The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week
Popular Science
Show overview
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week has been publishing since 2018, and across the 8 years since has built a catalogue of 238 episodes, alongside 29 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 180 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence, with the show now in its 9th season.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 40 min and 57 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Science show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 19 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2019, with 44 episodes published. Published by Popular Science.
From the publisher
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 [email protected] 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
Latest Episodes
View all 238 episodesOn The Origin of Smooching, Mausoleum Madness, Chubby Cheetahs
Death by Trebuchet, Big Bird's Close Call, Dry Scooping Coffee
Hector the Tickle Robot, Eyeball Teeth, a Little Bit of ~Spice~ (and Neuroscience)
Pantone-deaf, Naked Mole Rat Perfume, a Berry of Many Names
Literal Love Languages, Royal Dog of Madagascar, King Tut’s Undies
Boob Backwash, Nighttime Radio Secrets, 10 Toes Down on Tommy
The Greatest Con in Mushroom History, Secret Weapon: Normal Dogs, a Bee's Benis
Fallout Shelter Fads, The Library of Cocaine, Mosquito Nepobaby
Creativity is Crumbling, Sarcophagus Juice Sourdough, Mycelium Mutual Aid
Marie Antoinette Wearing Braces, Secret Immortal Cells, Chasing the Tooth Worm
We Did it Joe (Pilates), They Did Surgery on a Cocaine Hippo, Steinbeck Digs Deep (Literally)
A Musical Secret Weapon, Low Cortisol Beakmaxxing, Roller Coaster Science
Cannibal Caribou, Charming Worms, Strawberry-Flavored Neutrinos
REVISITING Naked Founding Fathers, Jalapeño Thumb, Counting Vampires
Killer Demon Core, Victorian Theater-Kid Ghosts, Louis Pasteur's Secrets
Jess brings adef and jacksonparodi on the show this week to discuss how one sphere killed two men in a matter of days, why folks in Victorian Australia used glowing paint to transform into ghosts, and how Louis Pasteur had more aura than ever imaginable. adef on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adef adef on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/adef Jackson on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JacksonParodi Jess on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JessCapricorn Jess on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn 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 all of Jess' content: https://www.jesscapricorn.com/ -- 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 Right now, our listeners get an additional 15% off any annual membership at https://MASTERCLASS.com/WEIRDEST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
REVISITING Art Crime Doesn't Pay, Canines Cooking Meat, Eggs Gone Wrong
While Rachel is on parental leave, here's a vintage episode from our vault! Rachel, Sara, and comedian Josh Gondelman discuss dogs cooking in kitchens, chickens laying eggs inside themselves, and one of the most peculiar art heists in history. 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 all of Jess' content: https://www.jesscapricorn.com/ -- 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: Buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus at https://cargurus.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Atomic Priesthood, Space Smells Like Beef, the Power of Pee Fuel
Jess brings on science-minded friends Lindsey and Misti to discuss why space smells like a freshly opened beef stew packet, how having to pee makes you better at video games like Elden Ring, and how rituals and priests might be the solution to long-term nuclear waste warning. Follow Lindsey: https://www.twitch.tv/ohlindsey Follow Jess: https://www.twitch.tv/jesscapricorn 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 all of Jess' content: https://www.jesscapricorn.com/ -- 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 Right now, our listeners get an additional 15% off any annual membership at https://MASTERCLASS.com/WEIRDEST Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. 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
REVISITING Olympic Weirdness: Barefoot Marathons, Medals for Artwork, Pistol Dueling
While Rachel is on parental leave, here's a vintage episode from our vault! Rachel, Claire, and Sara discuss all things weird related to the Olympics way back in 2021 (when the games were pushed back a year from the pandemic). 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 all of Jess' content: https://www.jesscapricorn.com/ -- 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 Buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus at https://cargurus.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Beaver Skull Obsession, Aussie Widowmakers, Koalas Eating $#!%
WELCOME TO SEASON 10! Jess hosts the show solo while Rachel is on maternity leave, but brings on a pair of her creator friends to chat about how beavers keep wildfires at bay, koalas eating their moms' poop (kind of), and exploding Australian trees. Follow rickypeacock: https://www.twitch.tv/rickypeacock Follow MattyisTalking: https://www.twitch.tv/mattyistalking 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 all of Jess' content: https://www.jesscapricorn.com/ -- 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: Buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus at https://cargurus.com Right now, our listeners get an additional 15% off any annual membership at https://MASTERCLASS.com/WEIRDEST To get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Go to https://Quince.com/weirdest Plans start at $15/month at https://MintMobile.com/WEIRDEST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bat-Devouring Rodents, Penguin Retirement Home, Chicago "Rat" Hole
Kendra Pierre-Louis joins Weirdest Thing for the season 9 finale! She talks about the rats chowing down on bats, producer Jess Boddy explains the scientific study on Chicago's rat hole, and Rachel talks about the wonderfully heartwarming penguin retirement home at the New England Aquarium. Plus, Rachel has a very special announcement! 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 all of Jess' content: https://www.jesscapricorn.com/ -- 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