Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
Stop cleaning your ears wrong
Warning: This advice may cause you to rethink your pharmacy purchases.
Americans planted entire forests of exploding Australian trees
Plus beaver skulls and 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.
Latest Articles
Synthetic skin reveals hidden ‘Mona Lisa’ when exposed to heat
The octopus-inspired material could lead to better camouflage technology for the military and beyond.
The lobstermen teaming up with scientists to save endangered whales
In a game of scientific telephone, if you find the food, you find the whales—and sound the alarm.
Yes, eating carrots can help your eyesight. But it’s not a cure-all.
The World War II propaganda that touted the veggie wasn’t totally wrong, but carrots still won’t give you night vision.
MIT professor designs 2026 Winter Olympics torch
Officially named ‘Essential,’ the torch was designed by Carlo Ratti and weighs only 2.5 pounds.
Termites are swarming Florida even faster than predicted
Most of the state may be fighting the invasive species by 2050.
Fire may have altered human DNA
‘Unlike any other species, most humans will burn themselves repeatedly over their lifetime.’
In 1916, hybrid cars could’ve changed history. But Ford wouldn’t allow it.
Henry Ford’s monopoly on the automobile industry meant that hybrids wouldn’t see the light of day for decades.
Scientists want you to smell ancient Egyptian mummies
A mixture of archeology and chemistry brings the aroma of mummification to museums.
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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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