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A top-down photograph of a pile of fresh, green okra pods resting on a rustic, beige linen napkin with a red striped border. The pods are scattered across the fabric and a weathered wooden tabletop, with the wooden handle of a kitchen knife visible in the upper right corner.
Ask Us Anything

Why is okra so slimy? Blame the mucilage.

The plant’s signature goo helps it thrive in the heat.

By Andrew Coletti

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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

White axolotl seen underwater
Endangered Species

Is it illegal to own an axolotl? It depends.

A recent pet seizure at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport illustrates ongoing confusion.

By Andrew Paul

Peregrinen 4 quadcopter drone taking off from launch pad
Drones

Father and son reclaim Guinness World Record for fastest quadcopter drone

Luke and Mike Bell’s Peregrine 4 achieved the milestone barely a month after it was taken from them.

By Andrew Paul

a team stands on a beach with two pigs in kennels
Animals

Abandoned pigs rescued on Tennessee’s Looney Islands

The animals are in good hands thanks to patience and a ‘pig whisperer.’

By Laura Baisas

Close up of man's hands reaching into box of apples at orchard
Agriculture

Test your apple farming skills with this free video game

Race Against Rot shows how engaging with community may be a valuable resource.

By Andrew Paul

a small black insect standing on white snow
Wildlife

Snow fleas use their tail to jump around the ice

The tiny insects are older than dinosaurs.

By Laura Baisas

The central square image, taken with the MUSE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope, shows shock waves around the dead star RXJ0528+2838. When a star moves through space it can push away nearby material creating a so-called bow shock, which in this image is glowing in red, green and blue. The colours represent hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen, respectively. These shocks are usually produced by a strong outflow expelled from the star. However, in the case of RXJ0528+2838 –– a white dwarf with a Sun-like companion –– astronomers discovered that the shock wave can’t be explained by any known mechanism. Some hidden energy source, perhaps magnetic fields, could be the answer to this mystery.
Space Telescope

Dead star emits perplexing shock wave for 1,000 years

A cosmic outflow like this ‘shouldn’t be there.’

By Andrew Paul

a bird with long legs and colorful feathers
Birds

A giant-footed bird showed up in a Massachusetts backyard. It didn’t belong there.

The purple gallinule found its way north through unusual winds.

By Margherita Bassi

Commercial airplane flying in stormy weather. A lightning strike illuminates the right side of the image as a plane flies to the left.
Ask Us Anything

How pilots avoid thunderstorms—and what happens when they can’t

Most commercial planes get struck by lightning a couple times a year.

By Cat Rainsford

An elevated, long-range photograph of the Rano Raraku volcanic crater on Easter Island, showing several moai statues partially buried in the grassy hillside. The massive stone heads and torsos are scattered across a sloped landscape that leads up to a rugged, rocky cliff face with visible excavation sites. Some areas of the background rock feature unnatural blue markings, likely from digital editing or site markers.
Archaeology

3D map of Easter Island takes you places visitors aren’t allowed

One of the world’s most isolated islands is open to virtual tourists.

By Sarah Durn

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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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