Pre-Hispanic Mayan society loved its tooth accessories. During the Classic and Postclassic Periods (250–1550 CE), adults commonly sported decorative inlays, engravings, and filings. To achieve the desired effects, dental artisans usually relied on a stone tool to purposefully carve a cavity into the tooth, then placed a shaped gem or mineral like obsidian inside before sealing it with an organic cement.

Archaeologists have previously discovered a handful of these dental additions in Mayan teenagers. However, a trio of recently examined, jade-adorned teeth are some of the youngest examples yet, according to researchers at Francisco Marroquín University’s Popol Vuh Museum in Guatemala. Some children as young as eight years old received tooth gems, based on evidence detailed in a study recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

Previously, the only known child dental inlay came from Belize, but experts believe the toddler received the accessories after their death as part of their burial. Based on this example, bioarchaeologist and study co-author Andrea Cucina theorized that the latest finds may exemplify a far more specific, geographically focused trend—possibly signifiers of a transition into adulthood.

“This is an interesting question,” he told Phys.org. “Given the fact that so far the archaeological record in Mesoamerica has not reported any preadolescent with inlays (very few young cases start by age 15 years), it makes me think that it might indeed be a regional, localized tradition.”

Cucina’s hypothesis is further supported by the fact that preadolescent Mayan skeletal remains aren’t rare. It’s simply that none of them feature the same dental work and more specimens need to be uncovered to draw larger conclusions. 

There are still certain details the team can still glean from these particular teeth. They likely belonged to more than one child, possibly even three separate individuals. One subject is estimated to have died at nine or 10 years’ old, while the other two teeth belonged to at least one other 8 to 9-year-old.

However, the team theorized that skill discrepancies also indicate that the teeth potentially came from three separate children, noting the range of craftsmanship across the jade inlays. For example, the most precise work is in a left lateral incisor, where the artisan’s cavity only penetrated the tooth’s enamel. Meanwhile, the inlay for a maxillary left central incisor was deeper into the dentin layer, but stopped short of the pulp chamber.

For now, the definitive stories behind these children’s teeth (and the wider societal context) will remain archaeological mysteries. With more time and research, additional archaeological discoveries may eventually fill in our cavities of knowledge.

The post Jade gems decorated these Mayan kids’ teeth appeared first on Popular Science.

The San Diego County Planning Commission approved a controversial development that some neighbors say could trap residents in the event of a fire, reports Drew Sitton in the Times of San Diego.

The Harmony Grove Village South project received approval in 2018, but its progress was blocked by litigation from the Sierra Club and local stakeholders who claimed the project did not conduct a full CEQA review. Its approval was rescinded in 2022. “However, a state appellate court then found all but one aspect of the project complied with CEQA.”

The main complaint stems from the community’s plan to only include one road for ingress and egress, which could trap residents in the event of a fire. “In the 2014 Cocos Fire, which destroyed 30 homes in Harmony Grove, that 1.5 mile road to Escondido was gridlocked for more than an hour during the evacuation.”

Some also argue the development would not contribute to local affordability. “Current residents of Harmony Grove noted that living in the car-dependent area will still be pricey, even for those in the designated affordable housing. Many are not able to get fire insurance outside of the notoriously expensive California FAIR Plan due to being in a CAL FIRE mapped high-risk fire zone.”

• San Diego County
• Wildfire
• Fire Hazard
• fire risk
• Housing Development
• Housing Crisis

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Vienna, Austria is encouraging residents to build their own parklets, even funding the projects with up to €5,000 through its Local Agenda 21 initiative.

According to an article in The Guardian by Will Grimond, over 100 new parklets have popped up in the city since 2015. The process involves applying with the city for permission to build the parklets, known locally as Grätzloasen.

As Grimond points out, “Vienna consistently scores highly on environmental and livability rankings – even if its quality-of-life crown was nicked by Copenhagen in June. But these accolades obscure the fact that some districts are distinctly lacking in greenery, particularly in the centre-west of the city.” The parklet program is one way to help residents make their neighborhoods greener and more inviting. “Sabrina Halkic, the managing director of Local Agenda 21, describes them as an example of ‘tactical urbanism’ – low-cost, often citizen-led improvements to the built environment. She sees the grätzloasen as a gateway to further changes.”

• Vienna
• Parklets
• Grätzloasen
• Green Space
• Parks
• Public Space
• Curb Management

Let’s face it: Your phone’s built-in sound sucks, so you need a portable Bluetooth speaker. Sure, everything is relative, and those phone speakers are amazing compared to what, say, a 2005 flip phone sounded like. But do we really want to justify our tech based on when people published think-pieces on how texting was the new hotness? No, we do not. So while we can admit you can hear musical cues right out of your pocket, if you want to feel the actual emotional resonance that makes the music special, the speakers on even the best smartphone, the best tablet, the best laptop … ultimately suck. But the best portable Bluetooth speakers—from the compact Bose SoundLink Plus to the more substantial Brane X, for example—do not suck, so we’re ready to help you select speakers that are as carry-able as they are kick-ass.

• Best overall for outings: Bose SoundLink Plus
• Best design: Marshall Kilburn III
• Best party in your palm: LG xboom Bounce by will.i.am
• Best for biking and hiking: Tribit StormBox Micro 2
• Best waterproof: Sony ULT FIELD 1
• Best shower speaker: UE Wonderboom 4
• Best ultraportable: Sonos Roam 2
• Best for Android: Sony ULT FIELD 5 
• Best for party-goers and party-throwers: JBL PartyBox Encore Essential
• Best for (viewing) parties: EarFun UBOOM L
• Best battery life on a budget: Tribit StormBox Flow Bluetooth Speaker
• Best for bass: Brane X
• Also worth considering: Klipsch Nashville, Detroit, and Austin

We test a lot of Bluetooth speakers throughout the year, giving us deep insight into what’s on the marketplace and what’s worth your money. Whether you’re looking for something budget or audiophile, chances are we’ve heard at least one model from whatever brand you’re considering. We combine these experiences with other users’ impressions, then top it all off with extensive research on what you should look for: IP rating, frequency range, battery life, Bluetooth support … we’ve got you! This lets us find the perfect balance of specs and special features from a fairly dense pool of possibilities.

From extreme durability to supreme connectivity, we’ve got you covered when it comes to the best portable Bluetooth speakers. Whether you’re always on the go or simply need something to take to the front porch, these speakers will deliver quality sound without any cables or wires weighing you down. 

• Signature Bose sound and build, which means pleasing to the touch and ear
• Compact but kickin’
• Sand-proof, splash-proof, and it floats in case of accidental submersion

• Price
• Highs can get bright and bass a little loose if volume is pushed over 80 percent

• Battery Life: 20 hours
• Bluetooth: 5.4 with SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
• IP Rating: IP67
• Weight: 3.29 pounds

Why we picked it: The Bose SoundLink Plus portable Bluetooth speaker is styled for motion, tuned for emotion, with high cost being the primary shortcoming.

New for 2025, the $269 SoundLink Plus is built with a powder-coated steel grille and a shock-resistant chassis wrapped in color-matched silicone. And there’s just something tactilely addictive about the soft-touch skin of the agreeably transportable speaker. Don’t wanna grip it insulated water bottle style? There’s a rugged nylon rope loop on the right side, which you can slip around a couple of fingers or carabiner to a belt, pack, or pack belt, assuming you don’t consider the 3.29-pound weight a detriment. All of this comes with an IP67 rating, meaning the SoundLink Plus is dust-tight and is protected against temporary immersion—perfect to be poolside or for sitting on a beach blanket. As for how it sounds, there’s warm vocal presence anchoring a soundstage with enough room for dynamic swings. Even busy tracks maintain a sense of clarity and composure. And low frequencies that punch above their weight class. For a closer look at the features that can soundtrack the summer and beyond, check out our full review.

If getting stereo is make or break, and spending more won’t break the budget, the $399 Bose SoundLink Max is worth the extra money. It’s a fluent speaker that doesn’t just match but rather deepens the vibe. Not that much bigger than the SoundLink Plus, it’s got a clean look and a sound equally focused on clarity, with silky vocals and crisply rendered instruments. This is a speaker that’s about cologne as much as Corona. It’ll match rich leather and cocktail hour, then transition to patio or pool thanks to its IP67 rating and 20H battery life. If enhancing ambiance is your goal, the SoundLink Max is a refined host and the best overall for premium sound.

