Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
Tired? You may have social jetlag.
When life gets in the way of your body’s ideal sleep schedule, things get messy.
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
This AI thinks it’s the 1800s
What happens when you train an LLM only on limited historical data?
Stingray-inspired robot cracks the mystery of how rays swim
‘Nature seems to have already solved the problem.’
Halley’s comet may need a new, medieval name
Astronomers suggest the honor should go to an 11th century monk known for a disastrous flying attempt.
It’s not in your head. Fear drives decision making.
Dreading negative outcomes is six times more powerful than anticipating the positive ones.
Eating less ultraprocessed food supports healthier aging, new research shows
Ultraprocessed food makes up about half the calories of a typical American diet.
550-pound Ice Age kangaroos could still hop
Just probably not as far as today’s marsupials.
Adorable ferret-sized martens are rebounding in California
Highly valued for their fur, martens were almost hunted to extinction in the late 20th century.
Penis size may matter more to men than women
Genitalia size does have some evolutionary benefits, but men remain a bit touchy about the subject.
James Webb Space Telescope solves a comet crystal mystery
A ‘cosmic highway’ may explain the journeys of some space silicates.
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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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