The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

By Popular ScienceSociety & Culture Science Education

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Typical duration
45 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week episodes

November 06, 2024 Cheesy Mummies, Ant Farmers, When Superstitions Actually Help
Laura Krantz returns to Weirdest Thing to talk about the power of superstitions. Plus, Laura Baisas explains ants literally farming, and Rachel talks about mummy cheese.
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 Up to 50% OFF @honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/WEIRDEST #honeylovepod
Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at https://MINTMOBILE.com/weirdest
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54 min
October 23, 2024Old Bay's Secret History, Midwestern Hells, Mad Gasser of Mattoon
Ologies' Alie Ward hops on Weirdest Thing this week to divulge the incredible underdog story of the guy who created Old Bay. Jess returns to talk about how Chicago and the greater Midwest has been suffering from corn sweat, and Rachel explains the (literally) hysterical story of Mattoon's mad gasser.
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!
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at: https://BetterHelp.com/WEIRDEST
Get cozy in Quince's high-quality wardrobe essentials. 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
57 min
October 09, 2024Why Hammerheads are "Like That," Cartoon Crush Psychology, Entering the Vulture Dimension
Shark scientist Jasmin Graham joins the show to talk hammerheads. Plus, Amanda explains why your crush on a fictional character is actually ok, and Rachel goes in on saving the vultures.
Here's Rachel's Libro link! https://libro.fm/membership?mp=SWITCH&rf_code=lfm417490
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 @honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/WEIRDEST #honeylovepod
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at https://BetterHelp.com/WEIRDEST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
55 min
September 25, 2024 Secrets in a Silk Dress, Mice Afraid of Men, Crawfish Clone Overlords
Andy "River" Peterson joins the show to talk about our future crustacean matriarchal overlords. Plus, Amanda discusses mice afraid of men, and Rachel unravels secret codes hidden in a silk dress.
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 switching seasons a breeze with Quince's high-quality closet essentials. 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
54 min
September 11, 2024Literal Treasure You Can Hunt For Right Now, A Nuanced Blue, Manhattants
Jon Collins Black joins the show to talk treasure hunting. Plus, Laura explains why the color blue is very nuanced, and Rachel talks about local ants living in Manhattan.
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 @honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/WEIRDEST #honeylovepod
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at: https://BetterHelp.com/WEIRDEST
Make your fall finances a little greener by working towards your financial goals with Chime! Open your account in just 2 minutes at https://Chime.com/WEIRDEST Chime. Feels like progress.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
45 min
August 28, 2024The Forbidden Experiment, Too Annoying To Die, Bonny Clabber
This week, Danielle Bainbridge joins the show to talk a very dark, forbidden experiment. Plus, Rachel talks about milk spoiling in thunderstorms (allegedly), and Sara Kiley explains how sometimes it's better to be annoying than deadly.
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!
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at https://BetterHelp.com/WEIRDEST
Make switching seasons a breeze with Quince's high-quality closet essentials. Go to https://Quince.com/weirdest for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
Live it up this summer and make progress towards your financial goals with Chime. Open your account in minutes at https://chime.com/WEIRDEST. Chime. Feels like progress.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
48 min
August 14, 2024Dropout TV's Lily and Grant talk Presidential Possums, Napoleon's Penis, and Split-Level Toilets
Dropout TV's Lily Du and Grant O'Brien join the show, where Rachel quizzes them Dirty Laundry-style on all kinds of weird history.
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!
Right now, get 60% off at https://Babbel.com/WEIRDEST
Get 20% OFF @honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/WEIRDEST! #honeylovepod
Keep track of what’s important with Tile. Visit https://Tile.com today and use code WEIRDEST to get 15% off all Tiles.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1 hr 11 min
July 31, 2024Surgery For Ants, Hot Sharks, Too Many Galaxies
Astrophysicist and folklorist Moiya McTier rejoins the show to talk about how there are too many galaxies out there. Plus, Sara Kiley talks about sharks of yore and Rachel explains how ants are becoming little mini surgeons.
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!
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at https://BetterHelp.com/WEIRDEST
Get 20% OFF @honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/WEIRDEST! #honeylovepod
Make switching seasons a breeze with Quince's high-quality closet essentials. 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
54 min
July 17, 2024 Olympic Tug-o-War, Leaping Leeches, Card-Carrying Women
Rose Eveleth joins the show to talk about chromosome testing in the Olympics. Plus, Claire returns to talk elite tug-o-war, and Rachel talks about the leech that can fly.
Listen to Rose's new show, Tested: https://link.chtbl.com/js0J2gTx
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

Get 20% OFF @honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/WEIRDEST! #honeylovepod

Keep track of what’s important with Tile. Visit https://Tile.com today and use code WEIRDEST to get 15% off all Tiles.

Live it up this summer and make progress towards your financial goals with Chime. Open your account in minutes at https://www.chime.com/WEIRDEST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1 hr 12 min
July 03, 2024Pointy-Headed Vikings, Apocalypse Popularity, Perfect Prism Poops
Dr. Jessica Ware from the American Museum of Natural History joins the show to talk about the most perfectly shaped poo. Plus, Laura talks about being popular in the apocalypse, and Rachel explains why some Vikings and other folks had especially pointy heads.
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!
Right now, get 60% off at https://Babbel.com/WEIRDEST
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at https://BetterHelp.com/WEIRDEST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1 hr 3 min

About The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

From the publisher's feed

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.