• Kicks out 36 watts of crunchy, punchy 360-degree sound
• Tactile treble/bass controls
• Classic, stylish look with with signature guitar strap handle
• Auxiliary 3.5mm input
• Multi-host functionality for device switching
• Can act as a charging bank

• Transportable, but not the most compact
• “Multidimensional” sound means a backward-facing port, not wide stereo

• Battery Life: 50 hours
• Bluetooth Range: up to 30 feet
• IP Rating: IP54
• Weight: 6.2 pounds

Why we picked it: With powerful sound in a well-crafted, roadworthy package, this speaker’s attitude lives up to the Marshall name, whether in your house playing blazing licks or being your campfire companion. 

If your living room desires swagger and your listening session craves endurance, the Kilburn III is a speaker that doesn’t just play tunes but commands them. The Tolex facade and brass-knurled knobs nod to the brand’s rock legacy (and the original Kilburn from a decade ago), but this multidimensional speaker is packed with as many up-to-date features as it is visceral resonance. It’s as at home under Edison bulbs in an urban loft as it is taking center stage at a backyard blast. It announces itself unapologetically.

An iconic retro-chic look with an impressive sound, this $379 speaker from one of the premier brands in rock ‘n roll amplification boasts 50 hours of playtime with a quick-charge option (the best battery life of all our picks). It’s also got Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC/AAC/LC3 (delivering the best fidelity with any device), a 30-foot connectivity range, and, best of all, adjustable analog EQ so control freqs can customize how they want to feel those fiery licks. With a wider physical and sonic body than its predecessor, the Marshall Kilburn III performs well across all frequencies through a range of 45 to 20,000 Hz, delivering 50 articulate watts of dynamic stereo loudness in a classically styled water-resistant IP54 6.5-pound cabinet (complete with a movement-inviting strap and ruggedized touches). Mids crackle richly, highs shimmer, bass hums … maintaining control unless you try to push the SPL all the way to its 91 dB @ 1 M. Plus, a multi-host feature lets you connect two sources at once so you can take turns soloing (or plug one in via 3.5mm aux port). Link two via Auracast to really turn it up to 11. And charging is bidirectional, letting you top off your phone with a USB-C cable.

If the Kilburn III is a little bit outside of your price range or space constraints, you can still buy the Kilburn II, which sacrifices battery life and water resistance but only costs $289. Or check out the Marshall Emberton III, a smaller, IP67 (so truly waterproof) speaker that forgoes the onboard adjustable settings but delivers 30 hours of battery life powering a naturally balanced sound with just enough bite (and you can stack/sync multiples if you want to amp up the energy). 

Looking for a similarly retromodern aesthetic with smart speaker capabilities added in? The JBL Authentics 300 is a portable speaker with an updated, upscale ’70s vibe, onboard EQ knobs, but also voice assistant access.

• Bassy signature is good for festival-ready fun
• LEDs add visual flair
• Military-grade durability means you could drop it and still drop the beat
• AI tailors the sound profile to your environment
• Can charge external device via USB-C
• Built-in elastic strap make it easy to carry

• LG ThinQ app requires account/hoops to jump through if you want to use it
• Low-end emphasis isn’t for everyone

• Battery Life: 30 hours
• Bluetooth Range: up to 30 feet
• IP Rating: IP67, MIL-STD 810H Durability
• Weight: 2.9 pounds

Why we picked it: LG and will.i.am gave portable speakers a glow-up, somewhat literally, with LED flair, bass-heavy punch, and 30-hour stamina—all wrapped in a sturdy, head-turning chassis.

The LG xboom Bounce is a speaker that isn’t shy. With built-in LEDs and multiple ways to make them move, it offers a bold look. With dual dome tweeters plus a racetrack mid‑bass driver and passive radiators, it offers bold sound. It’s a speaker that will sound good on your patio and look great on your socials. Visual charisma sells the vibe.

Good times? The 40W of total power says bring it on. Bad weather? An IP67 rating and MIL-STD 810H Durability say bring it on. Summer block party or misty fall evening, your porch will pulse. Mids aren’t the star of the show, but vocals and synths still bubble without splintering. You’re really here for that bottom end, a club-floor heartbeat that cuts across concrete and chatter. The Bounce isn’t inviting people to listen; it’s demanding they participate. And with (optional) AI calibration able to analyze and optimize to wherever you settle the speaker, you’ll get max volume without losing all the details. Plus, 30 hours of battery means this speaker doesn’t quit, even as sunlight surrenders to moonlight.

Bluetooth 5.3 lets you sync more than one Bounce via Auracast. A “MY” button lets you skip right to your curated playlist in ThinQ app. Fairy lights on fences, chilled drinks in plastic cups, the LG xboom Bounce centerstage—that’s how you get it started in here.

• Price
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Powerbank
• Integrated strap

• Some distortion at loud volumes 
• Limited onboard controls 

• Battery Life: 12 hours
• Bluetooth Range: up to 120 feet
• IP Rating: IP67
• Weight: 16 ounces

Why we picked it: Doubling as a portable charger, this compact speaker is a budget-friendly way to listen to your favorite tunes wherever the water takes you. 

The StormBox Micro 2 from Tribit is a super-compact portable Bluetooth speaker that is easily strap-mounted to your backpack, handlebars, and more. At roughly 4 x 4 inches with a rubberized, grippy bottom and durable, textured grill, and weighing just over 1 pound, its small size doesn’t get in the way of solid sound that packs a punch. It’s tiny but surprisingly mighty, with 10 watts of output power, a 48mm NdFeB driver, passive radiators, and XBass technology making for a pretty solid listening experience—up to 90 dB, which is plenty loud for outdoor listening. And it can even be paired with another Micro 2 for stereo sound anytime, anywhere. With an IP67 rating, you won’t need to worry about dust or water damage, and 12 hours of playtime will keep you in business during an out-and-back. And just in case you’re more than a bike frame’s distance from the Micro 2 (or need more juice for another quick adventure), it uses Bluetooth 5.3 to connect to your device with a range of up to 120 feet and charges with an included USB-C cable. 

Also worth a shot is the $30 LG Xboom Go XG2T, a pint-sized party speaker with an integrated cord that wraps around the speaker so it can easily attach to just about anything.

• Angled drivers
• Supports stereo pairing
• Doubles as a power bank

• So-so battery life

• Battery Life: 12 hours
• Bluetooth Range: up to 120 feet
• IP Rating: IP67
• Weight: 1.4 pounds

Why we picked it: The ULT Field 1 can bring the bass to the great outdoors without forgetting the treble.

The ULT Field 1 is Sony’s latest entry-level Bluetooth speaker, and its audio quality and durability are both impressive, given its modest price. This is a mono speaker, but Sony has improved its audio fidelity by angling up its rectangular driver upward, so the sound is sent toward your head when it’s lying on its side. This makes a difference, as we could hear music more clearly during casual listening sessions at a desk. The other new audio feature is the inclusion of its “ULT” button, which enables deeper bass when pushed.

We mostly listened to music in the standard mode, as “ULT” mode doesn’t benefit every genre. Bass was never overwhelming or distorted but significantly enhanced. If you like music with prominent bass, however, this is a great benefit—hip-hop and R&B we listened to sounded the most natural with this feature enabled. Even without the boost, the Ult Field 1 has a pleasing default EQ, so bouncing from modern pop to classic rock to jazz didn’t faze it. You can tweak this speaker’s EQ in Sony’s “Music Center” app on iOS and Android if you want to futz with it yourself. Although it has a single driver, bass radiators on both sides of the speaker provide ample low-frequency oomph. If mono sound has got you down, you can also use Sony’s app to pair two ULT Field 1 speakers together for true stereo sound.

Sony made ULT Field 1 outdoor-friendly by outfitting it with a strap and designing it with an IP67 rating, meaning it’s dustproof and can be completely submerged underwater for several minutes without damage. If you take it to the beach or by the pool, you won’t have to worry about it getting splashed or rained on. The speaker’s soft exterior also absorbed shocks without getting damaged the handful of times we dropped it from a height of around three feet onto a hardwood floor.

Sony says the ULT Field 1’s battery will last up to 12 hours per charge, less than rivals like JBL’s larger Charge 6, which offers up to 28 hours of playtime. Still, this burrito-shaped JBL speaker weighs just over 2 pounds and measures 8.7 inches by 3.67 inches, which is small enough to stuff in a backpack. Available in nine colors, it delivers a rich, uncompromising mix with surprisingly impactful bass lines and clear vocals. And if you’re going into the outdoors, the Charge 6 has an impenetrable industry-leading IP68 rating, so you don’t have to worry about sand or spillage ruining your weekend away. Auracast allows you to pair with another (compatible) JBL speaker to support stereo sound (or up to 100 speakers in mono), and the built-in Powerbank will let you keep your phone charged, so you never need to stop the music.

