Cool Stuff Daily

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Your Poop Type Could Impact Your Health

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:30:00 -0000

How Long Poop Stays in Your Body Could Impact Your Health, Study Finds : ScienceAlert

Advancing human gut microbiota research by considering gut transit time | Gut

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Massive Sunspot Pointed Towards Earth

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:20:00 -0000

Giant sunspot on par with the one that birthed the Carrington Event has appeared on the sun — and it's pointed right at Earth | Live Science

Massive Sunspot Just Like the One That Caused the 1859 Carrington Event is Pointing Right at Earth! | Daily Galaxy

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Rats Catching Bats in the Air & Could Genetically Engineered Pig Livers Be the Future of Human Organ Transplantation

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Rats are snatching bats out of the air and eating them

Scientists keep a human alive with a genetically engineered pig liver

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When the Lungs Don't Work, Could People Intake Air Through Their ... Butts?

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0000

‘Butt breathing’ could help people who can’t get oxygen the regular way

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Anaconda - The Snake that Never Changed

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Fossils Reveal the Green Anaconda Has Been a Giant For 12 Million Years | ZME Science

Bones of giant anacondas found in Venezuela. Here's what scientists discovered when they pieced them together | Discover Wildlife

Gigantism In Anacondas Has Existed For 12 Million Years, As Seen In These Huge Backbone Fossils | IFLScience

Fossils reveal anaconda snakes have been giants for millions of years - BBC Newsround

Full article: An early origin of gigantism in anacondas (Serpentes: Eunectes) revealed by the fossil record

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2025 Word of the Year

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Rage bait takes the title as "2025 Word of the Year" for Oxford Dictionary.

‘Rage bait’ is Oxford’s Word of the Year | CNN

Rage bait named word of the year 2025 by Oxford University Press

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A Robot That Swims Through Your Bloodstream To Deliver Medication & A Gene Responsible for Mental Illness

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0000

This magnet-powered micro-robot could soon swim through your bloodstream

Scientists discover first gene proven to directly cause mental illness

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Dogs STILL Share DNA with Wolves and It Has Quite the Influence

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Scientists discover hidden wolf DNA in most dogs

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How Far Are We From Communicating with Animals?

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Scientists have almost cracked the secret language of animals. Here's what they've learned.

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The First Kiss is Older Than Modern Man & Connection Between Gray Hairs and Cancer

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

First kiss dates back 21 million years, say scientists | BBC

Kissing started 20 million years ago, long before humans existed - UPI.com

A comparative approach to the evolution of kissing - ScienceDirect

Grey hairs grow when your body shuts down cancer-prone cells, study suggests | BBC Science Focus Magazine

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New Structures Beyond Neptune Including a Second Kuiper Belt Found

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

We’ve found an unexpected structure in the solar system’s Kuiper belt | New Scientist

2nd Kuiper Belt? Our solar system may be much larger than thought | Space

"Very Old, Undisturbed Structure" May Have Been Discovered Beyond Neptune, Over 6 Billion Kilometers From The Sun | IFLScience

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Enceladus Shows Even Stronger Signs of Life

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Newly released data from both a Cassini probe mission and supercomputer data increases the chance of that life exists on Enceladus.

NASA Cassini Study Finds Organics ‘Fresh’ From Ocean of Enceladus - NASA

Supercomputers decode the strange behavior of Enceladus’s plumes | ScienceDaily

Fresh ocean spray from Enceladus reveals its strongest life signs - Earth.com

Detection of organic compounds in freshly ejected ice grains from Enceladus’s ocean | Nature Astronomy

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Still Searching for the Elusive Morning Routine for Maximum Productivity? Here's What Science Suggests

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:00:00 -0000

This is the Optimal Morning Routine, According to Science

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The Fascinating Reason Bees Replace Their Queens and How It Affects Humans

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The Surprising Reason Bees Replace their Queens

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Brain Implant that Could Help with Depression

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

A new implant that offers deep brain stimulation could help with depression for some patients.

Deep Brain Stimulation Promising for Severe, Resistant Depression - Neuroscience News

Brain implants show promise for depression treatment in new study - UPI.com

Prefrontal–bed nucleus of the stria terminalis physiological and neuropsychological biomarkers predict therapeutic outcomes in depression | Nature Communications

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Speaking More Than One Language Could Slow Aging

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

New research shows that when you learn and speak more than one language, your aging could be slowed down compared to those who only know one language.

Learning Another Language May Slow Brain Aging, Huge New Study Finds | Scientific American

Speaking Two Languages Seems to Slows Aging, Speaking Three or More Augments the Effect | Good News Network

Speaking Multiple Languages May Slow Down Biological Aging - Neuroscience News

A multilingual guide to slowing aging | Nature Aging

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First AI Model of the The Milky Way

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

The first AI model of the Milky Way that tracks over 100 billion starts individually.

AI creates the first 100-billion-star Milky Way simulation | ScienceDaily

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Chimps Share More In Common w/ Human Thinkers; Can Rationally Revise Beliefs

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Chimps shock scientists by changing their minds with new evidence

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How a Worm Brain Could Transform AI

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0000

This tiny worm’s brain could transform artificial intelligence.

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Gel That Could Replace Enamel

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Replacing your enamel has always been impossible...that is until now. A new gel could repair damaged or missing enamel.

New gel regrows tooth enamel and could transform dentistry | ScienceDaily

Goodbye, Cavities? Scientists Just Found a Way to Regrow Tooth Enamel | SciTechDaily

New Gel Regrows Dental Enamel–Which Humans Cannot Do–and Could Revolutionize Tooth Care | Good News Network

Biomimetic supramolecular protein matrix restores structure and properties of human dental enamel | Nature Communications

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Rare Toads That Give Birth to Live Young

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Scientists discover three new rare toads that "Give birth just like us".

Three new Species Of Rare Toads That Give Birth To Live Young Like Humans Discovered | IFLScience

Museomics and integrative taxonomy reveal three new species of glandular viviparous tree toads (Nectophrynoides) in Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains (Anura: Bufonidae)

New species of toads that give birth to live young discovered in Tanzania | Natural History Museum

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The Lunar "Gold-Rush"

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:00:00 -0000

We head to the moon to look at what some are considering the next "gold-rush"; however this has nothing to do with gold but Helium-3 instead.

This Startup Is Racing To Be The First To Mine Helium On The Moon | Forbes

Helium-3 Could Be the Most Valuable Resource in Space and Nations Are Now Racing to Mine It on the Moon ZME Science

Mining Company Says It's Identified Hugely Valuable Material on Surface of the Moon | Futurism

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Artificial Intelligence And The Future of Wikipedia

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 21:55:00 -0000

How AI could soon be used by Wikipedia, according to its founder

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A Common Antibiotic and Acne Drug May Help Ward Off Schizophrenia

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Common acne drug may protect against schizophrenia

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More Evidence mRNA Vaccines Are Effective In Helping to Fight Cancer

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:05:00 -0000

Cancer treatments may get a boost from mRNA COVID vaccines

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A Marvel Of Nature & New Discovery All in One

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:15:00 -0000

Scientists Found a Half-Male, Half-Female Spider in Thailand and It’s Fascinating

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Proof That We DON'T Live in a Simulation

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Physicists mathematically prove that we don't live in a Matrix world, debunking the idea that the universe is a simulation.

Physicists Just Ruled Out The Universe Being a Simulation : ScienceAlert

Physicists Have Mathematically Proven the Universe Is Not a Simulation | SciTechDaily

Mathematical proof debunks the idea that the universe is a computer simulation | Phys.org

Consequences of Undecidability in Physics on the Theory of Everything | Journal of Holography Applications in Physics

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Should We "Blow Up" The Asteroid Heading Towards the Moon?

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Scientists debate if we should blow up the "city-killer" sized asteroid that has a small chance of crashing into the moon.

NASA Scientists Consider Blowing Up "City-Killer" Asteroid Headed for the Moon

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"Teenage T-Rex" Actually New Dino Species

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 20:00:00 -0000

A smaller “teenage” T. rex scientists have been arguing about for nearly 80 years, isn't a teenager at all, it is a completely different species.

Newly discovered skeleton rewrites ‘decades of research’ over T. rex and its distant relatives | The Independent

Scientists Make Major T. Rex Discovery, Rewriting History of the Most Intriguing Dinosaur - Men's Journal

‘Dueling dinosaurs’ fossil forces a radical rethink of T. rex remains | CNN

Nanotyrannus and Tyrannosaurus coexisted at the close of the Cretaceous | Nature

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Cool Stuff Daily

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Cool Stuff Ride Home returns in November with a new name and a sharper focus. Cool Stuff Daily will run every Monday through Friday and focus on one feature story.

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Say What? Ant Queen Produces Offspring of Two Different Species + The Deadly Second Strike of Black Mamba Venom

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 21:45:00 -0000

Ant Queen Breaks the Rules of Biology by Producing Male Offspring That Are a Different Species

Black Mamba Venom Has a Deadly Hidden Second Strike

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Heading Back to the Moon, Our Quasi-Moon, & Mice and Flies Come Back to Earth

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:30:00 -0000

We are heading to space - the moon to be exact…and I mean that quite literally. Also, the quasi-moon that has been with us since the 50s and the spacecraft that returned to Earth full of mice and flies.

NASA Confirms First Crewed Mission to Orbit The Moon in 50+ Years Set For 2026 : ScienceAlert

Artemis II moon mission could fly earlier in 2026, NASA says | USA Today

Artemis II - NASA

Astronomers Say Earth Has a Newly Discovered 'Quasi-Moon,' a Companion That Shares Its Orbit Around the Sun | Smithsonian

A hidden quasi-moon has been quietly orbiting Earth for decades - Futura-Sciences

Russian 'Noah's Ark' satellite carrying 75 mice and 1,500 flies lands back on Earth | Space

Russia’s ‘Noah’s Ark’ Space Capsule Just Landed With the Creepiest Cargo Ever — 75 Mice and 1,500 Flies Inside | Daily Galaxy-MS

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Our Feline Friends May Hold Clues to Fighting Dementia + The Benefits of ADHD (yes, we said benefits)

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:49:00 -0000

Elderly cats with dementia may hold clues for Alzheimer’s

People with ADHD may have an underappreciated advantage: Hypercuriosity

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Recycled Glass To Assist in Tempering Hurricane Destruction, A Cold to Combat Covid & One Freaky Wasp

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 15:30:00 -0000

Recycled glass could help fend off coastal erosion

A cold today helps keep the COVID away

A Venus flytrap wasp? Scientists uncover an ancient insect preserved in amber that snatched its prey

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A New Approach To Generalized Anxiety Disorder + We Were Wrong About Why Ice Is Slippery

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:00 -0000

A Single LSD Treatment Could Keep Anxiety At Bay for Months

The Real Reason Ice is Slippery, Revealed After 200 years

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How Climate Change Increases Our Sugar Consumption

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:45:00 -0000

How Climate Change can cause mankind to consume more sugar and what that sugar does to our bodies.

Scientists find a surprising reason why people are eating more sugar | CNN

Study finds that in a warming world, Americans eat more sugar | AP News

The Truth About Sugar and Its Effect on Your Body | Science News Today

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The First Pig Lung Transplant In a Human Has Taken Place + A 'Dinosaur Fish' Rediscovered in Ireland

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 18:30:00 -0000

Secure your online data by visiting ⁠⁠ExpressVPN.com/COOL⁠⁠ to find out how you can get up to four extra months FREE. Gene-edited pig lung transplanted into a brain-dead patient for first time

Fisherman stunned after catching massive 'dinosaur fish' thought to be extinct: 'I nearly fell over'

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Caffeine: The Pros, Cons and Ideal Amount + Earth's Seasons Are Out of Sync (Why and What Are the Implications?)

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 13:25:00 -0000

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How the just right amount of caffeine unlocks lifelong benefits for your body and mind

Earth's Seasons Are Out of Sync, Scientists Discover From Space : ScienceAlert

Global phenology maps reveal the drivers and effects of seasonal asynchrony | Nature

Earth’s seasonal cycles increasingly out of sync « Euro Weekly News

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What Could Be Brewing in Saturn's Lakes and Catching Snakes with Robot Rabbits

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 17:30:00 -0000

Saturn’s lakes may be creating primitive cells and how Florida is using robotic bunnies to catch one invasive species.

NASA finds Titan’s alien lakes may be creating primitive cells | ScienceDaily

Robotic bunnies deployed to combat invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades | AP News

Researchers deploy 120 robots in Everglades National Park. Their mission is to help catch 20ft snakes | Discover Wildlife

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Record Breaking Solar Flight and Satellites Affecting Astronomy

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:30:00 -0000

A record breaking flight offers a glimpse of the future of clean aviation and how satellites are affecting Earth's oldest science - Astronomy.

A Swiss Pilot Flew a Solar-Electric Aircraft to the Edge of the Stratosphere | ZME Science

Astronomers Warn That Satellite Mega-Constellations Could Steal the Night Sky Forever | ZME Science

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The New "Ice" That Never Melts

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 17:00:00 -0000

The new innovation of "Jelly Ice" that never melts and doesn't hurt the environment.

Reusable 'jelly ice' keeps things cold—without meltwater | Phys.org

'Jelly Ice' Inspired by Tofu Never Melts | Gizmodo

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What's Better Than Mental Toughness? Science Weighs In + A New Celestial Body Discovered in Our Solar System

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

'Mental flexibility' is science's best predictor of lasting willpower. Here's how to improve yours

NASA's Webb telescope finds a new tiny moon around Uranus - ABC News

Uranus may have a 29th moon | Popular Science

New Moon Discovered Orbiting Uranus Using NASA’s Webb Telescope - NASA Science

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The Power of Naps + A Revolutionary New Material from NASA

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 20:00:00 -0000

Does a short nap actually boost your brain? Here’s what the science says

3D-Printable Alloy Can Take the Heat | NASA Spinoff

NASA-developed printable metal can withstand extreme temperatures

NASA-Developed Printable Metal Can Take the Heat - NASA

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A Universal Antiviral? + Toothpaste Made w/ One Key Ingredient & A New Earthquake Alarm System in AK?

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:10:00 -0000

Some People Are Immune to All Viruses. Scientists Now Want To Replicate This Ability for a Universal Antiviral

Scientists want you to use toothpaste made from hair. Here’s why

Could this new earthquake system give Alaska 50 seconds to prepare?

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Laser Weapons No Longer the Stuff of Science Fiction? + A Fascinating Discovery 30,000 Feet Below the Ocean's Surface

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Scientists say they cruised the ocean in a deep-sea submersible and came across an undiscovered ecosystem

The US Navy Just Tested a Laser Weapon That Could Change Warfare Forever

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Black Holes! The Most Massive Black Hole Merger Ever Detected & The Tiny Spacecraft that may One Day Travel to a Black Hole

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:00:00 -0000

Scientists detect most massive black hole merger ever — and it birthed a monster 225 times as massive as the sun

This tiny spacecraft could race to a black hole and rewrite physics

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Visions of the Six Million Dollar Man: Bionic Knees Becoming a Reality + Regeneration in Humans? What Can We Learn from Zebrafish?

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:00:00 -0000

This Bionic Knee Plugs Into Your Bones and Nerves, and Feels Just Like A Real Body Part

Can Zebrafish Help Human Regrow Hearing Cells?

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The Past and Future of the Moon

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:30:00 -0000

New information on how the moon may have possibly formed and our future plans for our only natural satellite.

Nasa to build nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030 - US media | BBC

NASA wants US to be the first nation to put nuclear reactor on the moon | CNN Politics

Duffy to announce nuclear reactor on the moon - POLITICO

China found something in Moon samples that shouldn't be there - Earth.com

Discovery of natural few-layer graphene on the Moon | National Science Review | Oxford Academic

Scientists Shocked by Lunar Soil’s “Magic” in Space Survival Study | SciTechDaily

Inherent lunar water enabled photothermal CO2 catalysis: Joule

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New Health Benefits of Owning a Pet and Do Dogs Actually Judge People?

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 16:30:00 -0000

New reports on the benefits of owning a dog…or pets in general and are dogs actually good at judging people?

New study reveals surprising benefit of having a dog | The Independent⁠

⁠Owning a Cat or Dog Could Boost Brain Health as You Age, Study Finds | Very Well Health⁠

⁠Do Dogs Know Who’s Good or Bad? The Surprising Truth | SciTechDaily⁠

⁠Your Dog Is Not A Good Judge Of Character. They Might Not Be Judging You At All | IFLScience⁠

⁠Do dogs form reputations of humans? No effect of age after indirect and direct experience in a food-giving situation | Animal Cognition

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Reconstructing the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Mars Isn't Round & How Lemurs Can Help Humans with Inflammation

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Scientists Discover Mars Isn’t Round

Reconstructing the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Lemurs age without inflammation—and it could change human health forever

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The Extinct Moa Could Return with Help from Peter Jackson

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:15:00 -0000

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An extinct giant bird may be coming back thanks to the help of a movie director.

Peter Jackson joins Colossal Biosciences to resurrect New Zealand's moa bird from extinction | AP News The moa, a giant, flightless bird, is next target for de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences | CNNContact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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The Benefits of Silencing Your Phone and Third Interstellar Object Discovered

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 22:10:00 -0000

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How silencing your phone can help with work and your personal life, plus, the third interstellar object ever discovered is flying through our solar system.

"Silent mode" phone users share similar psychological traits - Earth.com

silent phone benefits: If your phone’s always on silent, you might have these hidden psychological traits - The Economic Times

Frontiers | Effectiveness of mobile mindfulness training on stress, burnout, and work engagement of office workers: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

It's Official: NASA Confirms New Interstellar Object Is Zooming Through Solar System : ScienceAlert

NASA spots mysterious interstellar object in our solar system

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Virtual Forest Bathing Benefits & Very Plastic Problem Causing Premature Death (Not So Cool)

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 21:45:00 -0000

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Heart disease deaths worldwide linked to chemical widely used in plastics

Multisensory VR forest reboots your brain and lifts mood—study confirms

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Cough Medicine To Ward Off Dementia? & The Multivitamin Myth

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 17:00:00 -0000

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Cough medicine turned brain protector? Ambroxol may slow Parkinson’s dementia

⁠The great multivitamin myth: Why the pills could be harming your immune system⁠

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Killer Whales Gifting Fish to Humans & The First Commercial Space Station Has Nearly Arrived

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 21:12:00 -0000

Why do killer whales keep handing us fish? Scientists unpack the mystery

The first commercial space station is nearly here. And it could change space forever

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The Footprints Rewriting American History & Is Dairy REALLY Causing Your Bad Dreams?

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Buried for 23,000 years: These footprints are rewriting American history

Is cheese secretly fueling your nightmares? Science weighs in

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Can Vagus Nerve Stimulation Legitimately Treat Depression? & A Coastline Restoration Project Gone Wrong

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:55:00 -0000

Why protecting your vagus nerve is key to optimal mental health

China’s massive coastal restoration project could backfire

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We've Finally IMAGED a Planet Outside Our Solar System, Is Africa Splitting Apart? & Robots That Fly Into and Clear Your Sinuses

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 20:00:00 -0000

The James Webb telescope just found a planet by actually ‘seeing’ it

A giant pulse beneath Africa could split the continent — and form an ocean

Swarms of tiny robots could go up your nose, melt the mucus and clean your sinuses

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Printing Houses on Mars, Hydrogen Fuel Production Increase, and Chinese Satellite Competes with Starlink

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Researchers create a system to 3-D print houses using fungi and bacteria on Mars without the help of astronauts, a breakthrough that increases the production of hydrogen fuel from solar electricity, and a Chinese satellite that is competing with Starlink.

Martian dust to dream homes: How microbes can build on the red planet | ScienceDaily Sunlight-Powered Catalyst Supercharges Green Hydrogen Production by 800% | Good News Network How 'Groundbreaking' Chinese Satellite Compares With Starlink | Newsweek China Strikes Hard: Chinese Satellite Pulverizes Starlink With a 2-Watt Laser 36,000 KM From Earth | Daily Galaxy NASA’s Voyager Was Not The First Mission Fast Enough To Leave The Solar System | IFLScience

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Plastics in our Agricultural Sites, The Dangers to Recycling Some Plastics & AI's Biological Threat

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:15:00 -0000

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Recycled plastic is a toxic cocktail: Over 80 chemicals found in a single pellet

AI Could Help You Build a Virus. OpenAI Knows It — and It’s Worried

Scientists make concerning discovery after studying farmland soil:

'Highlights the urgent need for coordinated scientific and regulatory efforts'
Microplastics are 'silently spreading from soil to salad to humans'

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A Mosquito-Sized Drone, Orcas' Skin-Care Routine & a TikTok Trend You Should NOT be Attempging

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:00:00 -0000

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China’s New Mosquito Drone Could Probably Slip Through Windows and Spy Undetected

Killer whales filmed using tools for the first time – and scientists are stunned

'Your rectum isn't designed for coffee': A very serious doctor probes TikTok's new enema trend | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Coffee Enema: Benefits, Risks, and More

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One-Light Day Away and Ultra Rare Blood Type Discovered

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:45:00 -0000

The first man-made craft that will reach one-light day away from Earth and the rare blood type that was discovered, which only one person in the world is recorded to have.

In November 2026, NASA's Voyager Spacecraft Will Become First Human-Made Object Ever To Reach A Light-Day From Earth | IFLScience

NASA’s Voyager 1 Is Set to Shatter Space Records – Becoming the First Object to Travel a Light-Day From Earth!

French scientists discover new blood type in Guadeloupe woman - CBS News

French Scientists Discover New Blood Group - Newsweek

Discovery Of Blood Types: When Were Blood Types Discovered?

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DARPA's Wireless Energy Project and Parker Space Probe's Final Flyby of the Sun

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 17:00:00 -0000

DARPA breaks the record for sending energy wireless...and makes popcorn doing it and the Parker Space Probe made its third and final close approach to the Sun and what we learned from this mission.

DARPA program sets distance record for power beaming | DARPA DARPA Just Beamed Power Over 5 Miles Using Lasers and Used It To Make Popcorn | ZME Science DARPA's wireless laser power relay sets new distance record | New Atlas NASA Spacecraft ‘Touches Sun’ For Final Time In Defining Moment For Humankind | Forbes NASA’s Parker Probe Just Made Its Final Epic Journey to the Sun | Daily Galaxy Magnetic Reconnection–driven Energization of Protons up to ∼400 keV at the Near-Sun Heliospheric Current Sheet - IOPscience Connect with us - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Bronze Age Iron Work, Plastic That Dissolves in Water, Profound Brain Health Discovery

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:30:00 -0000

A new discovery with Bronze Age treasure - Meteorite Iron used to create items before the iron age, Japanese scientists invent plastic that dissolves in water and a new discovery that could have a profound impact on brain health.

Strange Metal From Beyond Our World Spotted in Ancient Treasure Stash : ScienceAlert
Bronze Age 'treasure' was crafted with extraterrestrial metal | Live Science

This Plastic Dissolves in Seawater and Leaves Behind Zero Microplastics
Sugar shield restored: The breakthrough reversing brain aging and memory loss

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Dehorning Rhinos To Save Them From Poachers, A Wild New Discovery in Egypt & A New Type of LED

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:00:00 -0000

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Dehorning Rhinos Looks Brutal But It’s Slashing Poaching Rates by 78 Percent

Why Perovskite LEDs Might Soon Replace Every Light in Your Home

Luxor: Ancient tombs more than 3,000 years old unearthed in Egypt | CNN

Egyptian archaeologists discover three tombs in Luxor | AP News

Luxor Temple - History and Facts | History Hit

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Terraforming Mars; Is it Possible and Should We Try? & Thousands of Endangered Trees Discovered Preserved in China

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:30:00 -0000

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Terraforming Mars Might Actually Work and Scientists Now Have a Plan to Try It

Thousands of Centuries-Old Trees, Some Extinct in the Wild, Are Preserved by Ancient Temples in China
Thousands of endangered trees preserved for centuries inside Chinese temples
Religious temples are long-term refuges for old trees in human-dominated landscapes in China: Current Biology

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AI Proves Smarter Than Expected for Mathematicians & Frog Saunas May be Key To Preserving This Species Down Under

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 18:26:00 -0000

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At Secret Math Meeting, Researchers Struggle to Outsmart AI

Frog Saunas Offer a Steamy Lifeline Against a Deadly Amphibian Pandemic

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A Global Mystery Finally Solved, Death in Space & A Molecule to Supercharge Plant Growth

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:30:00 -0000

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First direct observation of the trapped waves that shook the world in 2023

Are We Ready for Death in Space?

Scientists find immune molecule that supercharges plant growth

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Presenting: It's All Fluff

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:45:00 -0000

Join Reggie every Thursday for his new podcast, "It's All Fluff". It is a podcast that aims to have ZERO hard news, just fun, entertaining, and interesting stories to make your week a little better.

"It's All Fluff" - Every Thursday

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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A New Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder, Infrared Contact Lenses Let You See with Your Eyes Closed, iPhones and Androids Communication Struggles Will Continue & New Details on How Lightning Forms

Fri, 23 May 2025 01:20:00 -0000

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New ketamine study promises extended relief for depression

The mystery of lightning may finally be solved

Infrared contact lenses let people see in the dark – or with their eyes closed

Apple’s iPhone Update—Why You Need To Change Your Messaging App

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Experimental Painkiller Could Be a Game-Changer, Playing "What If" with Solar Storms & Astronomers Discover Mystery Sphere in Milky Way

Wed, 21 May 2025 22:35:00 -0000

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Experimental painkiller could outsmart opioids -- without the high

The first US solar storm emergency drill did not go well | Popular Science

Our Planet Is Woefully Unprepared For A Bad Solar Storm, Says Report By NASA And NOAA | IFLScience

Mysteriously Perfect Sphere Spotted in Space by Astronomers : ScienceAlert

Astronomers Discover Sphere Teleios: A Perfect Sphere Found In Deep Space | The Lifesciences Magazine

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A Plastic Eating Bacteria Threatens Hospitals, Why Are Some Cats Orange, an iPhone Features Update & What Happens In Our Brains When Reading

Tue, 20 May 2025 20:40:00 -0000

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This Superbug Learned How to Feed on Plastic from Hospitals

Ginger Cats are Genetic Freaks, Confirms Science

Apple’s Surprise ‘Game-Changer’ Free Offer To All iPhone 13 Users Now Live

iPhone 13 Finally Gets Satellite Support With iOS 18.5 Update | PCMag

A Massive Brain Study Reveals the Hidden Work Your Mind Does While You

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Gene Editing Therapy Seemingly Cures the Incurable, Mars' Missing Water is Located & Revisiting the Stanford Marshmallow Test

Mon, 19 May 2025 17:15:00 -0000

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Infant with rare, incurable disease is first to successfully receive personalized gene therapy treatment

We may finally know what happened to the missing water on Mars

Revisiting a famous marshmallow experiment: Children more likely to delay gratification if peer promises to wait as well

New Twist on Famous Marshmallow Test: What Happens When You Add a Second Kid?

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Nanoparticle Gel Could Help Save Coral Reefs, An Update on Kosmos 482's Crash-Landing & A New Satellite Providing An Unprecedented Look at the Planet's Forests

Fri, 16 May 2025 16:35:00 -0000

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The Man Who Let Snakes Bite Him 202 Times, Your Name Could Literally Shape Your Face & Chimps Doing Their Best Neil Peart

Mon, 12 May 2025 16:45:00 -0000

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A man let snakes bite him 202 times. His blood helped create a new antivenom

Here's how your name could shape your face over time

Chimpanzees have been filmed drumming in the wild. And scientists are stunned

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Turning Lead Into Gold, T-Rex Leather Handbags, Why Mammalian Lifespans Vary So Greatly & TDIH: The First Paper Currency in the US

Fri, 09 May 2025 16:30:00 -0000

On today's episode, Scientists at CERN have successfully turned lead into gold -- a process that requires a shocking amount of speed! Another company touts its T-Rex leather handbags. How do scientists feel about said claim? Plus, researchers link the immune system to mammalian lifespan, and on This Day in History; the first paper currency in the US.

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These companies want to make hand bags out of T-rex leather. But scientists aren’t buying it

Mammal's lifespans linked to brain size and immune system function, says new study

CERN Creates Gold from Lead and There’s No Magic, Just Physics

The History of US Currency

Continentals: What it Means, History, Worth

The Paper Revolution

United States Continental Paper Currency

VIDEO: US National Archives: The Continental Dollar: How the American Revolution Was Financed with Paper Money

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The Origins of T-Rex, Rectal Embalming for Mummification, Russian Satellite Linked to Nuclear Program & TDIH: The 1902 Eruption of Mt. Pelee

Thu, 08 May 2025 17:30:00 -0000

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T. rex's direct ancestor crossed from Asia to North America

Mummy preserved with bizarre rectal embalming method discovered by archaeologists

Capable of guiding nuclear weapons, the Russian satellite Cosmos 2553 has gone out of control, experts are sounding the alarm.

Russian satellite linked to nuclear weapon program appears out of control, U.S. analysts say | Reuters

Mount Pelée begins to erupt, burying Caribbean city

Volcanoes, From Field to Lab

Dynamics and Impacts of the May 8th, 1902 Pyroclastic Current at Mount Pelée (Martinique): New Insights From Numerical Modeling

(VIDEO) They Thought They Were Safe

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Weird Wednesday: Bizarre Evolutionary Discovery, World's Largest Dog Meets World's Smallest & Seagull Boy Returns + TDIH: The First Integrated Circuit

Wed, 07 May 2025 17:30:00 -0000

Weird Wednesday brings us a strange evolutionary discovery, the world's largest dog meets the world's smallest (and it's hard not to smile), plus 'Seagull Boy' returns to defend his championship. On This Day in History, we look back at the world's first integrated circuit.

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The surprising evolution of the platypus and echidna, the weirdest animals on Earth | CNN -

In rare evolutionary event, weird platypus cousin evolved from living in water to living on land | Live Science

Bone microstructure supports a Mesozoic origin for a semiaquatic burrowing lifestyle in monotremes (Mammalia) | PNAS

A 3-foot difference didn't stop a horse-size Great Dane and tiny chihuahua from becoming friends | AP News

Watch: World's tallest and shortest dogs have puppy playdate in Idaho - UPI.com

Watch: British 'Seagull Boy' wins second consecutive gull screeching championship - UPI.com

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cy0y47zved2o

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A Massive Star-Forming Gas Cloud Close to Earth, 3 Million Year Old Tools Unearthed & TDIH: The First Adhesive Postage Stamp

Tue, 06 May 2025 17:30:00 -0000

A massive star-forming gas cloud has been discovered strangely close to Earth. Plus, ancient tools discovered in Kenya are more than 3 million years old. On This Day in History, we examine the Penny Black stamp, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, and its impact on communication.

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Massive star-forming cloud found strangely close to Earth

Ancient stone tools found in Kenya made by early humans

Researchers find 3-million-year-old tools in Kenya, showing development of human ancestors

Penny Black stamp guide

Stanley Gibbons: Penny Black

Royal Mint Museum: Penny Black

Postal Museum: The Penny Black Stamp

First Known Piece of Mail Sent Using a Stamp Goes to Auction

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A Sea Lion Beat-Keeper (Better Than Most Humans!), A Flying Squirrel Drone & TDIH: The First Female Patent-Holder in the US

Mon, 05 May 2025 15:48:00 -0000

Ronan the Sea Lion – perhaps the best beat-keeper on the planet? We’ve got the fascinating details. A new drone mimics the flying squirrel, which could be a game-changer for robots ability to navigate highly congested spaces. And on This Day in History, the story of Mary Kies – the first woman to receive a patent in the US.

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This adorable bopping sea lion can probably hold a beat better than you

This Flying Squirrel Drone Can Brake in Midair and Outsmart Obstacles

1st woman US patent holder - Mary Dixon Kies in 1809

May 5: Mary Kies Becomes First Woman to Receive a U.S. Patent

Patented Straw Weaving Technique

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Phthalates Linked to Heart Disease Death, a Portion of an Old Soviet Spacecraft is Headed for Earth & TDIH: The First Commercial Jetliner Service

Fri, 02 May 2025 17:30:00 -0000

On today's episode, a new study links phthalates to heart disease death, a portion of a long-forgotten soviet spacecraft originally designed to land on Venus is headed back towards Earth – in an uncontrolled manner. Plus, on This Day in History, the first commercial jetliner service carry's passengers from London to Johannesburg

A Soviet Spacecraft Is About to Crash Back to Earth After Being Stuck in Orbit for 53 Years

Heart disease deaths worldwide linked to chemical widely used in plastics

De Havilland Comet: the rocky history of the first commercial jetliner

7/27/1949: First Flight of the Comet 1 Prototype

De Havilland DH106 Comet 1 & 2

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Shark Skin-Like Plastic Makes Planes More Aerodynamic, Benefits or Dangers of Fluoride in Water, and TDIH - Empire State Building Dedicated

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:00:00 -0000

A plastic film that mimics shark skin may help airplanes fly a little greener and is there a benefit to fluoride in public water systems? On This Day in History, the Empire State Building is dedicated by President Herbert Hoover.

This Film Shaped Like Shark Skin Makes Planes More Aerodynamic and Saves Billions in Fuel | ZME Science Florida set to become second state to ban fluoride in public water | NBC News Two cities stopped adding fluoride to water. Science reveals what happened | Science News Empire State Building dedicated | May 1, 1931 | HISTORY President Hoover dedicates Empire State Building, May 1, 1931 - POLITICO 10 Surprising Facts About the Empire State Building | HISTORY Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Weird Wednesday: A Man in Need of Rescue TWICE on Mt. Fuji, Dirty Rain in the US & a Lost Dachshund Returns Home after 529 Days Lost. TDIH: Mr. Potato Head

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:30:00 -0000

Today's Weird Wednesday episode brings us the man who required rescue twice in four days on Mount Fuji, dirty rain hits part of the US, and a mini dachshund returns home after 529 days in the wild. Plus, on 'This Day in History,' Mr Potato Head becomes the first toy advertised on television … and specifically targeted to children.

Man airlifted from Japan's Mount Fuji is rescued again days later | AP News Student rescued from mountain twice in four days - after going back to find his phone | World News | Sky News Storm system picks up dust in New Mexico, drops it as dirty rain in New England | AP News Storm sweeps desert dust into Maine, leaving dirty cars in its wake | WGME Watch: Miniature dachshund found after 529 days in the wild on Kangaroo Island - UPI.com Valerie the dachshund found 'fit and well' after 529 days on Kangaroo Island - ABC News Watch: Pawesome pooches shred the waves at Florida dog surfing festival - UPI.com

The History of Mr. Potato Head

History Facts: The first toy advertised on TV was Mr. Potato Head

ToyDip: First TV Toy Advertisement

The Strong National Museum of Play: Mr. Potato Head

American Experience: Mr. Potato Head

Pentacrest Museums: Me and My Spuds

EBSCO: Mr. Potato Head

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Oldest Ant Fossil Discovered, Caterpillar Wears Remains of its Prey, and TDIH - First Rubber Patent

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Researchers find a 113-year-old ant fossil, the oldest ever found and the caterpillar that wears the remains of its prey. On This Day in History, the first rubber patent is issued, so we look at the history of rubber.

Researchers find oldest ant known to science—113-million-year-old ‘hell ant’ with scythe jaws | National Geographic The new ‘Bone Collector’ caterpillar wears the remains of its prey – and we have the footage to prove it | BBC Science Focus Magazine The Wonder of Rubber and the Why of History - Columbus Classical Academy | K-12 Classical Education Industries - Business History of Industries - Business History Books HISTORY OF RUBBER | Facts and Details A Brief History of Rubber Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Satellite Lucy Sends Back Images of Odd Shaped Asteroid, Tick Increase Due to Pheasants, and TDIH - Thor Heyerdahl's Journey Across the Pacific on a 'Raft'

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 17:40:00 -0000

The satellite Lucy shares intel on the asteroid Donaldjohnson while on its way to Jupiter and released pheasants may be causing a tick problem. On This Day in History,

NASA's Lucy spacecraft beams back pictures of an asteroid shaped like a lumpy bowling pin | AP News

NASA's Lucy Spacecraft Just Flew by a Strange, Peanut-Shaped Asteroid. See the New Images From the Approach | Smithsonian Magazone Lucy -

NASA Science We’re Releasing Millions Of Birds. The Ticks Are Thriving | Forbes The Release of Non‐Native Gamebirds Is Associated With Amplified

Zoonotic Disease Risk - Michels - 2025 - Ecology Letters - Wiley Online Library

Thor Heyerdahl

EBSCO: Thor Heyerdahl

“The Kon-Tiki ⛵️ A fascinating expedition by an extraordinary team.”

Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki Expedition: Across the Pacific by Raft

Kon-Tiki Museet: Thor Heyerdahl

Kon-Tiki Raft and Heyerdahl Journey

Thor Heyerdahl as World Heritage

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New Satellite Beams Ultra-Secure Internet, Evidence of Gladiator Bitten by Lion, and TDIH - First Sub to Circumnavigate the Globe

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 17:00:00 -0000

A tiny satellite, but a huge leap. Quantum-Encrypted data is beamed across the globe, ushering in a new era for ultra-secure internet. Plus, skeletal evidence of a Roman gladiator that was bitten by a lion. On This Day in History, the first submarine to circumnavigate the globe.

Tiny Chinese Satellite Sent Hack-Proof Quantum Messages 12,900 Kilometers Through Space. Is a Quantum Internet Around the Corner? | ZME Science

Skeletal evidence of Roman gladiator bitten by lion in combat | ScienceDaily

Operation Sandblast: The First Submarine Circumnavigation | Amusing Planet

1960: USS Triton’s Underwater Circumnavigation – Knowledge Spectra

This 60 Day Submarine Voyage in 1960 Tested the Psychological and Physical Limits of Crew

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How Tech Can Help with Cognitive Decline, Cicadas Are Back, Update from Yellowstone, and TDIH - The Library of Congress is Established

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 17:00:00 -0000

How technology could slow down cognitive decline as we age, and the Cicadas are back - will you be hearing them? We also have an update on the seismic experiments taking place in Yellowstone. On This Day in History, the Library of Congress is established.

Here’s the truth about your ‘digital dementia’ risk | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Cicada Brood XIV to emerge in at least a dozen states: See map | USA Today

Cicada maps show where the noisy insects will emerge in the U.S. this spring - CBS News

Hidden magma cap discovered at Yellowstone National Park - ABC News

When Was the Library of Congress Established? | History Hit

Library of Congress established | April 24, 1800 | HISTORY

Library of Congress Fact Sheet | Library of Congress

Today in History - April 24 | Library of Congress

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Using AI to Talk with Dolphins, Stuck in Quicksand...For the Second Time, and Drunk Monkeys. TDIH - The German Beer Purity Law

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Today's Weird Wednesday episode - We may be able to communicate with dolphins with the help of AI, a man gets stuck in quicksand…for the second time and gets a girlfriend in the process, and drunk monkeys share a meal. On This Day in History, the German Beer Purity Law is enacted.

Google made an AI model to talk to dolphins | Popular Science

Building an AI translator to understand dolphinspeak with dolphingemma | New Atlas

Man gets trapped in Lake Michigan quicksand, emerges with a girlfriend | The Detroit News

Watch: Michigan man escapes quicksand with no injuries -- and a new girlfriend - UPI.com

Party animals: Chimpanzees caught on camera sharing alcoholic fruit - UPI.com

Wild chimps filmed sharing ‘boozy’ fruit - University of Exeter News

Wild chimpanzees share fermented fruits - ScienceDirect

Cantanhez Chimpanzee Project – Cantanhez Chimpanzee Project

German beer: 500 years of 'Reinheitsgebot' rules - BBC News

Bavarian Beer Purity Law | Radius Tours

The Reinheitsgebot: Protective or Pointless? - American Homebrewers Association

What is Reinheitsgebot? A Brief History of Germany’s Famous “Purity Law.” - Hofbräuhaus Newport

A Brief History of the Reinheitsgebot - Buffalo Beer League

German Beer Purity Law of 1516

Is the German Beer Purity Law still in effect?

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Turning Rainwater into Electricity, Artificial Earthquakes Used to Probe Yellowstone Volcano, Our Spinning Universe, and TDIH - Washington Visits the American Circus

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Scientists claim they figured out how to turn falling rainwater into electricity, we head back to Yellowstone as artificial earthquakes are used to learn more about the supervolcano there, and our universe may be spinning. On This Day in History, the rise of the American Circus.

Scientists Found a Way to Turn Falling Rainwater Into Electricity | ZME Science

Scientists trigger Yellowstone ‘earthquakes’ to probe volcano’s depths | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Cosmic twist: The universe could be spinning | ScienceDaily

When Did the Circus Come to America? | Grateful American Foundation

John Bill Ricketts

America's 1st Circus Started In Philadelphia: Phun Philly Phacts | Warminster, PA Patch

The Circus Comes To Town- John Bill Rickets Entertains Washington | Founder of the Day

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The (AI) Cost of Being Polite, is Artificial Intelligence Getting TOO Familiar with Users, and Robots vs. Humans. Plus, on TDIH, Hans Christian Oersted Discovers Electromagnetism.

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 17:30:00 -0000

Today's episode; the cost of saying “Please” and “Thank You” in your AI prompts, AI may be getting TOO familiar with us (and it’s making some people uncomfortable), and in a race of robots versus humans - how did the robots fare? Plus, on This Day in History, Hans Christian Oersted and the discovery of electromagnetism.

ChatGPT spends 'tens of millions of dollars' on people saying 'please' and 'thank you', but Sam Altman says it's worth it | TechRadar

'Tens of millions of dollars well spent': Saying 'thank you', 'please' to ChatGPT costing OpenAI millions, Sam Altman says | The Business Standard

Experts have major warning to anyone who says 'please' and 'thank you' to ChatGPT | Tyla

ChatGPT Creeps People Out by Calling Them by Name Without Being Asked | PCMag

ChatGPT is referring to users by their names unprompted, and some find it 'creepy' | TechCrunch

Chinese robots ran against humans in the world’s first humanoid half-marathon. They lost by a mile | CNN

Robots run a half marathon, slowly | TechCrunch

TDIH: Scientist of the Day - Hans Christian Oersted

TDIH: Hans Christian Oersted

TDIH: Magnet Academy - Hans Christian Oersted

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A Planet Orbiting Two Suns in Perpendicular Fashion! Evidence of Life in a Faraway World? TDIH: The History of the Crossword Puzzle

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 19:23:00 -0000

Today's episode features a space theme with a planet orbiting two suns, a faraway world with the potential for life, This Day in History looks back at the crossword puzzle.

Weirdest Planetary System Ever? Meet the Planet That Spins Perpendicular to Its Stars

Scientists find 'strongest evidence yet' of life on distant planet

Who Invented Crossword Puzzles? Meet Creator Arthur Wynne

The First Crossword Puzzle | Mystic Stamp Discovery Center

First Crossword Puzzle Book Published

American Crossword Puzzle Tournament

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New Items Allowed on Planes, Why You Should Upgrade to Windows 11, and TDIH - A Landmark Labor Law Case is Decided

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 17:00:00 -0000

The TSA announces new items that are allowed on planes and why Microsoft says you should upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible. On This Day in History, a landmark labor law case is decided by the Supreme Court.

TSA approves 11 new items you can now travel with in any size - The Mirror US

TSA reveals 11 new carry-on items you can take at any size - here's the full list | The Daily Express

Microsoft’s Free Upgrade Offer For 500 Million Windows Users | Forbes

These Are the 7 New Reasons Microsoft Is Giving Users to Upgrade to Windows 11 | Extreme Tech

7 Tips to Get the Most Out of Windows 11 | Microsoft Windows

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Weird Wednesday: How One Dead Composer is Still Creating Music, an IVF Mixup Causes a Woman to Give Birth to a Stranger’s Baby, and a Star Wars Wedding. On This Day in History, Albert Hoffman Invents and Drops LSD

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:30:00 -0000

Weird Wednesday; How one dead composer is still creating music, an IVF mixup causes a woman to give birth to a stranger’s baby, and a Star Wars wedding. On This Day in History, Albert Hoffman invents and drops LSD.

Musician Who Died in 2021 Resurrected as Clump of Brain Matter, Now Composing New Music | Futurism

Dead composer Alvin Lucier's biological matter creates new music : NPR

Australian woman unknowingly gives birth to a stranger's baby after IVF clinic error | AP News

Monash IVF: Woman gives birth to stranger's baby in Australia embryo mix-up | BBC

Vegas chapel offering 'Star Wars'-themed weddings for May 4 - UPI.com

Little Vegas Chapel offers Star Wars-themed weddings for May the 4th celebrations | KSNV News

Flashback: LSD Creator Albert Hofmann Drops Acid for the First Time | Rolling Stone

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Giant Black Hole Awakens and Is Multitasking Bad for Your Brain? TDIH - Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 17:15:00 -0000

A giant black hole awakens and is multitasking bad for your brain? On This Day in History, we head back to the books as another important dictionary is released.

From boring to bursting: Giant black hole awakens | ScienceDaily

Why multitasking is bad for your brain, explained by a neuroscientist | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Origins of English: Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

A Dictionary of the English Language | Definition & Facts | Britannica

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language

Johnson's Dictionary Online

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Important Android Security Update, Mini Human Nervous System, and TDIH - Webster's First American Dictionary

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 17:15:00 -0000

Why the latest update for android devices is important as security threats become more of a concern and a mini human nervous system that can process pain has just been built by scientists. On This Day in History, Webster’s first edition of an American Dictionary was released.

Google’s Android Update—Bad News For Samsung And Pixel Users | Forbes

Bad news for Samsung and Pixel users: your Android could be at risk right now according to Google reports - AS USA

Scientists Just Built a Mini Human Nervous System That Can Process Pain in a Dish in World First | ZME Science

About Us | Merriam-Webster

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World's Smallest Flying Robot, Holograms We Can Touch, and TDIH - Apple 1 Introduced

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 18:00:00 -0000

The world’s smallest flying robot, holograms that we can manipulate with our hands, and on This Day in History, Apple 1 person computer is introduced to the world.

The World’s Smallest Flying Robot Is Here. It Weighs Less Than a Raindrop and It’s Powered by Invisible Forces | ZME Science

Scientists Built Holograms You Can Manipulate with Your Hands. This Is How the Future Feels | Popular Mechanics

You can now manipulate 3D holograms thanks to display breakthrough | Live Science

Researchers Develop a Hologram You Can Manipulate With Your Hands | Gizmodo

April 11, 1976: The Day Apple Changed the World with Its First Computer | YourStory

April 11, 1976: Apple I Computer Is Released | Vintage News Daily

Apple I - Mac History

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Is the Dire Wolf Really Back from Extinction? Plus, TDIH Brings Us the Statute of Anne and its Impact on Modern Copyright Laws

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:30:00 -0000

Is the dire wolf really back? We look at the facts of its alleged return. And on This Day in History, the Statute of Anne is enacted. We'll tell you what it was, and its impact on modern copyright law.

‘Return’ of the dire wolf is an impressive feat of genetic engineering, not a reversal of extinction | The Conversation

Colossal's de-extincted 'dire wolf' isn't a dire wolf and it has not been de-extincted, experts say | Live Science

The Dire Wolf Isn’t Back—But Here’s What ‘De-Extinction’ Tech Can Actually Do | Scientific American

Is the dire wolf back from the dead? Not exactly | Science.org

[ON THIS DAY] The Birth of Copyright: Statute of Anne

The Statute of Anne: The First Copyright Statute

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Weird Wednesday Features a Ridable Horse Robot, a 1.9K-year-old Roman Treasure & 100-Year-Old Parents. TDIH: Recorded Sounds Decades Before Edison

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:45:00 -0000

Weird Wednesday brings us a rideable horse robot, a rare coin found in a field after six years of searching, a missing otter update and 100-year-old (tortoise) parents. Plus, on This Day in History, recorded sound, 20 years before Edison’s phonograph

Kawasaki Shows Off Rideable Horse Robot | Futurism

Kawasaki Unveils a Rideable Robot Horse That Runs on Hydrogen and Moves Like an Animal | ZME Science

A Man Spent 6 Years Searching the Same Farm—and Discovered a 1,900-Year-Old Roman Treasure | Popular Mechanics

Rare Roman coin found in Dudley field sells for nearly £5,000 | BBC News

Galapagos tortoises at Philadelphia Zoo become first-time parents at nearly 100 | AP News

Escaped otter is home safe but zoo says her pal is still on the loose | AP News

TDIH: Origins of Sound Recording: The Inventors

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How Sleep Affects Alzheimer's, Cholesterol and Brain Health Connection, and TDIH - Venus de Milo Discovered

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 18:00:00 -0000

How your sleep may be associated with Alzheimer’s disease and your cholesterol levels don’t just affect your heart health, it may also have an impact on future brain health. Plus, On This Day in History, Venus de Milo is discovered and dug up by a farmer.

New study links lower proportions of certain sleep stages to brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease | ScienceDaily

Here's what your cholesterol levels say about your risk of dementia: new study | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Venus De Milo: The Story Behind History's Most Iconic Statue | All That's Interesting

On This Day April 8 1820: The Venus (Aphrodite) De Milo, Maybe The Most Recognizable Of All Ancient Greek Statues Was Found

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World's Smallest Pacemaker, "Natural" Ozempic Options, and TDIH - France Adopts the Metric System

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 19:00:00 -0000

A pacemaker that can fit inside the tip of a syringe and scientists discover two "natural" alternatives to Ozempic. On This Day in History, France adopts the metric system.

World's smallest pacemaker is activated by light | ScienceDaily

Weight Loss Breakthrough: Stanford Scientists Discover “Natural Ozempic” Without the Side Effects | SciTechDaily

Prohormone cleavage prediction uncovers a non-incretin anti-obesity peptide | Nature

'Natural Ozempic' can help you lose weight, prevent heart disease | New York Post

The Incretin Effect of Yerba Maté (Ilex paraguariensis) Is Partially Dependent on Gut-Mediated Metabolism of Ferulic Acid

France Adopts the Metric System | EBSCO Research Starters

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CO₂ Ocean Cleanup Plans Controversary, Paralyzed Man That Can Stand Again, and TDIH - Three Mile Island Partial Metldown

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

A new plan to absorb carbon dioxide from the ocean to fight global warming may be effective, but it is also controversial. Also, a paralyzed man that can stand again after receiving a stem cell treatment. Plus, on This Day in History, the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.

Oceans' ability to absorb carbon dioxide could be key in fighting global warming | AP News

Paralyzed man can stand again after receiving stem cell treatment in Japan | ZME Science

Three Mile Island - Accident, Nuclear & Meltdown | HISTORY

Nuclear power | Definition, Issues, & Facts | Britannica

Closing to reopening: What’s the status of Three Mile Island nuclear plant? MSN via PennLive

Is Three Mile Island Still Radioactive and Is It Operating Today? - Newsweek

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New Drug Delays Alzheimer's Symptoms, The Skeleton That Could Rewrite Pyramid History, and TDIH - Cherry Blossom Trees Planted in D.C.

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

A new drug shows signs of delaying Alzheimer’s symptoms in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease and a surprising skeleton discovery could rewrite our history of the pyramids. Plus, On This Day in History, the first cherry blossom trees are planted in Washington D.C.

Anti-amyloid drug shows signs of preventing Alzheimer's dementia | ScienceDaily

Researchers find a hint at how to delay Alzheimer's symptoms. Now they have to prove it | AP News

Strange skeleton discovery could rewrite our history of the pyramids | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Japanese cherry trees planted along the Potomac | March 27, 1912 | HISTORY

Mrs. Taft and the Cherry Blossoms - White House Historical Association

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Weird Weds: A New Study Debunks Previously Held Beliefs About a Mummy, A Video Game Stirs Frustration in Japan, Escaped River Otters & TDIH: Dr. Jonas Salk

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:30:00 -0000

On this Weird Wednesday episode; A pregnant Egyptian mummy that wasn’t actually pregnant, a new video game has led to the closing of Japanese shrines, and the missing river otters that are enjoying their freedom. Plus, on This Day in History, Dr. Jonas Salk and the introduction of the polio vaccine

'Pregnant' ancient Egyptian mummy with 'cancer' actually wasn't pregnant and didn't have cancer, new study finds | Live Science

New study debunks claims of pregnancy and cancer in ‘Mysterious Lady’ mummy | Archaeology News Online Magazine

Assassin's Creed Shadows draws attention of Japan's Prime Minister, who says "defacing a shrine is out of the question" in real life, but politicians acknowledge "freedom of expression must be respected" in the game | GamesRadar+

Assassin's Creed Shadows Is Facing Legal Action Due To Shrine Destruction

Japanese Shrine Featured In 'Ghost Of Tsushima' Announces Full Tourism Ban After An "Unacceptable Act Of Disrespect Was Committed By Foreigners"

Amid Assassin's Creed Shadows' controversies, shrine popularized by Ghost of Tsushima bans all tourists after "unforgivable act of disrespect" | GamesRadar+

NEW Zoo Reports Escaped River Otters

River otter duo escapes to explore snowy Green Bay: NEW Zoo watches and waits for their return | WFRV

TDIH: History of Salk

TDIH: The New Yorker Who Tamed Polio

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Why We Can't Remember Life as a Baby, 21-Year-Old Cured of Sickle Cell Anemia, and TDIH - Discovery of Titan

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 17:30:00 -0000

Why we can’t remember our lives as babies and a groundbreaking gene therapy cures a 21-year-old of his sickle cell anemia. On This Day in History, the discovery of Saturn’s moon Titan.

Why Can’t We Remember Our Lives as Babies? Our Earliest Memories May Still be There | ZME Science

Groundbreaking Gene Therapy Cures 21-year-old of His Sickle Cell Anemia: ‘I’m not in pain anymore' | Good News Network

Titan: Exploration - NASA Science

On This Day In History: Christiaan Huygens Discovers Saturn's Largest Moon Titan - On Mar 25, 1655 - Ancient Pages

Huygens's Contributions to Astronomy | EBSCO Research Starters

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Artificial Muscle Created for Soft and Wiggly Robots, Harvesting Earth's Rotation for Energy, and TDIH - Elvis Joins the Army

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Scientists are working on soft wiggly robots using artificial muscles and can we harvest energy from Earth’s rotation? Some physicists think they found a way to do it. On This Day in History, Elvis Presley joins the Army.

Artificial muscle flexes in multiple directions, offering a path to soft, wiggly robots | ScienceDaily

Artificial muscle flexes in multiple directions, offering a path to soft, wiggly robots | TechXplore

Physicists Think They’ve Found a Way to Harvest Energy from Earth’s Rotation — And It Might Be Just Crazy Enough to Work | ZME Science

Elvis Presley is inducted into the U.S. Army | March 24, 1958 | HISTORY

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First Images of CO2 in Exoplanet Atmospheres, Bacteria That Makes Biodegradable Plastic, and TDIH - The Closing of Alcatraz

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

The James Webb Telescope captures the first direct images of carbon dioxide in exoplanet atmospheres and bacteria that makes biodegradable plastic. Plus, on This Day in History, Alcatraz Prison closes its doors.

Webb telescope captures its first direct images of carbon dioxide outside solar system | ScienceDaily

James Webb Space Telescope Snaps The First Images of an Exoplanet with Possible Life-Giving CO₂ - The Debrief

JWST-TST High Contrast: Living on the Wedge, or, NIRCam Bar Coronagraphy Reveals CO2 in the HR 8799 and 51 Eri Exoplanets' Atmospheres - IOPscience

Scientists Just Engineered Bacteria That Make Biodegradable Plastic

TDIH: History.com: Alcatraz

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Saturn's New 128 Moons, "White Hole" Could Revolutionize Our Understanding of the Universe, and TDIH - Near-Riot Caused by an Alarm Clock

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Saturn has taken a definitive lead in the moon race as over 100 new moons have been discovered and you have heard of black holes, but the theoretical white hole could revolutionize our understanding of the universe. Plus, on This Day in History, the alarm clock that caused a near-riot.

128 New Moons Found Orbiting Saturn in Mindblowing Discovery : ScienceAlert

Over 100 new moons discovered in Saturn's orbit: What to know | USA Today

Space Scientists Discover 128 New Moons Orbiting Saturn | Physics and Astronomy - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | The University of Iowa

Black holes: not endings, but beginnings? New research could revolutionize our understanding of the universe

“The Clock that Caused a Near-Riot" | Westclox Museum

The Alarm Clock Doc

The Westclox Fiber Case Waralarm – ClockInfo.com

Westclox Waralarm Alarm Clock Style Series

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First Brown Bear to Undergo Brain Surgery, Fossils Tossed in Dump, Violating the Mary Malone Statue, and TDIH - The Standard Time Act

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:30:00 -0000

The first brown bear to undergo brain surgery wakes from hibernation, 380-million-year-old fossils tossed into the dump over an unpaid bill, and the Mary Molone statue in Dublin may be moved to stop people from “violating” it. Plus, on This Day in History, the standard time act of 1918.

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Neuroprosthetic-Robot System Restores Movement for Spinal Cord Injury, US Bird Populations Decreasing, and TDIH - Largest Art Heist is US History

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

A breakthrough neuroprosthetic-robot system restores movement in spinal cord injury patients and one-third of US bird species populations are declining. On This Day in History, the largest art heist in US is committed at artwork valued at $500 million is stolen.

Robotics and spinal stimulation restore movement in paralysis | ScienceDaily

US bird populations continue alarming decline | ScienceDaily

History’s Biggest Art Heist | HISTORY

Five Things to Know About the Gardner Museum Heist—the Biggest Art Theft in Modern History | Smithsonian

March 18, 1990: The Largest Art Heist In History - This Day of History

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Lego Tires Eco-Friendly Upgrade, Sea Levels Rise Higher Than Expected, and TDIH - The "Burst of Joy" Pulitzer Prize Photo

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

Lego is updating how they manufacture their tires to make them more eco-friendly and global sea levels rose more than expected in 2024. On This Day in History, we look back at the Pulitzer Prize winning photograph “Burst of Joy” and the truth behind the happy photo.

Lego, the World’s Largest (and Smallest) Tire Manufacturer, Makes a Major Eco-Friendly Upgrade | ZME Science

Global sea level rose faster than expected in 2024, according to NASA analysis - ABC News

NASA Analysis Shows Unexpected Amount of Sea Level Rise in 2024 - NASA

NASA dropped a new report. It's a wake-up call. | Mashable

Thwaites Glacier | Size, Potential Collapse, & Facts | Britannica

Burst of Joy: The sad story behind the iconic picture, 1973 - Rare Historical Photos

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Robotic Arm Moved by Thought, How the Brain's Cannabinoid Receptor is Linked to Stress, and TDIH - The Gold Standard Act

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

A paralyzed man is able to move a robotic arm using only his thoughts with the help of AI and how the brain cannabinoid receptor is linked to stress. Plus, on This Day in History, we take a look at the Gold Standard Act.

Paralyzed Man Moved a Robotic Arm Using Only His Thoughts Thanks to AI. It Kept Working for Months | ZME Science

Brain Receptors For Cannabis Could Be Why Some People Are More Resilient : ScienceAlert

Brain Cannabinoid Receptor Linked With Stress Resilience in Mice Astocyte endocannabinoid receptor and BBB linked with stress resilience | GEN

Astrocytic cannabinoid receptor 1 promotes resilience by dampening stress-induced blood–brain barrier alterations | Nature Neuroscience

What Is the Gold Standard? History and Collapse | Investopedia

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Psilocybin Might Repair Some Brain Damage, Ancient Fortress Found in Spain During a Solar Plant Construction, and TDIH - The Grapefruit League Name

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

How Psilocybin might help repair brain damage from mild head trauma and an ancient fortress is discover is Spain during the construction of a solar plant. Plus, on This Day in History, the crazy story of how the Grapefruit League got its name.

Psilocybin Shows Promise in Repairing Brain Damage from Mild Head Trauma | ZME Science

Construction Workers Were Building a Solar Plant—and Uncovered a 5,000-Year-Old Fortress | Popular Mechanics

Construction crew discovers ancient fortress while building solar plant | USA Solar Cell

Wilbert Robinson caught grapefruit from a plane | MLB.com

This Day In Sports: Wilbert Robinson Tries To Catch A Low-Flying Grapefruit - ESPN - SportsCenter.com- ESPN

On This Date in Sports March 13, 1915: Catch the Grapefruit | Barstool Sports

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Good Night's Sleep Benefits for All Ages, The Royal Shrovetide Game in England, Bathroom Misconduct Cause Flight Issues, and TDIH - FDR's "Fireside Chat"

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

The importance of sleep for all ages and the health benefits a good night's sleep provides, the interesting rivalry game that takes place in England, and a long flight diverted due to bathroom misconduct. Plus, on This Day in History, FDR’s first “fireside chat” during the Great Depression.

Quality sleep speeds up kids' concussion recovery - UPI.com

Poor sleep drives high blood pressure In teens, study indicates - UPI.com

Sleepy nurses vulnerable to common cold, other infections - UPI.com

Royal Shrovetide is a wild ancient version of soccer still played today | AP News

Down'Ards win Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football game | BBC

Air India confirms Chicago plane returned due to clogged toilets | BBC

Air India asks passengers to stop flushing clothes down plane toilets - UPI.com

Clogged toilets are the latest among Air India’s bizarre troubles – NBC Chicago

FDR broadcasts first 'fireside chat' during the Great Depression | March 12, 1933 | HISTORY

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"3-Body Problem" Discovered in the Kuiper Belt and TDIH - Quiz Show Scandals of the 1950s

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 17:30:00 -0000

At 3.7 billion miles away, a “3-body problem” is discovered in the Kuiper Belt which could rewrite history. Plus, on This Day in History, we look at the quiz show scandals of the 1950s.

Hubble Telescope discovers a new '3-body problem' puzzle among Kuiper Belt asteroids (video) | Space

3.7 Billion Miles Away: Hubble Uncovers a Hidden Trio That Could Rewrite Kuiper Belt History | SciTechDaily

Beyond Point Masses. IV. Trans-Neptunian Object Altjira Is Likely a Hierarchical Triple Discovered through Non-Keplerian Motion - IOPscience

Quiz Show Scandals | Television Academy Interviews

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Zero-Crew Warship Launched, Scientist Create a "Woolly Mouse", and TDIH - Senate Votes to Lower the Voting Age

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

DARPA looks to advance maritime warfare by launching a zero-crew warship and in the process of bringing back the woolly mammoth, scientists first create a woolly mouse - and it is adorable. On This Day in History, the Senate votes to amend the constitution to change the voting age to 18.

US launches first-ever 240-ton ship that needs zero crew to operate | Interesting Engineering

No sailors in sight: DARPA launches warship designed 'from the ground up' to be truly unmanned - Breaking Defense

Serco, DARPA Launch NOMARS USX-1 Defiant - Naval News

In the quest for resurrecting the woolly mammoth, scientists first make "woolly mice" | ZME Science

Scientists trying to bring back the woolly mammoth create a woolly mouse | Science, Climate & Tech News | Sky News

The 26th Amendment | History.com

Senate votes to lower voting age to 18, March 10, 1971 - POLITICO

1971 Detail, Voting Age Changed with 26th Amendment, U.S. Timeline, 1970-1979 - America's Best History

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VR Device Allows You to Taste Food Virtually and TDIH - Residents of Bikini Atoll Relocated For Atomic Bomb Testing

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0000

The Virtual Reality device that could allow us to taste food and drinks remotely. Plus, on This Day in History, the residents of Bikini Atoll are relocated to make way for US atomic bomb testing.

New device lets you taste food in virtual reality | Popular Science

A New VR Device Lets You Taste Coffee and Cake Remotely Without Taking a Bite | ZME Science

Scientists create ‘e-Taste’ device that could add flavour to virtual reality experiences | Science | The Guardian

A sensor-actuator–coupled gustatory interface chemically connecting virtual and real environments for remote tasting | Science Advances

7 Surprising Facts about the Nuclear Bomb Tests at Bikini Atoll | HISTORY

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Blue Ghost Moon Lander Sends Back Data, World's Biggest Iceberg Runs Aground, and TDIH - First Major Virus Scare

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0000

“Blue Ghost” lands on the moon and is already sending data back, earth’s biggest iceberg runs aground – what are the implications? And on This Day in History, the first major public malware scare in history.

