combinations of the $35 Bolt G frames. 

• Comfortable cut with thoughtful coverage and ventilization elements
• Deep zippered pockets
• Stretchy, with room for a chamois/liner

• How do you feel about board shorts, but on dry land?

• Fabric: bluesign-approved 88% nylon, 12% Spandex with moderate four-way stretch
• Women’s sizes: 0-16
• Men’s sizes: 28-42
• Colors: Dark Olive, Bronze, Black

You don’t have to look like you’re riding in the Tour de France to enjoy a bike—especially not an e-bike. But it does help to have clothing that’s more comfortable, breathable, and less sweat-absorbent than your average streetwear. Outdoor Research’s Freewheel MTB Ride Shorts, available for men and women, are built for comfort on longer rides, with thoughtful features like a higher back waistband (no accidental mooning), adjustable tabs for a just-right fit, and a slide-lock button closure that prevents surprise pops.

The Freewheel shorts come with abrasion-resistant panels on the legs and a laser-perforated back yoke for ventilation, which hints that they’re designed for gravel or singletrack riding. But they aren’t so overengineered that they’re out of place on more casual rides. I’ve had a pair for a couple of seasons now, and they’re my go-to riding shorts. The stretchy fabric offers free range of movement, and I appreciate the deep zippered pockets for days I don’t want to ride with a bag. You can wear them over a chamois or liner, if you want. 

• Waterproof with PFAS-free durable water repellent
• Polartec Power Shield for water & windproofing with breathability
• Sealed seams
• Waterproof two-way zippers
• BioVoz reflective elements

• Compressive fit isn’t for everyone
• Busty riders might feel extra squeeze

• Fabric: Main body: 65% nylon, 35% polyester. Other: 100% polyester 
• Fit: Compressive
• Women’s sizes: XS-XXL
• Colors Black, Dark Violet

This one is just for the ladies (though Pearl iZUMi does make other models for men). Sometimes, a ride that starts cool, crisp, but sunny ends under an overpass or hiding beneath a random awning. When the rain won’t quit and you don’t want to either, a good jacket makes all the difference. The Pearl iZUMi Women’s PRO Rain Jacket is a lightweight, waterproof layer that shields you from wind and wet with Polartec Power Shield Pro fabric and a forever-chemical-free water repellent finish.

It’s packed with smart features for rough weather: fully taped seams, stretchy cuffs that keep sleeves in place, BioViz reflective details for visibility, and a two-way zipper that lets you vent from the bottom during steamy conditions. Designed with an athletic fit for high-performance rides, the compressive cut fits like a second skin over a lite layer. For more room to breathe, size up. And for when that rain ends, the jacket is lightweight enough to stuff in a bag.

• It genuinely reduces friction and irritation

• How do you feel about lotion? How do you feel about lotion … down there?

• Sizes: 8-ounce tube, 5-ounce balm
• Formulas: Original, Eurostyle, Her, and Coconut

Strategically padded bike shorts—known as a chamois—are standard gear for traditional cyclists, but they’re more optional for e-bike riders. The best clue? Your saddle. Wide, cushy saddles usually signal that the bike is designed for comfort without extra padding. These are common on bikes with upright riding positions. On the other hand, bikes with more aggressive postures tend to come with thinner, firmer saddles—and those are built with the expectation that you’ll be wearing a chamois for added comfort. And that’s when you want to think about anti-chafing cream like Chamois Butt’r. During long rides, this skin lubricant helps reduce chafing and irritation, particularly if your chamois has a lot of seams. Chamois Butt’r feels like a thick lotion and comes in four variants: Original, Coconut, Her (for women), and Eurostyle, which contains menthol for a cooling sensation. So if you’re about to test the limits of your battery or are going on a long excursion, butter up. We’re not being cheeky.

Traditional bikes and e-bikes have a lot in common, but not everything. E-bikes tend to be heavier and faster, bringing some different needs for the best electric bike accessories like more impact-resistant helmets, bigger locks to go around thicker frames, and hitch-style car racks to accommodate more weight. And if you’re traveling without the battery attached, Mei-ling Wong of Velotric recommends buying a battery connection cover to protect sensitive electronics from dirt, debris, and moisture. 

Many e-bikes also come with many common accessories built-in already, like lights and fenders. When they don’t, e-bike makers tend to develop their own accessory lines that fit their models seamlessly, regardless of custom handlebar shapes and unique frames. For example, front baskets and handlebar bags, in particular, can be challenging thanks to generally already cluttered cockpits, but proprietary options take into account headlight placement and any external wiring or screens. Many e-bikes have chunkier racks, sometimes so heavy-duty they support passengers. For panniers and trunk bags, check to ensure they have extra long velcro or other compatible attachments. 

But, like traditional bikes, you’ll need to learn some basic maintenance, like keeping tire pressure right and maintaining bike chains. You’ll need to pick up some basic tools and bike lube. 

“Even the most casual rider should have some form of understanding of bike mechanics and/or a backup plan for when an issue occurs, such as a flat tire,” cycling coach Pav Bryan says. “This might be bringing the aforementioned pump and some inner tubes with you. It might be a slightly more sophisticated multi-tool (and a general understanding of how to use it!), or it might be just ensuring that your route has adequate cell service and that your phone has enough battery to make a call for assistance.” 

The right bike accessories depend on what you’re using your bike for. The essentials include a bike helmet, a good lock, and a pump to keep your tires at the appropriate pressure. If you regularly ride electric commuter bikes, you’ll need to know how to carry stuff on your bike. Your bike gear may focus on mitigating weather, like fenders to prevent road spray and lights for evening rides. If you opted for one of our best budget electric bikes, you may want to spend some of your savings on small comfort upgrades like a cushier saddle or ergonomic handle grips. 

A high-quality helmet and lock are two items you need to have from the moment you get your e-bike. Helmets protect a rare commodity—your brain—and locks protect the investment in your bike. Focus on getting as high-quality safety and security items as your budget allows. Other accessories—tools, toys, and upgrades—don’t need to be purchased at once. It’s easy to overinvest in bike gear you don’t need simply because you haven’t really figured out how and when you’ll ride.

