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Space

The world’s only dark sky airport sits inside a national park

Visitors at Jackson Hole Airport can spot the Milky Way from the parking lot.

By Alisha McDarris

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Americans planted entire forests of exploding Australian trees

Plus beaver skulls 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

Scans of severed skull fragments from Iberian Peninsula
Archaeology

Severed head rituals were more widespread in Iron Age Iberia than we thought

Researchers now think at least two more groups joined the macabre custom.

By Andrew Paul

a new species of lady bug. it is black and the size of a grain of sand
Wildlife

New ladybug species is the size of a grain of sand

Luck by a lady (bug).

By Margherita Bassi

A young lynx playfully throws a rodent into the air before killing and devouring it.
Endangered Species

16 astonishing images from the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards

Playful bear cubs and a swirling superpod of dolphins compete for People’s Choice honors.

By Popular Science Team

A dramatic Renaissance-era painting shows an ancient city in chaos, likely Troy, as fires and smoke fill the sky. In the foreground, people flee along canals and bridges, some dragging belongings or carrying others to safety. Boats crowd the water, while buildings burn in the distance. At center-right, a large wooden horse stands ominously in a public square, as flames and destruction spread across the city.
Archaeology

Rethinking Troy: how years of careful peace, not epic war, shaped this bronze age city

The city at the heart of Homer’s Iliad had a long history before war engulfed it.

By Stephan Blum / The Conversation

a sea turtle swimming with a boat in the distance
Endangered Species

The world’s smallest sea turtle lives in a noisy ocean

Noisy ships and industry are impacting critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. But how much?

By Margherita Bassi

Directly avobe view of many wooden ecological cotton swabs on a blue colored background
Health

Stop cleaning your ears wrong

Warning: This advice may cause you to rethink your pharmacy purchases.

By Eric Alt

An artistic, surreal digital illustration exploring the concept of "recreating history's smells." On the left, a large, close-up profile of a human nose and mouth is shown in a classical, textured painting style. A faint purple vapor drifts from the right toward the nose, carrying floating 3D molecular structures. The background features a dark, ornate historical building with arched windows. In the foreground, a cluttered pile of old, thick books with leather bindings and parchment pages sits below two Egyptian sarcophagi. The overall mood is mysterious and scholarly, blending ancient history with modern chemistry.
Science

Recreating the smells of history

Using chemistry, archival records and AI, scientists are reviving the aromas of old libraries, mummies and battlefields.

By Kaja Šeruga / Knowable Magazine

google logo
Tech Hacks

How to clear space in your Google for free

Make full use of the 15GB you get in Gmail, Photos, and Drive for free.

By David Nield

a cold-stunned green iguana likes on its back on the ground in florida
Wildlife

Florida euthanizes 5,195 frozen iguanas

First introduced during the 1960, the invasive reptiles were ‘cold-stunned’ during a record-breaking cold snap.

By Laura Baisas

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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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