Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
Scientists are redefining time itself, starting with the second
Switching to optical clocks would have cascading ripple effects from meteorology to basic physics.
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.
Bacteria will turn to murder if they get hungry enough
‘When things get tough, you eat your neighbors.’
Researchers create most human-like robot skin yet
A hydrogel-based hand was poked, prodded, burned, and slashed to help robots ‘feel.’
Here’s how to generate a truly random number with quantum physics
CURBy is available online and free to use.
Archeologists uncover royal tomb tied to the real King Midas
It didn’t include any gold, but the discovery has a lot to tell us about this ancient dynasty.
Escaped river otter takes his destiny into his own (tiny) hands
‘We believe he has made the decision to be a wild otter.’
Three osprey chicks hatch in 500-pound steel nest boxes
This prime bird real estate is 350 feet above the fish-filled Hudson River in New York.
The science behind the smell of rain
A story of bacteria, arthropods, and two very smelly organic compounds.
As cannabis users age, health risks appear to grow
‘There’s increasing evidence of a potential effect on memory and cognition.’
Two Ice Age ‘puppies’ weren’t exactly dogs
But the sisters did feast on some woolly rhino before they died.
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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, 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.
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