Hector the Tickle Robot, Eyeball Teeth, a Little Bit of ~Spice~ (and Neuroscience)
Author and food historian Priya Mani joins the show to talk about the neuroscience of spice. Plus, Laura explains why whales have teeth on t...
Radio and PodcastLive Radio & PodcastsScience & Medicine
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week
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 w...
Episodes
20 of 236 episodesPantone-deaf, Naked Mole Rat Perfume, a Berry of Many Names
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 Full...
Literal Love Languages, Royal Dog of Madagascar, King Tut’s Undies
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 t...
Boob Backwash, Nighttime Radio Secrets, 10 Toes Down on Tommy
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, ra...
The Greatest Con in Mushroom History, Secret Weapon: Normal Dogs, a Bee's Benis
Bee scientist Kit Prendergast joins the show to talk about... well... the birds and the bees. Plus, Rachel explains how portobello (portabel...
Fallout Shelter Fads, The Library of Cocaine, Mosquito Nepobaby
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, Lau...
Creativity is Crumbling, Sarcophagus Juice Sourdough, Mycelium Mutual Aid
Pattie Gonia joins the show to talk about how secret networks of underground fungi are basically like nature's mutual aid. Plus, Moiya McTie...
Marie Antoinette Wearing Braces, Secret Immortal Cells, Chasing the Tooth Worm
Hari Kondabolu and Priyanka Wali join the show to talk about cells taken secretly and unethically... but ended up changing human health fore...
We Did it Joe (Pilates), They Did Surgery on a Cocaine Hippo, Steinbeck Digs Deep (Literally)
Ben Lillie joins the show to talk about John Steinbeck doing very in-character things on a scientific expedition out on the open ocean. Plus...
A Musical Secret Weapon, Low Cortisol Beakmaxxing, Roller Coaster Science
Dropout's Grant O'Brien joins the show to talk about all things weird roller coasters. Plus, Jess hops on to discuss how a Gregorian chant h...
Cannibal Caribou, Charming Worms, Strawberry-Flavored Neutrinos
Rachel's officially back! Chanda Prescod-Weinstein also joins as a guest host. This week, they talk about self-made caribou snacks, how to c...
REVISITING Naked Founding Fathers, Jalapeño Thumb, Counting Vampires
In our final rerun episode during Rachel's parental leave, we have the oldest episode yet. It features one of Jess' first appearances on the...
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 Victoria...
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...
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 pe...
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 th...
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...
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 explain...
Vintage Antivaxxers, Horror Flick Psychology, Robin-Eating Bats
Coltan Scrivner joins the show to talk about the strange empathy of horror movie enjoyers. Plus, Sara Kiley talks about bats dogfighting and...
Footless Goose Murder, Sex in Space, Viking Sicko Mode, Sports Bra Tech
Behold: our LIVE show from earlier this year at Caveat in NYC! Rachel, Jess, Moiya McTier and Claire Maldarelli each bring a weird fact to t...