See the Striking New Images From the Blue Ghost Lunar Lander, Now the Second Private Spacecraft to Touch Down on the Moon | Smithsonian

Sunrise on the moon! Private Blue Ghost lander captures amazing shot after historic lunar touchdown (photo) | Space

Blue Ghost Begins Surface Operations, Captures Descent Video, Sunrise - NASA

A23a: World's biggest iceberg runs aground off remote island | BBC

World’s Largest Iceberg Runs Aground - Videos from The Weather Channel

The Michelangelo Virus, 25 Years Later | Trend Micro (US)

What Is the Michelangelo Virus? A Piece of Cybersecurity History

IT History: 1992, Michelangelo Virus: Big Threat, Little Damage | CIO

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Gold Crown Found Under a Bed, Giant Goldfish Recovered, The World's Smallest Park, and TDIH - Great Depression Holiday to Prevent Bank Collapses

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s Weird Wednesday episode, an ancient Greek gold crown is found under a man’s bed, a giant goldfish is recovered in Pennsylvania, and the world has a new official “smallest park”. Plus, on This Day in History, the holiday that was declared to prevent bank collapses during the Great Depression.

Rare Ancient Greek gold crown was kept for decades in box of newspapers under bed | Daily Mail Online

Ancient Greek Crown of Pure Gold Found in Box Under Man's Bed - GreekReporter.com

Look: 'Megalodon' goldfish found in Pennsylvania waterway - UPI.com

‘Call me Megalodon’: Wildlife officials have goldfish warning – NBC10 Philadelphia

Goldfish, facts and photos | National Geographic

Japan: The world’s smallest park is the size of four pieces of paper | CNN

World’s smallest park: Japanese town dethrones Oregon for title – NBC Chicago

Japanese park covering just 2 1/2 square feet is officially world's smallest - UPI.com

Bank Holiday of 1933 | Federal Reserve History

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Aging Faster Due to Heat, Australian Fossil Reshaping Dinosaur Hierarchy, and TIDH - The Evolution of the Fax Machine

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0000

How extreme heat can actually make you age faster and a fossil discovery is reshaping Australia’s dinosaur hierarchy. Plus, on This Day in History, we look at the evolution of the fax machine.

Ancient Australia Had a Dinosaur Predator Ecosystem Unlike Anything Else on Earth | ZME Science

Evolutionary and paleobiogeographic implications of new carcharodontosaurian, megaraptorid, and unenlagiine theropod remains from the upper Lower Cretaceous of Victoria, southeast Australia

Extreme Heat Can Accelerate Aging, New Research Finds : ScienceAlert

Heatwaves could age humans faster: New study shows long-term health risks | Business Today/MSN

Ambient outdoor heat and accelerated epigenetic aging among older adults in the US | Science Advances

Alexander Bain and the First Fax | ThoughtCo

Fax Machine: History of the Fax Machine

Today in Engineering History: First Radio Fax Sent Across Continent - Electrical Engineering News and Products

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The Insect Inspired Jumping Robot, Years When Humans Age the Most, and TDIH - John Dillinger Uses a Wooden Gun to Escape Prison

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0000

The walking and jumping robot inspired by the springtail insect. We also look at the two key times in your life where you will age the most. On This Day in History, John Dillinger breaks out of prison using only a wooden gun.

A springtail-like jumping robot | ScienceDaily

A springtail-like jumping robot | YouTube Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Study Finds Humans Age Faster at 2 Sharp Peaks – Here's When : ScienceAlert

A springtail-inspired multimodal walking-jumping microrobot | Science Robotics

Science Says Your Body Starts 'Breaking Down' Quicker at These 2 Ages | Health.com

Nonlinear dynamics of multi-omics profiles during human aging | Nature Aging

John Dillinger’s wooden gun and death mask preserve notorious moments in his life - The Mob Museum

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Converting Aircraft Wind into Energy, Fossilized Bee Puzzles Scientists, and TDIH: Nylon Invented

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 20:22:12 -0000

Today’s episode brings us the converting of aircraft wind (from jet engines) into energy, the fossilized bee that is puzzling scientists, and on This Day in History; the invention of Nylon.

US airport installs world’s first pods that turn jet blast into power | Interesting Engineering

Incredible 14.6-Million-Year-Old Fossil Bee Discovered In New Zealand | IFLScience

Scientists Just Unearthed a 14.6-Million-Year-Old "Bee Fossil"—Its Origins Don’t Make Sense | Daily Galaxy

A bee from the middle Miocene Hindon Maar of southern New Zealand (Hymenoptera, Colletidae) - Scientific Publications of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris

Nylon and the Double Helix

Wallace Hume Carrothers

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How To Get a Good Night's Sleep, Famous Ocean Liner to Become a Reef, and TDIH - The Start of Mardi Gras

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

How to get a good night’s sleep - anxiety and when you go to sleep can affect your slumber. Plus, a famous ocean liner will soon be a reef and tourist attraction off the coast of Florida. On This Day in History, we go back to the start of Mardi Gras.

Always tired? A fixed bedtime matters more than sleep duration, study finds | Science Focus

Anxiety stopping you sleeping? Here’s how to overcome bedtime worries, according to a psychologist | Science Focus

SS United States begins journey to become world's largest artificial reef | AP News

SS United States Florida destiny: World's largest artificial reef | Pensacola News Journal

Mardi Gras ‑ Meaning, Origin & Traditions | HISTORY

Mardi Gras Kicks Off in New Orleans on This Day in 1827 - Programming Insider

On this day in history, Feb. 27, 1827, New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras for first time | National | foxbangor.com

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Reanimating Brain Tissue from Cryogenic Preservation, 46,000-Year-Old Worm Revived, Mummy Smells, and TDIH - Galileo Banned from Teaching

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Another Weird Wednesday episode. Today we are reanimating life as scientists successfully revive brain tissue, and a 46,000-year-old worm comes back to the world of the living. Plus, we learn what mummies smelled like. On This Day in History, the Catholic Church bans Galileo from teaching his theory that the Earth rotates around the sun.

Scientists Successfully Revived Brain Tissue from Suspended Animation | Popular Mechanics

Mouse Brain Slices Were Frozen For A Week, Brought Back To Life | BroBible

Frozen worm comes back to life after 46,000 years - Earth.com

A worm has been revived after 46,000 years in the Siberian permafrost | CNN

A novel nematode species from the Siberian permafrost shares adaptive mechanisms for cryptobiotic survival with C. elegans dauer larva | PLOS Genetics

Ancient Egyptian mummies smell 'sweet' and 'spicy', researchers say | Offbeat News | Sky News

What Does a Mummy Smell Like? Scientists Uncover Surprising Truth | SciTechDaily

The truth about Galileo and his conflict with the Catholic Church | UCLA

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Removing CO2 From the Atmosphere, Hydrogen Reservoirs in Our Mountains, and TDIH - The First Paper Currency in the U.S.

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Stanford chemist develops a method to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and vast hydrogen reservoirs likely reside in our mountains -- a renewable energy source that is difficult to produce synthetically. Plus, on This Day in History, Congress authorizes the first paper currency in the US.

Scientists discover low-cost way to trap carbon using common rocks | Stanford Report

Massive new energy source could be hiding in Earth’s mountains | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Legal Tender Act passed to help finance the Civil War | February 25, 1862 | HISTORY

Legal Tender Act passed, Feb. 25, 1862 - POLITICO

Greenbacks "First Legal Tender Act" February 25, 1862

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Hydrogen Powered Motorcycle Prototype, Amateur Photographer Captures a Spacewalk, and TDIH - Ruling Allows Federal Courts to Overturn Congress If the Constitution is Violated

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

One Japanese motor company unveiled a hydrogen powered motorcycle and an amateur photographer captures a spacewalk. This Day in History; the Supreme Court decision that allows a federal court to overturn an act of Congress, if they violate the U.S. Constitution.

Kawasaki H2 HySE hydrogen powered concept unveiled | Motorcycle News

Goodbye to gasoline and electricity: Japan revolutionizes the world with its new futuristic motorcycle - AS USA

Not gasoline, not electricity — Japan launches a 22-century motorcycle | EcoNews

An Amateur Photographer Captured a Rare Shot of a NASA Astronaut Spacewalking from Earth |ZME Science

Earth safe from 'city-killer' asteroid 2024 YR4 'That's impact probability zero folks! | Space.com/MSN

Marbury v. Madison ‑ Definition, Summary & Significance | HISTORY

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Foreign Rocks Infiltrate Our Solar System, Turning Cancer Cells into Healthy Cells, and TDIH - The First Electric Burglar Alarm

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

On today's episode, our solar system is being invaded by particles from another star system and combating cancer by switching tumor cells back into healthy cells. Plus, on This Day in History, the first electric burglar alarm is installed.

Scientists Think Visitors From Another Star System May Have Infiltrated Our Galactic Neighborhood | Popular Mechanics

'Cosmic Highway' Discovered: How Alpha Centauri’s Debris May Link Our Solar System to Faraway Stars | Daily Galaxy

[2502.03224] A Case Study of Interstellar Material Delivery: α Centauri

Fighting Cancer Without Fighting: Scientists Switch Tumor Cells Back to Healthy Ones at 'Critical' Moment | Good News Network

Almanac: The burglar alarm - CBS News

Our Father's Beginning | Wayback Machine

Who Was Augustus Russell Pope | Wayback Machine

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How Bacteria Could Help Solve Crimes, Boosting Beneficial Gut Bacteria with Coffee, and TDIH - The Underground Chicago Fright Tunnels

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Today, bacteria are in the limelight as we discover how bacteria could help solve crimes and how coffee can help boost beneficial gut bacteria. On This Day in History, we go underground for the construction of the Chicago freight tunnels.

Can Bacteria Solve Crimes? The "Sexome" Could Help Catch Sexual Predators | ZME Science

Coffee Boosts Beneficial Gut Bacterium | Scientific American

Chicago's Freight Tunnels - Under Your Feet - The University of Chicago Library

Chicago's Forgotten Underground Freight Tunnels - Chicago Detours

Chicago Freight Tunnels - Atlas Obscura

Frederic Delaitre's Lost Subways / Chicago Freight Subway

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Feather-Shaped Clouds on Mars, Swallowed by a Whale, Sewer Animals, and TDIH - The Bombing of Darwin

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

This Weird Wednesday episode covers the colorful feather shaped clouds are spotted on Mars, a kayaker that was swallowed by a whale, and alligators (along with other animals) that are being found in the sewers. Plus, on This Day in History, the WWII bombing of Darwin Australia.

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Captures Colorful Clouds Drifting Over Mars - NASA

'Iridescent' clouds on Mars captured in Martian twilight in stunning NASA rover images (video) | Space

NASA's Curiosity Captures Stunning Feather-Shaped Clouds on Mars - Science Magazine

Humpback whale swallows kayaker before releasing him: Video | AP News

Kayaker survives being swallowed by humpback whale in Chile | World News | Sky News

Watch: Kayaker ends up in the mouth of humpback whale - UPI.com

Scientists ‘surprised’ to find abundance of alligators in city’s sewer system | The Independent

The Bombing of Darwin Remembered | Naval History Magazine - April 2022 Volume 36, Number 2

Bombing of Darwin | Australian War Memorial

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Brain Activity When Trying to Think of a Word, Brain Cells That Tell You to Stop Eating, and TDIH - The First Vacuum Cleaner

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Today, we focus on the brain. A new study looks at what is happening in your brain when there is a word “on the tip of your tongue” and researchers discover the brain cells that tell you when to stop eating. Plus, on This Day in History, we look at the first vacuum cleaner.

What happens in your brain when there’s a word ‘on the tip of the tongue’? | ZME Science

Researchers discover the brain cells that tell you to stop eating | ScienceDaily

Hubert Cecil Booth: British engineer revolutionised cleaning by sucking up dust with his mouth | The Independent | The Independent

Hubert Cecil Booth: biography and inventions - science - 2025

Made up in Britain: Vacuum cleaner : Hubert Cecil Booth 1901

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Preparing Your Digital Assests After Death, Bison Released in the Great Plains, and TDIH - The First Submarine to Sink an Enemy Warship

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Wills are used to list what happens to our physical goods after we die, but how should you plan ahead for your digital assets after death? We have a list of ways to prepare your digital life after passing. Plus, some bison are reintroduced to the Great Plains to help restore the ecosystem. On This Day in History, we go back to the American Civil War for the first submarine to sink an enemy warship.

How to add a Legacy Contact for your Apple Account – Apple Support (UK)

About Inactive Account Manager - Google Account Help

Request to Memorialize or Remove an Account | Facebook Help Center

Contacting X about a deceased family member's account

One Tech Tip: What to do when you have too many passwords to remember | AP News

Bison Ranchers Return Thousands of Animals to Native Lands and Witness Total Rejuvenation of Ecosystem

H. L. Hunley Wreck (1864)

The Search and Recovery – The Friends of The Hunley

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How a Beaver Dam Saved Money and a River, How Omega 3 Might Slow Aging, and TDIH - YouTube is Founded

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Beavers build a much-needed dam that would have cost $1.2 million to make otherwise and how Omega 3 can slow your aging. Plus, on This Day in History, YouTube celebrates its 20th anniversary. We take a look back at the start of the company and where it is at today.

Beavers Built a $1.2M Dam for Free — And Saved a Czech River | ZME Science

This one supplement could slow your biological age | BBC Science Focus Magazine

YouTube turns 20! The numbers behind the platform - BBC Bitesize

February 14 marks the 20th anniversary of YouTube's founding - Tubefilter

YouTube Statistics: Revenue & Growth (2025)

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Chances of Asteroid Collision Have Increased, How Turmeric Can Help Support Your Health, and TDIH - The First Magazine in the US is Published

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

The chances have slightly increased for an asteroid collision with Earth or the Moon in 2032 and what that means for us. Plus, how turmeric may help restore antibiotic effectiveness and assist with fighting superbugs. On This Day in History, the first magazine in the United States is published.

Asteroid's odds of hitting Earth go up as Webb telescope is tasked with studying potential "city-killer" - CBS News

Chances of asteroid striking Earth in the next decade has nearly doubled, NASA says - ABC News

An asteroid has a very small chance to hit Earth. What happens if it does? - oregonlive.com

Asteroid 2024 YR4 headed towards Earth could hit Moon, scientists say | The Independent

Researchers Defang Deadly Hospital Superbugs Using a Pinch of Turmeric | Good News Network

"American Magazine" & "The General Magazine," the First Magazines Published in North America: Both Very Short-Lived : History of Information

The History of American Magazines

History of Magazine Publishing – Media Communication, Convergence and Literacy, Second Edition

History Of Magazines | When Were The First Magazines Invented?

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Jumping Robots in Space, a Salmon Escape, an Egg Heist, Dumpster Diving for Bitcoin, and TDIH - "The Scream" is Stolen

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

This Weird Wednesday episode has the jumping robot that could help us discover our solar system, a salmon escape with a high bounty, the egg heist of the century, and dumpster diving for bitcoin. Plus, on This Day in History, we look back to 1994 – the day the famous painting The Scream was stolen from an art museum in Oslo.

A Jumping Robot Could Leap Over Enceladus' Geysers - Universe Today

NASA Awards 2025 Innovative Technology Concept Studies | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

Company offers $45-per-fish bounty on 27,000 escaped salmon - UPI.com

The heist of 100,000 eggs in Pennsylvania becomes a whodunit that police have yet to crack | AP News

Man who lost £600m Bitcoin fortune considers buying landfill site to search for it | UK News | Sky News

How two men stole Edvard Munch's The Scream in just 50 seconds — and how authorities managed to get the painting back - ABC News

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Heavy Cannabis Use and Brain Function, Mammoth Bone Structure Reveals Clues About Ice Age Hunters, and TDIH - The First Bicycling Club in the US

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

A new study finds heavy cannabis use can impair brain function during memory tasks and an ancient mammoth bone structure reveals clues about ice age hunters' lives. Plus, on This Day in History, America’s first bicycling club is founded.

Largest study ever done on cannabis and brain function finds impact on working memory | ScienceDaily

This massive circular structure is made entirely of mammoth bones and skulls. DNA now offers clues about how Ice Age hunters built it | ZME Science

America’s First Bicycle Club | Mystic Stamp Discovery Center

A First-of-a-Kind Bicycle Club Makes Its Debut in Boston – Transportation History

First US cycling club formed | February 11, 1878 | HISTORY

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New "Strong as Steel, Light as Styrofoam" Material, the PlayStation Network Issue/Compensation, and TDIH - Man vs Computer Chess Match

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

The new material that is as strong as steel but light as Styrofoam along with the PlayStation Network issue that occurred over the weekend and their plan for compensation. Plus, on This Day in History, the chess match of Man vs. Computer.

Scientists Create a Material as Strong as Steel but Light as Styrofoam Using AI | ZME Science

Sony Reveals Compensation For All PS Plus Players After PSN Outage | Forbes

Sony explains massive PSN outage and details compensation – but many PlayStation gamers are still unhappy | TechRadar

Ask PlayStation on X

Deep Blue defeats Garry Kasparov in chess match | May 11, 1997 | HISTORY

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Gecko Inspired Anti-slip Shoes. Europa Clipper Mission Update, and TDIH - Leather Shoes Rations Issued During WWII

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Anti-slip shoes that were inspired by geckos and an update on the Europa Clipper mission as new images have been received from its flight to Jupiter. Plus, on This Day in History, restrictions on leather shoes were issued during WWII.

Gecko-Inspired Material Could Be The Future of Anti-Slip Shoes That Stick to Ice

En Route to Jupiter, NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Images of Stars - NASA

NASA's Europa Clipper on its way to Jupiter's icy moon shares first images of stars from space

These Photos Captured What Happened When the United States Started to Ration Shoes During WWII | Smithsonian

During World War II, Many Items Were Rationed in the United States, Including Shoes! ~ Vintage Everyday

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Apes Understand When You Are Clueless, The First Moon Data Center, and TDIH - Jack Kirby and the First Integrated Circuit

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

A new study suggests that apes can recognize when a human doesn’t know something and will try to fill in the gaps, plus, we look at the first possible lunar data center. On This Day in History, we focus on Jack Kilby and his groundbreaking work at Texas Instruments.

Bonobos Know When You’re Clueless — Their Theory of Mind Explains Why | ZME Science

The World’s First Moon Data Center Is Launching — Here’s What It Means | ZME Science

Texas Instruments Integrated Circuit | Bullock Texas State History Museum

How a Texas Instruments engineer created the integrated circuit | San Antonio Report

February 6: Kilby Files Patent for Integrated Circuit | This Day in History | Computer History Museum

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New Fabric to Keep You Warm, Questions About Ancient Civilizations on Mars, Satellite for Sale on Ebay, and the Scotland Cat Ban. Plus, TDIH - The Lost Atomic Bomb

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

It's a Weird Wednesday episode; the new fabric that will warm you up without the use of electronics, a resurfaced image has people questioning life on Mars, an old satellite that is for sale, and cats are safe in Scotland…for now. Plus, on This Day in History, the lost atomic bomb off the coast of Georgia.

New fabric can heat up more than 50 degrees to keep people warm in ultracold weather | Live Science

Smart fabric can heat up by 30°C after 10 minutes of sun exposure

Color tunable photo-thermochromic elastic fiber for flexible wearable heater | Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials

Why Is Everyone Talking About The "Square Structure" Captured On Mars? | IFLScience

NASA Image Reveals Wild ‘Square Structure’ on Mars—Elon Musk Backs Urgent Mission to Investigate

This 60-Year Old Telstar Comms Satellite Chassis Never Made It to Space, Now It's for Sale - autoevolution

TELSTAR SATELLITE FRAME / Historical Space Technology / Press Photos / Bell Labs | eBay

Cats won't be banned in Scotland, the government confirms | AP News

Fact Sheet: The Missing Tybee Bomb - Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

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Robot Pets Prove Beneficial, Asteroid Samples Lend Insight to Extraterrestrial Life, and TDIH - The Space Mirror Mission

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 18:00:00 -0000

How robot pets could be beneficial, the sample from Bennu adds insight to extraterrestrial life, and on This Day in History, the space mirror that designed to light up the long winter for the arctic.

Cat-Like Robot Mimics Bunting to Help You Relax — And It Actually Works | ZME Science

Our chances of finding alien life just skyrocketed. Here’s why | BBC Science Focus Magazine

'It could illuminate an area the size of a football stadium': How Russia launched a giant space mirror in 1993 | BBC

Space mirror test a qualified success | Tampa Bay Times

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Treating Brain Cancer in Kids, Dream Chaser Spaceplane, and TDIH - The Death of Buddy Holly

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:30:00 -0000

Groundbreaking immunotherapy for treating brain cancer in kids, the retro yet futuristic spaceplane that could be used to resupply the ISS and, on This Day in History, the day the music died - the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly.

Groundbreaking immunotherapy could finally treat devastating childhood brain tumors | ZME Science

CAR T cell therapy: Overview

Curvy spaceplane is one step closer to its ISS rendezvous | Popular Science

Retro Spaceplane aces test for space station cargo missions

Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser® Spaceplane Successfully Passes NASA Testing Milestone in Preparation for Launch

Flashback: How Waylon Jennings Survived the Day the Music Died

Former Buddy Holly drummer Carl Bunch died "positive and at peace" - NorthIowaToday.com

Roger Arthur Peterson (1937-1959) - Find a Grave Memorial

The day the music died: How Don McLean’s “American Pie” immortalized a tragedy The Daily The Daily

Winter Dance Party

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Long Lost Rocky Mountain Forest, Largest Volcanic Eruption in Our Solar System, Man and Dog Reunited After Eight Years, and TDIH - First Automobile to Reach 100 MPH

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 18:30:00 -0000

A melting ice patch in the Rocky Mountains revealed a pristine frozen ancient forest, we head out of this world where the Juno spacecraft detected the largest volcanic eruption in our solar system, and a feel-good story for Friday, a man is reunited with his dog after 8 years. Plus, on This Day in History, the first automobile to reach 100 mph.

Pristine Ancient Forest ‘Frozen in Time’ Discovered in Rocky Mountains | Scientific American

NASA Juno Mission Spots Most Powerful Volcanic Activity on Io to Date | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

NASA spacecraft flew by distant world. It saw unprecedented volcanism. | Mashable

Juno Sees a Massive Hotspot of Volcanic Activity on Io - Universe Today

Volcanic eruption on Io covers area larger than Lake Superior - Earth.com

Io: Facts - NASA Science

Arizona Man Who Never Stopped Trying is Reunited with Dog Lost 8 Years Ago in Another State

America's First Car to Exceed 100 MPH Is Headed to Auction. It'll Fetch Over $1M

World’s first fastest car broke records in 1905 when it sped to 104mph – The US Sun | The US Sun

History: The first car to break 100mph - PosterConnection

1904 Napier L48 “Samson” - Sports Car Market

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Mice with Two Dads, the Asteroid That Wasn't an Asteroid, and TDIH - The First Computer Virus is Created

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

For the first time a mouse with two male parents reaches adulthood – yes, you heard that correctly and we’ve got details. Plus, an amateur astronomer thought he’d discovered a dangerous asteroid, only to realize it wasn’t an asteroid at all – what was it? Stick around to find out. And on This Day in History, the first computer virus is created … as a joke.

First mouse with two male parents to reach adulthood | ScienceDaily

Mouse with two fathers survives to adulthood, marking scientific milestone | Phys.org

Adult bi-paternal offspring generated through direct modification of imprinted genes in mammals: Cell Stem Cell

Astronomers Thought They Had Found A Dangerous Asteroid Near Earth — What Was It | ZME Science

1st Computer Virus is Written, January 30, 1982 - EDN

What Is Elk Cloner and How Did It Work?

Elk Cloner: The first computer virus

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Two Rare Corpse Flowers Bloom, Mistakenly Declared Dead, Seawater Pool Plan, Research Monkeys Finally Captured, and TDIH - "The Raven" is First Published

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

For today's Weird Wednesday episode, two smelly flowers bloom on opposite sides of the planet, the mother who was mistakenly declared dead, Greece’s pool plan to help with droughts, and escaped research monkeys are found after two months on the run. Plus, on This Day in History, Edgar Allen Poe's poem "The Raven" is published for the first time.

Corpse flower: Plant with 'deadly' stench pulls huge crowds for rare bloom in Sydney | Offbeat News | Sky News

Visitors flock to New York botanic garden for a whiff of a flower that smells like a rotting corpse | AP News

Rare and Stinky 'Corpse Flower' Blooms Draw Thousands of Visitors to Gardens in New York and Sydney | Smithsonian

Woman 'surprised' after being declared dead | US News | Sky News

How a typo led to a Maryland woman being declared dead – NBC4 Washington

Hotels on Greek islands could soon fill swimming pools with seawater in drought fight | World News | Sky News

Greece panic as hotels may be forced to fill pools with seawater amid worsening droughts | World | News | Express.co.uk

Last 4 escaped monkeys are captured in South Carolina after months on the loose | AP News

Monkeys who escaped from South Carolina facility captured, police say | USA Today

TDIH: The Raven Summary

On Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe | Summary, Analysis & Symbolism

LitCharts: The Raven Summary

Screenwriting Lessons from Edgar Allan Poe

How to Write a Poem Like Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’

Spark Notes: The Raven Plot Summary

The Philosophy of Composition

Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” Summary & Meaning

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The Fastest Winds Ever Recorded, Bizarre Chirping in Space, and TDIH - The Lego Brick Design

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

A gas-giant 500 light-years from earth has the fastest winds ever recorded – and they make a category 5 hurricane look like a nice spring breeze. Plus, a bizarre chirping in space has scientists puzzled. And, on This Day in History, the Lego brick we know today is patented.

A Gas Giant 500 Light-Years Away Has the Fastest Winds Ever Recorded: A Staggering 33,000 km/h | ZME Science

A bizarre ‘chirping’ in space is puzzling scientists | BBC Science Focus Magazine

The day the LEGO brick was born - January 28, 1958 [Feature] - The Brothers Brick | The Brothers Brick

The History of Interlocking Bricks - From Kiddicraft to the LEGO Group – Brick Me

Lego Celebrates 50 Years of Building | TIME

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Making AI Feel Pain, Supermarket Dumpster Diving, and TDIH - National Geographic Forms

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Researchers try to make AI feel pain and what we can learn from that. Plus, one solution to food waste that might make you say, eww. Also, on This Day in History, the formation of National Geographic.

Researchers made an AI feel pain, because what could go wrong? | ZME Science

AI Pain Paper | ArXiv

She Hasn't Purchased Groceries in 4 Years–All Her Food Comes From Dumpsters Behind Supermarkets–LOOK - Good News Network

National Geographic Society is incorporated | January 27, 1888 | HISTORY

Jan. 27, 1888: National Geographic Society Gets Going | WIRED

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Creating Rocket Fuel in Space, Backpacks to Help Kids Read, and TDIH - The First Chocolate Covered Ice Cream Bar

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Using photosynthesis to create rocket fuel in space and turning old cement bags into solar-powered backpacks that are helping children with reading. Plus, on This Day in History, the first chocolate covered ice cream bar.

Chinese Space Station Achieves First-Ever Oxygen and Rocket Fuel Production Using Artificial Photosynthesis | ZME Science

In A World-First, Oxygen And Rocket Fuel Made Using Artificial Photosynthesis in Space | Wonderful Engineering

In a first, oxygen and rocket fuel made using artificial photosynthesis in space | Interesting Engineering

NASA's Experiment: Future of Photosynthesis - Christian Kromme

Assessment of the technological viability of photoelectrochemical devices for oxygen and fuel production on Moon and Mars | Nature Communications

Entrepreneur Transforms Old Cement Bags into Solar-Charging Backpacks to Help Children Read at Night | Good News Network

Solar-charging backpacks are helping children to read after dark | CNN

The Weird, Brief History of the Eskimo Pie Corporation | Smithsonian

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The Mysteries Found Deep in Earth's Mantle, Rare Shark Fossil Found, and TDIH - First Female Medical Degree and the Birth of the Frisbee

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Uncovering the mysteries deep within the Earth’s mantle, a nearly complete ancient shark fossil found in Peru, and on This Day in History, a double feature - the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States and the birth of the frisbee.

A Lost World Beneath the Pacific Ocean? Mysterious Structures Discovered Deep Within Earth’s Mantle | SciTechDaily

Scientists discover 'sunken worlds' hidden deep within Earth's mantle that shouldn't be there | Live Science

Full-waveform inversion reveals diverse origins of lower mantle positive wave speed anomalies | Scientific Reports

Great white shark's 9-million-year-old ancestor found in Peru | Reuters

Nearly complete fossil of Great White Shark ancestor discovered | Interesting Engineering

Biography: Elizabeth Blackwell

Elizabeth Blackwell MD - Women in Medicine and Science at Upstate - Subject Guides at SUNY Upstate Medical University

Elizabeth Blackwell | Biography & Facts | Britannica

Elizabeth Blackwell - Life, Education & Accomplishments

Frisbee inventor dies at 90 | US news | The Guardian

Walter Fredrick Morrison dies at 90; father of the Frisbee - Los Angeles Times

Walter Morrison: The Inventor of the Frisbee - BiographyHub

Meet Walter Frederick Morrison: The Inventor of the Frisbee - HubPages

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Tumor Removed Through Eye Socket, Unique Inheritance for a Town, Lazio Team Mascot Canned, Drug Addicted Rats, and TDIH - The Creation of the CIA

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Groundbreaking surgery that removed a brain tumor through the eye socket, the inheritance left to a town that the deceased never visited, the Lazio team mascot won’t be allowed at the games anymore due to inappropriate pictures, and drug addicted rats cause havoc at police stations. Plus, on This Day in History, the creation of the CIA.

Surgeons Make History by Removing Woman’s Brain Tumor Through Her Eye | Gizmodo

Surgeons remove tumour through patient's eye socket in UK first | UK News | Sky News

Man Leaves €10m Fortune to a Tiny French Town He Never Visited | Good News Network

Small town shocked to inherit $10 million fortune from stranger | New York Post

Italian soccer club Lazio fires falconer for posting photos of his penis implant | AP News

'Drug-addicted rats' infesting Houston police evidence room | NBC News

Watch: 'Drug-addicted rats' destroying evidence in Houston police lockers - UPI.com

History of CIA - CIA

Establishment of the CIA | Harry S. Truman

The Creation of the Central Intelligence Group - CSI

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) | History, Organization, Responsibilities, Activities, & Criticism | Britannica

History of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) | Harris Federal

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Carrots Defending Against Diabetes, The World's Oldest Ice, Jewels Found in Lithuania, and TDIH - The DeLorean

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 18:30:00 -0000

How carrots may be the key to defending against diabetes, what the world’s oldest ice, extracted from two miles beneath the Antarctic surface, can tell us about our planet – and crowns, scepters and other jewels discovered behind a wall in Lithuania … we’ve got details on who they belonged to. Plus, on This Day in History, the start of the DeLorean Motor Company.

Carrots May Be Key to Unlocking Microbiome's Diabetes Defense System

Effect of carrot intake on glucose tolerance, microbiota, and gene expression in a type 2 diabetes mouse model - Kobaek‐Larsen - 2024 - Clinical and Translational Science - Wiley Online Library

Scientists Drill Ice Core–2 Miles Down–Extracting 1.2 Million Years of Climate Record On Earth

Beyond EPICA: Press releases

Burial crowns of Polish-Lithuanian rulers found in Vilnius

Crowns and Scepters Discovered Hidden Inside the Walls Beneath a Lithuanian Cathedral

The DeLorean Factory, Belfast: where it is & how to visit

DeLorean Motor Company and the DMC-12: the full story | Auto Express

Delorean DMC-12 - Modern Racer - Modern Classics

DeLorean DMC-12: A Detailed Look at an Iconic Sports Car | Amazing Cars and Drives

The Sad Death Of John DeLorean

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New Obesity Definition, New Snake and Spider Identified, and TDIH - the "Father of American Rollercoasters"

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

The revised definition of obesity and a new species of snake and spider there were announced decades after being found. Plus, on This Day in History, the "Father of American Rollercoasters".

BMI Sidelined in New Obesity Definition That Favors Health Evaluation | Scientific American

New species of house snake discovered in Ethiopia: photo | Miami Herald

New snake species found 20 years after initial sighting in Ethiopia - Science - News - Daily Express US

Scientists discover new ‘unusually large’ species of one of world’s deadliest spiders | The Independent

'Big boy' spider becomes Australia's largest and deadliest arachnid after surprise discovery | Live Science

The world’s most venomous spider is a species complex: systematics of the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atracidae: Atrax robustus) | BMC Ecology and Evolution | Full Text

History of LaMarcus Thompson's Scenic Railway Roller Coasters at Coney Island

La Marcus Edna Thompson | Coney Island History Project

OH native was inventor of the roller coaster

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Large Aquifer Discovered, Toilet Paper Made from Used Diapers, and TDIH - Popeye's First Appearance

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 19:30:00 -0000

The huge aquifer discovered in the Oregon Cascades and the toilet paper made from used diapers - you heard that correct. Plus, on This Day in History, Popeye makes his first appearance.

Atop the Oregon Cascades, UO team finds a huge buried aquifer | OregonNews

Japan Coalition Selling World's 1st Toilet Paper Made from Used Diapers

First Versions: Popeye (comics)

Popeye | Newspaper Comic Strips

Popeye’s Comic Debut | Mystic Stamp Discovery Center

First Versions Popeye First Appearance : Elzie Crisler Segar : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (First Comic Strip Link)

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How to Prepare for the TikTok Ban, Best Celestial Object for a Human Settlement, and TDIH - "The Bottle Conjuror" Hoax

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

What you should do to prepare for the upcoming TikTok ban and the why the moon may be the best place for a human settlement, at least for now. Plus, on This Day in History, the hoax article advertising the fictitious theatrical performer "The Bottle Conjuror" that caused a riot when he didn’t appear.

U.S. TikTok ban: How it would work and how to prepare : NPR

TikTok Ban — Why You Should Delete Your iPhone, Android App Next Week

Food grows better on the moon than on Mars, scientists find | Space

2024 Mars Terraforming Workshop Proceedings

TDIH: The Great Bottle Conjurer Hoax

TDIH: The Bottle Conjurer

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The First Wooden Satellite, Mysterious Ring That Fell in Kenya, New Potato Chip Flavors, Long-Lost Christmas Present, and TDIH - Great Molasses Flood in Boston

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:50:00 -0000

On this Weird Wednesday episode, the future of satellites could be wood, the mysterious ring that fell in Kenya, the new flavors of potato chips that are here to stay, and the long-lost Christmas present. Plus, on This Day in History, we go back to the Great Molasses Flood in Boston.

Astronauts Release Wooden Satellite From Space Station | The Byte

LignoSat: World’s first wooden satellite, developed in Japan, heads to space | CNN

Remember That Metal Ring That Fell From the Sky? We Still Don't Know Where It Came From | Gizmodo

A glowing ring of metal fell to Earth, and no one has any idea what it is - Ars Technica

Doritos Has a First-of-Its-Kind Flavor Hitting Shelves Now

Lay’s Is Bringing Its Most-Requested Flavor to the U.S. For the First Time Ever

Watch: Christmas gift from 1978 found behind wall of Illinois home - UPI.com

Why the Great Molasses Flood Was So Deadly | HISTORY

What Was the Great Molasses Flood? | Food & Wine

Boston Molasses Flood: The Strangest Disaster in American History | YouTube (VIDEO)

100 years ago today: Molasses crashes through Boston's North End | Boston.gov

Boston | History, Population, Map, Climate, & Facts | Britannica

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Possible Interstellar Travel Ideas Purposed, the Power of a Good Night's Sleep, and TDIH - the Clarinet is Invented

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Plans of emerged on how we can travel to the nearest star system in just 20 to 40 years, and we look at what a good night’s sleep can do for your mind. Plus, on This Day in History, the wind instrument family gets a bit larger with the addition of the clarinet.

Scientists Have a Radical Plan to Travel to the Nearest Star System Within a Human Lifetime | Popular Mechanics

Revolutionary Plan to Reach Nearest Star System in Our Lifetime! - Jurnal Time

Physicists Unveil Radical Plan to Send a Probe Into Interstellar Space : ScienceAlert

A Deep Sleep Clears the Mind at Night Like a Dishwasher Cleaning–But Beware of Sleeping Pills | Good News Network

Johann Denner | Inventor of The Clarinet | All Things Denner

A Brief History of the Clarinet

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The Relation of Pupil Size During Sleep and Memories, Fly-By of Mercury, and TDIH - Henry Ford's Plastic Automobile

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

How pupil size during sleep helps sort new and old memories and enhances memory retention, and the latest on last week's Mercury fly-by. Plus, on This Day in History, Henry Ford’s plastic automobile.

Pupil size in sleep reveals how memories are sorted, preserved | ScienceDaily

Spacecraft buzzes Mercury's north pole and beams back stunning photos | AP News

Stunning Close-Up Images Reveal Mercury’s Icy Craters and Volcanic Plains | SciTechDaily

Soybean Car - The Henry Ford

Henry Ford's Plastic Hemp Car | January 13th, 1942

This Day in Patent History – On January 13, 1942, Henry Ford patented a Soybean car (a plastic car), which is 30% lighter than a regular car – Patent Yogi LLC

The Rearview Mirror: Henry Ford’s Plastic Fantastic Car - The Detroit Bureau

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Your Future Neighborhood Vehicles, NASA's Cheaper Plans to Bring Back Mars Rocks, Coffee May Reduce the Risk of Some Cancer, and TDIH - The Texas Oil Boom

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Marques returns to CES and learns how Oshkosh truck is preparing your ‘neighborhood of the future. Plus, NASA is looking to cut costs on its mission to bring rocks samples back to Earth from Mars, and how coffee and reduce the chances of head and neck cancer. Also, on This Day in History, the start of the Texas Oil Boom.

The maker of the electric USPS truck is also building garbage robots and EV firefighters - The Verge

NASA proposes cheaper and quicker way to get Mars rocks and soil to Earth | AP News

NASA announces way forward on Mars rock plan : NPR

Coffee Drinkers Less at Risk of Head and Neck Cancers, New Research Suggests | Good News Network

Spindletop Oilfield | Texas State Historically Association

Spindletop ‑ Geyser, Timeline & Discovery | History.com

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A Jet Like You've Never Seen Before and TDIH - Columbus Sights "Mermaids" in the Caribbean

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Marques reports from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas where Alaska Airlines has a jet like you’ve never seen before, and on This Day in History, Christopher Columbus sights mermaids in the Caribbean…and he’s not impressed.

Why Alaska Airlines is investing in a jet that's like nothing you've seen before - Fast Company

Has The Time Finally Come For This Sci-Fi Looking Aircraft?

Columbus mistakes manatees for mermaids | January 9, 1493 | HISTORY

Columbus mistakes manatees for mermaids | Sky HISTORY TV Channel

Uncovering the Ancient Origins of Mermaids - Ocean Info

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Weird Wednesday - Cyborg Insect Swarms, Illegal Illness, Toilet Seats Versus Toilet Paper, Left Out Bananas, and TDIH 0 The Battle of New Orleans

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

It is a Weird Wednesday episode, and we cover scientists that have developed technology to control cyborg insect swarms, a town that made getting sick illegal, toilet seats that can’t handle toilet paper, and another town that is just going bananas over pealed bananas- we’ll explain. Plus, on This Day in History, we look back to the Battle of New Orleans.

Scientists develop technology to control cyborg insect swarms | ScienceDaily

Scientists develop technology to control cyborg insect swarms | TechXplore

Swarm navigation of cyborg-insects in unknown obstructed soft terrain | Nature Communications

Italian mayor's proclamation makes it illegal to get sick - UPI.com

Toilet maker warns customers not to wipe the seats with toilet paper - UPI.com

Peeled bananas left on English street corner each month vex locals - UPI.com

TDIH: Chalmette National Historical Park (Battle of New Orleans)

TDIH: The American Battlefield Trust's map of the War of 1812 Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815

TDIH: Battle of New Orleans

YouTube: Johnny Horton Sings The Battle of New Orleans (1959)

TDIH: The Battle of New Orleans

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"Smart Cell" Construction Kit, Video Games That Improve Mental Health, and TDIH - The Video Phone Released 30 Years Ago

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Bioengineers develop a groundbreaking 'Smart Cell' construction kit for disease-fighting therapies" and how some video games can improve your mental health and add balance to your life. Plus, on This Day in History, the video phone that was released over 30 years ago.

Breakthrough for 'smart cell' design | ScienceDaily

Journal of Medical Internet Research - Open-World Games’ Affordance of Cognitive Escapism, Relaxation, and Mental Well-Being Among Postgraduate Students: Mixed Methods Study

Open-World Video Games Boost Relaxation and Mental Well-Being - Neuroscience News

Open-World Games Like Zelda Can Boost Your Mental Health, Study Says : ScienceAlert

AT&T calls new video phone wave of the future - UPI Archives

AT&T launched the VideoPhone 2500 in 1992. It sold for $1,499 | CNN Business

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Why Winter Increases Your Chances of a Cold, 2025 Stargazing Events, and TDIH - The Wheel of Fortune

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode, we’ve all heard it before during winter - “If you don’t dress warm, you're going to catch a cold”. We take a look at why winter makes you more vulnerable to colds. Also, what 2025 has in store for your stargazing plans. Plus, on This Day in History, we spin the wheel for the first time, as Wheel of Fortune debuts on NBC.

Why winter makes you more vulnerable to colds – a public health nurse explains the science behind the season | The Conversation

January stargazing: Ring in 2025 with a meteor shower, 'planet parade,' and best chance to spot Mars | Popular Science

The Sky Promises Many Big Events in 2025

The first meteor shower of 2025, the Quadrantids, is here. Here's how to catch a glimpse | AP News

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Turns 40, But Do You Remember the Other Versions? | TV Insider

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Are Humans Changing Earth's Tilt and Rotation? Plus, Carnivorous Squirrels and TDIH - Construction Begins on the Brooklyn Bridge

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

Human activity could be changing the Earth’s tilt and rotation, and researchers discover squirrels that don’t just eat nuts - they hunt and eat voles. Plus, on This Day in History, construction begins on the Brooklyn Bridge, the first steel-wire suspended bridge in the world.

Human activity is changing Earth’s tilt and rotation. What does that mean for the planet? | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Carnivorous squirrels documented in California | ScienceDaily

ASCE Metropolitan Section - Brooklyn Bridge

A Mini History Lesson on the Brooklyn Bridge, Downtown’s Stunning Suspension - Downtown Alliance

Brooklyn Bridge - New World Encyclopedia

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New Species Discovered in the Past Year, Living Underwater Update, and TDIH - First Spacecraft to Escape Earth's Gravity

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 18:00:00 -0000

We look back at some of the more interesting species discovered in 2024. Plus, an update on the Weird Wednesday story of a man targeting the record for consecutive days living underwater. On This Day in History, the first spacecraft to escape Earth’s gravity and enter geocentric orbit – and here’s a hint – it did NOT come from the United States.

Scientists have identified an estimated 10% of all species on Earth. Here’s what they found in 2024 | CNN

Vampire hedgehogs, pirate spiders and fishy fungi - the strangest new species of 2024 | BBC

Scientist refuses to resurface after breaking world record for longest time underwater

Researcher Experiments Living Underwater for 100 Days to Study How High Pressure Impacts Longevity. The Results Are Baffling

NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details

Luna | Moon, Soviet, & Exploration | Britannica

On this date: USSR launches Luna 1 probe to moon

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Humor Believe to be Older Than Humans, Artificial Heart Patients Regrow Heart Muscle, and TDIH - NYE Times Square Tradition Begins

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Scientists notice that great apes love teasing and fooling around, which leads them to believe humor is older than humans. Plus, researchers discover some artificial heart patients are able to regrow heart muscle, offering new hope for future treatments. On This Day in History, the tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve at Times Square began over 100 years ago and a few later, the ball drop begins.

Great Apes Joke Around, Suggesting Humor Is Older Than Humans | Scientific American

Spontaneous playful teasing in four great ape species | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Can the heart heal itself? New study says it can | ScienceDaily

NYE History & Times Square Ball | Times Square NYC

The History of New Year's Eve in Times Square | CityPASS® Blog

A Brief History of Times Square’s New Year’s Eve Celebration

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AI-Designed Viral Gene Therapy, Treasure Filled Shipwrecks Identified, and TDIH - the First Major Auto Industry Labor Dispute

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0000

AI-designed "nanocages" that mimic viral structures are offering groundbreaking advancements in gene therapy and biomedical innovation. Also, 250 shipwrecks containing 22 tons of gold and silver have been identified off the coast of Portugal. Plus, on This Day in History, the first major labor dispute in the US auto industry.

Virus that threatened humanity opens the future | ScienceDaily

250 ships with treasures off Portugal coast - The Portugal News

Shipwreck with 22 Tons of Gold Treasure Identified off Portugal Coast - GreekReporter.com

Shipwreck Holding 22 Tons of Gold Treasure Found off Portugal’s Coast

The 1936 Sit‑Down Strike That Shook the Auto Industry | HISTORY

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The Oldest Mammalian Ancestor Discovered, an Update on the Flight of the Parker Solar Probe & TDIH: Howdy Doody Premiers on NBC

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 21:00:00 -0000

On today's episode; the oldest mammalian ancestor is discovered, an update on the flight of the Parker Solar Probe, plus, on 'This Day in History', the show that would influence children's television for generations to come -- Howdy Doody.

World's oldest mammalian ancestor discovered in Mallorca

This dog-like predator is the oldest known mammal ancestor | Popular Science

Early–middle Permian Mediterranean gorgonopsian suggests an equatorial origin of therapsids | Nature Communications

TDIH: Norb’s Corner: “It’s Howdy Doody time!”

TDIH: 1947: NBC Introduces Howdy Doody on 'Puppet Playhouse Presents'

From Doodyville to Detroit: The History of Howdy Doody, a Legendary Show of the Golden Age of TV

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NASA Probe Set to Touch the Sun and TDIH - “Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0000

On Christmas Eve NASA aims to touch our Sun in hopes to learn more about how it works and the source of its high-energy solar particles. Plus, on This Day in History, we look back one of the most famous holiday poems of all time - “Twas the Night Before Christmas".

Watch: NASA Experts Discuss Mission to 'Touch the Sun' with Parker Solar Probe - Newsweek

NASA is set to touch sun on Christmas Eve | firstcoastnews.com

Parker Solar Probe - NASA Science

It's been a hell of a year, and we're going to end it by pinging a spacecraft travelling at 430,000 mph off the Sun in a presumed affront to the laws of the universe | PC Gamer

The Story Behind the Most Famous Christmas Poem of All | Columbia Magazine

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Yardwork Leads to Found Mastodon Jaw, the Coexistence of Humans, Giant Sloths, and Mastodons. Plus, TDIH - The Failed Coup Attempt by Hitler

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:00:00 -0000

One New York homeowner’s yardwork unearths a rare mastodon jaw. Plus, there is new evidence that humans, giant sloths, and mastodons coexisted for over 10,000 years. On This Day in History, we look at the failed coup attempt by Adolf Hitler before he was elected Chancellor of Germany.

New York Homeowner’s Yardwork Reveals Complete Mastodon Jaw Bones and Teeth | Good News Netowrk

Giant sloths and mastodons lived with ancient humans in the Americas | AP News

Murder Hornets Have Been Eradicated From The U.S. | Mic.com

Beer Hall Putsch | Facts, Summary, & Outcome | Britannica

The Munich Putsch – The Holocaust Explained: Designed for schools

The Beer Hall Putsch - 100th Anniversary Special (Video)

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The Plan to Re-Freeze the Arctic, Could Geo-Thermal Be Our Long-Term Energy Solution? & TDIH: NASA's Plan for a Moon Base ... in 1988

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:30:00 -0000

On today's episode, we've got details on the plan to refreeze the Arctic. Plus, could geo-thermal prove to be the renewable energy source we've all been waiting for? And on 'This Day in History', NASA's 1988 plan for a moon base and manned trips to Mars

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A controversial plan to refreeze the Arctic is seeing promising results. But scientists warn of big risks | CNN

The plan to refreeze Arctic ice | The Week

Plan to refreeze Arctic sea ice shows promise in first tests | New Scientist

The deepest hole on Earth: Inside the race to harness unlimited power from our planet's core

TDIH: NASA Offers Plans For Manned Missions - The New York Times

TDIH: U.S., 11 Nations Sign Pact for Space Station - Los Angeles Times

That’ll do it for another edition of Cool Stuff Ride Home. Connect with us by email using the address coolstuffcommute@gmail.com. Also, like us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I’m Reggie Risseeuw, he’s Marques Pfaff – we’ll be back with more cool stuff tomorrow

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Vast Reserve of Hydrogen Found, Weird Wednesday - Fish Getting Busy, Googly Eye Sculptures, "Trekkie" Plate Issues, and a Festive Car. Plus, TDIH - Piltdown Skull Hoax

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A vast reserve of geologic hydrogen was found. Plus, Weird Wednesday has fish getting busy after an earthquake, sculptures with googly eyes, the "Trekkie" license plate that was causing trouble, and a festive car. Also, on This Day in History, we look back at the Piltdown skull hoax.

Massive new energy source discovered hiding under Earth’s surface | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Northern California earthquake prompts an endangered Death Valley fish species to get busy | Phys.org

Stop sticking googly eyes on sculptures says US city - BBC Newsround

Woman ticketed thousands of dollars because license matched numbers on ‘Star Trek’ ship | WBAY - ABC 2

Look: Driver stopped in Wyoming for covering car in Christmas lights - UPI.com

How the Piltdown Man skull became the greatest hoax in anthropology - History Skills

Study reveals culprit behind Piltdown Man, one of science's most famous hoaxes | Science | AAAS

How to Solve Human Evolution’s Greatest Hoax | Smithsonian

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Cream-Based Vaccines, the Connection Between Leaded Gas and Mental Health, and TDIH - the Prize for Alien Communication

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Getting your vaccine from a needle could be a thing of the past, as a cream-based vaccine is being developed. Also, how your mental health may have been altered by leaded gas, if you were born before 1996. Plus, on This Day in History, the prize offered for communicating with aliens, however it doesn’t include Martians - as that was thought to be too easy!

Stanford scientists transform ubiquitous skin bacterium into a topical vaccine | Stanford Medicine

Discovery and engineering of the antibody response to a prominent skin commensal | Nature

Born Before 1996? According to Scientists, Leaded Gas May Have Permanently Altered Your Personality | SciTechDaily

Lead in gasoline tied to millions of excess mental health disorders: study | NBC News

Contribution of childhood lead exposure to psychopathology in the US population over the past 75 years - McFarland - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry - Wiley Online Library

17 December 1900: The Guzman Prize is announced | MoneyWeek

December 17, 1900 The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence – Historical Easter Eggs – Today in History

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Google Claims its New Quantum Chip Could Prove the Existence of Parallel Universes, New Technology Could Aid the Search for Aviation's Biggest Mystery & on TDIH, the Last Eruption of Mount Fuji

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:30:00 -0000

Google claims its new quantum chip could prove the existence of parallel universes, new technological advances could aid the decade-long hunt for aviation’s biggest mystery, and on 'This Day in History', the last eruption of Mount Fuji.

Google says its new quantum chip indicates that multiple universes exist | TechCrunch

Google Says Its New Quantum Chip May Prove Parallel Universes Exist - Newsweek

Meet Willow, our state-of-the-art quantum chip

The bold new science that could soon solve the greatest mystery in aviation

TDIH: It’s Been More Than 300 Years Since Japan’s Breathtaking Mount Fuji Last Erupted | Smithsonian

TDIH: Most Recent Eruption of Mount Fuji

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Extinct Greak Lakes Fish Found Alive, the Evolution of Animals Ability to See Color, and TDIH - The Clip-on Tie Changes the World of Fashion

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0000

One extinct Great Lakes fish has been discovered alive again … but in the wrong lake. Staying in the animal kingdom, new research suggests animals’ ability to see color evolved BEFORE bright colors emerged in nature, but why? Plus, on This Day in History, the fashion world gets easier as the clip-on tie is invented.

'Extinct' Great Lakes Shortnose Cisco fish discovered in Lake Superior | USA Today

Animals Evolved Color Vision before Bright Colors Emerged | Scientific American

The Birth of The Clip-On Tie | Pop Culture Madness

Iowa History Daily: December 13 - Classy Clinton's Clip-On Tie

A Brief History of the Necktie – Center for Careers, Life, and Service | Grinnell College

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Caffeine: The Ultimate Performance Booster, But Timing Is Key and How Exercise Can Help with Memory. Plus, TDIH - The First Motel

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A new study says that caffeine can boost physical and mental performance, but it added it should be timed wisely to optimize benefits and avoid side effects. Also, new research says that exercise can boost your memory for a full day. Plus, on This Day in History, the first motel is opened.

Here's the best (and worst) time to drink your morning caffeine | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Short-term cognitive boost from exercise may last for 24 hours | ScienceDaily

The World’s First Motel Was a Luxury Establishment, Not a Dive | Smithsonian

Motel Inn in San Luis Obispo, the world's first 'mo-tel' | San Luis Obispo Tribune

Motel Inn in San Luis Obispo - SoCal Landmarks

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Drones Inspired by Birds, Weird Wednesday - Salmon Hats for Orcas, Another Word of the Year, and Interesting Spanish Scrabble Champion. Plus TDIH - Anesthetic Use in Dentistry

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0000

New drones inspired by birds that jump for take-off. It’s Weird Wednesday and Reggie has orcas that are wearing salmon for hats, the Merriam-Webster’s word of the year, and the winner of the Spanish Scrabble Championship who doesn’t speak Spanish. Plus, on This Day in History, Dr. Horace Wells and the first use of anesthetic in dentistry.

Bird-inspired drone can jump for take-off | ScienceDaily

For Orcas, Dead Salmon Hats Are Back in Fashion | Scientific American

No, Orcas Probably Aren't Reviving the 'Dead Salmon Hat' Trend, Despite a Viral Photo, Experts Say. Here's Why | Smithsonian

There’s something fishy about a recent sighting of an orca in a salmon ‘hat’ | CNN

‘Polarization’ is Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of the year | AP News

He won the Spanish Scrabble championships, yet he doesn’t speak Spanish | CNN

Horace Wells | Biography, Anesthesia, & Facts | Britannica

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Improving Your Life with Good Habits, Temporary E-Tattoos That Could Replace EEG Setups, and TDIH - The Theory of Gravity

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0000

How training your body to have good habits can change your life for the better and the revolutionary spray-on electronic tattoo that replaces traditional EEG setups, offering a more comfortable and reliable way to monitor brain activity while paving the way for advanced brain-computer interfaces. Plus, on This Day in History; Edmund Halley’s and Isaac Newton’s collaboration on the theory of gravity.

Good habits are life-changing: A psychologist's guide to hacking your brain's autopilot

Temporary scalp e-tattoos that scan brain could replace traditional EEGs forever

Sir Isaac Newton's Principia | American Physical Society

Newton’s Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Edmond Halley and Newton’s Principia | Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London

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New Desalination Method Could Provide Water for Billions, Possible Wolf Pollinators, and TDIH - the Kecksburg UFO incident

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Researchers have developed a cost-effective solar-powered desalination method using clay minerals to enhance seawater evaporation, potentially providing clean water for billions worldwide and endangered wolves in Ethiopia may also be pollinators for one specific plant. Plus, on This Day in History, we look back at the Kecksburg UFO incident.

Billions of People Could Benefit from This Breakthrough in Desalination That Ensures Freshwater for the World

A wolf walks into a flower — and appears to pollinate it : NPR

These Endangered Wolves Have a Sweet Tooth—and It Might Make Them Rare Carnivorous Pollinators | Smithsonian

Wolves may be pollinators as well as predators, study suggests | CNN

Canids as pollinators? Nectar foraging by Ethiopian wolves may contribute to the pollination of Kniphofia foliosa - Lai - 2024 - Ecology - Wiley Online Library

The Kecksburg UFO incident | History

Is case finally closed on 1965 UFO mystery? | NBC News

Kecksburg UFO Mystery: 8 Mind-Blowing Documentaries on Pennsylvania's Roswell

Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1965 | Enigma Labs

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Notre Dame's New Interior, the Human-Dog Bond Is Older Than Previously Thought, and TDIH - The Book That Helped Change Obscenity Laws

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 18:00:00 -0000

The restoration of an icon - Notre Dame shows off the new interior after the devastating fire five years ago, and the human-dog bond may be older than we thought. Plus, on This Day in History, the court case and book that helped change obscenity laws.

Notre Dame Cathedral unveils its new interior 5 years after devastating fire | AP News

How did humans and dogs become friends? Connections in the Americas began 12,000 years ago | University of Arizona News

Scientists discover exactly when man and dog became friends | Science Focus

Late Pleistocene onset of mutualistic human/canid (Canis spp.) relationships in subarctic Alaska | Science Advances

Ulysses | The First Amendment Encyclopedia

Obscenity Case Files: United States v. One Book Called “Ulysses” – Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

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Using Your Fat to Predict Alzheimer's, Oldest Known Bird Lays an Egg, and TDIH - The Creation of ARPANET and the Internet

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Your body’s fat could predict Alzheimer's disease up to 20 years ahead of symptoms, plus a 74-year-old bird might be a mom again. And, on This Day in History, we look back at ARPANET and how it led us to the internet we know today.

Hidden fat predicts Alzheimer's 20 years ahead of symptoms | ScienceDaily

Wisdom, The World's Oldest Bird, Lays Egg At 74 Years Old After Finding New Mate | IFLScience

Wisdom: World's oldest known wild bird lays egg at '74' | BBC

Albatross - Description, Habitat, Image, Diet, and Interesting Facts | Animals Network

ARPANET - Packet Data, Networking, Internet | Britannica

A Brief History of the Internet | Stanford

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Weird Wednesday - 2024 Word of the Year, Fake Gibson Guitars Seized, Underwater Living Record Attempt, and the Defective Candy Bar; plus TDIH - Henry Ford's Peach Ship

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 18:30:00 -0000

It’s Weird Wednesday and Reggie has the Oxford Word of the Year, fake Gibson guitars, a 'living underwater' record attempt, and a defective candy bar. Plus, on 'This Day in History', Henry Ford’s Peace Ship expedition fails miserably during WWI … or perhaps it did not? We've got the details of this peculiar story featuring the famous industrialist.

'Brain rot' is the Oxford University Press word of the year | AP News

Why ‘Brain Rot’ Is 2024’s Word of the Year | Scientific American

More than 3,000 fake Gibson guitars seized at Los Angeles port | AP News

Watch: German man attempts to break record for living underwater - UPI.com

Day 60: Halfway to History! - Ocean Builders

German tries to break world record living underwater | Video | 2news.com

Man compensated $2.53 after unwrapping smooth Mars bar - UPI.com

Smooth Mars bar wins Aylesbury man £2 compensation – and internet fame | UK news | The Guardian

TDIH: The Peculiar Case of Henry Ford

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The Pace of Brain Rot, The Value of Pyrite - No Longer Just "Fool's Gold", and TDIH - Neon Lights First Displayed

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 18:00:00 -0000

The reason why some human brains don’t rot for thousands of years, and who’s the fool now? Pyrite, or fool’s gold, could fuel our future. Plus, on This Day in History, the first neon lights are displayed in public.

Why These Millennia-Old Brains Are So Well Preserved | Scientific American

We Used to Make Fun of Fool's Gold. Now, It Might Fuel Our Future | Popular Mechanics

How Pyrite Or “Fool’s Gold” Could Be The Fuel Of The Future Thanks To Its Lithium Connection | MSN.com

December 1910: Neon lights debut at Paris Motor Show | American Physical Society

uksignboards.com - The first neon sign was created in 1910 by French engineer and inventor Georges Claude

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The Language of Pain, Nuclear Fusion Advancements, and TDIH - How "Manifest Destiny" Shaped the US

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:00:00 -0000

What do you say when you get hurt? We dive into the research around the universal language of pain and how one company is making strides towards the first nuclear fusion reactor. Plus, on This Day in History, the announcement that helped shape the US using the philosophy of “Manifest Destiny”.

Expressions of Pain May Have a Common Origin | Scientific American

Scientists achieve major milestone with levitating, virtually limitless energy device: 'A feat in and of itself'

New Zealand powers half-ton doughnut-shaped Junior for fusion reactor

Manifest Destiny ‑ Definition, Facts & Significance | HISTORY

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Weird Wednesday - Earth's "Mini-Moon" May Be A Fragment of Actual Moon, 911 Homework Help, & New Year's Implosion. Plus, TDIH; The Berner's Street Hoax and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:40:00 -0000

We learn more about Earth’s short lived second moon and how it may relate to our actual moon, the police are called in to help with math homework, and a New Year’s demolition is approved for one town in Georgia. Plus, on This Day in History, we look back at the Berner's Street Hoax and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Earth's 'mini moon' may have been a chunk of our actual moon | AP News

Earth's 'second moon' is just visiting its cosmic parents for Thanksgiving | Space

Deputy answers boy’s call for homework; sheriff’s office releases 911 audio | WBAY

Wis. deputy responds to assist after 10-year-old calls 911 for help with math homework | Police1

The United Federation of Teachers number - (212) 777-3380

A Georgia city will blow up an old hotel to greet 2025 | AP News

Bibb leaders approve Ramada Inn demolition in downtown Macon | 13wmaz.com

TDIH: The Berners Street Hoax | History Today

TDIIH: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade History: Floats, Balloons & More

TDIH: Berners Street Hoax – True or False?

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Turbulence May Be Getting Worse, How Video Games Improve Your Work Skills, and TDIH - The First "Day of Publick Thanksgivin"

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Turbulence while flying may be getting worse - we’ll look at why this could be happening, and how playing multiplayer video games might make you a better worker. Plus, on This Day in History, we celebrate the first "Day of Publick Thanksgivin."

You're not imagining it, flight turbulence is getting worse. | BBC Science Focus

Transport Safety Investigation Bureau Preliminary Investigation Findings of Incident Involving SQ321

Multiplayer Online Gaming Associated with Better Teamwork, Problem-Solving at the Office | Good News Network

Congress Establishes Thanksgiving | National Archives

How George Washington used his first Thanksgiving as president to unite a new country - Government Executive

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Fossil Helps Explain Humans Long Childhood, 300-Year-Old Statue Used as a Doorstop Valued at $2 Million, and TDIH - The Jarvik-7 Artificial Heart

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

How the fossil teeth of an 11-year old helps us understand why humans have an unusually long childhood and one town in Scotland will have a jolt to its budget after discovering a 300-year-old statue. that was being used as a doorstop, is valued at $2M USD. Plus, on This Day in History; Bill Schroeder makes history with the Jarvik-7 artificial heart.

These Fossil Teeth From an 11-Year-Old Reveal Clues to Why Humans Developed an Unusually Long Childhood | Smithsonian

Did long childhood shape the evolution of the human brain? | Knowridge

The secrets of fossil teeth revealed by the synchrotron: A long childhood is the prelude to the evolution of a large brain | ScienceDaily

Dental evidence for extended growth in early Homo from Dmanisi | Nature

Town Gets Go Ahead to Sell 300-Year-old Marble Bust Found Propping Open a Shed–And Worth $2 Million

Bill Schroeder lived 620 days with an artificial heart

Bill Schroeder made medical history with artificial heart implant in ‘80s - YouTube

Jarvik-7 Artificial Heart | Smithsonian Institution

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Lasers Casting a Shadow, First Picture of a Star Outside Our Galaxy, and TDIH - The Campaign to Make Sean Connery the First James Bond

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Scientists reconsider their understanding of shadow after they discover lasers – highly concentrated beams of light – can cast one. And scientists finally have a close-up picture of a star outside our galaxy – and it’s surrounded by something interesting. Plus, on This Day in History, the campaign to make Sean Connery James Bond starts.

'It invites us to reconsider our notion of shadow': Laser beams can actually cast their own shadows, scientists discover | Live Science

Lasers That Cast Shadows? Physics Takes a Surprising Turn

Shadow of a laser beam

Scientists take first ever close-up picture of star outside our galaxy – and see strange structure around it | The Independent

Astronomers take the first close-up picture of a star outside our galaxy | ScienceDaily

The true story of how Sean Connery became James Bond | The Gentleman's Journal

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Rare Cosmic Event 40 Years Ago Changes What We Know About Uranus, Scientists Create a Mouse Using Ancient, Single-Cell Genes & TDIH: Smoking is Banned on US Domestic Flights

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:13:54 -0000

New research points to a rare cosmic event just 40 years ago that changes what we know about Uranus’ magnetosphere. Also, scientists create a living, breathing mouse using ancient single-cell genes. Plus, on 'This Day in History'; smoking is banned on domestic flights in the US.

