Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
What’s a brain freeze and why do they happen?
Ice cream headaches and migraines have a lot in common.
Phosphorescent paint inspired Victorian-era Australians to dress up as ghosts and pull pranks
Plus, Louis Pasteur’s secrets 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
Space now has 10 toilets
Artemis II’s four astronauts share one toiletâand it already had issues.
Rescued birds treated to a pedicureâor talon trim
Just like dogs, birds also need a nail trim every now and then.
All that magician chitchat? Itâs not fooling your brain.
Researchers found patter doesnât do much to misdirect viewers in a classic card trick.
First female ‘beast-huntress’ gladiator depiction uncovered in lost mosaic
The 1,800-year-old artwork was destroyed during a World War I bombing campaign.
500-million-year-old spider relative has claws where it shouldn’t
âMegachelicerax cousteauiâ is named for French explorer Jacques Cousteau.
Do water picks really work? Dentists weigh in.
Water flossers can be effective, but don’t throw out your string floss just yet.
PFAS are toxic and theyâre everywhere. Hereâs how to stay away from them.
It might be impossible to eliminate them completely, but you can certainly reduce your exposure.
The 2026 Aston Martin Valhalla Supercar is truly a super car
All hail the new Worldâs Easiest Car to Drive Fast.
Popular Science Cover Art Store
Own a piece of science history.
Browse all coversPopular 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.
Meet the team
Our writers and editors