Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.

Do I really need to wear sunscreen every day? We asked dermatologists.
‘The best sunscreen is one that you’re willing to apply and reapply.’

Literal time ladies used to sell people a look at their watches
The Greenwich Time Lady, 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.

Dogs can fulfill our need to nurture
‘Contrary to popular belief, only a small minority of dog owners actually treat their pets like human children.’

143,000 people teamed up to tie the world’s top chess player
‘Magnus vs. The World’ saw the living legend draw after 46 days and 32 moves.

Elusive woolly rat photographed for the first time
The 4.4 lbs rodent is native to Papua New Guinea’s mountain rainforests.

Plants can hear tiny wing flaps of pollinators
Colorful snapdragons can respond accordingly when bees are buzzing nearby.

Jupiter was once twice as large as it is today
Examining the gas giant’s primordial stages is key to understanding our solar system’s evolution.

Sea worm’s reproductive bits grow their own eyes before mating
The branching marine worm has one head, many butts, and a busy sex life.

College students demolish world record for fastest Rubik’s cube robot
Heads (and blocks) turn as Purdubik’s Cube solves the puzzle in less time than it takes to blink.

Medieval ‘testicle dagger’ lives up to its name
Archeologists found the weapon in one of Sweden’s most famous castles.
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Browse all coversPopular 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.
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