Another common mistake is assuming all accessories are compatible with every bike. Always check to see if your bike model has the required mounting points and space requirements. Frame size and shape play a part in this; smaller or step-thru frames typically have fewer mounts, for example. Differences in brake types can affect whether a rack will work, and different racks play better with different baskets and panniers. For the best fit—and most fun—take your bike to your local bike shop to get a better idea of what accessories will work with less trial and error. 

Bike bag names tend to line up with where you attach them. Saddlebags or seatbags tend to hang beneath the saddle. Handlebar bags attach to handlebars, and yes, frame bags hang within the bike frame. Panniers, on the other hand, can be attached to racks on the front or rear of a bike and generally are some of the larger bags bikes carry. Trunk bags attach to the top of rear racks, directly behind the rider. 

The Snell Foundation, a not-for-profit organization focusing on helmet safety standards, recommends replacing helmets every five years. However, helmets aren’t a dairy product: They don’t suddenly “go bad.” Daily riders, though, might want to shorten that timeline to two to three because temperature swings, sweat, and even the sun’s UV rays can all degrade the helmet’s protective materials over time. Other events trigger replacement, like crashes, visible damage, or if somehow the helmet no longer fits or has become uncomfortable. 

• Best helmet for e-bike commuters: Trek Charge WaveCel Commuter Helmet
• Best helmet with crash detection technology: Smith Trace Mips Aleck Crash Sensor
• Best U-lock: Litelok X1
• Best folding bike lock: Seatlock Foldylock Elite
• Best secondary lock for carrying on rides: Ottolock Hexband Cinch Lock
• Best floor pump: Topeak Joe Blow Sport III High Pressure Floor Pump
• Best digital floor pump: Fix Mechanic Eflator Digital Tire Pump
• Best additional lighting: Redshift Sports Arclight Pro Flat Pedals 
• Best reflectors: RydeSafe Bike Spokes Reflectors
• Best phone mounting system: Peak Design Mobile
• Best upgrade for rider comfort: Redshift Sports Shockstop Endurance Suspension Seatpost
• Best car rack for e-bikes: Yakima OnRamp XL
• Best pannier for random errands: Specialized Coolcave Pannier
• Best splurge performance sunglasses: Smith Seeker
• Best budget sunglasses: Goodr Mick and Keith’s Midnight Ramble
• Best forgiving shorts: Outdoor Research Freewheel MTB Ride Shorts – Women’s – Men’s 
• Best rain jacket: Pearl Izumi Women’s PRO Rain Jacket 
• Best anti-chafing cream: Chamois Butt’r

Finding the right accessories for your e-bike is all about balancing function, safety, and fit. While some e-bikes come equipped with helpful features like racks and lights, others may require additional investments to meet your needs. Focus on essentials first—like helmets, locks, and pumps—then expand into comfort and convenience upgrades as you get to know your bike. Keep maintenance basics in mind, and always double-check compatibility when selecting from our best electric bike accessories. With careful planning, your e-bike setup will be ready to tackle any adventure.

The post The best electric bike accessories for 2025, tested and reviewed appeared first on Popular Science.

My favorite pair of shorts right now comes from The North Face. I bought them on clearance during the winter and have been wearing them since the snow melted. Currently, REI is clearing out last season’s North Face gear at their lowest prices ever. Snag a sweatshirt, jacket, or even some shorts for up to half off. This sale only lasts as long as the stock, though, so popular sizes sell out first. Grab what you want before it’s gone.

The North Face

This is one of The North Face’s most popular coats, and it has some of the company’s most advanced tech inside. The insulation blend and square stitching pattern help avoid cold spots due to inconsistent filling. A DWR coating makes it weather-resistant, so you can wear it out in the elements and stay dry. It’s light, packable, and you can wear it basically every day as soon as the leaves fall off the trees.

The North Face

Gym shorts aren’t built for hiking. These versatile bottoms are made of 4-way stretch fabric for maximum mobility. The North Face’s FLASHDRY tech helps them shed water like an otter. A zippered pocket keeps your belongings safe because there’s nothing worse than finishing a hike and realizing you left your car keys at the summit.

• Tek Approach Jacket – Men’s $100 (was $140)
• Rolling Sun Packable 7″ Shorts – Men’s $48 (was $65)
• ThermoBall Eco Snow Triclimate 3-in-1 Jacket – Men’s $199 (was $400)
• Class V Belted 7″ Shorts – Men’s $47 (was $65)
• Evolution Crew Sweatshirt – Men’s $40 (was $55)
• Adventure Sun Hoodie – Men’s $40 (was $55)
• Evolution Full-Zip Hoodie – Men’s $48 (was $65)
• Box NSE Celebration T-Shirt – Men’s $22 (was $30)
• Cedar Trail Grid Fleece Zip Pullover – Men’s $52 (was $70)
• Adventure T-Shirt – Men’s $30 (was $40)
• Willow Stretch Jacket – Men’s $78 (was $110)
• Baytrail Pattern Shirt – Men’s $55 (was $75)
• Terra Peak Insulated Vest – Men’s $126 (was $180)
• Denali Jacket – Men’s $114 (was $180)
• Crest Quarter-Zip Pullover – Men’s $63 (was $90)
• Glacier Fleece Half-Zip Pullover – Men’s $50 (was $70)
• ThermoBall Eco Insulated Hoodie 2.0 – Men’s $175 (was $250)

The post REI is clearing out last season’s The North Face hoodies, jackets, and other clothes up to half-off appeared first on Popular Science.

The Great Lakes have claimed thousands of lives and ships. The exact total will never be known, but historians estimate that 25–30,000 people have drowned on around 6,000 vessels since the 17th century. Despite this uncertainty, experts do know the single deadliest documented shipwreck: the Lady Elgin. On September 8, 1860, the sidewheel steamer crashed into another boat while sailing north of Chicago on Lake Michigan. Over 300 people died as a result, etching the tragedy into cultural memory and even inspiring at least one folk song.

