Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
Why are languages spoken at different speeds?
Japanese speakers fire off syllables at lightning speed—what gives?
Having to pee makes you scientifically better at video games
Plus what space smells like 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
New psychedelic fungus rewrites origins of magic mushrooms
The fungi prefer to grow in cow dung.
3D-printed TV from ‘The Simpsons’ plays actual episodes
The tiny DIY replica even boots up the classic arcade game from 1991.
Ancient Andean parrot trade route stretched over 300 miles
The sophisticated network crossed mountains in Peru and pre-dates the Inca Empire.
A meteor soared across Europe—and possibly hit a house
No one was injured at the home in Germany, but the ESA is investigating.
YouTube Premium Lite: Is it worth the $7.99/month?
There’s a new option for taking away the adverts on YouTube.
This Purple mattress helped me heal a broken collarbone
The 2025 Purple RejuvenatePremier mattress with DreamLayer offers cool, adaptive support.
3I/ATLAS comet is bursting with alcohol, surprising astronomers
The famous interstellar visitor packs some unexpected molecules.
What a cold winter means for ticks and mosquitoes
Like many of us, the bugs have been hunkered down waiting for spring to return.
Man builds functional typewriter out of Legos
The inkless device works a bit like a printing press.
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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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