Voyager 2’s defining Uranus flyby may have been skewed by a rare cosmic event | CNN

We’ve Only Been To Uranus Once And The Freak Timing May Have Misled Us For Years

The anomalous state of Uranus’s magnetosphere during the Voyager 2 flyby | Nature Astronomy

Scientists recreate mouse from gene older than animal life

Twenty-five Years Ago, U.S. Airlines Banned Smoking On Domestic Flights

TDIH: Celebrating 25 Years of No Smoking in Airplanes – SEATCA

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Weird Wednesday - Rats Driving Cars, King Richard III's Voice, and the 'Four Year Skip-Forward' Cruise. Plus, TDIH - The TV Movie That Helped the Cold War

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

It’s Weird Wednesday, so we are covering scientists that gave rats cars to drive and what was learned from their behavior behind the wheel, King Richard III’s voice is recreated, and the “Four Year Skip-Forward” cruise. Plus, on This Day in History, we look at the TV movie that helped change the course of the Cold War.

Neuroscientists taught rats to drive tiny cars. They took them out on 'joy rides.' | Live Science

Rats taught to drive tiny cars to lower their stress levels

King Richard III given Yorkshire accent using state-of-the-art technology | UK News | Sky News

US cruise company offering four-year escape during Trump presidency | US News | Sky News

‘The Day After’: This 1980s TV movie helped change the course of the Cold War | CNN

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Sitting Can Increase the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease, Amber Found in Antarctica for the First Time, and TDIH - The Nintendo Wii

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

How sitting, reclining, or lying down during the day may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Amber is found in Antarctica for the first time and what information can be gained from it. Plus, on This Day in History, we take a look at the Nintendo Wii.

Sitting too long can harm heart health, even for active people | ScienceDaily

For the first time in history, scientists have found amber fragments in Antarctica, at a depth of 946 meters

First discovery of Antarctic amber | Antarctic Science | Cambridge Core

90-million-year-old amber reveals Antarctica's secret past - Earth.com

Scientists Find Evidence of an Ancient Rainforest in Antarctica

Nintendo Wii (2006-2013) – History of Console Gaming

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Saber-Tooth Kitten Found, Largest Living Sea Creature Discovered, another "Doomsday Fish" Washed Ashore, and TDIH - U.S. Time Zones and the Teddy Bear

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 18:30:00 -0000

The remains of a well-preserved saber-toothed kitten was found in Russia, the discovery of the largest known sea creature, and another “Doomsday Fish” washed ashore in California. Plus, on This Day in History, how the railroads help set the time zones in the United States and the history of Teddy Bears.

Well-preserved remains of saber-toothed kitten found frozen in Russian tundra, researchers say - ABC News

Mummy of a juvenile sabre-toothed cat Homotherium latidens from the Upper Pleistocene of Siberia | Scientific Reports

The world’s largest coral was discovered in the South Pacific

Photos: Scientists discover the world’s largest coral | Vox

Another rare 'doomsday fish' discovered off Southern California coast | WFRV

When did the United States start using time zones?

History of Teddy Bears

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The Fake Job Scam, Circular Homes Verus Hurricanes, and TDIH - The Art Advisor to the Queen Exposed as a Soviet Spy

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

The latest scam - this one is based around finding a job and how circular homes are standing firm against hurricanes. Plus, on This Day in History, the art advisor to the Queen is exposed in Parliament as a Soviet spy and is stripped of his knighthood.

How to protect yourself from scammers offering fake jobs | AP News

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: How to stay safe from scams during | AP News

ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Why you shouldn't store your money in payment apps | AP News

Thousands of Circular Homes Are Surviving Hurricanes Across the US Thanks to North Carolina Company

True Story of Anthony Blunt, Queen Elizabeth's Art Curator & Russian Spy

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Ceres' Potential Icy Surface, Ancient Bird Skull Discovery Provides Incredible Insights & TDIH; The First Airplane to Take Off from a Ship

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:30:00 -0000

The largest object in the asteroid belt may be 90% ice and water and an ancient fossil of a bird skull can help fill the gaps of avian evolution. Plus, on 'This Day in History', we look at the first airplane flight to take off from the deck of a ship.

Near-Earth dwarf planet's surface is 90% covered by water - The Brighter Side of News

An ancient and impure frozen ocean on Ceres implied by its ice-rich crust | Nature Astronomy

Bird brain from the age of dinosaurs reveals roots of avian intelligence | ScienceDaily

The Short, Eventful Life of Eugene B. Ely | Proceedings - January 1981 Vol. 107/1/935

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Lung Cancer Breath Test, Weird Wed - Old Cake Sold, Gross Mystery Beach Balls, Monkey Escape, 'Wicked' Mistake, and TDIH - Big Ben Chimes for the First Time

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

A breakthrough breath test could detect lung cancer in the early stages, plus Weird Wednesday has a 77-year-old cake piece sold at auction, gross mystery balls on Sydney's beaches that should be avoided, monkeys captured after escaping a research lab, and a 'Wicked' mistake. Also, on This Day in History, the original Big Ben chimes for the first time.

Breakthrough breath test could detect lung cancer early

Ultrasensitive In2O3-Based Nanoflakes for Lung Cancer Diagnosis and the Sensing Mechanism Investigated by Operando Spectroscopy | ACS Sensors

77-year-old slice of Queen Elizabeth II's wedding cake sells for $2,800 - UPI.com

Watch: Suspected tar balls on Sydney beaches actually poop-filled 'fatbergs' - UPI.com

Mysterious black balls that washed up on Sydney beach were foul-smelling mini ‘fatbergs’ | CNN

South Carolina lab recaptures 5 escaped monkeys. 13 still loose | AP News

43 monkeys remain on the run from South Carolina lab. CEO thinks they're having an adventure | AP News

2 more escaped monkeys recaptured and enjoying peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in South Carolina | AP News

Mattel apologizes for misprint on 'Wicked' doll packaging that links to porngraphic website - UPI.com

When Did Big Ben First Bong? | Londonist

The recasting of Big Ben - The History Press

The History Of Big Ben And Elizabeth Tower In One Chronology | Londonist

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Physicists Explain How Time Travel Could Become a Reality & On TDIH; The First Recorded Aerial Bombing on US Soil (w/ Unexpected Combatants)

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 18:30:00 -0000

Perhaps STILL the stuff of Science Fiction, physicists explain how time travel could become a reality – and it’s not as 'out there' as you might initially think. Plus, on 'This Day in History'; The first recorded aerial bombing on US soil – and the combatants aren’t who you'd expect.

How the Universe’s hidden ‘scars’ could unlock time travel

Aerospaceweb.org | Ask Us - First Aerial Bombardment in the US

The Caucus Blog of the Illinois House Republicans: Williamson County was a dangerous place in the 1920s

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Elephants Using a Tool, Attitude vs Aging, and TDIH - The First US Fraternity and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Elephants that may use a hose like a tool…and for a trick, plus your attitude on aging may impact your cognitive skills as you get older. Also, on This Day in History; the first US fraternity and the dedication for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Elephant turns a hose into a sophisticated showering tool | ScienceDaily

A Positive Outlook on Aging is Linked to Feeling Sharper Mentally, Says New Study

Full article: Just as expected? Older adults’ aging expectations are associated with subjective cognition

F. H. C Society (Flat Hat Club) | Special Collections Knowledgebase

4 secret societies you probably don't know about | The Week

The Colonial Williamsburg Official History & Citizenship Site

Dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier | November 11, 1921 | HISTORY

Tomb History Fact Sheet.pdf

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Common Cold Medicine Could Be Pulled from the Market, New Information Revealed About Pompeii, and TDIH - The First US Detachable Electric Plug

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

The FDA could pull a common but ineffective cold medicine from the market and new DNA analysis reveals what scientists got wrong about Pompeii. And, on TDIH, the first detachable electric plug in the US.

FDA to pull common but ineffective cold medicine from market - CBS News

U.S. FDA proposes ending use of popular decongestant present in cold medicines | Reuters

DNA From Pompeii Victims Reveals Surprising Relationships Amidst the Chaos (gizmodo.com)

First US Detachable Electric Plug – Today in History: November 8 - Connecticut History | a CTHumanities Project

The story of the electric plug | SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention

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Massive New "Terror Bird" Discovered, Endangered Woodpecker Makes a Comeback, and TDIH - White Hurricane of the Great Lakes

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 18:30:00 -0000

The discovery of a fossilized 'Terror Bird' leg sheds light on the ancient South American ecosystem and a woodpecker’s comeback changes its status from endangered to threatened. Plus, on The Day in History, the White Hurricane of the Great Lakes.

Fossil of huge terror bird offers new information about wildlife in South America 12 million years ago | ScienceDaily

Red-cockaded woodpeckers' recovery in southeast leads to status change from endangered to threatened | AP News

'White Hurricane': Remembering the Great Lakes Storm of 1913 | Weather.com

Remembering the November 1913 "White Hurricane" (weather.gov)

The 4 factors that have led to a 'golden age' of discovery for Great Lakes shipwrecks | CBC News

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First Nation to Eliminate Leprosy, Weird Wednesday - Giant GPS Phallus, Unique Presidential Auction, a Couple Odd Structures, and TDIH - The Soviet Union's Five-Day Week

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

The Kingdom of Jordan is the first nation in the world to eliminate Leprosy. Weird Wednesday brings us a giant GPS phallus, a chance to buy President George Washington’s hair, and a couple "odd" structures. Plus, on 'This Day in History', the Soviet Union’s five-day week.

Jordan Recognized as First in the World to Eradicate Leprosy (goodnewsnetwork.org)

UK Man Creates Giant GPS Penis Drawing To Raise Money For Charity (ndtv.com)

Lock of Washington's hair and other presidential memorabilia up for auction | Reuters

Philippines resort features world's largest chicken-shaped building - UPI.com

Giant chicken hotel that’s breaking records « Euro Weekly News

A New Zealand city waves goodbye to its 'disturbing' giant hand sculpture that many came to love | AP News

For 11 Years, the Soviet Union Had No Weekends | HISTORY

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Why is Election Day on a Tuesday in November in the US, A Potential Step Forward in Predicting Volcanic Eruptions & TDIH: Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 18:35:00 -0000

It's Election Day in the United State so we examine why it falls on a Tuesday in November, plus a potential step forward in predicting volcanic activity, and on 'This Day in History', Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot leading to a seemingly ubiquitous mask today.

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Why Is Election Day a Tuesday in November?

New trigger proposed for record-smashing 2022 Tonga eruption | ScienceDaily

Something Weird Happened 15 Minutes Before the Giant Tonga Eruption of 2022 (gizmodo.com)

The Man Behind the Mask - Guy Fawkes

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A Small Moon Orbiting Uranus Could Harbor Life, The Detriment of Early-Life Sugar Consumption in Humans & TDIH: The First Wagon Train Arrives in California

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 18:00:00 -0000

A small moon orbiting Uranus may be the latest body in our solar system that could harbor life. New research out of USC suggests a low-sugar diet in utero and in the first two years of life can meaningfully reduce the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood, plus on "This Day in History", the first wagon train arrives in California on this day in 1841.

Constraining Ocean and Ice Shell Thickness on Miranda from Surface Geological Structures and Stress Modeling - IOPscience

Astronomers Found Something Cold and Wet Near Uranus (gizmodo.com)

Study shows Uranus Moon Could Harbor Alien Life in Subterranean Sea (msn.com)

Restricting sugar consumption in utero and in early childhood significantly reduces risk of midlife chronic disease

TDIH: The First Wagon Train Arrives - Cal@170 by the California State Library

1841 Detail, First Wagon Train West - U.S. History Timeline: The 1840's (americasbesthistory.com)

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The Fastest Spinning Star, Voyager One Switches to a Radio for the First time in 43 years, and TDIH - The Movie Rating System, Old and New

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Scientists spot a star spinning at so fast, it’ll make you dizzy just thinking about it – now the fastest spinning object ever observed and staying in space, another issue for the Voyager 1 probe causes it to use a radio for the first time in over 40 years. Plus, on This Day in History, the motion picture rating system is unveiled – you may be surprised to hear what we using before the familiar classifications of “G” “PG”, "PG-13", "R", and "NC-17".

One of the fastest-spinning stars in the Universe | ScienceDaily

Voyager 1 Ghosts NASA, Forcing Use of Backup Radio Dormant Since 1981 (gizmodo.com)

The Hays Code: History, Rules, and Why It Ended | Backstage

History (filmratings.com)

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The Connection Between Earthquakes and Geysers, Dark Matter from Black Holes & TDIH; the First US Coast-to-Coast Highway is Dedicated

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:05:11 -0000

A new study examines the connection between earthquakes and geysers. Evidence mounts that dark matter – something that's long perplexed scientists -- originates with black holes. Plus, on 'This Day in History'; the first coast-to-coast highway is dedicated in the US.

Earthquakes might trigger Yellowstone's Steamboat geyser : NPR

Evidence mounts for dark energy from black holes

TDIH: America's First Transcontinental Highway Turns 100 : NPR

TDIH: The Lincoln Highway | FHWA (dot.gov)

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New Research Says Social Species Live Longer, Weird Wednesday - The Artisan Cheese Thief, More Drugs on Pizza, and a Lawsuit to make Elephants a "Person"; plus TDIH - Intel’s Pentium Bug of 1994

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Why social species live longer than their solitary counterparts. Plus, Weird Wednesday has an Artisan Cheese Thief, More Drugs on Pizza, and a potential lawsuit from an elephant? On This Day in History, we look at Intel’s Pentium Bug of 1994.

More social species live longer | ScienceDaily

Artisan cheese seller in a pickle after thieves made off with massive cheddar haul | AP News

Pizza inadvertently infused with THC sickens dozens in Wisconsin | AP News

Can an elephant sue to leave a zoo? Colorado's top court must now decide | AP News

Rare dime bought by Ohio farm family and hidden for decades fetches $500,000 at auction | AP News

Mathematician Finds Intel's Pentium Doesn't Compute : Technology: A flaw that the company failed to disclose in June causes errors in complex calculations. - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

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Scientists Reverse Brain Agin in Fruit Flies, The ESO's New Telescope Sends Photos from the 'Dark Side' of the Universe & TDIH: Lunar Orbiter 1's Crash Landing & Boris Pasternak's Nobel Refusal

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Scientists reverse brain aging in fruit flies! What does that mean for humans? The European Space Agency’s new telescope, Euclid, provides us with stunning images of the “Dark Side” of the Universe. And on 'This Day in History'; the crash landing of NASA’s Lunar Orbiter 1 and Boris Pasternak’s refusal to accept his Nobel Prize

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Scientists can reverse brain aging in fruit flies by preventing buildup of a common protein

See the first piece of what promises to be the largest 3D map of the universe | CNN

ESA - Euclid overview

In Depth: Lunar Orbiter 1

Why Boris Pasternak Rejected His Nobel Prize

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AI Creates Precise Gene Control Switches, "Landscape of Fear" Hypothesis Questioned, and TDIH - Fingerprints Used in an Investigation for the First Time

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Using AI, researchers develop DNA ‘switches’ to precisely control gene activity in specific cell types and the Yellowstone “Landscape of Fear” hypothesis is being questioned. Plus, on This Day in History, fingerprints are used in an investigation for the first time.

Researchers flip genes on and off with AI-designed DNA switches | ScienceDaily

Predation, not fear of wolves, keeps elk from denuding Yellowstone | Science | AAAS

From a fair to fingerprinting: Here's the history behind how we identify suspects | abc10.com

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Mount Everest is Growing, UK Treasure Hunters are Rewarded in a Big Way & TDIH; the First International, Six-Day Bike Race + the Great Wood Ban of Amsterdam

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Mount Everest is having a growth spurt, treasure hunters in the UK are rewarded in a big way, and on 'This Day in History', the first international, six-day bike-race & the great wood ban of Amsterdam

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Mount Everest is having a growth spurt, say researchers

Trove of ancient silver coins unearthed by metal detectorists sells for $5.6 million - CBS News

The History of the Six Day Races

Great Wood Ban of Amsterdam

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How Mega-Buildings are Slowing the Earth’s Spin, Electro-Agriculture Could Help Plants Grow without Sun & TDIH: the First Photo of Earth Taken from Space

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 17:30:00 -0000

On today's episode, we examine how mega-buildings/structures are now slowing the earth’s spin! Plus, how electro-agriculture could help plants grow without photosynthesis, and what that means for the future. Plus, on 'This Day in History'; the first photo of earth taken from space using a rocket commandeered from Nazi Germany.

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Mega-buildings are now slowing Earth’s spin. Here’s what that means for the planet

The 2011 Japan Earthquake Rocks the Earth

NASA Details Earthquake Effects on the Earth

Scientists Grow Crops in Near-Total Darkness Thanks to New 'Electro-Agriculture' Technique (gizmodo.com)

'Electro-agriculture' may help plants grow in the dark | Popular Science (popsci.com)

A Movie Camera in a V-2 Rocket Takes the First Photograph of the Earth from Space

PRESS RELEASE (1946): Navy to Probe Upper Atmosphere

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The Correct Way to Throw a Frisbee, Weird Wednesday has a Quick Goodbye, a Shoe Smeller, and a Special Side Order that Toppled a Drug Operation & on 'This Day in History', The First Modern Nose Job

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Scientific research reveals the "correct" way to throw a frisbee. Plus, Weird Wednesday has a quick goodbye, a shoe smeller, and a special side order that toppled a drug operation. And on TDIH, we look back at the first modern nose job.

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You've been throwing a frisbee all wrong, new study finds

Weird Weds: New Zealand airport wants you to hug goodbye faster | AP News

Weird Weds: Greek man convicted of causing disturbance by entering neighbors' properties to smell their shoes | AP News

Weird Weds: German police say pizza order No. 40 came with a side of cocaine | AP News

Weird Weds: Champion cleared of cheating with a metal chestnut at the World Conker Championships | AP News

TDIH: Britain's first nose job

TDIH: Joseph Constantine Carpue and the Revival of Rhinoplasty

TDIH: Joseph Constantine Carpue and the Bicentennial of the Birth of Modern Plastic Surgery

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First Brown Dwarf Discovered Actually Twins, What Happened When a Large Meteorite Hit Earth, and TDIH - Yahoo Buys Four11

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 17:30:00 -0000

It has been revealed that the first brown dwarf ever discovered is actually twins and we look at what happened to Earth when a meteorite four times the size of Mount Everest hit our planet. Plus, on This Day in History, Yahoo makes a purchase to offer free email to their customers.

‘It’s twin’ twist: Astronomers solve 29-year-old brown dwarf mystery (msn.com)

It's twins! Mystery of famed brown dwarf solved | ScienceDaily

First Brown Dwarf Discovered is Actually Twins | AMNH

The cool brown dwarf Gliese 229 B is a close binary | Nature

What happened when a meteorite the size of four Mount Everests hit Earth? | ScienceDaily

Yahoo buys Four11 for free email - CNET

The history of Yahoo, and how it went from phenom to has-been - Fast Company

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Using Asteroids for Food, Resurrecting the Tasmanian Tiger, and TDIH - The First Transatlantic Radiotelephone Message

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Could future astronauts use asteroids for food? It might be possible, we'll explain how. The Tasmanian Tiger might be resurrected. Plus, on This Day in History, we look at the first transatlantic radiotelephone message.

Astronauts could mine asteroids for food someday, scientists say | Live Science

Could Future Astronauts Dine on Asteroids? (popularmechanics.com)

How we can mine asteroids for space food | International Journal of Astrobiology | Cambridge Core

Scientists could soon resurrect the Tasmanian tiger. Should we be worried? | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Telephone History: First Transatlantic Speech Transmission | TIME

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New Weather Advisories for the National Weather Service, The Origin for Most Meteorites Revealed, and TDIH - The Pop-Up Toaster

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The National Weather Service makes changes to their Winter Advisories and the origin of most meteorites is revealed. Plus, on This Day in History, we look at the solution to burnt toast.

There won’t be any wind chill warnings in Wisconsin this winter (wbay.com)

Why you’ll no longer see ‘Wind Chill Warnings’ this winter (msn.com)

Understanding Cold Weather Alerts

The origin of most meteorites finally revealed | ScienceDaily

The Demise of Burnt Toast: The Invention of the Pop-up Toaster - Hennepin History Museum

Loop Back: World's First Pop-Up Toaster - North Loop Neighborhood Association

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Wearable Armband for Stroke Victims to Increase Flexibility, The "Dirty Soda" Trend, and TDIH - The London Beer Flood

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A new wearable armband might help stroke victims with flexibility in their arms and the latest new drink trend - "Dirty Soda" - we’ll explain what that is. Plus, on This Day in History, we look at the London Beer Flood that claimed several lives and spilled hundreds of thousands of gallons on the streets of London.

New Wearable Cuff 'Rewires' Brains of Stroke Patients by Stimulating Nerves (goodnewsnetwork.org)

Task-Oriented Design of a Multi-Degree of Freedom Upper Limb Prosthesis with Integrated Myocontrol and Sensory Feedback — NYU Scholars

What is a "dirty soda"? The latest drink trend and its health impact, explained. - CBS News

NASA launches spacecraft to gauge if Jupiter's moon Europa can host life (msn.com)

The London Beer Flood of 1814 (historic-uk.com)

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The Decision Making of Fungi, Weird Wednesday - Discovery on Mt. Everest, Wife-Carrying Competition, Conkers Controversy, and TDIH - Disney Cartoons

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The decision-making processes in fungi - you heard that right! Weird Wednesday has an Mt Everest discovery 100 years later, a wife-carrying competition, and controversy in the Conkers Championship…we’ll explain. And on This Day in History, the start of Disney Cartoons.

Do fungi recognize shapes? | ScienceDaily

Everest climber Irvine's foot believed found after 100 years (bbc.com)

Wife-carrying championship victory brings beer, cash | AP News

Conkers controversy: World tournament investigates claims of cheating with steel chestnut | AP News

Disney History - D23

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Killing Mosquitos with CBD, The Possibility of Satellite Collisions, & TDIH - The Shredded Wheat Machine

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 17:15:00 -0000

Can CBD be used to snuff out mosquitos? New research says ‘yes’, and, perhaps a surprise but space is getting crowded – or at least satellite traffic is on the rise. Is this cause for concern? Plus on This Day in History, shredded wheat – the cereal that would greatly impact an industry – and the patented machine that made it.

CBD from Hemp Kills Mosquitoes, Inflicting 100% Mortality Rate on Pesticide-Resistant Insects (goodnewsnetwork.org)

Larvicidal Activity of Hemp Extracts and Cannabidiol against the Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti (mdpi.com)

A satellite collision catastrophe is now inevitable, experts warn | BBC Science Focus Magazine

SpaceX Starlink satellites caused 25,000 near-misses in just 6 months | Space

History of Shredded Wheat | Shredded Wheat Collectors' Website (iloveshreddedwheat.com)

Henry D. Perky, the Shredded Wheat King - Nebraska State Historical Society

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Study Shows Everything that the Famous "Man-Eater" Lions Ate, Rare Well-Preserved Viking Dig Concludes, and TDIH - Teddy Roosevelt's Shot and Still Delivers His Speech

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A new study reveals human and animal hair in the teeth of the famous ‘man-eater’ lions that were killed in 1898, and what we can learn from a rare well-preserved Viking burial site. Plus, on This Day in History, Teddy Roosevelt delivers an hour-long campaign speech in Milwaukee AFTER being shot in the chest.

Genomic study identifies human, animal hair in 'man-eater' lions' teeth | ScienceDaily

In Denmark, 50 well-preserved Viking Age skeletons have been unearthed, a rare discovery | AP News

Teddy Roosevelt survived shooting, assassination attempt in Milwaukee (jsonline.com)

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Electroactive Material Breakthrough for Wearable Devices and TDIH - The Battle of the Laser Patent

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A new electroactive material may represent a massive breakthrough for wearable devices, including the medical variety – we’ve got details. Plus, on This Day in History, the patent wars over who really invented the laser come to an end.

Nature and plastics inspire breakthrough in soft sustainable materials | ScienceDaily

Gordon Gould: The Long Battle For The Laser Patent | Electronic Design

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Voyager 2 Shuts Down Another Instrument to Preserve Power and TDIH - The First Synthetic Soap and Its Successor

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Voyager 2 shuts off one of its five remaining instruments to preserve power. Plus, on This Day in History; an extended look at the history of the first synthetic soap and its successor – a massive brand name that’s still dominating the market today – some 90 years later.

NASA shut off a Voyager 2 tool to save power | Popular Science (popsci.com)

NASA Turns Off Iconic Voyager 2 Instrument As Space Probe Loses Power | IFLScience

NASA Turns Off Science Instrument to Save Voyager 2 Power | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

Development of Tide Synthetic Detergent - American Chemical Society (acs.org)

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A 2 Billion-Year-Old Rock Houses Living Microbes, Weird Wednesday Has a 31-year Treasure Hunt, a 50-Year Job Application Response, and Another Midwest Alligator & TDIH; The First Electric Blanket

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 17:35:00 -0000

On today’s episode; a 2 billion-year-old rock is found to house living microbes! Weird Wednesday features a treasure hunt that ends after 31 years, a job application response that took 50 years, and another midwest alligator. And on This Day in History the first electric blanket is manufactured in the US, and it isn’t cheap!

2-billion-year-old rock home to living microbes

After 31 years, a French treasure hunt may have a winner. The prize: a valuable golden owl | AP News

Treasure hunt for golden owl ends in France after 31 years (bbc.com)

Mailed job application returned to woman after nearly 50 years - UPI.com

Watch: Alligator found hiding under parked car in Detroit suburb - UPI.com

TDIH: History of the Electric Blanket (thoughtco.com)

TDIH: Who Invented The Electric Blanket: A History Of Warmth (slumberhackers.com)

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A Mission to Study the Potential for Life on Jupiter’s Moon Europa, A Potential Breakthrough in the Field of Neuroscience that Could Help Combat Alzheimer’s Disease & TDIH; the Microwave Oven is Patented

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 17:30:00 -0000

A mission to study the potential for life on Jupiter’s moon Europa is soon expected to launch. Plus, a potential breakthrough in the field of neuroscience that could help combat Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. And on 'This Day in History'; the microwave oven is patented.

NASA is launching a major mission to look for habitable spots on Jupiter’s moon Europa (theconversation.com)

SpaceX, NASA stand down from Oct. 10 Europa Clipper launch due to Hurricane Milton (msn.com)

Neuroscientists spark shelter-seeking response by reactivating memory circuit

Ride the (electromagnetic) Wave with Percy Spencer! (MIT)

Percy Spencer & The Microwave Oven (MIT)

National Inventors Hall of Fame

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Agriculture on Earth Began 66 Million Years Ago (And Not by Humans), Maximizing Cell Phone Usage in the Classroom & A Cultural Classic "American Bandstand" Debuts on Television

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Scientists now say agriculture on earth began 66 million years ago thanks to ... ants! Plus, long thought to be a detriment to learning, a new study provides insight on how teachers can get the most out of cell phones – and other technology – in the classroom. And, on This Day in History, the TV show that brought the nation several dance crazes -- American Bandstand debuts in Philadelphia.

Ant agriculture began 66 million years ago in the aftermath of the asteroid that doomed the dinosaurs

Evaluating technology breaks on cell phone use in a college classroom

"American Bandstand" goes national | August 5, 1957 | HISTORY

The History of "American Bandstand" (liveabout.com)

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New Discovery on Pluto's Largest Moon, Plastic Eating Bacteria, and TDIH - The Beginning of Esquire Magazine

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0000

With the help of the Webb telescope, scientists have found new information about the surface on one of Pluto’s moons and as for our plastic problems here on earth – researchers have found a common family of bacteria using the material for food. What might that mean for global clean-up efforts. Plus, on This Day in History, we look at the start of the “Men’s Only” magazine, Esquire.

NASA's Webb telescope detects traces of carbon dioxide on a Pluto moon | AP News

NASA Telescope Finds New Details About Pluto's Largest Moon - Newsweek

Webb telescope detects carbon dioxide, hydrogen peroxide on surface of Pluto's largest moon - CBS News

Really, Here's How You Pronounce "Charon"---Probably | WIRED

Wastewater bacteria can breakdown plastic for food | ScienceDaily

Esquire's Living Legacy

Esquire | Men’s Fashion, Style & Culture | Britannica

Arnold Gingrich — Catskill Fly Fishing Museum (cffcm.com)

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The First Battery-Powered Planes Tested and TDIH - The First Female US Senator

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The first battery-powered planes are tested to help improve global emissions emitted from aircrafts and on This Day in History, the first female senator is appointed - but only serves for 24 hours, we’ll explain.

The world's first battery-powered planes have landed. But how safe are they? | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Sustainable air travel: Could long-haul flights ever go green? - BBC Science Focus Magazine

ZeroAvia Makes Aviation History, Flying World’s Largest Aircraft Powered with a Hydrogen-Electric Engine - ZeroAvia

Rebecca Latimer Felton - New Georgia Encyclopedia

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New Exoplanet Discovered at a Nearby Star, Weird Wednesday - Fat Bear Contest, London Sheep Herding Tradition, a Blue Lobster, and TDIH - The Snail Telegraph

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A new exoplanet was discovered circling our nearest star neighbor – and no, I'm not talking about the sun. Weird Wednesday includes a fat bear contest, a sheep herding tradition, and a blue lobster. Plus, on This Day in History, 1851 – the pasilalinic-sympathetic compass promises to provide global communication without the use of electronics – instead, they used snails.

Scientists discover planet orbiting closest single star to our Sun | ScienceDaily

Fat Bear Week 2024 | VOTE (explore.org)

Online voting in Alaska's Fat Bear Week contest starts after an attack killed 1 contestant | AP News

Damian Lewis herds sheep over a London bridge in homage to a medieval tradition | AP News

Watch: Aquarium rescues blue lobster from grocery store tank - UPI.com

This week I learned: the snail telegraph – E. H. Mann (ehmannwrites.com)

The Man Who Tried to Invent a Telegraph Made Out of Telepathic Snails (gizmodo.com)

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The Latest on Cell Phones and Their Potential to Cause Brain Cancer, a New Piece from Mozart is Discovered, and TDIH - President Lincoln’s Civil War Substitute

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 17:40:00 -0000

The latest on cell phones and their potential tie to brain cancer – what does the research tell us? A new piece from Mozart is discovered in Germany, And on This Day in History, President Lincoln’s Civil War substitute – we’ve got the details.

Scientists Determine If Cell Phone Radiation Causes Brain Cancer (prevention.com)

This Lost Mozart Composition Hasn't Been Heard for Centuries. Now, You Can Listen to It | Smithsonian (smithsonianmag.com)

Previously Unknown Mozart Song Discovered in German Library After 200 Years (goodnewsnetwork.org)

Mozart Biography - Opera Philadelphia

John Summerfield Staples and Abraham Lincoln | Local History Articles | Monroe County Historical Association (monroehistorical.org)

The Conscription Act and Abraham Lincoln's Civil War Substitute (warfarehistorynetwork.com)

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Comet A3 Visible in the Night Sky and TDIH - The World's First Rocket Propelled Flight

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A spectacle in the night sky can be seen now and it will only get brighter and on This Day in History, the world’s first rocket-propelled flight – a publicity stunt, but also an inspiration for future inventors.

Brightening Comet 2023 A3 set to light up autumn sky (bbc.com)

Comet A3 Tracker For The Week Ahead — Where And When To See It (forbes.com)

Fireworks forecast if comet survives risky sun flypast (phys.org)

Car maker Opel’s 1929 publicity stunt to fly world’s first (key.aero)

Today in Engineering History: First Manned Rocket-Propelled Plane Flight (designworldonline.com)

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A Balloon that Could Bring Tourists to the Edge of Space & on TDIH; An Endangered Rat Capable of Cracking Coconuts is Confirmed to Exist in 2017

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 17:35:00 -0000

A balloon could soon bring tourists to the edge of space, after undergoing a successful test. We’ll have the details on what it will cost you. And on 'This Day in History', an endangered rat that’s reportedly capable of cracking open coconuts is confirmed to exist -- on a single island -- back in 2017.

So-Called 'Space Balloon' Completes Crucial Test Ahead of Tourist Flights (gizmodo.com)

$125,000 Balloon Trips To Space Closer After Successful Test Flight (forbes.com)

spaceperspective.com/journal/space-perspective-successfully-completes-development-flight-2

Passengers Invited to Experience an Astronaut's Eye View of Earth in a Balloon : ScienceAlert

Giant, tree-dwelling rat discovered in Solomon Islands

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Is Tap Water Better for You Than Bottled Water? Mar's Atmosphere May Be in Its Soil, and TDIH - As an Underdog, America Wins What Becomes the Leech Cup

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Scientists say drink more TAP WATER – it’s better for you than its store-bought, bottled counterpart, and Mars soil may be hiding the planet’s ancient atmosphere in plain sight – and it could one day be used as rocket fuel. We’ve got the details. Plus, on This Day in History; Bullseye! America wins what becomes the Leech Cup – the oldest trophy in shooting competition – on the final shot over the heavily favored Irish.

Drinking bottled water is much worse for you than tap, scientists find | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Mars' missing atmosphere could be hiding in plain sight | ScienceDaily

THE GREAT RIFLE MATCH - Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com

The Great 1874 International Match | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal (ssusa.org)

The Leech Cup | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal (ssusa.org)

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Extinct Volcanoes Could Hold the Key to Rare Earth Minerals, Weird Wednesday Includes a Message in a Bottle from an Archeologist 200 Years Ago & on TDIH, the Remote Control is Born

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Extinct volcanoes could hold the key to the rare earth minerals require for today’s electronics. Plus it’s Weird Wednesday and Reggie has a host of stories, including a message in a bottle from an archeologist 200 years ago. On 'This Day in History,' the telekino, aka a remote control is born in 1906.

Extinct volcanoes a 'rich' source of rare earth elements

Look: Archaeologist's message in a bottle found at dig site 200 years later - UPI.com

Message in a bottle, written 200 years ago by an archaeologist, found on a French clifftop - CBS News

Michigan library closed when bugs crawl out of returned DVD case - UPI.com

A lost cat's mysterious 2-month, 900-mile journey home to California | AP News

The World's First Remote Control

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YouTube New Features Announced and TDIH - KFC Opens its First Franchise Location (Hint: It's Not in Kentucky)

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 18:00:00 -0000

YouTube announced more features for both viewers and creators, plus on This Day in History, KFC opens its first franchise location and it’s not in Kentucky!

The Best New Features Coming to YouTube in 2024 (gizmodo.com)

Made on YouTube 2024: Announcements for YouTube creators and viewers (blog.google)

An Antique Employee-Tracking Device: The International Dial Time Recorder Clock - Core77

The History Of KFC – Feedough

KFC - Our Heritage | KFC

KFC | The Colonel's Story Timeline | The Life of Harland Sanders

A struggling franchisee closes 25 KFC restaurants in the Midwest (restaurantbusinessonline.com)

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Predicting Catastrophic River Shifts, New Rhino Population Stats, Woolly Rhino Found, and TDIH - A Legendary Video Game Company is Founded - With Playing Cards

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The scientific breakthrough that could help us predict catastrophic river shifts. Plus, the global number of rhinos is headed in the right direction, but poaching is also on the rise and a new woolly rhino is found. This Day in History, the founding of what turned into a legendary video gaming company.

Breakthrough study predicts catastrophic river shifts that threaten millions worldwide | ScienceDaily

The number of rhinos is slightly up but poaching has increased too | AP News

India's one-horned rhino numbers charging ahead, govt says (yahoo.com)

32,400-year-old woolly rhino mummy unearthed with skin, fur intact (interestingengineering.com)

Frozen Mummy of a Subadult Woolly Rhinoceros Coelodonta antiquitatis (Blumenbach, 1799) from the Late Pleistocene of Yakutia | Doklady Earth Sciences (springer.com)

Nintendo was founded in 1889, nearly a century before the NES | The Vintage News

23 September 1889: Nintendo starts making playing cards | MoneyWeek

From creating Japanese playing cards in 1889 to becoming one of the most iconic video game companies in history, see how Nintendo has evolved | Business Insider India

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Voyager 1 Adjustment to Continue Its Mission, Largest Blackhole Discovered, and TDIH - The First Fictitious Band to Hit Number One on the Billboard 100

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

47 years in and billions of miles from home, Voyager 1 still troubleshoots to explore the great beyond. Staying in space, the largest ever black hole jets have been discovered – and their size is almost incomprehensible. We’ll have the details. And on TDIH, the first fictitious band to hit number one on the Billboard 100.

Voyager 1 survives clogged thruster issue billions of miles away | CNN

NASA's Voyager 1 probe swaps thrusters in tricky fix as it flies through interstellar space | Space

Largest ever black hole jet pair discovered in the distant Universe | BBC Science Focus Magazine

50 Years Later, The Archies' 'Sugar, Sugar' Is Still 'Really Sweet' : NPR

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Scuba Diving Lizards, Earth's TWO Moons & TDIH: The First Carpet Sweeper Patented by Melvin Bissell Leads to the First Female CEO

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Diving lizards use an air bubble to breathe underwater. What can we learn from this fascinating admiral adaptation? Plus, Earth will soon have two moons…temporarily. And on 'This Day in History; the first carpet sweeper patented by Melvin Bissell also leads to the world’s first female CEO – in 1889.

'Scuba-diving' lizards use bubble to breathe underwater and avoid predators

Earth will soon have a temporary second moon | KTLA

What you need to know about Earth's new, temporary mini-moon - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

A Two-month Mini-moon: 2024 PT5 Captured by Earth from September to November - IOPscience

The First Carpet Sweeper

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Coffee and Caffeine Health Benefits, Weird Wednesday Has a Python Catching Competition, Bird of the Year, and the Oldest Person Alive, and TDIH - The First White Female Native American Chief

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Coffee and caffeine may be good for your health, we’ll explain. Weird Wednesday has a python catching competition, the bird of the year, and the oldest person alive is honored in Japan. Plus, on This Day in History, the first white female to be recognized as a chief in the Native American community.

Moderate coffee and caffeine consumption is associated with lower risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases, new study finds | ScienceDaily

Grand prize winner removed 20 Burmese pythons from the wild in Florida challenge | AP News

A shy penguin has won New Zealand's bird election | AP News

New Zealand names bird of year after contest with bird costumes, craft beer - UPI.com

World's oldest living person honored on Respect for the Aged Day - UPI.com

pbs.org/warrior/content/bio/converse.html

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"God of Chaos" Asteroid's Close Encounter with Earth and TDIH - The First Transcontinental Flight of the US

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:15:00 -0000

A city-killer sized asteroid’s close encounter with Earth could provide us with new data - but what are the odds it actually hits us? Plus, on This Day in History, how long did the first transcontinental flight of the US take? We’ll have the answer and tell who and how he did it.

'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis could still hit Earth in 2029, study hints — but we won't know for 3 more years | Live Science

NASA can't wait for its OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft to meet 'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis in 2029 | Space

Could 'God of Chaos' asteroid hit Earth in 2029? | WFRV (wearegreenbay.com)

On the Sensitivity of Apophis's 2029 Earth Approach to Small Asteroid Impacts - IOPscience

Sept. 17, 1911: First Transcontinental Flight Takes Weeks | WIRED

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Dinosaur-Era Tree Saplings Being Auctioned, How an Aging Immune System Fuels Cancer Growth & TDIH: The 1920 Bombing of Wall Street & The Empire State Building's Mooring Mast

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:30:00 -0000

On today's episode, dinosaur-era tree saplings are being sold at auction with the goal of spreading their presence across Australia. Plus, a new study reveals how an aging immune system fuels cancer growth. And on This Day in History, the 1920 bombing of Wall Street – PLUS, was there really a secondary purpose to the Empire State Building’s massive spire?

6 Saplings of Dinosaur-Era Tree Species Being Auctioned to Spread the Pines Around Australia

Novel study reveals how aging immune system fuels cancer growth, potentially opening new avenues for prevention

TDIH: Blimps Docked on Empire State Building: True or False?

TDIH: Docking on the Empire State Building

TDIH: Wall Street Bombing 1920

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Cardiovascular Issues a Daughter Can Have Due to a Father's Diet, Ig Nobel Prizes Announced, and TDIH - The NYC Riot That Started with a Hat

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Like father, like daughter – a new study finds fathers with unhealthy diets can actually cardiovascular disease on to their daughters specifically. Plus, you won’t want to miss the Ig Nobel award-winning research this year – Reggie has details. And on TDIH, the NYC riot that started with a hat!

Like father, like daughter | ScienceDaily

Ig Nobel prize: Scientists who discovered mammals can breathe through their anuses receive award | CNN

Studies on pigeon-guided missiles, swimming abilities of dead fish among Ig Nobels winners | AP News

100 Years Ago Men and Boys Fought on the Streets of New York Over Wearing Straw Hats Past Summer | The New York Public Library (nypl.org)

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Protein That Can Extend Longevity, Most Detailed Video of a Star, and TDIH - The Messier Catalog is Started

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The protein that may determine how long we live, and the most detailed video of a star ever shows bubbling gas on the surface. Plus, on This Day in History, The Messier Catalog is started - to let astronomers know what objects in the night sky aren't a comet.

Newly discovered gene may influence longevity | ScienceDaily

Astronomers track bubbles on star's surface | ScienceDaily

Who was Charles Messier? | BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Charles Messier - NASA Science

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Using Bacteria to Anticipate Seasonal Changes, Weird Wednesday - Rare Dime, Odd Hotels Requests and Finds, and Message-in-a-Bottle, & TDIH - The History of Dialysis

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Can an organism as simple as bacteria really anticipate seasonal changes? Weird Wednesday has an expensive dime, odd room service requests, interesting items found in hotels, and a message-in-a-bottle birthday wish come true. And on This Day in History – the history of dialysis.

'Ice bucket challenge' reveals that bacteria can anticipate the seasons | ScienceDaily

Ohio family expects huge payout for rare coin hidden for decades | AP News

Hotels reveal most unusual lost and found items, room service requests - UPI.com

Hotel Room Innsights Report: Hotels.com Pulls Back the Covers on the Surprising World of Hotels - Expedia Newsrooms

Visitor to Georgia island finds third-grader's message in a bottle - UPI.com

Message in a bottle makes its way from Charleston to Georgia | News | postandcourier.com

The History of Dialysis - DaVita

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Making Skin Transparent, How Rare Are Colorful Lobsters? Plus, TDIH - The TV Dinner

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Scientists may have discovered the key to making skin transparent and like Reggie, some scientists are questioning how rare some of those colorful lobsters are. Plus, on This Day in History, the tv dinner comes to the table…or maybe the living room.

Scientists make tissue of living animals see-through | ScienceDaily

Rainbow colored lobsters spark curiosity, but how rare are they? | AP News

A Brief History of the TV Dinner | Smithsonian (smithsonianmag.com)

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Volcanic Activity On the Moon & TDIH: The Erie Steamship Suffers a Tragic Fate en Route to Chicago.

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:55:00 -0000

The moon may have had volcanic activity more recently than previously believed, and on 'This Day in History', the Erie steamship suffers a tragic fate en route to Chicago.

New research suggests the moon had active volcanoes when dinosaurs roamed Earth | AP News

The moon had surprisingly recent volcanic activity, samples from Chinese space mission confirm

Disaster on Lake ErieThe Horrifying Erie Steamship Tragedy

Eerie Steamship Disaster

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Making Money Collecting Pine Cones, New Species of Dinosaur Unearthed in Spain, and TDIH - Piggly Wiggly, The First Supermarket Opens

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The Wisconsin DNR is looking for pine cones…we’ll explain why, and, yet another species of dinosaur has been unearthed in Spain. Plus, on This Day in History, the first supermarket opens and it has a name you can’t forget.

Wisconsin DNR will pay money for bushels of pine cones, part of reforestation program | WFRV (wearegreenbay.com)

DNR Looking To Buy Bushels Of Red Pine Cones | Wisconsin DNR

Fossil site found by happenstance likely to produce several new dinosaur species (msn.com)

The Bizarre Story of Piggly Wiggly, the First Self-Service Grocery Store | Smithsonian (smithsonianmag.com)

About Us - Piggly Wiggly (lovingthepig.com)

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Bacterial Cells Transmit Memories to Offspring, Six New Rogue Worlds Discovered & TDIH: The First Gas Pump

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 17:30:00 -0000

On today’s episode, do bacteria cells have memories? A new study out of Northwestern has the answer. Plus, six new rogue worlds have been discovered in space. And, on 'This Day in History', we look back on the first gasoline pump.

Bacterial cells transmit memories to offspring

Six new rogue worlds: Star birth clues

First Gas Pump and Service Station - American Oil & Gas Historical Society (aoghs.org)

The First Gasoline Pump | Days to Remember (wordpress.com)

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Nuclear Powered Batteries, Weird Wednesday - Unwanted Shirts, Long Lost Postcard, Another Orange Lobster and TDIH - The First Newspaper Boy

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Why your next batteries could be nuclear powered, Weird Wednesday has unwanted shirts, a long lost postcard that helps reunite a family and another orange lobster. Plus, on This Day in History – the first newspaper boy is hired in NYC.

Why your next batteries might be nuclear-powered | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Nuclear power in your pocket? 50-year battery innovation | CAS

Chinese-developed nuclear battery has a 50-year lifespan — Betavolt BV100 built with Nickel-63 isotope and diamond semiconductor material | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

Man Keeps Getting Unwanted Trump ‘Chillin Like a Felon’ Jerseys in the Mail (gizmodo.com)

Swansea: Woman meets relatives after 121-year-old postcard finally delivered | UK News | Sky News

Orange lobster returned to the wild after arrival at Long Island store - UPI.com

Ten-year-old Barney Flaherty was New York's first paperboy | IrishCentral.com

Barney Flaherty Archives - TIMOTHY J. BOYCE (timboyce.com)

This Day in History (4-Sep-1833) – Ten-year-old Barney Flaherty was the first newspaper boy in New York – This Day in History (mukundsathe.com)

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A Potential Solution for Migraine Headaches, New Methods for Creating Chocolate Given the Shortage & on TDIH; Online Auction Site eBay is Founded

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 17:35:00 -0000

Today's episode features a potential solution for those who suffer from migraine headaches – so long as you know one is coming on. And, as demand for cocoa increases while supplies dwindle, new methods for creating chocolate are being developed. Plus on TDIH; online auction site EBay is founded. That’s coming up on Cool Stuff.

Cure for migraines: Scientists closer to breakthrough with new pill

Companies seeking new ways to grow cocoa to keep up with demand | AP News

Rich cocoa prices hitting shoppers with bitter chocolate costs as Easter approaches | AP News

History of eBay: Facts and Timeline

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Side Effect of Intermittent Fasting, "Corn Sweat" Causing Humidity Levels to Rise, and TDIH - The Longest Overwater Bridge in the US

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Too much of a good thing - Does the popular trend of intermittent fasting have a downside? Plus, are you feeling the corn sweat? We’ll explain. And on This Day in History, the longest overwater bridge opens.

'Too much of a good thing': Here’s what fasting could actually do to your body | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Sweaty corn is making it even more humid | AP News

Feeling Sticky This Summer? 'Corn Sweat' Could Be Raising the Humidity | Smithsonian (smithsonianmag.com)

What is corn sweat? A Midwest heat wave is causing humidity to skyrocket. | Vox

Driving the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway: The Longest Overwater Bridge in the World - UponArriving

Tammany Family: Mandeville History: A Resort Dreamed

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Opens (nationalgeographic.org)

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Matching Dinosaur Footprints on Different Continents, The First Human-Caused Asteroid Shower, and TDIH - The Zeppelin Around-The-World Trip

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Matching dinosaur footprints on two different continents and for the first time ever, a human-caused asteroid shower is coming to Earth. Plus, on This Day in History, a Zeppelin airship completes its round-the-world trip.

Matching dinosaur footprints found on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean | ScienceDaily

NASA's dart mission may spark human-caused meteor showers (msn.com)

Fallout from NASA's asteroid-smashing DART mission could hit Earth — potentially triggering 1st human-caused meteor shower | Live Science

NASA Confirms DART Mission Impact Changed Asteroid’s Motion in Space - NASA

Ninety years since the first round-the-world airship flight | World Air Sports Federation (fai.org)

Passengers and Crew of Graf Zeppelin's Round the World Flight of 1929 | Airships.net

Graf Zeppelin’s Historic 1929 Flight Around the World (youtube.com)

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Tarantula Mating Season, Weird Wednesday Has the Oldest Bottle of Cognac, the Oldest Living Man, The Not Missing Kid, and a Nude Bike Race, Plus TDIH - the Race with the First American Steam Locomotive

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 19:25:00 -0000

Don’t panic, but thousands of tarantulas will soon emerge in search of a mate – at least, in select parts of the country (we’ll tell you where). Plus, it’s Weird Wednesday and we’re bringing you the oldest bottle of cognac, the oldest living man, a missing kid that wasn’t really missing, and a nude bike race. And on This Day in History – the first American steam locomotive is built, and the race that secures its place in the future of transportation.

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A New Prospective Solution for Keeping Alzheimer's and Other Brain Conditions at Bay, An Endangered Bird Will Soon Fly Again (w/ Help from Humans) & TDIH; the First Known Play in America Leads to a Criminal Trial

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 18:00:00 -0000

A new prospective solution for keeping Alzheimer's and other age-related brain conditions at bay. Plus, an endangered bird will soon take flight again, with the help of humans. And on 'This Day in History', the first known play in America leads to a criminal trial.

Cleaning up the aging brain: Scientists restore brain's trash disposal system

This bird species was extinct in Europe. Now it's back, and humans must help it migrate for winter | AP News

LIFE Northern Bald Ibis

The First American Play: Ye Bare and Ye Cubbe, Insights into Colonial Culture and Individual Rights - History Arch

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The Power of the Placebo -Results from a New Study, Tela Bay Coral Reef and What Can Be Learned There, and TDIH - The Morris Mini-Minor Released

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 18:00:00 -0000

The power of the placebo – a new study reveals interesting benefits even when patients are aware of what they’re receiving, and the coral reefs are slowly dying – but not in Tela Bay. What secrets might this area possess, and can they be applied to other reefs around the world? Plus, on This Day in History, one tiny car becomes a cultural icon.

Placebos reduce stress, anxiety, depression -- even when people know they are placebos | ScienceDaily

This coral reef should be dead—so why is it thriving? (nationalgeographic.com)

First-Ever Coral Crossbreeding Hopes to Mimic the Resilience of an 'Invincible' Reef in Honduras (goodnewsnetwork.org)

The Original Mini: A Look Back At The Morris Mini Minor (hotcars.com)

1959 Morris Mini-Minor road test - Throwback Thursday | Autocar

How many Minis were built? (aronline.co.uk)

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A New Computer Interface Gives Those Suffering from ALS Their Voice Back. A New Lunar Timezone, a Runaway Star, and on TDIH; William Beebe Descends Into The Ocean Depths in his Bathysphere

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 17:30:00 -0000

REMINDER: Reggie and Marques will be off August 19-23, attending a podcast conference. They'll be back with episodes beginning Monday, August 26.

A new computer interface could give those suffering from ALS their voice back. Plus, scientists look to implement a universal lunar clock to keep tabs on time on the moon. A runaway star that’s faster than anything we've ever heard of. And on TDIH; William Beebe descends into the ocean depths in his bathysphere.

New brain-computer interface allows man with ALS to 'speak' again

International astronomy group joins calls for a lunar clock to keep time on the moon

'Failed star' brown dwarf runaway races through the cosmos at 1 million mph

August 15, 1934: World-Record Dive in the Bathysphere by Barton and Beebe

The first Bathysphere and the work of William Beebe

William Beebe: Britannica

VIDEO: Sketches from the Deep

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Possible Underground Oceans on Mars, NASA's VIPER Rover's Second Chance, and TDIH - The American Tourist Who Kissed Hitler

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:45:00 -0000

Water … in space! Exciting news from a celestial body and where it could be hiding, and NASA’s VIPER rover may have a second chance. Plus, On This Day in History; the American tourist who kissed Adolph Hitler.

Scientists Just Found Oceans of Liquid Water on Mars – But There's a Catch : ScienceAlert

Mars Once Had So Much Water, It Could Have Been An Ocean World, Scientists Say : ScienceAlert

Mars Education | Developing the Next Generation of Explorers (asu.edu)

Liquid water in the Martian mid-crust | PNAS

NASA’s Abandoned Moon Bot Might Get a Rescue Mission From a Lunar Startup (gizmodo.com)

NASA Ends VIPER Project, Continues Moon Exploration - NASA

Intuitive Machines seeks to take over NASA’s VIPER lunar rover - SpaceNews

The Woman Who Kissed Hitler - J. Mark Powell (jmarkpowell.com)

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Weird Wednesday - Shipwrecked Champaign, Baby Orange Lobsters, Great Lakes Alligator, Guinness World Record Record, and TDIH - First Actual Flight?

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:30:00 -0000

It’s Weird Wednesday and we’re bringing you shipwrecked champagne, rare baby lobsters, a Great Lakes alligator, and a Guinness World Record record –. And on This Day in History – were the Wright Brothers really the first in flight? Some would beg to differ, and we’ll tell you why.

A 19th-century shipwreck is filled with Champagne bottles and Sweden won't allow anyone a sip | AP News

A 1-in-30-million orange lobster in Maine is having colorful babies (msn.com)

Maine university's rare orange lobster hatches babies (wisn.com)

Sighting of alligator swimming off shore of Lake Erie prompts Pennsylvania search | AP News

Watch: David Rush breaks 15 Guinness World Records in one day - UPI.com

Gustave-Whitehead.com, Gustav Weißkopf, © John Brown

Gustave Whitehead - Wikipedia

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The Supposed 'Shocking' Health Benefits of Neuromodulation, An Event Sky-Gazers Won't Want to Miss & TDIH: The First Greyhound Bus Ride Takes Place (w/out a Bus)

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 18:22:00 -0000

A shocking way to keep your brain young (potentially), and two celestial bodies are set to appear side-by-side in the night sky. Plus on 'This Day in History', The first Greyhound bus ride takes place (but without a bus 🤔).

Anti-ageing neuro-tech: The bold new devices built to keep your brain young

Sky watch: Mars and Jupiter won't get this close again until 2033 | AP News

Carl Wickman Drove Greyhound All The Way To The Top | Investor's Business Daily (investors.com)

100 Years on a Dirty Dog: The History of Greyhound | Mental Floss

Greyhound acquired by fast-growing FlixMobility, which aims to expand bus travel in the US | Smart Cities Dive

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New Discovery - The Smallest Human Species and TDIH - IBM Introduces the Personal Computer

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 17:45:00 -0000

New ancient bones lead to the discovery of the smallest humans, plus, on This Day in History, IBM introduces the personal computer.

Fossils suggest ‘hobbits’ roamed Indonesian island 700,000 years ago | AP News

Early evolution of small body size in Homo floresiensis | Nature Communications

The IBM PC

The IBM PC - CHM Revolution (computerhistory.org)

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Why the Continents Rise, New Theory for How the Pyramids Were Built, and TDIH - CBS' "Our Secret Weapon"

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Scientists have a new theory on why Earth’s continents rise, a new method on how the pyramids were built has been proposed, and on TDIH; we look back at CBS' Our Secret Weapon.

Mysterious forces are causing Earth's continents to rise. Now scientists think they know why | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Egypt’s first pyramid constructed using a hydraulic lift, study says | CNN

journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0306690

Wartime_Activities_Press_Coverage.pdf (nerowolfe.org)

Our Secret Weapon: The Truth (August 30th, 1942) (youtube.com)

On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio - John Dunning - Google Books

Our Secret Weapon - Wikipedia

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Have Your Chocolate and Eat it Too? Scientists Devise Fascinating New Way to Limit Sugar Intake, A Dog Who Stops Child Predators & TDIH: Galileo Presents His Telescope

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Scientists are developing a way for our bodies to turn sugar into fiber. What does that potentially mean for food manufacturing? A dog in Oklahoma puts his nose to use against child predators. And, on 'This Day in History', Galileo presents his first telescope to the Venetian Senate.

Forget Cutting Sugar—New Tech Makes It Healthier Instead

HERO DOG: Oklahoma dog uses nose to bring child predators to justice

(VIDEO) Oklahoma’s Four-Legged Hero I Lt. John Haning & Rosco I Ep. 06

Galileo's Revolutionary Vision Helped Usher In Modern Astronomy | Smithsonian (smithsonianmag.com)

1609: Galileo Galilei Presents his Version of the Telescope in Venice | History.info

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A Scientific Evaluation of Social Media's 'Oat-Zempic' Craze, Weird Wednesday Features a Tortoise on the Run & TDIH: Remembering Phil Petit's INSANE High-Wire Act on the Twin Towers

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 17:25:00 -0000

Evaluating the scientific merit's of social media's 'Oat-zempic' craze. Plus, on Weird Wednesday we’ve got a Disneyland Park Ticket redeemed nearly four decades after it was received, a tortoise ‘on the run’ and a new albino alligator in Florida. And on This Day in History, we look back and commemorate the 50th anniversary of Philippe Petit’s unauthorized twin tower high-wire act.

Oats mimic the effects of Ozempic, new study finds

Man who won Disneyland Passport ticket nearly 40 years ago finally redeems it | KTLA

Runaway tortoise's Oregon highway crossing a mystery - UPI.com

Wild Florida, the Exclusive Attraction for Albino Gator Breeding, is Thrilled to Welcome a New Baby Albino Gator! (prnewswire.com)

Welcome Our New Baby Albino Gator! (wildfloridairboats.com)

TDIH: Remembering Philippe Petit’s High-Wire Walk 43 Years Later

TDIH: Philippe Petit on his Twin Towers walk, 50 years later

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Screaming Woman Mummy Mystery Solved, Possible Natural Treatment for Baldness, and TDIH - The Oldest Known Living Tree Cut Down

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 17:00:00 -0000

At least one mystery of the famous screaming woman mummy is solved, and we’ve heard this a million times before, but scientists believe they may have discovered a NATURAL and effective treatment for male pattern baldness. Plus, on This Day in History, the world’s oldest known living tree was cut down.

'Screaming Woman': Egyptian mummy's pained expression may have been caused by rare event | Offbeat News | Sky News

Scientists may have finally found a cheap, natural cure for baldness | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Frontiers | Stimulation of hair regrowth in an animal model of androgenic alopecia using 2-deoxy-D-ribose (frontiersin.org)

Why a scientist cut down ‘the oldest living tree’ - High Country News (hcn.org)

How One Man Accidentally Killed the Oldest Tree Ever | Smithsonian (smithsonianmag.com)

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New Research Suggests Night Owls Could Have the Cognitive Advantage, A New Element Is On the Verge of Joining the Periodic Table & TDIH: The Cornerstone is Laid for the Statue of Liberty

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 17:58:00 -0000

Are night owls cognitively superior to early risers? A new study suggests that may be the case. The periodic table could be expanding soon, with scientists on the verge of creating a new element. And, on This Day in History, the Statue of Liberty’s cornerstone is laid on Bedloe’s Island

Night owls are 'cognitively superior’ to early risers. Here’s why

STUDY: Sleep duration, chronotype, health and lifestyle factors affect cognition: a UK Biobank cross-sectional study

A new element on the periodic table might be within reach (sciencenews.org)

Nuclear Structure 2024 (21-July 26, 2024): Pursuing New Superheavy Elements: Progress Update from Berkeley Lab · Indico (anl.gov)

Creating the Statue of Liberty

Liberty Island Chronology

Cornerstone of the Statue of Liberty Pedestal

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DISCOVERY: Tree Bark Absorbs Methane from the Atmosphere, ChatGPT is NOT Ready to Play Doctor & TDIH: A Patent for an Escalator is Issued in the US.

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:30:00 -0000

On today’s episode, Scientists in the UK discover tree bark actively removes methane from the atmosphere, making trees more important than ever in the battle against climate change. Plus, ChatGPT won’t be replacing your human doctor anytime soon. And on This Day in History; an escalator patent is granted to George A. Wheeler. We'll bring the early history of the device so many now rely on regularly.

Trees reveal climate surprise – bark removes methane from the atmosphere

Global atmospheric methane uptake by upland tree woody surfaces

ChatGPT Basically Sucks at Diagnosing Patients (gizmodo.com)

Evaluation of ChatGPT as a diagnostic tool for medical learners and clinicians | PLOS ONE

ChatGPT Will Soon Have a New Voice (gizmodo.com)

Overcoming the “Her” hurdle, ChatGPT gets its advanced Voice Mode - PhoneArena

TDIH: The History of the Escalator (David A. Cooper)

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An Ark on the Moon for Endangered Species, Possible New Geyser in Yellowstone, and TDIH - The Michelin Star

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 19:00:00 -0000

Scientists want to build an ark on the moon – think Noah’s ark here … we’ll tell you why and a follow-up on Yellowstone’s recent explosion, which may have caused some geological changes in the area. Plus, on This Day in History; the Michelin Star – how it came to be the most sought after restaurant ranking in the world.

Scientists Want to Build an Ark on the Moon—Here's Why (msn.com)

Safeguarding Earth's biodiversity by creating a lunar biorepository | BioScience | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

Scientists plan 'Noah's Ark' on the Moon where they will freeze rare animals (msn.com)

That Dramatic Yellowstone Explosion May Have Birthed a New Geyser (gizmodo.com)

History of the MICHELIN Guide

What is a Michelin Star?

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Using Soda Cans and Seawater to Create Fuel, Weird Wednesday - Boneless(?) Wings, Dog Returns After 9 years, the Bedpan Collection, and TDIH - Black Tot Day

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:55:00 -0000

An exciting new way to produce hydrogen, and consequently, clean energy – discovered at MIT and Weird Wednesday has boneless wings that can contain bones in Ohio, a dog returns home after 9 years, and a bedpan collection that no one wants. Plus, on This Day in History – bottomless Rum for all! Black Tot Day is celebrated in the Royal Navy.

A Recipe for Zero-Emissions Fuel: Soda Cans, Seawater, and Caffeine (goodnewsnetwork.org)

Chicken wings advertised as 'boneless' can have bones, Ohio Supreme Court decides | AP News

Gizmo the dog went missing in Las Vegas in 2015. He's been found alive after 9 years | AP News

Collection of 163 unique bedpans fails to sell at auction - UPI.com

Watch: Man pulls three planes while walking on his hands - UPI.com

Reasons Why the Royal Navy Bribed Sailors With Booze | Smithsonian (smithsonianmag.com)

Black Tot Day - Learn the History of Rum Rationing and Navy Rum (alwaystheholidays.com)

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Spray-On Shoes at the Olympics, Connecticut Bear Attacks, TDIH - A Forgotten "Father of Radio"

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Spray-on shoes making their way to the Olympics, Bear attacks in Connecticut, and This Day in History - one of the forgotten "Fathers of Radio" gets his patent of wireless telegraphy.

Lightest-Ever Running Shoes Are Made by a Spray–to Win Marathons and Shake up Olympics (goodnewsnetwork.org)

Black bear and cub destroy car in Connecticut after getting trapped inside | AP News

Mahlon Loomis - Engineering and Technology History Wiki (ethw.org)

Dr. Mahlon Loomis: Pioneer of Radio — Lynchburg Museum System

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Rewriting the History of Oxygen and Early Life, Troubles for the Galapagos Islands, and TDIH - Woman Survives 75-Story Fall at the Empire State Building

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 18:00:00 -0000

New evidence reshapes our thinking on oxygen and early life on earth, and warming waters and invasive species are causing issues with life in the Galapagos islands. Plus, on This Day in History, a woman survives a 75 story fall in an elevator at the empire state building.

'Dark Oxygen' hidden on ocean floor could rewrite the rules of evolution | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Evidence of dark oxygen production at the abyssal seafloor | Nature Geoscience

The Galapagos Islands and many of their unique creatures are at risk from warming waters | AP News

How an elevator attendant survived a 1,000-ft fall down the Empire State Building | Guinness World Records

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Scientists Identify The Root Cause of Lupus, A Yellowstone Eruption Sends People Scrambling, Sharks Affected by Drug Smugglers & TDIH: The First Permanent Movie Theater

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Scientists believe they'd identified the root cause of Lupus though questions remain, a Yellowstone eruption sends dozens of people running, sharks test positive for cocaine due to drug smuggler ocean dumps, and on This Day in History; the first permanent movie theater emerges in New Orleans.