• Durability 
• Volume 
• Portability 

• Bass is a bit lacking
• No microphone 

• Battery Life: 14 hours
• Bluetooth Range: 131 feet
• IP Rating: IP67
• Weight: 14.4 ounces

Why we picked it: The UE Wonderboom 4 continues a chart-topping legacy when it comes to portable, affordable, waterproof sound. 

Since being introduced in 2017, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom has been a tried-and-true favorite, one of the best Bluetooth speakers under $100 in any situation, thanks to its durability and sound quality. And Wonderboom 4 continues that tuneful tradition, offering you an audio orb you can easily take with you—into the woods or the waves, to the beach or the bathtub. It comes in fun two-tone colors with a flexible handle at the top that can easily be attached to a backpack, belt loop, bike basket, or boat. It weighs less than 1 pound and measures just 4 inches tall, so you won’t be slowed down by bulk. The battery lasts a full 14 hours and produces 360-degree sound coverage that can reach up to 87 dBs in Outdoor Boost mode—pretty impressive for a 10W speaker this size. You can also pair two if you want more liquid funk.

With an IP67 rating, the UE Wonderboom is waterproof and dust-resistant (making it one of our favorite shower speakers). It also floats, which is one of our favorite features—you won’t need to get out of the water just to skip a track or pause the music when your portable Bluetooth speaker is bobbing alongside you. And unlike the previous versions, the Wonderboom 4 charges via USB-C instead of microUSB, so that’s one less cable you have to keep around (don’t feel bad, we all have that box).

The WONDERBOOM is our pick for the best palm-friendly floatable, but maybe you want something with even more … boom? If you dig the UE aesthetic and ultraportability is less of a concern, the company makes a range of recommendable portable Bluetooth speakers, including the admittedly more expensive EVERBOOM and EPICBOOM. But they bring a lot more bass and even more battery to the party, while remaining floatable.

Riding a bike and want a beat to help you keep pace? The MINIROLL straps to the handlebars, letting you hear Pitbull or turn-by-turn directions for $79.99.

• Sonos users can “throw” music to their home system with the push of a button
• Trueplay system analyzes space and sound for optimal performance
• Small yet loud enough for a 75 x 50-foot backyard
• Stereo pairing

• Some of the cooler features only matter if you own multiple Sonos speakers 

• Battery Life: 10 hours
• Bluetooth & Dual-Band Wi-Fi
• IP Rating: IP67
• Weight: 1 pound

Why we picked it: The Sonos Roam 2 is a modest upgrade to an excellent-sounding, easily transported Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled speaker.

The original Sonos Roam impressed us with its audio quality and for supporting both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which is uncommon in most portable speakers, let alone such a compact one. This second-generation model improves on its solid foundation in a couple of key ways. The first is that Sonos has outfitted the Roam 2 with a dedicated Bluetooth button; previously, you’d have to hold the power button for a couple of seconds to enable Bluetooth mode. Holding the power button for too short a time wouldn’t do anything, and holding it too long would turn the speaker off. This was our primary gripe with the Roam, and it has been addressed perfectly. Now you take the speaker out of its eco-friendly packaging, and it’s ready to go wherever, however you are. Additionally, Sonos color-matched its logo with the speaker’s color, which is a small but welcome aesthetic change.

The Roam 2 sounds great on its own, but it is still a mono speaker. For true stereo sound, you can pair two Roam 2 speakers together on the same Wi-Fi network. The Roam 2 will seamlessly integrate with any speakers in your smart home‘s Sonos system so that you can play the same tunes on this speaker and, say, its bigger brother, the Move 2, another one of the best waterproof speakers we love. In addition to playing music, you’ll be able to check the weather and send messages via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri (it’s also compatible with Apple AirPlay 2, so you can have a more robust connection if you have an iPhone).

Once paired, this speaker will automatically connect to your phone and Wi-Fi when in range, so you won’t need to pause your playlist when you get home. It can last for 10 hours on a single charge, which you can replenish wirelessly by dropping it down on any Qi charger. The Roam also has an IP67 rating, meaning you can take it just about anywhere; it changes audio directionality based on vertical versus horizontal placement; and Trueplay tuning means it automatically adapts its EQ whether you’re in the backroom, backyard, or the backwoods. Easy to pick up and pack, this is the top travel-friendly pick for sound quality in a compact body.

• ULT button for even more low-end
• Exceptional audio quality
• Great battery life for a portable party speaker

• Only select Android devices can take full advantage of this speaker’s full audio potential

• Bass driver size: 79 mm x 107 mm woofer
• Power source: Battery (up to 25 hours with party lighting off, closer to 10 when on)
• Expandable: Yes
• Connectivity options: Bluetooth
• IP rating: IP67
• Weight: 7 pounds

Why we picked it: Sony’s ULT FIELD 5 builds upon a strong foundation from the previous SRS-XG300 (shown to the left above) and delivers exceptional sound—especially if your device supports the LDAC codec.

The first thing that draws your eye to the speakers is the logo—an opalescent SONY. The shimmering silver block letters aren’t subtle in the light, but they’re also not garish; it’s an iridescent reminder of product heritage that was absent from the previous generation. It’s also a nod to the prismatic ambient LED illumination that is another signature built into the ULT FIELD 5. The $329 ULT FIELD 5 speaker stands out by not trying so hard to stand out. Unlike the cylindrical form factor of the speakers it replaces, this is a rectangle with rounded-off edges—oblong and relatively restrained. You could sling it over your shoulder—and, thanks to a removable strap, you can sling it over your shoulder—and not worry about any strange looks.

What is striking about this premium midrange pick is the sound, which is anything but reserved. The ULT FIELD 5 array includes two tweeters and dual passive radiations, with larger drivers throughout. This differs from the dual-racetrack woofer configuration in the SRS-XG300 that the ULT FIELD 5 follows and that we still have for comparison (seen to the left below). Yet, the end result is a significant step up in terms of clarity and sound pressure. The ULT FIELD 5 can’t get as loud as the step-up ULT FIELD 7, but you still get a solid soundstage in an easily transported body.

Connected wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.2 (offering LDAC HD—nearly CD-quality—audio for compatible Android phones and digital audio players, while iPhones get AAC), it’s immediately noticeable even without ULT engaged that the slightly muffled character of the SRS-XG300 has been addressed. But it’s particularly audible on ULT1 mode, which is undoubtedly bright but still tight, sculpted in a way that’s not sacrificing the midrange at low to medium volume. Sit far enough back and there is a modicum of channel separation, but not true stereo effects. Of course, you’re buying this speaker for its bass-forward attitude more than its discrete details aptitude. Still, you have to push it pretty far for compression artifacts to overwhelm the surprisingly nimble layering, though you can boost any portable wireless speaker to brittleness if you try. Better to keep things at a reasonable listening level and use the Sony Sound Connect app, which features a 10-band EQ if you want more or less of a specific frequency.  

Maybe it’s the available excursion for the 79 mm x 107 mm woofer … the 8-pound ULT FIELD 5 is a little more of a thicc boi than the concave, barrel-shaped SRS-XG300 … but it’s still an easily portable Bluetooth speaker that offers good speed and precision to the bass considering its size. Moving to ULT2, you’ll want more distance from the speaker as it’s a sharper V-shape all about prioritizing punch—imaginative energy well-suited for outdoor activities rather than more relaxed listening. And the outdoors is a natural habitat for the ULT FIELD 5. With its IP67 rating—that’s waterproof and dustproof—and up to 25 hours battery life (with party lighting off, closer to 10 when on), the speaker gets a party going wherever you’re going. You can even link multiple speakers (up to 100) to play simultaneously with the touch of a Connect button (or configure a real stereo pair within the app). And the USB-C port found behind a rubber hatch can not only power the speaker but also charge external devices like smartphones, so the playlists never end. 

While it won’t hit the low-end highs of the best overall picks, the ULT FIELD 5 is the best-sounding midrange party speaker we’ve heard since the compact Bose SoundLink Max—and it’s at least $70 cheaper than that still excellent party pleaser.

• Punchy sound
• LED light ring
• Multisource (Bluetooth 5.1, aux cable, mic input)

• Bass can muddy mid-range a bit
• Not waterproof

• Battery Life: 6 hours
• Bluetooth Range: up to 110 feet
• IP Rating: IPX4
• Size: 10.87 x 12.87 x 11.54 inches
• Weight: 13 pounds

Why we picked it: If you’re looking for a compact kick you can transport quick, the JBL PartyBox line of speakers is a lot of flashy fun you can take on the run.

