Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition review: A wonderfully vibrant prosumer device — with one catch

A century ago, when the average American lived just 58 years, some scientists made a wild prediction: humans could eventually live to 1,000 years old. It’s a fascinating glimpse into how wildly optimistic—or maybe just imaginative—early 20th-century thinkers were about the future of longevity.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just a quirky historical footnote—it shows how our ideas about aging and human potential have evolved (or haven’t). While we’re nowhere near quadruple-digit lifespans today, breakthroughs in medicine and biotechnology keep pushing the boundaries of how long we could live. It’s a reminder that even the boldest predictions can shape the way we think about science and the future.

Scientists have uncovered some bizarre quirks of Japanese quail mating—turns out, the males produce a weird foamy substance along with their sperm that seems to boost fertilization success. Oh, and they also strut around after sex like they just aced a performance review. Bonus fun fact: these birds even hitched a ride to space back in the '90s.

Editor’s Note: Beyond being a quirky nature fact, this research could help scientists understand reproductive strategies in birds—and maybe even shed light on fertility challenges in other species (or humans). Plus, anything involving space-faring quails is just cool trivia for your next dinner party.

A sponsored deal from Popular Science is offering a shockingly low $45 for a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 plus Windows 11 Pro—a steep discount from the usual retail price. The article jokes that someone at Microsoft might lose their job over this pricing blunder, framing it as an almost-too-good-to-be-true steal during their "version of Prime Day."

Editor’s Note: For anyone needing legit Microsoft software without paying full price, this is a rare chance to grab it dirt-cheap. But deals like these often sell out fast or have fine print (like being a one-time purchase for a specific version), so act quick if you're interested. It’s also a reminder of how wild third-party software discounts can get during sales events.

A fresh study reveals that the more sophisticated AI chatbots become, the more they tend to dumb down complex scientific research—skipping over important nuances in their summaries. It’s like they’re giving you the SparkNotes version of a study when you really need the full textbook.

Editor’s Note: If you’re relying on chatbots to break down tricky science for you, take it with a grain of salt. This isn’t just about lazy summaries—it could mislead people who trust AI for accurate, detailed explanations, from students to policymakers. The smarter the bot, the bigger the gap between what’s published and what it tells you.

Scientists are still debating how many dwarf planets exist in our solar system—the count could be as few as five or as many as 18, with hundreds more possibly hiding in the cosmic shadows. The recent discovery of 2017 OF201 adds to the confusion, highlighting how messy (and fascinating) classifying these celestial underdogs really is.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just trivia—it’s a reminder that even in our own cosmic backyard, there’s plenty we don’t know. The debate over dwarf planets forces us to rethink how we categorize objects in space, and every new discovery chips away at the old, tidy view of our solar system. Plus, who doesn’t love rooting for the little guys?