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Gemini said Two budgerigars, one blue and white and one green and yellow, perched on a wooden branch while appearing to "whisper" or interact closely.
Birds

From chirps to ‘hellos’: Why some birds talk like people

Brains, bonds, and a strange voice box help some birds mimic our speech.

By Laura Kiniry

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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.

Latest Articles

Purple RejuvenatePremier premium mattress on a wooden bed platform
Home

This Purple mattress helped me heal a broken collarbone

The 2025 Purple RejuvenatePremier mattress with DreamLayer offers cool, adaptive support.

By Tony Ware

A close-up photograph of a baby sitting in a pink high chair, wearing a pink silicone bib. The baby has a distressed facial expression with eyes squinted and mouth tightly shut, appearing to refuse a spoonful of food being held out by an adult's hand. A small pink bowl sits on the tray in the foreground.
Food Safety

Picky eating starts in the womb—a nutritional neuroscientist explains how to expand your child’s palate

Bitter vegetables can be an acquired taste.

By Kathleen Keller / The Conversation

a dolphin (left) and a more rounded porpoise (right)
Wildlife

Florida can’t decide if its official saltwater mammal is a dolphin or a porpoise

They are not the same animal.

By Margherita Bassi

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

An Afghan Hound striking the fake rabbit.
Wildlife

28 powerful Sony World Photography Awards 2026 honorees

From the beaches of Galápagos to the forests of Cameroon.

By Popular Science Team

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

Two photos next to each other. One is a man laying on grass next to longest snake in the world for scale reference. The other is a with portion of the world's longest snake draped over his shoulder in the jungle
Endangered Species

Longest snake ever measured is over 23.5 feet long

Nicknamed the ‘Baroness,’ this python is longer than two great white sharks.

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

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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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