Scientists say they have identified lupus' root cause — and it could pave the way for new treatment

Surprise eruption sends dozens running for safety in Yellowstone | AP News

Sharks off Brazil coast test positive for cocaine

TDIH: Vitascope Hall: America's first movie theater - New Orleans Entertainment Coalition

America's First Movie Theater / Vitascope Hall Historical Marker (hmdb.org)

History of the Movie House | (wordpress.com)

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Alcohol’s Impact on your Biological Age, A Surprise Eruption in Yellowstone Sends People Scrambling and on This Day in History, the Chappaquiddick Incident Leaves a Woman Dead

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Alcohol’s impact on your biological age; scientists discover new indicators in your DNA, and on This Day in History, the Chappaquiddick incident leaves a promising young woman dead, and a famous senator’s career hanging in the balance.

Alcohol has a dramatic impact on your biological age. Here’s how (BBC Science Focus)

TDIH: Ted Kennedy’s Chappaquiddick Incident: What Really Happened

On this day in history, former Kennedy aide killed in 'Chappaquiddick incident'

(Video) Chappaquiddick | Based on a True Story

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Rock Discovery on Mars Stuns NASA, Weird Wednesday - Royal Goat, Orange Lobster Saved, Large Hairball Removed, Depressed Bear, and TDIH - Window Tax Repealed

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Scientists are left stunned by the contents of a rock on Mars, after being split open by the Curiosity rover. Weird Wednesday has a new royal goat, a special Denver lobster, a large hairball, and a depressed bear. Plus, on This Day in History, the window tax is repealed in the UK.

NASA Stunned by Discovery After Mars Rover Breaks Open a Rock (goodnewsnetwork.org)

NASA’s Curiosity rover makes its ‘most unexpected’ find on Mars | CNN

No kidding! King Charles III bestows royal title on rare golden goat breed | AP News

Meet Crush, the rare orange lobster diverted from dinner plate to aquarium by Denver Broncos fans | AP News

Doctors Pulled a 2-Pound Hairball From a Woman's Stomach (gizmodo.com)

Florida sheriff's office warns against taking selfies with 'depressed' bear - UPI.com

Window Tax - UK Parliament

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Finding Life on Saturn and Jupiter's Moons, Affordable Antivenom, and TDIH - The First American Typewriter

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 18:25:00 -0000

We may be closer than ever to discovering life outside of Earth, and there’s more promise in developing an affordable snake antivenom than ever, plus on This Day in History, the first American typewriter – err, typographer – is patented.

Signs of Life Could Be Found Close to the Surface of Two Nearby Moons (gizmodo.com)

Life signs could survive near the surfaces of Saturn and Jupiter's moons Encleadus and Europa | Space

CRISPR Identifies Commonly Available Drug That Works as Cobra Venom Antidote (goodnewsnetwork.org)

New antidote for cobra bites discovered - The University of Sydney

A Brief History of Typewriters (xavier.edu)

1829 Detail, William Austin Burt Invents the Typewriter - America's Best History, U.S. History Timeline: The 1820's (americasbesthistory.com)

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New Helium Reservoir Found, How We Really Perceive Time, and TDIH - The First European-American To Cross Canada.

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A new helium reservoir discovered in Minnesota could solve a major world problem and our concept of time may not be measured in the manner you think. Plus, on This Day in History, Alexander Mackenzie becomes the first European to cross North America north of Mexico.

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Autism Diagnosed Using Feces, Cave Discovery on the Moon, and TDIH - The First Regular In-Flight Movie

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

How feces could help detect autism, caves discovered on the moon. and on This Day in History, movies take to the skies as the first regularly scheduled films are shown on planes.

Autism could soon be detected in your poop. Here’s why | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Scientists confirm a cave on the moon that could one day shelter explorers | AP News

Radar evidence of an accessible cave conduit on the Moon below the Mare Tranquillitatis pit | Nature Astronomy

Scientists Find an Underground Cave on the Moon That Could Shelter Future Explorers (msn.com)

1961: The First Regularly Scheduled In-Flight Movie is Shown on Board a TWA Airliner – Transportation History

7/19/1961: TWA Introduced the World's First Inflight Movie (airwaysmag.com)

July 19, 1961: Fasten Your Seatbelts, By Love Possessed Will Begin Shortly | WIRED

By Love Possessed (1961) - IMDb

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Diabetes-Reversing Drug, Hydrogen-Powered Ferry, and TDIH - "Wrong Way" Corrigan

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:00:00 -0000

A new drug that could potentially reverse the effects of diabetes, the world’s first commercial hydrogen-powered ferry is set to run in San Francisco, and on This Day in History, while heading to California, a pilot “accidentally” lands in Ireland 28 hours later.

Diabetes-reversing drug boosts insulin-producing cells by 700% (newatlas.com)

World's first hydrogen-powered commercial ferry to run on San Francisco Bay, and it's free to ride | AP News

Wrong-Way Corrigan (nationalgeographic.org)

When Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan Accidentally Flew to Ireland Instead of California (mentalfloss.com)

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Eagles Show Signs of Advanced Sympathy and Compassion for Young, Weird Wednesday Brings Us a Priceless Statue Discovered in a Sewer, a 108-year-old's Amusing Secret to Long Life & Angry Birds Attacking Drones, and on TDIH: The Great Train Wreck of 1856

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 17:30:00 -0000

On today’s episode, behavior never-before-seen in Eagles is observed in the UK. Weird Wednesday has a unique find in a sewer, a trick to live longer, and birds attacking on the beach. And on This Day in History, a poor decision leads to devastating and deadly accident.

Eagle Parents Spend Year Nursing Chick Who Fell Out of a Tree, Forsaking the New Nesting Season

Archaeologists Find Remarkable Marble Statue of Greek God Hermes in Ancient Sewer

Watch: Alabama woman, 108, stays young by 'flirting with men with mustaches' - UPI.com

'Very Annoyed' Seagulls Are Waging War on NYC's Beach Drones (gizmodo.com)

Angry birds fight drones on patrol for sharks and swimmers on NYC beaches | AP News

TDIH: Whitemarsh Township’s 1856 ‘Camp Hill Disaster’ Was Once the Deadliest Train Accident in the World

(YouTube VIDEO RECAP) Camp Hill Disaster

Great Train Wreck of 1856

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Auroras and Our Electrical Infrastructure, Moss That Can Survive on Mars, and TDIH - A Classic Novel is Published

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Those beautiful auroras we love to observe in the sky COULD pose a serious threat to our electrical infrastructure, super moss capable of surviving on Mars, and on TDIH; a classic novel is released – we’ll tell you about that and the famous author who brought it to us.

Auroras could soon pose serious threat to our electrical infrastructure, study reveals | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Chinese scientists identify super moss able to 'survive' in Mars | Reuters

We could terraform Mars with desert moss — but does that mean we should? (msn.com)

The extremotolerant desert moss Syntrichia caninervis is a promising pioneer plant for colonizing extraterrestrial environments: The Innovation (cell.com)

The Catcher in the Rye: J. D. Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye Background | SparkNotes

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Rare Whale Beached in New Zealand, Baking Soda Saves a Life, and TDIH - The Rosetta Stone is Discovered

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A never-before-seen-alive whale has washed ashore in New Zealand, a British woman owes her life to baking soda, and on This Day in History, the Rosetta Stone is discovered by French forces.

World’s rarest whale may have washed up on New Zealand beach, possibly shedding clues on species | AP News

'Flesh-eating bug ate away at my nose - baking soda saved my life' (yahoo.com)

The Rosetta Stone: Unlocking the Ancient Egyptian Language - ARCE

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Rosetta Stone | British Museum

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New Process to Recycle Clothing & TDIH: The First Television Broadcast of a Sporting Event Takes Place

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 17:50:00 -0000

New process that makes it possible to recycle used clothes and on This Day in History, the first television broadcast of a sporting event takes place.

A polyester-dissolving process could make modern clothing recyclable

First televised tennis match. - Today's Flashback (todaysflashback.com)

The First TV: A Complete History of Television (historycooperative.org)

Throwback Thursday: The first Wimbledon on television - The Championships, Wimbledon - Official Site by IBM

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Teddy Roosevelt's Stolen Pocket Watch FINALLY Makes Its Way Home & This Day in History: Salomon August Andrée's Arctic Balloon Disaster

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Teddy Roosevelt's pocket watch was stolen from a museum in the 1980s, but has finally made its way home. Plus, on This Day in History, tragedy strikes the Andrée Expedition en route to the North Pole ... by balloon

Theodore Roosevelt's pocket watch was stolen in 1987. It's finally back at his New York home | AP News

TDIH: Andrée’s Arctic Balloon Expedition

TDIH: Andrée Balloon Crash: A Photographic Journey through the Most Surreal Arctic Disaster

TDIH: Andrée's North Pole expedition

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ISS To Be Destroyed and How, Weird Wednesday Has a Cow Stampede and TP at the Park, and TDIH - Lady Godiva Bears It All

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

How NASA intends to DESTROY the International Space Station – you heard that correctly … DESTROY, Weird Wednesday has more bizarre world records, cows stampeding through town, and a disgusting site at Yosemite National Park. Plus, on This Day in History, Lady Godiva bears it all and rides … or did she?

Here’s how NASA plans to finally destroy the International Space Station | BBC Science Focus Magazine

NASA will retire the ISS soon. Here's what comes next. : NPR

Watch: Idaho man throws chopsticks at balloons for his 180th world record - UPI.com

Watch: Man uses eye socket strength to break two Guinness World Records - UPI.com

45 escaped cows stampede through neighborhood in England - UPI.com

Look: Used toilet paper 'all too familiar' a sight at Yosemite National Park - UPI.com

Culture Re-View: Lady Godiva rides naked through Coventry - allegedly | Euronews

Lady Godiva's Ride, Fact & Fiction (britainexpress.com)

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Carpenter Ants Selectively Performing Surgery & TDIH: Donkey Kong is released in Japan -- the Fascinating Story of How the Game Came to Be

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 20:17:31 -0000

Carpenter ants selectively performing surgery on their colony-mates, and on This Day in History, the iconic Donkey Kong is released in Japan.

An ant that selectively amputates the infected limbs of wounded sisters

Carpenter ants are the only other animals known to amputate besides humans, researchers say | CNN

Donkey Kong: A Record of Struggle (By Hirohisa Komanome)

The History of Donkey Kong

(Video) The Complete History of Donkey Kong (1981 to 2023)

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No Joke -- In Vitro Grown Brains Used to Control Robots, World's Oldest Cave Painting Discovered & TDIH: The Erector Set

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 17:55:00 -0000

In vitro brains are being used to control robots -- how scientists did it and where this bio-technology goes from here. The world’s oldest cave painting is discovered in Indonesia, dating back more than 51,000 years, and on This Day in History ...

Step aside Futurama, scientist build robot that's controlled by a brain in a jar

Recreating the Neanderthal Brain

World’s oldest cave painting is at least 51,200 years old, scientists say

Narrative cave art in Indonesia by 51,200 years ago

Erector Set Patented – Today in History: July 8 - Connecticut History | a CTHumanities Project

A.C. Gilbert | Lemelson (mit.edu)

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Scientists Reveal a New Giant, Salamander-Like Creature that Lived Before the Dinosaurs & on This Day In History: The First Travel Agency is Formed in 1841

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 17:35:00 -0000

Scientists reveal a new giant salamander-like creature that lived before the dinosaurs, and on TDIH, the first travel agency is formed in the mid-1800s.

This giant salamanderlike creature lived 40 million years before dinosaurs | AP News

Giant stem tetrapod was apex predator in Gondwanan late Palaeozoic ice age | Nature

Giant salamander-like predator with fangs existed 40 million years before dinosaurs, research reveals - CBS News

A history of Thomas Cook, one of the world’s oldest travel firms | CNN

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Using Radiation to Curb Rhino Poaching, Weird Wednesday; Fossilized feces, a Tent Naming Contest, and a Unique Animal Far From Home. TDIH: The First Large-Scale, Cultivated Strawberry is Introduced.

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 17:32:00 -0000

Using radiation to curb rhino Poaching, Weird Wednesday has fossilized feces, a tent naming contest, and a unique animal far from home. Plus, on This Day in History, the first large scale cultivated strawberry is introduced.

South African researchers test use of nuclear technology to curb rhino poaching

As Mentioned in the Rhino Story Above: The Private Rhino Owners Association

An Arizona museum tells the stories of ancient animals through their fossilized poop | AP News

Watch: Pennsylvania market asks public to name its new tent - UPI.com

Broad Street Market Tent Naming Contest — Broad Street Market

Rainforest animal called a kinkajou rescued from dusty highway rest stop in Washington state | AP News

TDIH: A Brief History of the Strawberry (thespruceeats.com)

TDIH: Michael Keens - The Daily Gardener

A Brief History of Trans-Atlantic Balloon Crossings | Smithsonian (smithsonianmag.com)

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Extremely Large Extinct Snake Discovered and TDIH - Alligator Falling From the Sky

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Extremely Large Extinct Snake Discovered and TDIH - Alligator Falling From the Sky

As Long as a Whale, New Extinct Snake Found in India May Be Largest to Have Ever Slithered the Earth (worldatlarge.news)

Largest known madtsoiid snake from warm Eocene period of India suggests intercontinental Gondwana dispersal | Scientific Reports (nature.com)

alligator The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA) July 11, 1843 - Newspapers.com™

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Some Gut Bacteria Linked to Compulsive Eating and TDIH - The Sony Walkman Arrives

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Some Gut Bacteria Linked to Compulsive Eating and TDIH - The Sony Walkman Arrives.

Specific Gut Bacteria That Triggers Compulsive Eating Identified by Scientists Who Also Found Bacteria to Prevent it (goodnewsnetwork.org)

Gut microbiota signatures of vulnerability to food addiction in mice and humans | Gut (bmj.com)

The first Sony Walkman goes on sale | July 1, 1979 | HISTORY

Flashback 1979: Sony’s Iconic Walkman Is Born | Sound & Vision (soundandvision.com)

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Brain Implant to Help Epileptic Patients, New Treatment for Tinnitus, and TDIH - The Tomato is Proven Safe to Eat

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:15:00 -0000

Medical advancements including a brain implant designed to curb seizures in severely epileptic patients, as well as a new treatment option for those suffering from tinnitus. Plus, on This Day in History, the tomato … and that time it was finally proven to be non-poisonous.

UK boy has brain implant fitted to control epilepsy seizures in world first | Epilepsy | The Guardian

Tongue-Zapping Device Can Rewire Your Brain to Ignore Tinnitus (goodnewsnetwork.org)

Col. Johnson's Dramatic Demonstration - Contrary to early 19th century beliefs, tomatoes are not poisonous. It took an eccentric New Englander by the name of Col. Robert Gibbon Johnson to kill this popular belief by merely surviving the consumption of one of today's most popular vegetables... fruits? (missouri.edu)

The Bizarre Salem Tomato Trials - The Fact Site

Commercial Tomato Production Handbook | UGA Cooperative Extension

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250-Year-Old Cherries Found Perfectly Preserved at Mount Vernon, Al Michaels Coming to the Olympics Via AI, and TDIH - The First Seat Belt Legislation

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 18:20:00 -0000

250-year-old cherries found perfectly preserved at Mount Vernon, famed broadcaster Al Michaels’ is set to make an Olympic comeback … but he won’t be required to attend, or even watch the games. Plus, on This Day in History, the first seat belt legislation is enacted.

No lie: Perfectly preserved centuries-old cherries unearthed at George Washington's Mount Vernon | AP News

Mansion Revitalization Project · George Washington's Mount Vernon

Paris Olympics: NBC to use AI version of Al Michaels’ voice for recaps | CNN Business

First seatbelts law in U.S. (famousdaily.com)

A Brief History of Seat Belts (thoughtco.com)

A Seat Belt History Timeline - Your AAA Network

From deathtrap to lifesaver: The evolution of the carseat (popsci.com)

How the child car seat went from deadly novelty to lifesaver - Hagerty Media (Netted car seat)

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An Ancient Mayan Vase Discovered at a Thrift Store, Weird Wednesday: Online Gaming Gone Wrong, An Endangered Species Adds One & A 63-Leaf Clover + TDIH: The Introduction of the Toothbrush

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 17:30:00 -0000

An ancient Mayan vase discovered in Maryland is returned to its homeland. Weird Wednesday brings us the story of online gaming gone horribly wrong, a new addition to one endangered species at the San Diego Zoo, and if 4-leaf clovers are lucky, what about the 63-leaf variety? This Day in History explores the introduction of the toothbrush.

Woman Discovers Thrift Store Vase She Bought for $4 is Made by Ancient Mayans and Volunteers to Give it Back

New Jersey man flies to Florida to attack another player over an online gaming dispute, deputies say | AP News

Watch: San Diego Zoo celebrates birth of endangered Baird's tapir - UPI.com

Look: Japanese man grows extra-lucky 63-leaf clover - UPI.com

Who invented the toothbrush and when was it invented? | Library of Congress (loc.gov)

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Are Animals Conscious? The Latest Thinking from the Scientific Community & This Day in History: The Fork Arrives in the United States

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 17:30:00 -0000

Are Animals Conscious? The Cumulative Thought of the Scientific Community may be Changing & TDIH: The Fork Arrives in the United States, but is Initially Considered Sacrilegious.

Are animals conscious? How new research is changing minds

Bees Recognize Human Faces

Bees Order from Left to Right

Honeybees Can Count

TDIH: History of Forks - Invention of the Fork (eatingutensils.net)

TDIH: Massachusetts governor demonstrates the fork (famousdaily.com)

TDIH: Why Americans only use a fork to eat: The short history of US dining utensils (qz.com)

TDIH: Fork – Works – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (mfa.org)

TDIH: In Small Things Forgotten: An Archaeology of Early American Life eBook : Deetz, James: Amazon.co.uk: Books

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Monkey Behavioral Changes After Hurricane, New Unique Looking Horned Dinosaur Discovered, and TDIH - Dancing Hysteria Hits Germany

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Monkey Behavioral Changes After Hurricane, New Unique Looking Horned Dinosaur Discovered, and This Day in History - Dancing Hysteria Hits Germany.

Monkeys got along better after hurricane - study (bbc.com)

One of the biggest (and weirdest) horned dinosaurs has been discovered | BBC Science Focus Magazine

A Strange Case of Dancing Mania Struck Germany Six Centuries Ago Today | Smithsonian (smithsonianmag.com)

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Walking Your Way to Less Back Pain, The World Shows Out for One Young Mother Battling Cancer & on TDIH: The Ferris Wheel at the Chicago World's Fair

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 18:20:00 -0000

On today’s episode; walking your way to less back pain, the world shows up for one young mother battling cancer. And on This Day in History, the Ferris Wheel attracts riders at the Chicago World’s Fair.

Walking regularly could double your back pain-free time

Strangers Crowdfund $54,000 for 22-Year-old Mom with Terminal Cancer Who Needs More Time with Baby

GoFundMe: Rachel Burns

Chicago’s Ferris wheel story | Chicago Architecture Center

History of the Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier | Navy Pier

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Colorado's Plastic Bag Ban, Missing Donkey Found with Elk, and TDIH - The Alaska Purchase Announced

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:20:00 -0000

Colorado's Plastic Bag Ban, Donkey Missing for Five Years Found with Elk, and This Day In History - The Alaska Purchase is Announced.

Plastic bag use cut by a billion, says recycling center | 9news.com

Lost Donkey Seen Living With Elk Herd 5 Years Later: 'Living His Best Life' (goodnewsnetwork.org)

Check for the Purchase of Alaska (1868) | National Archives

Alaska Purchase | Encyclopedia.com

Alaska Purchase | History, Cost, & Significance | Britannica

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Lava Tubes and Frost on Mars, Weird Wednesday - Lots of Twins, Lost Watch, and Animal Escapes, and TDIH - 15th French Postal Service

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 17:45:00 -0000

Lava Tubes and Frost on Mars, Weird Wednesday - Lots of Twins, Lost Watch, and Animal Escapes, and This Day in History covers the 15th French Postal Service.

Lava Tubes and Water Frost Found on Mars Offer Double Opportunity in Search for Life (worldatlarge.news)

Double take: 23 sets of twins graduate from a single Massachusetts middle school | AP News

Watch believed to have been eaten by cow turns up 50 years later - UPI.com

Watch: Herd of goats escape from Cedar Point's petting zoo - UPI.com

Watch: 'Fast and strong' piglet leads California police on a foot chase - UPI.com

The history of postal service in the XV-XVIII centuries: centralization (world-post.org)

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A New Meta-Analysis Suggests Exercise Could Be The Single Greatest Method for Combating Depression & This Day in History - The Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Crop

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 19:00:00 -0000

A New Meta-Analysis Suggests Exercise Could Be The Single Greatest Method for Combating Depression & This Day in History - The Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Crop Gets Started

Nearly Every Form of Exercise Has Greater Treatment Potential for Depression Than SSRIs

The BMJ: Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

RHR: Reviewing the Evidence on the Serotonin Theory of Depression, with Dr. Joanna Moncrieff

History of Macadamia Nuts in Hawaii — Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association (hawaiimacnut.org)

Hawaiian Macadamia Nuts: History, Intercropping and Sustainable Farming - Buddha’s Cup (buddhascup.com)

The History of Big Island Macadamia Nuts: The Long-Lived Bush Trees From Down Under That Revolutionized Hawaiian Agriculture - bigisland.org

The Amazing Story of Macadamia Nuts in Hawaii - Hawaii Real Estate Market & Trends | Hawaii Life

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A New Type of Pterosaur aka Demonic Pelican Discovered in Australia & This Day in History: The First Insurance Policy Issued in the US

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 19:51:50 -0000

A New Type of Pterosaur (think Pterodactyls) is discovered in Australia & This Day in History: The First Insurance Policy Issued in the United State.

New species of flying pterosaur reptile discovered in outback Queensland fossil dig

James G. Batterson | Insurance Hall of Fame

The First North American Accident Insurance Policy - Online Safety Trainer

The History of Insurance (investopedia.com)

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The First Individual to Spend 1,000 Days in Space & This Day in History: the Player Piano is Patented.

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 17:30:00 -0000

The first individual to spend at least 1,000 days in space, and what it means for our understanding of human capabilities beyond this planet. And on This Day in History: the player piano is patented, bringing on-demand music to homes and establishments around the world.

Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko reaches 1,000 cumulative days in space

First Human to Spend 1,000 Days in Outer Space Offers Unprecedented Opportunity to Study ‘Rocket’ Man

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Wild Horses Return to Kazakstan After 200 Years & on TDIH: The First Roundtrip Flight Between Two Major Cities.

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 17:55:00 -0000

The world’s last truly wild horses return to the steppe of Kazakstan. And, on This Day in History, the first roundtrip flight between two large cities.

Wild Horses Return to Kazakhstan Plains After Two Centuries of Absence

TDIH: Hamilton Breaks Air Records – Today in History: June 13 - Connecticut History | a CTHumanities Project

The crazy man of the air: C.K. Hamilton wows crowds in 1910 — General Aviation News

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A New Study Says Elephants Call Each Other by Name, Weird Wednesday Features a 97-Year-Old High School Graduate, a Longstanding Class Reunion, and a 'Sugar Glider' on a Plane. TDIH: Harry Houdini's Iconic Straight Jacket Escape over NYC

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:40:38 -0000

A new study suggests elephants call each other by name. Weird Wednesday features a 97-year-old high school graduate, a longstanding class reunion, and a 'sugar glider' on a plane. On This Day in History, Harry Houdini performs one of his iconic tricks.

African elephants call each other by unique names, new study shows

97-year-old woman earns high school diploma in Utah

Oregon high school class holds its 80th annual reunion

Flight delayed after sugar glider escapes aboard plane

David Rush creates new world record category on balance board

TDIH: Harry Houdini freed himself from a straight jacket while hung by his ankles

Houdini’s Idol and Professional Namesake: Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin

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Edible Beads to Combat Cirrhosis & TDIH: The First Distinguished Flying Cross is Awarded for One Famous Flight

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 17:30:00 -0000

The edible beads that could combat cirrhosis and other gut conditions. And on This Day in History; The First Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded for one famous flight.

Edible Carbon Beads Can Reduce Cirrhosis Liver Disease By Restoring Gut Microbiome

TDIH: On June 11, 1927, Charles Lindbergh received the first Distinguished Flying Cross

THE LEGEND OF LUCKY LINDBERGH | | azdailysun.com

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The Amazing Health Benefits of Pomegranates Include Combatting Alzheimer's & TDIH: The First Modern, Public Zoo Opens in France

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 18:30:00 -0000

Pomegranates have been known to possess a wide range of health benefits and new research indicates they may help combat Alzeheimer's and other neurodegenerative conditions. On 'This Day in History,' the first public zoo opens in France in 1793, bringing animal accessibility and wonder to the masses.

Eating Pomegranates Can Help Alzheimer’s Patients Alleviate Symptoms, Study Says

Naturally occurring substance in pomegranates can improve treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Jardin des Plantes: In the midst of the French Revolution, the first public zoo is created. (famousdaily.com)

Paris Zoo | Animals, Conservation, Education | Britannica

History of the Ménagerie, the zoo of the Jardin des Plantes - (jardindesplantesdeparis.fr)

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Battery Powered Trains Set to Take Off in the UK, A Cat Missing for 12 Years Returns Home & TDIH: The Reel-to-Reel Home Video Recorded

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 17:45:00 -0000

Battery-powered 'bi-mode' trains in the UK could save A LOT of money, and help the environment. A Friday feel-good sees a long-lost cat make its way home after 12 years, and on This Day in History, we harken back to the reel-to-reel video recorder.

Data from Battery-Powered Trains Shows Swapping Batteries for Diesel Saves 12 Million Tons of Emissions Every Year

Cat Missing for 12 Years Reunites with Owner After Friend Recognizes Photo of the Pet on Facebook

Retro Thing: The Sony CV-2000 Reel-to-Reel Video Recorder

Sony Group Portal - Product & Technology Milestones−Recorder & Player

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Stegosaurus Goes to Auction, The Spoon That Makes Food Taste Saltier, and TDIH - The Largest Volcanic Eruption Ever Witnessed

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 17:19:51 -0000

A massive stegosaurus is set to go to auction … and in turn, make one man rich. Japan rolls out a spoon that makes food taste saltier … without adding any more salt. Plus, on This Day in History, the largest volcanic eruption ever witnessed

Stegosaurus Auction (BBC)

Salt Spoon (Sky News)

Volcanic Eruptions (History) (Geology.com) (The Conversation)

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Ancient Roman Artifacts Discovered in Egyptian Pet Cemetery, Weird Wednesday: A Pringles Thief, An Elusive Peacock and A Fish Out of Water & TDIH: Bananas Arrive in the US via the World's Fair

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:55:00 -0000

Letters Written by Ancient Roman Commanders Have Been Found in a Pet Cemetery in Egypt

Supplemental: Relics Found in Egyptian Pet Cemetery

Weird Wednesday:

Pringles thief told police 'once you pop, you can't stop'

Animal control officers in Michigan struggle to capture elusive peacock

Junior doctor goes viral after rescuing live fish from garden lawn in Newcastle

TDIH:

Bananas at the World’s Fair (famousdaily.com)

A History Of Bananas | Import To The Americas Then Growth (wholesalenutsanddriedfruit.com)

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Innovative Retractable Field, Implantable Light Therapy for Better Healing, and TDIH - Transcontinental Express Trip in 83 Hours

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Retractable sports fields are nothing new – but in Spain, they’ve found an incredibly innovative new way of storing and caring for the country’s most revered plot of grass, a new, implantable light therapy could promote better healing in those suffering from spinal cord injuries, and on This Day in History - The Transcontinental Express makes its cross country journey in 83 hours.

Retractable Sports Field (GNN)

Implantable Light Therapy (AIChE) (GNN)

Transcontinental Express (History) (The Historical Marker Database)

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5-Year-Old Gets Bionic Arm, Ancient Egyptian Cancer, and TDIH - The First American Spacewalk

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 17:25:00 -0000

A five-year-old from New York becomes the youngest ever to be fitted with a bionic arm, Ancient Egyptians appear to have known more about cancer than previously suspected. Plus This Day in History - America’s first space walk.

Bionic Arm (GNN)

Ancient Egyptian Cancer (CNN) (GNN)

Spacewalk (NASA) (Space.com)

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Forecasting Solar Storms, A 16-Year-Old's Medical Research Breakthrough & a Cereal History Lesson; Dr. John Harvey Kellog Invents Corn Flakes

Fri, 31 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A better understanding of our sun leads to more accurate processes for predicting future solar storms like the one experienced earlier in May, a 16-year-old from Kentucky secures a sizable cash prize for her medical research, and on TDIH; the origin of Corn Flakes, Kellogg's and Post.

Sun's magnetic field may form close to the surface. This finding could improve solar storm forecasts (AP News)

Supplemental: Solar storm hits Earth, producing colorful light shows across Northern Hemisphere (AP News)

16-year-old Wins $75,000 for Her Award-Winning Discovery That Could Help Revolutionize Biomedical Implants (Business Insider)

Supplemental: Additional Reading on OECTs

Why Was Cereal Invented? A Brief History of Corn Flakes (HowStuffWorks)

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Death Valley Fish Makes Comeback, Vulcan Confirmed Not to Exist, Japan Tourist Mesh Screen Update, and TDIH - The First Motor Car Accident

Thu, 30 May 2024 19:06:00 -0000

An endangered fish found only in Death Valley makes a comeback. The planet Vulcan is once again confirmed to ONLY be the work of science fiction. And an update on the mesh screen in Japan, designed to keep tourists in line – here’s a hint … they haven’t been kept in line. Plus, on This Day in History, the first motor car accident is recorded.

Death Valley Fish (USA Today) (US Fish & Wildlife Service)

"Vulcan" (Gizmodo)

Tourist Mesh Screen (Sky News)

First Motor Car Accident (Old New York Tours) (Salwen.com)

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90-Year-Old Astronaut, Weird Wednesday (Old Truck Driver, Odd Races, and GWR), plus TDIH - The Turkey Trot Gets Women Fired

Wed, 29 May 2024 19:10:00 -0000

At age 90, Astronaut training finally pays off for Ed Dwight with an adventure six decades in the making. Weird Wednesday brings us the oldest truck driver, odd races, and Guinness World Record “professional” David Rush is at it again. Plus, on This Day in History, the Turkey Trot gets 15 women fired.

90-Year-Old Astronaut (GNN) (NPR)

90-Year-Old Truck Driver (UPI)

Odd Races (AP News)

Rush's Disc Catching Record (UPI)

Turkey Trot (NPR) (YouTube - Jared Morin) (YouTube - Adventures in Dance)

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New Planet That Could Support Life, The Library of Things, and TDIH - The First Indoor Pool Opens

Tue, 28 May 2024 15:40:00 -0000

A new planet discovered that could support human life – and it’s only 40 million light years away. The Library of Things makes some tasks easier than ever. Plus, on This Day in History, the first indoor pool opens.

New Planet (GNN) (NASA)

Library of Things (GNN)

First Indoor Pool (On This Very Day) (Information Britain) (The Straight Dope)

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The Dream Summer Job Paying Up To $100K, A 91-Year-Old's MASSIVE Donation to his Local Fire Department, A Baby-Rescuing Hero in Ohio & TDIH: Samuel Morse and his Telegraph

Fri, 24 May 2024 16:45:00 -0000

Here’s a Summer Dream Job: Get Paid $100K to Swim in Pools in All 50 States in the U.S.

91-Year-old Surprises Tiny Fire Department With $500,000 For Updating Their Archaic Equipment

Video: https://youtu.be/NYiJWuatrFQ

‘My Baby is Still in the House!’ Hero Stranger Dives into Burning Home Twice to Save Ohio Baby

TDIH: Samuel Morse demonstrates the telegraph with the message, “What hath God wrought?” (history.com)

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Dog Rescued in Australia's Outback, Ancient Tomb Unearthed in China, and TDIH - First Automobile Trip Across the US

Thu, 23 May 2024 17:02:00 -0000

A helicopter to the rescue in Australia’s outback, an ancient tomb is unearthed in China, and on This Day in History - the first automobile trip across the US gets underway - all based on a bet.

Dog Rescued in Australia's Outback (GNN)

Ancient Chinese Tomb (South China Morning Post) (GNN)

First Roadtrip (The Vintage News) (Atlas Obscura)

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700+ Kyles Just Isn't Enough, Weird Wednesday Has Tacos Declared Sandwiches, and TDIH: A Steamship Traverses the Atlantic for the First Time

Wed, 22 May 2024 16:30:00 -0000

706 people named Kyle got together in Texas. It wasn’t enough for a world record

Weird Wednesday:

Punxsutawney Phil and Phyllis's baby names revealed | AP News

Indiana judge opens door for new eatery, finding `tacos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches' | AP News

Watch: World's oldest sloth turns 54 at German zoo - UPI.com

TDIH:

Crossing the Atlantic by Steamship | National Postal Museum

1838: A Steamship Completes a Trailblazing Voyage across the Atlantic Ocean – Transportation History

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Herd of Bison Restore CO2 Balance, Some of the Universe's Oldest Stars in Our Own Galaxy & TDIH: The First Bike in the US

Tue, 21 May 2024 16:30:00 -0000

Herd of Bison Reintroduced in Europe Are Climate Heroes–Helping Store CO2 Equal to 43,000 Cars (GNN)

Researchers Discover the Universe’s Oldest Stars Circling Our Own Galaxy: ‘We have a new way to find them’

TDIH:

Bicycles reach the U.S. (famousdaily.com)

Object of Intrigue: Two-Wheeled Transport for Regency Dandies - Atlas Obscura

The History of the First Bicycle and Its Evolution (bicyclepotential.org)

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How Spiders Use Their Webs To Capture Sound, Upcoming iPhone and Google Updates & TDIH: The First Speeding Citation Issued in the US (to a man going 12 mph)

Mon, 20 May 2024 16:35:00 -0000

Spiders Use Their Webs as Giant Microphones to Hear What’s Going on Around Them, Says New Research (GoodNewsNetwork)

iPhone 16 Pro Max Could Get Longer Better Battery Life (gizmodo.com)

Google's New Feature That Lets You Talk by Staring At Emojis (gizmodo.com)

The First Speeding Infraction in the U.S. was Committed by a New York City Taxi Driver in an Electric Car on May 20, 1899 (todayifoundout.com)

More Reading: May 20, 1899 - The first speeding ticket in USA is issued - This Day In Automotive History

More Reading: Local fines and fees revenue across the 50 states (reason.org)

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Climate Resilient Rooftop, Teenage Boy Releases Story from Ancient Texts, and TDIH - Record Salmon Caught

Fri, 17 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Amsterdam’s rooftop makeover in the name of climate resiliency and a teenage boy releases his first published book pulled directly from translated, ancient hieroglyphs from Egypt. Plus, on TDIH: a record sized salmon is caught.

Rooftop Makeover (GNN)

Ancient Texts Published into Book (GNN)

TDIH - Record Salmon (Anchorage Daily News) (Fish with JD)

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Doctorate Awarded to 17-Year-Old, New Discoveries in Space, and TDIH - The First Motorcycle Trek Across America

Thu, 16 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A Chicago teen’s remarkable feat, which started at age 10. Two new discoveries in space just 1,000 light years away. Plus, on This Day in History, the first motorcycle trek across America.

Teen's Accomplishment (AP News) (NBC News) (ABC News)

Fluffy Planet (AP News)

Planet Making Ingredients (AP News)

Motorcycle Trek (Ride Apart) (GlobalSpec)

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Resurgence of Unique Turtle, Weird Wednesday (Plane Fight, Odd Ordinance Solution & GWR), and TDIH - Las Vegas Founded

Wed, 15 May 2024 16:30:00 -0000

The butt-breathing punk turtle is making a comeback – we’ll explain, Weird Wednesday brings us an in-flight battle for a seat, a spiteful man gets creative with his local government, and … because we can’t go a single wednesday without one, and David Rush adds to his world record count – this one involving thumb tacks. Plus, on This Day in History, the founding of Las Vegas.

Mary-River Turtle (GNN)

Mid-Air Fight (CNN)

Odd Ordinance Solution (UPI) (Washington Post)

GWR (UPI)

Las Vegas Founded (History.Info) (City of Las Vegas)

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Diabetic Cured with New Treatment, 100-Year-Old Coin Collection to be Auctioned, and TDIH - The First Plane Passenger

Tue, 14 May 2024 16:30:00 -0000

A 25-year diabetic is cured thanks to a promising new treatment, a valuable coin collection goes to auction 100 years after its owner’s death – we’ll tell you why it took so long, and on This Day in History - the first passenger to ride in a plane.

New Diabetes Treatment (GNN)

Rare Coin Collection (Sky News)

First Plane Passenger (Smithsonian)

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New Discovery with Evaporation, Dogs in Schools Help with Mental Health, and TDIH - The First Fleet of Criminals Set Sail for Australia

Mon, 13 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A stunning new discovery concerning one of the world’s most well-known processes … evaporation, plus, the new trend emerging in Michigan that’s helping stressed out students up their performance while living happier lives. And on This Day in History, the British set sail for Australia with about 750 criminals.

Evaporation Study (MIT News)

Dogs in Schools (Fox 17) (GNN)

The First Fleet to Australia (New South Wales State Library)

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California Wildlife Crossing, Women Arrested Immediately After Leaving Jail, and TDIH - The Transcontinental Railroad is Completed

Fri, 10 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The world’s largest wildlife crossing is officially under construction in southern California, plus a stupid criminal gets what’s coming to her … hint: it’s jail … jail is coming to her. Also, on This Day in History, the transcontinental railroad is completed with a The Golden Spike.

Wildlife Crossing (Annenberg Foundation)

Woman Arrested After Leaving Jail (AP News)

The Golden Spike (History To Go) (National Park Service)

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Teenage Hero, Baltimore Street Librarian, and TDIH - Mother's Day and The Pill

Thu, 09 May 2024 15:45:00 -0000

A 14-year-old in Wisconsin saves his classmates from what could have been an absolutely disastrous situation, plus the woman who’s bringing the gift of reading to youth in Baltimore. And on This Day in History, we look at the first Mother’s Day and “ The Pill”.

Teenage Hero (CNN)

Storybook Maze/Street Librarian (GNN)

Mother's Day (History) (History)

The Pill (Britannica) (NPR)

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Another Attempt at Whale Communication, Weird Wednesday, and TDIH - The First Westminster Dog Show

Wed, 08 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Another day, another attempt at understanding whale communication – and this time scientists are making real progress with the Sperm Whale in particular. Weird Wednesday has a missing emotional alligator, snakes almost on a plane, and one of the oddest Guinness World Records. Plus, on This Day in History, the Westminster Dog Show is held for the first time.

Whale Communication (AP News)

Missing Alligator (AP News) (CNN)

Snakes/Plane (AP News)

Guinness World Record (UPI)

Westminster Dog Show (Westminster Kennel Club) (History and Headlines)

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Potential Long-Term Risk of Intermittent Fasting, Japanese Town Tired of Tourists, & TDIH - The First Planetarium

Tue, 07 May 2024 18:18:00 -0000

Intermittent fasting has been associated with a number of health benefits, but a recent study suggests the long-term effects may not be so positive, plus one Japanese tourist town has had enough of … tourists … and they’re doing something about it. And on This Day in History, the first planetarium opens in Germany.

Intermittent Fasting (Science Daily)

Japanese Tourist Town (AP News)

The First Planetarium (Deutsches Museum) (IEEE Spectrum)

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Orangutan Caught Using Medicinal Plants, New Rules for Airline Refunds, and TDIH - The Channel Tunnel Opens

Mon, 06 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Scientists catch an orangutan healing itself with a medicinal plant and the DOT has new rules in place for airlines to help passengers with canceled to delayed flights. Plus, on This Day in History, The Channel Tunnel connecting the UK and France opens.

Orangutan Uses Medicinal Plant (AP News) (Nature)

Airline Refund Rules (GNN) (Flightrights.gov)

The Channel Tunnel (Britannica) (ThoughtCo.)

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Bird Flu and The Dairy/Meat Industry, Couple Accidently Sends Cat to Amazon, New Biodegradable Plastic, & TDIH - Washington DC Incorporated

Fri, 03 May 2024 17:14:00 -0000

With the bird flu affecting cattle, is it safe to drink milk and eat beef? The couple that accidentally returned their cat to Amazon, and a new plastic that could largely biodegrade in just five months. Plus, on This Week in History, Washington DC is incorporated.

Bire Flu/Cattle (Gizmodo)

Cat Shipped (CNN)

Biodegradable Plastic (GNN)

TDIH - Washington DC (History) (Famous Daily)

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New Benefits of Tumeric, Willy Wonka Horrendous Experience Returns, and TDIH - The 20 Cent Piece

Thu, 02 May 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A new analysis of Tumeric gives the supplement two thumbs up for treating a particular degenerative condition, Willy Wonka’s Horrendous Glasgow experience returns … but this time in US, and on This Day and History, we look back at the 20 cent piece.

Tumeric (GNN)

Willy Wonka Experience (Sky News)

20 Cent Piece (Grey Sheet) (PCGS)

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Historic Artworks Return to Notre Dame, Weird Wednesday Features an Update to Chicago's Rat Hole, Milan Podering Ice Cream Ban & 2 New GWRs + TDIH: The World's First Flushing Toilet

Wed, 01 May 2024 16:41:00 -0000

Masterpieces Saved from Notre Dame Fire Now Restored and Back on View

Weird Wednesday: Chicago 'rat hole' has been removed | AP News, Milan poised to ban ice cream, pizza and more after midnight after new proposed law | World News | Sky News, South Carolina horse breaks world record for longest tail on a miniature horse - UPI.com, Ghana man hugs 1,123 trees in an hour for world record - UPI.com

TDIH: The Victorianist: “Spending a Penny”: Or The First Public Flushing Toilets - Open on This Day in 1852

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T-Rex Intelligence Debate, Dog Lost in Australia Returns to UK, and TDIH - The Ice Cream Cone

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:59:00 -0000

There is now a debate on the intelligence of Tyrannosaurus Rex, a dog lost in Australia reunites with his UK-based owners, and on This Day in History, the ice cream cone becomes an American staple.

T-Rex Intelligence (Gizmodo) (LA Times)

Lost Dog (Sky News)

Ice Cream Cone (History)

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Racing Rubber Duck Found, Rare Lego Piece Discovered, and TDIH - The Trolley Ancestor

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:38:00 -0000

The rubber duck that shows up 400 miles away, the rare lego piece that is found after 27 years, plus on This Day in History, the ancestor of the trolley takes to the streets in Berlin.

Rubber Duck (GNN)

Rare Lego (Sky News) (Sky News)

Trolley (Vintage News) (Siemens)

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Preparing for an Asteroid, Cicadas Collective Roar Compares to Jet Engine & TDIH: The First Polio Vaccine is Released

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Earth’s upcoming close encounter with an asteroid which will be 10 times closer than our own moon and Scientists plan to study it, the cicadas are here and wreaking havoc in South Carolina, plus, on This Day in History, mass trials of the Polio vaccine are distributed.

Asteroid (Gizmodo) (MSN)

Cicadas (AP News)

Polio Vaccine (Britannica) (NPR)

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Incredible Chickadees Memory, Bringing Mars Samples to Earth, and TDIH - The First Solar Cell

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:05:00 -0000

The incredible memory of Mountain Chickadees, plus NASA is soliciting help to bring Mars samples back to Earth faster and cheaper, and on This Day in History, the first solar cell is unveiled.

Chickadee Memory (GNN) (University of Colorado)

Mars Samples (AP News)

First Solar Cell (Popular Science)

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Taco Bell Hero, Weird Wednesday (Hippo Identity, Seagull Boy, Star Wars Payday), and TDIH - Trip Around the World

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 14:48:00 -0000

The heroic act of a Taco Bell manager in Pennsylvania, plus Weird Wednesday brings us a hippo with a mistaken identity, it’s not pigman, but a seagull boy, and getting paid to watch Star Wars . Plus, on This Day in History, a man makes a trip around the world…in a fishing boat.

Taco Bell Hero (GNN)

Hippo Gender Identity (BBC)

Seagull Boy (BBC)

Star Wars Marathon (FinanceBuzz)

Trip Around the World (Britannica)

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Benefits of Exercise on Depression, New Method to Heal Broken Bones, Voyager 1 Update, and TDIH - "Hillbillies"

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:44:00 -0000

A new study examines the benefits of exercise on depression, a new technique to heal broken bones that makes them better than ever, and good news from Voyager 1. Plus, on This Day is History, we look at the term “Hillbilly”.

Exercise Benefits on Depression (GNN) (JACC Journals)

Broken Bones Healing Technique (GNN) (OMU)

Voyager 1 (CNN)

Hillbilly History (Appalachian History) (History Collection)

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Ram Aggression Technique, Ancient Pacific City, Listener Mail, and TDIH - First Eye Transplant

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:20:00 -0000

British Farmers have a unique way to curb Ram aggression, archaeologists uncover an ancient city in the Pacific, and we look at some listener mail. Plus, on This Day in History, the first eye transplant occurs.

Ram Aggression (UPI)

Ancient Pacific City (GNN)

Cedar City Lighthouse (SUU)

Eye Transplant (Dawn) (Science News)

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Monkey Mayhem in Thailand, Bees Underwater, and TDIH - Mae West Arrested for Broadway Play

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Monkey Mayhem in Thailand, and what local officials are doing to stop it, an incredible new fact about bees is discovered, plus on This Week in History, actress Mae West is arrested for her Broadway play.

Monkey Mayhem (HuffPost via AP News)

Bees Underwater (CNN) (Ecobnb)

Mae West (Biography) (Britannica)

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Solar Powered Car, Loch Ness Hunters Ask NASA for Help, and TDIH - The London Bridge is Moved

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:31:00 -0000

A car fueled by the sun is closer to becoming a consumer reality, a group of monster hunters appeal to an unlikely agency for assistance, and on This Day in History, London Bridge is falling down … but springing back to life in the American desert.

Solar Powered Car (GNN) (Aptera)

Loch Ness and NASA (Sky News)

London Bridge (History)

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Possible Blindness Cure, Weird Wednesday, and TDIH - The Mustang is Introduced

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:54:00 -0000

A long-term plan to cure many individuals afflicted with blindness, Weird Wednesday brings us a new, collaborative version of Scrabble, cats in a palace, and a hippo walking through suburbia. Plus, on This Day in History, the first Ford Mustang is introduced to the public.

Blindness Cure (Brisbane Times)

Collaborative Scrabble (BBC)

Palace Cats (AP News)

Escaped Hippo (UPI)

Lawnmower GWR (UPI)

Mustang (Ford) (Motor Biscuit) (Motor Trend)

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"Scientific" Marriage Pact, Stunning Pompeii Discovery, and TDIH - Annie Oakley Breaks a Shooting Record

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 17:00:00 -0000

A scientific pact for lasting love devised by one Stanford student, a stunning find in Pompeii, and on This Day in History – sharpshooter Annie Oakley breaks yet another record.

Marriage Pact (Fox News)

Pompeii Discovery (EuroNews)

Annie Oakley (PBS) (Patch)

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The Surprising Benefit to Fish Swimming in Schools, A Rare Medical Condition is Cured for the First Time & TDIH: The Man Who Walked Backwards Across the US (and why he did it)

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Fish Swim in Schools for Stealth–as 100 Fish Make Less Noise Than an Individual Swimming Alone (Supplemental: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-3190/ad3a4e)

World-first treatment at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke for teenager with rare condition

Heroes, Heroines, and History: The Backward Walk Around the World (Supplemental 1: PLENNIE WINGO - Wired For Adventure, Supplemental 2: Ben Montgomery's 'Man Who Walked Backward' lets readers step into history)

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Screaming Frogs, Cicada STDs (not a typo), Chechnya's Strange Music Ban & TDIH: The First Human in Space

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 17:00:00 -0000

Frogs are screaming - we just can't hear them, scientists in Brazil discover

Cicadas are nature's weirdos, and about to infest 2 parts of the U.S. | AP News

Chechnya 'bans music that is too fast or too slow'

TDIH: Yuri Gagarin and Vostok 1, the First Human Spaceflight

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Dogs Language Comprehension, Man Runs Across Africa, New Star in the Skies, and TDIH - The Modern Sub

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 18:43:00 -0000

Can dogs truly understand what we are saying? A new study provides intriguing results. A British man runs the continent of Africa, and a new star will briefly be seen in the night skies. Plus, on this day in History, we look at the first modern submarine.

Dogs Language Comprehension (CNN) (Current Biology)

Africa Run (BBC)

New (Temporary) Star (Gizmodo) (Astronomy.com)

Modern Submarine History (Library of Congress) (Library of Congress - Turtle) (Britannica)

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Europe's Clean Energy, Weird Wednesday (Animal Edition), and TDIH - The Banana Comes to England

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:51:00 -0000

Europe’s focus on clean energy appears to be paying off and Weird Wednesday focuses on animals. Plus, on This Day in History - the banana comes to England.

Europe's Clean Energy (Reuters)

Spilled Salmon (CNN)

Stuck Mountain Goat (AP News)

Cicada Urine (WPR) (Scientific American)

England/Bananas (The Conversation) (The Independent)

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Space Refueling Station, Oldest Man-made Wooden Structures Found, and TDIH - First Tax Funded Library

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 17:01:00 -0000

You’ll soon have a place to refuel on that good ol’ trip from Earth to Mars – more details on the way, early man may have built structures of wood early than previously thought … and on This Day in History, the first publicly funded library is formed.

Space Refueling Station (GNN)

Early Wooden Structures (AP News) (Nature)

Oldest Public Library (Only In Your State) (Peterborough Town Library)

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New Thyroid Cancer Treatment, Kid Finds Roman Soldier's Gold Bracelet, and TDIH - Milk Bottles

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 17:00:00 -0000

New research could yield a new treatment option for those afflicted with thyroid cancer, a Roman soldier’s gold bracelet is discovered … and likely not in the manner you would expect , plus on This Day In History - milk is sold in glass bottles for the first time.

New Thyroid Cancer Treatment (GNN)

Roman Soldier's Gold Bracelet (Yahoo News)

Milk Bottles (Mukundsathe.com) (Bonner County History)

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Medieval Castle Remains Found, Goats Overtake Island, TDIH - The Tire That Changed Cars

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 17:25:00 -0000

An excavation in France produces a mansion of yester-year … yester-century is more like it. Goats have overrun a small Italian island and the locals aren’t thrilled. And, on This Week in History, the tire that changed the automobile.

Medieval Castle (Yahoo News)

Goats Overtake Island (Sky News)

Firestone Gum-Dipped Balloon Tire (Yahoo) (Hemmings) (Automotive History)

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What Chest-Beating in Gorillas Really Indicates, A New Solar Power Desalinator Provides Clean Water & TDIH: The Rhodes Scholarship

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Gorillas Use Chest Beating to Prevent Conflict, Not Provoke it, a New Study Finds

New Solar-Powered Desalinator Keeps Producing Clean Water Without Needing Sunshine

TDIH: Rhodes scholarship | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica

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Human Brains Getting Larger, Weird Wednesday & This Day in History: The Pony Express Ride in the USA

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Human brains are getting larger. That may be good news for dementia risk

Weird Wednesday:

Rescued 'baby hedgehog' turns out to be a pom pom from a hat

Watch: Dog digging in Florida yard unearths decades-old military bomb

Nine raccoons on the loose from Netherlands zoo

Watch: Chinese man regurgitates stream of water for nearly 6 minutes

TDIH: Pony Express | US Mail Delivery History | Britannica

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Kombucha Benefits Validated, LEGO's Polite Request to Stay Out of Mugshots & TDIH: The First Human Cannonball

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 14:00:00 -0000

Kombucha Can Mimic the Effects of Fasting in the Body, According to a Study

Lego head mugshots add to California’s debate on policing and privacy

TDIH: Flash! Bang! It's the Human Cannonball! - On This Day

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‘Exhausted’ immune cells could be target for breast cancer prevention, A Cook-Out Favorite Causes a Stir in the UK & the Birth of American Dollar Sign

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:00:00 -0000

‘Exhausted’ immune cells in healthy women could be target for breast cancer prevention

No joke: UK comedian told to remove hot dog from subway poster over junk food ban

The Bankrupt Irishman Who Created the Dollar Sign by Accident - Atlas Obscura

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The Devil Comet and Oregon's Dark Sky Sanctuary

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 17:25:00 -0000

The "Devil Comet" rides the dark skies – we’ll explain, Oregon’s outback gains a new certification … and it’s "out of this world" and on This Week in History, a well dig yields the archaeological discovery of a lifetime.

The Devil Comet (Gizmodo) (Interesting Engineering) (MSN) (Popular Science)

Dark Sky Sanctuary (GNN)

Terracotta Warriors (BBC)

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Cemetary Solar Energy and Meteorite Ownership Contested

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:41:00 -0000

One French town solves a flooding issue while producing solar energy at the same time, a Swedish court issues an interesting ruling on meteorites and on This Day in History, the first US ambulance takes to the streets in Cincinnati.

Cemetary Solar Energy (EuroNews)

Meteortie Ownership (AP News)

First Ambulance (Fox News)

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Pay-As-You-Can Dining and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 16:00:00 -0000

One UK restaurant’s quest to eliminate food waste while feeding the hungry, Weird Wednesday includes a waiter and waitress race, beware the waking bears, helping a stuck skunk, and another Guinness World Record – Plus, on This Day in History, we look at what is considered the most chivalrous battle of all time.

The Long Table (The Guardian) (Wrap)

Waiter/Waitress Race (AP News)

Beware the Bears (UPI)

Stuck Skunk (UPI)

GWR - Escape Record (UPI)

Battle of Thirty (Britannica)

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A Potential Cure for HIV, The Largest Gold Nugget in England & A History of the US Gold Rush, and The "Real" Planet Vulcan

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 22:58:00 -0000

Scientists Discover Potential HIV Cure

Man finds England's biggest gold nugget

TDIH: All about Vulcan, a hypothetical planet between the Sun and Mercury

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Pig to Human Kidney Transplant and One UAE Company Looks at Cooking Oil for BioFuel

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 17:40:00 -0000

Genetically modified pig kidneys … in humans? We’ll explain. One oil-rich, Middle Eastern Country embraces sustainable fuel alternatives. Plus, on This Day In History, one famous writer is sentenced to five years in prison.

Genetically Modified Pid Kidney Transplant (NPR)

Dubai Company Looks to Cooking Oil (GNN)

Story of O. Henry (American Literature)

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Oldest Stone Tools in Europe, Toy Car Road Trip, and Sleep Protest in Mexico

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:15:00 -0000

New evidence that early humans were in Europe earlier than previously thought, one record-setting road-trip takes place at speeds under 10 mph, and hundreds in Mexico publicly protest the need for more sleep. Plus, on This Week in History, the closing of the nation’s most iconic prison.

European Stone Tools (AP News) (Nature)

Toy Car Road Trip (UPI) (Instagram - cassie.aran)

Sleep Protest (Fox44 News)

Alcatraz History (History)

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Moss Used to Restore Bog, Search for a "Treasure Ship" Begins, and Rare Birth at Athens Zoon

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:05:00 -0000

Moss to the rescue – cuttings to improve water quality at one UK reservoir, the modern day quest for buried treasure has begun … we’ll have details, and one zoo see a rare birth – the first in ten years. Plus, on This Day in History, a famous bear takes to the skies … though not willingly.

Moss Cuttings to Restore Bog (GNN)

Sunken Ship/Treasure (The Metro) (NDTV)

Pygmy Hippo (Reuters) (People)

Yogi Testing (The Aviationist) (Sierra Hotel Aeronautics)

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Artifact Over 1000-Years-Old Found in River and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:35:00 -0000

A centuries-old artifact is pulled from a UK river and Weird Wednesday including Sandboarding, bees on the loose, banned car horns, and a couple snakes. Plus, on This Day in History, we look at punishments for the Boston Tea Party.

River Artifact (Oxford Mail) (University of Bristol) (NY Times) (Historical Association)

Sandboarding (Reuters)

Bees! (UPI)

Car Horns (AP News)

Car Snake (UPI)

Escaped Snake (UPI)

Boston Tea Party (CDNC)

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Woolly Mammoth Closer to Returning, Cloning to Hunt, and a Unique Way to Care for a Young Fox

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:00:00 -0000

We’re now one step closer to bringing back the woolly mammoth, one person’s uses cloning for a nefarious purpose, and staff at a veterinary hospital take an extremely novel approach to caring for a young fox. Plus, on This Day in History, a confederate ship sinks and is later found on the same day … 102 years apart.

Woolly Mammath (NPR)

Sheep Cloned to Hunt (Gizmodo)

Orphaned Red Fox (AP News)

USS Georgiana (Shipwrecks)

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Now Hiring: Postal Workers in Antarctica, NASA's Lunar Lighthouse & The First City Bus Takes to the Streets

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:13:00 -0000

Antarctica's 'Penguin Post Office' is hiring: Do you have what it takes?

NASA Lunar Lighthouse Beacons Navigation Odie Lander (Also See: https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/marshall/nasa-to-demonstrate-autonomous-navigation-system-on-moon)

TDIH: A Brief History of Buses

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Coral Reef Restoration, NASA's "Message in a Bottle", and the NASA Tabletop Game

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 17:25:00 -0000

Coral reef restoration shows amazing promise, NASA sends another “message in a bottle”, and the well-known space organization now has its own tabletop RPG game. Plus, This Day in History, the first dot com domain is taken.

Coral Reef Restoration (GNN) (Cell Press)

Message in a Bottle (GNN)

NASA Game (NASA - The Lost Universe)

Domain History (StackScale) (History of Information) (Nameboy) (Colorlib)

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Total Solar Eclipse Details and Studying How Animals Will Respond to the Eclipse

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 18:00:00 -0000

What you need to know about the upcoming total solar eclipse, including how will animals respond and on This Day in History, we look at one of the most brilliant minds of all time.

Solar Eclipse (AP News) (NPR)

Animals Reaction to Solar Eclipse (AP News)

Einstein (ScienceStruck) (National Geographic) (The Fact File)

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AI Helps Predict Cardiac Arrest and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:20:00 -0000

Artificial Intelligence is being used to predict sudden cardiac arrest … doctors are making progress and we’ll tell you about it, it’s Weird Wednesday which means free gas in Omaha … that’s a felony … a bizarre new sport in Colorado blends rodeo with skiing, Kevin Bacon escapes his pigpen in Wisconsin, and one lego piece sells for nearly $20K. Plus, on This Day in History - how earmuffs kept one town running for decades.

AI - Cardiac Arrest (Cedars Sinai)

Free Gas Glitch (AP News)

Skijoring (AP News)

Kevin Bacon - The Pig (AP News)

March Meowness Library Fines (UPI)

$18K Lego Piece (UPI) (People)

Earmuffs (Smithsonian)

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Family Discovers Dino Footprints, Gray Whales in Cape Cod, and Milk-Producing Amphibian

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 19:23:00 -0000

One family’s discovery is a find of a lifetime, a mammal’s return to a region where they were previously extinct, an amphibian that produces milk has been found, and This Week Is History - Coke is finally bottled up.

Dinosaur Footprints (GNN)

Gray Whales in Cape Cod (GNN)

Milk-Producing Amphibian (NPR) (Nature)

Coke Bottles (History)

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Voyager 1 Troubles and The Latest from the Government on UFOs

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 17:00:00 -0000

We leave earth’s atmosphere for today's episode asking, after nearly 50 years, have we heard the last from Voyager 1? We follow up on the latest from the US Government on the existence of UFOs, is the truth really out there? Plus, This Day in History takes a look at the Normal School.

Voyager 1 (NPR)

UFOs (Sky News)

The Normal School (MyChamplainValley)

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Rare Bird at The Bellagio, Birds Can Learn, and Doppelgangers in More Ways Than One

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 18:25:00 -0000

A feathered tourist causes a stir in Las Vegas, bringing the Bellagio Fountains to a halt – speaking of birds, a new study indicates they may be smarter than we think. And file this under “you’ve gotta be kidding me” – a pair of doppelgangers w/ more than just looks in common. Plus, This Day in History, the helicopter achieves aviation history

Bellagio Fountains/Bird (AP News)

Birds Learn (GNN)

Doppelgangers (NDTV)

Helicopter History (ArthurYoung.com)

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The Chances of Life on Jupiter, Quick-thinking Pilot Delivers Baby in Sky, AI Falters at Fast Food Chains & the Rules of Baseball

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 18:39:00 -0000

Jupiter's moon Europa may have less oxygen than expected (Associated Press)

Quick-thinking pilot delivers baby mid-flight after mother goes into labor (Sky News)

AI Might Not Be the Future of Fast Food Drive-Thru Lanes After All (Gizmodo)

TDIH: MLB Rules

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Electric School Bus Performance and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 18:00:00 -0000

A Colorado school district says its electric school bus has proven superior to its diesel counterparts, we’ll tell you why. This week’s Weird Wednesday includes an odd rescue of a dog, a theft you don't hear about every day, a Big Mac record, and bunny tattoos. Plus, This Day in History, the circus inspires a common backyard product for kids.

Electric School Bus (9News)

Dog Rescue (UPI)

Leap Year Glitch (UPI)

Venus Flytrap Poachers (AP News)

Big Mac Record (UPI)

Rabbit Tattoos (UPI)

Trampoline (Smithsonian)

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Flying Car Development and Swimwear Recycling

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 18:00:00 -0000

There has been another development on the flying car front – will these things ever become a reality? Plus, how one US clothing company is working to minimize waste using old swimwear. On This Day in History, trains get a little safer.

Flying Car (New Atlas)

Swimwear Recycling (Fast Company)

Airbrakes (Wired)

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Men vs Women Exercise Benefits, Moon Lander Odysseus Ending, and Humorous Road Sign Warning

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 18:05:00 -0000

Females dominate men when it comes to exercise, we’ll explain why males need to work out longer to achieve the same benefits, we say good night to the moon lander Odysseus, and one prank warns of irritated animals ahead. Plus, looking at This Day in History, is the US missing someone from its list of presidents?

Exercise Comparison (GNN) (Cedars Sinai)

Moon Lander Odysseus (AP News)

Road Sign (UPI) (KREM 2)

Inauguration (White House History)

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Exoskeleton Advancements, Willy Wonka Mayhem, and Phone App to Diagnose Depression

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 18:10:00 -0000

A new and improved exoskeleton is helping people walk again, a Willy Wonka experience makes kids cry and not because they were turned into blueberries or sucked through a tube of chocolate, plus a new phone app that could help diagnose depression. On This Day in History, we celebrate Feb 30th, no that is not a misprint.

Exoskeleton (New Atlas)

Willy Wonka Mayhem (Gizmodo)

Phone App - Depression (Dartmouth)

February 30th (History Facts)

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Universal Snake Antivenom and News Moons Found

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 18:25:00 -0000

Is a universal snake antivenom on the horizon? Scientists are making significant progress, New moons have been discovered in our solar system and on This Day in History, the witch hunt begins in Salem.

Snake Venom (Scripps)

New Moons (AP News) (MSN)

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Mud Homes and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 18:05:00 -0000

The UK’s push for energy-efficient homes made of mud and straw and no, it’s not the three little pigs, we’ll explain. This week’s Weird Wednesday includes a naked man festival that ends after being around for over 1000 years, an update on Florida Man Games, lost money that has been returned, and another Guinness World Record. Plus, this day in history, the first TV appearance for basketball.

Mud Home (GNN)

Naked Man Festival (UPI)

"Drink Driver" (AP News)

Lost Money (UPI)

GWR - Toy Car (UPI)

TDIH (NCAA)

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A New Cancer Drug for Canines, The Tiniest Apartment in NYC and Saving Money by Flying to Class

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:51:00 -0000

A new cancer drug saves the leg and life of a three-legged pitbull named Annabel Lee. What could that mean for the future of treatment? The alleged tiniest apartment in New York -- with no bathroom or kitchen -- will still cost you $1,200. What would you pay to live in Midtown Manhattan? One student in Canada opts for weekly flights to class in order to SAVE money. And on This Day in History, Pokemon debuts for the Nintendo Gameboy.

