Explore every episode of the podcast This Week I Learned

This week I learned that a murder of crows has a soft side, that the Vatican paints its walls with milk, that in 1975 all of Iceland's women went on strike, and that mountain climbing can cause you to go temporarily insane.

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This week I learned the tasty way to kill the bacteria on your ice, why you should play Super Mario into your old age, that it's illegal to take a photo of the Eiffel Tower at night, and that our atmosphere is constantly protecting us against meteoroids.

This week I learned the badass way that evolution is helping dolphins fend off unwanted males, that the placebo effect has an evil twin, that Nazis once stole an entire room made of amber, and that radioactive pigs are wandering Central Europe.

This week I learned why you no longer need to fear the spoiler, that parents' have a gender bias when it comes to their kids, the psychology of why we find clowns so creepy, and that stress causes us to lose sight of other dangers.

This week I learned good moods can boost the effective rate of the flu vaccine, the benefits of identifying your cat's personality, about an extinct frog with a jaw strength to rival a lion's, and that some doctors in the 1920s prescribed death-defying airplane rides as cures for illness.

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This week I learned that getting emotional after failure is a good thing, that cargo ships out in the open ocean are influencing the weather, why giraffes really have those long necks, and that there is a town in Alaska where bald eagles are so plentiful they're a community nuisance.

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This week I learned there's nothing mystical about your out-of-body experience, that we're consuming an alarming amount of plastic, that women were also Viking warriors, and that chocolate was once medicinal.
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This week I learned just how powerful a coffee craving can be, that swordfish heat their eyeballs to hunt in cold water, that wild dogs vote by sneeze, and that Haagen-Dazs isn’t the least bit Danish.

This week I learned that starfish are murderous creatures, how companies can 'own' colors, that scientists are getting fish addicted to drugs to help humans, and that surgeons performed a medical miracle with the help of a saxophone.

This week I learned your brain can predict the future, that taking photos won't rob you of the moment, why astronauts can't have fresh bread in space, and that there's one type of snake venom that hasn’t changed in 10 million years.

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This week I learned that eating too late could make you more sensitive to the sun, that humans and mammals bold hold their babies to the left, that Walt Disney made a ton of propaganda films during World War II, and why measuring sound is different in water and air.
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This week I learned it might just be possible to learn while you sleep, how the tongue keeps all those tastes straight, that bees understand the concept of zero, and that drugs in sports was once a celebrated part of an athlete's training.

This week I learned that your dog is a nerd, the trick to learning a new skill faster, the tragic reason Canada gives Boston a Christmas tree every year, and that whales also exfoliate their skin.

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This week I learned there's hope for nighttime smartphone addicts yet, that talking to yourself in the third person can instantly reduce stress, even babies know who's boss, and that the Mona Lisa skyrocketed to fame after being stolen from the Louvre in 1911.

I'm on vacation this week! So, I'm sharing some of my favorite discoveries from previous weeks: why airplane food is so bland, the science behind your attractiveness to mosquitoes, why you can stop using soap in the shower, and that some sharks are shy.

This week I learned that it would be surprisingly difficult to sterilize the planet, most of our DNA is thankfully useless, women used to be the ones who brewed all of the beer, and that taking a shower can cache your mind.
Read more about the facts mentioned: TheWeek.com/Podcasts

This week I learned the gruesome way praying mantises are coming for your hummingbirds, the science behind a frog's tongue, grandparents helped us survive in the wild, and that deep-sea dwelling coral make their own sunlight to survive.

This week I learned your sense of smell affects how your body deals with calories, that being forgetful is good for the brain, that frogs are master survivors, and that Betty Crocker doesn't exist.

This week I learned your phone is draining your brain just by being around you, blinking is like a teeny tiny nap for your brain, that female vampire bats form tight friendships, and our obsession with avocados traces back to a California mailman.

This week I learned that puppies might be the key to a loving marriage, why heat can ground airplanes, that clownfish are exceptionally dutiful dads, and that the annual mass death of wildebeests during their migration is actually an essential part of the ecosystem.

This week I learned that a low-carb diet may be influencing how you make decisions, why Spaniards eat so late, that there’s a species of pine tree that grows at an angle, and why you shouldn’t use the word 'gypped.'

This week I learned that the invention of the seat belt has a dark origin story, that ravens can keep a grudge, and that there’s a simpler way to wash your hands.

This week I learned why airplanes are flying slower than ever, that mushrooms make it rain, why repeating words renders them useless, about the most villainous spider web in nature.

This week I learned that our stone-age female ancestors were strong as hell, that turtles breathe through their butts during the winter, that cuddling can change your genetics, and your perception of how much exercise you get can affect your longevity.