While JBL’s Flip and Charge series are perfect for lounging by the pool or enjoying more intimate get-togethers, the PartyBox line offers heftier but still handy party speakers with powerful audio and an entertaining light show for larger gatherings. The most lightweight addition to this trove of celebration-supporting speakers is the PartyBox Encore Essential. Visually an obvious little sibling of the $399 PartyBox 110, this little box with a big personality is the smallest and most affordable option in this bass-reinforced lineup, retailing for $299.95, making it an excellent choice for folks who want low-end they can take on the go. While it’s not the speaker to reach for on a relaxed, jazz-filled evening, the Encore Essential offers a 100W, 100 dB, 50Hz-20kHz frequency response—which translates to plenty of bounce to the ounce, making it a crowd favorite during a party. Adding to the fun are a mic input for karaoke (microphone sold separately), as well as six selectable patterns that dictate how the built-in LED light ring and/or strobe move or pulse in time to the music. And if your get-togethers grow, so can your sound—you can pair two Encore Essentials into True Wireless Stereo. Looking for something with deep bass but a less boxy profile? Check out the JBL Xtreme 4, with 24 hours of power, IP67, dual woofers and tweeters optimized by AI Sound Boost, and AuraCast for easy pairing—all on a convenient shoulder strap.

And if you really want to push the sound pressure and get the best loud/outdoor-only pick, consider the JBL PartyBox Stage 320 (shown to the right of the PartyBox 520 above), which is “portable” in the same way a large rolling suitcase is. (Or check out our JBL Bluetooth party speakers guide for more recommended options.)

• Video mode 
• Aux connection available 
• Stereo Pairing

• Short charging cable 
• Only available in black

• Battery Life: 16 hours
• Bluetooth Range: up to 50 feet
• IP Rating: IP67
• Size: 8.27 x 3.07 x 2.83 inches
• Weight: 1.4 pounds

Why we picked it: A wide, rich sound that’s surprising for a speaker this size delivers a powerful listening experience at a reasonable price. 

The UBOOM L from EarFun is a budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker that delivers surprisingly impressive sound. While the texturized black grill, rubber trim, and raised buttons resemble its predecessors and contemporaries (like the Treblab HD77 or JBL Flip 7), its price:performance helps this under-$100 speaker stand out in the crowd. 

Out of the box, the UBOOM L feels durable and intuitively designed. A demure EarFun logo is located at the center, flagged by two rubber cylinders housing passive bass radiators measuring slightly over 2 inches. Tucked behind the grille are two front-facing, 14-watt 55mm drivers; at the back, under a thick rubber flap, is a USB-C charging port and an aux input; then, to top it all off, literally, are six rubber buttons—power, Bluetooth pairing, volume down, play/pause, volume up, and Sound Mode. An LED light above the final button lets you know which mode has been activated: Indoor or Outdoor. Next to the Sound Mode button is a tiny hole that houses a built-in microphone for hands-free calling. At the top of the control panel, you’ll see four white LED lights that indicate battery life, a simple yet often overlooked design feature for many Bluetooth speakers. Four lights mean the battery (which is rated at 16 hours) is more than 75% full, three mean between 75% and 50%, two mean between 50% and 25%, one means there is less than 25% left, and a single flashing light means there is less than 10% of battery life left, so it’s time to charge. 

Like most new speakers, the UBOOM L uses a Bluetooth 5.0 connection, which increases stability and range (up to 30m/100 feet). Pairing is easy and instinctual: simply turn the speaker on, press the Bluetooth button once, and select the speaker on your device’s settings. Pressing and holding the Bluetooth button will allow you to pair two UBOOM L speakers in a True Wireless Stereo pair, creating dedicated left/right channels that can expand the soundfield (and volume) and better serve larger parties. You can also hold down the Sound Mode button for two seconds, once the speakers are connected, to restore each UBOOM L as an individual stereo speaker but keep them connected and synchronized to one streaming device in case you want to share all you’re hearing with someone in another room. 

Pressing the Bluetooth button three times will toggle Video Mode on or off. Video mode supports lower-latency playback with lag reduced to 150ms and is an improved solution for sound when watching movies and TV shows from a laptop or smaller device. When Video Mode is on, a white LED indicator will pop on above the Bluetooth button. We should note that when Video mode is on, the Bluetooth connection range does get shorter, and you cannot use Video Mode during True Wireless Stereo connection. Though using the UBOOM L is generally very easy and efficient, it can be tricky to switch quickly between different Bluetooth settings and Sound modes; we found ourselves referring to the user manual more often than we would like.  

Though toggling the various buttons can be a bit of a rigamarole, the sound quality makes up for it. For a Bluetooth speaker under $100, you’ll certainly get bang for your buck. The UBOOM L was tuned by Austrian music producer Olaf “Oluv” Lubanski, who has also created a 45-minute companion video worth checking out. The mids and high-mids are particularly clean—guitar licks from any Devil Make Three song come through beautifully, and the vocals on “Highwomen” by The Highwomen are impressively clear. Snares and cymbals are crisp and sit well in the overall mix; all of the synths on Romare’s “Don’t Stop” are full and rich. 

Some users say they wish for more bass, which has some truth to it. The passive radiators don’t support frequencies lower than 65Hz, but we weren’t disappointed with a speaker this size. This low end on this speaker is undoubtedly present and well-defined, just not overwhelming, thanks to the tuning and DSP involved. The only way to get truly vibrant sub-bass is with a larger unit; many small speakers disproportionately boost the lows and highs to pack a punch, which can end up distorting the mix. If anything, we appreciate that the UBOOM L knows its limits. Volume-wise, we heard up to 101 decibels, which is certainly enough to keep folks entertained and wake up your neighbors. While we mostly listened inside using Indoor Mode, triggering Outdoor mode boosts volume and bass to help lift your music above environmental noises. The UBOOM L is also rated IP67, which means if you use Outdoor mode in an appropriate al fresco setting, it is protected from dust, dirt, and liquids—it will even float if dropped in water, though we don’t recommend that if you want to preserve the sound quality.

• Doubles as a powerbank
• Integrated wrist strap
• Great bass

• No AUX input

• Battery Life: 30 hours
• Bluetooth Range: up to 100 feet
• IP Rating: IP67
• Weight: 1.5 pounds

Why we picked it: All-day energy reserves and an IP67 rating stop high tides and power running low from crashing your party.

Not all portable speakers can face the elements for an extended time and come out unscathed. The Tribit Stormbox Flow is an exception. It’s IP67-rated, meaning it’s dust-proof and decently water-resistant. And it sports a 30-hour battery life—perfect for jamming all day at the pool or lakeside. All that protection doesn’t interfere with its performance, however. It doesn’t skimp on the lower end (the drum fill at the beginning of “Burning Down the House” by The Talking Heads was particularly pounding on the StormBox Flow). And the company’s XBass DSP (Digital Signal Processing) technology boosts bass by 9 dB at the press of a button. You can also pair another Flow for double the volume with party mode, or customize the EQ via the Tribit app (for iOS and Android). The Bluetooth 5.3 connection is stable up to 100 feet away, meaning you can walk around sans fear of stopping the tunes. Stand the portable speaker upright for personal listening, or lay it flat for the whole house can hear. An included lanyard makes this speaker even more portable than it already is. And it only takes four hours to charge.

Another pick for best value is the Anker Soundcore 3, which comes in at a friendly $50 price without sacrificing sound quality. Play up to 480 songs (roughly 24 hours) on one charge supported by dual passive radiators, BassUp technology, and dual drivers with 100-percent titanium diaphragms—delivering extended highs and distortion-free lows, in stereo, no less. Choose from four preset EQ modes and link to other Bluetooth 5.0 Soundcore speakers using the Soundcore app, for an elevated experience. And, with IPX7 protection, your investment, while not substantial, will survive if you get caught in the rain, etc.

• That bass
• That subbass
• Did we mention that deep, deep bass?

• 7 pounds
• Battery life on the low end because of the power needed for all that low end
• $499 Price

• Battery Life: 12 hours
• Bluetooth Range: up to 150 feet
• IP Rating: IP57
• Size: 7 x 9.3 x 6.1 inches
• Weight: 7.7 pounds

Why we picked it: With the ability to hit 27Hz, true subwoofer bass, the Brane X is the best portable speaker if you want to kick the party up with low-end. 

The Brane X smart speaker uses a proprietary magnet structure to pack a true subwoofer in a small IP57 chassis. This high-excursion Repel-Attract Driver (RAD) driver and custom DSP pushes air that can rattle your chest in a speaker that can be carried in your hand. The three levels of rumbling reinforcement can rival much larger multi-driver options. Connectivity is via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (or a 3.5mm AUX port), so you can feed it lossless sources that deliver clear mids and highs to balance all that thundering bass. The Brane X isn’t flashy, but this premium pick makes an immediate impression if you want to step up to more low-end that doesn’t have to be wheeled in.

