The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

In our hit podcast, PopSci editors share the strangest facts they can find from the history of science, health, and technology.

Latest in The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Woman in pyjamas embracing pillow and hot water bottle to soothe period pain against colourful background

Scientists don’t actually know why period cramps hurt Scientists don’t actually know why period cramps hurt

By Popular Science Team

Blue Colored Motion Blurred Earth Globe Spinning on Light Blue Background.

The Earth once vibrated for 9 days straight The Earth once vibrated for 9 days straight

By Popular Science Team

a squirrel in deep space

Squirrels could be the key to getting us into deep space Squirrels could be the key to getting us into deep space

By Popular Science Team

Man with a boombox on his box enjoying the music

Here’s the secret to getting songs unstuck from your head Here’s the secret to getting songs unstuck from your head

By Popular Science Team

This aerial view shows the Shedd Aquarium on Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois, on August 1, 2024.

Chicago’s pollution could be keeping river monsters at bay Chicago’s pollution could be keeping river monsters at bay

By Popular Science Team

Scientists are trying to figure out why hockey players all sound Canadian Scientists are trying to figure out why hockey players all sound Canadian

By Popular Science Team

person drinking ginger ale on a plane

Yes, ginger ale really does taste better on a plane. Here’s why. Yes, ginger ale really does taste better on a plane. Here’s why.

By Popular Science Team

This worm got into some hot water and changed the course of history This worm got into some hot water and changed the course of history

By Popular Science Team

Inhumation grave 26, shown in the original field photograph (left), with bones in anatomical articulation lying on their right side with flexed legs.

This ancient skeleton turned out to have eight different people in it This ancient skeleton turned out to have eight different people in it

By Popular Science Team

four leaf clover good luck

Science says superstitions can have a very real impact on your life Science says superstitions can have a very real impact on your life

By Popular Science Staff

Mattoon Daily Journal-Gazette headlines as they appeared on the front-page.

The ‘Mad Gasser of Mattoon’ is one of history’s most bizarre unsolved mysteries The ‘Mad Gasser of Mattoon’ is one of history’s most bizarre unsolved mysteries

By Popular Science Staff

Psychology can explain your childhood crush on a cartoon character Psychology can explain your childhood crush on a cartoon character

By Popular Science Team

marbled crayfish

These self-cloning crayfish ladies could take over the world These self-cloning crayfish ladies could take over the world

By Popular Science Team

Lasius emarginatus

This immigrant ant is taking New York City by storm This immigrant ant is taking New York City by storm

By Popular Science Team

Legend of the linguistic experiment by Psamtik I.

The ‘forbidden experiment’ is an infamously evil chapter in scientific history The ‘forbidden experiment’ is an infamously evil chapter in scientific history

By Popular Science Team

Wound care and amputation in a Camponotus maculatus ant.

Ants perform teeny tiny operations to save their injured comrades Ants perform teeny tiny operations to save their injured comrades

By Popular Science Team

The English women's athletics team, the appearance of the first UK female athletes at international Olympics, Sweden, Stockholm 1912.

The Olympics has been obsessed with sex for centuries The Olympics has been obsessed with sex for centuries

By Popular Science Team

cone shaped skull

These viking ladies tried to start a trend for pointy heads, but it didn’t take off These viking ladies tried to start a trend for pointy heads, but it didn’t take off

By Popular Science Team

Giraffes are a lot gayer than most people give them credit for

Giraffes are a lot gayer than most people give them credit for Giraffes are a lot gayer than most people give them credit for

By Popular Science Team

Bornean Orangutan

These orangutans indulge in a spa-like skincare routine These orangutans indulge in a spa-like skincare routine

By Popular Science Team