But while the Lady Elgin’s deteriorating wreckage remains interred across a mile of Lake Michigan lakebed, one remarkably preserved artifact has made it back to the surface. After nearly 165 years, a solid gold pocket watch has been returned to the family of one of the steamer’s victims—a man famous for his own reasons.

Herbert Ingram was born on May 27, 1811, to a butcher’s family in Lincolnshire, England. After starting his career as a printer’s apprentice and journeyman, Ingram began noticing newspapers often sold more copies when they included illustrations. Before he could do anything about that, however, he needed money.

As luck would have it, Ingram started to amass a small fortune in 1842 thanks to his newly patented “Parr’s Life Pills.” Ingram claimed his supplements were based on a recipe created by the legendary Thomas Parr, a man who supposedly lived to the age of 152. Parr’s Life Pills offered no actual medical benefits, but the proceeds did help finance an endeavor with real results.

Less than a year after his foray into pharmaceuticals, Ingram launched The Illustrated London News. Unlike its competitors, the London News featured prominent illustrations and images in every weekly issue. Its success paved the way for imitators, and Ingram is now regarded as the father of pictorial journalism. By 1860, Ingram wasn’t just a prominent businessman, but a member of the British Parliament.

Unfortunately, none of that exactly matters to the Great Lakes. While traveling the US to obtain new material for The Illustrated London News, Ingram and one of his sons were among the hundreds of Lady Elgin passengers to drown in the shipwreck.

It would take another 129 years before maritime archeologists rediscovered the wreck of the Lady Elgin. Experts traveled to the location to document the ship’s remains, including Holland-based historian Valerie Van Heest in 1992. But unbeknownst to her, another group of divers had also recently visited the Lady Elgin—and they returned to land with a keepsake.

“The location had leaked, and a trio of divers… came upon a pocket watch. A gold pocket watch, an extraordinary discovery,” Van Heest told the local Michigan news outlet Fox 17.

For over 30 years, the artifact remained hidden away in storage. After working to restore it, the watch’s finders reached out to Van Heest to help identify its owner. Luckily, the timepiece offered a solid lead—the initials “H.I.” engraved on its watch fob. Additional research indicated Herbert Ingram’s descendents still lived in England. After reaching out to them and confirming the watch’s provenance, Van Heest learned his hometown’s museum was coincidentally in the process of building an exhibit dedicated to him.

“They didn’t have any physical artifacts, and here I was offering not only an artifact, but Herbert Ingram’s personal watch,” Van Heest explained to Fox 17. “It was an extraordinary, serendipitous occurrence.”

With the watch in the care of museum curators in Ingram’s hometown of Boston, Lincolnshire, England, both his family and the public can now visit a tangible relic representing both historical triumphs and tragedies.

“Returning this watch is the right thing to do,” said Van Heest. “This is reminding people that shipwrecks affected people, affected families, and this shows that 165 years later, we care. People care about the individuals lost.”

The post Pocket watch from Great Lakes’ deadliest shipwreck returned to family appeared first on Popular Science.

On June 3, 1925, Goodyear launched its first civil airship. Over the next century, the blimp could be spotted floating over sporting events as an icon of advertising.

Before the branded blimps hit the skies in 1925, Goodyear built approximately 25 airships for the US Navy, starting in 1917. The hangar at the company’s Akron, Ohio-based Wingfoot Lake Airship Base was not yet complete when the Navy placed their order, so production of the first prototype, the B-1, occurred in an amusement park building in Chicago.

Notable moments in the airships’ history include:

• In 1955, cameras onboard the airship provided the world’s first live aerial video for a national broadcast at the Rose Bowl game.
• In 1989, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit near San Francisco while the company’s Columbia blimp was flying above the World Series. The blimp ended up sending images to first responders to show the damage from above.
• A Goodyear blimp could be seen above the Super Bowl in 24 of the first 30 games.

To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Goodyear will fly its three operational airships above northeast Ohio June 3-5.

The post 19 vintage Goodyear Blimp photos on its 100th anniversary appeared first on Popular Science.

In December 2010, Michael Faherty died in his home in Galway, Ireland. His body was found burned and the fireplace was lit, but there was no other apparent source of flames nearby nor accelerant. The house was largely unscorched. The only damage were soot marks on the ceiling and floor immediately below and above where the 76-year-old retiree met his end. At a loss for an alternate explanation, the coroner chalked Faherty’s death up to spontaneous combustion. 

Such deaths are rare, especially in the 21st century. But in Europe in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, upwards of a dozen cases of supposed spontaneous combustion (and potentially as many as 200, depending on who you ask) were reported or described retrospectively. Most share a few unifying hallmarks. The victims were largely older, overweight women. Often, they were believed to be heavy drinkers or alcohol was present at the scene. The bodies were found with the torso burned away, bones and all, and puddles of a dark, greasy substance left behind, while extremities and immediate surroundings–including furniture were left unmarred. 

The grim scenes were frequently written up in tabloid-esque periodicals of the time, says Michael Lynn, a historian of early modernist Europe at Purdue University Northwest. Lynn has researched and published on the spontaneous combustion trend that emerged in his study region and era. Stories of spontaneous combustion were treated akin to sensational oddities that functioned like Enlightenment-era clickbait, he tells Popular Science, often with a heavy dose of exaggeration, moralizing, and hand-wringing over the perceived indulgences of modern living. 

The idea that, at any moment, a living person could burst into deadly flames, permeated the cultural zeitgeist of the time– showing up in literature as well as newspapers. Charles Dickens’ Bleak House is the most famous example. In the story, alcoholic landlord and rag merchant, Krook, leaves only a pile of ash behind when he is consumed by sourceless fire. Herman Melville and Emile Zola also killed off characters through spontaneous combustion. But the phenomenon wasn’t just a convenient plot device. For some, it was a firmly held belief. Dickens included a defense of the possibility, citing multiple alleged real-world reports, in a preface added to an early edition of the book. “I shall not abandon the facts,” he wrote. 

