The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week Podcast By Popular Science cover art

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

By: Popular Science
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 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%20PolicyPopular Science Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Masochistic Trees, Lean Mean Sex Machines, Ancient Doodles

    Masochistic Trees, Lean Mean Sex Machines, Ancient Doodles
    Jun 4 2025
    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
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    55 mins
  • The Piss Current, Mucking Up Space, a Cocky Legend

    The Piss Current, Mucking Up Space, a Cocky Legend
    May 21 2025
    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
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    1 hr
  • Time Balls, Bug Culture, Traffic Mimes

    Time Balls, Bug Culture, Traffic Mimes
    May 7 2025
    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
    Show more Show less
    51 mins
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Featured Article: Go Beyond the Lab with the Best Science Podcasts for Curious Listeners


Our picks for the best science podcasts run the gamut from general scientific trivia to earth science, outer space, food, plants, the human body, and much more. They're all accessible—any listener can learn about scientific history, breaking science news, and visions for the future from these shows, which often feature interviews with a variety of interesting experts who provide valuable insight, perspective, context, and clarity.

Featured Article Go Beyond the Lab with the Best Science Podcasts for Curious Listeners
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This podcast is both delightful and fascinating, dare I say riveting. The teases make sure you stick around for the rest of the story. It’s a great pick-me-up when your day is not going your way. Have a laugh or two with the ladies of Popular Science.

So much fun!

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... but what is the obsession with poop? I feel like they spend way too much time on that.

Great weird facts...

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Awesome and always interesting. I love sharing with my coworkers. Plus, its fun to always have a random fact on hand.

Awesome!

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I think is a good concept but I couldn’t listen the full episode bc of the constant use of umm, like, anddd was a little off setting

I really like the general idea of the podcast

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