176 episodes

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.

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The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week Popular Science

    • Science
    • 4.6 • 2.1K Ratings

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

    Hyrax Heaven, Underwater Bees, Carbonated Oceans

    Hyrax Heaven, Underwater Bees, Carbonated Oceans

    Streamer and science communicator Moohoodles joins the show this week to talk about carbonated oceans on Enceladus (and the moon's recipe for life)! Plus, Jess explains her obsession with the hyrax, and Rachel talks about bees who are somehow able to hibernate underwater.
    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!


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    • 53 min
    Screaming Frogs, "Talking" Mushrooms, Nonbinary Birds

    Screaming Frogs, "Talking" Mushrooms, Nonbinary Birds

    Sociolinguist Erica Brozovsky joins the show to discuss talkative fungi, Amanda Reed chats about nonbinary birds, and Rachel gets into animal sounds—especially the ones we can't hear.
    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



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



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    • 49 min
    Traveling Barber Uprising, Rats Taking Selfies, Honeyguide Helpers

    Traveling Barber Uprising, Rats Taking Selfies, Honeyguide Helpers

    Maritime archaeologist and historian Joel Cook joins the show to spin the tale of how traveling barbers almost coordinated an uprising that could have derailed the American Civil War. Plus, Rachel talks about a very delicious mutualism between humans and greater honeyguide birds, and Sara Kiley chimes in to talk about why rats might want to take selfies.
    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



    Right now, get 60% off at https://Babbel.com/WEIRDEST


    Ask for Claritin-D at your local pharmacy counter. You don’t even need a prescription! Go to https://Claritin.com right now for a discount so you can Live Claritin Clear.


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 57 min
    Lotion Spider Brouhaha, ADHD Superpowers, Earth's Evil Twin

    Lotion Spider Brouhaha, ADHD Superpowers, Earth's Evil Twin

    Scientist and Twitch streamer Knimbley joins the show today to talk about how astronomy and Elden Ring intertwine! Plus, Jess returns to talk about lotion spiders, and Rachel explains how ADHD used to offer a real survival benefit in the olden days.
    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


    Ask for Claritin-D at your local pharmacy counter. You don’t even need a prescription! Go to https://Claritin.com right now for a discount so you can Live Claritin Clear.


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 59 min
    Freaky Eclipse Rituals, Cosmic Serendipity, Solar Mysteries

    Freaky Eclipse Rituals, Cosmic Serendipity, Solar Mysteries

    Scientific American's Lee Billings and Clara Moskowitz join Rachel this week to talk all things eclipse.
    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

    Right now, get 55% off at https://Babbel.com/WEIRDEST



    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at https://BetterHelp.com/WEIRDEST


    Head to https://FACTORMEALS.com/weirdest50 and use code weirdest50 to get 50% off.


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 45 min
    Stargazing Poop Bugs, Ancient Beer Ladies, Secret Internet Slang

    Stargazing Poop Bugs, Ancient Beer Ladies, Secret Internet Slang

    Christie Taylor joins the show to talk about dung beetles who love to stargaze. Plus, Laura explains how early beer brewers were women, and Rachel gets into weird internet language on TikTok and beyond.
    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

    Right now, get 55% off at https://Babbel.com/WEIRDEST



    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at https://BetterHelp.com/WEIRDEST


    Head to https://FACTORMEALS.com/weirdest50 and use code weirdest50 to get 50% off.


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 1 hr 14 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
2.1K Ratings

2.1K Ratings

Aolgoogle ,

Found through Jodi Piccoults book

I shall give this podcast a go!

sooty chat ,

April 26, 2023 episode doesn’t play

April 26 episode not playing in the native podcast app in the Apple iPod device. (Trying to add it to the playlist closes the app.) The topics are great. Podcast would also be great if you can go easy on the giggles, enunciate clearly, don’t talk over each other and generally slow down the delivery.

Edit, 05/2024:
Emphasize that the podcast host (Rachel?) needs to stop talking over her guests’ portions; especially when they are giving information of a technical nature. E.g. The hyrax classification question the guest was clarifying was totally lost due to this.

StarSharon ,

Interesting to listen to

This podcast is very interesting. Each episode is well written and well researched. I wish the three hosts were not so silly. The hosts can sound very juvenile at times.
Update: The subject matter is still interesting but the silliness and constant laughter is worse. The podcast reminds me of a slumber party sometimes. It's a shame because I love weird science. The hosts and guests are smart but their behaviors are getting in the way of the content I'm trying to hear.

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