But what exactly are the facts behind this fiery phenomenon?

Scientifically speaking, spontaneous combustion is a real phenomenon. Certain extremely flammable chemicals–like phosphorus–or materials, such as wet hay or compost, can flare up at relatively low ambient temperatures and without any ignition source. Exothermic chemical reactions and accumulating heat from decaying organic matter and fermentation explain the sudden fires. But human bodies are a whole other issue. It’s deeply improbable, nigh impossible that “spontaneous combustion” is a valid explanation for any of the alleged cases, says Roger Byard, a forensic pathologist and emeritus professor at the University of Adelaide in Australia. 

“It’s never been witnessed,” Byard tells Popular Science. “If people could spontaneously burst into flames, you’d be down at Walmart and suddenly the little old lady beside you, pushing a trolley would explode.” 

[ Related: Charles Dickens’s belief in spontaneous combustion sparked Victorian London’s hottest debate. ]

Instead, the incidents all concern people who die isolated and unobserved. There’s also never been a report in any other animal species, he notes–it’s a strictly human phenomenon. (Although whale carcasses washed up on beaches sometimes “explode,”that’s simply a buildup of gasses from internal decomposition that release suddenly, there’s no intense heat or fire.) In his view, the missing factor is that other animals don’t tend to “wrap themselves up in blankets and drink whiskey and smoke,” he says. 

A handful of hypotheses have been proposed for how and why spontaneous combustion might occur in humans, none of which are especially scientifically rigorous nor have been demonstrated. Conspiracists and 19th century scientists alike have blamed acts of God, lightning, trace amounts of phosphates, static electricity, unspecified particles in the blood, and intestinal gases. More recently, an independent researcher suggested acetone accumulation resulting from the metabolic state, ketosis, could explain it. 

But one explanation seems far more likely than the rest, and doesn’t really involve any “spontaneous” combustion at all. Instead, Byard thinks the wick effect is the most plausible. “These people are essentially human candles,” he says. 

The wick effect describes how human fat burns under blankets and clothing lit with the help of a little bit of accelerant (for instance, spilled liquor), when ignited by a spark or ember. Under these conditions, a fire can burn low and slow, producing hot temperatures, but without high flames and with little collateral damage. If a sleeping or intoxicated person spilled some alcohol on themselves, then dropped a cigarette or caught a stray ember from a fireplace, that could kick off the deadly process. 

In 1998, an experiment conducted for a BBC science documentary series demonstrated that the wick effect could replicate the types of scenes found in instances of alleged spontaneous combustion. John DeHaan, a forensic scientist, set fire to a pig carcass wrapped in blankets, and found that it continued to burn for hours. Eventually, the entire midsection of the pig was gone, including the bones, while the less fatty legs remained intact. 

It’s not a nice way to go, for a pig or a person. But at least it’s more avoidable than a sudden fiery act of divine punishment or an unforeseen internal gas explosion. 

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 Can humans spontaneously combust? The baffling cases explained. appeared first on Popular Science.

In a world first, scientists at the University of Utah have engineered fruit flies susceptible to cocaine addiction. But as strange as it sounds, there are potentially life-saving reasons for genetically altering the insects to crave the drug. The novel biological model could help addiction treatment therapies development and expedite research timelines. The findings are detailed in the Journal of Neuroscience.

As surprising as it may sound, humans have a lot in common with fruit flies. In fact, we share around 70–75 percent of the same genes responsible for various diseases, as well as many of the same vital organs. Researchers have relied on the insects for genetic studies for years, especially for investigating the biological roots of certain addictions like cocaine abuse. This is due in large part to the fruit fly’s quick life cycle and its comparatively simple genetic makeup. But while scientists have administered the drug to the bugs in the past, there’s always been a small problem.

“Flies don’t like cocaine one bit,” Adrian Rothenfluh, the study’s senior author and an associate professor of psychiatry, said in a statement.

Even when previously introduced to cocaine, Rothenfluh’s team noted that the insects routinely opted for pure sugar water over sugar water laced with cocaine. Study first author Travis Philyaw theorized the reason may reside in a fly’s sense of taste that is found on their legs.

“Insects are evolutionarily primed to avoid plant toxins, and cocaine is a plant toxin,” Philyaw explained. “They have taste receptors on their ‘arms’—their tarsal segments—so they can put their hand in something before it goes in their mouth, and decide, ‘I’m not going to touch that.'”

After confirming that cocaine activates a fruit fly’s bitter-sensing taste receptors, Rothenfluh and Philyaw switched off those nerves. Once deactivated, there was little to stop the flies from developing a cocaine habit. These modified flies were subsequently introduced to sugar water infused with a low concentration of cocaine. Within 16 hours, the insects indicated a preference for the drug-laced drink.

“At low doses, they start running around, just like people,” said Rothenfluh. “At very high doses, they get incapacitated, which is also true in people.”

Now that researchers know how to breed the modified fruit flies, they can more easily study how cocaine addiction evolves in the body. Not only that, but they can do so on a much faster timeline by analyzing hundreds of genes at a time.

“We can scale research so quickly in flies,” said Philyaw. “We can identify risk genes that might be difficult to uncover in more complex organisms, and then we pass that information to researchers who work with mammalian models.”

From there, scientists can identify treatment targets that help link to human therapy options.

“We can really start to understand the mechanisms of cocaine choice, and the more you understand about the mechanism, the more you have a chance to find a therapeutic that might act on that mechanism,” explained Rothenfluh.

The post Researchers genetically altered fruit flies to crave cocaine appeared first on Popular Science.

