The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

By Popular Science

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... more

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FAQs about The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week:

How many episodes does The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week have?

The podcast currently has 205 episodes available.

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week episodes:

June 18, 2025Horny Bugs, Women are Stronger Than Men, Evil Monkey Backpack Trends
Casey Johnston joins the show this week to talk about how women are truly and actually stronger than men (all of which she details in her new book!). Plus, Laura talks about promiscuous fruit flies, and Rachel talks about capuchin monkey's version of a Labubu.
Get Casey's book here! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/casey-johnston/a-physical-education/9781538773253/
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
Rachel now has a Patreon, too! Follow her for exclusive bonus content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/RachelFeltman⁠⁠⁠⁠
Link to Jess' Twitch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn⁠⁠⁠⁠
Link to Balint's Twitch: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitch.tv/sciants_streams ⁠⁠⁠
--
Follow our team on Twitter
Rachel Feltman: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman⁠⁠⁠⁠
Produced by Jess Boddy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.twitter.com/JessicaBoddy⁠⁠⁠⁠
Popular Science: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.twitter.com/PopSci⁠⁠⁠⁠
Theme music by Billy Cadden: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq?si=5VF2r2XiQoGepRsMTBsDAQ⁠⁠⁠⁠
Go to https://LIQUIDIV.COM and get 20% off your first order with code WEIRDEST at checkout.
Go to https://Quince.com/weirdest for free shipping on your order and365 -day returns.
Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/WEIRDEST to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
52min
June 04, 2025Masochistic Trees, Lean Mean Sex Machines, Ancient Doodles
Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian joins the show to talk about horny eels. Plus, Sara Kiley explains the tree that loves getting struck by lightning, and Rachel goes into detail about kids passing notes in ancient times.
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
Rachel now has a Patreon, too! Follow her for exclusive bonus content: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/RachelFeltman⁠⁠⁠
Link to Jess' Twitch: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn⁠⁠⁠
Link to Balint's Twitch: ⁠⁠https://www.twitch.tv/sciants_streams ⁠⁠
--
Follow our team on Twitter
Rachel Feltman: ⁠⁠⁠www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman⁠⁠⁠
Produced by Jess Boddy: ⁠⁠⁠www.twitter.com/JessicaBoddy⁠⁠⁠
Popular Science: ⁠⁠⁠www.twitter.com/PopSci⁠⁠⁠
Theme music by Billy Cadden: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq?si=5VF2r2XiQoGepRsMTBsDAQ⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to ⁠⁠https://Quince.com/weirdest⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to ⁠⁠https://www.Zocdoc.com/WEIRDEST⁠⁠ to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
56min
May 21, 2025The Piss Current, Mucking Up Space, a Cocky Legend
Divya Anantharaman aka Gotham Taxidermy joins the show to talk about a bird with a very big personality. Plus, Rachel talks about a whale conveyor belt, and Lauren dishes dirt on the ISS (literally).
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
Rachel now has a Patreon, too! Follow her for exclusive bonus content: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/RachelFeltman⁠⁠
Link to Jess' Twitch: ⁠⁠https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn⁠⁠
Link to Balint's Twitch: ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/sciants_streams ⁠
--
Follow our team on Twitter
Rachel Feltman: ⁠⁠www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman⁠⁠
Produced by Jess Boddy: ⁠⁠www.twitter.com/JessicaBoddy⁠⁠
Popular Science: ⁠⁠www.twitter.com/PopSci⁠⁠
Theme music by Billy Cadden: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq?si=5VF2r2XiQoGepRsMTBsDAQ⁠⁠

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to ⁠⁠https://www.liquid-iv.com/⁠⁠ and use code WEIRDEST at checkout.

Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to ⁠⁠https://Quince.com/weirdest⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Open your account in 2 minutes at ⁠https://chime.com/WEIRDEST⁠. Chime. Feels like progress.

No matter how you say it, don’t overpay for it. Shop data plans at ⁠https://MINTMOBILE.com/weirdest⁠

Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to ⁠⁠https://www.Zocdoc.com/WEIRDEST⁠⁠ to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
1h 1min
May 07, 2025Time Balls, Bug Culture, Traffic Mimes
Balint Kacsoh of SciAnts_Streams joins the show today to talk about how flies have their own sort of culture. Plus, Jess hops behind the mic to discuss mimes mocking traffic offenders, and Rachel divulges the story of London's legendary timekeepers.
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
Rachel now has a Patreon, too! Follow her for exclusive bonus content: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/RachelFeltman⁠
Link to Jess' Twitch: ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn⁠
Link to Balint's Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/sciants_streams
--
Follow our team on Twitter
Rachel Feltman: ⁠www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman⁠
Produced by Jess Boddy: ⁠www.twitter.com/JessicaBoddy⁠
Popular Science: ⁠www.twitter.com/PopSci⁠
Theme music by Billy Cadden: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq?si=5VF2r2XiQoGepRsMTBsDAQ⁠

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Open your account in 2 minutes at https://chime.com/WEIRDEST. Chime. Feels like progress.

Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to ⁠https://Quince.com/weirdest⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

No matter how you say it, don’t overpay for it. Shop data plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/weirdest

Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to ⁠https://www.liquid-iv.com/⁠ and use code WEIRDEST at checkout.
Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to ⁠https://www.Zocdoc.com/WEIRDEST⁠ to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
51min
April 23, 2025Rat Sommeliers, Pneumatic Tube Flirting, Why Periods Hurt
Kate Downey joins the show to explain how little we actually know about why periods hurt so dang bad. Plus, Rachel divulges how to flirt using tubes, and Laura talks about the cutest, sweetest little rat sommeliers.

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
Rachel now has a Patreon, too! Follow her for exclusive bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/RachelFeltman
Link to Jess' Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn
--
Follow our team on Twitter
Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman
Produced by Jess Boddy: www.twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci
Theme music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq?si=5VF2r2XiQoGepRsMTBsDAQ

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to https://www.liquid-iv.com/ and use code WEIRDEST at checkout.
Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to https://Quince.com/weirdest for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://www.Zocdoc.com/WEIRDEST to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
56min
April 09, 2025The Poison King, the Seismic DONK, Contagious Peeing
Trace Dominguez joins the show to explain just how inconceivable building up an immunity to iocane powder (or other poisons) is. Sara Kiley also discusses unidentified seismic objects, and Rachel talks about how peeing together transcends species.

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
Rachel now has a Patreon, too! Follow her for exclusive bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/RachelFeltman
Link to Jess' Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn
--
Follow our team on Twitter
Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman
Produced by Jess Boddy: www.twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci
Theme music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq?si=5VF2r2XiQoGepRsMTBsDAQ

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Get Started today at https://chime.com/WEIRDEST. Chime. Feels like progress.
Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to https://Quince.com/weirdest for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://www.Zocdoc.com/WEIRDEST to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
57min
March 26, 2025Space Squirrels, the Most Beautiful Youth, Glass Brains
John Green joins the show to talk about how Everything is Tuberculosis -- which is coincidentally the name of his new book. Plus, Lauren talks about sending squirrels into space, and Rachel explains how brains can (very rarely) turn to glass.

Check out John's new book: https://everythingistb.com/

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
Rachel now has a Patreon, too! Follow her for exclusive bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/RachelFeltman
Link to Jess' Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn
--
Follow our team on Twitter
Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman
Produced by Jess Boddy: www.twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci
Theme music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq?si=5VF2r2XiQoGepRsMTBsDAQ

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Get an additional 20% OFF the @honeylove Holiday sale by going to https://honeylove.com/WEIRDEST #honeylovepod
If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/weirdest
Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to https://Quince.com/weirdest for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
1h 8min
March 12, 2025Roman Water Fights, Pet Squirrels, Perpetual Pre-Singing
Vinny Thomas joins the show to talk about Victorian-era pet squirrels. Jess hops behind the mic to discuss filling the Roman colosseum with water, and Rachel unravels how chewing gum can stop us from "pre-singing."

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
Rachel now has a Patreon, too! Follow her for exclusive bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/RachelFeltman
Link to Jess' Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn
--
Follow our team on Twitter
Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman
Produced by Jess Boddy: www.twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci
Theme music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq?si=5VF2r2XiQoGepRsMTBsDAQ

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Make progress towards a better financial future with Chime. Open your account in 2 minutes at https://chime.com/WEIRDEST. Chime. Feels like progress.
Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to https://Quince.com/weirdest for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/weirdest

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
58min
February 26, 2025Surfing Bats, Deep Sea Bologna, Environmental Trolley Problem
Lauren Leffer joins the show to explain how silver carp are creating an environmental trolley problem. Plus, Laura divulges the story of the surfing bat, and Rachel talks about scientists that ate an ancient bologna sandwich.

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
Rachel now has a Patreon, too! Follow her for exclusive bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/RachelFeltman
Link to Jess' Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn
--
Follow our team on Twitter
Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman
Produced by Jess Boddy: www.twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci
Theme music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq?si=5VF2r2XiQoGepRsMTBsDAQ
Thanks to our Sponsors!
Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to https://Quince.com/weirdest for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://www.Zocdoc.com/WEIRDEST to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.
If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/weirdest

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
1h
February 12, 2025Hockey English, Lasagna Power, How to Find the Light
Paleontologist and writer Riley Black joins the show to talk about a plant mystery. Plus, Amanda talks about turning your leftover lasagna into a power source, and Rachel discusses Letterkenny and "hockey English."

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
Rachel now has a Patreon, too! Follow her for exclusive bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/RachelFeltman
Link to Jess' Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn
--
Follow our team on Twitter
Rachel Feltman: www.twitter.com/RachelFeltman
Produced by Jess Boddy: www.twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Popular Science: www.twitter.com/PopSci
Theme music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq?si=5VF2r2XiQoGepRsMTBsDAQ

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Get started today at https://chime.com/WEIRDEST Chime. Feels like Progress.
Get an additional 20% OFF the @honeylove Holiday sale by going to https://honeylove.com/WEIRDEST! #honeylovepod
Give yourself the luxury you deserve with Quince! Go to https://Quince.com/weirdest for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
...more
47min

FAQs about The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week:

How many episodes does The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week have?

The podcast currently has 205 episodes available.

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