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An oil painting titled "The Pythia" by Camillo Miola, depicting the Oracle of Delphi in ancient Greece. The Pythia, a young woman in white and gold robes with a heavy gold necklace, is shown in a trance-like state, seated on a tall bronze tripod. Several priests in white tunics surround her, some holding olive branches and one taking notes on a tablet. In the foreground, two figures in ornate blue and gold robes kneel in prayer or supplication before a low stone altar. The scene is set against a deep red wall, with laurel leaves scattered across the floor and a large, dark omphalos stone visible on the left.
Archaeology

Ancient Greece’s most famous oracle was just high on gas fumes

The Oracle of Delphi, also known as the Pythia, likely inhaled ethylene to enter her famous trance.

By Andrew Coletti

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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

Rachel Feltman

Host

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

Man pointing with stick at chalkboard diagram of AM radio setup
Military

Watch a classified FM radio training video from WW2

That crisp signal was once a really big deal.

By Andrew Paul

Aerial photograph of the excavation area for the new fire station building on Lohagenweg in Hüllhorst. The tree cover marks the course of the source stream, which formed the basis for the construction of the former farmstead. Photo: LWL-AfW / A. Koch
Archaeology

2,500-year-old settlement found during fire station construction

The Iron Age settlement pre-dates the Roman invasion of Germany.

By Andrew Paul

a pink flamingo standing in water (left). a blue songbird sitting on a tree branch (right)
Birds

Florida finally makes the flamingo its state bird

Bye bye mockingbird.

By Margherita Bassi

a large pool of water with smoke rising from it
Conservation

World’s largest acidic geyser erupts for first time since 2020

Yellowstone’s Echinus Geyser spews out hot water that’s as acidic as vinegar.

By Laura Baisas

students watch professor in lecture hall
AI

The greatest risk of AI in higher education isn’t cheating

It’s the erosion of learning itself.

By Nir Eisikovits, Jacob Burley / The Conversation

woman's face in front of sun and garbage
Ask Us Anything

We can’t launch our trash into the sun. But why?

Maybe think about a solution down here on Earth first.

By Popular Science Team

Screenshot of final boss from original Doom
AI

Computer run on human brain cells learned to play ‘Doom’

Cortical Labs hopes neuronal chips will do much more than shoot pixelated demons.

By Andrew Paul

Oval limestone with line etchings that likely represent a board game played in ancient Rome
Archaeology

Mystery stone is actually ancient Roman board game

AI helped determine the possible rules to ‘Ludus Coriovalli.’

By Andrew Paul

a bat hanging upside down with red backpack
Bats

Tiny recording backpacks reveal bats’ surprising hunting strategy

By Leonie Baier / The Conversation

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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.
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