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A colorized historical photograph of a woman in a white coat holding Simon, a black and white tuxedo cat who served as a celebrated ship's cat in the British Royal Navy. The cat wears a pink collar with a name tag, and both the woman and the cat are positioned in front of a dark window.
Cats

The tiny tuxedo cat who became a naval hero

The triumph and tragedy of Simon.

By Anne Ewbank

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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

African striped mouse and pups
Evolution

Biologists discover gene that may determine ‘good’ and ‘bad’ dads

Social cues and surprising genetics may affect mammal fathers.

By Andrew Paul

Tiny Macintosh model computer built into toy novelty clock
Internet

Hobbyist builds retro Apple Macintosh inside toy clock

The DIY project mixes nostalgia with one of tech’s most iconic designs.

By Andrew Paul

Artistic reconstruction of a Late Pleistocene cave lion overlooking Mount Fuji, Japan. Credit: Velizar Simeonovski
Wildlife

Prehistoric Japan was home to cave lions—not tigers

Fossil evidence shows a case of mistaken big cat identity.

By Andrew Paul

a small mammal with black eyes and big ears standing on a plant
Wildlife

World’s smallest possum may be hiding in South Australia

The tiny mammal weighs less than one pound.

By Laura Baisas

The Midnight sun over the icebergs in the Weddell Sea from the Antarctic Peninsula in Antarctica.
Climate Change

Antarctica has a ‘gravity hole’

The geological oddity has existed since dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

By Andrew Paul

an ice cave
Biology

5,000-year-old bacteria thawed in Romanian ice cave

But it’s for a good cause.

By Laura Baisas

a hand moves pieces on a brown and black chess board
Engineering

Homemade chess board moves its own pieces. And wins.

Maker Joshua Stanley Robotics used magnets and an open source chess platform to build this unique board.

By Mack DeGeurin

A close-up photograph of a person's cupped hands holding a small, vibrant blue and green globe, symbolizing care and responsibility for the planet. The background is softly blurred, focusing all attention on the fragile Earth resting in the palms.
Climate Change

Don’t let climate fatalism become a self-fulfilling prophecy

The idea that it’s “too late” to reduce emissions fuels cynicism and despair, putting us on an even worse trajectory.

By Hannah Ritchie / MIT Press Reader

cartoon version of map
Tech Hacks

3 pro tips for using Google Maps before you even start your trip

Be prepared.

By David Nield

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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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