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

New theory ups the odds that intelligent aliens exist
Humans might not be that special in the universe after all.

This worm got into some hot water and changed the course of history
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.
POPULAR SCIENCE VIDEOS
Popular Science on YouTube is a laboratory of stories from the future, past, and present. It’s like a time travel learning machine—in video form.

The hallucinatory thoughts of the dying mind
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How to use Apple Intelligence to sort your emails
Spend less time in your inbox, with the help of AI.

Man from uncontacted tribe emerges from rainforest, signals to villagers
The individual is believed to belong to a group first seen in 2021.

The 10 coolest musical instruments you’ll see in 2025
The 2025 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition finalists include an ‘Udderbot,’ ‘Hacked Double Trumpet,’ and a ‘Dinosaur Choir.’

Cuttlefish ink can help keep sharks away from humans
Mimicking the ink created by the bioluminescent cephalopods could keep both sharks and people safe.

Valentine’s Day 1946: The first general-purpose electronic computer blossoms
The ENIAC was a 30-ton ‘numerical monster’—and pivotal in the history of consumer technology.

Quiet couples: Alone time together
The right kind of silence can be golden, revitalizing and strengthening a relationship.

What do Egyptian mummies smell like? Surprisingly pleasant.
Scientists and sniffers teamed up to study the ancient scents for the first time.
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