The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

In our hit podcast, PopSci editors share the strangest facts they can find from the history of science, health, and technology.

Latest in The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Mattoon Daily Journal-Gazette headlines as they appeared on the front-page.

Science

The ‘Mad Gasser of Mattoon’ is one of history’s most bizarre unsolved mysteries The ‘Mad Gasser of Mattoon’ is one of history’s most bizarre unsolved mysteries

By Popular Science Staff

Science

Psychology can explain your childhood crush on a cartoon character Psychology can explain your childhood crush on a cartoon character

By Popular Science Team

marbled crayfish

Science

These self-cloning crayfish ladies could take over the world These self-cloning crayfish ladies could take over the world

By Popular Science Team

Lasius emarginatus

Science

This immigrant ant is taking New York City by storm This immigrant ant is taking New York City by storm

By Popular Science Team

Legend of the linguistic experiment by Psamtik I.

Science

The ‘forbidden experiment’ is an infamously evil chapter in scientific history The ‘forbidden experiment’ is an infamously evil chapter in scientific history

By Popular Science Team

Wound care and amputation in a Camponotus maculatus ant.

Science

Ants perform teeny tiny operations to save their injured comrades Ants perform teeny tiny operations to save their injured comrades

By Popular Science Team

The English women's athletics team, the appearance of the first UK female athletes at international Olympics, Sweden, Stockholm 1912.

Science

The Olympics has been obsessed with sex for centuries The Olympics has been obsessed with sex for centuries

By Popular Science Team

cone shaped skull

Science

These viking ladies tried to start a trend for pointy heads, but it didn’t take off These viking ladies tried to start a trend for pointy heads, but it didn’t take off

By Popular Science Team

Giraffes are a lot gayer than most people give them credit for

Science

Giraffes are a lot gayer than most people give them credit for Giraffes are a lot gayer than most people give them credit for

By Popular Science Team

Bornean Orangutan

Science

These orangutans indulge in a spa-like skincare routine These orangutans indulge in a spa-like skincare routine

By Popular Science Team

closeup of bumblebee

Science

How scientists accidentally found out that some bees can hibernate underwater How scientists accidentally found out that some bees can hibernate underwater

By Popular Science Team

wild green honeykeeper bilateral gynandromorphism

Science

These birds break the sex binary like it’s nothing These birds break the sex binary like it’s nothing

By Popular Science Team

These birds help humans hunt for honey—but it’s not as sweet as you might think

Science

These birds help humans hunt for honey—but it’s not as sweet as you might think These birds help humans hunt for honey—but it’s not as sweet as you might think

By Popular Science Team

ADHD may have evolved to give us foraging superpowers

Science

ADHD may have evolved to give us foraging superpowers ADHD may have evolved to give us foraging superpowers

By Popular Science Team

A man uses a tinted glass to watch as the moon passes infront of the Earth's star marking a total eclipse, the only one this year, in Vigo, northwestern Spain on March 20, 2015.

Science

This is the most cosmically perfect time in history This is the most cosmically perfect time in history

By Popular Science Team

dung beetles with a ball of poop

Science

When steering balls of poop, dung beetles use the stars to navigate When steering balls of poop, dung beetles use the stars to navigate

By Popular Science Team

pile of cheese slices

Science

The US government once rented caves in Missouri to store its excess cheese The US government once rented caves in Missouri to store its excess cheese

By Popular Science Team

Road rage—and parking spot envy—can reveal a lot about how humans tick

Science

Road rage—and parking spot envy—can reveal a lot about how humans tick Road rage—and parking spot envy—can reveal a lot about how humans tick

By Popular Science Team

In the 1600s, one town in the Netherlands literally ate the rich

Science

In the 1600s, one town in the Netherlands literally ate the rich In the 1600s, one town in the Netherlands literally ate the rich

By Popular Science Team

Even without brains, jellyfish learn from their mistakes

Science

Even without brains, jellyfish learn from their mistakes Even without brains, jellyfish learn from their mistakes

By Popular Science Team