The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

By Popular Science

Society & Culture Education

What's The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week about?

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.

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LAST EPISODE

Eating The Rich, Menopausal...

12.06.2023

Divya Anantharaman joins the show to talk about the history of taxidermy dating back to Charles Darwin! Plus, Rachel talks menopausal chimps, and Sara Kiley explains how one Dutch town once literally ate the rich. The Weirdest Thing I Learned ...

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week episodes:

12.06.2023 Eating The Rich, Menopausal Chimps, Darwin's Taxidermy Teacher Divya Anantharaman joins the show to talk about the history of taxidermy dating back to Charles Darwin! Plus, Rachel talks menopausal chimps, and Sara Kiley explains how one Dutch town once literally ate the rich. The Weirdest Thing I Learned ...
11.22.2023 The Truth About Quicksand, Release the Tea Kraken, Learning Without Brains Charlie McDonnell (aka coollike on Twitch) joins the show to talk about a very British energy scandal! Plus, producer Jess Boddy does a segment on if quicksand can really suck you down into the ground like it does in the ...
11.08.2023 Taxidermy Robots, Talking to Dolphins (and Aliens), Methuselah the Fish Laura Krantz returns to discuss how talking to dolphins may help us communicate with aliens! Plus, Rachel talks about dead spider claw machines (and other robot taxidermy), and Chelsey talks about the oldest fish ever. The Weirdest Thing I Learned ...
10.25.2023 American Hippo Ranchers, Peacock Vasectomies, Leave Einstein Alone Sarah Gailey hops on Weirdest Thing to talk about how hippos almost became extremely American. Plus, Sandra explains why Miami officials are going to perform vasectomies on peacocks, and Rachel gets into the ethics of saving Einstein's brain. The Weirdest ...
10.11.2023 Ancient Tweezers, Modern Leprosy, Space Rock Recycling PopSci's Laura Baisas hops on Weirdest Thing to talk about ancient tweezers (and their accompanying screams), Rachel explains the state of Leprosy in past, present, and future, and Sara Kiley talks about tools and weapons made from space rocks. The ...
09.27.2023 Defensive Puking, Self-Cooling Curls, Zambia's Teen Astronauts Scientific Illustrator and Twitch Partner Liz Clayton Fuller joins the podcast to talk about turkey vultures, their defensive puking mechanism, and why you should thank the next one you see. Plus, Rachel explains how a head of curly hair is ...
09.13.2023 How to Survive an Apocalypse, Teeth with Secrets, Birds Who BBQ Annalee Newitz discusses how to survive an apocalypse while eating good, Rachel talks about birds using spikes as barbecue skewers (and more), and Chelsey gets into sexing skeletons. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular ...
08.30.2023 Our Swolest Ancestor, Climate Fungi-pocalypse, Terrifying Bananas Guest host Kasha Patel talks how wildfires could play a part in spreading Last of Us-like fungi, Rachel spins a yarn about how bananas can induce crippling fear, and Sara Kiley describes our buffest, beefiest ancestor ever. The Weirdest Thing ...
08.23.2023 Catch Weirdest Thing Live TOMORROW! LIVE SHOW TICKETS: 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 about all ...
08.16.2023 Bird Chess, Monkey Selfies, Crocodile Dung Birth Control Stan explains the iconic monkey selfie legal struggle, Amanda talks about how scientists got crows to stop pooping so much, and Rachel divulges many details about crocodile dung birth control. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast ...
08.02.2023 The First Constellations, Surprisingly Spicy History, Kids Find the Darndest Fossils 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 ...
07.19.2023 Butts: A Backstory, Parrot Social Media, Why We Eat Chickens 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 ...
07.13.2023 Weirdest Thing LIVE! on August 24th 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. ...
07.05.2023 George Washington: Swamp Ghost Hunter, Cockroach Chocolate, Science Scams 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 ...
06.21.2023 The Sleepiest Epidemic, Really Deep Holes, Goddess of Dirty Dishes 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 ...
06.07.2023 Ancient Enemies to Lovers, Landscape of Fear, Hoax of the Century 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 ...
05.24.2023 A Horse in the Toilet?!, Creepy Clowns, Superpowered Bug Pee 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 ...
05.10.2023 Worm Time in Whale City, Neanderthal Funk, Old-Timey Sauna Science 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. ...
04.26.2023 Science of Elden Ring, Walmart Entomology, Architectural %&@*-Measuring Contest 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 ...
