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

cone shaped skull

Animals

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

Animals

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

Animals

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

Animals

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

Animals

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

Animals

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

Animals

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.

Moons

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

Animals

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

spider in a web

Science

Scientists made a claw machine from a dead spider Scientists made a claw machine from a dead spider

By Popular Science Team

a hippo in the water opening its jaws

Science

American hippopotamus ranching almost took off 100 years ago American hippopotamus ranching almost took off 100 years ago

By Popular Science Team

A person tweezing their own armpit hair.

Science

Ancient Romans tweezed their armpits until they screamed Ancient Romans tweezed their armpits until they screamed

By Popular Science Team

Turkey vulture sitting on a rock

Science

Turkey vultures have the ultimate self-defense technique: projectile vomiting Turkey vultures have the ultimate self-defense technique: projectile vomiting

By Popular Science Team

Birds have been using anti-bird spikes to build love nests and fortresses

Science

Birds have been using anti-bird spikes to build love nests and fortresses Birds have been using anti-bird spikes to build love nests and fortresses

By Popular Science Team

a big pile of bananas

Science

Male mice are utterly terrified of bananas Male mice are utterly terrified of bananas

By Popular Science Team

a crocodile poking its head out of the water

Science

Ancient Egyptians used crocodile dung for birth control—and it kind of worked Ancient Egyptians used crocodile dung for birth control—and it kind of worked

By Popular Science Team