Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
Could women actually be better suited to weight lifting than men are?
Plus horny fruit flies and other weird things we learned this week.
A 13th-century schoolboy’s doodles show that kids have always been like that
Plus other weird things we learned this week.
Rachel Feltman
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.
Bones of a raccoon-sized prehistoric lizard sat in a jar for 20 years
The formidable lizard is named for Tolkien’s goblin prince, Bolg.
What’s the formula for the ‘perfect wave’?
But ask a surfer—or a scientist—and you’ll find that perfection is both elusive and everywhere.
Axolotl mucus peptides attack breast cancer cells and MRSA
‘The peptides specifically kill cancer cells without attacking healthy breast tissue cells.’
Tarantulas adapt their running style after losing legs
Six legs can work just fine for the flexible Guatemalan tiger rump tarantula.
Most bugs can’t see red—but these beetles can
Two species found in the Mediterranean can see what many of their relatives cannot.
Physicists can’t explain mysterious radio wave emissions in Antarctica
The anomalous readings ‘appear inconsistent with the standard model of particle physics.’
Young hammerhead sharks love Biscayne Bay. Leave them alone, humans.
The estuary in southern Florida is a nursery and refuge for this critically endangered species.
What warped the minds of serial killers? Lead pollution, a new book argues.
Ted Bundy, the Green River Killer, and others terrorized the Pacific Northwest. “Murderland” asks what role polluters played.
Ancient Greek inscriptions point to the ‘Sanctuary of Odysseus’
Archeologists continue to shed light on the historical origins behind Homer’s ‘Odyssey.’
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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.
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