Popular Science. Demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872.
What makes a place seem ‘haunted’?
Psychology, setting, and the power of suggestion all help make certain places feel more spooky.
These freaky fish use their forehead teeth to have better sex
Plus landmine-detecting rats and other weird things we learned this week.
Rachel Feltman
At Popular Science, we report and write dozens of 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.
Ultra-endurance athletes can burn up to 8,000 calories per day
A ‘metabolic ceiling’ still keeps the body in check, even when running hundreds of miles at a go.
Robot hands are becoming more human
From Boston Dynamics’ three-fingered Atlas bot to Figure’s five-digit model.
Deep sighs are not only satisfying—they’re healthy
Those deep breaths can really help your lungs.
Freeing captive bears from Armenia’s backyards and basements
Rescuers are removing Syrian brown bears from hellish conditions in private homes and businesses and bringing them to a rehab center.
The coolest new iPhone Messages features
From custom backgrounds to polling your friends to quick translations.
Ants ‘social distance’ during a pandemic
The insects build differently when exposed to a pathogen.
OceanGate’s ‘Titan’ went on 7 dives with a damaged hull before implosion
Investigators found that the submersible’s exterior featured ‘multiple anomalies’ as early as 2022.
Why foods like Dubai chocolate go viral
Psychologists break down how the treat delights our brain and our tastebuds.
Popular Science Cover Art Store
Own a piece of science history.
Browse all coversPopular Science has been demystifying the worlds of science and technology since 1872. We explain the inner workings of the phone in your pocket, explore world-changing innovations, and examine everything from the marvels of deep space to the secret lives of staples like bread. We deliver an engaging, approachable, and inclusive look at emerging technologies and scientific advances.
Daily, Popular Science unpacks the science behind the top current new stories, dissects the latest technology and digital trends, and helps readers live smarter, safer, and happier through clever DIY projects.
Meet the team
Our writers and editors