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A dramatic, close-up photo of a black cat's face emerging from deep shadows. Only its large, luminous yellow-green eyes are brightly lit, staring directly forward with wide pupils that reflect a faint glimmer of light.
Cats

Why do cats’ eyes glow in the dark?

That eerie glow is actually a pair of built-in night-vision goggles.

By Clarissa Brincat

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Americans planted entire forests of exploding Australian trees

Plus beaver skulls and other weird things we learned this week.

Rachel Feltman

Rachel Feltman

Host

At Popular Science, we report and write dozens of stories every week. And while a lot of the fun facts we stumble across make it into our articles, there are lots of other weird facts that we just keep around the office. So we figured, why not share those with you? Welcome to The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week.

Latest Articles

A close-up oil painting of a young woman with dark hair and a pensive expression, wearing an intricate white lace collar. She holds a pair of scissors to a lock of her hair, suggesting a moment of mourning or sacrifice.
Archaeology

Forget flowers: lovers in 18th- and 19th-century Ireland exchanged hair

Who needs boxes of chocolate?

By Leanne Calvert / The Conversation

a white driverless car drives in front of a large state capitol building
Self Driving

Radio waves could help driverless cars see around corners

HoloRadar helps give the vehicles a more complete picture of their surroundings.

By Mack DeGeurin

glute stretch knee across belly
Fitness & Exercise

7 glute stretches for better mobility and less pain

Learn why your hips feel stiff and how to fix it with these expert-recommended movements for maximum mobility.

By Jordan Burchette

19th century Japanese coin in metal detectorist's hand
Archaeology

Metal detectorist finds 19th century Japanese coin in Australia

The discovery likely dates back to the continent’s gold rushes.

By Andrew Paul

VAL D'ISERE FRANCE. 19-12-2010. Lindsey Vonn (USA) during the Super Giant Slalom section of the women's Super Combined race at the FIS Alpine skiing World Cup Val D'Isere France.
Physics

Downhill skiing’s biggest hurdle? Friction.

How skis meet snow be the difference between winning gold or silver.

By Andrew Paul

a litter of naked mole rats
Wildlife

4 wild ways animals breed

There’s more than one way to pass down those genes.

By Laura Baisas

Example of paired images used during free-view eyetracking study. These image pairs focused on participant reactions to spider versus other arthropods – (A) spider versus butterfly, (B) spider versus insect, (C) spider eyes versus insect eyes, (D) spider versus non-spider arachnid, and (E) spider versus myriapod. We also included a paired image of (F) scorpion versus non-scorpion arachnid to gain insight into whether participants respond differently to spiders versus scorpions (e.g., d vs. f).
Spiders

Psychologists made people look at spiders. They didn’t like it.

Humans will try to focus on almost anything else.

By Andrew Paul

the sun hits a waterfall so it looks like fire
Environment

Yosemite’s glowing, golden waterfall is flowing again

The annual natural phenomenon event is expected to last until February 26.

By Margherita Bassi

A portrait of two brothers, Nico and Matteo Mucchetti, posing with their homemade, full-sized replica of a purple ride vehicle from Disney's "Big Hero 6" attraction. The younger brother sits inside the purple wooden structure, which is detailed with orange accents and a string of LED lights along the edge, while the older brother leans over the back. They are positioned in a dimly lit room, creating a dramatic spotlight effect on them and their project.
Vehicles

Teen brothers build a Disney-inspired ride in family basement

‘Big Hero 6’ inspired Nico and Matteo Mucchetti’s ambitious project.

By Laura Kiniry

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Popular Science has been demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872. We explain the inner workings of the phone in your pocket, explore world-changing innovations, and examine everything from the marvels of deep space to the secret lives of staples like bread. We deliver an engaging, approachable, and inclusive look at emerging technologies and scientific advances.
Daily, Popular Science unpacks the science behind the top current new stories, dissects the latest technology and digital trends, and helps readers live smarter, safer, and happier through clever DIY projects.

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