For being the world’s oldest known synthetic pigment, the original recipes for Egyptian blue remain a mystery. The approximately 5,000-year-old dye wasn’t a single color, but instead encompassed a range of hues, from deep blues to duller grays and greens. Artisans first crafted Egyptian blue during the Fourth Dynasty (roughly 2613 to 2494 BCE) from recipes reliant on calcium-copper silicate. These techniques were later adopted by Romans in lieu of more expensive materials like lapis lazuli and turquoise. But the additional ingredient lists were lost to history by the time of the Renaissance. 

This is particularly frustrating not just for preservation efforts, but because of Egyptian blue’s unique biological, magnetic, and optical properties. Unlike other pigments, the Egyptian blue emits near-infrared light wavelengths that are unseen by the human eye, making it a promising tool for anticounterfeiting efforts, fingerprinting, and even high-temperature superconductors. But after studying ancient materials and manufacturing methods, a team led by Washington State University (WSU) researchers in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s Conservation Institute and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History have created not just one historically accurate Egyptian blue, but 12 of them.

While the results are detailed in a study published in npj Heritage Science, first author and WSU materials engineer John McCloy said the project began as something much more casual.

“It started out just as something that was fun to do because they asked us to produce some materials to put on display at the museum, but there’s a lot of interest in the material,” he said in a statement.

McCloy and colleagues first consulted both a mineralogist and an Egyptologist to create a list of potential materials to develop the pigments, including mixtures of calcium, copper, silicon dioxide, and sodium carbonate. From there, they varied the ingredient proportions before heating them anywhere from 1 to 11 hours at around 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit—temperatures achievable by ancient Egyptian artisans. Once the mixtures cooled at varying rates, the team analyzed each final result using techniques including X-ray diffraction, electron beam X-ray microanalysis, and X-ray nano-computed tomography. Finally, they compared these samples to a pair of Egyptian artifacts including a piece of cartonnage—a papier-mâché-like material used for items like funerary masks.

“One of the things that we saw was that with just small differences in the process, you got very different results,” McCloy said.

For example, cooling rates played an important role in influencing the end color. Slower cooling times offered deeper blues, while quicker cooling produced pale gray and green mixtures. Despite this, the bluest of the 12 variants only required about 50 percent of their ingredients to exhibit blue hues. McCloy’s team also confirmed that cuprorivaite—the naturally occurring mineral equivalent to Egyptian blue—remains the primary color influence in each hue. Despite the presence of other components, Egyptian blue appears as a uniform color after the cuprorivaite becomes encased in colorless particles such as silicate during the heating process.

“It doesn’t matter what the rest of it is, which was really quite surprising to us. You can see that every single pigment particle has a bunch of stuff in it—it’s not uniform by any means,” he added.

The results go beyond establishing Egyptian blue recipes that largely mirror ancient examples. McCloy and colleagues hope that these initial 12 variants will be used in conservation work to restore historic relics as accurately and vividly as possible.

The post Scientists recreate lost recipes for a 5,000-year-old Egyptian blue dye appeared first on Popular Science.

In roughly 4 billion years, our home Milky Way galaxy may collide with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy. We are approaching Andromeda at roughly 250,000 miles per hour, and scientists have continually debated the likelihood and timing of this catastrophic event. Now, a new study published June 2 in the journal Nature Astronomy is casting new doubt on what would be a cataclysmic universe-changing event. 

The team from universities in Finland, the United Kingdom, and France, ran 100,000 simulations using the latest data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Gaia space observatory. These variables included the effect of our galaxy’s largest satellite–the Large Magellanic Cloud or LMC–and some new uncertainties.

The team found only a 2 percent probability that the galaxies will collide in the next five billion years. In slightly over half of the simulated scenarios, Andromeda and the Milky Way experience at least one close encounter before they lose enough orbital energy to collide and merge. However, this happened in eight to 10 billion years and not four or five, as previous estimates found. 

On that earlier timescale, the sun will have already burnt itself out. Yet in most other cases, both galaxies pass at a large enough distance that they continue to evolve without playing cosmic bumper cars for years.

While this new research does challenge the previously accepted fate of our galaxy, the team stresses that it is still very difficult to make a precise prediction. The new study does not imply a mistake to these earlier calculations, but instead includes more variables into the simulations with newer data from both space telescopes. 

“When we tried to start from the same assumptions as previous researchers, we recovered the same results,” Till Sawala, a study co-author and astrophysicist at the University of Helsinki in Finland, said in a statement. “We’ve simply been able to explore a much larger space of possibilities, taking advantage of new data. While some earlier works had focused on the interaction between the Milky Way, Andromeda, and the Triangulum galaxy, we also include the effect of the LMC.”

While the LMC’s mass is less than 10 percent of the Milky Way’s mass, its gravitational pull is directed perpendicular to the orbit with Andromeda. This alters the Milky Way’s motion enough to significantly reduce the chances of a mega merge with Andromeda. While earlier studies considered the most most likely value for each variable, the team here ran many thousands of simulations to allow for many observational uncertainties. 

“These results are significant for the fate of our Galaxy,” added Alis Deason, a study co-author and galactic astronomer from Durham University in the UK. “It used to appear destined to merge with Andromeda forming a colossal ‘Milkomeda’. Now, there is a chance that we could avoid this fate entirely.” 

[ Related: A terrifying fate may lurk inside the Milky Way. ]

The team are already looking ahead to studying further scenarios when even more datasets become available, since this new uncertainty about the future of the Milky Way and Andromeda may not last and our understanding of these events is constantly changing. Gaia is expected to deliver more precise measurements of some of the most crucial variables within galaxies. These variables include Andromeda’s transverse motion–or when all points on a wave oscillate along paths at right angles to the direction of the wave’s advance–which is difficult to measure directly.

“The Universe is a dynamic place, constantly evolving,” said study co-author and Durham University cosmologist Carlos Frenk. “We see external galaxies often colliding and merging with other galaxies, sometimes producing the equivalent of cosmic fireworks when gas, driven to the centre of the merger remnant, feeds a central black hole emitting an enormous amount of radiation, before irrevocably falling into the hole.  Until now we thought this was the fate that awaited our Milky Way galaxy. We now know that there is a very good chance that we may avoid that scary destiny.”

