Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
Emus once faced down the Australian army—and won
Armed with machine guns and 10,000 bullets, soldiers still couldn’t stop the giant birds.
Americans planted entire forests of exploding Australian trees
Plus beaver skulls 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
Physics discovery explains why sneakers squeak
And helped researchers play a ‘Star Wars’ song on glass.
Having to pee makes you scientifically better at video games
Plus what space smells like and other weird things we learned this week.
Scrapping business class could halve air travel emissions
A new study examined operational efficiency.
Humans pose the biggest risk to Venice’s celebrity dolphin
Since June 2025, the lone bottlenose dolphin nicknamed Mimmo has been spotted numerous times, including right by San Marco Square.
Chimpanzees love alcohol and their pee proves it
Intrepid graduate students risked getting peed on…for science.
Color plays an unsung role in how we enjoy concerts
A venue’s color choices can change how we experience the music.
Can psychopaths change?
Historically, there has been a lot of pessimism around treatment for personality disorders.
Techno DJ jailed after selling 60,000 fake plane parts to major airlines
For years, Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala forged safety documents tied to engines that power Boeing and Airbus jets.
Would you pay $49 a month to drink recycled wastewater?
A recent survey found that rural Americans would pay for the privilege of water reuse. Here’s the huge potential benefit of the technique.
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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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