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A man wearing glasses and a light T-shirt with an Atari logo is reflected in a window as he adjusts a narrow digital LED screen that displays the text "Arriving in 7 minutes" in red. The man is looking up at the screen, and the interior of the building is visible through the window.
Vehicles

Philly’s ‘transit vigilante’ created a real-time bus tracker for his neighbors

With a sports timer and some clever coding, Max Goldberg built a DIY display that tells South Philly commuters exactly when their next bus will arrive.

By Laura Kiniry

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Gear and Reviews

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Why some scientists say our universe is Sad Millennial Beige 

Plus loud rats 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

Glass openwork vessel excavated at Cologne dating to around 350–400 CE with an image of an inscription on the right. Inscription: BIBE MVLTIS ANNIS (Drink [may you live] for many years!). Credit: State Collection of Antiquities and Glyptothek, Munich. Photos by Christa Koppermann
Archaeology

Ancient Rome’s fanciest glasses are full of cryptic symbols

‘They weren’t personal autographs. They were the ancient equivalent of a brand.’

By Andrew Paul

This artist’s impression shows a star going supernova. About 22 million light-years away the supernova, SN 2024ggi, exploded in the galaxy NGC 3621. Using the ESO’s Very Large Telescope, astronomers managed to capture the very early stage of the supernova when the blast was breaking through the star’s surface. Observing the breakout so early on — 26 hours after the supernova was first detected — revealed its true shape. The supernova broke out in an olive-like form. This marks the first ever observation of the shape of a supernova explosion at this very early stage.
Space Telescope

Newborn supernova spotted only hours after its explosive birth

Astronomers illustrated supernova SN 2024ggi in all of its gassy glory.

By Andrew Paul

Close up of Egyptian ceramic vessel with inscriptions
Archaeology

Opium may have been a daily habit for Ancient Egyptians

Everyone from royalty to everyday citizens likely partook.

By Andrew Paul

This artist’s impression shows a coronal mass ejection (CME) around another star.
Sun

A star unleashed a planet-destroying flare

It’s the first coronal mass ejection seen outside our sun.

By Andrew Paul

hands holding forensic evidence slip in front of moss
Environment

Moss can be a key witness in murder investigations

Botanists say detectives are overlooking a potentially vital source of crime scene evidence.

By Andrew Paul

Sperm whales swimming in clear water
Whales

Sperm whales use vowels like humans, new study finds

Scientists decoding whale clicks found patterns that echo the building blocks of human speech.

By Laura Baisas

A fluffy orange and white cat is curled up and lounging inside a small, low-sided cardboard box that is lying on a wooden floor, looking directly at the viewer with a relaxed expression.
Cats

Why do cats love boxes? Evolution has an answer.

Boxes give cats control, comfort, and prime ambush angles.

By RJ Mackenzie

a teenage boy holds a robotic hand made out of legosUniversity of Bristol/Jared Lepora
Robots

Teen designs and builds a robotic hand with only LEGOs

At only 16, Jared Lepora has also co-authored a paper.

By Margherita Bassi

person petting a turtle
Endangered Species

Trafficked turtles get a second chance at life in New Jersey sanctuary

The Turtle Conservancy is rescuing reptiles, while preserving their precious DNA.

By Laura Baisas

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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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