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A colorized historical photograph of a woman in a white coat holding Simon, a black and white tuxedo cat who served as a celebrated ship's cat in the British Royal Navy. The cat wears a pink collar with a name tag, and both the woman and the cat are positioned in front of a dark window.
Cats

The tiny tuxedo cat who became a naval hero

The triumph and tragedy of Simon.

By Anne Ewbank

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Americans planted entire forests of exploding Australian trees

Plus beaver skulls and other weird things we learned this week.

Rachel Feltman

Rachel Feltman

Host

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.

Latest Articles

a hand moves pieces on a brown and black chess board
Engineering

Homemade chess board moves its own pieces. And wins.

Maker Joshua Stanley Robotics used magnets and an open source chess platform to build this unique board.

By Mack DeGeurin

A close-up photograph of a person's cupped hands holding a small, vibrant blue and green globe, symbolizing care and responsibility for the planet. The background is softly blurred, focusing all attention on the fragile Earth resting in the palms.
Climate Change

Don’t let climate fatalism become a self-fulfilling prophecy

The idea that it’s “too late” to reduce emissions fuels cynicism and despair, putting us on an even worse trajectory.

By Hannah Ritchie / MIT Press Reader

cartoon version of map
Tech Hacks

3 pro tips for using Google Maps before you even start your trip

Be prepared.

By David Nield

a hamster asleep in the gloved hand of a scientist
Biology

How hibernating hamsters could help astronauts

Special cells can repair muscles, even when some animals are dormant.

By Margherita Bassi

a fox catches a crab mid-air3rd Place Photographer of the Year 2025 was awarded to Terry Donnelly from England, UK.
Wildlife

Society of Photographers announces Photographer of the Year

Our beautiful world.

By Popular Science Team

An wide-angle, eye-level photograph of two people in full white space suits walking across a desolate, rocky landscape meant to resemble the surface of Mars. The environment is filled with reddish-brown dirt and large, jagged rock formations under a dusty, sepia-toned orange sky.
Mars

Will life on Mars require a genetic rewrite?

Microgravity, radiation, and extreme climates pose ethical and biological challenges that researchers are racing to overcome.

By Scott Solomon / MIT Press Reader

A dramatic, close-up photo of a black cat's face emerging from deep shadows. Only its large, luminous yellow-green eyes are brightly lit, staring directly forward with wide pupils that reflect a faint glimmer of light.
Cats

Why do cats’ eyes glow in the dark?

That eerie glow is actually a pair of built-in night-vision goggles.

By Clarissa Brincat

live black scorpion (Emperor Scorpion)
Wildlife

Deadly scorpions are picky about their soil

Dirt may help map where scorpions live—and potentially save lives.

By Andrew Paul

a pigeon. the bird as light grey feathers with green and purple feathers around the neck
Birds

550 pigeons rescued in North Carolina

The birds can make good pets, but only if taken care of properly.

By Laura Baisas

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Popular 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.

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