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A colorized newspaper clipping showing aviator Lawrence Sperry seated in the cockpit of his small biplane, the "Messenger," on the grassy plaza of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.. The aircraft, which has a wingspan of only 20 feet, is shown in profile with the Lincoln Memorial visible in the distant background. Below the image, printed text identifies Sperry as the "American father of the air flivver" and quotes his prediction that a cheap, $150 airplane would soon be common.
Drones

During WWI, a daredevil pilot helped invent the first ‘drones’

Lawrence Sperry’s autopilot proved planes could fly themselves.

By Bill Gourgey

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Having to pee makes you scientifically better at video games

Plus what space smells like 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.

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A photograph of an orange apartment building balcony featuring two large white banners attached to the railing. The front-facing banner displays the text "IS COMING SOON..." in a grey stencil-style font, flanked on the left by a grey graphic of a gas mask with liquid dripping from its eye lenses. A second, identical gas mask graphic is visible on the side banner.
Climate Change

Prepping for a disaster? You’ll probably want to pack a little treat.

It’s not just sardines and dried beans. Self-identified preppers are also stashing luxuries like coffee and chocolate.

By Frida Garza / Grist

a bobcat on a colorful blanket
Wildlife

Wild bobcat making remarkable recovery after getting hit by car

Two orthopedic surgeons and one four hour surgery later, the young feline is on the mend.

By Margherita Bassi

A wide-angle photograph of an old, shaded graveyard with several weathered stone headstones of varying shapes and sizes. The cemetery is lush with green grass and is dominated by large, leafy deciduous trees whose branches cast dappled sunlight over the monuments. In the background, more headstones are scattered across a sunlit grassy area.
Ask Us Anything

The most eco-friendly burial option isn’t cremation or human composting

With more options than ever, we break down which one’s best for the planet.

By Popular Science Team

Detail Showing a Male Figure in Profile on a Mayan Ceramic from Tikal (Photo by M and M, Inc/Corbis via Getty Images)
Archaeology

Ancient Mayan water filters stopped a lot—just not mercury poisoning

The civilization made the most of its technology, but everything has its limits.

By Andrew Paul

a white rat and a black rat looking out of a cage
Wildlife

163 surrendered rats seek new homes in Massachusetts

‘Rats have a bad reputation, but they actually make really great companion pets.’

By Margherita Bassi

On Couldmonster 3 Hyper Lightspray
Fitness Gear

On’s new LightSpray CloudMonster 3 Hyper running shoe is built by robots in 3 minutes flat

The On LightSpray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper running shoe relies on a clever automated production process that makes a lighter, more comfortable sneaker.

By Stan Horaczek

rocks
AI

AI has powerful uses for First Nations oral cultural knowledge

Here’s how.

By Elizabeth Vaughan, Francis Woolagoodja / The Conversation

a turtle wearing a 3D printed wheel chair
Wildlife

A 3D-printed wheelchair is helping this turtle walk again

A volunteer used input from Redditers to fine tune the reptile’s mobility assistance device.

By Mack DeGeurin

Minamitorishima island in Pacific Ocean seen from above
Pollution

Japan eyes distant island for nuclear waste dump

Minamitorishima is nearly 1,250 miles east of Tokyo.

By Andrew Paul

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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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