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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

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

person opening faucet with water flowing
Life Skills

PFAS are toxic and they’re everywhere. Here’s how to stay away from them.

It might be impossible to eliminate them completely, but you can certainly reduce your exposure.

By Sofia Quaglia

Man disappointed in what he sees in his refrigerator
Food Safety

Is it safe to eat cold leftovers?

A microbiologist explains.

By Primrose Freestone / The Conversation

High angle view of unwrapped chocolate bar with bite out on pink background
Nutrition

Is dark chocolate healthier than milk chocolate?

Two dietitians explain.

By Lauren Ball, Emily Burch / The Conversation

a man in a ship
Life Skills

How to watch Star Wars in order—even the shows

If you’re settling in for a Star Wars marathon of galactic proportions, the order you watch everything in may matter.

By Debbie Wolfe

Clouds and the Sun illuminate the sky on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, as NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft stand vertical at Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Moons

The best way to watch the Artemis II launch is on C-SPAN

Yes, that C-SPAN.

By Andrew Paul

Healthcare, hand and iv with a patient in a hospital bed for recovery or rehabilitation closeup. Medical, wellness and treatment with a sick person lying in a clinic on a saline solution drip.
Insects

Parasitic sleeping sickness creates ‘invisibility cloak’ to hide in humans for years

After 40 years, biologists made a breakthrough in understanding the deadly disease.

By Andrew Paul

a close up of a tortoise covered in dirt
Wildlife

Volunteers finally find Betty White—the rescue tortoise

She was missing for months, right under her care team’s noses.

By Laura Baisas

From left to right, Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from CSA (Canadian Space Agency), Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, arrive on Friday, March 27, 2026, at the Launch and Landing Facility at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for the Artemis II test flight.
Moons

A 2nd grader designed an adorable mascot for NASA’s Artemis II mission

‘Rise’ is a baseball hat-wearing plushie that will let the four-person crew know when they have officially hit zero gravity.

By Andrew Paul

A regular size Cadbury Mini Egg compared with The Mega Mini Egg. The giant chocolate egg clocks in at 121 pounds.
Engineering

World’s largest Cadbury Mini egg weighs as much as an emu

Chocolatiers spent two days making the Easter treat by hand.

By Laura Baisas

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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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