Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
Ancient lead pollution may have lowered IQs across the Roman Empire
‘To my knowledge, it’s the first large-scale pollution event from industrial activities.’
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.
Your gadgets are actually carbon sinks—for now
New research finds billions of tons of carbon get trapped in the ‘technosphere.’
As biolabs multiply globally, some experts worry about oversight
India’s policymakers have ambitious plans for pathogen research. Can safety infrastructure keep up?
Where to find Meta AI in Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram—and what you can do with it
AI assistance is never far away in Meta’s apps (whether you like it or not).
13 dramatic photos that capture the beauty of marine sanctuaries
Be in awe of our National Marine Sanctuary System.
Here’s what scientists know about consciousness of octopuses
Octopuses and their relatives are a new animal welfare frontier.
How to read text from images on Windows
Pick out text from scanned signs, receipts, documents, and more.
Dog robots can trek through mud using moose-inspired hooves
Silicone booties sped up a machine’s journey through the Estonian woods by as much as 55 percent.
Researchers make brandy in replica of disgraced emperor’s 2,000-year-old tomb distillery
China’s distillation history may be 1,000 years older than previously thought.
Sniffing dogs join the fight against invasive spotted lanternflies
Trained canines can locate pesky egg masses.
Explore
Popular Science Cover Art Store
Own a piece of science history.
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, PopSci 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.
Meet the team
Our writers and editors