• Up to 24-hour battery life
• Can connect to up to 10 additional Klipsch speakers
• Reverse charging

• SBC Bluetooth only

• Battery Life: 24 hours (Nashville), 20 hours (Detroit), 12 hours (Austin)
• Bluetooth Range: Up to 40 feet
• IP Rating: IP67
• Size: 3.19 x 3.07 x 7.01 inches (Nashville), 13.1 x 4.68 x 4.2 inches (Detroit), 1.73 x 4.13 x 4.13 inches (Austin)

Klipsch’s Nashville (the foremost speaker in the picture above) is the mid-sized option in the speaker company’s “Music City” portable speaker series, and it delivers a lot for its small size. The speaker has a pair of 2.25-inch full-range drivers behind its signature copper logo and black grille—one front and one rear-firing so it can be enjoyed from any angle. The Bluetooth speaker’s drivers are augmented by a pair of bass radiators for cleaner low-end response. There aren’t any onboard tone controls, but you can tweak how the Nashville sounds using the Klipsch Connect app on iOS and Android if you’d like to dial in different frequencies or adjust its EQ to suit the music style you like listening to the most.

The Nashville supports Bluetooth 5.3, the latest, most stable version of the wireless audio protocol, though it only connects to smartdevices and computers via the baseline SBC codec. However, it supports a “Broadcast Mode” feature that allows you to connect it to 10 other Klipsch speakers, so we’re showcasing the entire lineup. Broadcast Mode works over Bluetooth, as the Nashville doesn’t support Wi-Fi audio streaming. Similarly, this speaker has no Aux input, meaning it’s Bluetooth or bust. We’re pleased that the Nashville has an IP67 rating, so it won’t get damaged when exposed to water or dust.

Klipsch says the Nashville supports up to 24 hours of music playback per charge, but the amount you get will depend on your listening volume and whether Broadcast Mode is engaged. The speaker charges via USB-C, and you can use its charging port to top up the batteries in your other devices by plugging them in. Using the Nashville as a power bank will deplete its battery a lot more quickly, but the feature is useful in a pinch.

Of course, none of this is worth a dang if the speaker ain’t got that twang. Luckily, the Nashville’s 60Hz to 20kHz frequency response is surprisingly robust for a speaker its size. The speaker maintains pleasingly throaty dynamics at 50 to 60 percent volume with minimal distortion, thanks to its DSP. Things start getting iffy above that, so if you seek volume and voluminous sound, look to the bigger $299 Detroit speaker (the elongated speaker in the image above). While the Detroit is true stereo, the Nashville’s playback is in mono; still, there’s a good sense of instrument separation, aided by some EQing in the app to bump tight bass and boost treble without tizziness. The Nashville is a speaker that can hold a note and hold up under the conditions of a pool party or beach bash. (And you can always pair two for discrete L/R channels.)

If you need an ultra-portable, highly affordable Klipsch speaker, The Austin (shown in the background above) is the one you’ll need. This personal speaker retains many of the looks and features that impressed us during our time with the Nashville and can last up to 12 hours per charge, which is great for a speaker that conceivably fits in a pair of cargo shorts. Despite its small size, Klipsch fit a 2-inch woofer and a separate tweeter into its compact square enclosure. Even though the Austin is mono, you’ll get better separation between crisp high and rich mid frequencies than most single-driver ultra-portable speakers. The 10W 70Hz to 20kHz Austin will not be a suitable speaker system for a large space or a bass lover, but that’s not what it was designed for. Klipsch did outfit the speaker with a built-in strap, which you can attach to a bicycle’s handlebars or on a backpack. Don’t be fooled by any of these speakers’ size and price (ranging from $99 – $299). Klipsch spent time optimizing performance, so you won’t have a significantly diminished experience when listening to your tunes.

Choosing the best Bluetooth speaker for you can be a bit of a challenge; with all the options out there, it’s easy to spend hours scrolling. So, whether you want to blast a soundtrack for motivation or relaxation, we want to help jumpstart your journey. Before diving headfirst into the ever-expanding speaker market, consider size, durability, connectivity, battery life, volume, and cost. A truly great portable Bluetooth speaker will be able to fit your lifestyle and budget without sacrificing audio quality. 

While most wireless speakers are designed to be used on the go, that doesn’t mean they’re all ultraportable. There are many shapes, sizes, and weight options to choose from, so take some time to consider where and when you’ll want to jam out the most. If you’re merely traveling to the backyard or nearby park to listen, you can probably stand to stuff a larger speaker in a bag, or sling it over your shoulder. The same goes for road trips, car-camping, full-on van life, or beach vacations. You can get great sound, long-lasting batteries, and thumping bass from a speaker that starts at roughly the same size and weight as a water bottle. 

However, if you need something to help you push through that last mile on a bike path or hiking trail, you’ll want a smaller speaker that can easily attach to handlebars or a backpack. Luckily, several portable speakers weigh under 1 pound, the lightest of which comes in at 0.019 pounds. 

One common criticism of portable Bluetooth speakers is a lack of low-end support and distortion at high volumes (if you want some science as to the why, here are our primers on what makes up a speaker and how soundwaves work). While it’s true that portable systems can have trouble with handling sub-bass and high-decibel demands, there are a few models out there that are a cut above the rest.

If you’re after a party-pleasing sound, the bigger the speaker, the better. Larger units are generally more equipped to maintain consistent audio even as you turn the volume up, plus they have more room for well-designed subwoofers. A speaker with more woofers, as well as “bass radiators,” will do a much better job navigating the bump in the sonic roads. As for volume, check out the speaker’s specs and look for a maximum decibel level, notated as dB. If you are primarily playing music inside, 100 dB is the loudest you’ll want to go, and we’d be surprised if you even enjoyed listening at this level (it’s akin to a jet plane flying directly overhead). On the other hand, if you’re hosting an outdoor party with many people in attendance, you could think about increasing the volume to 115 dB, which is concert-level; music at this volume will cover a large area but you wouldn’t want anyone standing too close. Generally speaking, we are satisfied with Bluetooth speakers that maintain good sound quality at 85 dB for larger gatherings. 

Few things are more annoying than getting to your destination, cueing up your favorite playlist, only to see the dreaded low-battery LED flash demandingly. Luckily, the best portable Bluetooth speakers have long-lasting batteries. Speakers that boast batteries lasting between 10 and 30 hours are now more the norm than the exception. If you are going on a remote trip where charging isn’t an option and music is a necessity (I mean, when isn’t it), extended battery life is more important. We’re happy to report that these long-lasting batteries don’t mean large, bulky speakers—you can find reliable units at just about any size. And many of them also act as power banks so that you can recharge an important smartdevice in a pinch.

We have all been subjected to the terror that takes over when you accidentally spill your drink on a device, sending you scurrying for a bowl of rice and praying to the tech gods that your electronics survive. Luckily you can avoid all that fear and even embrace a little liquid with the best waterproof speakers. These durable units are particularly great for beach vacations, pool parties, or karaoke in the shower. To ensure your speaker can withstand a little splash, look for an IPX rating in its specs. 

IP stands for “Ingress Protection,” which tells you just how fortified an electronic device is against dirt, dust, and water. The first digit describes particle protection and the second liquid. For example, if a speaker has a rating of IP57, the “5” indicates it can keep out most dust and dirt particles, especially those over 1 millimeter in size, but it might be susceptible to large quantities of dust if exposed at one time. The “7” means you can submerge the device in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes before any damage occurs. If you see a rating that looks like IPX7, the “X” means no data is available for that substance. The higher the number, the more protected your speakers will be from whatever it indicates (dust or water), so you can listen to your preferred podcasts in the tub or bring your favorite sea shanties aboard a boat without worry. 

Alongside portability, we crave easy connectivity when it comes to the best portable Bluetooth speakers. You want to be able to quickly link your device without fretting over interference if you happen to walk a few feet away. Reliable portable speakers are equipped with Bluetooth versions 4.2 to 5.3, designed to bolster the consistent connection between smartphones and computers with fitness trackers, headphones, speakers, and more. They rely on Bluetooth’s efficient power usage and data transmission options for improved battery life and fewer streaming glitches. When selecting a speaker, make sure to pick a model that is Bluetooth compatible with your music-streaming device (for more on the different versions of Bluetooth and how it works, check out our primer). From there, you can think about additional connectivity features that would complete your ideal listening experience. Do you need a speaker that can stay connected to your phone from over 75 feet away? Do you want to be able to pair with another speaker for stereo sound? Are you looking to connect two devices at once so you can easily hand over DJ responsibilities? 

