Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
Scientists use AI to create completely new anti-venom proteins
‘To find something that works in the first attempt, that’s very shocking.’
Yes, ginger ale really does taste better on a plane. Here’s why.
Plus other weird things we learned this week.
Rachel Feltman
At Popular Science, we report and write dozens 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.
POPULAR SCIENCE VIDEOS
Popular Science on YouTube is a laboratory of stories from the future, past, and present. It’s like a time travel learning machine—in video form.
Will the world fall in love with nuclear power once more?
Environmental journalist Marco Visscher talks about his new book on the rise, fall, and return of nuclear.
Why every arm of an octopus moves with a mind of its own
There is ‘an equivalent to a spinal cord running down the center of every single arm.’
‘Titanic’ artifact salvage efforts paused indefinitely
The 112-year-old shipwreck is expected to disintegrate in a matter of decades.
Oldest-known 3D map also celebrated the female form
The ‘exceptional’ 13,000-year-old miniature likely helped Paleolithic humans understand their landscape.
Chernobyl’s feral dogs are genetically unique, but not mutated
At least 30 generations have roamed the abandoned region since 1986.
Rare Roman gold coins discovered in Luxembourg
The 1,700-year-old coins depict eight emperors–including one that tried to bring paganism back.
Scientists explain why BepiColombo’s mission to Mercury is so tricky
The spacecraft is nearing the least explored planet in the inner solar system.
New foot-long crustacean named after Darth Vader
The ‘sea bug’ is considered a delicacy in some countries.
Wildfires can contaminate drinking water systems with harmful chemicals
Here’s what Los Angeles needs to know.
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