Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
New theory ups the odds that intelligent aliens exist
Humans might not be that special in the universe after all.
This worm got into some hot water and changed the course of history
Plus 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.
POPULAR SCIENCE VIDEOS
Popular Science on YouTube is a laboratory of stories from the future, past, and present. It’s like a time travel learning machine—in video form.
The 10 coolest musical instruments you’ll see in 2025
The 2025 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition finalists include an ‘Udderbot,’ ‘Hacked Double Trumpet,’ and a ‘Dinosaur Choir.’
Cuttlefish ink can help keep sharks away from humans
Mimicking the ink created by the bioluminescent cephalopods could keep both sharks and people safe.
Valentine’s Day 1946: The first general-purpose electronic computer blossoms
The ENIAC was a 30-ton ‘numerical monster’—and pivotal in the history of consumer technology.
Quiet couples: Alone time together
The right kind of silence can be golden, revitalizing and strengthening a relationship.
What do Egyptian mummies smell like? Surprisingly pleasant.
Scientists and sniffers teamed up to study the ancient scents for the first time.
Baby seals are wearing heart monitors–for science
The pups head out on their own after only 15 to 20 days of nursing.
Butchered skulls point to Europe’s Ice Age cannibals
‘It… seems unlikely that cannibalism was practiced out of necessity.’
500,000 years ago, a bunch of animals fell into a Florida sink hole
Hobby fossil hunters found over 500 fossils in the murky waters of the Steinhatchee River.
Return of the California condor
North America’s largest bird disappeared from the wild in the late 1980s. Reintroduction work in the United States and Mexico has brought this huge vulture back to the skies. This is the story of its comeback.
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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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