You might also want to consider a speaker that has additional options for creating a connection. Some of us still have a few old-school devices that need an analog aux cord, which some speakers can support, though this feature is starting to fade with the release of newer models. Others might want to pair their portable speakers with a home system, whether for high-fidelity audio or voice-activated commands. If this sounds like you, consider a model that is also equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity.   

Portable Bluetooth speakers run the gamut when it comes to price. Some of the high-end models top out at close to $300 to $450, though there are plenty of great picks out there in the more reasonable $100 to $200 range. You can even find quality speakers for closer to $50. As you start to go down in price, you might miss out on a few features like extra battery life, clear audio at high volumes, or truly booming bass. However, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly speaker, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice too much to find something that satisfies your needs. Just pay attention to all the information you can find about a particular model, including user reviews and product descriptions. 

The loudest portable Bluetooth speaker currently available is the SOUNDBOKS 4, one of our top picks for an outdoor party speaker because it can reach up to 126 decibels. However, it does weigh 34 pounds, so one could call its portability into question. At $999, this is one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers designed to provide literal concert-quality sound for various venues. 

The best portable Bluetooth speaker is relatively subjective, given each individual’s priorities. Still, we stand by the Tribit StormBox Micro 2, Soundcore 3 by Anker, and UE Wonderboom 4 as three of the best budget Bluetooth speakers under $100; for even more cost- and carry-friendly models, take a look at a JBL speaker like the palm-sized JBL Go 3. On the other end of the price spectrum, the Sony ULT FIELD 5—with its Sony strap and chromatic styling, LED accents, and LDAC codec—has the most style and fidelity.

While there isn’t a set amount of wattage that determines a good speaker, you can use this measurement to help assess volume output. Wattage typically determines how loud a speaker can get, but not the quality of the sound. Larger speakers with higher wattage can typically generate more volume, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be free of distortion. For more information regarding your speaker’s sound quality, investigate its frequency range and sound pressure levels, notated as SPL.

That depends what you value most—quantity or quality. JBL speakers undoubtedly win for sheer SPL, but Bose speakers have a nicely polished punch.

Auracast is an invitation to the future of shared listening, and LE Audio is an all-access pass that gets you past the doorman. LE Audio, built on the LC3 codec, is a version of Bluetooth that supports better audio at lower bitrates, longer battery life, and Auracast, which is sort of like public Wi-Fi for Bluetooth. What that means is Auracast allows one device to broadcast a network that any number of compatible devices can join. So you and 200 others can join a TV at the airport gate to get boarding announcements while keeping your earbuds in, for example. It also allows multiple Bluetooth speakers to play synced audio, really reinforcing that house party vibe.

• Best for the beach: Bose SoundLink Plus
• Best for control freqs: Marshall Kilburn III
• Best party in your palm: LG xboom Bounce by will.i.am
• Best for biking and hiking: Tribit StormBox Micro 2
• Best waterproof: Sony ULT FIELD 1
• Best shower speaker: UE Wonderboom 4
• Best ultraportable: Sonos Roam 2
• Best for Android: Sony ULT FIELD 5
• Best for party-goers and party-throwers: JBL PartyBox Encore Essential
• Best for (viewing) parties: EarFun UBOOM L
• Best battery life on a budget: Tribit StormBox Flow Bluetooth Speaker
• Best for bass: Brane X
• Also worth considering: Klipsch Nashville, Detroit, and Austin

While there may not be one portable Bluetooth speaker to rule them all, there are several excellent options out there, so long as you know where your priorities lie. The key to finding the best portable Bluetooth speakers for you is location, location, location—consider where you want to listen to music the most, and you can identify the perfect wireless speaker to soundtrack your favorite activities.

The post The best portable Bluetooth speakers in 2025, tested and reviewed for every budget and trip appeared first on Popular Science.

One New York City borough is building housing faster than others, with over 3,700 new units already built in 2025. Downtown Brooklyn, formerly dominated by offices, is now home to a growing number of homes.

According to a report from Crain’s New York, the 3,700+ new units include over 1,000 affordable units. As Emily Davis explains in a New York Post article, the neighborhood’s transformation mirrors that of Manhattan’s Financial District, which shifted from a primarily commercial district to one with significant residential stock.

Since the neighborhood was rezoned in 2004, over 26,000 new housing units have been added. Residential foot has increased 97 percent since 2019, and new commercial developments are popping up around the neighborhood.

• Brooklyn
• New York City
• Density
• Housing Supply
• Affordable Housing

1. Connect your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad, then open Settings ➝ [Your Name]'s AirPods.


2. Scroll to the bottom of the menu and select AirPods Beta Updates.
   
   
3. Toggle the switch next to AirPods Beta Updates to the green ON position.
   

1. Connect your AirPods to your iPhone, then open Settings.


2. Tap your AirPods name under the Apple Account banner.


3. Scroll down to "Camera Control", then tap Camera Remote.


4. Choose your preferred gesture: Press Once or Press and Hold.

• Pre-orders: Friday, September 12


• Release date: Friday, September 19

• Display size for the regular iPhone 17 will be 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches.


• 120 Hz ProMotion displays for all models.


• Introduction of a super‑thin "Air" variant, replacing Plus model.


• Pro models will adopt a half‑glass, half‑aluminum chassis and a redesigned horizontal camera bump.


• Apple will roll out its first in‑house 5G modem chip in the iPhone 17 Air, while all models will include Wi‑Fi 7 support.


• Camera improvements: 24MP front selfie camera across the lineup, while the Pro models could get three 48MP rear cameras, 8× optical zoom, and potentially 8K video support.


• Higher memory: Pro and Air variants to include 12GB RAM, while the standard model remains at 8GB.


• Battery updates supporting up to 35W wired and Qi2 25W wireless charging support.


• Thermal system upgrade in Pro models for more sustained performance.

What’s the weirdest thing you learned this week? Well, whatever it is, we promise you’ll have an even weirder answer if you listen to PopSci’s hit podcast. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week hits Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere else you listen to podcasts every-other Wednesday morning. It’s your new favorite source for the strangest science-adjacent facts, figures, and Wikipedia spirals the editors of Popular Science can muster. If you like the stories in this post, we guarantee you’ll love the show.

FACT:

By Nathan Lents 

This week’s episode features special guest Nathan Lents, a professor of biology at John Jay and the author of “The Sexual Evolution: How 500 Million Years of Sex, Gender, and Mating Shape Modern Relationships.” For his fact on the show, he focused on the sex lives of some very loud—and not particularly loyal—birds.

Female dunnocks have figured out the ultimate relationship power move: they make copulatory calls during sex, but only with their side partners. They do this specifically to summon their main mate back home. It’s not about pleasure or attracting more males—it’s about resources, which in this case means snacks.

Female dunnocks don’t seem to have a problem with their primary partners having sex with others. But they don’t want their dudes sticking around with side chicks for long enough to start feeding them. When a female dunnock is left alone too long, she’s liable to get busy with one of her secondary partners. Then, she calls out loudly. Her primary partner hears this, races back to the nest, chases away the other male, and immediately has sex with her to replace the competitor’s sperm. He also brings food that might otherwise have gone to another female. The louder she is with her side pieces, the more provisions she gets from her main squeeze.

For decades, scientists assumed these calls were just about male competition or female submission. But when researchers finally started studying female birds as active agents with their own agendas, they discovered something much more sophisticated: a female using strategic infidelity to secure maximum resources while maintaining genetic diversity. It turns out monogamy in the animal world is way more complicated than anyone imagined.

FACT: If you survive a snake bite, you should probably go thank a horse

By Sara Kiley Watson

Out of about 4,000 snake species on Earth, roughly 600 are venomous. Some pack enough neurotoxin to paralyze you with a single bite. If you get bitten by one of these deadly critters and live to tell the tale, you probably owe your life to a horse.

The process of making anti-venom hasn’t changed much since the 1890s (when, just for some context, doctors were still prescribing heroin for coughs). First, folks milk venom from snakes by massaging their venom glands into glass containers. Then scientists inject that venom into horses—yes, into horses—a little bit at a time. They do this over the course of several months, increasing the dose gradually. This process allows the horse to build up antibodies that protect it from the venom’s effects. Finally, the antivenom-makers extract some of the horse’s blood (up to five liters in about 10 minutes!) to harvest those antibodies. 

One round of horse incubation can produce 2,000 vials of scorpion anti-venom or 200 vials of African snake anti-venom. They’re supposedly quite pampered throughout the process, but the process still takes a toll on their health over time. It’s also, obviously, pretty slow. So scientists and animal rights advocates alike would love to find some good alternatives to horse incubators (other than people). 