The post Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies may not collide after all appeared first on Popular Science.

The ticking tyranny of 2 a.m. after you climbed into bed–responsibly–at 11. We all know it. As the minutes go by, all you can think about is the importance of good sleep for function, mood, and productivity. What’s worse, the big white letters on your sleep score will read “poor” like a middle school quiz. And while health-tracking devices have helped many gain insight into their bodies, hyperfixation on sleep metrics can backfire.

Since the Fitbit arrived on the market in 2009, consumer tech has released countless devices that allow us to track our sleep at home. Wearables (like watches and rings) and nearables (like mats and hubs) are everywhere, and gone are the days when sleep tracking was siloed to clinics. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, more than one-third of Americans have used devices to chronicle their shuteye.

All of that data about our snoozing selves has introduced a new concern: the obsession with attaining perfect sleep, a condition experts call orthosomnia. The modern phenomenon is also a brutal paradox. Due to the very nature of sleep, fixation on it can actually make it harder to get. For many people, “as soon as you start pursuing perfect sleep, it negatively impacts your sleep quality,” sleep researcher and former sleep coach Drew Copeland tells Popular Science.  

Orthosomnia was first identified in 2017 by researchers who noticed patients coming in anxiety-ridden about their sleep-tracker data. Dr. Kelly Glazer Baron, a psychologist, director of the behavioral sleep medicine lab at the University of Utah and a researcher in the pioneering study, sees people’s anxiety about their sleep have a snowball effect. She tells Popular Science it often causes them to do things that make their sleep worse, like spending more time in bed than they should, a common Hail Mary for struggling sleepers that experts advise against.

Hyperfixation on getting a good night’s rest can ignite a tortuous loop. Stress about sleep causes activation in the body, which then keeps you awake longer. The deluge of new devices in the last decade has fed a steady stream of data-tormented patients in Baron’s clinic. 

“I have people coming in every week that shove a phone in my face and say, ‘I’m not getting enough REM sleep,’” she says.

[ Related: For better sleep, borrow the bedtime routine of a toddler. ]

Average consumers studying their sleep metrics often don’t understand what they’re looking at compared to what their bodies actually need.

“Half of your sleep in the night is supposed to be light sleep,” Baron says. It’s also normal to have some awakenings. Sleep is not a coma, it’s not supposed to be a solid block of unconsciousness.

Furthermore, many users simply put too much stock in their morning reports. While consumer sleep-tracking technology has made huge strides since Baron’s initial paper, experts agree that these devices are not yet great at detecting details beyond when you’re asleep, when you’re awake, and your heart rate. The more abstract metrics are not reliable.

“The ‘score,’ the ‘recovery’ are mostly nonsense. It’s horoscopes,” Dr. Michael Grandner, psychologist and director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, tells Popular Science.

Grandner also warns against believing devices’ sleep stage metrics. 

“[Sleep stages] can only be scored visually by a human,” Grandner says. “There are lots of AI programs, but no one trusts them, because it’s totally subjective.”

Sleep stages were invented by researchers in the 1930s to refer to signatures of synchronicity in the sleeping brain as seen through brain wave measurements. Even almost a century later, experts don’t have the technology to see the actual neurons firing, which is why two technicians may interpret the stages slightly differently from one another. 

Grandner says consumer devices are even messier. What’s more, sleep stages are less important than people think. Sleep trackers are best used as snapshots of when you are awake and asleep, a companionate tool alongside how you actually feel.

“I would never initiate treatment based on somebody’s data from their device,” Baron says. “Treatment for insomnia is based on people’s subjective experience of their sleep.”

Copeland says that if you think you might have a problem with your sleep, talk to a specialist, either in-person or online. There are therapies, like CBT-I, that are helpful. If you think that you may be overly focused on your sleep data, take a break from tracking.

Copeland wears an Oura Ring on his right hand and likes that it shows him a bird’s-eye-view of his time asleep over weeks and months. He finds that it also helps boost self-compassion on days after a bad night’s sleep. 

“Sleep is, just by its very nature, something that you have to relax into,” says Copeland. “Lying in bed thinking, I need to maximize this score, just adds pressure. Sleep should be restful, not a competition.” 

[ Related: How to fix your sleep schedule without pulling an all-nighter. ]

Baron uses her sleep-tracking device similarly, saying she hasn’t changed her behavior based on the data.

On his podcast, neuroscientist Dr. Matthew Walker says that the best thing you can do the day after a bad night’s sleep is nothing different from what’s usual for you. Don’t go to bed at 6 p.m., or nap during lunch. Consistency and a calm approach are the best ways to ensure your circadian rhythms do what they’re meant to.

While sleep is vital, it’s not something people should feel the need to micromanage. Like breathing, it’s a passive biological process. “Anyone who has a pet knows that mammals don’t worry about sleep,” says Grandner. It’s important to remember that human evolution figured this out a long time ago. The body already knows what to do.

“It gets taken care of,” Grandner says. “It’s a solved problem. We are trying to find a solution to a solved problem.”

The post Can tracking make my sleep worse? The quiet torment of sleep tech. appeared first on Popular Science.

AirTag fans have discovered a major design flaw: it doesn’t fit in a wallet. So what are they doing? Trading it in for a SmartCard wallet tracker that does the exact same thing without the, uh, bulge. It’s sleek, smart, and works with the same Apple Find My app.

These credit card trackers aren’t just good for wallets, but also luggage, passports, and pet carriers. You can pick up a 3-pack for $89.99 with free shipping while supplies last (reg. $119.97). When you buy this multi-pack, they’re about the same price as the name-brand AirTags, although single units are also available.

This wallet tracker is probably so loved because it’s basically an AirTag, just in a new form and with some pretty significant improvements. Just like the AirTag, it pairs with Apple’s Find My app, allowing you to:

• See your item’s real-time location on a map
• Play a sound on the SmartCard to locate it
• Get notifications when you leave your item behind

However, unlike the AirTag, the SmartCard will never need a battery replacement. Instead, just lay it on a Qi-enabled wireless charger every five months to keep it powered up. 

