The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week Bat-Devouring Rodents, Penguin Retirement Home, Chicago "Rat" Hole
Dec 17, 2025
Kendra Pierre-Louis, a seasoned journalist formerly with Popular Science and Bloomberg, dives into fascinating tales. She reveals shocking footage of rats preying on bats, raising questions about disease transmission. Jess Boddy shares the story of a viral 'rat hole' in Chicago, analyzing its community impact while a scientific study unveils the truth behind it. Meanwhile, Rachel Feltman introduces a heartwarming penguin retirement home at the New England Aquarium, emphasizing the need for elder care among aging African penguins.
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Pilgrims Left Odd Offerings At The Hole
- Visitors left coins, holy water, cheese, Pokemon cards, and Malört at the rat hole shrine on a residential street.
- Neighbors posted a laminated sign asking people to avoid leaving food and to be respectful of children.
Modern Trace Fossil Tests Paleontology Methods
- Dr. Michael Granatoski treated the hole like a modern trace fossil to test methods used on ancient traces.
- His team measured proportions from photos and museum specimens, concluding a squirrel was the likely maker with ~99% probability.
Penguin Assisted Living Improves Geriatric Care
- The New England Aquarium opened an elder penguin habitat likened to assisted living to meet geriatric needs.
- Tailored terrain and closer monitoring let older penguins rest more and sometimes swim more comfortably.