Rachel Feltman is former executive editor of Popular Science and forever host of the podcast The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week. She previously founded the blog Speaking of Science for the Washington Post.
Amid climate doom, here’s an Earth Day reminder about spectacular environmental wins
This Earth Day three environmental experts share stories about times when environmental action succeeded in saving the planet—and explain why this can be done again
‘Cocaine hippos,’ faster aging with HIV and the hidden dangers of inflammation
“Cocaine hippos,” underground bees, and fresh insights into aging and heart health
What Food Texture Teaches Us about Perception, Culture and Language
Kendra Pierre-Louis steps in as interim host and dives into the science behind why some foods—especially mayonnaise—can gross us out.
Why Headaches Remain One of Medicine’s Most Misunderstood Disorders
Migraine and cluster headaches affect millions—yet research remains surprisingly thin.
Why We Struggle to Say No—And How to Get Better at It
Why saying no is harder than it should be.
Hurricane Melissa Was One of the Strongest Atlantic Storms Ever. Here’s Why
Hurricane Melissa’s rare intensity and lasting impact reveal how storms are evolving in a warming world.
Gut Reactions to Your Favorite Halloween Candy
This Halloween discover how your candy choices can trick—or treat—the microbes in your gut.
Will American Ownership Change What TikTok Shows You?
TikTok’s U.S. spin-off could reshape its algorithm and the way culture is curated online.
Mosquitoes Invade Iceland, Earth Darkens, and Bird Flu Returns
Bird flu surges and a government shutdown collide, complicating efforts to track cases and protect flocks.
Why Pregnant People Are Left Out of Drug Safety Studies
Despite the widespread use of medication during pregnancy, a lack of clinical research leaves patients and doctors navigating treatment with dangerously few data.
Why Some Apologies Feel Hollow—And Others Don’t
The words we choose when apologizing—especially longer, effortful ones—can signal sincerity and make our apologies feel more authentic.
Global Superbugs Surge, Chikungunya Hits Long Island, and Satellites Leak Data
A new WHO report warns of rising antimicrobial resistance, and researchers uncover satellite data leaks and insect surprises.
How a Space Rock Became a Scientific Breakthrough—And a Black Market Commodity
A massive Somali meteorite containing never-before-seen-on-Earth minerals vanished into the black market, raising ethical questions about science and ownership.
A Surgeon Explains the Alarming Rise of Lung Cancer in Nonsmoking Women
Thoracic surgeon Jonathan Villena explains why early screening for lung cancer is critical—even for those without symptoms.
Nobel Prizes, COVID Vaccine Updates and Malnutrition in Gaza
The CDC updates COVID vaccine guidance and stirs controversy over childhood immunizations. And global health experts warn of rising child malnutrition in Gaza.
What It’s like to Be the President’s Doctor
A former White House physician reveals the medical realities of caring for the president of the U.S.
Chris Hadfield Imagines a Suspenseful Twist on Cold War History in His New Book
Astronaut-turned-author Chris Hadfield discusses his new thriller Final Orbit, which weaves real cold war history, space race geopolitics and firsthand experience into a gripping work of fiction.
Enceladus’s Alien Ocean, Ancient Fungi and the Flavor of Influenza
Saturn’s moon Enceladus shows signs of life-supporting chemistry, fungi may have shaped Earth before plants, and repeat COVID infections raise long-term health risks for kids.
Go Inside a Room That Lets You Hear Your Nervous System
Step into a room so quiet you can hear your own heartbeat—and your nervous system.
Why Top CDC Experts Are Resigning, and What It Means for Public Health
The former director of a CDC center reveals how political ideology is undermining science, threatening vaccine policy and endangering public health across the U.S.
Trump’s Tylenol Claim Sparks FDA Action—But What Does the Research Say?
The Food and Drug Administration plans to update the safety label for acetaminophen products, and the strongest storm on Earth this year struck several countries in East and Southeast Asia.
A Composer’s ‘Brain’ Makes Music Years after His Death
A museum exhibit in Australia lets visitors hear music generated by brain cells derived from the blood of a dead composer.
Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy with Mary Roach
Mary Roach unpacks the millennia-long effort to replace failing body parts—and the reasons that modern medicine still struggles to match the original designs.
Vaccine Policy Shift, Brain Changes in Athletes and Ants That Harness Another Species’ DNA
A revamped CDC advisory committee faces vaccine debates, studies reveal brain changes in athletes, and climate change drives deadly heat waves across Europe.