Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
Cremation or casket? Here’s the most eco-friendly burial option.
The greenest choice turns out to be the simplest one.
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
5 cool innovations in sports and outdoors in 2025
From the most effective brain-protective helmet to a new type of insect repellent.
How the timber rattlesnake became a symbol of American independence
The very real reptile warned enemies ‘Dont tread on me,’ and urged the colonies to ‘Join, or die.’
An ode to slugs, the mascots of post-holiday laziness
They’ve got 500 million years of evolution on their side, after all.
Slop, vibe coding and glazing: AI dominates 2025’s words of the year
Cambridge Dictionary, Dictionary.com, and Oxford University Press all select words connected to artificial intelligence.
5 remarkable engineering innovations of 2025
From an autonomous drone system to wood that’s stronger than steel and 6 times lighter.
January stargazing: A supermoon, asteroid, and one very large planet
The Wolf Moon rises on January 3.
The corkscrew began as a tool for muskets, not merlot
The wine key helped make airtight wine bottles—and modern wine culture—possible.
How a species of bamboo could help protect the South from future floods
In the face of mounting climate disasters, tribes, scientists, and Southern communities are rallying around a nearly forgotten native plant.
The 5 coolest entertainment innovations of 2025
From a TV that creates color in a totally different way to room-aware surround sound.
Popular Science Cover Art Store
Own a piece of science history.
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.
Meet the team
Our writers and editors