A New Cancer Drug for Dogs (WCJB)

The Tiniest Apartment in New York City (NDTV) (Instagram)

Commute in the Skies (WBAY)

TDIH: Pokemon

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Rhinos Restored in Africa, Tooth Fairy Inflation and a New Smartphone Best Practice

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:15:00 -0000

The latest efforts in Kenya to restore a once-thriving, but now endangered species of rhinoceros in Africa, tooth-fairy gifts soar in value relative to yesteryear, Apple advises against using rice to dry a wet smartphone, and on this day in history, the efforts of one lesser known president lead to the Grand Canyon becoming a US national park.

21 Rhinos Introduced to Losaiba Conservancy in Kenya (Nature.org)

Tooth Fairy Inflation (Sky News)

Apple Advice (UPI - wet phone, NDTV - fake iPhone)

Grand Canyon (Library of Congress)

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Brightest Light in Space, Fossil Race Against Time, and Grenade Found in Bathroom Wall

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 19:45:00 -0000

The brightest light in space is identified, times running out for one rare dinosaur fossil, an explosive surprise in the wall of one Seattle home, and on this day in history, an historic moment as the US flag is raised Iwo Jima.

Brightest Light in Space (ESO)

Pliosaur Race (BBC)

Grenade Found (Fox News)

Flag Raised at Iwo Jima (History.com)

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Glow-in-the-dark Plants and Doctor's Called In at the Fort Worth Zoo

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 18:00:00 -0000

You might soon opt to light your yard with plants, we’ll explain, and doctors that do normal work with human patients are called in for a ‘first’ at the 115-year-old Fort Worth zoo. Plus, on This Day in History, the Finnish government proposes a very unique holiday.

Glow-in-the-dark Plants (CNN)

Zoo C-Section (Fort Worth Zoo)

Unique Holiday Proposed (LA Times)

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Rare Brain Cancer Cured in Child and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 18:20:00 -0000

For the first time in history, a child has been cured of a particular type of brain cancer and this week’s Weird Wednesday includes an odd race, strange raccoons, and another Guinness World Record. Plus, this day in history, the flying car may have been around longer than you think.

Brain Cancer (Straits Times)

Pancake Race (AP News)

Wallet Found (UPI)

DoorDash Raccoons (UPI)

Lost Raccoon (UPI)

Sweater GWR (UPI)

Flying Car (365 Days of Motoring)

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Underwater Farming, Closing Phone Apps, and Lost Guitar Returns to Iconic Owner

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 19:30:00 -0000

Could ocean farming provide the path to a more sustainable – and profitable – future? Also, Is there really any benefit to closing all your phone apps? Plus, 50 years later, a lost guitar returns to its iconic owner. All that and on this day in history, after 32 thousand years, an extinct plant return.

Underwater Farming (Positive.news)

Closing Your Apps (Gizmodo)

Lost Guitar Returns Home (GNN)

Ancient Plant Returns (MyModernMet)

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Miraculous Stingray Pregnancy, Simulated Mars Mission, and History of President's Day

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 18:30:00 -0000

The Mother Mary of stingrays, NASA is looking for volunteers to take part in a simulated Mars mission, and a quick look at the history of President’s day. Plus, this day in history, we mail our children.

Stingray Pregnancy (AP News)

Simulated Mars Mission (Gizmodo)

Mailed Children (History Explorer) (Mailing May)

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Once-Flowing Rivers of Mars, Space Drug Capsule Returning, and Camels Helping Joshua Tree Groves in California

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 18:30:00 -0000

More proof that water once existed on Mars, following the recent fires, a drug manufacturing capsule will finally be returning from space, and California’s Joshua Tree groves make a comeback thanks in part to a two-humped mammal. Plus, this day in history, how one little girl gave a famous president his iconic look.

Once-Flowing Rivers of Mars (GNN)

Drug Manufacturing Space Capsule (Gizmodo)

Joshua Tree Groves/Camels (GNN)

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Endangered Seabirds Making a Comeback, Dino Fossils with Skin Found, and a "No Smoking" Plane Grounding

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Now that the rabbits are gone, endangered seabirds are making a comeback - we’ll explain. Dinosaur fossils are found with a rare addition and more planes are grounded but this time due to a “No Smoking” sign. Plus, this week in history - the first regular broadcast from a radio station occurs in England.

Endangered Seabirds (GNN)

Dinosaur Fossil with Skin (GNN)

"No Smoking" Plane Grounding (Gizmodo)

First Regular Radio Brodcast (EssexLive)

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Amateur Paleontologists Discover Fossils, Blind Penguin Gets Help, and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Amateur Paleontologists discover a treasure-trove of fossils, a blind penguin finds a helping “wing” to get around, and this week’s Weird Wednesday includes part of a plane on a roof, a wild skiing trip, and a couple Guinness World Records. Plus, this day in history - a historic day for the telephone.

Amateur Paleontologists (GNN)

Blind Penguin (GNN)

Plane Pience on Roof (UPI)

Skiing Adventure (UPI)

GWR Rejected Then Awarded (Sky News)

GWR Dragon Sculpture (UPI)

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Satellite to Study Atmosphere and Oceans, Prosthetic Hand Regains Some Feeling, and Puppy Regrows Jaw

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 18:00:00 -0000

A new satellite heads to space to survey Earth’s oceans and atmosphere, a new prosthetic hand allows wearers to sense temperature, and a puppy spontaneously regrows its jaw after it was lost to cancer. Plus, on this day in history, record cold temperatures in the Southern US.

Pace Satellite (AP News) (NASA)

Prosthetic Hand (GNN)

Dog Regrows Jaw (Cornell Chronicle)

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Decoding Ancient Scrolls, Unexpected Ocean Found on a Saturn Moon, and Mutant Wolves in Chernobyl

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:25:00 -0000

Artificial Intelligence helps scientists decode ancient scrolls, An unexpected OCEAN beneath the surface of one Saturn’s moons, and Mutant Wolves with Cancer-resistant genes. Plus, on this day in history, War of the Worlds Chaos.

AI Decodinig of Ancient Scrolls (The Guardian)

Saturn Moon Ocean (AP News) (The Guardian)

Mutant Wolves (News Wise) (Sky News)

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Alzheimer's Disease Repair, Google's Gemini Announced, and Ancient Tree Comeback

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 18:00:00 -0000

A possible new approach to fight Alzheimer's, Google releases the most powerful AI yet, and a tree thought extinct is making a comeback. Plus, on this day in history — a television milestone for the Ed Sullivan show .

Alzeimer's Disease (GNN)

Google Announces Gemini (Gizmodo)

The Wollemi Pine (ABC News Australia)

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Dating with AI and Tomato Juice Health Benefits

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 18:00:00 -0000

AI helps a couple meet and get married and the POWER of the tomato. Plus, on this day in history - The Queen of Scots death sentence is carried out.

AI Dating (Gizmodo)

Tomato Jiuce Properties (GNN)

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Greek Temple Treasure and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 19:45:00 -0000

Gold and Jewels are found in an ancient Greek temple, this week’s Weird Wednesday includes a lost turtle, adult diapers, an odd break-in and of course, a couple Guinness World Records. Plus, this day in history - the destruction of a priceless vase.

Greek Temple (Popular Mechanics)

Lost Turtle (UPI)

Diaper Spa (MSN)

Lost Lottery Ticket (UPI)

Break-in (UPI)

WOW Record (UPI)

Merchandise Record (UPI)

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Escaped Monkey Caught and The Truth About Bugs and Light

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 18:00:00 -0000

An escaped UK monkey was brought home thanks to peanuts and Yorkshire pudding and are bugs REALLY attracted to light at night? The evidence would suggest yes, but we’ll bring you some details. Plus, on this day in history, a major 19th century war comes to an end.

Escaped Monkey (Sky News)

Bugs and Light (AP News) (Nature)

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Study of European Underwater Civilizations, Sea Otters Helping Marshlands, and Rocket Found in Garage

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:00:00 -0000

A race to explore ancient underwater civilizations in Europe – we’ll give you the details, how sea otters are saving the California marshlands, plus a bizarre find at the home of a deceased Seattle-area man. All that plus this day in history … the first big screen appearance for a Marvel superhero … and here’s a hint, it took place 80 years ago!

European Underwater Civilizations (Popular Mechanics)

Sea Otters Help California Marshlands (AP News) (Sea Otter Study)

Cold War Era Rocket Found (AP News)

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Can Music Make Us Healthier? Woman Survives Trash Compaction and The History of Groundhog Day

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 18:15:00 -0000

Is music the key to better brain health later in life? A woman manages to survive trash compaction and we look back on the first groundhog day. Plus, this day in history — the details of the ABSCAM scandal were released to the public – and if you don’t know what that is, well, keep listening!

Music Link to Better Health (GNN)

Woman Suvives Trash Compaction (AP News)

History of The Groundhog (History) (Independent) (Wild Explained) (Punxsutawney Groundhog Club)

AbScam (Britannica)

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Ants Help with Sustainable Energy, Youthful Mensa Member, Dog Feces DNA

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 19:05:00 -0000

How ants can help reveal the key to sustainable energy sourcing, a youthful competitor for Einstein and Hawking, and one European district is taking advanced measures to protect against pet owners who don’t clean up. Plus, on this day in history - “The 400” is established.

Ants/Biodiversity (FrontiersIN)

Young Mesna Member (BBC)

Dog Feces DNA (Reuters)

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Rogue AI, Neuralink Implant, and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 19:30:00 -0000

AI goes rogue … and the results are truly frightening, Neuralink implants its chip in a human brain for the first time – what that could mean for the future, and Weird Wednesday which includes a public restroom that becomes a disco with the push of a button. All that, plus this day in history - how one major American city wound up with roads that simply don’t align

Rogue AI (MSN)

Neuralink (Reuters)

Parrot Update (UPI)

Gator Update (UPI)

Disco Restroom (UPI) (Fox56news)

Oldest Vlogger (UPI)

The Bridge Wars (HG.org)

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Cursive Study and Robot Surgeon Heads to the ISS

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:30:00 -0000

Can cursive make you smarter? The ISS gets a new passenger - a robot surgeon. Plus, this day in history, walking gets easier.

Cursive Study (FrontiersIN)

Robot Space Surgeon (Gizmodo)

Moving Walkway (Today in Science History)

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Life on Mars(?), Mars Vehicle Retires, California Solar Advancements

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 20:36:00 -0000

Ancient lake sediment on Mars may reveal whether life once existed there. Staying with the red planet, one air-born exploratory vehicle has forced into retirement. California takes a solar leap forward. Plus, this week in history, seeing eye dogs become a reality.

California Solar (Yahoo News)

NASA Helicopter (AP News)

Mars Lake Sediment (GNN)

"The Seeing Eye" School (SeeingEye) (WagWalking)

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Deaf Gene Therapy, AI Meltdown, and New Escape Room Design

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

New gene therapy that could potentially improve the hearing of deaf children, an AI meltdown as the tech turns on its leader — and no this is not the plot to mission impossible, plus, the world’s smallest escape room could leave you crippled with anxiety. And on this day in history — an iconic tower breaks ground.

Deaf Gene Therapy (AP News)

Escape Room (Reuters)

AI Meltdown (Sky News)

This Day in History (Rare Historical Photos)

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NASA Space Rocks Return and Rare Insect Experience

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 19:26:00 -0000

One of NASA’s recent endeavors yields more than expected. A once in 200-year insect experience is nearly upon us. And, on this day in history - there’s an opportunity on Mars … we’ll explain.

NASA Rocks (Gizmodo)

Rare Insect Experience (TIME)

Mars History (NASA Mars)

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Possible Road Rule Changes and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

One long time rule of the road could be going away and Weird Wednesday. Plus, this day in history - changes made for beer in the U.S.

Road Rule Change (CNN Business)

The Rat Hole (UPI)

RetiPOOtion (RISPCA)

Yogurt Digital Detox (Siggis)

Spinning Top Record (UPI)

Beer Cans (Coalition Brewing)

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The Reasons Why Dogs Wag Their Tails and The Oldest Black Hole

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Why do dogs wag their tails? There’s more to it than you think, scientists have spotted the oldest known black hole yet, an update on the oldest dog record, and this day in history - we look at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

Black Hole (Smithsonian Magazine)

Tail Wagging (Sky News)

Oldest Dog Update (Sky News)

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Smooth Radio)

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Levitation Becoming a Reality and Lexington E.T. Tourism Campaign

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Levitation becomes a reality? Plus, one Kentucky city’s tourism campaign includes extraterrestrials invites, this week in history - New York’s plan to save women’s souls, and a few fan corrections.

Magnet Levitation (Popular Mechanics)

Lexington Extraterrestrial Tourism Campaign (AP News)

Sullivan Ordinance (History) (Wikipedia)

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"Utopian" California City and Possible Alexa Upgrades

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 20:45:00 -0000

The proposed Utopian City in California, and Alexa, where art thou? Possible changes coming to Amazon’s favorite virtual assistant. That, plus this Week in History - we take a look at a classic car

Utopian City (Gizmodo) (California Forever)

Alexa Update (Gizmodo) (Business Insider)

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Crab Walking Car, AI Handwriting, and Chatty Animal Found

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode the new crab walking car, a new AI tool that could help…or hurt you, and a chatty animal found wandering the streets. Plus, this day in history - an NFL rule change that has one left one team unhappy for the past few weeks

Crab Walking Car (Yahoo)

AI Handwriting (Mashable)

Chatty Animal (UPI)

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Pothole Rescue and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Coming up on today’s episode Potholes aren’t all bad, we’ll explain and Weird Wednesday. Plus this day in history - tragedy strikes the South Pole.

Pothole Rescue (NDTV)

Underwear Snake (UPI)

World's Ugliest Lawn (UPI) (The Guardian)

Mississippi River Record (UPI)

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Alexander the Great Palace Reopens and The New Tyrannosaur Species

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

The Palace of Alexander the Great is reopening plus, a new subspecies of tyrannosaur is found. Also, this day in history, an advancement for transferring goods via trains.

Palace of Alexander the Great (GNN)

T. Mcraeensis (NPR) (AP News) (Nature)

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Ancient Amazon Cities and No Fun Highway Signs

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 18:45:00 -0000

Ancient Amazon cities have been discovered, the feds play ‘fun police’ with highway signs, and this day is history – the hat that caused a riot!

Ancient Amazon Cities (Gizmodo) (AP News)

No Fun Highway Signs (AP News)

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Snow Fly Research, Endangered Clam Revival, and A Good Dog Saves the Day

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

'Tis the season for snow flies, a large endangered clam makes a comeback in the Adriatic, and a good dog named Kobe saves the day – some feel-good vibes heading to the weekend … that, plus this Week in History - we go back to the golden age of comic books.

Snow Flies (NPR)

Clam Comeback (Reuters)

Good Dog (Good News Network)

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Giant Ape Extinction and Could Gray Hair Be Reversible?

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Why a Giant Ape Species went extinct over 200 thousand years ago and could gray hair be reversible? Plus, this day in history - a special day for one of the most popular modern day book series.

Giant Ape (AP News)

Gray Hair (Popular Mechanics)

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The Tidy Mouse and Weird Wednesday

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

It’s not Mighty Mouse, it’s Tidy Mouse and Weird Wednesday - we cover some of the odd, interesting stories that we found this week. Plus, this day in history - we send signals to the moon with Project Diana.

Tidy Mouse (UPI)

Talking Bidet (Gizmodo)

Cash Eating Dog (UPI)

80-Year Old Letter (UPI)

Popsicle Structure (UPI)

Baking Record (UPI)

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EEAGER Beaver, Elvis AI Concert, and Starbucks Stanley Mayhem

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Beavers could potentially help combat natural disasters. The King, Elvis Presley is set to make comeback thanks to AI … and mayhem at Target, thanks to Starbucks … we’ll explain. Plus, this day in history - it is a good date for Apple.

EEAGER Beaver (CBC)

AI Elvis (Reuters)

Starbucks Stanley Cup (Yahoo News)

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Toronto's Marathon Man and Google's Privacy Update

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Toronto’s Marathon Man treks more than 7,000 MILES in a single year, Google is finally addresses one of the internet’s biggest privacy concerns, plus this week in history - the law against flirting.

Toronto’s Marathon Man (CBC)

Google Disables Cookies (Gizmodo)

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Sonic Boom-less Aircraft, Space Plane Experiments, and Largest Australian Venomous Spider

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 19:35:00 -0000

Beware of the record-setting spider in Australia, plus a couple experiments take to the skies for NASA and the military. This Week in History focuses on an anniversary for Reggie’s namesake.

X-59 Supersonic Jet (Gizmodo) (CNET)

X-37B Space Plane (AP News)

Australian Spider (Sky News)

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The Met to Return Stolen Art, Island Caretaker Applications, and Classic Video Game Beat

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

The Metropolitan Museum of Art to repatriate dozens of stolen pieces of art, a remote island is now accepting applications for an eight-month care-taker position – and they want two! Plus, a very old video game that may have been “beat” for the first time. That, and this week in history - a pivotal moment for the revolver.

Repatriated Art (CBS)

Island Caretakers (Sky News)

Classic Game Beat (Sky News)

Colt Guns (American Military News)

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Turning Light Into Matter & Weird Wednesday

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

Physicists work on turning light into matter and Weird Wednesday brings some of the more bizarre stories of the week. All that, plus this day in history - one of the most successful (and valuable) baseball franchises was sold … and for a relatively modest price when you consider the current value.

Light Into Matter (Gizmodo)

Alexa (NDTV) (NY Post)

Wallet Lost (UPI)

Pizza Toppings (UPI)

Popping Balloons (UPI)

Underwear (UPI)

Singing Record (UPI)

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2024 Predictions, "Beer Goggles" Research, and A Proper Introduction

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0000

What could be in store for 2024 – we ask a famous (dead) French astrologist, the science behind the phenomenon known as “beer goggles,” and on this day in history – I (and you too) can’t drive 55 mph … thanks Richard Nixon. Plus a proper introduction from Reggie and Marques – just what you’ve been craving.

Nostadamus 2024 Predictions (NDTV) (IFLScience) (Daily Mail)

Beer Goggles Research (SkyNews)

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Fri. 12/29 - Las Vegas Wedding Record and A Cool Stuff Lookback

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 19:10:00 -0000

On today’s condensed, holiday-week episode; Las Vegas weddings could reach a new all-time high this New Year’s Eve – we’ll tell you why and we take a look back at the year of Cool Stuff, the micro naps of Penguins. Plus, this Week in History - we look at one of the oldest sports around, it might surprise you which one it is.

Vegas Weddings (AP News)

Penguin Naps (AP News)

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Thu. 12/28 - Classic Holiday Commercials and Cool Stuff Lookback

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s condensed Holiday week episode – a closer look at the long-running classic commercials you see each year at this time, and in today’s Cool Stuff lookback we cover what you should be eating to get better sleep. Plus this week in history - we head to the stars.

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Wed. 12/27 - Bird Drones Becoming a Reality and a Cool Stuff Lookback

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 19:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode - Birds drones could become a reality soon and a look back at the transatlantic flight using only sustainable fuel. All that, plus this day in history - We head to the moon.

Bird Drones

Transatlantic Flight - from the Dec 11th episode

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Tues. 12/26 - International Astronaut to Join NASA Trip to Moon and Cool Stuff Lookback

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today's episode - NASA will have an international astronaut join them on the next lunar landing mission and we look back at Space Lighthouses. Plus, this day in history takes a look back at one of the most successful bands of all time.

International Astronaut (AP News)

Beatles Record Sales Numbers (Hooks and Harmony)

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Fri. 12/22 - The Blinding Light Display and Cool Stuff Look Back

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 21:16:00 -0000

On today's episode, the blinding Christmas light display that has some neighbor's upset and a look back at Cool Stuff that we covered this year. Plus, this day in history looks back at the tradition of Christmas lights.

Holiday Light Show (UPI) (NY Times) (ERDAJT Stats)

First Light Displays (Library of Congress)

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Thu. 12/21 - Ape Memory, Oldest Horse Saddle Found, Holiday Package Theft

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 19:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode - Ape memory – it may rival that of humans, the world’s oldest horse saddle is found in Mongolia and dates back millenia, and one parcel delivery service presents a solution to the rise in package theft around the holidays. That, plus this week in history looks back at the invention of an american classic – basketball

Ape Memory (John Hopkins University)

Package Theft (CBS News) (Fox Business)

World's Oldest Saddle (Good News Network)

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Wed. 12/20 - Space Laser Communication, Latest Doritos Product, 103-Year-Old Artificial Tree Sold

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode –NASA looks to speed up communication in space, Doritos does it again – you’ll never guess what they’ve added nacho cheese flavoring to now, and one of the oldest artificial trees goes for a surprising amount at auction. All that, plus this day in history - we stick with our Christmas theme.

Space Lasers (AP News) (Forbes)

Doritos Product (Sky News)

103-Year-Old Artificial Tree (UPI) (Sky News)

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Tues. 12/19 - Sled Dog Therapy, Talking with Whales, Ray Ban Smart Glasses

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode - sled dogs for your mental health, advancements in whale communication that could help us talk with … aliens, and the latest Ray Ban smart glasses feature may have you understanding foreign languages. That, plus this day in history looks at another classic Christmas Story.

Sled Dog Therapy (Positive News Network)

Talking with Whales (Mashable)

Whale Conversing Report

Ray Ban Smart Glasses (Mashable)

Connect with us by email using the address coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Mon. 12/18 - Did Dinosaurs Limit Our Lifespan? Return Your Books, Pompei Artifact

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode – why we humans may owe our relatively short lifespan to … the dinosaurs, another overdue book returned after more than five decades, and a Belgian family stumbles upon an ancient artifact from the lost city of Pompei. Plus, this week in history takes a look at a Christmas TV movie classic.

Lifespan (Popular Mechanics)

Beowulf Returned (UPI)

Nancy Drew Returned (UPI)

Overdue Book History (Manybooks)

Pompei Artifact (UPI)

Lost Tomato Follow-up (UPI)

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Fri. 12/15 - Horned Oryx Not Extinct?, Rare Air Jordans Donation, Stranger Things Play

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode – the reemergence of a species previously extinct in the wild, you'll never guess where a rare pair of Air Jordans was found, Stranger Things comes to the stage in London, and this Week in History - a look at the most successful movie of all time.

Return of the Horned Oryx

Air Jordan Donation

"Stranger Things" Play

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Thu. 12/14 - Ireland Wind Energy, Snapchat and Google Updates, Fast Food Punishment

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode – a first in the world of renewable energy as Ireland makes history, a pair of tech updates as Snapchat adds while Google removes, also a creative punishment for an angry fast food customer...and no, they won’t be taking on the role of butler. Plus, this day in history looks at a monumental moment in aviation history.

email - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Wed. 12/13 - Mouse Virtual Reality, The End of E3, Days of the Week Names

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode – virtual reality is for ALL of us … and that includes rodents., the end of an era for one of the world’s largest video game conferences. Also, the day of the week – you know them, you love (some) of them … but where the heck did those names come from? We’ll fill you in. Plus this day in history - a look at a lesser known founding father.

VR for Mice

End of E3

E3 Biggest Game Announcements

E3 Biggest Flops

Days of the Week

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Tues. 12/12 -Redwood Recovery, Sudsy Move, Teenage Attorney

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode; the remarkable recovery of California’s Redwood Trees, the hotel moved with a remarkable amount of soap, and the Doogie House of lawyers – if you don’t get that reference, look it up, plus this day in history with Ol' Blue Eyes.

Redwood Recovery

Hotel Moved with Soap

Teenage Attorney

Young Accomplishments

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Mon. 12/11 - Sustainable Fuel Flight, Space Tomato is Found, White Leucistic Alligator

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode – the transatlantic flight made using only sustainable fuel, a lost space tomato has been found, and one of nature’s rarest occurrences. Plus, this week in history takes a look at the Mona Lisa.

Transatlantic flight

Lost Space Tomato

White Leucistic Alligator

Mona Lisa Theft

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Fri. 12/8 - Space Lighthouses, The Year in Swipe, The QR Code Bill

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode – the space lighthouses that may one day help us reach our destination in space, this year in Tinder statistics – what stands out in the modern dating scene, and a restaurant bill that might have you washing dishes for at least a couple of years. Plus this week in history - discovering life on Earth.

Space Lighthouse (Mashable)

Year In Swipe (YearinSwipe)

QR Bill (NDTV)

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Thu. 12/7 - The Other Leaning Tower, Wild Animal Stories, Double Lottery Winners

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 18:06:00 -0000

On today's episode - You know of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but there is another learning tower in Italy that needs repairs. We comver a barrage of wild animal stories. The lucky people who won the lottery twice. Also, this day in history - covering Bob Dylan.

Leaning Tower of Bologna - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/fixing-bolognas-leaning-tower-take-least-10-years-mayor-2023-12-06/

Tree Opossum - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/05/opossum-Christmas-tree-Texas/9731701797819/

Deer Statue - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/05/deer-statue-vandalized-buck-tried-to-mate/5541701798934/

Shopping Deer - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/04/deer-Sams-Club-Corona-California/8241701722064/

School Deer - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/05/deer-Toms-River-New-Jersey-school/9841701810071/

Llama on the Run - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/05/canada-loose-llama-Larry-Surrey-British-Columbia/8131701809693/

Kanagroo Escape - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/04/canada-kangaroo-escape-recaptured/4661701705155/

Country Club Panther - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/05/Florida-panther-Bonita-Springs-County-Club/6411701793766/

Toilet Iguana - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/01/5-strange-toilet-surprises/2491701437356/

Toilet Snake - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/01/5-strange-toilet-surprises/2491701437356/

Tippy and the Toilet - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/01/5-strange-toilet-surprises/2491701437356/

Dryer Vent Dog - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/04/dog-dryer-vent-rescue-south-carolina/1501701727880/

Big Double Lottery Winner - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/05/lotto-Massachusetts-State-Lottery-repeat-winner/3461701805687/

Twice is Nice Lottery Winner - https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/12/04/lotto-Maryland-Lottery-second-big-win-one-year/1011701721693/

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Wed. 12/6 - The Shipwreck That Keeps Producing and The Nagoya Lady Slap

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 17:42:00 -0000

On today’s episode – A Shipwreck that continues to churn out treasure, the restaurant that offered slaps, and this day in history - we cover an all time TV movie classic.

Shipwreck - https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/treasure-uncovered-in-3-mile-scatter-trail-from-most-famous-shipwreck-the-maravillas/

Nagoya Lady Slap - https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/viral-video-at-this-japanese-restaurant-people-pay-to-get-slapped-by-female-waitresses-4636882

Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Tues. 12/5 - The Oldest Living Land Animal, Valuable Trash, The Airing of Grievances

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode; the world’s oldest living land animal celebrates a birthday. Plus, how much trash would you sift through to locate a lost valuable. 'Tis the season for Festivus – we’ll tell you where to send your grievances. That, and a look back at this day in history with the group that bared it all.

Oldest Land Animal

Lost Valuable

Air Your Grievances

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Mon. 12/4 - Penguin Naps, Recharging Pacemaker, Private Island For Sale

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode – We cover the animal that takes four-second micro naps, the pacemaker that can be charged with a heartbeat, and how much your own private island would cost. Plus, today is history takes a look at 1984, the book, not the year.

Penguin Naps

Recharging Pacemaker

Private Island

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Fri. 12/1 - Using Produce to Help Sleep and The Lifespan Competition

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today’s episode, the secret to a good night’s sleep could be found in your local produce section. The longevity competition could help us feel 10 years younger. Plus, this week in history.

Produce to help sleep

Lifespan Competition

Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Thu. 11/30 The Perfect Solar System, Pilots Help Officials, Most Teeth Record

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 19:54:00 -0000

On today’s episode scientists have discovered the “perfect” solar system. One of the world's preeminent sports leagues turns to airline pilots for assistance, and there is a new record for the most teeth. Plus, we wrap up the show with this day in history.

Perfect Solar System

Airline Pilots Help Officials

Most Teeth Record

Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Wed. 11/29 - Rhino Comeback, Young Mensa Member, Peruvian Find

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 18:23:00 -0000

On today's episode, a nearly extinct animal making a comeback in captivity. We also take a look at the youngest Mensa member. Archeologists make an interesting discovery in Peru. Plus, this week in history.

Endangered Rhino

Mensa Kid

Peru Mummies

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Tues. 11/28 - EU Ban's Microplastics, Saving Axolotls, Scratch Off Delivery, The First US Race

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 20:52:00 -0000

On today's episode we cover the EU's ban on microplastics and what that means for you. Adopt an Axolotl to help save them. $20,000 in lottery tickets that had no winners. A look back at the first US auto race. Plus, today in history looks back at daytime dramas.

Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Mon. 11/27 - Is It Trash or Treasure and the Late Return

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:58:00 -0000

On today's episode, items that were forgotten or thought as trash became treasure. Can we mine our landfills? A lost object that returns home after nearly five decades. Plus, today in history.

Story links

contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Wed. 11/22 - The Stress of Thanksgiving, Top Dishes, and Meal Prep

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 20:55:00 -0000

On today's episode, a look at what is causing all the holiday stress for Thanksgiving, the top dishes served, and a look at the overall meal prep. Plus, this day in history.

Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Tues. 11/21 - A Promising Treatment for Parkinson's, An Extinct Species Reemerges, the TESLA Truck & The Legend of Zelda Anniversary

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 18:00:00 -0000

On today's episode, a Parkinson's patient walks again thanks to new technology, a (supposedly) extinct mammal is rediscovered in Indonesia and TESLA's policy when purchasing its new truck Plus, a look at this day in history -- a video game edition.

Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Mon. 11/20 - Flying Cars, The Most Expensive Bottle of Whiskey, California Agave, Brown Friday

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 18:30:00 -0000

On today's episode, are flying cars coming soon? The most expnesive bottle of whiskey ever sold in auction. A look at a new possible crop for California. You've heard of Black Friday, but are you aware of Brown Friday? Plus, a look at this day in history.

contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Fri. 11/17 - New 3D Printed Limbs, Google's Weatherman, Getting Paid to Watch Hallmark Movies, History of Guinness World Records

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 18:30:00 -0000

On today's episode we discuss advanced 3D printing being used to create bones, ligaments and tendons. Google's new AI Weatherman helps predict the weather. Find out how to get paid to watch 12 Hallmark movies. Doritos develops new software to stop the crunching. We look back at the history of Guinness World Records. Plus, a look at this day in history.

Doritos Silent link

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Thu. 11/16 - Autonomous Cars, Florida Man Games, Loch Ness Monster, Social Media Addiction

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 19:39:00 -0000

Today's episode includes the latest update on autonomous cars, the first Florida Man games are coming soon, the history of the Loch Ness Monster, and is social media really additcing? Plus, the city that has moved several times and a look at this day in history.

As Heard on This Episode: The Story behind the Loch Ness Monster

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Wed. 11/15 - Necrobot Spiders, UberTasks, Scare at 13,000 Feet, NASA Takes a Break From Mars

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:30:00 -0000

Today's episode includes dead spiders that are coming back to life, UberTasks may be coming soon to help with household chores, a frightening discovery at 13,000 feet, NASA’s martian spacecrafts are taking a two week break, and a look at this day in history.

contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Tues. 11/14 - Peanut Toothpaste, Refrigerator Toilet Paper, Wile E Coyote Movie Update

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 19:30:00 -0000

Today's episode includes the new toothpaste that could help with peanut allergies, a new World Record for pencils, an update on the Wile E. Coyote movie, why people are putting toilet paper in the refrigerator, and a look at this day in history.

contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Mon. 11/13 - Cool Stuff Ride Home Returns

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 20:54:00 -0000

Cool Stuff Ride Home returns with new hosts, Reggie Risseeuw and Marques Pfaff.

The latest Picasso painting to be sold brings in the second highest price for one of his pieces, Google will start deleting inactive accounts, The Toy Hall of Fame inductees have been announced, a show of goodwill in New York, Jared Leto scales the Empire State Building, and a look at this day in history.

contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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Fri. 02/10 - Spoiler: This Is Our Last Episode

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 23:16:24 -0000

We all love a good ending, but has the culture around spoiler warnings gone too far? Plus, a roundup of interesting links and stories from my drafts. And the story of the Cool Stuff Ride Home.

Sponsors:

Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnews
ZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuff

Links:

Spoiler Alert History: No Alarms and No Surprises, Please (Tedium)
guys who think everything is a spoiler (Man Carrying Things, YouTube)
The Antisemitism of ‘Harry Potter’ Returns in ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ (The Mary Sue)
Dream Interpreter AI
Viral Vault: The Kinetic Poetry of Gary Brolsma's “Numa Numa Dance” (Consequence)
CNN Exclusive: Inside the secretive process to select the first astronauts for NASA's next moon mission (CNN)
Sync Your Calendar With the Solar System (NY Times)
The Rude, Cruel, and Insulting 'Vinegar Valentines' of the Victorian Era (Atlas Obscura)
The Atlas Obscura Podcast
The Twisted Life of Clippy (Seattle Met)
Voice Changer
Online Shopping in the 1950s (Messy Nessy)
The Astounding Physics of N95 Masks (Minute Physics, YouTube)
My newsletter, First Draft Theater (Substack)
My Twitter
My YouTube Channel
My Instagram
My TikTok
The Neo-Futurists, the experimental theater company I'm in
The NY Neo-Futurists’ podcast, Hit Play
Hit Play Live in NYC on 2/13
C.A.M.P. this summer in the Catskills
Everything’s Bigger
Book me to speak at your event!
My book

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Thu. 02/09 - Justice for the M&M's Spokescandies

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 21:18:01 -0000

An extra long episode, featuring the history of the M&M’s spokescandies and why we care about them so much. Plus, codebreakers have just decrypted over 50 lost letters from Mary, Queen of Scots. And another Valentine’s Day campaign to help you enact revenge on your ex––this time with a surprise scorpion.

Sponsors:

ZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuff
Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnews

Links:

The History Of M&M's Isn't As Sweet As You Think It Is (All That’s Interesting)
Gen Z's Favorite Brands 2022 (Morning Consult)
The Former Creatives Behind M&M's Mascots Believe the Characters Are Adding Fun to Cancel Culture (Ad Week)
1954 commercial debut of spokescandies (YouTube)
Another 1950s M&M commercial (YouTube)
The History of the M&M Characters – Nostalgia Critic (Channel Awesome, YouTube)
The Woke Agenda Finally Came For Our Sexy M&M's (BuzzFeed News)
Pre-Super Bowl is the new April Fools (Jackson Bird, Twitter)
Next Phase Of M&M's® Super Bowl Lvii Campaign Unveiled (PR News Wire)
Was the Recent M&M’s Announcement Just a Stunt Leading Up to the Super Bowl? (NY Times)
Clam commercial (M&Ms, YouTube)
Codebreakers crack secrets of Mary Queen of Scots’ lost letters (EurkeAlert)
The Lost Letters of an Imprisoned Queen Have Been Decrypted After 400 Years (Vice)
A Tip for the Hangman by Allison Epstein
Topo Chico Hard Seltzer Will Send Your Ex a Scorpion for Valentine's Day
Send Your Ex an Edible Scorpion
green m&m (@greenmfanfic) (Instagram)
My newsletter, First Draft Theater (Substack)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 02/08 - How Photos Changed Society + An Important Announcement

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 21:49:01 -0000

How the invention of photography changed the world in unintended ways. Plus, an American man whose prostate cancer caused him to speak with an Irish accent. And stick around to the end for a very important announcement about the podcast.

Sponsors:

Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnews
ZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuff

Links:

5 Unintended Consequences of Photography (Saturday Evening Post)
A Man’s Prostate Cancer Gave Him An 'Uncontrollable' Irish Accent (Gizmodo)
Rare Cancer Causes US Man to Suddenly Develop an Irish Sounding Accent (Science Alert)
What Is Foreign Accent Syndrome? (WebMD)
Foreign accent syndrome as a heralding manifestation of transformation to small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer (BMJ Case Reports)
My newsletter, First Draft Theater (Substack)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Tue. 02/07 - "Skutniks" at the State of the Union

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 21:34:52 -0000

How the State of the Union address has changed in its 233 years. Plus, the “extinct” versions of SARS CoV-2 that are still circulating among animals. And, donate to the San Antonio Zoo and they’ll name a cockroach after your ex.

Sponsors:

ZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuff
Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnews

Links:

The State of the Union address's history, explained (Vox)
A Brief History of the State of the Union Address (Mental Floss)
Memorable moments from recent State of the Union addresses (ABC News)
Unanimous Verdict: Networks Chose Clinton (NY Times, 1997)
'Extinct' Coronaviruses Still Thrive in North America, Just Not in Humans (ScienceAlert)
Cry Me A Cockroach (San Antonio Zoo)
Philadelphia Eagles player is bringing his pregnant wife’s OBGYN to the Super Bowl, just in case (Upworthy)
Ben Stiller in talks to star in Three Identical Strangers (A/V Club)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 02/06 - Drinking Virgin Cola on Mars

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 22:27:29 -0000

SpaceX’s Starship rocket might be attempting its first-ever orbital launch next month. Plus, a look back at another space billionaire’s brief appearance in the soda wars with Virgin Cola. And a quick update on the AI Seinfeld cartoon.

Sponsors:

Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnews
ZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuff

Links:

Get ready: SpaceX Starship's first launch is for real (Mashable)
SpaceX will attempt Starship orbital test in March, says Elon Musk (Engadget)
SpaceX eyeing March for 1st Starship orbital flight, Elon Musk says (Space.com)
Bigger, faster, farther: A batch of new rockets is set to blast into space this year (NBC News)
Virgin Cola: Richard Branson's Greatest Failure (Tedium)
Watch Pepsi, Where's My Jet? (Netflix)
Endless Seinfeld episode grinds to a halt after AI comic violates Twitch guidelines (Ars Technica)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 02/03 - Ice, Ice, Pasta

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:53:56 -0000

Scientists have uncovered a new form of ice. Plus, James Cameron hired a forensics team and some stunt performers to answer once and for all whether there was enough room for Jack on that door. And the podcaster who invented a new kind of pasta is back with two rare pasta types.

Sponsors:

ZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuff
Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnews

Links:

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Thu. 02/02 - AI Seinfeld & Real-World Tamagotchi

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 22:24:00 -0000

The AI-generated Seinfeld parody cartoon that never goes off the air. Plus, Netflix did not read the room when they announced the AI image generation in their latest anime short. And a smartwatch that stops working if you don’t keep the living organism inside of it alive. It’s a high-stakes Tamagotchi, and it has an intriguing purpose.

Links:

Watchmeforever (Twitch)
‘Nothing, Forever’ Is An Endless ‘Seinfeld’ Episode Generated by AI (Vice)
Trans Seinfeld (voxybunch, Twitter)
More trans Seinfeld (gayjerryseinfeld, Tumblr)
AI ‘Seinfeld’ Parody Experiment Foretells Streaming’s Hellish Future (The Mary Sue)
Netflix Made an Anime Using AI Due to a 'Labor Shortage,' and Fans Are Pissed (Vice)
Netflix is getting blasted for using AI art in an anime instead of hiring artists (Mashable)
Netflix stirs fears by using AI-assisted background art in short anime film (Ars Technica)
High-Stakes Tamagotchi: Living Smartwatch Literally Dies if You Don't Feed It (Gizmodo)
Smartwatch Powered By Slime Mold Is Like Having A Tamagotchi On Your Wrist (IFL Science)
Bizarre Smartwatch Contains Living Organism (Futurism)
Integrating Living Organisms in Devices to Implement Care-based Interactions (Human Computer Integration Lab)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 02/01 - The Dodo Is Coming Back! ...is that a good thing?

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 22:45:57 -0000

The dodo bird is back, baby! Or at least lots of investors are betting on its return. But why is de-extincting animals the hot new thing and what does it mean for the future of conservation? Plus, Abraham Lincoln: Bartender. Another look at his motley early career and earliest speeches that still resonate today.

Links:

Why Bother Bringing Back the Dodo? (Wired)
A de-extinction company is trying to resurrect the dodo (MIT Technology Review)
Mon. 09/13 - De-Extinct Woolly Mammoths & Potty-Trained Cows (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Tue. 08/16 - De-Extincting Tasmanian Tigers (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Bartender-In-Chief: Abraham Lincoln Owned A Tavern (The Chicagoist)
Abraham Lincoln Personal Data and Trivia (Abraham Lincoln Research Site)
Lincoln's New Salem 1830-1837 (National Parks Service)
Lincoln's New Salem by Benjamin P. Thomas
Postmasters Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman (USPS)
Mon. 02/21 - Emo Poet & Wrestling Champ Abe Lincoln (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 01/31 - Lorem Ipsum? I Hardly Know 'Em! I tell you whot...

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 22:27:43 -0000

Where did lorem ipsum come from? The answer turns out to be just as murky as the nonsense placeholder text itself. Plus, a new game that challenges you to guess when photos were taken. And the best family sitcom of the turn of the twenty-first century is getting a revival.

Links:

The hero(ine) who invented Lorem Ipsum may never be known. (Slate)
Lorem ipsum translated: it remains Greek to me (The Guardian, 2014)
Lorem ipsum : nouvel état de la question (L’Intelligence du Monde, 2012)
What does the filler text “lorem ipsum” mean? (Straight Dope, 2001)
The History of Lorem Ipsum (Priceonomics, 2015)
DeLorean Ipsum
Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare? by James Shapiro
Chronophoto
‘King Of The Hill’ Revival Ordered By Hulu; Original Cast Returning (Deadline)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 01/30 - What Time Is It On The Moon?

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 22:50:54 -0000

How scientists are deciding how we will tell time on the moon and beyond. Plus, a new Frog and Toad series from Apple TV+ has gay Twitter crossing their fingers.

Links:

What time is it on the Moon? (Nature)
How living on Mars time taught me to slow down (NPR)
NASA's Perseverance rover team will have to live on 'Mars time' after landing on the Red Planet (Space.com)
Watchmaker With Time to Lose (NASA JPL, 2004)
LunaNet: Empowering Artemis with Comm and Nav Interoperability (NASA)
Where the Minutes Are Longer: The Weird Science of Telling Time on Mars (The Atlantic, 2012)
NASA GISS: Mars24 Sunclock (NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies)
'Frog and Toad' TV Show Set at Apple TV+, Full Spring Kids Slate (Variety)
Everyone’s Favorite Queer Couple, Frog and Toad, Are Coming to TV (them)
Frog & Toad Are Friends (entire video) (John Clark Matthews, YouTube)
“Frog and Toad”: An Amphibious Celebration of Same-Sex Love (The New Yorker)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 01/27 - Shakespeare for Gamers

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 22:14:00 -0000

Some wildly optimistic projects being funded by NASA––including more sustainable commercial aircrafts and self-growing bricks on Mars. Plus, a new Shakespearean theater company whose performances all take place inside one of the world’s most popular video games.

Links:

It’s Not Sci-Fi—NASA Is Funding These Mind-Blowing Projects (Wired)
NASA Selects Experimental Space Technology Concepts for Initial Study (NASA)
NASA Issues Award for Greener, More Fuel-Efficient Airliner of Future (NASA)
New aircraft design from NASA and Boeing could benefit passengers in the 2030s (CNN)
Booth by Karen Joy Fowler
All the (open) world’s a stage: how the video game Fallout became a backdrop for live Shakespeare shows (The Guardian)
Channing Tatum Is Back for ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ (Vanity Fair)
Roxane Gay Dishes On Her Secret Project With Channing Tatum (The Advocate)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 01/26 - Eggflation: Price-Gouging on Eggs and... Splash Mountain Water?

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 22:27:45 -0000

Is the huge increase in the price of eggs being caused by price-gouging and not avian flu? Plus, why we need to be paying attention to avian flu even beyond its relation to egg prices. And people are selling bottles of water from the recently-closed Splash Mountain on eBay.

Links:

November 2022 episode on egg and chicken prices (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
High egg prices should be investigated, U.S. farm group says (Reuters)
Egg price spike prompts demands for price-gouging probe (CBS News)
Letter to the FTC Chair (Farm Action)
WTF Is Going on With Absurd Egg Prices? Corporate Greed, Group Tells FTC (Vice)
$18 a dozen: how did America’s eggs get absurdly expensive? (The Guardian)
Britain’s broken egg industry shows the price of food inflation (Reuters)
Ioan Humphrey's perspective from farmers (ThatWelshFarmer, Twitter)
Bird flu outbreak in mink sparks concern about spread in people (Nature)
Deaths of thousands of wild birds from avian flu is ‘new Silent Spring’ (The Guardian)
I Lived Like a 1940's WARTIME HOUSEWIFE for 48 HOURS! (Sage Lilleyman, YouTube)
Disney Fans Are Selling Splash Mountain Water After Ride Closes (Kotaku)
Disney’s Splash Mountain Closed. Now Superfans Are Selling the Water. (NY Times)

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Wed. 01/25 - Wikipedia as a Model for the Rest of the Internet

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 21:17:23 -0000

How Wikipedia editors are bringing more nuance into their decisions and what ripple effects that can have on a website that increasingly defines our shared reality. Plus, how do you refer to historical figures who may have been trans? And a veritable laundry list of attempted Wikipedia hoaxes––including the recent discovery of what is most likely Representative George Santos’ Wikipedia user bio from over a decade ago, and its many, many creative lies.

Links:

The Culture Wars Look Different on Wikipedia (The Atlantic)
My video on talking about potentially trans people from history (Jackson Bird, YouTube)
The debate over George Jetson's birthday (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
The Mr. Pringles hoax (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
The fabricated Scots Wikipedia pages (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
George Santos appears to admit drag queen past in Wiki post (Politico)
The High Five Wikipedia page love story (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Depths of Wiki on Twitter
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 01/24 - 90 Seconds To Midnight

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 22:29:37 -0000

The Doomsday Clock has ticked down even closer to midnight, but how useful of a mechanism is it? Plus, some good news on climate change. And a new Wordle spin-off for the Zillow-obsessed.

Links:

We are now 90 seconds to our doom (The Verge)
Current Time - 2023 (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)
Is It Time to Call Time on the Doomsday Clock? (Wired)
Climate Clock
The Climate Clock Now Ticks With a Tinge of Optimism (NY Times)
A few pieces of good news on climate change (and a reality check) (MIT Technology Review)
The Wordle of real estate is here. Can you guess a home's asking price? (Business Insider)
Housle
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 01/23 - The HustleCore of Medieval Monks (& the Spin Cycle of Earth's Core)

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 22:32:56 -0000

The Earth’s inner core has paused its spinning and reversed its course . Sounds alarming, but everything is fine. Plus, what medieval Christian monks, the OG hustle bros apparently, can teach us about distraction and routine.

Links:

Earth’s Inner Core Paused, Then Reversed Its Spin. This Is Fine. (NY Times)
Earth's Inner Core May Right Now Be in The Process of Changing Direction (Science Alert)
Earth’s Core Has Stopped and May Be Reversing Direction, Study Says (Vice)
Easily Distracted? You Need to Think Like a Medieval Monk (Wired)
What Monks Can Teach Us About Paying Attention (The New Yorker)
The Wandering Mind by Jamie Kreiner
It’s Not You, It’s Me and My Science-Based, Life-Optimizing Podcasts (McSweeney’s)
Tweet discussion on infrastructure for life without smartphones disappearing (Ilana Masad, Twitter)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 01/20 - Are Coffee Pods MORE Environmentally-Friendly Than Filter Coffee?

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 20:06:21 -0000

How did whales get so big anyways? Plus, a new study claims coffee pods are more environmentally-friendly than regular filter coffee. Is it true?

Sponsor:

ZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuff

Links:

The genes that made whales gigantic (Phys.org)
Unlocking the Genes That Made Whales Into Giants (NY Times)
For whales, study shows gigantism is in the genes (Reuters)
Whales or dinosaurs: What are the biggest, heaviest, longest animals ever? (Slate, 2014)
Wed. 06/22 - Pinocchio, Fascism, & Guillermo del Toro (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Coffee pod carbon footprint better for planet than filtered brew (BBC)
Single-use coffee pods have surprising environmental benefits over other brewing methods (Washington Post)
Here's how your cup of coffee contributes to climate change (The Conversation)
Turns out coffee pods are actually pretty good for the environment (WIRED, 2019)
If I Care About the Environment but Am Also Lazy, Should I Get a Nespresso or Keurig? (Wirecutter)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 01/19 - Edgar Allan Poe Wrote In His Books & You Should Too

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 22:48:56 -0000

A deep dive on marginalia. What is it, why should you do it, and how does it reveal the more joyful side of history’s most famous sadboy, Edgar Allan Poe? All that and more in this extended love letter to writing in books.

Sponsor:

ZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuff

Links:

Edgar Allan Poe on the Joy of Marginalia and What Handwriting Reveals about Character (The Marginalian)
Marginalia by Edgar Allan Poe
How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren
Meaning in the Margins: On the Literary Value of Annotation (Literary Hub)
Historical Figures who’d be outrageous online? (r/AskHistory)
Drool over the personal bookplates of 18 famous writers. (Literary Hub)
How Leaning into Marginalia Helped Me Accept the Loss of Control That Comes with Publication (Literary Hub)
Please Report Your Bug Here by Josh Riedel
Ryan Holiday's 3-Step System for Reading Like a Pro (Ryan Holiday, YouTube)
Edgar Allan Poe Watches Too Much Tiktok (McSweeney’s)

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Wed. 01/18 - The CIA's Spy-Pigeons

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 22:39:12 -0000

Earth-like exoplanet discoveries galore, including some that could be habitable. Plus, a look back at the clandestine history of the CIA’s pigeon surveillance missions.

Sponsors:

ZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuff

Links:

NASA Just Discovered a Rare Earth-Sized Planet in a Habitable Zone (ScienceAlert)
NASA has discovered an Earth-sized planet orbiting in the habitable zone of its star (CBS News)
NASA’s TESS Discovers Planetary System’s Second Earth-Size World (NASA)
Another Earth-size exoplanet discovered in habitable zone of nearby star (The Verge)
When the CIA Spied on American Citizens—Using Pigeons (Atlas Obscura)
CIA unveils Cold War spy-pigeon missions (BBC)
Thu. 12/09 - Birds Aren't Real (And Neither Is This Gen Z Conspiracy Theory) (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Pigeon Camera (CIA)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 01/17 - Fake Marrying Kids To Each Other, For Adult's Amusement

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 23:05:31 -0000

It looks like the ozone layer is on track to be restored in just a couple of decades. Plus, an opportunity to get paid for donating your stool samples. (Yes, really) And an examination of the nineteenth and twentieth century phenomenon of Tom Thumb Weddings, AKA elaborate fake weddings for small children.

Sponsors:

ZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuff

Links:

Ozone layer may be restored in decades, UN report says (BBC)
The ozone layer is on track to recover in the coming decades, the United Nations says (NPR)
Earth’s ozone layer is on the mend (The Verge)
UN says ozone layer slowly healing, hole to mend by 2066 (Phys.org)
National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) (CDC)
Looking To Make Some Extra Cash? You Could Earn Up to $1500 per Month for Donating Your Poop (Mental Floss)
GoodNature™ Program (Seres Therapeutics)
The Way We Were (Reddit)
At Tom Thumb Weddings, Children Get Faux-Married to Each Other (Atlas Obscura)
A General, a Queen, and the President (Boundary Stones)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 01/16 - Dr. King's Most Controversial Speech

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 21:57:52 -0000

Some projects that will help you suss out the truth in movies that claim to be “based on a true story.” Plus, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s most controversial speech.

Sponsor:

ZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuff

Links:

Thread about Selma and historical accuracy (Franklin Leonard, Twitter)
Reel history (The Guardian)
Is Selma historically accurate? (The Guardian)
Based on a *True* True Story? (Information Is Beautiful)
Based on a True True Story? (Information Is Beautiful, Google Sheets)
Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence text
Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence audio (Internet Archive)
Mon. 1/18/21 - When the FBI Spied on Martin Luther King Jr. (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Mon. 01/17/22 - What's In a Name? From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to MLK (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 01/13 - Surprisingly Old Galaxies & the Future of Libraries

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 21:07:06 -0000

New findings from the JWST may push the origins of the universe’s earliest galaxies back millions of years. Plus, a huge rare earth deposit has been found in Sweden. And an Instagram-based library run out of the home of a famous Mexico City artist––with a bonus defense of owning books you haven’t read.

Links:

The James Webb Space Telescope Is Finding Too Many Early Galaxies (Sky and Telescope)
The 1st galaxies may have formed much earlier than we thought, James Webb Space Telescope reveals (Space.com)
Astronomers May Have Just Spotted the Universe’s First Galaxies (Wired)
Huge rare earth metals discovery in Arctic Sweden (BBC)
China note! EU-member Sweden locates rare earth deposits (AP)
Sweden finds rare earth deposits that could benefit Western consumers (Washington Post)
Europe's biggest deposit of rare earth metals discovered in Sweden (Interesting Engineering)
How I Survived the Closure of My Library (Book Riot)
The Japanese call this practice tsundoku, and it may provide lasting benefits (Big Think)
This Mexico City Artist Created an Instagram-Based Library (Literary Hub)
Tlacuilo Biblioteca (Instagram)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 01/12 - A Giant River Falling From the Sky

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 21:16:02 -0000

What exactly is an “atmospheric river,” why is it causing so much havoc in California right now, and what do these current storms mean for the future? Plus, NASA and Roscosmos have reached an agreement on how to bring three ISS crew members back to Earth following a coolant leak on a Soyuz spacecraft. Just don’t call it a rescue mission.

Links:

Why California Is Being Deluged by Atmospheric Rivers (Scientific American)
Storm-ravaged California scrambles as fresh atmospheric river rolls in (The Guardian)
California’s onslaught of storms is far from over. Will it ever end? (Washington Post)
A ‘Pineapple Express’ Is Bringing Rain and Snow to California (NY Times)
The Coming Megafloods (Scientific American, 2013)
Extreme drought nearly eliminated in California in wake of atmospheric rivers (ABC News)
Will the atmospheric rivers drenching California beat back devastating drought? (CBS News)
Rivers in the Sky: What You Need to Know About Atmospheric River Storms (KQED)
The science behind atmospheric river storms, explained (San Francisco Chronicle)
Op-Ed: We Shouldn't Rely on Atmospheric River Miracles (Bay Nature)
Russia to send replacement craft to retrieve crew from space station (Washington Post)
Russia Confirms Rescue of Stranded Cosmonauts With a Replacement Mission (ScienceAlert)
Russia to launch new Soyuz capsule to replace leaky spacecraft on space station (Space.com)
Last Tuesday's episode mentioning the Soyuz coolant leak (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 01/11 - Earliest Human Tools Just Monkey Business?

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 22:24:06 -0000

Were the first stone tools in the Americas made, not by ancient humans, but by monkeys? Plus, could color-changing cars be in our future? And will other nations follow New Zealand’s lead on banning cigarettes to future generations?

Links:

Monkeys – Not Humans – Made Ancient Sets of Stone Tools in Brazil, Study Finds (ScienceAlert)
Scientists prove that tools attributed to ancient humans were made by ancestors of capuchin monkeys (CONICET)
Ancient Stone Tools Once Thought to be Made by Humans Were Actually Crafted by Monkeys, Say Archaeologists (Artnet News)
These monkeys are 3000 years into their own 'Stone Age'. (National Geographic, 2019)
Monkeys Make Stone "Tools" That Bear a Striking Resemblance to Early Human Artifacts (Scientific American, 2017)
Check out BMW’s color-changing concept car in action (The Verge)
BMW's E Ink Car Wrap Just Took The Leap Into Color (Slash Gear)
End of the cigarette? Labour unveil plan to wipe out smoking by 2030 by banning sale of tobacco (LBC)
Cigarette sales could be banned under Labour (Wales Online)
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg | 8th January 2023 (Political TV, YouTube)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 01/10 - Is "Y'All" Actually... British?

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 21:46:07 -0000

A historic satellite launch in the United Kingdom ended in disappointment last night. Plus, how “y’all” left the south and its surprising possible origins in… seventeenth century England?

Links:

UK space industry mulls setback after satellite launch fails (AP)
UK space launch: Historic Cornwall rocket launch ends in failure (BBC)
Britain's satellite hopes undimmed by mission failure (Reuters)
The first orbital launch attempt from the UK ends in failure (Ars Technica)
Virgin Orbit rocket suffers anomaly during 1st launch from UK (Space.com)
Even before Monday’s launch failure, Virgin Orbit’s finances were dismal (Ars Technica)
China's First Mission to Mars Seems to Be Struggling (Gizmodo)
'Y'all,' that most Southern of Southernisms, is going mainstream – and it's about time (The Conversation)
Y’all: It’s Older Than We Knew (History News Network)
Y’all: the Most Inclusive of All Pronouns (The New York Times)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 01/09 - Amateur Discovery May Rewrite Human History

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 22:48:15 -0000

A cave art discovery that could put the development of writing back thousands of years. Plus, one US state taking concrete steps against misinformation. And Benoit Blanc isn’t just playing Among Us, now he’s in it.

Links:

Amateur archaeologist helps crack Ice Age cave art code (BBC News)
An Upper Palaeolithic Proto-writing System and Phenological Calendar (Cambridge Archaeological Journal)
A Total Amateur May Have Just Rewritten Human History With Bombshell Discovery (Vice)
The Tower of Babel, Episode One (Literature and History)
New Jersey becomes first state to mandate K-12 students learn information literacy (Politico)
Governor Murphy Signs Bipartisan Legislation Establishing First in the Nation K-12 Information Literacy Education (State of New Jersey)
Announcing: Among Us x Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Cosmetic (Innersloth)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 01/06 - Food Has Always Been Dangerous

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 21:15:53 -0000

How old is fast food? And to what extent was food actually healthier in the past, before our days of factory farming and artificial preservatives? A deep dive into the pros and cons of convenience food then and now.

Links:

A Plea for Culinary Modernism by Rachel Laudan, 2001
Thread and replies on the article (Jason Crawford, Twitter)
11/21/23 episode including a brief background on the baguette (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
01/29/21 episode on the Pompeii snack bar (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Maintenance Phase
"You Just Need to Lose Weight": And 19 Other Myths about Fat People by Aubrey Gordon
McDonald's Opens a Tiny Restaurant — and It's Only for Bees (OpenCulture, 2019)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 01/05 - A Vaccine For The Queen Bee

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 21:17:42 -0000

A vaccine for bees. Plus, the Japanese government will pay families to leave Tokyo. And a device that doesn’t let you type “LOL” unless you actually laughed out loud.

Links:

US government approves use of world’s first vaccine for honeybees (The Guardian)
World-First Vaccine For Honeybees Gets Approved In The US (IFL Science)
United States Honey Bee Colony Losses 2021-2022: Preliminary Results From The Bee Informed Partnership (Bee Informed)
Helping Agriculture's Helpful Honey Bees (FDA)
Why Are Bees Dying? It's Not What You Might Think : Short Wave (NPR, 2020)
Japanese government offers families 1m yen a child to leave Tokyo (The Guardian)
Families Offered Several Million Yen to Move Out of Tokyo (Bloomberg)
Japanese families reportedly set to receive 1 million yen per child for moving out of Tokyo (CNBC)
Cities That Pay You to Move There: A Guide to 11 Programs (Zillow)
Burning The Candle At Both Ends: Sandwich Generation Caregiving In The U.S. (National Alliance for Caregiving and Caring Across Generations)
This Device Will Not Let You LOL Unless You Mean It (Vice)
Spotify has a new time capsule feature that you'll only get to open next year (Mashable)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 01/04 - A Global Vault of Frozen Stool Samples

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 22:55:46 -0000

Could a poop vault become joining the Svalbard Global Seed Vault's new neighbor? Some scientists think could be a pretty crappy move. Plus, the US congressman who’s slated to be sworn in on a Superman comic. And the History of the World, Part Two.

Links:

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Tue. 01/03 - A New Space Race? And Gregor Mendel's Skeleton

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 21:59:29 -0000

Are we at the beginning of a new space race? NASA Administrator Bill Nelson thinks so. Plus, why father of genetics Gregor Mendel’s skeleton was dug up last year. And a chance to read history’s most famous diarist’s words in real time over the next decade.

Links:

‘We better watch out’: NASA boss sounds alarm on Chinese moon ambitions (Politico)
China sets out clear and independent long-term vision for space (Space News)
‘We’re in a space race’: Nasa sounds alarm at Chinese designs on moon (The Guardian)
NASA mulls SpaceX backup plan for crew of Russia's leaky Soyuz ship (Reuters)
Russia wants to send cosmonauts to China space station (Space.com)
Why scientists dug up the father of genetics, Gregor Mendel, and analyzed his DNA (NPR)
The Body Of Gregor Mendel, Father Of Genetics, Was Dug Up For DNA Analysis (IFL Science)
Video of Gregor Mendel's skeleton (BrnoNewsCTV, Twitter)
The Diary of Samuel Pepys
The Diary of Samuel Pepys tweets (samuelpepys, Twitter)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 12/29 - BEST OF: Witchy Beer-Makers, CIA-Funded British Cartoons; & Predictions For Today From 1922

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 18:00:00 -0000

Our final lookback on some of the best segments from the past few years. From 2021, how beer-making used to be considered women’s work, and also may have popularized some of the popular symbols, like broomsticks and pointed hats, that we associate with witches today. Plus, why the CIA covertly funded the British cartoon adaptation of Animal Farm in the 1950s. And, as 2022 comes to a close, a look back at one man’s predictions for this year, written from his perspective in 1922.

Links:

Fri. 03/12/21 - Brewsters & Alewives (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Women used to dominate the beer industry – until the witch accusations started pouring in (The Conversation)
The Ale-Soaked Medieval Origins of the Witch's Hat (Vice)
Hops: The beer ingredient (most) drinkers love (Washington Post)
The history of the witch's hat: origins of its pointy design. (Slate)
How Much Did the History of Beer Have to Do With ... Witches? (The Mary Sue)
Tue. 04/26/22 - When the CIA Funded an Animal Farm Cartoon (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
The cartoon that came in from the cold (The Guardian, 2003)
How the CIA Played Dirty Tricks With Culture (NY Times, 2000)
All Propaganda is Dangerous, but Some are More Dangerous than Others: George Orwell and the Use of Literature as Propaganda (JSTOR)
Keeping It All in the (Nuclear) Family: Big Brother, Auntie BBC, Uncle Sam and George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four (Frames Cinema Journal)
Thu. 01/06/22 - 1922's Predictions for 2022 (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Image 87 of The New York herald (New York, N.Y.), May 7, 1922 (Library of Congress)
"One Hundred Years From Now" poem by Mary A. Ford (Library of Congress, LOC Serendipity)
What the World Will Be Like in a Hundred Years (1922) (Hacker News)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 12/28 - BEST OF: Crossing the Ocean W/O a Map; Waffle House Records; & The Dress and Misinformation

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 18:00:00 -0000

Today from the Cool Stuff Ride Home archives, how Polynesian voyagers navigated the oceans without compasses or maps, and how a new generation is bringing back those traditional skills. Plus, Waffle House’s earnest and hilarious record label. And, looking at “The Dress” seven years on––did that viral moment lay the groundwork for the climate of misinformation today?

Links:

Mon. 07/11/22 - Sailing Without a Map, or Compass, or Anything (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
This woman navigated a 3,000-mile Pacific voyage without maps or technology (National Geographic)
Polynesia's master voyagers who navigate by nature (BBC)
Fri. 07/08/22 - The Breakfast Episode (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
A B-Side With Your Bacon? Waffle House Has Its Own Music Label (NPR)
Waffle House Has Its Own Record Label (Great Big Story, YouTube)
Waffle House has its own record label and the songs are in the restaurant jukeboxes (Boing Boing)
Waffle House Records (Spotify)
Waffle House Music - scroll down for music videos
Wed. 06/29/22 - Did "The Dress" Foreshadow Fake News? (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
How 'The Dress' Sparked a Neuroscience Breakthrough (Wired)
How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion by David McRaney
The Nineties: A Book by Chuck Klosterman
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 12/27 - BEST OF: Gendered Food, The Brontë's Graveyard Water, & Mosquito Annihilation

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 18:00:00 -0000

We kick off the final week of the year with a look back at some of the show’s best segments. So for today, from the archives, we’ve got how and why food itself became gendered––y’know, men eat red meat, women eat salads. Women watch their weight and men eat huge portions of the most ridiculous Mountain Dew-laced Dorito monstrosities they can come up with. Plus, what would happen if we just… killed all the mosquitos on the planet? And, from 2021, the little-known reason that all the Brontës died so tragically young.

