Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
The seed vaults that could save humanity
These genetic libraries plan for worse-case scenarios.
Chicago’s rat hole wasn’t made by a rat
Plus a retirement home for penguins 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
Why you should still print photos
A tangible reminder of your life’s big (and little) moments.
Squirrels can find 85% of the nuts they hide
Our furry neighbors use a whole toolkit to locate their caches during the winter.
Donated Christmas trees get a second life at the zoo
The evergreen trees give kangaroos, bison, lions, and more extra shelter and fun.
How we unlocked the secrets of Denmark’s oldest plank boat–with the help of an ancient fingerprint
Chemical analysis of boat tar and a preserved fingerprint reveal how far Iron Age warriors traveled by sea.
Browse a 3D map of the world’s 2.75 billion buildings
GlobalBuildingAtlas includes almost every habitable structure on Earth.
You should start taking “Fart Walks”
The name may inspire snickers, but the benefits are no joke.
The magic of making candy canes by hand
How the candy makers at Hammond’s Candies have made the sweet treats for over 100 years.
Genetic ancestry doesn’t tell your whole story
If you’re looking for your genetic origin story, your DNA will only take you so far.
Tiny wild cat spotted in Thailand for first time in 30 years
The flat-headed felines are the smallest wild cats in Southeast Asia.
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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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