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
  • The Bone Collector, Threads of God, Cloacal Chamber

    The Bone Collector, Threads of God, Cloacal Chamber
    Jul 16 2025
    Scientific illustrator and Twitch streamer Liz Clayton Fuller (ipaintbirbs) joins the show once more to talk all things cloaca -- and why some birds lack them. Plus, Jess hops behind the mic to talk about the world's rarest pasta, and Rachel dives into carnivorous caterpillars that sound like WWE wrestlers. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • A New Green, THIS IS MY EVEREST, Chickens Influencing Cats

    A New Green, THIS IS MY EVEREST, Chickens Influencing Cats
    Jul 2 2025
    Actor and creator of the Brat Apple Dance, Kelley Heyer, joins the show! The squad talks about a BRAND NEW green color, cheating at climbing Mt. Everest, and a sneaky trick to make cats less allergenic. 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! 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
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    59 mins
  • Horny Bugs, Women are Stronger Than Men, Evil Monkey Backpack Trends

    Horny Bugs, Women are Stronger Than Men, Evil Monkey Backpack Trends
    Jun 18 2025
    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
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    52 mins

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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.

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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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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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