Luckily, Australian skinks have evolved their own molecular armor against cobra venom—using the exact same sugar-blocking mechanism that cobras use to resist their own toxins. Listen to this week’s episode to learn how these little lizards could revolutionize how we treat the world’s deadliest bites.

FACT: Cans have existed for way longer than can openers have

By Rachel Feltman

Here’s a perfect example of humanity’s knack for stumbling onto brilliant solutions without understanding them: In 1795, Napoleon offered 12,000 francs to anyone who could figure out how to preserve food for his army. French confectioner Nicolas Appert spent years on the challenge, eventually creating the world’s first food bottling factory by sealing food in glass jars with cork and wax, then boiling them. His technique worked beautifully…but he had no idea why.

Appert thought it was all about removing air from the containers. He had no clue he was actually killing bacteria and creating vacuum seals. It wasn’t until Louis Pasteur demonstrated that microorganisms cause spoilage—a full half-century later—that anyone truly understood the science behind canning.

But that’s just part of my weird fact for this week. Here’s the rest: We started using metal cans in 1810, but didn’t invent the can opener until 1855. For 45 years, people generally opened cans with hammers and chisels. It’s not that no one would have come up with the idea of a can opening tool, but the cans in question would never have yielded to the sort of kitchen aids we rely on today. Early cans were massive hunks of metal, sometimes literal wrought iron. They often weighed more than the food inside them and could be over an eighth of an inch thick. Soldiers were known to use bayonets, rocks, and even gunfire to get their cans open. 

When folks did start patenting and marketing can openers, they were basically just handled little blades that left jagged edges everywhere. The process was so dangerous that grocery store clerks would open cans for customers to take home. The familiar rotating wheel can opener didn’t appear until 1870—and people still weren’t impressed, because you had to pierce the can first anyway. 

So every time you effortlessly pop open a can, you’re using technology that took humanity nearly a century to perfect, solving a problem we created by inventing preservation methods we didn’t even understand.

The post These birds are super loud during sex—and that could teach us something about gender roles  appeared first on Popular Science.

The planetary nebula NGC 6302 is one the most-studied of cosmic entities of its kind, with a familiar shape and dazzling colors that live up to its “Butterfly Nebula” nickname. But thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers are gaining even more insights into the formation located about 3,400 light-years from Earth. Their findings, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, are filling in the gaps in understanding how a rocky planet’s ingredients are born.

“We were able to see both cool gemstones formed in calm, long-lasting zones and fiery grime created in violent, fast-moving parts of space, all within a single object,” Cardiff University lead researcher Mikako Matsuura said in a statement.

Contrary to its name, a planetary nebula isn’t where planets form. The misnomer dates back centuries, when much lower-power telescopes made them appear round to astronomers. More detailed glimpses revealed that these celestial objects take various shapes, and are created when a star between 0.8 and eight times the size of our sun starts shedding its mass near the end of its life, when it ultimately goes nova. Planetary nebulae are rare sights, in part because they only last around 20,000 years.

NGC 6302 is considered a bipolar nebula. It has two sections spreading out in opposite directions in a pattern resembling butterfly wings, with a dark region of gas at the center forming the butterfly’s body. While this mid section is actually tire-shaped, it appears flattened when viewed from here on Earth. This position also obscures NGC 6302’s ancient, stellar core. Blazing at a temperature of around 395,540 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s one of the hottest of any known planetary nebula in the Milky Way galaxy.

All of that energy is responsible for creating the diverse minerals and organic materials detected by JWST’s Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) as they spew from opposite jetstreams. The latest observations provide a wide wavelength spectrum look at the Butterfly Nebula’s dense band of gas known as a torus. Astronomers confirmed almost 200 spectral lines, each containing information about the nebula’s swirling concoction of atoms and molecules.

“For years, scientists have debated how cosmic dust forms in space. But now, with the help of the powerful James Webb Space Telescope, we may finally have a clearer picture,” said Matsuura.

Most cosmic dust exhibits random atomic structures, and appears like soot. Thanks to NGC 6302’s extreme stellar energy, the nebula’s particles fuse into other materials. These include crystalline silicates like quartz, as well as glimmering metals such as iron and nickel.

The study’s authors were particularly surprised by the discovery of carbon-based molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Butterfly Nebula. These honeycomb-shaped chemical components are most often found on Earth in car exhaust, woodsmoke, and burnt toast. The team noted that this find may be the first concrete evidence of PAHs forming inside a planetary nebula, and could help explain where such molecules originate in space.

Planetary nebulae may not create actual planets like Earth, but they do operate like factories that churn out a carbon-rich planet’s components. With more time and data, astronomers including Matsuura hope to gain even greater insights about where our home—and by extension all life—originated.

“This discovery is a big step forward in understanding how the basic materials of planets come together,” he said.

The post Colorful space ‘butterfly’ glimmers with planet-making dust appeared first on Popular Science.

It’s hard to contain misinformation once enough people believe it. A conspiracy theory spreads exponentially regardless of its accuracy, making it that much more likely to translate into real violence. According to a study published August 27 in the journal Nature, these situations can (and should) be geographically mapped with the same models that epidemiologists use to track diseases. And as an example, researchers turned to one of history’s most famous moments of misinformation.

The Great Fear of 1789 was a major chapter in the French Revolution and a defining moment in modern history. Between July 20 and August 6, peasants across France mobilized at a stunning speed following untrue rumors of an aristocratic plot to intentionally starve out much of the population.

Initial reports claimed that armed militias burned hundreds of wealthy landowners’ homes and manors. However, subsequent evidence shows that in most cases, rioters simply left letters declaring the dissolution of feudal privileges. The violence was never indiscriminate, and less than 20 people are believed to have died during the uprisings. On August 4, the situation culminated when the National Assembly officially retracted feudal rights. This bold action helped energize the wider French Revolution, and laid the groundwork for the expansion of democratic governance.

But how did the conspiracy theory spread across a nation roughly the size of Texas in only a matter of days, long before telegraphs? According to statistical modeler Stefano Zapperi, it requires viewing the Great Fear as a public health situation. He recounts first learning of the idea of using public health measurements to map historical events after meeting pathologist Caterina La Porta.

“Caterina, given her scientific background, immediately realised that the problem could be approached using epidemiological tools,” Zapperi tells Popular Science. “We then created an interdisciplinary collaboration involving economics, history, medicine and physics to solve the problem.”

It may seem difficult, if not impossible, to study a viral idea’s infectious spread centuries after the fact. However, Zapperi and his colleagues had a major advantage: mountains of primary sources.

“Almost 100 years ago, the historian George Lefebvre collected all the existing evidence about the Great Fear, carefully summarizing all the archival records with precise dates and locations for each event, recorded in letters and accounts written at the time of the events,” explains Zapperi.

After geographically charting these accounts, the team traced the rumor spreading as it expanded across France. The information was so detailed that researchers managed to estimate that the Great Fear spread about 28 miles every 24 hours along the country’s road networks. Around 40 percent of these locations were also near a postal station, further underscoring the importance of written communications at the time.

They then combined this information with demographic and economic data such as literacy rates, wheat prices, and land ownership. They found that the locations most likely to host Great Fear uprisings were densely populated, more literate towns that featured average income levels but higher wheat prices. Villages where land ownership required a lord to possess legal papers denoting their claim also increased the possibility of an uprising. 

With this combined data, Zapperi’s team say the Great Fear’s spread followed an infectious disease’s trajectory—infecting quickly and peaking on July 30 before rapidly dissipating.

But while the Great Fear’s underlying “fear” was completely unfounded, the conditions that fomented it were very much real. Aristocrats may never have planned to cull the population by withholding resources, but it was the peasants that were truly enduring untenable conditions.

“Our work showed that the Great Fear was not an irrational event driven by emotions, but rather the result of a rational response to the socio-economic conditions present at the time,” says Zapperi. “The bottom line is that the extreme levels of inequality and injustice experienced in 18th century France triggered large scale movements ultimately leading to a more just society.”

Compared with 236 years ago, today’s misinformation landscape is almost unrecognizable. The digital era is simultaneously more interconnected and chaotic than at any other point in human history. But to Zapperi, this makes both the Great Fear and his team’s epidemiological approach all the more salient.

“The Great Fear provides a vivid example of the role the spreading of rumors has in driving political changes that might be relevant today,” he says. “Today information and misinformation can spread much faster than in the past. But still today, the pattern of transmission often relies on face-to-face exchanges, especially when the rumors give rise to a physical riot.”

The post Rumors spread like viruses. The French Revolution proved it. appeared first on Popular Science.

In che modo l’intelligence satellitare supporta l’ingegneria civile e potenzia la prevenzione del rischio...

