The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Weekly collection of unusual science and technology facts AI summary

Popular Science Visit website › Science · EN · 240 episodes · latest 2026-11-04

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What it is 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. 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%20Policy

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Latest episodes

Hold These Balls and Nap, Dickens’ Spontaneous Combustion, Men Don’t Know Themselves

2026-11-04 · 1 hr 16 min

Adam Conover joins Rachel and Lauren to talk about his newest standup special. The trio discuss human sexuality, faking male orgasms, napping while holding a heavy metal key and a plate, and an ego war concerning human…
Underwater Songbirds, Tea Bagging for Science, Um Yes Hello it's Spooky Lake Month!

2026-10-21 · 1 hr 4 min

Geo Rutherford joins the show to talk all things spooky lake month! Plus, Liz Clayton Fuller returns to explain how one songbird dives underwater, and Rachel talks about soiling undies... for science. The Weirdest Thing…
On The Origin of Smooching, Mausoleum Madness, Chubby Cheetahs

2026-10-07 · 1 hr 12 min

Amanda Reed and Riley Black join the show to discuss the fat American cheetah, weird mausoleum culture, and where the heck kissing came from. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share…
Death by Trebuchet, Big Bird's Close Call, Dry Scooping Coffee

2026-09-23 · 53 min

Shane Madej and Matt Real join the show from The Quizard's Pit! There's discussion of sending Big Bird to space (thank GOODNESS we didn't), a suspicious skeleton, and one writer who loved coffee a little too much. Check…
Hector the Tickle Robot, Eyeball Teeth, a Little Bit of ~Spice~ (and Neuroscience)

2026-09-09 · 1 hr 10 min

Author and food historian Priya Mani joins the show to talk about the neuroscience of spice. Plus, Laura explains why whales have teeth on their eyes (SERIOUSLY), and Rachel gets into why a tickle robot exists. The…
Pantone-deaf, Naked Mole Rat Perfume, a Berry of Many Names

2026-08-26 · 1 hr 11 min

Alexis Nikole joins the show to talk about the heinous etymology of the juneberry (if that's even it's real name...). Plus, Liz Clayton Fuller returns to explain how birds are behind Pantone, and Rachel details the ins…
Literal Love Languages, Royal Dog of Madagascar, King Tut’s Undies

2026-08-12 · 1 hr 9 min

Greg Jenner joins the show to unravel all of the secrets hidden in King Tut's undies. (Seriously. There are a lot.) Plus, Sara Kiley tells the story of the crusty white dog from Madagascar, and Rachel goes down a rabbit…
Boob Backwash, Nighttime Radio Secrets, 10 Toes Down on Tommy

2026-07-29 · 55 min

Sarah Dern and Emma Gommetz join Rachel this week to talk a trio of extra weird things. We've got babies spitting backwash into the boob, radio's biggest op being literal "night", and a gender-bending squirrel beloved…
The Greatest Con in Mushroom History, Secret Weapon: Normal Dogs, a Bee's Benis

2026-07-15 · 1 hr 18 min

Bee scientist Kit Prendergast joins the show to talk about... well... the birds and the bees. Plus, Rachel explains how portobello (portabella?) mushrooms are not exactly real. And Sara Kiley tells us how a spotted…
Fallout Shelter Fads, The Library of Cocaine, Mosquito Nepobaby

2026-07-01 · 1 hr 6 min

Ben Bradford, host of the podcast Are We Doomed?, joins the show to talk about when buying fallout shelter goods was all the rage. Plus, Laura tells us how she's related to mosquito royalty, and Rachel explains why the…

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Publisher details

Oldest episode in feed: 04/2018 · over 8 years
Typical length: 46 min
Format: Episodic Newest first, episodes stand alone

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