Links:

Wed. 10/26/22 - Men Eat Red Meat, Women Eat Salads –– But Why? (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
How steak became manly and salads became feminine (The Conversation)
Yogurt Is for Women, Fried Chicken Is for Men (The Atlantic)
The Gender Binary Is a Tool of White Supremacy (An Injustice Mag)
Candy: A Century of Panic and Pleasure by Samira Kawash
Sweetness and Femininity: Fashioning Gendered Appetite in the Victorian Age (CUNY Academic Works)
Social Darwinism, Scientific Racism, and the Metaphysics of Race (The Journal of Negro Education)
Mon. 08/08/22 - Do We REALLY Need Mosquitoes? (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Ecology: A world without mosquitoes (Nature, 2010)
The 24 deadliest animals on Earth, ranked (CNET, 2019)
Mosquitoes might be humanity’s greatest foe. Should we get rid of them? (Vox, 2019)
Q&A: What Would Happen If Mosquitoes Disappeared? (NY Times, 2015)
Should we kill every mosquito on Earth? (Live Science)
Kill All the Mosquitoes?! (Smithsonian Mag, 2016)
State of Florida Approves Oxitec Mosquito Technology for Continuation of Pilot Project in the Keys (Keys Mosquito Project)
Tue. 05/18/21 - The Brontë Family (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Apparently the Brontës all died so early because they spent their lives drinking graveyard water. (Literary Hub)
Sanitary report on Haworth, home to the Brontës (British Library)
The Brontës are alive and unwell in Haworth (The Guardian)
Was Patrick Brontë the Dr. Fauci of his Time? (Illumination)

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Thu. 12/22 - Where Did "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells" Come From?

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 23:10:34 -0000

We dive into the origins and enduring popularity of that most classic of Christmas Carols, “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells.” Plus, Stephen Spielberg has officially apologized to sharks for Jaws. And a note on our holiday programming.

Sponsor:

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Links:

Jingle Bells, Batman Smells: The History of a Children's Classic (CBR)
I Asked 64,182 People About “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells”. Here's What I Found Out. (Tom Scott, YouTube)
The Secret True History Of 'Jingle Bells, Batman Smells' (Cracked)
Considering History: The Forgotten Meanings Behind Classic Holiday Songs (Saturday Evening Post)
I Love You, You Hate Me | Official Trailer (Peacock, YouTube)
Steven Spielberg Would Like To Apologize For Making Everyone Hate Sharks (BuzzFeed News)
Steven Spielberg would like to profusely apologize to sharks for Jaws (A/V Club)
BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 12/21 - Entire South Korean Population Will Legally Become Younger Next Year

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 21:38:55 -0000

What are solstices and seasons like on other planets? Plus, why everyone in South Korea is about to become a year or two younger. And Lionel Messi’s celebratory Instagram photos have become the most-liked social media post of all-time.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Give Thanks for the Winter Solstice. You Might Not Be Here Without It. (NY Times)
Winter solstice 2022 brings the longest night of the year to Northern Hemisphere (Space.com)
Mon. 11/14 - Polar Night, Midnight Sun, & Fruit Quakes (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
South Korea enacts law that will make the entire population younger in 2023 (El País)
South Koreans are getting a year younger, parliament rules (NPR)
South Korea: Age system to be standardised from 2023 (BBC)
Lionel Messi Beats the Instagram Egg (Gizmodo)
Lionel Messi's Instagram post is the most liked thing on social media – ever (Mashable)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 12/20 - Wind Power for Human Habitats on Mars?

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 21:40:29 -0000

Could wind be the dark horse in the hunt for power sources for human habitats on Mars? Plus, the first-ever recording of a dust devil on Mars, and a goodbye to a beloved Martian explorer. And Google unveils the most-searched word of the year. I’ll give you a hint: it’s a six-letter word about five-letter words that sold to the New York Times for a “low seven figures.”

Sponsors:

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Links:

NASA says wind could power human missions on Mars (Washington Post)
Wind Power on Mars Can Power Human Habitats, Scientists Discover (VICE)
This overlooked resource could be the key to powering a Mars colony (Inverse)
Assessment of wind energy resource potential for future human missions to Mars (Nature Astronomy)
Listen to The Sound of a Dust Devil Churning Across Mars (ScienceAlert)
Why not install wipers on Mars landers? (Swapna Krishna, Twitter)
Wordle is the most-searched term on Google in 2022 (CNN)
This year’s roundup of the top Google searches includes super local trends (The Verge)
Year in Search 2022: See the top trending searches of the year (Google)
Local Year in Search 2022 (Google)
Josh Wardle Is on the 2022 TIME 100 List (TIME)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 12/19 - The Story Behind Those Wooden Castle Playgrounds

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 14:46:53 -0000

Everything you never wondered about those wooden castle-like playgrounds of Gen X and Millennials’ youths. Plus, how a nano-thin layer of gold could finally be the cure to the dreaded glasses fog of our COVID masking era.

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If you remember this playground, your childhood was awesome (Hopes and Fears)
The dangerous playgrounds of 1900s through vintage photographs (Rare Historical Photos)
Playground Architect Insists On Principle Of 'User Design' (The Buffalo News)
Playground Divides Adults in Westport (The New York Times)
An Invisible Layer of Gold Could Be the Secret to Glasses That Never Fog Up (Gizmodo)
A nano-thin layer of gold could prevent fogged-up glasses (Engadget)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 12/16 - Bots Doing Business With Bots

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 17:00:00 -0000

An AI chatbot that can negotiate with customer service chatbots to lower your bills, cancel your subscriptions, and more. Plus, the reason why chocolate sometimes gets that white sort of chalky sheen on it. And, a segment from the archives about the science behind some reindeers’ color-changing eyes, real red-nosed reindeer, and the origins of that famous song.

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DoNotPay is launching an AI chatbot that can negotiate your bills (The Verge)
This Oddly Polite Chatbot Will Fight With Comcast Support So You Don't Have To (Gizmodo)
Why Does It Mean When Chocolate Turns White? (HowStuffWorks)
Why does chocolate turn white (and is it safe to eat)? (Live Science)
The Reason Chocolate Gets Chalky White, and Whether It’s Safe to Eat (Mental Floss)
Why Are Reindeer Eyes Golden In Summer But Blue In Winter? (National Geographic)
The Scientific Reason Why Reindeer Have Red Noses (Smithsonian Magazine)
Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 12/15 - How Sci-Fi Impacts Real-World Innovation & Policy

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 19:30:00 -0000

The interplay between science fiction and real-world scientific innovations––from space travel to fusion energy. Plus, a replay of a classic Cool Stuff Ride Home segment on Krampus with an update on some risqué depictions of the Yuletide rogue that have been making the rounds online this year.

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How Science Fiction Movies Prepared Us for the Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough (NY Times)
Moonrise podcast: Lillian Cunningham’s historical account of America’s journey to the moon (Washington Post)
Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction by Alec Nevala-Lee
Feminine Krampus greeting cards (WitchesVsPatriarchy, Reddit)
Krushing on Krampus (The Paris Review)
Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes
The Battle for Christmas: A Social and Cultural History of Our Most Cherished Holiday by Stephen Nissenbaum
The Origin of Krampus, Europe's Evil Twist on Santa (Smithsonian Magazine)
What is Krampus? How the Christmas 'Devil' Became Cool (National Geographic)
Who is Krampus? Explaining Santa Claus's Scary Christmas Counterpart (National Geographic)
Krampus: the demonic Santa Claus you haven't heard about (Vox)
Weird Krampus drive-thru parade puts terrifying twist on Christmas and it's Saturday night (NOLA)
Necromanor Haunted House hosting pictures with Krampus for Christmas (Shreveport Times)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 12/14 - Why Thousands of Street Lights Are Turning Purple

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 21:42:24 -0000

Why some street lights across the US and Canada have been turning purple, and what it says about the larger effects of the supply chain on our cityscapes. Plus, the emus that were banned from a bar in Queensland have returned with a surprise. And New Zealand’s parliament just passed a lifetime ban on smoking for the youngest members of Gen Z and beyond.

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Why Faulty Streetlights Are Turning Cities Purple — and Why It's Worrisome (Business Insider)
Why thousands of city street lights are turning purple (CBC)
The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light by Paul Bogart
A Pair Of Banned Emus Have Just Returned To An Australian Pub — With Babies (All That’s Interesting)
Get Sarah Koenig (With Jackson Bird) (No Bad Ideas)
New Zealand passes legislation banning cigarettes for future generations (BBC)
Last year's announcement from NZ about the tobacco ban (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
65 – Official Trailer (Sony Pictures Entertainment, YouTube)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 12/13 - The Enduring Power of "Silent Night"

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 22:22:13 -0000

The origins and significance of the song “Silent Night.” Plus, an update on the US’s fusion energy breakthrough. And Los Angeles County’s first-ever unicorn license has been issued.

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The humble origins of 'Silent Night' (The Conversation)
History of the Song (Silent Night Association)
Christmas carols (BBC)
Skulls, salt and snow: 200 years of 'Silent Night' (CNN)
Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes
Baguettes get UNESCO World Heritage status (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Mon. 07/27 - The Year Without a Summer (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
"Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht" according to the autograph from Joseph Mohr (Silent Night Association)
Andrew W.K. - Silent Night (Ryan West, YouTube)
'A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector' Marks Its 50th Anniversary (Phil Spector News)
DOE National Laboratory Makes History by Achieving Fusion Ignition (Department of Energy)
What to Know About the DOE's Big Nuclear Fusion Announcement (Gizmodo)
A girl asked to keep a unicorn in her yard. Animal control said yes (Washington Post)
Yes, Madeline, You Can Have a Unicorn, L.A. County Tells Girl (NY Times)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 12/12 - A "Major Breakthrough" on Fusion Energy?

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 23:11:36 -0000

A big fusion energy announcement is coming in the morning, but just how “big” will it really be? Plus, a collection of disappearing and extinct sounds. And how the climate emergency is coming for one trendy fruit.

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Fusion energy breakthrough by US scientists boosts clean power hopes (Financial Times)
Fusion energy, the 'holy grail' of clean power, a step closer to reality (Washington Post)
U.S. to announce scientific breakthrough on fusion energy -sources (Reuters)
Major Nuclear Fusion Energy Breakthrough to Be Announced by Scientists (NY Times)
A ‘scientific breakthrough’ in nuclear fusion? How to watch the announcement tomorrow (The Verge)
Thread on nuclear fusion from Javier Blas (Javier Blas, Twitter)
Explore a library of disappearing and extinct sounds at Obsolete Sounds (Boing Boing)
Obsolete Sounds (Cities and Memory)
Rising Temperatures Are Threatening America's Latest Fruit Craze (Gizmodo)
Mon. 09/12 - Not Your Papa’s Pawpaw (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 12/09 - The Early Browser Button That Could've Changed The Web For The Better

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 21:00:39 -0000

A browser button proposed by Tim Berners-Lee in 1997 that could’ve changed the web as we know it… or could it? Plus, eight artists from the around the world are officially going on a trip around the moon thanks to a controversial Japanese billionaire. And Hot Pockets just launched a line of cargo shorts with actual hot pockets.

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Links:

Tim Berners-Lee’s “Oh, Yeah?” button could have changed the internet. (Slate)
Realising the Full Potential of the Web (W3)
Click "Oh yeah?" (MIT Technology Review)
Tim Berners-Lee shares his vision of a collaborative web (Venture Beat)
Japanese billionaire unveils the 8 artists he'll fly to the moon on SpaceX's Starship dearMoon flight (Space.com)
Here’s What Will Happen Once NASA’s Orion Splashes Down on Sunday (Gizmodo)
HOT POCKETS® Made Shorts with a LITERAL Hot Pocket for Those Who Wear Shorts All Winter (PR Newswire)
Sign up to buy Hot Pockets shorts
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 12/08 - The Christmas Classic That Almost Never Aired

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 22:02:48 -0000

As we go the first Christmas in over half a century without a network TV airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas, an extended reflection on its staying power, unexpected success, and how CBS originally wished they could get out of having to air it at all because they thought it was so bad.

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Links:

Charlie Brown Christmas Special: An Inside Job (The Atlantic)
Peanuts "Economy Twins" (Ford TV Spot 1960) (Internet Archive)
Ford Falcon - Peanuts (1961) (YouTube)
The most famous music from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was originally written for a different project (PBS, 2020)
“A Charlie Brown Christmas”—Vince Guaraldi (1965) (Library of Congress)
The Christmas classic that almost wasn't (USA Today, 2005)
A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition by Charles M. Schulz, Lee Mendelson, and Bill Melendez
Backstory – A Charlie Brown Christmas (Christmas Past)
Aluminum Christmas Trees (Christmas Past)
How to watch 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' for free in 2022 (Apple Insider)
The Muppets Reminisce About Filming 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' (Entertainment Weekly, YouTube)
Brett Goldstein performs The Muppet Christmas Carol in Six Minutes (Live) (Brett Goldstein, YouTube)
The Muppet Christmas Carol Extended Cut Finally Gets A Disney+ Release (Screenrant)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 12/07 - Your Milk Is Probably Not Actually Expired

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 22:59:36 -0000

How less-confusing food labeling––and perhaps more food-based curriculum in schools––can mitigate the huge problem of food waste. Plus, a new web-based simulator that will show you exactly how screwed you are if an asteroid hits your hometown.

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Links:

Expiration Dates Are Meaningless (The Atlantic)
Thanksgiving Dinner Will Result in 305 Million Pounds of Food Waste in the U.S. (reFED)
Expiration dates lead to lots of food waste, though these dates vary widely by state (NPR)
Use Proper Cooking Temperatures to Ensure Safe Food (MN Dept. of Health)
Waste Free Kitchen Handbook by Dana Gunders
Asteroid Launcher
This Interactive Map Will Show You How Screwed You Are If We're Hit by an Asteroid (VICE)
Fun Website Lets You Simulate an Asteroid Impact in Your Hometown (Futurism)
Destroy the World With This Asteroid Launcher Simulation (Kottke.org)
Wes Anderson's Asteroid City Sets Theatrical Release Date (Collider)
"The Avengers (1980) directed by Wes Anderson" (Russo Brothers, Instagram)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 12/06 - Gory, Graphic Shakespeare & Those Who Tried to Erase Him in the 1800s

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 21:48:32 -0000

Candles will play stunt double for actors in a new staging of Shakespeare’s most violent play. Plus, we take a detour down the path of Shakespearean conspiracies. And, in other news, the moon just got its own infrastructure package.

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Links:

Candles take the brunt in gore-free production of Titus Andronicus (The Guardian)
Shakespeare by Bill Bryson
The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606 by James Shapiro
Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare? by James Shapiro
NASA Awards $57M Contract to Build Roads on the Moon (Nextgov)
NASA, ICON Advance Lunar Construction Technology for Moon Missions (NASA)
ICON To Develop Lunar Surface Construction System With $57.2 Million NASA Award (ICON)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 12/05 - Will Sherlock Holmes Go Goblin Mode?

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 22:09:27 -0000

2023 is going to be a big year for the public domain, and especially for one estate who will finally be losing control of a character they’ve tried their very best to wring every last dollar from for over a century. Plus, Oxford English Dictionary officially declared “goblin mode” as their word of the year. And Saturday Night Live finally did something I’ve been wanting them to do for twenty years.

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Links:

Public Domain Day 2023 is Coming: Here's What to Know (Copyright Lately)
Public Domain Day 2023 Remix Contest: The Internet Archive is Looking For Creative Short Films Made By You! (Internet Archive Blogs)
The Best Things in Life Are Free: Two Ways to Celebrate Public Domain Day in 2023 (Internet Archive Blogs)
Ownership of the Sherlock Holmes Stories (Sherlockian)
Sherlock Holmes Copyright: An overview (Red Points)
Wed. 08/26 - Netflix's Enola Holmes Hit With Lawsuit From Doyle Estate (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
'Goblin mode' is Oxford's Word of the Year (Mashable)
Oxford Word of the Year 2022 (Oxford Languages)
Word of the Year 2022 | Gaslighting (Merriam-Webster)
Kenan & Kelly (SNL, YouTube)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 12/02 - Pilk & Cookies: Santa's New Fave?

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 19:26:14 -0000

AriZona Iced Tea is joining the hard beverage movement. Pepsi is joining… Big Milk? And scientists have got some new, practical tips for training your body to wake up earlier and actually alert.

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Links:

AriZona Celebrates the Launch of Boozy Teas With a Totally Tubular '90s Pop-Up (AdWeek)
Hard iced tea teaser (AriZona Iced Tea, Twitter)
Old AriZona Iced Tea history episode (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Pepsi® Invites Fans to Join the Naughty List This Holiday Season With "Pilk" And Cookies - A New "Dirty Soda" Holiday Tradition (PR Newswire)
Pilk and cookies tweet (Lindsay Lohan, Twitter)
#pilk videos (TikTok)
Put a Little Milk in Your Pepsi, Says Pepsi (The Takeout)
I Drank Pepsi Milk And I Hate You All (BuzzFeed News)
Hot Dr. Pepper episode (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Can you become a morning person? Sleep scientists say it is possible with these key tips (Inverse)
Scientists discover secret to waking up alert and refreshed (Berkeley News)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 12/01 - Your Toilet Could Save Your Life

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 20:03:14 -0000

Was Mars once hit with an asteroid on the scale of Earth’s own dino-killer? Plus, what if there was a device that listened to your farts and let you know when you should go see a doctor? And the USDA program that’s recognizing indigenous food ways.

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Links:

Mars Had an Ancient Asteroid Impact Like the One That Killed the Dinosaurs, Scientists Discover (VICE)
Ancient megatsunami on Mars traced to the crater where it began (New Scientist)
Giant Asteroid Unleashed a Devastating Martian Megatsunami, Evidence Suggests (Science Alert)
Dino-Killer Scale Asteroid Impact Might Have Caused Martian Megatsunami (IFL Science)
Farts say more about your health than you think — now, scientists are listening (Inverse)
National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) – a new public health tool to understand COVID-19 spread in a community (CDC)
USDA Program Recognizes Indigenous Food Ways (The Daily Yonder)
Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative (USDA)
The Case of the Missing Scorsese Film (Kottke.org)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 11/30 - Designing Spotify Wrapped

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 22:44:36 -0000

A dive into the design behind Spotify Wrapped, and some of the new features this years––including the Myers-Briggsification of your personal listening data. Plus, the baguette was just granted UNESCO world heritage status!

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Links:

How Spotify’s Wrapped campaign for 2022 came together (It’s Nice That)
Get to Know Your Music Listening Personality from 2022 Wrapped (Spotify)
There’s Just Too Much Spotify Wrapped (Vulture)
Spotify Wrapped 2022 is here, and it's giving everyone a 'music personality' (The Verge)
French baguettes get UNESCO World Heritage status (Le Monde)
Crunch time: The baguette gets UN world heritage status (AP)
Browse the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO)
Yes, a Bear Does Cocaine in the Awesome New Trailer for Cocaine Bear (Consequence)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 11/29 - Summer Drought Is Haunting Christmas

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 20:42:37 -0000

Drought and inflation are making it a tough year for Christmas trees. Plus, Japan has had to abandon what would’ve been their first-ever lunar landing, but a private Japanese company launching a lander tomorrow might still fulfill that milestone for the nation. And a round-up of the weirdest movies coming out next year, including the true story of Cocaine Bear.

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Links:

Drought Is Killing Christmas Trees Across the U.S. (Gizmodo)
What to expect when buying a Christmas tree this holiday season (Good Morning America)
Severe-to-Extreme Drought Plays 'Grinch' in Christmas Tree Crop for Mass. Farmers (NBC Boston)
2020 episode on Christmas Trees (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Lunar Lander Released by NASA’s Artemis 1 Mission Dies (Futurism)
Artemis 1's tiny Japanese probe abandons moon landing try (Space.com)
Previous episode on Japan's ispace lander (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
SpaceX will launch a Japanese moon lander, UAE rover early Wednesday. Here's how to watch. (Space.com)
Artemis: Nasa's Orion capsule breaks distance record (BBC)
Artemis I — Flight Day 13: Orion Goes the (Max) Distance (NASA)
Artemis I photos and videos (NASA, Flickr)
Bambi to become 'a vicious killing machine' in new horror movie Bambi: The Reckoning (Entertainment Weekly)
Elizabeth Banks’ ‘Cocaine Bear’ Poster Teases a Wild Time (Collider)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 11/28 - The World's Largest Active Volcano Is Erupting

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 22:21:43 -0000

The world’s largest active volcano has begun erupting for the first time in four decades. Plus, “monkeypox” has officially been renamed “mpox.” And insurance company State Farm has just released a jazz album.

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Links:

Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano erupts for first time in 38 years (Washington Post)
Mauna Loa: World's largest active volcano erupts in Hawaii (BBC)
Hawaii’s Mauna Loa starts to erupt, spewing ash and debris (PBS NewsHour)
Hawaii Hazard Impact Map (Hawaii Civil Defense Agency)
"Monkeypox" Is Now “Mpox.” Here's Why (them)
WHO renames monkeypox as mpox, citing racism concerns (AP)
WHO recommends new name for monkeypox disease (WHO)
Previous episode on the proposed mpox name change (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jazz Bath: The Bath Bomb Sessions
Patrick Mahomes’ ‘Jazz Bath’ Saxophonist Gets a Real Album for State Farm (Ad Week)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 11/22 - Should 16-Year-Olds Be Allowed To Vote?

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 19:57:51 -0000

New Zealand is set to vote on lowering the voting age to 16. Scientists have added four new prefixes to the metric system. And a peek inside the wide world of Monster Energy drink collection and trading communities.

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Links:

Supreme Court rules in favour of lowering voting age to 16 in case by ‘Make it 16′ group (New Zealand Herald)
New Zealand lawmakers will vote on whether to lower the national voting age to 16 (NPR)
Analysis: Democrats would have gotten crushed this election without young voters (CNN)
Turnout among young voters was the second highest for a midterm in past 30 years (NPR)
A Powerful Theory of Why the Far Right Is Thriving Across the Globe (NY Times)
Cultural Backlash: Trump, Brexit, and Authoritarian Populism by Pippa Norris and Ronald Ingleheart
It's Official: Scientists Confirm a New Expanded Scale of Measurement (ScienceAlert)
Earth weighs in at six ronnagrams as new prefixes picked for big and small (The Guardian)
The Earth now weighs 6 ronnagrams. What does that mean? (Washington Post)
Inside the Fanatical, International, Extremely Online World of Monster Energy Trading (Punch)
We Tried EVERY Monster Energy Drink Flavor (Good Mythical Morning, YouTube)
The Pez Outlaw - Official Trailer (IGN, YouTube)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 11/21 - A Ray of Hope For the "Tripledemic?"

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 21:15:38 -0000

Could the “tripledemic” be tamped down slightly by the viruses interfering with and preventing each other from spiking in the same place at the same time? Plus, public libraries in the US and Canada have been launching their own streaming platforms featuring local musicians.

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Fri. 11/18 - Giant Turkey Legs, The Quintessential American Snack

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 19:09:31 -0000

What’s the deal with those giant turkey legs they serve at renaissance fairs and Disney World? Plus, Coors Light has just launched a color-changing nail polish that lets you know when your beer is cold enough to drink. And Cambridge Dictionary’s perplexing choice of a word of the year that most Brits have never heard of.

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Links:

Meaty-oric Rise: How Renaissance Fairs and Disney Parks Catapulted the Turkey Leg to Greatness (Mental Floss)
Are bones discovered under an Exeter street from the first turkey dinner in England? (ScienceDaily, 2017)
Pumpkin: The Curious History of an American Icon by Cindy Ott
Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes
Coors Light's new nail polish changes color if your beer is cold enough to drink (CNN)
Coors Light's New Nail Polish Changes Color When Your Glass of Beer Is Cold (Food & Wine)
Topo Chico Will Debut Their First-Ever EP Supporting Indie Artists (Magnetic Magazine)
The Cambridge Dictionary Word of the Year 2022 (Cambridge Dictionary)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 11/17 - Lab-Grown Meat Gets FDA Approval

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 22:31:12 -0000

The FDA has given approval for the first time to a lab-grown meat. Plus, another company is genetically modifying plants to work as superpowered air purifiers. And 500 new words like bae and subtweet have been added to the official Scrabble dictionary.

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Wed. 11/16 - Fruitcake Flavored: The Pumpkin Spice of Christmastime?

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 22:19:38 -0000

Can wearing a mask yourself make it harder to recognize the faces of people, even when they’re not wearing a mask? Plus, why Kraft Heinz has upped the goof factor with so many off-the-wall stunts in recent years. And is fruitcake the new go-to holiday season flavor?

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Links:

Mask-wearing can make it more difficult to recognize masked and unmasked faces of others (York University)
Kraft Heinz turns to gimmicks and nostalgia to revive its 'dusty' brands (CNN Business)
Brands Are Bringing Fruitcake Back, in Flavor Form (Eater)
Figgy Pudding Spam Puts a Seasonal Spin on the Classic Canned Meat (Food & Wine)
Figgy pudding Spam tastes like a hot dog fruitcake. Run away. (Washington Post)
Artemis I Launch to the Moon (Official NASA Broadcast) (NASA, YouTube)
Artemis Blog (NASA)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 11/15 - Chimps––They're Just Like Us!

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 19:41:03 -0000

In what feels like the start of a riddle, egg prices are surging, but chicken prices are going down. Plus, it turns out chimps like to share cool stuff as much as some daily podcasters. And Artemis I is supposed to launch late tonight, but if this mysterious “space prophet” continues to be right, the launch might not happen until 2023.

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Links:

Why egg prices are surging — but chicken prices are falling: It's an 'act of God' event, says trade strategist (CNBC)
Do Chimps Share Cool Stuff Just for Fun? Uganda Forest Study Provides a Hint That They Might (Scientific American)
Wild chimpanzees show others objects simply to share attention (University of York)
The oracle who predicted SLS’s launch in 2023 has thoughts about Artemis III (Ars Technica)
How to Watch the Inaugural Launch of NASA’s SLS Megarocket (Gizmodo)
Artemis launch delay is the latest of many NASA scrubs and comes from hard lessons on crew safety (The Conversation)
NASA Sets New Coverage for Artemis I Moon Mission Launch (NASA)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 11/14 - Polar Night, Midnight Sun, & Fruit Quakes

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 22:19:59 -0000

Polar Night and Midnight Sun. What’s it like living in a place that stays absolutely pitch black for two and half months, and what can we learn from the people who live there? Plus, a new emergency alert system in the US to let you know when an earthquake is nearby. And Mountain Dew’s latest holiday-themed flavor, which oddly enough is a combination of the first two segments today.

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Links:

People here live in complete darkness for 2.5 months. Here's how they do it (NPR)
Cecilia Blomdahl (@sejsejlija) Official TikTok
Cecilia Blomdahl (YouTube)
America has an earthquake early-warning system now — on your phone (Washington Post)
ShakeAlert
Everything We Know About the Mtn Dew Holiday Drink for 2022 (Thrillist)
Mtn Dew's New Fruit Quake Flavor Is Supposed to Taste Like Fruitcake (Food & Wine)
I Tried 21 Flavors of Mountain Dew For Some Reason. (Everywhereist)
Fri. 12/11 - How Our Homes Were Shaped By Epidemics + Hot Dr Pepper (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Weather Forecast Remains 90% Favorable for Artemis I Launch (NASA)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 11/11 - VR Special Effects Made Live TV Debut on Election Night

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 20:22:54 -0000

How tech from shows like The Mandalorian is now being used in live election coverage on TV. Plus, an enormous tunnel has been uncovered beneath an Egyptian temple and some think it could lead to Cleopatra’s tomb. And Netflix is starting to experiment with live streaming.

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Thu. 11/10 - Can I Get One Large Algae, Please?

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 22:24:44 -0000

Is algae the secret to feeding our growing world? Plus, new evidence for a sixth mass extinction that occurred even earlier than the Big Five. And some prescient thoughts on democracy from fifty years ago, courtesy of the creator of Charlie Brown.

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Links:

Is it time to start eating algae? (National Geographic)
Scientists Uncover Evidence of What May Be Earth's First Mass Animal Extinction (ScienceAlert)
Geobiologists shine new light on Earth's first known mass extinction event 550 million years ago (ScienceDaily)
Charles Schulz shared thoughts on democracy with 10-year-old fan (Upworthy)
Charles Schulz's Letter About Democracy, Discovered 50 Years Later (KQED)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 11/09 - Ballpoint Pens Killed the Cursive Star

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 21:50:24 -0000

Could the ballpoint pen be just as responsible for the death of cursive handwriting as the computer? Plus, lab-grown blood has been injected into two patients in a world-first clinical trial. And, would you attend a Zoom meeting in a movie theater? AMC is betting on it.

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Tue. 11/08 - 3D Printing Human Organs In Space

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 21:45:10 -0000

From a 3D bioprinter for human tissues to pumpkin spice cappuccinos, here’s the cargo being delivered on board the S.S. Sally Ride tomorrow to the International Space Station. Plus, this time it’s not just in your head, the New York Times really is making some (small) changes to Wordle. A puzzle expert has some practice tips for winning the daily game. And Netflix has a new interactive trivia game.

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Links:

Astronauts will 3D print part of a human knee in space (Engadget)
Overview for Northrop Grumman's 18th Commercial Resupply Mission (NASA)
NASA monitoring Subtropical Storm Nicole, Space Launch System rocket and Orion to remain at Launch Pad 39B (NASA)
The New York Times is finally making changes to Wordle (Washington Post)
Introducing Wordle Game Editor Tracy Bennett (NY Times)
How to Win at Wordle (Without Cheating) (Quanta Magazine)
You can now play trivia on Netflix (Mashable)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 11/07 - The Uncertain Future of Social Media, Our Phones, & Us

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 21:03:03 -0000

On TikTok, Twitter, and more broadly how social media has changed us, how we might finally be approaching a tipping point in how we use it, and the ways in which our devices play just as large a role as the algorithms.

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Links:

The Machine Stops (New Yorker)
TikTok’s Greatest Asset Isn’t Its Algorithm—It’s Your Phone (Wired)
Elon Musk is more Funko Pop than man (Garbage Day)
The Real Difference Between YouTube and TikTok (Vlogbrothers, YouTube)
Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History by Kurt Andersen
Techmeme Ride Home
The Real Sleeping Sickness That Inspired Neil Gaiman's 'The Sandman' (Collider)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 11/04 - Music to Prevent Nightmares

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 19:10:34 -0000

Could a musical cue played while you’re asleep help prevent nightmares? Plus, a round-up of science news from this month in history. And the US government might be getting an official Space Bureau.

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Links:

Can a Musical Reminder Banish Bad Dreams? (Smithsonian Magazine)
Nightmares Can Be Silenced With a Single Piano Chord, Scientists Discover (ScienceAlert)
50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: November 2022 (Scientific American)
FCC Proposes Space Bureau to Regulate Influx of Satellites (Gizmodo)
U.S. telecom regulator launching new space bureau (Reuters)
The FCC’s new space bureau could rein in Elon Musk (Vox)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 11/03 - How the World Series Led To the Television Boom

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 19:02:54 -0000

A deep dive into two major events that led to the television boom, and a question of what that has meant for the artifice and theatricality of live events.

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Links:

The first televised World Series spurred America's television boom, 75 years ago (The Conversation)
Queen Elizabeth II’s First Move: Allowing TV Cameras at Her Coronation (Tedium)
Scholarly Analysis of the Kennedy-Nixon Debates (Purdue)
Nick Offerman joins weirdly star-studded cast of GameStop "stonks" movie (A/V Club)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 11/02 - Cornhole Controversy

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 21:20:47 -0000

2022 has been the year of cheating. The latest scandal to rock a niche community? BagGate at the American Cornhole League World Championships. Plus, Collins Dictionary has declared “permacrisis” their word of the year. And an exciting update for what you probably all know by now is my most-anticipated movie of the year: Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.

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Links:

Professional Cornhole Has a Cheating Scandal Called BagGate (Wall Street Journal)
The Summer Of Cheating (BuzzFeed News)
“Permacrisis” has been named as Collins Dictionary's word of the year for 2022 (Stylist)
Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey Sets U.S. Theatrical Release Date (Collider)
Thu. 05/26 - Winnie the Pooh: Horror Villain (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 11/01 - Dracula: A Tale of Misinformation?

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 19:36:50 -0000

Why does Dracula still resonate with audiences over a century later? The disease narrative is one possible reason, but there’s another less-discussed theory too. Plus, one team of scientists have detected traces of an ancient ocean on Mars. And a turkey-flavored beer for your dog to enjoy this Thanksgiving.

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Links:

125 Years Old and Still Biting (The Atlantic)
Fri. 10/29 - Disease and the Vampire Myth + Hallowmeme History (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Get the classic novel Dracula delivered to your email inbox, as it happens. (Dracula Daily)
Ancient Traces of a Giant Ocean Have Just Been Discovered on Mars (Science Alert)
Evidence of ancient Mars ocean increases probability of past life (Space.com)
Traces of ancient ocean discovered on Mars (Penn State)
Anheuser-Busch thinks your dog would like a beer, too (Fast Company)
Busch Light Debuts Turkey ‘Beer’ For Dogs So You Can Toast At Holidays Together (DesignTAXI)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 10/31 - Queen Victoria's Halloween Ragers

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 21:23:00 -0000

Dispatches from the Recreational Fear Lab on why being scared might be a healthy thing. And the raucous Halloween parties Queen Victoria used to throw in Scotland.

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Links:

The Director of the Recreational Fear Lab Explains Why We Love to Be Scared (Slate)
The monarch who loved Scots' spooky traditions (Scottish Field)
Queen Victoria's highland journals (Internet Archive)
Halloween by Robert Burns (Academy of American Poets)
Halloween - Robert Burns (MindYerLanguage?, YouTube)
Taylor Swift Makes History as First Artist With Entire Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100, Led by 'Anti-Hero' at No. 1 (Billboard)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 10/28 - Best Of: Candy Corn, Witches, & Spine-Tingling Music

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 16:28:42 -0000

In our first-ever "Best Of" episode, we look back at the history of candy corn. How did this contentious candy come to be, why does it persist when so many people hate it, and does it really contain bug secretions? Plus, a segment from 2020, were witches back in the day really mixing tongues and eyeballs into their brews? Here’s what ingredients like “eye of newt” actually meant. And finally, from last year, a survey of witchy and chilling music—from psychedelic countercultural witch music in the 1960s to more recent tracks that have been scientifically proven to make your spine tingle.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Wed. 10/13 - Who's To Blame For Candy Corn? (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Why Is Candy Corn the Most Hated Halloween Candy? (Eater)
Episode Three - Satan's Earwax (Preserve Halloween Podcast)
Where Our Love/Hate Relationship With Candy Corn Comes From (The Atlantic)
The Saccharine History of Candy Corn (National Geographic)
Why Brach's Turkey Dinner Candy Corn Might Taste Different This Year (Mashed)
All About Candy Corn (National Confectioners Association)
What To Know About Confectioner's Glaze (Taste for Life)
Why is there shellac in my chocolate mints? (McGill)
How Candy Corn is Made | Unwrapped (Food Network, YouTube)
Fri. 10/02 - Witchy Ingredients Aren't What They Seem (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Please Pass Me The Eye Of Newt; What's Really In That Witch's Cauldron (Dave’s Garden)
Mon. 10/25 - Music That Gives You Chills, and Why It Does (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
13 Vintage Halloween Songs from the 1910's, 20's, & 30's (History Tea Time with Lindsay Holiday, YouTube)
A Look Back at America's Psychedelic Countercultural Witch Music (Atlas Obscura)
The Munsters - At Home With The Munsters - Vinyl LP (Rough Trade)
Researchers analyzed 700-plus songs known to give people chills. Here’s the playlist (Quartz)
Songs To Give You Chills playlist (Quartz, Spotify)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 10/27 - This Is Your Brain On Books

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 20:35:46 -0000

Can the books we read permanently change our brains? Or at least impact our values over a lifetime? Two studies that used undergrads as guinea pigs attempt to quantify the effects of powerful books on our brains. Plus, the upcoming election night lunar eclipse and a Halloween asteroid.

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Links:

How Do the Books We Read Change Our Brains? (Literary Hub)
The Self Delusion: The New Neuroscience of How We Invent--And Reinvent--Our Identities by Gregory Berns
Harry Potter and the Millennials by Anthony Gierzynksi with Kathryn Eddy
What You Need to Know About the Lunar Eclipse (NASA)
ISS transit map with lunar eclipse (Christopher Becke, Twitter)
Large asteroid RM4 to pass closely November 1 (EarthSky)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 10/26 - Men Eat Red Meat, Women Eat Salads –– But Why?

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 17:53:37 -0000

How and why did food become so gendered? Y’know, men eat red meat and women eat salads. When did those associations begin? Plus, according to new evolutionary findings, animals might have begun to vocalize to each other even before they had ears.

Sponsors:

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Links:

How steak became manly and salads became feminine (The Conversation)
Yogurt Is for Women, Fried Chicken Is for Men (The Atlantic)
The Gender Binary Is a Tool of White Supremacy (An Injustice Mag)
Candy: A Century of Panic and Pleasure by Samira Kawash
Sweetness and Femininity: Fashioning Gendered Appetite in the Victorian Age (CUNY Academic Works)
Social Darwinism, Scientific Racism, and the Metaphysics of Race (The Journal of Negro Education)
Animals may have begun to vocalize before anyone had ears to hear them (Science)
Secret communication of sea animals discovered (BBC)
Vocal communication originated over 400 million years ago (EurekAlert)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 10/25 - Parkour Activists

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 18:53:12 -0000

Why marigolds are so prevalent in cultural celebrations around the world this time of year. Plus, how insect swarms affect atmospheric electricity. And the parkour athletes turned environmental activists.

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Links:

How the marigold became a global icon, from Mexico to India (National Geographic)
Marigold: The Mexican flower that has become a part of Indian festivals (The Economic Times, 2017)
Historical and Ethnobotanical Aspects of Domestication in Tagetes (Economic Botany, JSTOR)
Celebrating Latino Folklore [3 Volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Cultural Traditions by Maria Herrera-Sobek
Insects contribute to atmospheric electricity (Phys.org)
Insect Swarms Can Electrify The Air as Much as a Thunderstorm (Science Alert)
Honeybee swarms generate more electricity per metre than a storm cloud (New Scientist)
Parkour athletes switch off Paris lights one by one (Reuters)
With Leaps and Bounds, Parkour Athletes Turn Off the Lights in Paris (NY Times)
Watch these parkour athletes swing around Paris switching off wasteful lights (Euro News)
Team On The Spot Parkour (Instagram)
International Space Station swerves to avoid Russian space debris, NASA says (CNN)
Space Station Forced to Perform Huge Swerve to Avoid Debris From When Russia Blew Up a Satellite (Futurism)
Space Station Maneuvers to Avoid Orbital Debris (NASA)
Fri. 10/14 - CIA-Funded Woolly Mammoths (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 10/24 - Eau de Witchcraft

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 19:52:37 -0000

Why scents and fragrances have been so strongly associated with witchcraft throughout time and how those associations influence witchcraft, feminism, and misogyny today. Plus, a wild bison has been born in England for the first time in thousands of years. And, if you’re in the mood for a long, lonely drive, I’ve got you covered both virtually and on the asphalt.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Smells like witch spirit: How the ancient world’s scented sorceresses influence ideas about magic today (The Conversation)
Revolutionary Witchcraft: A Guide to Magical Activism by Sarah Lyons
Religion and the Decline of Magic: Studies in Popular Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth-Century England by Keith Thomas
First wild European bison born in the UK for thousands of years (Natural History Museum)
Baby bison born in Kent countryside (BBC)
First wild bison born in UK for centuries at Canterbury woods following shock pregnancy (Kent Online)
Slow Roads, a "chill" driving game you can play for free in your browser (Boing Boing)
The loneliest roads in America (BigThink)
America’s Quietest Routes (GeoTab)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 10/20 - How the Black Death Changed Our Genes

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 20:19:48 -0000

How the Black Death changed the course of human evolution. Plus, the exoplanet with a marshmallow-like atmosphere. And IKEA is testing out autonomous delivery vehicles.

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Links:

The Black Death Shaped Human Evolution, And We're Still in Its Shadow (ScienceAlert)
The Black Death shaped the evolution of immunity genes, setting the course for how we respond to disease today, researchers find (EurekAlert)
Black Death etched a mark on our genetics, warping immune responses, study finds (Ars Technica)
How the Black Death changed our immune systems (Science)
A Fluffy 'Marshmallow' World Has Been Discovered With Incredibly Low Density (ScienceAlert)
'Marshmallow' world orbiting a cool red dwarf star (Phys.org)
We’ve Found A ‘Marshmallow’ Planet That Would Float In A Bathtub, Say Scientists (Forbes)
Ikea Is Testing Autonomous Delivery in Texas (Gizmodo)
Ikea is trialing driverless truck deliveries in Texas (Engadget)
IKEA teams with self-driving truck startup Kodiak Robotics to test deliveries in Texas (CNBC)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 10/19 - The Rise of Human Composting, a Burial Alternative

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 18:25:18 -0000

A look into the growing movement of human composting as a funeral option. Plus, Anna May Wong quarters start shipping in the US on Monday. And two iconic movies with intriguing reboots on the horizon.

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Links:

Is Human Composting the Future of Funerals? (Slate)
Inside one of the world’s first human composting facilities (The Verge)
Return Home Terramation (TikTok)
United States Mint to Begin Shipping Fifth American Women Quarters™ Program Coins October 24 (US Mint)
Who is Anna May Wong, the first Asian American on U.S. currency? (Washington Post)
HOLLYWOOD | Official Trailer (Netflix, YouTube)
A celebration of Anna May Wong in 6 films (BFI)
‘Twister’ Sequel in the Works at Universal: What We Know (Vulture)
Twisters sequel Forecast For Spring Start Universal, Amblin Finalizing Director For Sequel (Deadline)
'A Christmas Story Christmas' teaser gives us a glimpse of adult Ralphie (Mashable)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 10/18 - How Quickly Would Vampires Make Humans Extinct?

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 21:17:38 -0000

Could vampires exist, mathematically speaking? Plus, an update on COVID variants of concern as we head into winter. And the United Kingdom has ruled that GIFs are still relevant and Meta can’t hog them all.

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Links:

Here's How Long it Would Take for Vampires to Annihilate Humanity (Atlas Obscura)
The transylvanian problem of renewable resources (RAIRO)
Cinema Fiction vs Physics Reality: Ghosts, Vampires, and Zombies (Skeptical Inquirer)
Mathematical Models of Interactions between Species: Peaceful Co-existence of Vampires and Humans Based on the Models Derived from Fiction Literature and Films (Applied Mathematical Sciences)
Trick or Treat Month: Gourds with Jackson Bird (SciShow Tangents)
New COVID variant BQ.1 now makes up 1 in 10 cases nationwide, CDC estimates (CBS News)
BA.5 is finally fading—sublineages BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 rise from variant stew (Ars Technica)
XBB, BQ.1.1, BA.2.75.2 — a variant swarm could fuel a winter surge (Washington Post)
What to Know About COVID-19 Variants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 (TIME)
Meta Forced to Sell Giphy in UK Antitrust Case (Gizmodo)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 10/17 - The AI Chatbot Running for Office in Denmark

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 21:12:52 -0000

NASA isn’t the only one who may launch a rocket to the moon next month. Plus, a Danish political party led by an AI chatbot that’s running for office. A new horror film that’s causing people to faint and puke in theaters. And, bringing all new meaning to “BTS Army,” the members of BTS are officially enlisting.

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Links:

NASA will attempt a moon launch in November. So will someone else. (Mashable)
UAE moon rover, Japanese lander set to launch atop SpaceX rocket in November (Space.com)
Artemis 1, ispace lander set November launch dates (Space News)
Japanese lunar company ispace aims to launch first cargo mission to the moon next month (CNBC)
This Danish Political Party Is Led by an AI (Vice)
New European Political Party Is Led by an Artificial Intelligence (Futurism)
Danish AI-driven Political Party Eyes Parliament (Barrons)
Terrifier 2 is reportedly making people shake, cry, throw up in theaters (A/V Club)
Viewers are screaming, crying, throwing up over killer clown flick 'Terrifier 2' (LA Times)
BTS Are Officially On Hiatus Until 2025 Because It’s Mandatory Military Service Time (BuzzFeed News)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 10/14 - CIA-Funded Woolly Mammoths

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 22:02:37 -0000

The FCC has just proposed new rules to combat space junk. Plus, remember the company trying to bring back the woolly mammoth? The CIA just invested in them. Plus, a previously unheard Queen song, featuring Freddie Mercury’s vocals, was just released.

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Links:

The FCC's Rules on Space Junk Just Got Stricter (Wired)
The FCC Is Finally Taking Space Junk Seriously (Scientific American)
Space Debris and Human Spacecraft (NASA)
The CIA Wants to Bring Back the Woolly Mammoth (Gizmodo)
CIA Is Investing In Mammoth Resurrection Technology, But Why? (IFL Science)
How Can We Use Biology to Solve Global Issues? (In-Q-Tel)
Tue. 09/08 - Long Live the (Cloned) Woolly Mammoth (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Mon. 09/13 - De-Extinct Woolly Mammoths (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Tue. 08/16 - De-Extincting Tasmanian Tigers (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Freddie Mercury’s Vocals Featured on Newly Released Queen Song (Advocate)
Queen Release Unearthed Song Featuring Freddie Mercury (Pitchfork)
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Thu. 10/13 - Warhol & Prince & Galileo & Elvis.

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 21:41:32 -0000

A Supreme Court case involving Prince and Andy Warhol that could have huge implications on the future of art. Plus, a new book by Galileo just dropped. And a song sung by 100,000 people who didn’t know they were singing together.

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Links:

The Supreme Court meets Andy Warhol, Prince and a case that could threaten creativity (NPR)
How a Supreme Court Case About Andy Warhol's Paintings of Prince Could Reshape Freedom of Expression (ARTnews)
Liberal and Conservative Justices Seem Split in the Supreme Court’s Landmark Andy Warhol Copyright Case (and Not in the Way You May Think) (Artnet News)
Researcher discovers "Galileo manuscript" forgery (University of Michigan Library)
Galileo confirmed as author of pseudonymous 17th century astronomy text (Ars Technica)
Researcher discovers another astronomy book written by Galileo Galilei (Medievalists)
Angela Lansbury and Stephen Sondheim Will Make Posthumous Onscreen Appearances in Knives Out Film Sequel (Playbill)
Watch Jacob Collier create a 100,000-person a cappella choir (Upworthy)
Jacob Collier & The Audience Choir - Can't Help Falling In Love (Jacob Collier, YouTube)
Clam-O-Naise
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Wed. 10/12 - Space Age Clam Slam

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 20:54:53 -0000

The verdict on that asteroid NASA hit with a spacecraft last month. Plus, Tom Cruise’s latest plan to make history in space. And the latest Cards Against Humanity expansion pack that you can only buy at Target, and which is submerged within a jar of clam-flavored mayonnaise.

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Links:

Success! NASA Says DART Really Clocked That Asteroid (Wired)
Post-impact images of DART mission have not disappointed (Ars Technica)
NASA Confirms DART Mission Impact Changed Asteroid’s Motion in Space (NASA)
DART’s Smashing Success Shows Humanity Can Divert Asteroids (Scientific American)
Tom Cruise plans to film a movie in space — and could be the first civilian to do a spacewalk (CBS News)
Tom Cruise Might Be First Civilian to Spacewalk Outside the ISS (Gizmodo)
NASA Sets Date for Next Launch Attempt for Artemis I Moon Mission (NASA)
Dismembered Moments Luxury Candle (Liquid Death)
Laughing At My Nightmare
One of my favorite videos from Shane (Shane Burcaw, Instagram)
Target Is Selling Clam-Flavored Mayonaise with a Cards Against Humanity Card Pack Fully Submerged Inside (IGN)
Clam-O-Naise (Cards Against Humanity)
Clam-O-Naise on Twitter
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Tue. 10/11 - The Ghost of Halloween Candy Panics Past

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 21:19:07 -0000

Another Halloween, another candy tampering panic. While these panics rarely––if ever––bear fruit, poisoned candy and concerns around it have a longer history than you might suspect. Plus, a voter fraud scandal has rocked the wholesome Fat Bear Week contest.

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Links:

Rainbow Fentanyl: Poisoned Halloween Candy Rerelease (American Hysteria, Spotify)
This Year's Halloween Candy Panic Is Unfounded "Rainbow Fentanyl" Fears (The Mary Sue)
DEA says "rainbow" fentanyl pills are being marketed to children. Experts say that's nonsense (Salon)
Young people are being targeted with brightly colored ‘rainbow fentanyl,’ government drug agency warns (NBC News)
Crime Reporting (Last Week Tonight, YouTube)
Fri. 10/01 - Edibles In Your Kid's Trick-Or-Treat Candy? Don't Bet On It. (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
How Tainted Treats Led to a Halloween Tragedy in 1858 (Atlas Obscura)
‘Fat Bear Week’ Hit By Voter-Fraud Attempt (Rolling Stone)
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Mon. 10/10 - Cyborg Cockroaches Are Here To Save the Day

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 20:30:00 -0000

Just in time for Halloween, we’ve got cyborg cockroaches. As terrifying as it sounds though, they might actually end up saving our lives. Plus, a round-up of recommendations for celebrating Indigenous People today and everyday. And an upcoming slasher horror version of The Grinch.

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Links:

Robotic engineers are creating cyborg cockroaches, roboflys and more (Washington Post)
Researchers Created a 'Cyborg Cockroach' With a Backpack Battery to Inspect Disaster Zones (Gizmodo)
Meet Japan's cyborg cockroach, coming to disaster area near you (Reuters)
Thu. 12/09 - Birds Aren't Real (And Neither Is This Gen Z Conspiracy Theory) (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS - LISTEN UP! LISTEN BY CATEGORY
The Native American Music Awards (JSTOR Daily)
Disney Songs In Their Native Languages (FlamSpark, YouTube)
Read an excerpt: Billy-Ray Belcourt's debut novel “A Minor Chorus” and the legacy of residential schools: 'We are still haunted by it' (Toronto Star)
Reservation Dogs Season 1 Trailer (Rotten Tomatoes, YouTube)
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Exterminate All the Brutes (HBO)
XYZ Plans Free Release For Horror Pic 'The Mean One' With 'Terrifier 2' Star David Howard Thornton (Deadline)
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Fri. 10/07 - When Novelty Halloween Songs Ruled The Billboard Charts

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 20:15:59 -0000

What the heck is a flying purple people eater and why did that song about one stick around for so long? Plus, remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? Eight years later, we’ve got a look at just how big a difference it made. But is the new ALS treatment the challenge helped fund as great as it seems?

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‘The Purple People Eater’: Sheb Wooley’s Hit Novelty Song (UDiscover Music)
Purple People Eater History: A Dumb Joke Turned Into a Cultural Icon (Tedium)
Sheb Wooley Is Dead at 82; Sang of Purple People Eater (NY Times)
Jack's recommended starter pack of Halloween oldies from the best oldies curator on the web (Jake Westbrook, YouTube)
Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? It Ended Up Funding a New ALS Drug (Futurism)
ALS drug's approval draws cheers from patients, questions from skeptics (NPR)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 10/06 - Jinkies! I Can't Believe Butter Is So Expensive

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 21:53:56 -0000

I’m back with another shortage report. This time? Butter. Plus, sleep tourism is apparently a thing now. And Velma from Scooby-Doo is officially super gay, for real this time.

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Links:

The price of butter is sky-high and 'not going to come down,' says supply chain expert—here's why (CNBC)
Prepare for the Butter Shortage (The Takeout)
Butter Prices Ramp Up Ahead of Holiday Season – How Long Will They Last? (Dairy Herd)
Butter prices hit an all-time high — partly because extreme heat is taking a toll on dairy cows (MarketWatch)
Butter Boards Are Spreading Across TikTok (NY Times)
Why sleep tourism is booming (CNN)
Sleep Vacations: 12 Places to Catch Some Zzzs (Fodors, 2019)
Dreamy sleep vacation destinations (Well + Good, 2018)
Sleep Tourism Will Be One of the Biggest 2022 Travel Trends (Coveteur)
'Scooby-Doo' fans get the snack they've been waiting for: Velma is gay (LA Times)
In the New Scooby Doo Movie, Velma Is Finally Out and Proud (them)
Google Search Scooby-Doo Velma Easter Egg Unleashes Gay Pride Flags (Variety)
Fans cheer as Velma is shown crushing on a woman in the new Scooby-Doo movie (NPR)
Jinkies! Velma's Actually Gay in "Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!" (Autostraddle)
'Velma': Mindy Kaling Scooby Show Casts Sam Richardson, Constance Wu (Variety)
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Wed. 10/05 - Bruce Willis Deepfake Deal is Fake, But Others Could Be Coming

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 19:10:27 -0000

It’s Nobel Prize week. With three prizes announced and three yet to come, here are the winners in Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology or Medicine. Plus, Bruce Willis did not sell the rights to his digital twin to a deepfake firm, but could someone choose to do so eventually? More on the murky world of deepfakes and Hollywood.

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Links:

Nobel Prize awarded to three scientists for work in click chemistry, which links molecules quickly (Washington Post)
‘Spooky’ quantum-entanglement experiments win physics Nobel (Nature)
Nobel Winner Svante Pääbo Discovered the Neandertal in Our Genes (Scientific American)
Actor Bruce Willis Becomes First Celebrity to Sell Rights to Deepfake Firm (Collider)
Bruce Willis denies selling rights to his face (BBC)
Deepfake Bruce Willis may be the next Hollywood star, and he’s OK with that [Updated] (Ars Technica)
Bruce Willis did not sign rights for deepfakes to replace him in future films and advertisements (Mashable)
Fat Bear Week 2022: It's time to vote (CNN)
2022 Fat Bear Week - Katmai (National Park Service)
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Tue. 10/04 - Turns Out, Buttons Are Bad For Us

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 18:30:00 -0000

From the annals of “everyday objects our ancestors were once super concerned about”: electric push buttons. Like, on/off buttons on any basic device. And you know what, they kind of had a point. Plus, on its sixtieth anniversary let’s take a look at one of more pernicious predictions The Jetsons actually got right about our present-day.

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When the Push Button Was New, People Were Freaked (JSTOR Daily)
The Jetsons, now 60 years old, is iconic. That's a problem. (Slate)
George Jetson Birthdate Dispute Episode (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 10/03 - Can You Eat Crocs?

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 18:30:00 -0000

Answering the age old question: can you eat Crocs? Plus, why it is adults still get stress dreams about school even years after they leave. And a chance to stay at the Sanderson sisters cottage for all the die-hard Hocus Pocus fans out there.

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Links:

Why Is The Government Suddenly Concerned About NyQuil Chicken? (BuzzFeed News)
Can You Really Eat Crocs? An Investigation (VICE)
Why Adults Still Dream About School (The Atlantic)
'Hocus Pocus' fans can stay at the Sanderson Sisters' cottage on Airbnb (Mashable)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 09/30 - The Real Warriors From 'The Woman King'

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 18:30:00 -0000

The real story of the Agoji warriors fictionalized in The Woman King. Plus, the Food and Drug Administration just dropped a new definition for the word “healthy.” And the very opposite of a nightmare on Elm Street.

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Links:

The Real Warriors Behind ‘The Woman King’ (Smithsonian Mag)
The true story of the women warriors of Dahomey (National Geographic)
Was Dahomey A Barbaric African Kingdom? (HomeTeam History, YouTube)
Viola Davis and Gina Prince-Bythewood on the Battle to Get ‘The Woman King’ Made (Hollywood Reporter)
FDA issues new guidelines for which foods can be labeled ‘healthy’ (Washington Post)
Key takeaways from Biden's conference on hunger and nutrition in America (NPR)
FDA Proposes Updated Definition of ‘Healthy’ Claim on Food Packages to Help Improve Diet, Reduce Chronic Disease (FDA)
'Hocus Pocus' fans can stay at the Sanderson Sisters' cottage on Airbnb (Mashable)
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Thu. 09/29 - Are Lawns ALL Bad?

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 21:12:55 -0000

Lawns are terrible for the environment, but is ripping them out all together the right answer? Plus, why decorating your home for the holidays is, actually, really good for your health. And other facts I’m overhyping to justify the many decorative gourds in my house… And a very popular discontinued item that might be returning to McDonald’s next month.

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Links:

Lawns Are Dumb. But Ripping Them Out May Come With a Catch (Wired)
Why the Great American Lawn is terrible for the West's water crisis (CNN)
Your Perfect Lawn Is Bad for the Environment. Here's What to Do Instead (Discover Magazine)
Can Decorating For Fall Make You Happier? Experts Weigh In. (HuffPost)
McDonald's May Bring Back a Beloved Blast From its Past (The Street)
McDonald's Halloween Buckets Could Be Back This Fall (CNET)
Celebrating 35 Years Of McDonald’s Halloween Buckets (Nightmare Nostalgia)
Episode Five - McHalloween (Preserve Halloween)
McDonald's is selling Happy Meals to adults — with a twist (CNN)
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Wed. 09/27 - Could Changing Jupiter Make Earth Better?

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 21:30:26 -0000

Could a change in Jupiter’s orbit make life on Earth more hospitable? Plus, behold the best GIFs of the 90s, uploaded a-fresh by internet strangers. And all the Taco Bell news that’s fit to print.

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Links:

BAN #466: Jupiter is at its biggest and brightest right now! (Bad Astronomy)
Jupiter Could Make Earth A Paradise Or A Frozen Wasteland, Say Scientists (Forbes)
A change in Jupiter's orbit could make Earth even friendlier to life (Space.com)
Earth Could Be Even More Habitable. We'd Just Need to Shift Jupiter's Orbit (Science Alert)
People are creating huge online archives of GIFs from 90s CD-ROMs (Boing Boing)
Taco Bell Is Bringing Back One of Its Most-Requested Menu Items (Thrillist)
Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza Musical Is Better Than You Think (The Takeout)
WATCH: Preston Max Allen & Edward Precht Premiere Music Video From BLAST! A FLAVOR-PACKED MOUNTAIN DEWSICAL (Broadway World)
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Tue. 09/27 - Giant Invisible Otters

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 21:04:02 -0000

How close are we to some kind of invisibility cloak? Plus, when giant lion-sized otters roamed the land. Yes, the land. And Hasbro wants to make you into an action figure.

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Links:

This Company Says It’s One Step Closer to an Invisibility Cloak (Wired)
Researchers Determine Fundamental Limits of Invisibility Cloaks (UT News)
World’s First Thermal-Camo Jacket Paves Way for ‘Invisibility Cloak’ (Gear Junkie)
The world’s first Thermal Camouflage Jacket. (Vollebak, YouTube)
In Prehistoric Ethiopia, Otters Were as Big as Lions (Atlas Obscura)
Otters the Size of Lions Once Roamed the Earth (Columbia Climate School)
Hasbro's Selfie Series Action Figures Will Be Available In the U.S. Starting Friday (Gizmodo)
Hasbro Selfie Series: Make Anyone a Hero With 3D Printing (Formlabs, YouTube)
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Mon. 09/26 - GIFs Are Dead, Long Live the GIF

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 19:31:02 -0000

Thanks to a court filing from the largest search engine of its kind, it’s official: GIFs are cringe. How did they fall so far? Plus, the Colorado River is drying up and part of the reason has to do with politicians ignoring the science one hundred years ago.

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Links:

‘Gifs are cringe’: how Giphy’s multimillion-dollar business fell out of fashion (The Guardian)
Fri. 10/29 - Disease and the Vampire Myth + Hallowmeme History (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
How a 100-year-old miscalculation drained the Colorado River (Vox)
Science Be Damned: How Ignoring Inconvenient Science Drained the Colorado River by Eric Kuhn and John Fleck
As Colorado River Dries, the U.S. Teeters on the Brink of Larger Water Crisis (ProPublica)
How to Watch NASA’s DART Spacecraft Slam Into an Asteroid (NY Times)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 09/23 - Asteroid SMASH

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:48:13 -0000

Why is NASA slamming a spacecraft into an asteroid on Monday and what will we be able to see of the collision? Plus, a new low-cost, no-lab-required COVID-19 antibody test that could set the stage for more personalized vaccination plans. And a new drill rap duo, made up of old white British men.

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Links:

NASA is ready to knock an asteroid off course with its DART spacecraft (New Scientist)
NASA's DART mission will put on an asteroid-smashing show next week (Space.com)
Last year's coverage of DART's launch (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Artemis Cryogenic Demonstration Test Concludes, All Objectives Met (NASA)
Artemis: Nasa's Moon rocket completes fuelling test (BBC)
Elon Says Starship Megarocket Could Perform First Orbital Flight in November (Gizmodo)
A quick test kit to determine a person's immunity against COVID-19 and its variants (ScienceDaily)
Why Omicron Might Stick Around (NY Times)
It’s Time for Northern Boy Autumn (Vulture)
The Northern Boys - Party Time (Sindhu World, YouTube)
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Thu. 09/22 - Fall Is Here & Your Phone Is Dying

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 18:49:03 -0000

It’s the first day of fall. Or is it? Everything you need to know about the equinox, plus some seasonal music recommendations. An app you can only use when your phone’s battery is less than 5%. And why Queen Elizabeth II and other royal family members are buried in lead-lined coffins.

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Links:

The first day of fall marks the autumn equinox, which is different from a solstice (NPR)
Fall equinox 2022: Not as 'equal' as you may think (CNN)
Fall equinox: explaining the beginning of autumn, end of summer (The Washington Post)
Amount of daylight across North American on Fall Equinox (Brian Brettschneider, Twitter)
Autumnal Equinox 2022: First Day of Fall | Facts, Folklore & More (Old Farmer’s Almanac)
Wed. 09/22 - The Wonders of Fall, and the Cosmos (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult - But the lyrics are Ai generated images (Daara, YouTube)
Fluxblog 386: let's get back to autumn 1991 (Fluxblog Newsletter)
Halloween Lite playlist (Jackson Bird, Spotify)
Weezer Ring in SZNZ: Autumn EP by Performing “What Happens After You” on Kimmel (Consequence)
This Chatroom Only Opens When Your Phone’s About to Die (VICE)
This Website Only Works When You’re Offline (VICE)
Offline Only
The Disconnect
Why Royal Family Members Are Buried in Lead-Lined Coffins (Mental Floss)
An exploding king: Why Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was lined with lead (Washington Post)
Why Is Queen Elizabeth II Going To Be Buried In A Lead-Lined Coffin? (IFL Science)
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Wed. 09/21 - What is this? A podcast for ANTS?!

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 20:02:36 -0000

Scientists have conducted an ant census. Or at least that’s what I’m calling it. And the total number they came up with is out of this world. Plus, the return of the Shortage Report. This time? Craft beer. Its cause? An extinct volcano.

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Links:

Scientists have calculated how many ants are on Earth. The number is so big it's 'unimaginable.' (Washington Post)
The ants go marching one by one - 20 quadrillion of them (Reuters)
U.S. beer shortage looms with gap in carbon dioxide supply (Axios)
US CO2 shortage worsened by contaminated gas from an extinct volcano (New Scientist)
Craft breweries shutting down due to U.S. carbon dioxide shortage (NBC News)
What you really need to know about the CO2 shortages (Washington Beer Blog)
The Pez Outlaw Trailer Reveals the Incredible Story of a Candy Criminal (Collider)
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Tue. 09/20 - The Lost Moon of Saturn

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 19:05:12 -0000

How did Saturn get its jaunty tilt and cool rings? A new study says it could’ve been caused by an hither-to-unknown ancient moon that got torn apart by its planet. Plus, new findings on just how much misinformation is being spread around TikTok.

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Links:

Saturn’s rings and tilt could be the product of an ancient, missing moon (MIT News)
Saturn’s Rings Might Be Made From a Missing Moon (The Atlantic)
Saturn’s rings could be remains of moon that strayed too close, say scientists (The Guardian)
Could the destruction of a large icy moon explain both Saturn's tilt and its rings? (Bad Astronomy, Syfy Wire)
Visible planets and night sky September and October 2022 (EarthSky)
Lawmakers Grill TikTok Executive About Ties to China (NY Times)
Beware the ‘New Google:’ TikTok’s Search Engine Pumps Toxic Misinformation To Its Young Users (NewsGuard)
TikTok's search suggests misinformation almost 20 percent of the time, says report (Mashable)
TikTok search results riddled with misinformation: Report (AP)
Many Gen Zers don’t use Google. Here’s why they prefer to search on TikTok and Instagram. (NBC News)
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Mon. 09/19 - Did Volcanoes Kill the Dinosaurs?