This week I learned why you shouldn't dare try the hottest chili, that your brain starts to eat itself when you're sleep deprived, why I (and maybe you?!) get an itchy throat when eating some fruits and veggies, and how flamingos balance so elegantly.

This week I learned medieval villagers went to extreme measures to protect themselves from a zombie apocalypse, that happy memories can alleviate stress, that orangutans breastfeed for nearly a decade, and that barbers used to be considered your best shot at a dentist.

This week I learned your smile is aging you, that the language you speak changes your perception of time, about the badass lady pirates of the 18th century, and why stripes mess with our brains.

This week I learned that having a squirrel as a pet was once wildly popular, that you should stop complaining at work, that NASA is running out of spacesuits, and why we wrinkle in the bath.

This week I learned female dragonflies have to go to extremes to avoid male suitors, that placebos can mend your broken heart, your dog can 'catch' your emotions, and that there’s a new space phenomenon stumping scientists called 'Steve.'

This week I learned that businessmen could fly in men-only flights, that the look of disgust has evolutionary value, about a new species of shrimp that kills its prey with sound, and why two lions went on a human-eating spree more than 100 years ago.

This week I learned there's a better way to tie your shoes, that new Supreme Court justices have special humbling duties, that women were recently forbidden from wearing pants on the Senate floor, and your baby would benefit from having a dog.

This week I learned that going to watch atomic bomb tests was once a mini tourism industry, that we're not sleeping because our brain doesn't think we're tired, that it doesn't always pay to be smart in the wild, and that loneliness affects your cold symptoms.

This week I learned why some people walk in their sleep, that leaves could one day heal our hearts, that not so long ago married women couldn't get their own passports, and that emojis are not a universal language.

This week I learned the word pink used to describe a murky yellowish color, that big eyes helped ancient creatures move from sea to land, that the brains of the blind are super enhanced, and that Jane Austen faked two marriages.

This week I learned about the time America celebrate Thanksgiving twice in one year, where the wishbone tradition comes from, that gluten may not be to blame for your gluten sensitivity, and that country names aren’t at all original.

To read more about any of the facts mentioned, visit TheWeek.com/Podcasts.

And if you've come across any scientific tidbits, fascinating studies, or historical revelations that you'd like to share, email me at podcasts@theweek.com.

This week I learned that solid metal can remember its former liquid life , that living in the city changes the way you view your future, that your dog is lying to you, and why itching is so contagious.

This week I learned dinosaurs weren't all that fast, there's an ant species that doesn't appear to age, that tattoos may boost your immune system, and that you really shouldn't be drinking so much seltzer.

This week learned exactly how an asteroid would kill us, how vultures help our ecosystem, that the feeling of nails-on-a-chalkboard may be a distinct emotion, and that elephants get no sleep.

This week I learned how the good cop/bad cop routine works, that dads also go through hormonal changes after becoming parents, that fish "talk" with their urine, and that Earth has a secret hidden eighth continent.

This week I learned the sound bees make when they bump into each other, that a well-timed cup of coffee can boost your memory, that goats know their friends, and that giant pandas are FedExed back to China.

This week I learned about the Lobster War, the weird reason UPS trucks are so efficient, why whales leap into the air, and that there was once an astronaut who was allergic to the moon.

This week I learned that dogs are calmed by reggae music, that plants call for help with odor, that our oldest ancestor was a gross sack-like creature, and that pendulum clocks 'talk' to each other.

This week I learned ancient otter species were terrifyingly huge, that nicotine can neutralize a schizophrenic brain, that rituals can be a performance boost, and that the Declaration of Independence spends the night in a subterranean vault.

This week I learned the CIA spent two decades trying to harness the power of psychics, that vampires are hungry for humans now, that sharks can reproduce without mates, and that the dinosaurs died in frigid darkness.

This week I learned your appendix isn't useless, that cramming exercise into your weekends does you some good, what doomed the world's biggest shark, and that adult dogs don't care for your baby talk.

This week I learned dinosaurs almost weren't wiped out 66 million years ago, that wounds heal faster during the day, that bugs have certain preferences when it comes to your home, and that penguins have a more efficient walk than humans.

This week I learned that misinformation can actually be good for your memory, dinosaur eggs took ages to hatch, you really need to stop cleaning your ears, and cash may be a public health risk

This week I learned there's a pretty good chance you consumed your twin in utero, that garlic can make you smell better, the fascinating story behind a classic tongue twister, and that reindeer eyes change colors with the season.

This week I learned our earliest ancestors brushed their teeth, the story behind one of the most delightfully bizarre photos on the internet, that doctors can detect cancer from your breath, and that we should all be taking more saunas.

This week I learned how to tell if a rat is smiling, that viruses may be evolving to go easy on women, the science of why you shouldn't go to bed angry, and the bizarre ways movie producers made it snow on their sets in the 1940s.