Popular Science

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Science EN ↓ 231 episodes

At Popular Science, we report and write dozens of science and tech 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. For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com We wanna make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4 Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/us/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy

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Popular Science

Episodes

The First Constellations, Surprisingly Spicy History, Kids Find the Darndest Fossils 02.08.2023 57:23

Moiya McTier joins the show to talk about math, the first constellations, and more! Plus, Rachel explains why children are master fossil discoverers, and Sara Kiley divulges a surprising spicy origin. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our s...

Butts: A Backstory, Parrot Social Media, Why We Eat Chickens 19.07.2023 1:03:32

Radiolab's Heather Radke joins the show to talk about butts! Plus, Rachel talks about the history of chickens as pets, and Chelsey divulges why parrots are video calling each other. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Links to R...

Weirdest Thing LIVE! on August 24th 13.07.2023 2:59

That's right, we're doing our first live show since 2019! It'll be on Thursday, August 24th at Caveat in New York City. Grab tickets here: https://caveat.nyc/events/the-weirdest-thing-i-learned-this-week-8-24-2023 -- The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more ab...

George Washington: Swamp Ghost Hunter, Cockroach Chocolate, Science Scams 05.07.2023 1:04:32

Producer Jess Boddy talks about the science in Dark Souls' swamps, Rachel explains cockroaches giving sexy gifts, and Amanda dishes on scientific scammers. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Links to Rachel's TikTok, Newsletter...

The Sleepiest Epidemic, Really Deep Holes, Goddess of Dirty Dishes 21.06.2023 1:00:25

PopSci intern Jack Izzo talks about the deepest hole EVER. Plus, Rachel explains contagious sleepiness throughout history, and Sara Kiley divulges the captivating story of the woman who invented the dishwasher. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about al...

Ancient Enemies to Lovers, Landscape of Fear, Hoax of the Century 07.06.2023 1:09:20

Ali Hazelwood joins the show to divulge the scientific hoax of the century, Rachel shows how wolves create a landscape of fear, and Sandra talks about Puebloans carrying logs with their heads—and maybe falling in love. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more...

A Horse in the Toilet?!, Creepy Clowns, Superpowered Bug Pee 24.05.2023 1:01:19

Melissa Dunphy joins the show to explain why she found a horse in the toilet. Meanwhile, Rachel talks super-powered bug pee, and Chelsey gets into the science of fearing clowns. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Links to Rache...

Worm Time in Whale City, Neanderthal Funk, Old-Timey Sauna Science 10.05.2023 1:03:56

Defector's Sabrina Imbler joins the show this week to talk about whale falls! Plus, Rachel talks about how a bunch of dudes sat in saunas for science, and Sara Kiley explains why Neanderthals probably stunk at smelling their own funk. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click her...

Science of Elden Ring, Walmart Entomology, Architectural %&@*-Measuring Contest 26.04.2023 52:20

This week, Rachel explores Walmart for new insect species, Jess divulges the science behind Elden Ring's corpse wax, and John talks about New York City architects hiding spires in their buildings to one-up each other. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more a...

Eating Bog Butter, Disappearing Eels, Urinal Splashback Science 12.04.2023 1:04:49

This week, Rachel gets into delicious, delectable butter made in a bog, Ryan F. Mandelbaum explains that we know almost nothing about eels, and Purbita describes the details of pee splashback at the urinal. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of...

Brain Death Cocktails, Fur Seal Crimes, Fish Driving Cars 29.03.2023 47:37

This week, Rachel talks about fish getting behind the wheel, Sara Kiley unravels the story of rodent DNA and a secret fur seal trade, and Sandra explains how cocaine might be the key to organ transplants. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of o...

Lubed Up Chocolate, Ovaries Before Brovaries, Birds on the Moon 15.03.2023 59:09

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Links to Rachel's TikTok, Newsletter, Merch Store and More: https://linktr.ee/RachelFeltman -- Follow our team on Twitter Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman Produced by Jess Boddy:...

Deprogramming the Patriarchy, Metric Pirates, Earwax Types 01.03.2023 55:31

'Silly Walk' Science, Trombone-Head Dinosaurs, Museum Secrets Revealed 15.02.2023 55:26

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Links to Rachel's TikTok, Newsletter, Merch Store and More: https://linktr.ee/RachelFeltman To try America's #1 Meal Kit, go to https://HelloFresh.com/weirdest65 and use code WEIRDEST65 for 6...

Head Transplants, Criminal Koalas, Sneezing Sponges 01.02.2023 1:06:49

Welcome to Season 7! The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Links to Rachel's TikTok, Newsletter, Merch Store and More: https://linktr.ee/RachelFeltman -- Follow our team on Twitter Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman Po...

A Weirdest Thing end-of-year update! 26.12.2022 2:38

Flying Toad Butts, High-Speed Uteruses, Lemurs Picking Noses 14.12.2022 1:03:53

Sex Rafts, Garbage Birds, Girded Loins, Security Geese 30.11.2022 1:26:00

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Rachel's (free!!!) 12/5/22 Event in NYC: https://www.facebook.com/events/525767569184548/ Links to Rachel's TikTok, Newsletter, Merch Store and More: https://linktr.ee/RachelFeltman -- Follow...

Evil Forrest Gump, Poopsmiths, Penis Legs 16.11.2022 1:03:41

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Click here to follow our sibling podcast, Ask Us Anything! -- Follow our team on Twitter Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci Produced by Jess...

Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock and Fantastic Fungi’s Paul Stamets on Mushrooms & Mycelium 09.11.2022 52:44

Join host Sing For Science host Matt Whyte in this fungi fantastic episode about psilocybin research! We learn about mushroom properties that can stave off dementia, decrease social ills and hear about Isaac’s experience with UFOs. -- Sing For Science is a science and music podcast that pairs famous musicians and renowned scientists in conversation. The concept for each episode is that we take a s...

Introducing Inside Voice, A New Audiobook from Lake Bell 03.11.2022 5:59

Today, we’re shaking things up and bringing you a preview of a new audiobook we’re think you'll enjoy! Writer, director, and actress Lake Bell has a new audiobook all about the voice – Inside Voice is a humorous, insightful, and personal deep dive into the cultural constructs, social science, and psychology around our voices. Featuring contributors like Drew Barrymore, Pam Grier, and Jeff Goldblum...

Birds Aren't Real, Everest Poopsicles, Actual Flying Cars 02.11.2022 1:02:53

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Click here to follow our sibling podcast, Ask Us Anything! -- Follow our team on Twitter Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci Produced by Jess...

Vampire Epidemics, Parasitic Mind Control, Sasquatch Science 19.10.2022 1:09:14

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Click here to follow our sibling podcast, Ask Us Anything! -- Follow our team on Twitter Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci Produced by Jess...

Knives for Hands, Gay Bombs, Bee-on-Bee Crime 05.10.2022 52:00

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Click here to follow our sibling podcast, Ask Us Anything! -- Follow our team on Twitter Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci Produced by Jess...

Self-Destructing Octomoms, Exoplanet Adventures, Why Rats Don't Vom 21.09.2022 54:29

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us! Click here to learn more about all of our stories! Click here to follow our sibling podcast, Ask Us Anything! -- Follow our team on Twitter Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci Produced by Jess...