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 18:46:05 -0000

It’s not all about the asteroid. Some scientists are still debating what caused the dinosaurs to go extinct and a new study provides some interesting evidence for the role of volcanoes in the mass extinction event. Plus, we know concrete isn’t great for keeping buildings cool, but just how bad is it? And what other greener methods did its adoption stamp out that could be revived?

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Links:

What Killed Dinosaurs and Other Life on Earth? (Dartmouth)
Did Volcanic Eruptions Drive Dinosaurs to Extinction? (Discover)
Examining what killed the dinosaurs in depth (Phys.org)
Keep buildings cool as it gets hotter by resurrecting traditional architectural techniques (The Conversation)
When in Need, What to Read: Introducing our new advice column for book lovers. (Literary Hub)
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Fri. 09/16 - What Is Going On In England?

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 20:53:38 -0000

From informing the bees to muting self-checkout machines, the many shades of mourning––and not––in the United Kingdom. And, from ice cream prescribed with chemotherapy to synchronized heart beats signaling romantic attraction –– here are the winners of the 2022 Ig Nobel Prizes.

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Links:

When the Queen Died, Someone Had to Tell the Bees (NY Times)
Queen Elizabeth funeral: the surreal (and sinister) scenes I've seen around Britain. (Slate)
Scenes from the end of an Elizabethan age (Financial Times)
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral: Closing vital services ‘against King Charles III's wishes’ (The Telegraph)
From Center Parcs to Bing bunny: The brands that made a mess of their tributes to Queen Elizabeth (The Telegraph)
The UK Government Is Directing Mourners to North Carolina to Stand in Line for Queen Elizabeth (Gizmodo)
King Charles III won't reign like 'King Charles III' (Mashable)
KING CHARLES III on MASTERPIECE | Official Trailer (PBS, YouTube)
Here are the winners of the 2022 Ig Nobel Prizes (Ars Technica)
Ig Nobel Prize 2022 Ceremony (Improbable Research)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 09/15 - The People's Joker & Lunar Crystals

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 20:13:39 -0000

China has discovered a new lunar mineral––and more dispatches from space, including the asteroid NASA is intentionally crashing into next week. Plus, a trans DIY retelling of The Joker that got pulled from the Toronto International Film Festival after just one screening.

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Wed. 09/14 - The Dream of the 90s Is Alive on the Internet Archive… But For How Much Longer?

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 20:42:57 -0000

Several major publishing houses are suing the Internet Archive. Why? And what could the ramifications of the lawsuit have on the archive and on digital access to knowledge more broadly?

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Could the Internet Archive go out like Napster? (Slate)
Publishers Worry as Ebooks Fly off Libraries' Virtual Shelves (Wired)
Controlled Digital Lending
Lawsuit over online book lending could bankrupt Internet Archive (Ars Technica, 2020)
Search and Ye Might Find (99% Invisible)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 09/13 - Too Many or Too Few Humans?

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 21:45:42 -0000

We’re approaching overpopulation. Or we’re in danger of population decline. It depends who you ask. As we prepare to pass eight billion humans on Earth, a look at the history of population anxiety and thoughts about where we go from here. Plus, a visually-appealing compostable alternative to Keurig Cups and Nespresso pods. And a vital Muppet-related update.

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Links:

How many people can Earth handle? (BBC)
Before the Flood – the Enuma Elish and the Atrahasis (Literature and History)
Why U.S. Population Growth Is in the Danger Zone (The Atlantic)
If I Care About the Environment but Am Also Lazy, Should I Get a Nespresso or Keurig? (NY Times)
K-Cup creator John Sylvan regrets inventing Keurig coffee pod system (CBC, 2015)
Swiss retailer rolls out 'coffee balls' to replace capsules (AP)
'Tis (Almost) the Season to Watch the Restored 'Muppet Christmas Carol' On Disney+ (Collider)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 09/12 - Not Your Papa’s Pawpaw

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 20:59:12 -0000

Is the most American of all fruits finally going to get its time to shine? And, no, NASA did not officially ask the public to name the probe to Uranus, but they could one day and, if and when they do, the internet will be ready.

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Pawpaws are America’s hidden edible treasure. Here’s how to pick them. (National Geographic)
Move Over, Açai—It’s the Pawpaw’s Time (New Yorker)
Pawpaw: Small Tree, Big Impact (US National Park Service)
What Is a Pawpaw, and Why Is It So Magical? (Food and Wine)
The secret fruit that makes this time of year in Washington so sweet (Washington Post)
The revival of a forgotten American fruit - BBC Travel (BBC)
The all-American fruit you've probably never heard of (Vox, YouTube)
Hillbilly Banana? How to open a PAWPAW & Taste Test -- Fruity Fruits (Emmymade, YouTube)
Paw Paw Festivals Across the US (HEPPY)
Ohio Pawpaw Festival
The Internet Was Asked to Name A Probe For Uranus. Here's How That Went Down (Science Alert)
Who Thought Asking The Internet To Name NASA’s Uranus Mission Was A Good Idea? (IFL Science)
Uranus by 2049: Here's why scientists want NASA to send a flagship mission to the strange planet (Space.com)
NASA Has Plans to Probe Uranus (Slate)
The actual report for UOP that was photoshopped in the tweet (NASA)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 09/09 - Garbled Nonsense: When Filter Bubbles Collide

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 21:36:11 -0000

Merriam-Webster has added 370 words to the dictionary, but it’s not enough to keep up with the changing pace of language on the internet, especially as we increasingly communicate with imagery and in-jokes that transcend single word definitions. Plus, why more and more fast food chains are ditching dining areas, and what that means for our options for communal gathering.

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Links:

We Added 370 New Words to the Dictionary for September 2022 (Merriam-Webster)
Cringe: Merriam-Webster Added a Bunch of Internet Slang to the Dictionary (Gizmodo)
The real meaning behind the crab emoji is darker than you think (Mashable)
Tumblr had a real big day yesterday (Garbage Day)
Fast-food chains like Taco Bell, Dunkin’, and Panera are ditching dining areas for drive-thrus and mobile ordering. (Slate)
Taco Bell Defy tests the future of fast food with 'tacos from the sky' (Washington Post)
Tue. 06/14 - The Once and Future Mall (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 09/08 - All Hail Big Hail

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 21:23:18 -0000

Hail is getting bigger and becoming more common to more areas, but we still know relatively little about it. Plus, a possibly complete dinosaur skeleton with intact fossilized skin has been discovered in Alberta. And a brief historical perspective on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, as well as some of the names King Charles III could have chosen to go by instead.

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Links:

The Hunt for Big Hail (NY Times)
Understanding evolving hail risk (Verisk)
Rare Fossilized Dinosaur Skin And Tail Suggests Epic Fossil Hidden Inside Rock (IFL Science)
Discovery of dinosaur fossil with skin in southern Alberta excites paleontologists (CBC)
Fossil discovery could be rare complete dinosaur skeleton (University of Reading)
30% of US History (Matt Glassman, Twitter)
Queen Elizabeth II's reign, in perspective (John Green, Twitter)
The queen’s death brings a moment of reckoning for Britain. (NY Times)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 09/07 - The Haunting of Loab: AI's First Cryptid

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 21:23:24 -0000

Meet, Loab––a woman haunting every AI generated image she is summoned to with some of the goriest scenes you’ll find this side of Halloween. What does Loab tell us about AI generated art and our relationship to truth and reality online––especially when it comes to horrible stories that are so unbelievable, you might just have to believe them.

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Links:

Meet Loab, The AI Art-Generated Demon Currently Haunting The Internet (Forbes)
Meet Loab: The Terrifying Face The Internet Has Dubbed the First AI Art Cryptid (IGN)
Original Loab thread (supercomposite, Twitter)
On Loab, Creepypasta, and Truth (Joe Ondrak, Twitter)
How Disinformation Is a New Kind of Horror Fiction (Logically)
What’s Really Behind Those AI Art Images? (Galaxy Brain)
The Cryptid Factor
Party City Launches Scavenger Hunt in Haunted Cities Across America (All Hallows Geek)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 09/06 - The Science Tooth Fairy & the Vampire Skeleton

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 19:53:26 -0000

How analyzing baby teeth might be able to facilitate early intervention for childhood adversity. Plus, archaeologists have found the skeleton of a seventeenth century woman accused of being a vampire. And yet another Artemis update, including why the latest scrubbed launch attempt can kind of be blamed on the Space Shuttle.

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The secret lives of baby teeth (Vox)
'Vampire' in Poland Found Buried With a Sickle to Prevent The Rise of The Dead (Science Alert)
Archaeologists unearth remains of 17th-century female “vampire” in Poland (Ars Technica)
Woman, Church & State by Matilda Joslyn Gage (Gutenberg)
NASA to Stand Down on Artemis I Launch Attempts in Early September, Reviewing Options (NASA)
NASA Scrubs Second Artemis I Launch Attempt (NY Times)
Years after shuttle, NASA rediscovers the perils of liquid hydrogen (Ars Technica)
NASA's Mega-Rocket Launch Delayed at Least a Month After Engine Leaks (Science Alert)
NASA's Artemis moon mission won't launch anytime soon (Mashable)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 09/02 - Crappy Musicians Profiting From Kids’ Alexa Commands

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 21:21:14 -0000

The musicians getting paid anytime a preschooler makes a poop joke at an Alexa device. Plus, why Labor Day is a cursed weekend for movie releases. And the Artemis I launch is officially maybe happening on Saturday.

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Links:

Kids Yell “Poop” At Alexa, And These Musicians Profit (BuzzFeed News)
Why Do Movies Avoid Releasing on Labor Day? The History of the Cursed Holiday Weekend Explained (Collider)
Why movie studios should start thinking differently about Labor Day (The Week)
National Cinema Day
Kate Bush to Reissue “Running Up That Hill” As CD Single (Consequence)
Artemis 1 moon mission is 'go' for Saturday launch, NASA says (Space.com)
NASA Sets Coverage for Artemis I Moon Mission Next Launch Attempt (NASA)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 09/01 - Littlefoot's Ancestor Is Oldest Ever Dino Found In Africa

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 20:48:23 -0000

One of the biggest ever and one of the smallest ever sauropods, both discovered recently and both helping us learn more about where and why dinosaurs traveled millions of years ago. Plus, the latest on the soon-to-be-available omicron booster shots. Dolly Parton’s new Doggy Parton line, a Taco Bell-hosted metaverse wedding, and an update on the Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Tik Tok Musical.

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Links:

Adorable Little Sauropod Is Oldest Confirmed Dinosaur Ever Found in Africa (ScienceAlert)
New Dinosaur Species Is Oldest Ever Found in Africa (Scientific American)
Dinosaur remains in Portuguese garden could be Europe’s largest ever find (The Guardian)
Largest dinosaur skeleton in Europe may have been found in Portugal (Phys.org)
FDA authorizes Pfizer's and Moderna's updated Covid booster shots (NBC News)
What to Know About the New Covid Booster Shots (NY Times)
Vaccines.gov
“ALMOST as Good as a Mexican Pizza”: Dolly Parton on Working with Doja Cat on Mexican Pizza: The Musical: Exclusive (Consequence)
Taco Bell® Metaverse Wedding (Taco Bell)
Thu. 05/12 - 1st Image of Milky Way Black Hole & 1st Taco Bell TikTok Musical, Equally Important Events (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 08/31 - The World Bog Snorkeling Championships

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 17:58:05 -0000

The official trailer for the slasher horror version of Winnie the Pooh dropped and, I think I actually want to watch the whole movie now? Plus, the latest update on when Artemis I will actually be launching and what happened at the scrubbed launch on Monday. And the World Bog Snorkeling Championships.

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Links:

Winnie the Pooh Goes on a Murderous Rampage in the Trailer for Childhood-Ruining ‘Blood and Honey’ (Rolling Stone)
Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey’s New Trailer Is…good? (Nerdist)
Thu. 05/26 - Winnie the Pooh: Horror Villain (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
NUN OF THAT official trailer Camp Motion Pictures (AlternativeCinema, YouTube)
NASA Targets Sept. 3 for Next Artemis I Moon Mission Launch Attempt (NASA)
Media Briefing: Artemis I Launch Status (NASA Video, YouTube)
NASA now aims to launch Artemis 1 moon mission on Sept. 3 after glitch (Space.com)
NASA Plans to Retry Its Moon Rocket Launch on Saturday (NY Times)
Jargon-less explanation of new launch date & what went wrong Monday (Swapna Krishna, Twitter)
Video of Bog Championships (NowThis, Twitter)
World Bog Snorkelling Championships return to Powys this weekend (Powys County Times)
World Bog Snorkelling Championships 2022: The best pictures as crowds take to the water in incredible costumes (Wales Online)
The Wee Welsh Town of Weird Sports (Great Big Story, YouTube)
Thu. 08/11 - Bog Butter Blogs & Predator's Food Vlog (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 08/30 - Big Kale's Big Lie

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 20:42:35 -0000

The surprising history of how kale became so popular so quickly back in 2014, and how both Pizza Hut and Chick-fil-A were partially responsible––but not because they actually included kale on their menus. It’s a tale of lawsuits, publicity campaigns, bloated markets, and one very big kalespiracy.

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Links:

Big Kale (weakankleblake, TikTok)
Pizza Hut Used to Be One of the Largest Kale Purchasers in the US (TODAY)
The Strange Mystery Of Who Made Kale Famous ... And Why (mindbodygreen)
Fri. 07/08 - The Breakfast Episode (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Kotex, Kleenex, Huggies: Kimberly-Clark and the Consumer Revolution in American Business by Bob Batchelor and Thomas Heinrich
The Great Kalespiracy (The Hustle)
Who Owns Kale? (National Geographic)
2017 Census of Agriculture (USDA)
Kale (Produce Market Guide)
The Kale Craze Might Be Ending (The Atlantic)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 08/29 - Why Artemis I Didn't Launch

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 20:42:44 -0000

The Artemis I launch was scrubbed early this morning Here’s why the highly-anticipated launch didn’t get off the ground. Plus, rabies vaccines are raining down across the nation. And a new classic author version of Street Fighter.

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Links:

Launch Attempt Scrubbed (NASA, Artemis Blog)
Engine explanation (Elisha Sauers, Twitter)
NASA calls off Artemis 1 moon rocket launch over engine cooling issue (Space.com)
Launch Mission Execution Forecast (Space Force)
Rabioli (rabcyr_alt, Twitter)
USDA scattering rabies vaccines for wildlife in 13 states (AP)
New Steam Game 'Write N Fight' Has Classic Writers Beating Each Other Up (The Mary Sue)
Write N' Fight Game Lets Players Punch Lovecraft in the [CENSORED] (CBR)
Write 'n' Fight (Steam)
Theaters to Offer $3 Tickets For All Movies On National Cinema Day (Collider)
National Cinema Day
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story trailer is a perfect parody of music biopics (Polygon)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 08/26 - Prebunking Conspiratorial Thinking

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 19:28:11 -0000

Google ran a study using its own pre-roll ads to try to prebunk people before they fall for conspiracy theories. Plus, scientists have found the first-ever evidence of carbon dioxide in a planet’s atmosphere beyond our solar system. And the curious case of the one song that used to crash any laptop it played on.

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Links:

Can a YouTube ad change your mind about disinformation? (The Verge)
Google is trying out ‘pre-bunking’ in an effort to counter misinformation (NBC News)
YouTube: how a team of scientists worked to inoculate a million users against misinformation (The Conversation)
NASA’s Webb Detects Carbon Dioxide in Exoplanet Atmosphere (NASA)
JWST sees carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an exoplanet for the first time (Syfy Wire)
Astronomers see carbon dioxide on planet outside solar system for first time (The Harvard Gazette)
Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (The Old New Thing, DevBlogs)
Janet Jackson music video given CVE for crashing laptops (The Register)
Janet Jackson song from 1989 declared a cybersecurity vulnerability for crashing hard drives (TechSpot)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 08/25 - The Fantasy of History

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 18:34:45 -0000

Invented traditions. Reimagined visions of the past. History is never free from our present-day biases, but the way we talk about the past often says more about us than the past itself. From the Disneyification of the Middle Ages to the aristocratic invention of Santa Claus in 1800s New York City, let’s talk about how pervading myths reveal the values of those who created them and continue to affect us today.

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Links:

What Our Fantasies About the European “Middle Ages” Say About Us (Hyperallergic)
The Fantasy of the Middle Ages (Getty)
Reinventing the Américas: Construct. Erase. Repeat. (Getty)
Pumpkin: The Curious History of an American Icon by Cindy Ott
The Battle for Christmas: A Social and Cultural History of Our Most Cherished Holiday by Stephen Nissenbaum
Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes
Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century by John Boswell
'Batgirl' to Have "Funeral Screening" on Warner Bros. Lot (Collider)
Warner Bros. Discovery Doesn't Have the Money to Release Movies, Delays Aquaman and Shazam Sequels (Consequence)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 08/24 - Nimcels and Doppelgängers

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 21:19:23 -0000

The world of nimcels––what are they and where do they fit in online? Plus, the genetic similarities between unrelated doppelgängers. And gummy bears made out of wind turbines.

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Links:

What is a Niche Internet Micro Celebrity? (Washington Post)
Your Doppelgänger Is Out There and You Probably Share DNA With Them (NY Times)
Doppelgangers Appear to Have Similar Genetic Patterns: Study (Gizmodo)
Extreme Lookalikes May Share Much Deeper Ties Than We Ever Realized (Science Alert)
Would You Eat a Windmill? These Scientists Hope So. (Gizmodo)
Wind turbine blades could someday be recycled into sweet treats (American Chemical Society)
Mon. 06/06 - Gummi Bears: A 100 Year Look Back (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 08/23 - Omicron Boosters & Original Antigenic Sin

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 21:22:46 -0000

Omicron-specific COVID boosters are coming to the US soon. How much of a difference will they make to immunity? Well, it’s complicated. Plus, NASA says Artemis I is go for launch. Here’s everything to know about the big event on Monday. And MoviePass is officially coming back from the dead next month.

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Links:

Omicron-specific Covid booster shots are just weeks away. Here's who will—and won't—be eligible (CNBC)
The U.K. approved omicron-specific booster shots. They're coming to the U.S. soon (NPR)
New Covid boosters expected soon for everyone over age 12 (NBC News)
Your first brush with coronavirus could affect how a fall booster works (Washington Post)
NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission is 'go' for Aug. 29 launch (Space.com)
NASA Sets Launch Coverage for Artemis Mega Moon Rocket, Spacecraft (NASA)
Artemis I Path to the Pad: The Rocket (NASA, YouTube)
Artemis Mission: A guide to Nasa's mega Moon rocket (BBC)
Artemis activities for kids and teachers (NASA)
Science communicator Swapna Krishna will be live tweeting the Artemis I launch (Skrishna, Twitter)
MoviePass Will Relaunch on Labor Day With New Points System (Gizmodo)
AMC's CEO Turned His $9 Billion Company Into a Meme Machine (Bloomberg)
February episode about MoviePass's return (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 08/22 - They've Got 57 Varieties, But Tomato's The Only One

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 21:39:02 -0000

A dive into the viscous depths of the unshakeable ketchup bottle and its 57 different origin stories. Plus, NASA released the sound of an actual black hole. And expected and unexpected chicken wing news.

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Links:

When Every Ketchup But One Went Extinct (Atlas Obscura)
How 500 Years Of Weird Condiment History Designed The Heinz Ketchup Bottle (Fast Company, 2013)
U.S.: Sales of condiment & dressing categories 202 (Statista)
Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
Pure Ketchup: A History of America's National Condiment by Andrew F. Smith
NASA Has Captured 'Actual Sound' In Space And It’s Honestly Terrifying (VICE)
New NASA Black Hole Sonifications with a Remix (NASA)
A Universe of Sound (NASA)
Applebee's Is Launching Chicken Wing-Inspired Lip Gloss (Thrillist)
Chicken wing prices fall to pre-pandemic levels — just in time for football season (TODAY)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 08/19 - Competitive Lifesaving & Mullet Champions

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 20:20:13 -0000

Competitive lifesaving and the USA Mullet Championships. Just a couple of niche competitions to kick off your weekend with. Plus, a possible new method for removing those pernicious “forever chemicals” from rain water.

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Links:

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Thu. 08/18 - Ancient Butt-less Sea Creature NOT a Human Ancestor

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 18:50:13 -0000

Could a century-old vaccine help protect against future epidemics? Plus, it turns out our oldest ancestor is not a half a billion year old sea creature with a mouth but no butt. And next month, the first Native American woman will be going to space.

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Links:

Why a Century-Old Vaccine Offers New Hope Against Pathogens (NY Times)
BCG: the history and modern-day uses of the tuberculosis vaccine (Pharmaceutical Technology)
One for All? (Harvard Medical School News)
Mystery of half-billion year old creature with no anus solved (BBC)
New evidence proves saccorhytus is ecdysozoan (EurekAlert)
‘Angry minion’ with no anus not related to humans after all, scientists conclude (The Guardian)
First Native American woman to travel to space (BBC)
First Native woman in space (Indian Country Today)
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 Mission (NASA)
Disney's Latest Theme Park Ride Movie Is Big Thunder Mountain (Gizmodo)
Big Thunder Mountain Movie In Works At Disney With ‘Hawkeye’ Directors (Deadline)
Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail | Official Trailer (TBS, YouTube)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 08/17 - Elektronik Supersonik

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 21:05:05 -0000

American Airlines has signed up for a supersonic boost. Plus, how to find the sweetest watermelon, and a brief history of the fruit. And Papa Johns is throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks… and coincidentally that seems to be the same strategy they used for their newest menu item, just throwing everything in it at once.

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Links:

American becomes third airline to place order for Boom Supersonic jets (The Guardian)
American Airlines orders 20 Boom Supersonic passenger jets (Space.com)
American Airlines places order for 20 supersonic jets from Boom Supersonic (The Verge)
American Airlines places order for 20 experimental supersonic jets (The Dallas Morning News)
American Airlines agrees to buy 20 supersonic planes from Boom (CNBC)
This is what’s keeping electric planes from taking off (MIT Technology Review)
Here’s What the Watermelon Was Up to Before It Tasted Good (Atlas Obscura)
How To Pick a Watermelon With the Best Taste (Well+Good)
Pumpkin: The Curious History of an American Icon by Cindy Ott
See Papa Johns new pizza bowls: Just toppings, no crust (CNN)
Explanation for today's episode title (YouTube)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 08/16 - De-Extincting Tasmanian Tigers

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 21:12:16 -0000

The team trying to bring the woolly mammoth back from extinction is doing a trial run with Tasmanian tigers, funded in part by the Hemsworth brothers. Plus, NASA’s megarocket that will return humans to the moon and, perhaps one day take humans to Mars, has begun its four mile journey to the launch pad, readying for its uncrewed journey around the moon later this month. And a new breakfast cereal from Snoop Dogg.

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Links:

De-extinction company sets its next (first?) target: The thylacine (Ars Technica)
Scientists, A Startup, And the Hemsworths Are Trying to 'De-Extinct' the Tasmanian Tiger (Vice)
Mon. 09/13 - De-Extinct Woolly Mammoths & Potty-Trained Cows (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
NASA's First 4 Miles To The Moon Starts Today. Here's How To Watch. (Mashable)
NASA film traces Artemis 1 rocket's 'Path to the Pad' as mission stack rolls out today (Space.com)
Artemis I Path to the Pad: The Rocket (NASA, YouTube)
A Geologic map of the Entire Moon has Been Released at 1:2,500,000-Scale (Universe Today)
Snoop Dogg proudly introduces "Snoop Loopz" breakfast cereal (Boing Boing)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 08/15 - Exy McExoplanet

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 21:32:20 -0000

This one weird baking trick could make your cookies healthier and decrease waste in your home. Plus, the not-quite-net-positive potential in Greenland’s melting Arctic ice cover. Your chance to officially name an exoplanet. And a new law requiring New York museums to disclose if artworks on display were stolen by Nazis.

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Links:

Banana peels make sugar cookies better for you (ScienceDaily)
Something Awesome Happens When You Use Banana Peel as an Ingredient (Science Alert)
Banana Peel Cuisine Is The Latest Plant Based Trend (Forbes)
Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and other billionaires are backing an exploration for rare minerals buried beneath Greenland's ice (Business Insider)
Billionaires are funding a massive treasure hunt in Greenland as ice vanishes (CNN)
Did You Know You Could Name a Planet? (LifeHacker)
NameExoWorlds (IAU)
A New Law Requires New York Museums to Indicate If Artworks on View Passed Through Nazi Hands (Artnet News)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 08/12 - Micro-Robots Brushing Your Teeth?

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 20:33:39 -0000

Could chewing gum and micro-robots replace your toothbrush? Plus, a Lord Byron-themed RPG. And get paid to indulge in every pumpkin-spiced item at Trader Joe’s.

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Links:

Will Micro-Robots Brush Your Teeth? (Neo.Life)
No weekend plans? Gather your party and play this literary RPG about Lord Byron. (Literary Hub)
Trapped in a Cabin with Lord Byron PDF (Google Drive)
Astronomers have determined the exact hour that Mary Shelley thought of Frankenstein. (Literary Hub)
Pumpkin spice season starting earlier than ever (Axios)
Reddit Just Spotted The Starbucks Fall Flavor Everyone's Waiting For (Mashed)
This Company Will Pay a 'Pumpkin Spice Pundit' $1000 to Sample Trader Joe's Fall Items (Mental Floss)
Pumpkin Palooza: Get Paid $1000 to Taste and Rate Trader Joe's Fall Foods (Finance Buzz)
Thu. 08/27 - Why Pumpkin Spice Will Never Die (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 08/11 - Bog Butter Blogs & Predator's Food Vlog

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 21:17:19 -0000

The science and history of bog butter–––still edible butter buried in Irish bogs thousands of years ago. Plus, the first-ever feature film dubbed entirely in the Comanche language, and more cool takeaways from the latest Predator installment. A Lyme disease vaccine has just entered its final stage of clinical trials. And a new weird Coke flavor just dropped.

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Links:

I Can't Believe It's Butter That Was Buried in a Bog! (Atlas Obscura)
How do bogs keep things fresh? (Slate, 2006)
Tollund Man (Wikipedia)
Underwater storage techniques used by early North American hunters preserve meat for at least six months (University of Michigan, 1995)
Mon. 08/01 - Early Europeans Drank Milk Despite Lactose Intolerance; Ancient Humans, They're Just Like Us! (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Prey Is Officially the Predator Franchise's Most Critically Acclaimed Film (CBR)
Prey Star Amber Midthunder on Indigenous Representation in the Predator Movie (The Hollywood Reporter)
The Historic Power of Prey Is in Your Ears (Vulture)
Does an animal die in Prey? (DoesTheDogDie.com)
Prey's Predator used to be an Anthony Bourdain-inspired food vlogger (Gizmodo)
Former Basketball Player Finds His Niche in Hollywood (NY Times)
A Lyme disease vaccine is in its final clinical trial (NPR)
Coke's latest bizarre flavor is here (CNN)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 08/10 - Mary Shelley & the Cryogenic Tabloid Star

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 20:17:30 -0000

The story of the 197-year-old frozen gentleman–––a tale that will take us from unprecedented weather events and the 19th century version of misinformation to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, a 1980s medical miracle, and brief shout-out to the OG velocipede. Plus, Austrian Burger King say you’re abnormal if you like meat. And the upcoming live-action Pac-Man movie.

Sponsors:

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Links:

The Hoax That Inspired Mary Shelley (JSTOR Daily)
Mary Shelley and the Roger Dodsworth Hoax (Keats-Shelley Journal, JSTOR)
Roger Dodsworth: The Reanimated Englishman. (University of Pennsylvania)
Decades Ago, A Woman Survived Being 'Frozen Solid'. Here's The Science (ScienceAlert)
Mon. 07/27 - The Year Without a Summer (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Burger King Austria now Asks Customers, 'Regular or With Meat?' (Ad Week)
"Normal or With Meat?": All Burger King Items Are Plant-Based in Austrian Experiment, Meat Must be Requested (Vegconomist)
Cracker Barrel faces blowback after adding Impossible sausage to menu (Washington Post)
The Italians Finally Chased Domino's Out of Italy (Gizmodo)
Live-Action Pac-Man Movie in the Works from Wayfarer, Bandai Namco (Exclusive) (Hollywood Reporter)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 08/09 - Excel eSports Championships

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 20:52:34 -0000

The exciting world of Excel eSports. Plus, a Native American tribe who has had their land returned to them after 350 years. The top scientist who caused a big stir with a tiny bit of sausage. And a group of spiders that have been named after David Bowie.

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Links:

ESPN8 The Ocho is back: How to watch the 2022 schedule of weird sports, from death diving to OmegaBall (Sporting News)
There's a World Excel Championships packed with commentators and analysis, people are loving it online (Sport Bible)
Episode 606: Spreadsheets! (NPR)
Native American tribe gets its land back after being displaced nearly 400 years ago (CNN)
Rappahannock Tribe reacquires ancestral Virginia land 350 years later (Washington Post)
Top scientist admits 'space telescope image' was actually a slice of chorizo (CNN)
A prominent scientist posted an image of a distant star he said was taken by the Webb telescope. It was actually a slice of chorizo. (CBS News)
New group of spiders named after David Bowie and his back catalogue (Natural History Museum)
General Mills Is Bringing Back 4 Classic '80s Cereals (The Street)
Share your 'moon snaps' to celebrate NASA's Artemis 1 mission (Space.com)
Tue. 04/27 - This Famous Actor's Mom Helped Save the Apollo 13 Astronauts (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 08/08 - Do We REALLY Need Mosquitoes?

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 20:10:09 -0000

What would happen if we just Thanos-snapped all the mosquitoes out of existence? Would there be significantly adverse effects? Plus, from heat indexes to physiology, why the same temperature can feel so different in two different places, or even at different times of the year.

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Links:

Ecology: A world without mosquitoes (Nature, 2010)
The 24 deadliest animals on Earth, ranked (CNET, 2019)
Mosquitoes might be humanity’s greatest foe. Should we get rid of them? (Vox, 2019)
Q&A: What Would Happen If Mosquitoes Disappeared? (NY Times, 2015)
Should we kill every mosquito on Earth? (Live Science)
Kill All the Mosquitoes?! (Smithsonian Mag, 2016)
State of Florida Approves Oxitec Mosquito Technology for Continuation of Pilot Project in the Keys (Keys Mosquito Project)
Why The Same Temperature Can Feel Different Somewhere Else (FiveThirtyEight)
Episode about the "dog days of summer" (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 08/05 - Your Brain On Horror

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 19:21:51 -0000

Let’s talk about your brain on horror movies. Plus, Mark Cuban wants to turn a Texas town into Jurassic Park. And a virtual map that lets you see what your town looked like millions of years ago.

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Links:

This Is Your Brain On Horror (Crime Reads)
Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films by Nina Nesseth
Mark Cuban wants to turn a Texas small town he bought into Jurassic Park (My San Antonio)
This Map Lets You Plug in Your Address to See How It's Changed Over the Past 750 Million Years (Smithsonian Mag)
Ancient Earth globe
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 08/04 - The Hazy History of the IPA

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 20:52:54 -0000

A deep dive into the history of the IPA. What exactly is an IPA anyways? How did it get its name? And why did it become so ubiquitous over the last decade? Plus a very brief look at South Korea’s first-ever moon mission, launching this evening.

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Links:

Who Invented the IPA? It’s Complicated. (Wine Enthusiast)
The Truth About the Origins of IPA (The Beer Connoisseur)
What Is an IPA Beer? A Complete Guide to the India Pale Ale (Bon Appétit)
A Brief History of the IPA (PUNCH)
If You Don’t Like IPAs, There’s a Reason Why. Here’s 10. (Beer and Brewing)
The IPA is dead, long live the IPA: Why the love-it-or-hate-it beer is here to stay (Salon)
What is a Hazy IPA & Why is it so popular? (Sierra Nevada)
The IPA Boom Rolls On (MarketWatch)
Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) (NASA)
SpaceX will launch South Korea's 1st moon mission today: Watch live (Space.com)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 08/03 - Cheese Baths

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 21:07:44 -0000

Cheese baths––a nineteenth century fad coming back in style. Plus, Shaun the Sheep is officially going to the moon later this month, alongside 10,000 other trinkets. And a volcano has erupted near the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, but all seems to be under control.

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Links:

Bathtub Full Of Cheese Is Meant To Soften Skin (Insider, YouTube)
The Return of Swiss Cheese Baths (Atlas Obscura)
European Space Agency recruits Shaun (the sheep) for Artemis 1 moon mission (Space.com)
Apollo 11 relics among 10,000 mementos flying on Artemis I to the moon (collectSPACE)
NASA's 'Moonikin' mannequin boards Orion spacecraft for Artemis 1 moon mission (Space.com)
Snoopy to Fly on NASA's Artemis I Moon Mission (NASA)
Webcam from the eruption (RÚV)
Huge demand for helicopter volcano tours (RÚV)
Deja vu as volcano erupts again near Iceland capital (Phys.org)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 08/02 - Smell-O-Vision Meets VR

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 19:49:35 -0000

Virtual Reality doesn’t stink. And that’s kind of a problem. Why virtual smell could take the VR experience to the next level. Plus, a paper battery that’s activated by adding water. And you could get paid $100K a year to sit on your couch and eat candy.

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Links:

VR Still Stinks Because It Doesn’t Smell (Wired)
Scientists Invent a Paper Battery—Just Add Water (Scientific American)
Paper batteries on the cards to power IoT and smart labels (The Register)
This company wants to pay you $100000 a year to eat candy—here's how to apply (CNBC)
You could get paid to eat candy as a Canadian company's chief candy officer (NPR)
The sweetest job opening ever: $78,000 a year to taste candy while sitting on your couch (CNN)
Hershey warns of Halloween candy shortage (Reuters)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 08/01 - Early Europeans Drank Milk Despite Lactose Intolerance; Ancient Humans, They're Just Like Us!

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 20:26:48 -0000

The first major study of its kind sheds new light on the evolution of all you mutants who can digest dairy. Plus, engineers at MIT have developed a wearable sticker that can see inside your body. And, was George Jetson born over the weekend?

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Links:

How Humans’ Ability to Digest Milk Evolved from Famine and Disease (Scientific American)
Early Europeans Could Not Tolerate Milk but Drank It Anyway, Study Finds (NY Times)
MIT engineers develop stickers that can see inside the body (MIT News)
MIT Engineers Develop Ultrasound Stickers That Can See Inside the Body (SciTech Daily)
Fine, let's actually work out whether George Jetson will be born tomorrow (A/V Club)
Was George Jetson Born in 2022? (Snopes)
Wikipedia suspends edits to its 'recession' page (NPR)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 07/29 - Shark Attacks, Moon Caves, & Murder Hornets

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 20:32:43 -0000

How likely are you really to get bit by a shark and do some of those cliché comparisons still hold up as waters warm and shark sightings seem to be on the rise? Plus, future lunar explorers could enjoy year round sweater weather in moon caves. And murder hornets are getting a new name.

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Links:

Sharks vs. vending machines: Which kills more people yearly? (Slate)
Sharks Are Spotted Off Long Island. Scientists Say Don’t Panic. (NY Times)
Here's What's More Likely to Happen to You Than Winning the Mega Millions (Gizmodo)
Strange Moon Pits Could Have Temperatures Comfortable Enough For Humans to Live In (ScienceAlert)
UCLA scientists discover places on the moon where it’s always ‘sweater weather’ (UCLA)
NASA’s LRO Finds Lunar Pits Harbor Comfortable Temperatures (NASA)
Congress Sneaks NASA Authorization Bill Into CHIPS, Approves Moon-to-Mars Program (Gizmodo)
Why murder hornets are getting a new name (National Geographic)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 07/28 - No, This Isn't Scientific Evidence for the Loch Ness Monster

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 21:19:29 -0000

Why a new discovery about plesiosaurs has gotten everyone talking about the Loch Ness Monster. Plus, the oldest DNA from a horse domesticated in America might have solved a centuries-old mystery. And the scoop on that thirteen-eyed anthropomorphic oyster mascot from Halifax.

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Links:

Freshwater Plesiosaur Discovery Is Amazing But Does Not Make Nessie “Plausible” (IFL Science)
Existence of Loch Ness Monster 'plausible' after discovery of fossils in North Africa (The Scotsman)
African fossils show 'monster' could have lived in Loch Ness (BBC)
Plesiosaur fossils found in the Sahara suggest they weren’t just marine animals (University of Bath)
What were marine reptiles doing in a 100 million year old river? (Nick Longrich)
Oldest DNA from domesticated American horse lends credence to shipwreck folklore (ScienceDaily)
Oldest DNA from domesticated American horse lends credence to shipwreck folklore (Florida Museum of Natural History)
Beloved Chincoteague ponies' mythical origins may be real (National Geographic)
An Exclusive Interview With The Nightmare Oyster Mascot That Went Viral (BuzzFeed News)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 07/27 - Netflix "Lucas-ing" Stranger Things

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 21:25:24 -0000

Cryptographers have identified the first known secure global communication system, in the form of nineteenth century newspaper ads. Plus, a fourth patient has been effectively cured of HIV. And Netflix is retroactively editing Stranger Things. The edits are not as big a deal as they seem, but the fact that Netflix can implement them so easily raises bigger questions about the future of arts and entertainment.

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Links:

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Tue. 07/26 - The Best Failed Inventions

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:28:03 -0000

Let’s take a visit to the Museum of Failure. Plus, robot spider zombies. Not a new comic book series, but an actual experiment from mechanical engineers in Texas. And the Earth’s earliest animal predator has been named after David Attenborough.

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Links:

Museum of Failure thread (Trung Phan, Twitter)
Museum of Failure
Scientists Are Turning Dead Spiders Into 'Necrobots' And We Are So Creeped Out (ScienceAlert)
'Necrobotic' spiders: Manipulating dead spiders' legs with a puff of air to serve as grabbers (Phys.org)
Researchers Turn Dead Spiders Into 'Necrobotic' Grippers (CNET)
‘Earliest animal predator’ named after David Attenborough (NBC News)
Ancient fossil is earliest known animal predator (BBC)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 07/25 - When Did NASA Logos Become Fashionable?

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 18:55:44 -0000

The world’s first verified image of Mormonism founder Joseph Smith has been found… but it’s not convincing everyone just yet. And how did the NASA logo become so ubiquitous in clothing from fashion runways to rural Walmarts?

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Links:

Mormon founder Joseph Smith's photo discovered by descendant after nearly 180 years (Religion News Service)
At long last, a photo of Mormon founder Joseph Smith emerges (Salt Lake Tribune)
Photo of Joseph Smith? Descendant claims to find daguerreotype image (Deseret News)
Murder Among the Mormons | Official Trailer (Netflix, YouTube)
Why everyone's wearing NASA-branded clothes (CNN)
How Did NASA Hoodie Become a Trend? (Champion Hoodie)
Sometimes it seems that everyone on Earth is wearing a NASA T-shirt (Washington Post)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 07/22 – Home Depot's Got (Giant) Crabs

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 20:19:28 -0000

Why do we laugh and what causes us to do so? Was laughing at one point an evolutionary advantage? Plus, the reason for a mysterious pink glow over a small Australian town on Wednesday. And the latest contender in Home Depot’s line of extremely large yard decorations.

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Links:

What's So Funny? The Science of Why We Laugh (Scientific American)
Mysterious pink glow in sky over Australian town revealed to be from local cannabis facility (The Guardian)
Heat, drought - now snakes? That's what messed up a North Texas city's water pressure Wednesday (ABC, WFAA)
Home Depot’s 12-Foot Skeleton Walked So Their Colossal Crustacean Could Walk Sideways (The Mary Sue)
Sarah Michelle Gellar Set for Teen Wolf Spinoff at Paramount+ (Consequence)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 07/21 - TikTok is Oozing Pink Sauce

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 20:05:11 -0000

A product that could help you hear the person you’re trying to have a conversation with in a loud, crowded room. Plus, a follow-up on why Unicode is adding so many more colored hearts in the next emoji drop. There was more to the story than I thought. And why everyone online is making horrifying memes about something called Pink Sauce.

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Links:

Hearing aids that read your brain will know who you want to hear (MIT Technology Review)
The Past and Future of Flag Emoji (Unicode)
TikTok's pink sauce is taking over the internet. What's going on? (Mashable)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 07/20 - Real-Life Quidditch Changes Its Name

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 19:46:48 -0000

The real-life sport inspired by quidditch has announced their new name––and I have a lot of thoughts. Plus, a few companies in Japan have introduced standing “nap boxes” into their offices. And on the anniversary of the moon landing, NASA has announced the launch windows for the kick-off mission of our return to the moon.

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Links:

Quidditch rebrands as quadball and further distances itself from Harry Potter author (NPR)
Quidditch changes its name to distance itself from 'Harry Potter' author JK Rowling (NBC News)
Broomsticks Stay, but Not the Name: Quidditch Becomes ‘Quadball’ (NY Times)
IQA European Games livestream (IQA, YouTube)
How to Sleep Upright? Japan Comes Up With ‘Nap Box’ for Office Workers (Bloomberg)
Standing Nap Boxes Exist and They Look So Uncomfortable (Nerdist)
NASA just announced an ambitious date to launch its megarocket to the moon (Mashable)
NASA to Discuss Status of Artemis I Moon Mission (NASA)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 07/19 - DIY 4 Lyfe & Death

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 21:03:07 -0000

Three species frozen in time within one single piece of amber. Plus, the DIYers building their own coffins. And Costco has promised not to raise the price of their rotisserie chickens, but is that a good thing?

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Links:

Entombed together: Rare fossil flower and parasitic wasp make for amber artwork (Oregon State University)
A Wasp, Flower, And Fly Trapped in Amber Reveal 30-Million-Year Old Microcosm (ScienceAlert)
Final DIY Project: Build Your Own Coffin (Wall Street Journal)
"How life in America is going" (Taylor Lorenz, Twitter)
Costco's inflation-proof $4.99 rotisserie chicken, explained (Vox)
Inflation is raising prices on almost everything, except rotisserie chicken (NPR)
'Powerpuff Girls' Animated Series Reboot In Works At Hanna-Barbera (Deadline)
What the hell is "Ken-ergy?" Here's our working definition (A/V Club)
Daniel Kaluuya's 'Heartbreaking' Live-Action Barney Movie Is Still Early in Development (IGN)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 07/18 - An Experiential Peek Into 2050's Weather

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 21:15:59 -0000

Heatwaves around the world are so extreme this week that one of them matches a projected forecast for 2050. Plus, MIT engineers have found a more efficient method for boiling water. And the winners of the World Emoji Awards as well as all the new emojis drafted to hit Unicode 15 in September.

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Links:

A hypothetical weather forecast for 2050 is coming true next week (CNN)
Met Office projections and commentary (Dr. Simon Lee, Twitter)
A Whole Lot of Southwest Europe Is on Fire Right Now, And It's Only Getting Hotter (ScienceAlert)
These maps show how excessively hot it is in Europe and the U.S. (Washington Post)
UK heatwave: how to keep cool and stay safe in 40C (The Guardian)
Scientific tips for staying cool in a heatwave (BBC Future)
Redheads given free cinema tickets to escape heatwave on Monday and Tuesday (Yahoo News UK)
MIT Engineers Find a Way To Save Energy and Make Water Boil More Efficiently (SciTechDaily)
Scientists Have Found a Way to Save Energy And Boil Water More Efficiently (ScienceAlert)
New Emojis In 2022-2023 (Emojipedia)
World Emoji Awards
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Wed. 07/13 - When Coal Was "Un-American"

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 20:58:07 -0000

What can the slow and timid adoption of coal in the US tell us about the transition to solar and wind power? Plus, this newly-discovered dinosaur sheds some light on why T-Rexes had those tiny li’l arms. And, when cities welcome physical monuments to fictional pop culture characters.

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Links:

When Coal First Arrived, Americans Said 'No Thanks' (Smithsonian Magazine)
Fraud, Failure, and Frustration: This Is the Story of America's First Energy Transition (The Atlantic)
Weird Old Book Finder
Old episode about the Weird Old Book Finder (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Behold Meraxes, Argentina’s Ancient ‘Giant Dragon’ (Atlas Obscura)
Newly discovered dinosaur had tiny arms like T. rex (National Geographic)
Newly Discovered Giant Predatory Dinosaur Had Tiny Arms, But It's Not Related to T. Rex (ScienceAlert)
Albuquerque Erecting Statues of Walter White And Jesse Pinkman (IGN)
Netflix knows you miss Eddie Munson, so they immortalized him in an Indiana cornfield (Mashable)
Old episode about less-popular recipes from the Kelloggs brothers (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
The Fake 2000s Yo-Yo Career of 'What We Do In the Shadows' Mark Proksch (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
The 1920s Transgender Clinic Destroyed By the Nazis (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Who Invented the High Five? (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Why All The Galaxy Carpets In 90s Movie Theaters? (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 07/12 - Spikes, Blobs, & Bubbles: Explaining the JWST Images

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 21:16:05 -0000

The JWST images are here! But what are we actually looking at? Plus, could gene editing put an end to cholesterol-related disease? And Cat Power is planning to perform a cover of an entire Bob Dylan concert at the original venue where he performed it.

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Links:

NASA's Webb Delivers Deepest Infrared Image of Universe Yet (NASA)
And then there were five: NASA releases the rest of Webb's first images (Ars Technica)
The First Jwst Images Of The Infrared Sky Are Here And They Do *Not* Disappoint (Syfy Wire)
Carpet JWST image meme (Dominick Nero, Twitter)
Make your phone into a personal planetarium. (NY Times)
Edits to a cholesterol gene could stop the biggest killer on earth (MIT Technology Review)
Cat Power will cover a full Bob Dylan concert at original venue (A/V Club)
Where to Score Free Fries for National Fry Day (Mental Floss)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 07/11 - Sailing Without a Map, or Compass, or Anything

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 20:58:38 -0000

Could an MIT idea to ease the climate crisis by blowing up giant sun-blocking bubbles in space actually work? Plus, the Polynesian voyagers who are reviving ancient seafaring techniques and traversing thousands of miles across the ocean without maps or modern technology. And a cool little interactive Easter egg from the latest season of Stranger Things.

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Links:

MIT Scientists Suggest Wild Plan to Ease Climate Change: Space Bubbles (ScienceAlert)
Space Bubbles (MIT Senseable City Lab)
Climate change: MIT proposes using a space bubble shield the size of Brazil to cool the Earth (Interesting Engineering)
MIT Scientists Propose Space Bubbles to Reverse the Worst of Climate Change (Gizmodo)
This woman navigated a 3,000-mile Pacific voyage without maps or technology (National Geographic)
Polynesia's master voyagers who navigate by nature (BBC)
“Stranger Things” Has a Surprise for Fans That Call the Surfer Boy Pizza Number (Teen Vogue)
Where to Buy Stranger Things' Surfer Boy Pizza (Pop Sugar)
NASA Is About to Unveil The Deepest View of The Universe Ever – A Day Ahead of Schedule (ScienceAlert)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 07/08 - The Breakfast Episode

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 20:27:46 -0000

Welcome to our accidental breakfast episode. First, how did orange juice become our go-to breakfast beverage of choice? Plus, Waffle House’s in-house record label. And, someone’s been eating their Wheatie’s, how major sports tournaments are using AI to improve the game and the fan experience.

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Links:

How orange juice took over the breakfast table (BBC Future)
Misunderstanding Orange Juice as a Health Drink (The Atlantic, 2014)
Coronavirus: orange juice weekly sales growth US 2020. (Statista)
A B-Side With Your Bacon? Waffle House Has Its Own Music Label (NPR)
Waffle House Has Its Own Record Label (Great Big Story, YouTube)
Waffle House has its own record label and the songs are in the restaurant jukeboxes (Boing Boing)
Waffle House Records (Spotify)
Waffle House Music - scroll down for music videos
Wimbledon wants to teach its audience about tennis. Luckily, there's an app for that (CNN)
FIFA Will Use AI to Track Players' Bodies During World Cup (Gizmodo)
Beyonce Joins Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson for This Hot 100 Milestone — As a Solo Artist & With a Group (Billboard)
NASA Updates Coverage for Webb Telescope's First Images Reveal (NASA)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 07/07 - Sports Leagues IN SPACE

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 20:26:03 -0000

In 1972, a team of international researchers used computer modeling to assess and warn us about the potential collapse of human civilization. Fifty years later, how does their assessment add up and have we heeded their warning? Plus, we’ve got space tourists. Now it’s time for astroletes. Why sports might be the next big thing in space. And Spotify Pie.

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Links:

The Infamous 1972 Report That Warned of Civilization's Collapse (Wired)
The Limits to Growth (NY Times, 1972)
Why Sports in Space Could Be the Next Big Thing (Wall Street Journal)
Axiom Space plans to build a movie studio module for the International Space Station by 2024 (Space.com)
How to see your Spotify Pie chart, the latest viral website that analyzes your Spotify data (Mashable)
Spotify Pie
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 07/06 - Big Mouth Billy Bass

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 21:16:04 -0000

We take a deep dive into the freshwater lake origins of Big Mouth Billy Bass, the singing fish, and his riptide success in the early 2000s. And, in other peak scientific innovation news, the Large Hadron Collider has been booted up once more and already discovered three new exotic particles.

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Links:

An Oral History Of Big Mouth Billy Bass (MEL)
The Rise And Fall Of Big Mouth Billy Bass, The Kitschy Singing Wall-Fish That Ruled The Year 2000 (Ranker)
How a robotic singing fish made $100m in one year (The Hustle)
Singing Bird Clock commercial (Dakota Clark, YouTube)
Wellerman, performed by Bill Bass and friends (Kevin Heckart, TikTok)
LHCb discovers three new exotic particles (CERN)
CERN scientists observe three 'exotic' particles for first time (NBC News)
Large Hadron Collider Physicists Discover Three New Exotic Particles (Gizmodo)
We need another particle accelerator. Don’t let these 5 myths fool you (Big Think)
Large Hadron Collider scientists hail most powerful collisions (Space.com)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 07/05 - The Rise of #Gentleminions

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 21:24:46 -0000

Could the historic flooding at Yellowstone National Park be a positive thing in the long term? Plus, new findings into long COVID-caused brain fog. And why some movie theaters are banning formal attire.

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Links:

Historic Yellowstone flooding brings renewal despite destruction (National Geographic)
Episode introducing Yellowstone's Inheritance Pass (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
4 answers about Yellowstone's June megaflood (Futurity)
The Secrets of Covid 'Brain Fog' Are Starting to Lift (Wired)
Minions: The Rise Of Gru Scores Biggest July Fourth Opening Ever With Nearly $219 Million Globally (Slash Film)
Minions: Cinemas ban teens in suits over #gentleminions trend (BBC)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 06/30 - The Kid Who Invented Popsicles... Allegedly

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 17:30:00 -0000

The murky history of Popsicles, and freeze pops or Otter Pops or whatever you call them. Plus, those skin mites that live on your face might be able to reveal your geographic ancestry. And the Canadian radio station that only plays one song by Rage Against the Machine now.

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Links:

The Accidental Invention the Popsicle (Food & Wine)
The Cold, Hard Truth About Popsicles (Collectors Weekly)
How An 11-Year-Old Boy Invented The Popsicle (NPR)
A Brief History of Popsicles (Smithsonian Magazine)
The Popsicle was supposedly invented by an SF 11-year-old. But the legend doesn't add up. (SF Gate)
A Brief History of Freeze Pops (Eater)
Old episode about the history of Kool-Aid (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Where Are You From? Check Your Parasites (JSTOR Daily)
Scientists say face mites evolved alongside humans since the dawn of human origins (Science Daily)
Mystery as Canadian radio station plays Rage Against the Machine song nonstop (The Guardian)
Vancouver's KiSS FM has been playing Rage Against the Machine on repeat. Why? (Vancouver Sun)
Cole Sprouse And Kathryn Newton To Star In Diablo Cody-Scripted 'Lisa Frankenstein' For Focus Features (Deadline)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 06/29 - Did "The Dress" Foreshadow Fake News?

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 20:24:28 -0000

Remember the photo of that blue and black dress, or I’m sorry, white and gold dress? It turns out at least one neuroscientist conducted an official study of people’s perceptions about it, and his findings could have larger ramifications on our seemingly increasing inability to communicate and understand each other when it comes to fundamental social issues.

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Links:

How 'The Dress' Sparked a Neuroscience Breakthrough (Wired)
How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion by David McRaney
The Nineties: A Book by Chuck Klosterman
French's Gives Away Ketchup Ice Pops in Canada (Food & Wine)
I Tried the 'Frenchsicle,' French’s Ketchup Popsicle & Here's My Honest Take (Narcity, YouTube)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 06/28 - The Return of the Moon Age

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 20:44:45 -0000

NASA’s Artemis mission returning us to the moon has officially begun… sort of. Here’s everything you need to know about today’s first step towards establishing a base in lunar orbit. Plus, why do so many of us love logging the books we read and movies we watch on tracking apps, and at what cost?

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Mon. 06/27 - Why Friends Smell Alike

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 20:23:40 -0000

Do groups of friends all smell alike? Plus, an astonishingly well-preserved 30,000 year old woolly mammoth baby was just discovered. And we finally have photographic evidence of that mysterious rocket stage that hit the moon in March.

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Links:

Friends smell like one another (The Economist)
People May Pick Friends Who Smell Like Them (Scientific American)
Scent of a friend: Similarities in body odor may contribute to social bonding (ScienceDaily)
Rare mummified baby woolly mammoth with skin and hair found in Canada (CBS News)
30,000-Year-Old Baby Mammoth Found Almost Perfectly Preserved in Canadian Gold Fields (ScienceAlert)
Gold miner in Canada finds mummified 35,000-year-old woolly mammoth (The Guardian)
Astronomers Found a Crater From The Mystery Rocket That Smashed Into The Moon (ScienceAlert)
Rocket Impact Site on Moon Seen by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (NASA)
New double crater seen on the moon after mystery rocket impact (CNN)
Alan Rickman's personal diaries set for posthumous release (A/V Club)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 06/24 - The Creatures That Live & Mate On Our Faces

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 16:00:00 -0000

The facts on how risky public bathrooms actually are when it comes to germs and disease transmission. Plus, the secret lives of skin mites––a bevy of new findings on the microscopic creatures that live on our faces. And, as a chaser, animal ASMR.

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Links:

How Bad Are the Germs in Public Restrooms, Really? (NY Times)
The Mites That Live and Breed on Your Face Have Anuses, Genome Study Finds (Gizmodo)
Don't freak out, but there are thousands of mites living all over your face (Vox, 2015)
Skin Mites That Mate on Our Faces at Night Are Slowly Merging With Humans (ScienceAlert)
The tiny mites that have sex on our faces have a problem (BBC)
We could all use a little animal ASMR about now (Boing Boing)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 06/23 - The "Anti-Hunger" Molecule Formed By Intense Workouts

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 18:26:30 -0000

A newly-identified molecule may explain why some workouts make you super hungry and others leave you without an appetite at all. Plus, a spectacular planetary conjunction is on display this weekend––how to catch sight of five planets at once. Researchers have a new theory for why all those fish fell from the sky in Texas last year. And a new J.R.R. Tolkien book is coming out in November. Sort of.

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Links:

Why Does a Hard Workout Make You Less Hungry? (NY Times)
The unexpected link between hunger and exercising (MIC)
'Anti-hunger' molecule forms after exercise, scientists discover (Stanford)
Five major planets to line up in rare planetary conjunction (BBC)
Five planets are aligned in night sky for first time in 18 years in June (Washington Post)
Rare 5-planet alignment comes into better view this week (Space.com)
Researchers figured out why fish fell from the sky in Texarkana, and it's pretty gross (The Dallas Morning News)
Mon. 01/03 - It's Raining Fish (Hallelujah) (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
New Tolkien Book, The Fall Of Númenor, Collects The Second Age Stories That Influence Prime Video's The Rings Of Power (SlashFilm)
New Tolkien book: The Fall of Númenor to be published (The Tolkien Society)
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is changing its name (CNN)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 06/22 - Pinocchio, Fascism, & Guillermo del Toro

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 20:39:25 -0000

A deep dive into the origins, values, and many adaptations of The Adventures of Pinocchio––including how Guillermo del Toro’s dark upcoming stop motion animation could be the truest to the original yet. Plus, the mystery of eight thousand Iron Age frog skeletons found in a mass burial site in England. And, it’s Fat Bear Summer at Katmai National Park.

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Links:

The Transformations of Pinocchio (New Yorker)
Is the Original Pinocchio Actually About Lying and Very Long Noses? (Literary Hub)
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Carves a New Path: An Exclusive First Look (Vanity Fair)
Pinocchio enlisted by fascists in Guillermo del Toro's version (A/V Club)
Mass frog burial baffles experts at iron age site near Cambridge (The Guardian)
The fat bear cams are live and baby, WE GOT BEARS (Mashable)
Brown Bear Cam - Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park (Explore.org)
Before "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Rankin-Bass produced "The New Adventures of Pinnochio" (Boing Boing)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 06/21 - Queerness in Colonial Williamsburg

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 20:59:06 -0000

More and more countries are banning single-use plastics, but what alternatives are available? One team of scientists have developed an antimicrobial spray that could replace plastic food packaging. Plus, how Colonial Williamsburg is working to incorporate more of its queer past.

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Links:

Scientists develop antimicrobial, plant-based food wrap designed to replace plastic (ScienceDaily)
Single-use bags and plastic wet wipes face ban in Wales (BBC)
Canada to ban making, importing many single-use plastics from Dec (Reuters)
Cutie Polluties (Liquid Death, YouTube)
Plastic waste: What are the alternatives? (BBC, 2018)
Excavating a Queer History of Colonial Williamsburg (Atlas Obscura)
This is not a drill. The Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared TV series trailer is (finally) here (It’s Nice That)
Everything We Know About Don't Hug Me I'm Scared (ScreenRant)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 06/20 - Peecycling

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 20:40:56 -0000

Would you use your own pee in your garden? Or donate it to a local farm? Some folks around the world see it as the future of fertilization. Plus, some scientists want to rename summer “danger season.” And astronomers have discovered a new multiplanet system not too far away with two Earth-sized rocky planets.

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Links:

Meet the Peecyclers. Their Idea to Help Farmers Is No. 1. (NY Times)
Peecycling: could donating your urine to farmers help feed the world? (The Guardian)
Some Scientists Coined a New Name for Summer: 'Danger Season' (Wired)
Thu. 06/09 - Heat Waves May Get Names, Like Hurricanes (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Astronomers discover a multiplanet system nearby (MIT News)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 06/17 - Space-Based Solar Power

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 20:03:27 -0000

Ahead of Juneteenth, a reminder of what emancipation did and didn’t do. Plus, a newly discovered group of polar bears who are able to survive on less sea ice than should be possible. And a promising milestone achieved in the field of space-based solar power.

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Links:

Juneteenth celebrates just one of the United States' 20 emancipation days – and the history of how emancipated people were kept unfree needs to be remembered, too (The Conversation)
Black Ghost of Empire by Kris Manjapra
On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed
Watch 13TH (Netflix)
Poet Amanda Gorman reflects on what lies beneath the celebrations of Juneteenth (NPR)
Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman
Juneteenth 2020 segment (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Juneteenth 2021 segment (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Meet the unique group of polar bears living with less sea ice (The Verge)
These Polar Bears in Greenland Can Survive With Less Sea Ice (NY Times)
Secret population of polar bears found living in seemingly impossible habitat (ScienceAlert)
China built a 246-foot tower to test an emerging solar power system (Interesting Engineering)
New Tower in China Brings Us a Step Closer to Space-Based Solar Power (Gizmodo)
For All Mankind (Apple TV+)
5 Takeaways From Drake’s New Album Honestly, Nevermind (Pitchfork)
"I, too, am excited about that Drake drop!!!!" (Preeti Chhibber, Twitter)
Tim Drake's Story Continues in New Series 'Tim Drake: Robin' (DC Comics)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 06/16 - An AI RBG

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 22:27:21 -0000

The Large Hadron Collider has been booted up once more, but will it ever find anything as huge as the Higgs boson again? Plus, an AI model that’s turning Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s words into a magic eight ball. Beyoncé has announced a new album and Beavis and Butt-Head are about to do the whole universe.

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Links:

Ten years after the Higgs, physicists face the nightmare of finding nothing else (Science.org)
Particle Hunters Can Spend a Lifetime Searching for Answers (Wired)
As the Large Hadron Collider Revs Up, Physicists' Hopes Soar (NY Times)
How the revamped Large Hadron Collider will hunt for new physics (Nature)
This AI model tries to re-create the mind of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Washington Post)
Ask RBG
Beyoncé Announces Release Date for New 16-Song Project 'Renaissance' (Complex)
Beavis and Butt-Head's Mike Judge on the Revival's 21st Century Updates: There's "YouTubers" and "TikTok Stuff" (Consequence)
Deep in the Heart of Beavis & Butt-Head (Texas Monthly)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 06/15 - Is This the Origin of the Black Death?

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 19:08:14 -0000

A new lead on the origin of the Black Death. Plus, monkeypox will soon––thankfully––be getting a new name. And Internet Explorer is being put to rest today. RIP.

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The Most Likely Origin of The Black Death Was Finally Revealed in an Unexpected Place (ScienceAlert)
Scientists Reveal the Black Death’s Origin Story (Discover)
Origins of the Black Death identified: Multidisciplinary team studied ancient plague genomes (ScienceDaily)
Where Did the Black Death Begin? DNA Detectives Find a Key Clue. (NY Times)
Monkeypox Is Getting a New Name, WHO Announces (Gizmodo)
Monkeypox Outbreak Poses ‘Real Threat’ to Public Health, W.H.O. Official Says (NY Times)
Internet Explorer Is Dead—It's the End of an Era (Gizmodo)
Internet Explorer dies today Internet Explorer Is Dead—It's the End of an Era , but its spirit lives on in Microsoft Edge (PC World)
Internet Explorer, star of Windows, dies at 26 (The Verge)
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Tue. 06/14 - The Once and Future Mall

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 21:34:11 -0000

The history and future of the design of the American shopping mall. Plus, a new test that can more accurately assess your immunity to COVID-19. And Coca-Cola is releasing a new Jack & Coke canned cocktail. Meanwhile, fans have created a “healthy Coke” hack, which I tried out in the Cool Stuff Ride Home’s first official taste test.

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Links:

Get In. We're Going to Save the Mall. (NY Times)
A History of Mall Walking (Bloomberg)
Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall by Alexandra Lange
Two New Permanent Meow Wolf “Portals” Come to Texas (Glasstire)
A New Test Can Help Reveal If You're Immune to COVID-19 (TIME)
Jack Daniels and Coca-Cola Are Putting a Classic Cocktail in a Can (Thrillist)
'A refreshing salad drink': does balsamic vinegar and fizzy water really taste like healthy Coke? (The Guardian)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 06/13 - Why You Can't Remember Books You Read

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 21:45:41 -0000

Why is it so hard to remember details from books we’ve read and TV shows we’ve watched? Plus, why is food cooked outside on an open flame so dang delicious? And, vaccines for American children under the age of five may finally finally be coming.

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Links:

Why do we forget books we've read? We ask an expert (The Guardian)
The Nineties: A Book by Chuck Klosterman
What makes smoky, charred barbecue taste so good? The chemistry of cooking over an open flame (The Conversation)
Pfizer Vaccine Effective in Children Under 5, the FDA Says (NY Times)
Pfizer COVID vaccine safe for kids under 5, FDA review finds (PBS)
Tony Awards 2022: Why Jennifer Hudson has just made history (NPR)
Jennifer Hudson Is The Youngest Female EGOT Winner Ever (Nylon)
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Fri. 06/10 - COVID-Sniffing Dogs & Delayed Positive Test Results

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 19:47:06 -0000

Why are some people experiencing delayed positive tests from COVID-19? And, new tests on the block, from expensive at-home hubs to COVID-sniffing dogs. Plus, a proposal in the UK to raise the legal purchase age for cigarettes by a year, every year. And the newest US quarter has just dropped, featuring Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller.

