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A vintage photograph of an explosion happening on a baech.
Whales

BOOM! That time Oregon blew up a whale with dynamite.

And why we should never do it again.

By Shoshi Parks

Featured

Gear and Reviews

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Channel cover

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

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

an iphone with notes app
Tech Hacks

17 clever Apple Notes tips you might not know

This could well be Apple’s most versatile app.

By David Nield

Little boy drinking orange juice
Health

Why does orange juice taste bad after you brush your teeth?

There’s a scientific reason your OJ tastes funny after you brush your teeth.

By Linda Bartoshuk / The Conversation

a mother whale and calf
Whales

2026 is off to a hopeful start for these critically endangered whales

At least 18 new baby North Atlantic right whales have been spotted swimming with their mothers.

By Margherita Bassi

six clocks on a pink background
AI

Why does AI suck at making clocks?

‘Telling time is a very human thing.’

By Justin Pot

a hand squeezes a fish-shaped soy sauce container as brown droplets come out of it
Sustainability

Plastic-free soy sauce container biodegrades in 4 weeks

The biodegradable design could help keep plastic from becoming fish food.

By Mack DeGeurin

Group of ancient Roman whetstones discovered in Britain
Archaeology

800 ancient Roman blade sharpeners found in Britain

Archaeologists also located English Civil War cannonballs and a Tudor-era shoe near a Newcastle river.

By Andrew Paul

A pair of Sacabambaspis fish, around 14 inches (35 centimeters) in length, which had distinct, forward-facing eyes and an armored head. No fossils of animals like Sacabambaspis from after the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction event have been discovered.
Wildlife

Mass death paved the way for the Age of Fishes

With great biological havoc comes great opportunity.

By Laura Baisas

The tiny blooms of Dendrobium eruciforme, known as the caterpillar orchid due to its creeping habit and small size. © Andre Schuiteman RBG Kew
Land

Zombie fungus, ‘living stones’ among favorite botany discoveries of 2025

Scientists document thousands of new plant and fungus species every year.

By Andrew Paul

a portrait of leonardo da vinci. he has a long white beard, long white hair, and is wearing a black hat
Biology

Science sleuths think they found Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA

Advances in genetics might help us see what set the Renaissance man apart.

By Mack DeGeurin

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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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