Popular Science Podcasts

Popular Science podcasts unearth the universe’s strangest histories. They answer your most mind-burning questions. They tell spin yarns about scam artists and celebrity diets and video games and poodle haircuts. PopSci’s shows are simply the best science and tech podcasting: shamelessly entertaining, painfully smart, and fiercely fascinating.

Looking for a visual we mentioned on Weirdest Thing? Every single one of our episodes has a corresponding write-up published on the same day—that’s where you’ll find photos, videos, cited sources, and more. Check them out here!

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is where PopSci editors go to unleash the most bizarre stories they can find. You’ll be shocked, delighted, and ready to fill awkward silences for the rest of your life.

Ask Us Anything

Popular Science answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions—from what the universe is made of to why not everyone can touch their toes. Join Popular Science staff as they work through questions big and small.

Latest Articles

Diver underwater investigating Viking shipwreck
Archaeology

600-year-old Viking shipwreck is the largest of its kind

The medieval ‘cog’ was nearly 92 feet long and featured castles on its bow and stern.

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.

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.

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.’

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.

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.

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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.