04.12.2023 Eating Bog Butter, Disappearing Eels, Urinal Splashback Science 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 ...
03.29.2023 Brain Death Cocktails, Fur Seal Crimes, Fish Driving Cars 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 ...
03.15.2023 Lubed Up Chocolate, Ovaries Before Brovaries, Birds on the Moon 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 ...
03.01.2023 Deprogramming the Patriarchy, Metric Pirates, Earwax Types 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 ...
02.15.2023 'Silly Walk' Science, Trombone-Head Dinosaurs, Museum Secrets Revealed 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 ...
02.01.2023 Head Transplants, Criminal Koalas, Sneezing Sponges 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 ...
12.26.2022 A Weirdest Thing end-of-year update! 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 ...
12.14.2022 Flying Toad Butts, High-Speed Uteruses, Lemurs Picking Noses 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 ...
11.30.2022 Sex Rafts, Garbage Birds, Girded Loins, Security Geese 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 ...
11.16.2022 Evil Forrest Gump, Poopsmiths, Penis Legs 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 ...
11.09.2022 Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock and Fantastic Fungi’s Paul Stamets on Mushrooms & Mycelium 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 ...
11.03.2022 Introducing Inside Voice, A New Audiobook from Lake Bell 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 ...
11.02.2022 Birds Aren't Real, Everest Poopsicles, Actual Flying Cars 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 ...
10.19.2022 Vampire Epidemics, Parasitic Mind Control, Sasquatch Science 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 ...
10.05.2022 Knives for Hands, Gay Bombs, Bee-on-Bee Crime 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 ...
09.21.2022 Self-Destructing Octomoms, Exoplanet Adventures, Why Rats Don't Vom 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 ...
09.07.2022 Lice-Feeding Nazi Fighters, Bisexual Birds, EZ Pass Origins 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 ...
08.24.2022 An Innovative Erection, Secret Oyster Rules, Nuking Hurricanes 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 ...
08.10.2022 Human Echolocation, Extreme Pogo Sticking, Elephants Evading Poachers Welcome to Season 6, Weirdos! 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 ...
07.27.2022 Season 6 is coming SOON! 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! You can buy Rachel's book here, and find out more on ...
05.18.2022 150 Years of Moon Crabs, Blowing Things Up, and Asbestos Obsession Enjoy this super special bonus episode celebrating Popular Science's 150th birthday! 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! ...
05.09.2022 A special announcement from Weirdest Thing! 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! You can buy Rachel's book here, and find out more on ...
03.09.2022 Why Pain Hurts So Good, Growing Mutant Gardens, Emo Teen Puppies Leigh Cowart, science reporter and author of Hurts So Good: The Science and Culture of Pain on Purpose, joins Weirdest Thing for the season finale! The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your ...
02.23.2022 A Delicious Chocolate Debacle, IBS In Orbit, the Tuffy Saga This episode celebrates our latest digital issue going live! 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 ...
02.09.2022 Human Refrigerators, Poop Knives, Whacky Tongues 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 ...
02.02.2022 A Mid-Season Update 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 ...
01.19.2022 Teeny Frogs With Tarantula Bodyguards, the Science of Hair Magic, an Everlasting Lightbulb 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 ...
01.05.2022 Snake Island, Controversial Chimps, Brussels Sprout Vindication Arielle Duhaime-Ross—host of Vice's A Show About Animals and Vice News Reports—joins the show this week! The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook ...
12.22.2021 Superheated Falcon Poo, Banana Babies, Gross (But Delicious) Bug Goop 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 ...
12.08.2021 Judging Meat, Vampire Fish Invasion, the Rise of White Castle This episode celebrates our latest digital issue going live! Whose story will be voted "The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week"? The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories ...
11.24.2021 Mary Roach talks Moose Crash Test Dummies, Famous Ferrets, and Deadly Planets Mary Roach—author of incredible books like Gulp, Bonk, Spook, and most recently, Fuzz—joins the show this week! The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our ...

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