Asteroids may be wondrous windows into the history of the cosmos, but the unfortunate reality is that they are also pretty drab. These rocky amalgamations of space debris generally look pretty much what you probably expect–craggy, ashen gray, and dusty. But they don’t always appear that way when viewed through a telescope from millions of miles away.

Take the asteroids Itokawa and Ryugu. Japan’s space agency (JAXA) confirmed that both are carbon-filled, rubble piles after receiving samples during the historic Hayabusa and Hayabusa2 missions. The same is true for Bennu, a similar asteroid sampled by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx in 2020. In theory, they should reflect light similarly, but they don’t. Ryugu looks somewhat red, while Bennu is slightly blue.

“The question has been why. Why are their spectra different if they have the same kind of minerals?” Purdue University asteroid researcher Michelle Thompson asked.

Thompson is one of the few people in the world tasked with studying the Bennu samples. Prior to getting their hands on the asteroid souvenir, Thompson and her team theorized one explanation may be that the two objects were experiencing space weathering in different ways. 

“Maybe we see different characteristics in one sample compared to the other because of this surface exposure, but what we’re actually seeing is that’s not the case. They are very, very similar in terms of the way that they experience space weathering,” she said.

Thompson and associates recently published three separate papers on Bennu based on years of research and analysis. Among their many findings is some clarity on the colorful mystery, that likely has a lot to do with age.

Rubble pile asteroids like Ryugu and Bennu have their own physiological cycles that slowly shift their surface debris. As it stands, Ryugu’s surface grains have endured space’s harsh conditions for only a few thousand years. However, Bennu,has a surface that’s experienced the same cosmic environment for tens of thousands of years.

“Instead of looking at two different trajectories for how this process is operating on these bodies, instead we’re seeing two different points in one cycle,” explained Thompson. “Their ‘colors’ are changing, meaning their spectral properties are changing relative to their surface exposure age.”

Beyond the color spectrum, the remnants retrieved from Bennu are also allowing Thomson and others to examine the organic molecule contents of an asteroid. Earlier this year, researchers announced their discovery of phosphates in the Bennu sample. These specific types of salts are central components to a living organism’s metabolism and DNA. Although still unconfirmed, many experts believe life began on Earth thanks to the arrival of an asteroid containing these and other evolutionary building blocks. In this sense, Thompson likens Bennu and other space rocks to interstellar time capsules.

“Asteroids are relics of the early solar system,” she said. “Looking at the organic molecules from Bennu, we are getting an understanding of what kinds of molecules could have seeded life on early Earth.”

The post Some asteroids are more ‘colorful’ than others. Here’s why. appeared first on Popular Science.

Labor Day hits like that last cannonball of the summer—splash, then sweater season. But not really. Just because summer is “over” doesn’t mean patio parties and outdoor adventures are. For some of us, cooler weather is our favorite time to get out. And that makes it a perfect time to refresh the soundtrack. TREBLAB agrees and is offering limited-time deals on headphones that can go from trail tunes to study sessions, plus a portable speaker for the backyard bass or gym grind. But act fast, because these markdowns won’t last, and you want gear that can ride shotgun into fall, whether it’s for college football tailgate parties or your commute.

Looking for affordable hush while you beat the rush? The Z7 Pro delivers hybrid ANC and long-haul battery life that we’ve called out as a value standout in its roundup of the best cheap noise-canceling headphones, where it topped the list for balanced performance and battery endurance. It’s got IPX4 sweat-resistance and up to 45H energy reserves. Pair that with aptX-HD wireless and you’ve got crisp detail for study playlists, steady cadence for cardio, and padded comfort that won’t crush your ears during long rides or longer reps. If you want feature-rich over-ears without flagship pricing, this is exactly the moment to pounce.  

Your summer soundtrack doesn’t have to pack it in. The HD-MAX speaker is built to live outside and by your side: it’s rugged, water-resistant (IPX6), and has a removable sling strap—yep, the one with the bottle opener—for easy carry for road trips and reps. Battery life (20H) is built for all-day hangs, and the chassis is designed to take splashes and scuffs without flinching. It’s prime time for Prime members to grab a big-sound, budget-friendly hauler before prices rebound. Load it with end-of-season playlists now; it’ll still be thumping when the leaves turn, ready to shrug off drizzle while you throw on a hoodie.

• TREBLAB X3 Pro Earhook-style True Wireless Workout Earbuds $47.97 (was $99.97)
• SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 Open-Ear, Bone-Conduction Sport Headphones $139.95 (was $179.95)
• Soundcore by Anker, Space One, Active Noise Cancelling Headphones $79 (was $99)
• Bose SoundLink Flex Portable Bluetooth Speaker (2nd Gen) $119.95 (was $149.95)
• JBL PartyBox Stage 320 Portable Party Speaker with Telescopic Handle & Wide, Sturdy Wheels $499.95 (was $599.95)
• Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar $899 (was $999)
• Sonos Era 300 Dolby Atmos Smart Speaker $359 (was $449)
• Sonos Sub 4 Wireless Subwoofer $679 (was $799)

The post TREBLAB offers more sound and savings with limited-time Labor Day headphone & speaker deals appeared first on Popular Science.

There’s a lot of physics going on inside a cold glass of beer. This is especially the case right after the initial pour, when the pint (hopefully) amasses a frothy head of foam. “Hopefully” is the key word here, because amassing that perfect bubbly top is sometimes harder than it seems.

Experts in both the laboratory and brewery understand that barley protein affects a bubble’s surface viscosity and tension. For years, the assumption has been that beer foam stability mainly stems from the interactions between these bubbles’ protein-rich surface layers. But after numerous experiments (and countless critical test pours) researchers are now better understanding beer foam’s underlying mechanics. The findings published on August 26 in the journal Physics of Fluids may soon extend beyond better brews.

The investigation began roughly seven years ago, when a team of collaborators from ETH Zurich in Switzerland and the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands joined together to get a better handle of foam’s behavior. 

“The idea was to directly study what happens in the thin film that separates two neighboring bubbles. And the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of bubbles and foams is beer,” Eindhoven University of Technology materials scientist and study co-author Emmanouil Chatzigiannakis said in a statement. 

Chatzigiannakis and his colleagues then combined intricate imaging techniques and rheometry (the study of the flow of matter) to analyze a lot of beer.

“We can directly visualize what’s happening when two bubbles come into close proximity,” said Chatzigiannakis. “We can directly see the bubble’s protein aggregates, their interface, and their structure.”

The team eventually determined that while protein viscosity is definitely a factor, its influence on foaming diminishes depending on how many times a beer undergoes fermentation. For example, a single-fermentation lager’s bubbles are largely affected by proteins. The more proteins there are, the more viscous and stable a foam.

Multi-fermentation brews such as complex, flavorful Belgian Trappist beers are a different story. A renowned specialty of the monastic order of the same name, a Trappist’s surface viscosity is much less influential. However, these proved to be the beers possessing the most stable foam structures. How is that possible?

It still comes down to protein content in the beer, but somewhat contrary to previous assumptions. The team identified lipid transfer protein 1 (LTP1) as the primary determinant in beer foam stabilization. 

In single-fermentation beers, LTP1 proteins exist in their original form as tiny, spherical particles that arrange close together on a bubble’s surface. This creates a two-dimensional suspension, with finely spread solids mixed into a liquid to stabilize foam.

In beers that undergo a second fermentation, yeast cells start denaturing those LTP1 proteins and altering their structures into a kind of membrane or net, further stabilizing the bubbles. 

Repeat the fermentation a third time, as is the case in a Trappist beer, and the LTP1 proteins are so deteriorated that their fragments exhibit both a water-repellent and water-attracting end. The subsequent interactions reduce surface tension and maximize a foam’s stabilization potential through what’s known as Marangoni stresses–the forces created in surface tension differences.

“These protein fragments function like surfactants, which stabilize foams in many everyday applications such as detergents,” explained ETH soft materials scientist and study co-author Jan Verman.

According to Verman, the team’s observations underscore that foam doesn’t get its stability from linear, individual factors and interactions.

“For example, increasing the viscosity with additional surfactants can actually make the foam more unstable because it slows down the Marangoni effects too strongly,” he said. “The key is to work on one mechanism at a time – and not on several at once.”

A better grasp of foam mechanics won’t only make for more satisfying beers. It could save lives. Lubricants inside electric vehicles are sometimes prone to foaming, which increases the chances of a chemical fire. Meanwhile, many surfactants still rely on ecologically harmful fluorine and silicon. Developing foam-free lubricants and green surfactants could help multiple industries become more sustainable.

“Our study is an essential step in this direction,” said Vermant.

The post How to brew the best beer foam, according to physics appeared first on Popular Science.