The SmartCard is also more water-resistant than the AirTag, with an IPX8 waterproof rating (the AirTag is rated IP67). This means it’s more durable in various weather conditions, ensuring the odds of tracking your items are higher if they’re lost outdoors or submerged in water.

Get your wallet-friendly AirTag alternatives in a 3-pack for $89.99 with free shipping before they’re all sold out (reg. $119.97).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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KeySmart® SmartCard – Works with Apple Find My (3-Pack)

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The post Everyone’s ditching AirTags for this wallet-friendly dupe appeared first on Popular Science.

When I launched my third “brilliant” side project last year (don’t ask about the first two), I was hit with an annoying realization: having a website is crazy expensive. Ten bucks here, $15 there, and suddenly I was paying more to keep it alive than I was hoping to make selling my cute little stickers.

So I started looking for alternatives, and that’s when I stumbled onto BonoHost’s lifetime web hosting plan. No monthly bills. No tiered “basic” vs “pro” nonsense. Just one payment, unlimited everything.

Naturally, I was suspicious. But I took the plunge, and months later, I haven’t paid another cent, and everything still runs like clockwork.

For a one-time fee ($58.50 with code BONO10 at checkout, normally $64.99), you get unlimited websites, domains, bandwidth, email addresses, databases, and storage. No caps. No creeping usage fees. It also includes a beginner-friendly control panel and one-click installs for 1,500+ apps—like WordPress, e-commerce stores, CRMs, and more.

Basically, BonoHost gives you the tools most other providers hide behind paywalls—and the support staff hasn’t ghosted me once.

You’ll still need to buy your own domain name (think: myweirdproject.com), which usually runs $10–$15/year through registrars like Namecheap or GoDaddy. There’s no way around that.

Also, this is shared hosting. So, while it works great for blogs, portfolios, and small business sites, it’s not meant for running a high-traffic SaaS empire or spinning up an AI chatbot with GPU needs.

If you’re launching a blog, freelancing, selling art, or just want your own corner of the internet, this hosting plan gives you what you need without the recurring charge. It’s like buying your own coffee maker instead of paying $6 at a time for someone else to do it at Starbucks.

Use code BONO10 at checkout to drop the price from $64.99 to $58.50 (MSRP is usually $1,614.60, so this is a crazy-good deal on an unlimited web hosting plan).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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BonoHost Unlimited Plan: Lifetime Web Hosting Subscription

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The post This is how I get around paying for web hosting appeared first on Popular Science.

If you’re starting to feel a little behind in your career because you aren’t completely proficient with AI, you don’t need to worry. Even beginners can quickly master valuable AI skills without any tech background in the ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree program, and it’s on sale right now for just $19.97

This program offers 12 captivating modules that allow you to immerse yourself in more than 25 hours of engaging coursework. It will transform your perception of the digital world. You’ll master ChatGPT and over 20 AI tools that are indispensable in facing the dynamic challenges in today’s coding, business, and marketing industries. The classes are specifically tailored to help you develop the skills that can future-proof your career.

Learning how to master conversations with ChatGPT will elevate your communication skills. You’ll also get to explore the intersection of data visualization and AI, learning powerful techniques for turning raw data into visual narratives that offer compelling insights. AI can turbocharge your creativity and send your productivity skyrocketing, as well.

The courses in this program will teach you how to enhance efficiency and ensure optimal utilization of resources by streamlining business operations with automation. You’ll get hands-on experience with practical applications in real-world scenarios that you can apply directly to your professional environment.

This program is presented by Edunix, a leading educational platform that has been providing high-quality technology training for over a decade. Experienced instructors teach students how to use these skills in the same way that professionals in the industry use them.

Users have a lifetime of 24/7 access to this course and can access it on desktop and mobile devices. All future updates are included, and a Certificate of Completion is provided after the course has been finished.

Get the ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree while it’s on sale for just $19.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree

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The post Future-proof your career by mastering AI skills for just $20 appeared first on Popular Science.

It’s 2025, there’s no reason to keep losing your wallet. Especially now that the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card has hit the market. This sleek tracking device fits into extra-narrow spots where AirTags can’t, and right now you can get one for just $23.99 (reg. $59.99).

The MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card is a razor-thin tracker, measuring 1.5mm thick and approximately the size of a credit card. That makes it easy to slip into wallets, purses, backpacks, or passport pouches. There’s even a built-in keyring hole so you can attach it to keys, bags, name tags, or ID lanyards.

This tracker card works seamlessly with your Apple Find My app, so you don’t need to download anything else. It keeps tabs on your belongings with precision global tracking. You’ll get a notification if you leave something behind, and if it’s lost, you can activate a loud beeping noise to help find it.

The rechargeable battery runs for five months on a full charge and recharges easily on a Qi wireless charger. And you can rest easily knowing the MagTag is IP68 waterproof and dustproof and is built to withstand the elements.

Secure your stuff with the MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card, now only $23.99 (reg. $59.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card – Works with Apple Find My App

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The post Track your wallet, keys, or bag with this razor-thin $24 device appeared first on Popular Science.

Beef production is a significant source of planet-warming greenhouse gasses, and its land use often leads to deforestation. Plant-based food products are thus widely considered to be a more sustainable alternative. But there’s one problem: to most people, they don’t taste nearly as good as a juicy ribeye steak. 

In particular, people don’t like fava beans (also called faba beans) because of their bitterness and the dry sensation they cause in the mouth, according to a Finnish consumer study reported by the University of Helsinki.The legume, however, has incredible potential. It’s highly nutritious and provides a great source of amino acids. What’s more, dried faba beans have more protein than red meat, and some studies have even suggested that eating them improves the motor skills of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

“People avoid faba beans in cooking and in the food industry especially because of their bitterness. In their current form, faba bean products have not sold very well either,” Fabio Tuccillo, a sensory and consumer scientist conducting his doctoral research at the University of Helsinki, explained in a statement. “They are often also heavily seasoned to cover the bitter taste. Therefore, it is important to identify the compounds that cause unpleasant flavours.” 

[ Related: A new ingredient could revolutionize white bread. ]

The idea is that if scientists discover the compounds behind these flavors, they can modify them through new technologies, processing methods, and even plant-breeding approaches to make fava beans a better-tasting ingredient for plant-based foods. In this spirit, Tuccillo reveals in his doctoral thesis that the bitterness and mouth-drying feeling is associated with compounds called vicine and convicine, in addition to several amino acids including phenylalanine, according to the university. He also identified compounds responsible for the beans’ cereal-like smell. 

Fava beans “can be used in a diverse range of food products, such as bread, pastry and other products. Once we know how to reduce the unpleasant flavour and sensation, we can produce increasingly pleasant faba bean raw materials,” explained Tuccillo, who is defending his doctoral thesis today. “Improving the sensory quality of raw materials made from faba beans is necessary, if the aim is to succeed in the food market with products supporting sustainable development and plant-based diets.” 

Perhaps we’ll all be enjoying delicious fava bread sooner than you think. 

The post Why fava beans taste gross (and how scientists want to fix them) appeared first on Popular Science.

Vulnerable amphibians are getting some help from an effective and pretty simple intervention–wildlife underpass tunnels. Long-term research in Vermont spanning more than 10 years found that these tunnels can reduce amphibian deaths by 80.2 percent and help preserve ecosystems. The findings are detailed in a study published online this week in the August 2025 issue of the Journal for Nature Conservation. 

“It was surprising. I knew that underpasses would work, but I didn’t think they would be that effective,” study co-author and University of Vermont (UVM) ecologist Matthew Marcelino said in a statement. “And when we took climbing amphibians out of the picture—which in our context are primarily spring peeper frogs—we noticed a 94% decrease in mortality in the treatment areas.”

Around the world, frogs, salamanders, and other amphibians are facing mounting challenges. Devastating chytrid fungus has wiped out numerous frogs, while they also face habitat loss and the impacts of climate change.

In Vermont, amphibians play a vital role in several ecosystems by eating mosquitoes and other insects, serving as a food source for larger animals, and helping to cycle nutrients throughout the entire ecosystem. They are highly sensitive to environmental disruption, partially due to their lifestyles. Like elsewhere in the northeastern United States, many amphibians spend most of their lives hidden in forest soils or streams, and bulk up to survive long winters underground. During the early spring, they emerge on warm, rainy nights to migrate from upland woods into ponds, wetlands, and flooded meadows to breed.

“It’s usually sometime between late March and late April,” Brittany Mosher, a study co-author and quantitative ecologist at UVM, said in a statement. “Many species will breed in the same ponds. So it’s not just a single species migrating—it’s many, many species. And oftentimes, we see hundreds or thousands making this movement all at the same time.”

Among all of the major threats, roads pose a uniquely immediate danger. They can cut through critical migration corridors and vehicles crush millions of animals each year. Amphibians are also small and slow-moving and generally can’t dart across a road in a few seconds like a deer.  Frogs and salamanders can take several minutes to cross—and with hundreds migrating at once, mortality rates can be staggering.

After seeing thousands of dead frogs during migration, locals and researchers took action through a conservation partnership that led to the construction of two amphibian underpasses beneath a roughly one-mile stretch of road in Monkton, about 20 miles south of Burlington. These structures were installed in 2015 and are designed to allow amphibians to pass safely under the road during migration.

The underpass has two four-foot-wide concrete tunnels with wing walls to guide the amphibians to the tunnels and safely under the road. In the spring of 2016, the Lewis Creek Association’s wildlife cameras counted 2,208 amphibians using one of the underpasses. Some other animals were also happy to use these tunnels too. The cameras picked up mammals including bears, bobcats, porcupines, and raccoons, and some snakes, and birds also using the underpasses.

[ Related: These frogs may be evolving because of road salt. ]

In this new study, researchers from the University of Vermont, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and citizen scientists assessed the effectiveness of two wildlife underpasses in Monkton, Vermont. 

They used a before-after-control-impact (BACI) study design, which are commonly used to monitor ecological responses in large spaces like lakes and forests where replication of the environment is difficult or impossible. Two units are then monitored, with one receiving some kind of intervention and the other is undisturbed as a control. 

The team monitored amphibian road mortality over five years before the underpasses were built (2011–2015) and seven years after their construction (2016–2022). They then compared three separate zones. Zone one had underpasses and wing walls, called a treatment zone. Zone two covered the area at and beyond the end of wing walls away from the tunnels, called a buffer zone. Zone three was the control area, located far from the infrastructure changes.

During brief spring migration windows, the team conducted standardized surveys. Team members walked the road each rainy evening and recorded every amphibian across 12 species—alive or dead. Initially, they found 5,273 amphibians. Half of the 1,702 spotted salamanders the team saw were dead. Almost 70 percent of the 2,545 spring peeper frogs were also deceased. 

The death rates were much lower in both the treatment zone and the buffer zone. 

While the reduction in mortality for climbing amphibians like spring peepers was not statistically significant, it did drop by 73 percent. The non-tree dwelling amphibians that travel along the ground saw the most benefits from the underpass, with consistent use and fewer fatalities.

According to the team, these results indicate that the animals were actually using the tunnels and not just being displaced to the ends of the walls. It also highlights that the design details—such as wall height and angles, tunnel layout, and material—really make a difference. 

“This study provides strong evidence that wildlife underpasses work,” Marcelino said. “We hope this will encourage transportation departments to include them in future plans, when building or repairing roads. “Conservation takes commitment. But when we invest in good tools and take the time to do it right, the payoff for ecosystems and wildlife can be enormous. These are beautiful creatures—so beautiful, so ancient.”

The post Wildlife underpass reduces squished amphibians by 80% appeared first on Popular Science.