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Links:

A Negative COVID Test Has Never Been So Meaningless (The Atlantic)
Dogs may be better at detecting Covid-19 than nasal PCR tests, study finds (The Guardian)
Behind the high-tech COVID-19 tests you probably haven't heard about (The Verge)
Legal age someone can buy cigarettes should rise by a year every year, review recommends (Sky News)
Smoking age of sale should rise by year each year (BBC)
Age to buy cigarettes in England should rise every year, review says (Reuters)
A new quarter honors Native American leader and activist Wilma Mankiller (NPR)
Wilma Mankiller quarters released to eager public (Indian Country Today)
American Women Quarters 2022 Rolls and Bags (US Mint)
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Thu. 06/09 - Heat Waves May Get Names, Like Hurricanes

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 19:19:22 -0000

Heat waves in the future could come with their own names, and we might be able to keep safe from them thanks to advances in smart window technology. Plus, Europe’s largest ever land dinosaur has just been discovered. And why Wendy’s is temporarily retiring their vanilla Frosty’s.

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Links:

Heat waves could soon have names (Axios)
How smart windows save energy (Knowable)
Europe's 'largest ever' land dinosaur found on Isle of Wight (BBC)
Bones found on Isle of Wight may be from Europe's biggest predator dinosaur (The Guardian)
Why the World's Biggest Dinosaurs Keep Getting Cut Down to Size (Scientific American)
Archaeologists May Have Found The Remains of Europe's Largest Ever Land Predator (ScienceAlert)
The T. Rex Still Rules Over the Rest (The Ringer)
Wendy’s Is Replacing Vanilla Frosties With Strawberry Ones This Summer (Mental Floss)
Wendy's Adds Strawberry Frosty to the Menu, Kills Off the Vanilla Frosty (Thrillist)
Wendy's is finally selling this 'highly anticipated' Frosty flavor (CNN Business)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 06/08 - So Long, Sit-Ups

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 17:30:00 -0000

Has the sit-up been canceled? Plus, the century-long history of growing nonnative plants in Antarctica and how it will help astronauts fill their bellies when they fly to the moon and beyond. And, why mice are afraid of bananas.

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Links:

The Death of the Sit-Up (The Atlantic)
How 100 years of Antarctic agriculture is helping scientists grow food in space (Fast Company)
Research briefs: Origami-inspired design and why mice fear bananas (McGill University)
Why Are Mice Afraid of Bananas? (SciTechDaily)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 06/07 - Humans' Unique Sleep Patternzzzzzz

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 17:30:00 -0000

Why is it that humans get less sleep than all other primates? And are “short sleepers” really a thing? Plus, “mountains” of sugar have been discovered all over the world, hiding beneath meadows of seagrass. And, bad news for plant parents, new findings explain why plants apparently get super stressed out from physical touch.

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Links:

Why humans get less sleep than other primates (BBC Future)
Some People Have a Superhuman Strength: Only Needing 4 Hours of Sleep (Popular Mechanics)
Mountains of sugar have been found in the ocean under seagrass meadows (The Weather Network)
Sweet spots in the sea: Mountains of sugar under seagrass meadows (Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)
Biologists May Have Solved a 30-Year-Old Mystery on Why Touch Stresses Plants Out (Science Alert)
What happens when plants have stress reactions to touch (Lund University)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 06/06 - Gummi Bears: A 100 Year Look Back

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 17:30:00 -0000

It’s the hundredth anniversary of the humble gummy bear, but did you know they’ve only been in America since the 80s? Plus, could one source of water ice on the moon be ancient volcanoes? And, something strange is afoot in the reproductive lives of cockroaches.

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Links:

The Colorful History of Haribo Goldbears, the World's First Gummy Bears (Smithsonian Mag)
The Untold Truth Of Gummy Bears (Mashed)
A Brief History of Gummy Bears (Bon Appetit)
The Surprisingly Dark Origins of Gummy Bears (Mental Floss)
The Source of Water Ice on The Moon Could Be Traced to a Seemingly Unlikely Source (Science Alert)
Astronauts may one day drink water from ancient moon volcanoes (CU Boulder Today)
Ancient volcanoes may be the source of water found on the moon (Interesting Engineering)
Cockroach Reproduction Has Taken a Strange Turn (NY Times)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 06/03 - This Is Your Voice On Mars

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 17:30:00 -0000

Some wild animal species might be evolving four times faster than we thought. Plus, what your voice would sound like on Mars. And the summer job in Wisconsin that makes teenagers jump off a moving boat to deliver mail.

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Links:

Evolution May Be Happening Up to 4 Times Faster Than We Thought, Massive Study Finds (Science Alert)
Fuel of evolution' more abundant than previously thought in wild animals (University of Exeter)
Sounds of Mars (NASA)
NASA Scientists Made a Martian 'Soundscape' Using Audio Recorded by Perseverance Rover (Gizmodo)
On Mars, NASA's Perseverance rover's playlist like no other (EurekAlert)
Episode about designing the microphone on Perseverance (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Mail Jumper in action (Cruise Lake Geneva, Instagram)
The Gravity-Defying Mail Jumpers of Lake Geneva (Atlas Obscura)
Mail Boat Jumper Tryouts (Best of Lake Geneva)
Who You Gonna Call? Explores the Life of Ray Parker Jr., the Man Behind the Ghostbusters Theme (Gizmodo)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 06/02 - How To OutHorse Your Email

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 17:37:44 -0000

Turns out your liver is quite a bit younger than expected. Plus, people with food allergies may be at a lower risk of catching COVID-19. Iceland’s new campaign to help you rein in your work-life balance while on vacation. And, in very serious news, we seem to be running out of googly eyes and Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza.

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Links:

Your Liver Is Only About Three Years Old, Scientists Say (ScienceAlert)
Most People's Livers Are Just 3 Years Old (Gizmodo)
Your liver is just under three years old (ScienceDaily)
People With Food Allergies Seem to Have Lower Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (ScienceAlert)
Food allergy is associated with lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (National Institutes of Health)
Some Types of Asthma Protect Against Severe COVID-19, And We May Finally Know Why (ScienceAlert)
Food allergies & lower SARS-CoV-2 risk (Dr. Alok Patel, Twitter)
Icelandic Horses Help Respond to Work Emails So Iceland Visitors Can Disconnect and See the Sights (Laughing Squid)
OutHorse Your Email (Visit Iceland)
App Lets You Destress By Screaming Into Icelandic Wilderness (NPR, 2020)
Taco Bell is running out of Mexican Pizza (CNN)
Did a Beloved Indie Movie Really Cause a Googly Eye Shortage? (Slate)
DeLorean reveals Alpha 5, a performance EV with Back to the Future vibes (TechCrunch)
Some quick photoshops of Doc Brown's new ride: the DeLorean Alpha5 EV (r/BacktotheFuture)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 06/01 - Self-Cloning Plant the New Biggest on Earth

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 18:54:13 -0000

A new contender for the world's largest plant is bigger than Cincinnati and named after Posiedon. Plus, a round-up of everything launching into space this weekend. And, fresh on the heels of the new Baz Lehrman biopic, the company that owns Elvis’ likeness is trying to shut down all the Elvis-themed wedding chapels in Vegas.

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Links:

The World's Largest Plant Is a Self-Cloning Sea Grass in Australia (NY Times)
Meet the world's largest plant: a single seagrass clone stretching 180 km in Western Australia's Shark Bay (The Conversation)
NASA to Provide Live Coverage of Space Station Cargo Launch, Docking (NASA)
Blue Origin targets June 4 for next space tourist mission after delay (Space.com)
China rolls out rocket for crewed Shenzhou 14 mission ahead of Saturday launch (Space.com)
NASA prepares for a June 5 dress rehearsal of its first Artemis I moon mission (Interesting Engineering)
June 6 Set for Artemis I Moon Rocket to Roll for Next Tanking Test (NASA)
US FAA delays SpaceX final environmental decision to June 13 (Reuters)
JWST is now fully focused (Syfy Wire)
First Images From NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Coming Soon (NASA)
Company to Las Vegas chapels: No more Elvis-themed weddings (AP)
Vegas chapels all shook up by Elvis likeness crackdown (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 05/31 - Unionized Ghosts, Cat Burglars, & Quantum Bubbles

Tue, 31 May 2022 18:00:41 -0000

A supremely weird “trivia” cartoon on Netflix. Plus, physicists made bubbles of gas atoms colder than space . And why the Buzzfeed News’ union contract includes legal protection against ghosts.

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Links:

The Weirdest Thing on Netflix (Slate)
Cat Burglar: Bringing Tex Avery-Style Cartoons to Interactive Gaming (Indie Wire)
'Black Mirror' creator's Netflix video game 'Cat Burglar' cleverly skips the obvious choice (Mashable)
Ultracold gas bubbles on the space station could reveal strange new quantum physics (Space.com)
Researchers Made Ultracold Quantum Bubbles on the Space Station (Wired)
Ultracold Bubbles on Space Station: New Quantum Research Experiments With an Exotic State of Matter (SciTechDaily)
Buzzfeed News' union contract includes legal protections against ghosts (Boing Boing)
Here's why the BuzzFeed News Union's contract includes protections from ghosts (Poynter)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 05/30 - Angry Angry Hamsters

Mon, 30 May 2022 15:38:25 -0000

Scientists accidentally created super aggressive mutant hamsters. Meanwhile other scientists have devised a method for pulling drinking water out of thin air with a super affordable thin gel. Different strokes for different folks. And tonight’s possible meteor storm, which could produce thousands of shooting stars an hour. Or not. It could be nothing. Why that is and how to watch just in case.

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Links:

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing approach can alter the social behavior of animals (ScienceDaily)
CRISPR Editing Accidentally Turns Hamsters Into Angry Bullies, The Opposite Of Researcher's Intentions (IFL Science)
Super-Absorbent Gel Pulls Fresh Water Out of Thin Air (Gizmodo)
Cheap gel film pulls buckets of drinking water per day from thin air (New Atlas)
Episode about SOURCE Global's hydropanels from July 2020 (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Tau Herculids meteor shower could unleash 1,000 shooting stars per hour (Washington Post)
You May See a New Meteor Shower in Night Skies, or Nothing at All (NY Times)
Meteor shower outburst from new tau Herculids possible May 30 (Space.com)
Tau Herculid meteor shower livestream (Virtual Telescope Project)
'Merch!' Documentary Looks to Examine Music Merchandising from Elvis Presley to the Grateful Dead and Beyond (Collider)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 05/27 - Viruses Are Behaving Weirdly

Fri, 27 May 2022 20:09:04 -0000

Why viruses are starting to act in unexpected ways. Plus, the Sex Pistols re-rerelease “God Save the Queen” just in time for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and at least one DIY collective is running an anti-jubilee punk festival. And some follow-up’s to previous stories, including those ABBA-tar holograms.

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Links:

Viruses that were on hiatus during Covid are back — and behaving in unexpected ways (STAT)
Sex Pistols to re-release God Save the Queen ahead of Jubilee (BBC)
Bristol pubs announce 'F*** the Jubilee' three day punk festival (Bristol Post)
In Pistol, punk gets a lavish TV treatment (A/V Club)
Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century by Greil Marcus
ABBA Premiere “ABBA Voyage” Hologram Concert: Setlist + Video (Consequence)
Salem's ‘Last Witch' Has Her Name Officially Cleared, 329 Years Later (NBC Boston)
Taco Bell's 'Mexican Pizza: The Musical' just got postponed (Today)
Stranger Things' fourth season premiere adds warning label following Uvalde shooting (A/V Club)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 05/26 - Winnie the Pooh: Horror Villain

Thu, 26 May 2022 20:27:05 -0000

The first human genome from a victim of the eruption in ancient Pompeii has been sequenced. Plus, a global mushroom art scavenger hunt is afoot. And Winnie the Pooh is joining the gritty origin story bandwagon with a new horror take on the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood.

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Links:

Scientists Sequence DNA of Man Who Died In Pompeii Eruption for First Time (Vice)
Scientists Sequence First Human Genome From The Ruins of Ancient Pompeii (ScienceAlert)
Ancient DNA reveals secrets of Pompeii victims (BBC)
Game of Shrooms, the worldwide art scavenger hunt, returns June 11 (Boing Boing)
Game of Shrooms 2022 (Yum Factory)
'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey' — Violent New Horror Film Reworks A Childhood Classic (Dread Central)
'Winnie the Pooh' Horror Movie 'Blood and Honey' Explained by Director (Variety)
Teen Lives Are the Real Bother in New Horror Film Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey (Consequence)
New Horror Movie Turns Winnie the Pooh Into a Serial Killer (Gizmodo)
How ‘Public’ is the Public Domain? Winnie-the-Pooh Illustrates Copyright Limitations of Public Domain Works (IPWatchDog)
Wed. 08/26 - Netflix's Enola Holmes Hit With Lawsuit From Doyle Estate (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 05/25 - Don't Forget To Take Your Daily Tomato

Wed, 25 May 2022 21:32:26 -0000

Why NASA is sending a bunch of brewer’s yeast up to space on Artemis 1. Plus, scientists have created genetically-edited tomatoes pumped up with vitamin D. And a COVID-19 memorial that will be purposefully burnt down on Saturday.

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Links:

NASA plans to launch an unexpected organism to space to study cosmic radiation (Inverse)
BioSentinel (NASA)
Around the Moon with NASA's First Launch of SLS with Orion (NASA)
Gene-edited tomatoes could provide new source of vitamin D (Nature)
Scientists CRISPR'd Tomatoes to Make Them Full of Vitamin D (Gizmodo)
Scientists create tomatoes genetically edited to bolster vitamin D levels (The Guardian)
The Public Will Be Invited to Safely Burn Down a New COVID-19 Memorial (Architectural Digest)
Visitors 'overwhelmed' by Bedworth Covid memorial Sanctuary (BBC)
'I feel your country's anger' – why the memorial to Britain's Covid dead will be set ablaze (The Guardian)
The Unburnable Book: Margaret Atwood’s THE HANDMAID'S TALE (Penguin Random House, YouTube)
The Unburnable Book
Over 1,000 Musicians Honor Taylor Hawkins with "My Hero" Cover: Watch (Consequence)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 05/24 - Monkeypox: How Concerned Should We Be?

Tue, 24 May 2022 19:42:24 -0000

Everything you need to know about monkeypox––what is it, how is it spread, and how concerned should we be? Plus, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is returning to Earth on Wednesday, after just a few hiccups on its first successful trip to the ISS. And Coca-Cola is introducing new bottle caps that you can’t remove from the bottle.

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Links:

Why monkeypox isn't like Covid-19 (Vox)
Rare monkeypox outbreak in U.K., Europe and U.S.: What is it and should we worry? (NPR)
The symptoms and causes of monkeypox infections, which CDC calls an 'emerging issue' (NBC News)
U.S. monkeypox case reported, as Spain, Portugal report infections in growing outbreak (STAT)
Monkeypox global case tracker (Global.health)
Monkeypox (WHO)
Spread prediction from modeling expert (Thomas House, Twitter)
Thread on transmission and vaccines (Bill Hanage, Twitter)
The Monkeypox Virus Is Affecting Queer Men, but Has Nothing to Do With Being Queer (them)
Monkeypox: UNAIDS 'concerned' about stigmatizing language against LGTBI people (United Nations)
Unfair monkeypox labeling must stop before our image goes from Curious George to Typhoid Mary (USA Today)
How to watch Starliner capsule return to Earth on Wednesday (Digital Trends)
Boeing Starliner problems go beyond thrusters (Washington Post)
Watch the Starliner capsule live (NASA)
Coke's new bottle cap doesn't come off (CNN)
Coca-Cola's attached bottle cap is rock bottom of hokey greenwashing (TechCrunch)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 05/23 - The Forest At The Bottom Of A Sinkhole

Mon, 23 May 2022 19:04:57 -0000

The ancient forest that was discovered at the bottom of a giant sinkhole in China. Plus, a moth species not seen since 1912 was found in the luggage of a passenger at the Detroit airport. And the first patient has been injected with an experimental virus meant to destroy tumors.

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Links:

Ancient forest found at bottom of huge sinkhole in China (The Guardian)
Giant sinkhole with a forest inside found in China (ScienceAlert)
In a massive Chinese sinkhole, scientists find a secret forest (Washington Post)
karst (National Geographic)
TSA on Instagram
Moth Species Not Seen Since 1912 Was Intercepted at Detroit Airport (NY Times)
'Very flashy' moth not seen in more than a century found in bag at Detroit airport (NBC News)
First Patient Injected With Experimental Cancer-Killing Virus in New Clinical Trial (ScienceAlert)
Oncolytic Virus Therapy That Destroys Cancer In Solid Tumors Given To First Patient In New Trial (IFL Science)
First Patient Dosed With Experimental Cancer-Killing Virus in New Trial (Gizmodo)
Trailer for David Bowie’s Moonage Daydream Doc Promises a “Cinematic Odyssey” (Consequence)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 05/20 - 1930s Shopping Cart Haters

Fri, 20 May 2022 17:30:00 -0000

The history of the humble shopping cart, and why people absolutely did not like them when they first came out. Plus, a parasite that might make you more attractive—but like, don’t try it. And a tiny pub in an English village that stood up to Condé Nast, and won.

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Links:

Why people hated shopping carts when they first came out (CNN)
How a Basket on Wheels Revolutionized Grocery Shopping (Priceonomics)
Mind-Altering Parasite May Make Infected People More Attractive, Study Suggests (ScienceAlert)
Toxoplasmosis - General Information (CDC)
Vogue magazine threatens to sue Cornish village pub of the same name (Cornwall Live)
Village pub asked to change name by Vogue magazine (BBC)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 05/19 - In Defense of "Like"

Thu, 19 May 2022 21:10:29 -0000

Why do we judge each other so harshly for saying “like,” even though most of us say it way more often than we’d admit to? Plus, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is launching mere hours after recording… probably. Here’s everything you need to know about the second contender in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. And introducing Pepsi™-Roni Pizza.

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Links:

Why do people, like, say, 'like' so much? (The Guardian)
Boeing Is Ready to Launch Starliner, a Rival to SpaceX's Dragon (Wired)
What You Need to Know about NASA's Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (NASA)
How to Watch Boeing Launch Its Beleaguered Astronaut Capsule to the ISS (Gizmodo)
Boeing Starliner OFT-2 Launch (Official NASA Broadcast) (NASA, YouTube)
Landmark Mars robot will run out of power, ending historic mission (Mashable)
NASA's InSight Still Hunting Marsquakes as Power Levels Diminish (NASA)
Just When We Settled Our Differences About Pineapple on Pizza, Pepsi Entered the Chat With Pepsi-Roni (The Mary Sue)
Finally, a New Pepsi Flavor We Can Get Behind (The Takeout)
Pepsi™-Roni Pizza in NYC (Pepsi, Eventbrite)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 05/18 - Music Made From DNA Sequences

Wed, 18 May 2022 19:13:42 -0000

The history and future of making music out of DNA sequences, particle vibrations, and more. Plus, a new study indicates that cats recognize the names of their cat friends and their human roommates; they’re just ignoring you because they want to, not because they don’t understand. And Alamo Drafthouse is hitting the road for their twenty-fifth anniversary.

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Links:

Why Scientists Are Turning Molecules Into Music (Smithsonian Magazine)
Can you see and touch music? (Markus J. Buehler, YouTube)
Your DNA Song
Cats know the names of other cats that are their friends, study says (Salon)
Cats Actually Know Each Other's Names, Study Suggests (Vice)
Cats Remember Each Other's Names, Japanese Study Suggests (ScienceAlert)
Alamo Drafthouse is Taking Things on the Road to Celebrate Their 25th Anniversary (Collider)
Alamo Drafthouse Is Turning 25 – Time To Party (Alamo Drafthouse)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 05/17 - Telepathic Pizza Delivery & Algae Batteries

Tue, 17 May 2022 18:02:41 -0000

Scientists created a microcomputer powered by photosynthetic algae. Plus, a smart pacifier that could monitor the health of premature babies in the NICU. And Domino’s has teamed up with the Hawkins National Laboratory for a new app that lets you order pizza with your mind.

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Links:

Scientists create algae computer powered by photosynthesis (The Verge)
Scientists Create Microcomputer Powered by Algae (IGN)
Computer powered by colony of blue-green algae has run for six months (New Scientist)
The Algae Project (Young Henrys)
Smart pacifier developed to monitor infant health in the hospital (ScienceDaily)
Domino’s Mind Ordering (Domino’s, YouTube)
Domino’s does Stranger Things with 80s packaging and a new mind ordering pizza app (It’s Nice That)
Mind Ordering app (Domino’s)
The First Thing That Ever Sold Online Was Pizza (The History of the Web)
PizzaNet: How a Website Changed Pizza and the World (Slice)
How Domino's Turnaround Gained Nearly $12b in Enterprise Value (Aaron Allen)
Wed. 10/20 - None Pizza With Left Beef: A Slice of History (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
The federal government is offering another round of free COVID tests (NPR)
Marvel Pop Culture Week (Consequence)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 05/16 - Plants Grown In Moon Dust

Mon, 16 May 2022 19:17:09 -0000

Plants have successfully been grown in moon dust for the first time. Plus, McDonald’s is officially closing all of their restaurants in Russia––why that’s a big deal. A new site that will tell you how much your current home, or one you’re looking to buy, is at risk of wildfires. And underwear that can protect you from STIs.

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Links:

Plants will grow in lunar regolith, but they don't like it (Ars Technica)
Researchers Grew Tiny Plants in Moon Dirt Collected Decades Ago (Wired)
Moon soil used to grow plants for first time in breakthrough test (BBC)
McDonald's to Exit From Russia After Three Decades (Wall Street Journal)
The Beautiful, Dumb Dream of McDonald's Peace Theory (Foreign Policy)
Is your house at risk of a wildfire? This online tool could tell you (NPR)
Risk Factor
These Vanilla-Scented Panties Protect Against STIs During Oral Sex, FDA Says (Vice)
FDA Authorizes Underwear to Protect Against STIs During Oral Sex (NY Times)
These FDA approved underwear protect against STIs (Mic)
Black Mirror Will Return for Another Season (Gizmodo)
‘For All Mankind’ Season 3 Trailer: The Red Nation Takes Us to the Red Planet (Collider)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 05/13 - The Multiverse: A Balm, A Mirror, or a Corporate Ploy?

Fri, 13 May 2022 21:27:51 -0000

A deep dive into the multiverse––what it actually is, why it’s become such a popular trope, what its popularity says about where we’re at as a society right now, how it mirrors our relationship to the internet, and why, despite some cynical reasons for its usage in film, the multiverse might actually be exactly what we need right now.

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Links:

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Thu. 05/12 - 1st Image of Milky Way Black Hole & 1st Taco Bell TikTok Musical, Equally Important Events

Thu, 12 May 2022 18:57:54 -0000

Everything you need to know about the just-released first-ever image of the black hole at the center of our galaxy. Plus, is there sight after death? No. But kind of. And, in the most predictable news of the day, Dolly Parton is starring in a Doja Cat-inspired Taco Bell TikTok musical about Mexican Pizza.

Sponsors:

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Links:

We got it! Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the heart of our galaxy (National Science Foundation)
The Milky Way's Black Hole Comes to Light (NY Times)
Feast your eyes on the first image of the black hole at the center of our Milky Way (Ars Technica)
This is the first image of the black hole at the center of our galaxy (MIT Technology Review)
Scientists Have Revived a Glimmer of Activity in Human Eyes After Death (ScienceAlert)
Light after death: scientists revive human eyes (Scripps Research)
Life after death for the human eye: Vision scientists revive light-sensing cells in organ donor eyes (ScienceDaily)
Dolly Parton to star in a musical on TikTok about Taco Bell's Mexican pizza (NBC News)
Taco Bell is bringing back a fan-favorite menu item (CNN)
Doja Cat's Mexican Pizza beat (Doja Cat, TikTok)
Mexican Pizza: The Musical by Doja Cat. (Victor Kunda, TikTok)
G-strings in the mist: 'You wouldn't expect Jane Goodall to be fronting a campaign for underwear' (The Guardian)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 05/11 - Love, Sleep, & Dinosaurs: The Three Most Important Things In Life

Wed, 11 May 2022 18:00:00 -0000

How data can help us find happiness in romantic relationships, or at least tell us why we’re dating all wrong. Plus, it turns out sleep-deprivation can affect how we see other people. And a new website for finding and reporting dinosaur sightings in your area, and around the world.

Sponsors:

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Links:

People Are Dating All Wrong, According to Data Science (Wired)
Being Sleep-Deprived Actually Changes The Way We See Other People (ScienceAlert)
Acute sleep loss may alter the way we see others (Uppsala Universitet)
Sleep: here's how much you really need for optimal cognition and wellbeing – new research (The Conversation)
'Jurassic World: Dominion' Gives Fans a Way to Track Dinos (The Mary Sue)
Dinotracker
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 05/10 - How Hollywood Changed In The Summer of 19, 19, 1982

Tue, 10 May 2022 18:00:00 -0000

How the summer of 1982 changed movies forever––for better or worse. Plus, a study justifying why teenagers suck at listening to their parents. And, how to watch this weekend’s total eclipse of the moon.

Sponsors:

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Links:

How the summer of 1982 changed movies forever (A/V Club)
New Study Reveals The Reason Teens Seem to Tune Out Their Mom's Voice (ScienceAlert)
The teen brain tunes in less to Mom's voice, more to unfamiliar voices, study finds (Stanford)
See the fiery Blood Moon rise in a total lunar eclipse in May's must-see skywatching event (Space.com)
Watch the total lunar eclipse of May 2022: Super Blood Moon webcasts (Space.com)
Blood Moon total lunar eclipse 2022: Everything you need to know (Space.com)
May 15–16, 2022 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon) (Time and Date)
'Good Night Oppy': Documentary About the Opportunity Mars Rover to Release in November (Collider)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 05/09 - The Real-Life Inspiration Behind 'The Blob'

Mon, 09 May 2022 18:04:59 -0000

How the 50’s sci-fi horror film The Blob was actually a ripped-from-the-headlines story. Plus, potential cancer treatments involving magnets and dirt. And would you undergo a fecal transplant to reverse signs of aging? It could be an option in the future.

Sponsors:

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Links:

The (Sort of) True Story Behind 'The Blob' (Mental Floss)
The Blob from THE BLOB Was Based on a Real-life... Blob (Nerdist)
The Weird, True Life Incident That Inspired “The Blob” (Rue Morgue)
The Blob Was Based On A True Story (Gizmodo)
Magnets made by soil bacteria offer hope for breast and prostate cancer (The Guardian)
Oncolytic Virus Therapy (Cancer Research Institute)
Fecal transplants reverse hallmarks of aging (ScienceDaily)
Ncuti Gatwa is the new star of Doctor Who (A/V Club)
Steven Knight to create 2 Tone drama in Birmingham (BBC)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 05/06 - Dickens and the Rise of Creepy Clowns

Fri, 06 May 2022 20:45:17 -0000

How much can we blame Charles Dickens for the persisting archetype of creepy clowns? Who and what other cultural factors over the centuries contributed to so many people being whigged out by clowns? Plus, we now know the (general) location of where Forrest Fenn’s treasure chest was found. And a round-up of media recommendations for your weekend, based on stories I’ve covered previously on the show.

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Links:

Here We Are Again!—How Joseph Grimaldi Invented the Creepy Clown (JSTOR Daily)
Hospital clown images 'too scary' (BBC News)
The psychology behind why clowns creep us out (The Conversation)
The History and Psychology of Clowns Being Scary (Smithsonian Magazine)
Revealed: Forrest Fenn’s Treasure Was Hidden in This National Park (Outside Online)
Fenn Treasure coverage #1 (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Fenn Treasure coverage #2 (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
The Found Footage Festival
Chop and Steele documentary
#dracula daily on Tumblr
Belle and Sebastian: A Bit of Previous Album Review (Pitchfork)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 05/05 - Is Original Pop Culture Going Extinct?

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:43:34 -0000

A deep dive into the question of whether pop culture has become completely dominated by franchises and the same superstars; and, if so, how new that phenomenon actually is and, if it’s really a bad thing in the end.

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Links:

Pop Culture Has Become an Oligopoly (Experimental History)
Cultural Dopes (LA Review of Books)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 05/04 - Margaret Thatcher's Empire Strikes Back

Wed, 04 May 2022 19:52:28 -0000

Did Margaret Thatcher play a role in the origins of Star Wars Day? Plus, why human hibernation for long-distance space travel might not actually be worth it. And a redone Bob Dylan recording on an all-new analog medium, coming this Friday.

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Links:

May the 4th Be With You: A Cultural History (Star Wars)
A Brief History of Star Wars Day (MovieWeb)
May the Fourth: What is Star Wars Day and when did it start? (USA Today)
May the Fourth kicks off with a new Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer (A/V Club)
"Meet Me in Mustafar" (Blue Milk Run, Bandcamp)
On May the 4th, let's remember the time NPR had a 'Star Wars' radio drama (NPR)
Star Wars: A New Hope Radio Drama - Nigel's Edit (Nigel Langes, YouTube)
May the Fourth, Rex Manning Day, and 10 More Made-Up Movie and TV Holidays (LifeHacker)
May The Force Be With You / May the 4th Be With You (Know Your Meme)
Here's Why Hibernation in Space May Not Be Possible For Humans After All (ScienceAlert)
Hibernate for a trip to Mars, the bear way (European Space Agency)
Team Behind First Black Hole Image Set to Announce 'Groundbreaking' Milky Way Discovery (Gizmodo)
Bob Dylan to Release New Version of “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (Consequence of Sound)
"Suburban Homesick Blues" (Mount Righteous, YouTube)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 05/03 - Why Can't The US Have Weird Chip Flavors?

Tue, 03 May 2022 20:56:55 -0000

Why doesn’t the US get all the cool chip flavors that other countries do? Plus, scientists have figured out a way to breakdown plastic in just a few days, instead of over centuries. And why a bunch of creepy dolls keeping washing ashore along the gulf coast in Texas.

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Links:

Why Are American Chips So Boring? (Eater)
Plastic-Eating Enzyme Could Gobble Up Tons and Tons of Waste (Futurity)
Scientists Discover Method to Break Down Plastic In Days, Not Centuries (Vice)
Creepy dolls keep washing up on this stretch on Texas coastline. 'A lot of nightmares' (Star-Telegram)
Why Have Garfield Phones Been Washing Ashore in France for 30 Years? (Smithsonian Magazine)
Tropicana wants you to pour orange juice on cereal (CNN)
Wed. 11/03 - The McRib, Space Tacos, and Tropicana Toothpaste (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 05/02 - Waste More Time

Mon, 02 May 2022 20:00:34 -0000

Why it’s time for you to waste time. Plus, a café in Tokyo that doesn’t let people leave until they’ve successfully hit their writing goals. And a possibly sustainable use for the ungodly amounts of disposable masks we’ve thrown out in the last two years?

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Links:

Coffee, tea and nagging at Japan's anti-procrastination cafe (Reuters)
How to tackle 'wasted-time worry' – and why it's important (Metro News)
I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt by Madeleine Dore
There might finally be a good use for all those disposable masks (Mic)
Disposable masks could be used to improve concrete (ScienceDaily)
China banned Spider-Man: No Way Home because of Statue of Liberty scene (Consequence of Film)
Gay references removed from Fantastic Beasts 3 for Chinese release (The Guardian)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 04/29 - Books That Kill: Arsenic-Laced Covers & Other Poisonous Pigments

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 20:24:43 -0000

How an innocent trip to the library could give you arsenic poisoning. Plus, a new pterosaur fossil seems to confirm the prehistoric reptiles had some pretty cool feathers. And, how would you like to meditate with Yoda and Chewbacca?

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Links:

Poison Book Project (Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library)
These green books are poisonous—and one may be on a shelf near you (National Geographic)
Prussian blue and its partner in crime (Journal of Art in Society)
When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut and Adrian Nathan West
Pterosaur discovery solves ancient feather mystery (ScienceDaily)
This ancient creature developed feathers long before the dinosaurs (Inverse)
Fossil of Sick Pterosaur Crest Reveals Clues to Feather Color (Gizmodo)
Star Wars and Headspace let you practice mindfulness in a galaxy far, far away (Mashable)
Best Star Wars Day Deals: Early Discounts Available Ahead Of May The 4th (Gamespot)
Gene Wilder Documentary in the Works at White Horse Pictures (Collider)
It's Always Something a book by Gilda Radner
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 04/28 - Oreology: The Science of Oreos

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 21:00:59 -0000

Canada has become the first country to release census data on their trans and nonbinary population. Plus, a new study showing how the climate emergency could fuel future pandemics. And, in lighter news, some MIT engineers 3D printed a new device to study why Oreos rarely split the cream filling evenly when you twist them apart.

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Links:

Canada becomes first country to release census data on trans and non-binary population (Xtra Magazine)
BC has Canada's 3rd-highest number of transgender, non-binary people per capita, latest census shows (CBC)
New Study Finds Climate Change Could Spark the Next Pandemic (Georgetown University Medical Center)
'Potentially devastating': Climate crisis may fuel future pandemics (The Guardian)
Climate Change Will Accelerate Viral Spillovers, Study Finds (NY Times)
MIT engineers introduce the Oreometer (MIT News)
Files and "how-to" for the Oreometer design files (Crystal Owens, Github)
Why Do Oreos Never Come Apart Evenly?: MIT Researchers Build an "Oreometer" to Find the Answer (Open Culture)
Michael J. Fox Documentary From Davis Guggenheim Headed to Apple (Collider)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 04/27 - Our Backstabbed Two-Faced Moon

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 21:06:48 -0000

The moon has a bit of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde situation going on that astronomers have never been able to definitively explain, but a new study suggests it could be the result of a massive impact four billion years ago. Plus, yoga for your eyes? What is it and does it actually do anything? And the US is officially saying good riddance to incandescent light bulbs.

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Links:

Did A Whopping Huge Impact At Its South Pole Cause Our Moon To Be Two-Faced? (Syfy Wire)
Differences between the Moon's near and far sides linked to colossal ancient impact (Brown University)
Does eye yoga actually improve your vision? (Mic)
10 Minute Yoga Break - Netra Vyayamam - Yogic Eye Exercises - A Tonic for Too Much Screen Time (Amanda Parr SoulScuba Yoga & Diving, YouTube)
Eye Exercises | Daily Yoga for Eyes (Yogalates With Rashmi, YouTube)
Say Goodbye to Incandescent Light Bulbs (Gizmodo)
Dracula Daily (Substack)
Someone is serializing Dracula in real time over email (Boing Boing)
Romeo and Juliet get Twitter treatment (The Guardian)
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, YouTube)
The Look Back Diaries Episode 1 (Ashley Clements, YouTube)

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Tue. 04/26 - When the CIA Funded an Animal Farm Cartoon

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 19:30:00 -0000

How the CIA funded that 1954 animated adaptation of Animal Farm as part of their anti-communist propaganda campaign. Plus, the woman who found out she’d been missing a chunk of her brain for most of her life without realizing. And why more and more rivers are being granted legal personhood.

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Links:

The cartoon that came in from the cold (The Guardian, 2003)
How the CIA Played Dirty Tricks With Culture (NY Times, 2000)
All Propaganda is Dangerous, but Some are More Dangerous than Others: George Orwell and the Use of Literature as Propaganda (JSTOR)
Keeping It All in the (Nuclear) Family: Big Brother, Auntie BBC, Uncle Sam and George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four (Frames Cinema Journal)
She Was Missing a Chunk of Her Brain. It Didn't Matter (Wired)
This woman is living without a cerebellum. How is that possible? (Vox)
This Canadian river is now legally a person. It's not the only one. (National Geographic)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 04/25 - Monopoly’s Scandalous Anti-Monopoly History

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:30:00 -0000

The secret, anti-monopolist history of the Monopoly board game. Plus, why we’re all having trouble remembering things right now, and how we can strengthen our memories going forward.

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Links:

The Secret Left-Wing History of 'Monopoly' (Discourse Blog)
Who Really Invented Monopoly? (Smithsonian, YouTube)
Monopoly's Inventor: The Progressive Who Didn't Pass 'Go' (NY Times)
The Board Game Trial of the Century (Mental Floss)
The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World's Favorite Board Game by Mary Pilon
Why We're All Forgetting Things Right Now (Wall Street Journal)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 04/22 - Some Like It Hot... But Why?

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 19:30:00 -0000

Why did some cultures develop tastes for particularly spicy foods and others didn’t? Plus, the Museum of Endangered Sounds. And an upcoming documentary from Alex Winter about radicalization on social media.

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Links:

How—and Why—Did Cultural Tastes for Spicy Food Develop? (Literary Hub)
Darwinian Gastronomy: Why We Use Spices: Spices taste good because they are good for us (Oxford Academic)
Antimicrobial functions of spices: why some like it hot (Harvard, PDF)
Museum of Endangered Sounds
Where the Sounds of Your Childhood Go to Rest (MEL)
Saving the Sounds of the Early 20th Century (Atlas Obscura)
'The Youtube Effect' Teaser: Alex Winter's Documentary Examines Radicalization and Misinformation (Collider)
Rabbit Hole (NY Times)
Feels Good Man | Films | Battle to Take Pepe the Frog Back (PBS)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 04/22 - The Sport of Extreme Sitting

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 18:30:00 -0000

Introducing the sport of extreme sitting. Plus, a new study that suggests fungi might be communicating with each other via electrical impulses. And, Sir David Attenborough has been named Champion of the Earth.

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Links:

Tue. 01/25 - Extreme Ironing: Can You Take The Heat? (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Meet the Man Who Wants to Make Sitting an Extreme Sport (Atlas Obscura)
About Desert Sitting (Desert Sitting)
How to explain a day 'desert sitting': Social distancing as endurance sport (Travel Weekly)
Desert Sitting documentary (Desert Sitting)
Fungi May Be Communicating in a Way That Looks Uncannily Like Human Speech (ScienceAlert)
Mushrooms communicate with each other using up to 50 'words', scientist claims (The Guardian)
The Fungus Among Us May Have Their Own Mushroom Language (Nerdist)
Sir David Attenborough named Champion of the Earth by UN (BBC)
Dinosaurs: The Final Day With David Attenborough review – a thrilling slice of time-travelling detective work (The Guardian)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 04/20 - The AI Microwave Out for Revenge

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 20:28:00 -0000

The story of a self-described mad scientist who gave a microwave the soul of his childhood imaginary friend using AI, and then it tried to kill him. Plus, texting etiquette from Emily Post’s great-great-grandchildren.

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Someone Turned Their Imaginary Friend Into an AI Microwave and It Wanted to Kill Them (IGN)
I gave my microwave a soul with AI and it tried to kill me (Lucas Builds The Future, YouTube)
Magnetron Twitter thread (Lucas Rizzotto, Twitter)
Here are a few ways GPT-3 can go wrong (TechCrunch)
Are you bad at texting? Here are the new rules for 2022. (Washington Post)
Andy Serkis will direct an animated adaptation of Animal Farm. (Literary Hub)
The cartoon that came in from the cold (The Guardian)
Vin Diesel Reveals Fast & Furious 10 Title as Production Begins (Collider)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 04/19 - Holoportation & the Real Scream Queen

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 18:30:00 -0000

A doctor was beamed up to the ISS in the first-ever holoportation to space. Plus, a new chopsticks invention that makes your food taste salty without adding any salt. And inside the world of a professional scream artist.

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Links:

Innovative 3D Telemedicine to Help Keep Astronauts Healthy (NASA)
NASA Beamed a Doctor to The ISS in a World-First 'Holoportation' Achievement (ScienceAlert)
Saline solution: Japan invents 'electric' chopsticks that make food seem more salty (The Guardian)
Japan researchers develop electric chopsticks to enhance salty taste (Reuters)
Experience: my scream is famous (The Guardian)
Professional Scream Artist Ashley Peldon (60 Second Docs, YouTube)
CHILD OF RAGE - (FULL DOCUMENTARY) (YouTube)
Netflix will launch Exploding Kittens animated cartoon series and mobile game (VentureBeat)
Fri. 11/19 - The Fake 2000s Yo-Yo Career of 'What We Do In the Shadows' Mark Proksch (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 04/18 - The Old Villains Are the New Heroes + the Big Mac Index

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:30:00 -0000

Why indie booksellers went from hating Barnes & Noble to defending it, and what that means for the future of publishing. Plus, a look at inflation through the lens of the Big Mac Index.

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Links:

How Barnes & Noble Went From Villain to Hero (NY Times)
Inflation comes for the Big Mac (Axios)
The Big Mac index (The Economist)
Thor: Love and Thunder's Trailer Is Wilder Than You Even Imagined (Gizmodo)
Thor: Love And Thunder Is So Crazy 'It Shouldn't Make Sense', Says Taika Waititi (Empire)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 04/15 - We Need a Time Variance Authority

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 20:01:49 -0000

In a more serious take on yesterday’s musings, how is the pandemic and modern technology changing how we communicate about and understand time? Plus, speaking of time, why do Passover and Easter sometimes occur so far apart from one another? Let’s talk about the messy world of human-constructed calendars and natural cycles. And that startup trying to slingshot satellites into space has officially booked a test launch with NASA.

Sponsor:

The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start

Links:

Chronemics and the Nonverbal Language of Time (JSTOR Daily)
The Ancient Math That Sets the Date of Easter and Passover (The Atlantic, 2019)
Clocks Are Too Precise (and People Don't Know What to Do About It) (The Atlantic, 2015)
Private Ax-1 astronaut Eytan Stibbe to celebrate Passover in space (Space.com)
Second Family to hold first-known Passover Seder at vice president's residence (CNN)
Old episode featuring SpinLaunch (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
NASA to Test SpinLaunch, a Giant Slingshot for Launching Satellites Into Space (CNET)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 04/14 - Redefining Units of Time for the Techno-Era

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 21:02:25 -0000

Should we be measuring time differently now that we spend more time with digital technology than nature? Paul Ford has some suggestions. Plus, how the heck is AriZona Iced Tea still just 99 cents and not playing any nefarious shrinkflation games like the other guys? And a new study analyzing the personality profile of absolute a-holes.

Sponsor:

The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start

Links:

Time Got So Much Weirder. The World Needs a New Lexicon (Wired)
How is AriZona Iced Tea still 99 cents as inflation soars? (LA Times)
From 5 fewer Doritos to shrunken Gatorade bottles, here are the insidious ways companies are charging the same amount for less stuff (Insider)
Scientists Ran an Experiment to Identify the Personality Profile of an A-Hole (ScienceAlert)
What makes an a--hole an a—hole? (EukekAlert)
How an early 2000s bop shaped the 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' multiverse (Mashable)
How Son Lux Crafted a Maximalist Soundtrack for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (Rolling Stone)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 04/13 - That's A Big Ol' Comet

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 19:30:24 -0000

A very big comet. How sewage monitoring could transform public health beyond just its applications for COVID-19. Plus, libraries are relinquishing local library card requirements for eBooks in a bid to fight back against book bans. And a new National Park annual pass that won’t be valid for 150 years.

Sponsor:

The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start

Links:

NASA Just Confirmed The Largest Comet Ever Detected, And It's Truly Gargantuan (ScienceAlert)
Hubble Confirms Huge Incoming Comet Has Largest Known Nucleus (Gizmodo)
Hubble pics reveal the mega comet is wider than Rhode Island (Mashable)
Hubble Confirms Largest Comet Nucleus Ever Seen (NASA)
The secrets hidden in sewage (Vox)
Books For All (NYPL)
NYC libraries are offering free digital library cards to people across the US (Time Out)
Yellowstone is Offering a $1,500 Annual Pass That You Won't Be Able to Use for 150 Years (Backpacker) h/t Kottke.org
Inheritance Pass guarantees entrance to Yellowstone in 150 years (Billings Gazette)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 04/12 - Social Media as the Fall of the Tower of Babel

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 21:44:58 -0000

How social media has created a Tower of Babel-like fragmentation of society. Plus, the infrastructure secrets behind a new-to-the-US reality show starring some very busy toddlers. And the brewing beef between Spirit Halloween and the King of Halloween.

Sponsors:

The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start

Links:

Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid (The Atlantic)
So You've Been Publicly Shamed a book by Jon Ronson by Jon Ronson
How Japan Built Cities Where You Could Send Your Toddler On An Errand (Slate)
Old Enough: the Japanese TV show that abandons toddlers on public transport (The Guardian)
Watch Old Enough! (Netflix)
Spirit Halloween Store Film in the Works Starring Christopher Lloyd, Rachael Leigh Cook (EXCLUSIVE) (Variety)
Christopher Lloyd and Rachael Leigh Cook to Star in Spirit Halloween Film (Collider)
Nick Lutsko on Twitter
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 04/11 - You Have Livetweeted Dysentery

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 20:49:08 -0000

The Maryland man livetweeting his bout of dysentery––don’t worry, he’s okay. Plus, scientists have managed to de-age human skin cells by thirty years. And an implausible NASA artifact was taken back to space this weekend by one of the Axiom Space private astronauts.

Sponsor:

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Links:

Beginning of dysentery thread (Jake Eberts, Twitter)
A Man Is Tweeting Through His Dysentery, But Don’t Worry, It’s For Science (BuzzFeed News)
Jake Eberts' Campaign for Water (The Water Project)
Norovirus person (cydbird7, TikTok)
Old skins cells reprogrammed to regain youthful function (EurekAlert)
Scientists Rewind The Clock of Human Skin Cells to Make Them Act 30 Years Younger (ScienceAlert)
Scientists make further inroads into reversing ageing process of cells (The Guardian)
Private astronaut brings an item of mythic proportions to space station (Mashable)
First All-Private Astronaut Team Arrives at the International Space Station (Gizmodo)
IT'S ALMOST TIME | CREEL CLOCK LIVESTREAM (Stranger Things, YouTube)
‘Stranger Things’ Hosting a Mysterious Countdown Livestream (All Hallows Geek)
'For All Mankind' season 3 lands June 10 on Apple TV Plus (Space.com)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 04/08 - Short Kings & Barbie Girls

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 18:41:48 -0000

We turn back the clocks to 1997 for a history of the song “Barbie Girl” and a look at its influence on music. Plus, the Neolithic origins of Short King Spring. And mark your calendars for the Great North American Solar Eclipse.

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Links:

The Oral History of Aqua's 'Barbie Girl' (Rolling Stone)
Aqua - Barbie Girl (Official Music Video) (Aqua, YouTube)
TikTok says it's officially short king spring (iD Vice)
First European farmers' heights did not meet expectations (Penn State)
We're two years away from the Great North American Solar Eclipse of 2024! (Space.com)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 04/07 - Scaly Dino Fossil From the Day the Asteroid Hit Found (maybe)

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 21:14:21 -0000

An impressively well-preserved dinosaur leg fossil has been found that could be the first-ever fossil evidence of the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? Plus, Amtrak is stirring up some beef with their Twitch streams. And a new dream job opening: counting penguins in Antarctica.

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Links:

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Wed. 04/06 - The Darwin Book Thief

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 20:17:56 -0000

Some libraries cancel late fees, others get Interpol involved for missing manuscripts. Either way, missing books can become fascinating treasures when they’re finally returned. Plus, Hubble has spotted a rare planet in the earliest phase of formation. And the United Kingdom has announced plans to mint its own NFT.

Sponsors:

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Links:

New York City Libraries End Late Fees, and the Treasures Roll In (NY Times)
Darwin's missing 'tree of life' notebooks mysteriously returned after 20 years (NBC News)
Missing Darwin notebooks returned to Cambridge University Library (Cambridge University)
Rare glimpse of giant planet still 'in the womb' yet nine times the mass of Jupiter (The Guardian)
Psst! Wanna see an actual Hubble image of a planet forming around a nearby star? (Bad Astronomy, Syfy Wire)
Hubble Finds a Planet Forming in an Unconventional Way (NASA)
Britain announces plans to mint its own NFT as it looks to 'lead the way' in crypto (CNBC)
Rishi Sunak to launch an NFT issued by the Royal Mint to help make UK 'global cryptoasset hub' (Sky News)
Rishi Sunak asks Royal Mint to create NFT (The Guardian)
HBO Max wants multiple TV spin-offs of Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes movies (A/V Club)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 04/05 - So You Wanna Be A Fossil

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 20:56:27 -0000

How to have the best odds of becoming a fossil after you die. Plus, the creators of the viral Marcel the Shell videos secretly made a feature-length film that’s coming out this summer. And a few other recommendations you can stream right now.

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Links:

How to turn yourself into a fossil (BBC Future)
How can I become a fossil? (BBC Future)
Here's Why You Can't Keep Your Loved One's Skull (Mental Floss)
MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON (the first one) (Dean Fleischer-Camp, YouTube)
Marcel The Shell With Shoes On | Official Trailer (A24, Youtube)
'Marcel the Shell': Why Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer-Camp Declined Studio Offers and Made a Secret Movie Instead (Yahoo News)
'Marcel the Shell' Review: Surprise Mockumentary About Viral Shell (IndieWire)
Thu. 03/17 - Why Are Movies So Long These Days? (Cool Stuff Ride Home)
Netflix actually made a Short-A-- Movies category after Saturday Night Live sketch (Entertainment Weekly)
Short-A– Movies (Netflix)
Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off | Official Trailer (HBO Max, YouTube)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 04/04 - The Artwork Made By Six Million People and Counting

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:50:56 -0000

Six million people and counting are creating a piece of artwork together right now in a reminder that sometimes we can have nice things on the internet. Plus, birds are laying their eggs almost a whole month earlier than they used to. And some sounds from Ukraine’s musical resistance to Russia.

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Links:

Internet communities are battling over pixels (Washington Post)
Reddit's r/Place art experiment has already devolved into beautiful chaos (Input)
2017 final canvas (r/Place)
Cool time lapse of the first day of r/place (ethorodison, Twitter)
place
If Blink 182 Wrote 'Never Gonna Give You Up' (Alex Melton, YouTube)
Birds are laying their eggs a month earlier than normal (Washington Post)
Birds nesting, laying eggs earlier, Field Museum study by John Bates finds, reflecting climate change (Chicago Sun-Times)
Stopping Climate Change Is Doable, but Time Is Short, UN Panel Warns (NY Times)
Zelensky makes surprise Grammys appearance to urge support for Ukraine (Washington Post)
Ukraine Has Written a Folk Song About Its Drone (Vice)
Coca-Cola Byte: Coke's New Drink Is 'Pixel' Flavored. What to Know (CNET)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 04/01 - Star Wars Kid: A New Hope

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 20:19:34 -0000

The human genome has finally been completely sequenced––twenty-two years after the initial “essentially” complete version was published. Plus, in another early 2000s follow-up, the “Star Wars Kid” breaks his silence two decades later.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Completing the Human Genome Sequence (Again) (Scientific American)
Scientists publish the first complete human genome (Reuters)
First complete gap-free human genome sequence published (The Guardian)
In the Shadow of the Star Wars Kid (Waxy)
Star Wars Kid (Know Your Meme)
'Star Wars kid' emerges as an Internet hero (Los Angeles Times, 2003)
‘Mystery of Marilyn Monroe’ Trailer: Was She Murdered? No Conspiracy Left Unturned in Netflix Doc (Indie Wire)
All the Details on Andrew Dominik's NC-17 Marilyn Monroe Biopic 'Blonde,' Starring Ana de Armas (Indie Wire)
Mind the Gap (Twenty Thousand Hertz)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 03/31 - We Don't Talk About Pluto

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 21:17:20 -0000

New findings indicate that Pluto’s ice volcanoes are even weirder than we previously thought. Plus, a killer parasite is wiping out an entire species of ant in Texas… but actually it’s kind of a net positive. And US citizens will soon be able to select an X gender marker on their passport.

Sponsors:

The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start
DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Engineering

Links:

There's Something Truly Unique About Pluto's Landscape, New Study Says (Science Alert)
Pluto's Huge Ice Volcanoes Are Stranger Than We Realized (Gizmodo)
Ice Volcanoes Reshape Pluto and Hint at a Hidden Ocean (NY Times)
A Killer Parasite Is Wiping Out Hordes of Ants—in a Good Way (Wired)
Biden to mark Transgender Day of Visibility with new actions (AP)
Finally, Some Good News On Trans Rights (Charlotte’s Web Thoughts)
US will now offer gender-neutral X option on passports (The Verge)
Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride
The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality (TransLash Media)
Trans Week of Visibility & Action
Watch Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launch its first New Shepard space crew of 2022 (CNBC)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 03/30 - Prayers on the Blockchain & the Oldest Ever Star

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 20:38:46 -0000

Could alpaca antibodies one day provide treatment for COVID-19? Plus, the Hubble telescope has spotted the oldest star ever seen by humans, by a long shot. The European Union is cracking down on fast fashion. And the scammers trying to turn prayers in NFTs.

Sponsors:

DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Future
The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start

Links:

Potent alpaca nanobodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants (Nano Magazine)
Old episode with llama segment at the end (Coronavirus Morning Report, YouTube)
Record Broken: Hubble Spots Farthest Star Ever Seen (NASA)
Farthest star ever seen almost 13 billion light-years away (Bad Astronomy)
Hubble Space Telescope spots most distant single star ever seen (Space.com)
100,000 Stars
European Union reveals fast fashion crackdown (BBC)
EU proposes new rules to discourage disposable fast fashion (AP)
Religious Website Promising to Commemorate Prayers on the Blockchain Is Gone, Thank God (The Mary Sue)
Now You Too Can Commemorate Your Prayer on the Blockchain as an NFT (Relevant)
HBO Max is going back to Derry with an It prequel series (A/V Club)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 03/29 - Koons' Moons

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 20:32:52 -0000

Artist Jeff Koons’ next sculpture installation? On the moon. Plus, it’s not just you. Seasonal allergies really are worse this year, and the climate emergency is to blame. And, the Northern Lights might be visible Wednesday night in parts of the northern US and Canada, with bonus rockets being blasted into them by NASA.

Sponsors:

The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start
DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Engineering

Links:

Artist Jeff Koons aims to send sculptures to the Moon on commercial lunar lander (The Verge)
As Part of His NFT Debut, Jeff Koons Will Launch Sculptures Into Space and Place Them Permanently on the Moon (ArtNet)
There Is a Sculpture on the Moon Commemorating Fallen Astronauts (Smithsonian Magazine)
Various Artists, Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, David Novros, Forrest Myers, Robert Rauschenberg, John Chamberlain. The Moon Museum. 1969 (Museum of Modern Art)
Climate change is making pollen season even worse across the country (Washington Post)
Naked-Eye Northern Lights May Be Visible From The U.S. This Week As Solar Flares Head Our Way (Forbes)
3-day-forecast (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
NASA set to launch 2 rockets into the northern lights (Space.com)
The Northern Lights Over Atlanta, Michigan (Great Lakes Myth Society, Bandcamp)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 03/28 - The Hoax Behind Pringles' Mascot's Name

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 21:09:18 -0000

The Scottish dolphin who lives among and seems to “talk” with porpoises. Plus, how a Wikipedia hoax became official branding for Pringles. And sheep are pivoting to solar.

Sponsors:

DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Future
The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start

Links:

For the first time, wild dolphin observed 'talking' with harbor porpoises (National Geographic)
The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse
The secret Wikipedia prank behind the Pringles mascot's first name (Mashable)
The Pringle Man's Name Is an Epic Wikipedia Hoax (Review Geek)
How 600 Sheep Will HelpHow 600 Sheep Will Help Maintain a Solar Array Maintain a Solar Array (Vice)
Solar grazing: How sheep mow the lawn at community solar farms in Upstate NY (New York Upstate)
Walmart Stops Selling Cigarettes in Some Stores (Wall Street Journal)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 03/25 - Digital Rest Stop Ahead

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 21:34:00 -0000

Digital resting points are an increasingly popular way to recharge and slow down in the midst of endless scrolling. Plus, are we facing a “sensory extinction?” And, meet the giant eerie glowing orb that might be installed in London.

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Links:

Doomscrolling got you down? Take a break at a digital rest stop. (Washington Post)
Animal sounds are a marvel of evolution. We can't afford to drown them out. (Vox)
Mount Rainier National Park Washington State, Nature Sounds (4K Relaxation Videos, YouTube)
Fri. 03/18 - What Do We Lose By Keeping The Lights On? (Kottke Ride Home)
City of London approves terrifying, gargantuan spherical music venue (Consequence of Sound)
Everything You Need to Know About MSG Sphere in Las Vegas (Vital Vegas)
London's Madison Square Garden Sphere gets planning approval (The Guardian)
Pepsi/IHOP sweepstakes (Pepsi, Twitter)
NASA to announce Hubble Space Telescope discovery next week (Space.com)
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 03/24 - You're Not Actually Laughing, lol

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 20:36:20 -0000

The origin and fascinating evolution of “lol.” Plus, it turns out the speed of sound on Mars is different and weirder than anticipated. And some of the researchers behind the discovery of Captain Shackleton’s lost ship are developing a sort of Google Maps for arctic waters.

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Links:

Why We Use “lol” So Much (Vice)
The Speed of Sound on Mars Is Strangely Different, Scientists Reveal (Science Alert)
Episode about Perseverance's microphones (Kottke Ride Home)
Scientists that found Shackleton's lost ship are developing a 'Google Maps for the Antarctic' (BBC Science Focus)
Episode about the discovery of Ernest Shackleeton's ship (Kottke Ride Home)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 03/23 - Lettuce Medicine, Ranch Diamonds, & eWaste Coins

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 20:07:18 -0000

How genetically-modified lettuce grown in space could protect astronauts’ bones on long voyages. Plus, meet Doug, the false potato stripped of Guinness World Record glory in the eleventh hour. And, a two-carat diamond made out of ranch dressing, the Royal Mint in the UK is going to start recovering gold from the nation’s electronic waste, and an important announcement at the end of the show.

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Links:

Lettuce Could Protect Astronauts' Bones on Mars Trip (UC Davis)
What Happens to the Human Body in Space? (NASA)
Is This the World's Largest Potato? (NY Times)
Sadly, that huge potato named Doug isn't actually a potato after all (Gizmodo)
DNA Test Finds 'World's Largest Potato' Isn't A Potato At All (Food & Wine)
Nice try but no potato for New Zealand couple's giant find (AP)
Hidden Valley Creates First-Ever Man-Made Diamond Made of Ranch, Giving Super Fans a Stunning 2 Carat Symbol of True Ranch Love (AP)
You may now bid on a diamond ring made of ranch dressing (A/V Club)
Tue. 03/08 - Diamonds Are the Air's Best Friend (Kottke Ride Home)
The Royal Mint to build ‘world first’ plant to turn UK’s electronic waste into gold (Royal Mint)
Britain's Royal Mint to build plant that will extract gold from electronic waste (CNBC)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 03/22 - Competitive Water Drinkers On YouTube: One of the Internet's Last Friendly Places?

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 18:00:00 -0000

Turns out humans have been cooking and enjoying carbs for much longer than we initially thought, and the experiments some archaeologists have been conducting to lend credence to their hypotheses are very cool. Plus, welcome to the weird and wonderful world of competitive water drinking on YouTube. And a startup that wants to make earth-bound deliveries by taking a shortcut through space.

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Links:

How ancient people fell in love with bread, beer and other carbs (Nature)
Ancient Ales (Dogfish Head Brewery)
Inside the Super Positive Community of Competitive YouTube Water Drinkers (Vice)
HydroHomies (Reddit)
This Stick Of Butter Is Left Out At Room Temperature; You Won't Believe What Happens Next (ClickHole, YouTube)
DAVID LYNCH THEATER (David Lynch, YouTube)
Dreaming of Suitcases in Space (NY Times)
A company is planning to give you orbital deliveries from outer space (Interesting Engineering)
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 03/21 - Squid Tech to Prevent Human Sunburns

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 18:00:00 -0000

How to appear effortlessly charming to new people you meet. Plus, using squid technology to protect humans from the sun. And a new generation of search apps that search everything you touch on your devices.

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Links:

The tricks to make yourself effortlessly charming (BBC)
How Squid Camouflage Could Help Prevent Skin Cancer in Humans (Northeastern University)
Squid camouflage-inspired sticker can tell when you've had too much sun (New Atlas)
L'Oreal's Ingenious Nail Art Detects Harmful UV Rays (Fast Company, 2018)
This new breed of unified search apps does what Google doesn't (Fast Company)
Heyday
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 03/18 - What Do We Lose By Keeping The Lights On?

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 18:00:00 -0000

Should we be making a greater effort to reduce light pollution? Plus, scientists are trying to use murder hornets’ own sexual behavior to eradicate them. And an app that will help you safely find and eat roadkill.

Sponsors:

DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Future
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Links:

The argument for switching off lights at night (BBC Future)
We don't need more sleep. We just need more darkness. (Washington Post)
The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light by Paul Bogard
Researchers Could Lure Murder Hornets to Their Deaths with Sex (Gizmodo)
It's a Trap: Murder Hornets' Own Sex Pheromones Could Be Their Downfall (CNET)
Road to table: Wyoming's got a new app for claiming roadkill (AP)
Want some roadkill to cook? There's an app for that. (Boing Boing)
Weezle
Wordle, 15 Million Tweets Later / Robert Lesser (Observable)
Kottke.Org
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Thu. 03/17 - Why Are Movies So Long These Days?

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 18:00:00 -0000

Why have movies gotten so long recently? Plus, the startups working to develop lab-created chocolate. And a nightmarish creature from Texas to rival all the hype around those giant Joro spiders.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Why Are Movies So Long Now? (Variety)
Silicon Valley Is Coming for Your Chocolate (The Atlantic)
Watch Dark Side of Chocolate (Slave Free Chocolate)
A look at the frightening Texas giant red-headed centipede (Yahoo)
Texas Centipedes: 3 Things You Probably Don't Want to Know (Texas Hill Country)
Killer Centipede | World's Deadliest (National Geographic)
NASA Preparing to Roll Out Its SLS Megarocket Later This Week (Gizmodo)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 03/16 - Permanent Daylight Saving Time?

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 18:00:00 -0000

How Prohibition was far more global and far more progressive than it’s often portrayed. And, is the United States about to stay in Daylight Saving Time forever?

Sponsors:

DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Future
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Links:

Myth Vs. Fact: Daylight Saving Time and Farming (AgAmerica)
The Senate unanimously agreed to make daylight saving time permanent. (Slate)
The Senate just voted to make daylight saving time permanent. Good. (Vox)
The Real History of Prohibition Is Global (The Atlantic)
Abolition, Women's Rights, and Temperance Movements (National Parks Service)
The Forgotten History of Black Prohibitionism (Politico)
Watch Prohibition | Ken Burns (PBS)
How You Know You're Drinking A Great Prohibition-Era Cocktail (Thrillist)
February episode on Prohibition-era "wine bricks" (Kottke Ride Home)
Last year's Daylight Saving & St. Patrick's Day segments (Kottke Ride Home)
Kottke.Org
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Tue. 03/15 - Solar Storms & Subvariants, But It's All Fine

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 19:47:38 -0000

Subvariants, spikes, and sewers. A few indicators remind us that we’re not quite out of the woods yet when it comes to COVID. Plus, a new method that shows how any person can be trained to harness the creativity inside of themselves. And what it means that the sun is getting more and more active.

Sponsors:

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Links:

U.S. Sewer Data Warns of a New Bump in Covid Cases After Lull (Bloomberg)
Is omicron subvariant BA.2 to blame for rising Covid cases? (CNBC)
People, Not Science, Decide When a Pandemic Is Over (Scientific American)
Anyone can be trained to be creative: New program shows early success with US Army, others (ScienceDaily)
Officials Confirm Several Geomagnetic Storms Are Hitting Earth This Week (Science Alert)
Why are we seeing more northern lights this year? (The Conversation)
Sofiane Pamart live under the Northern Lights, in Lapland, Finland for Cercle (Cercle, YouTube)
Netflix drops trailer for Barack Obama's national parks documentary series (Mashable)
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 03/14 - Why COVID Causes Loss of Smell and How To (Maybe) Get It Back

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 20:25:54 -0000

How many digits of pi is the right amount to use? Plus, what actually causes people to lose their sense of smell when they get COVID? And how can you work to recover yours if you lost it? And, Saturday Night Live’s Pete Davidson is going to space.

Sponsors:

DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Future
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Links:

Vsauce short explaining Not A Wake (Vsauce, Twitter)
Not a Wake: A Dream Embodying (Pi)'s Digits Fully for 10000 Decimals by Michael Keith
How Much Pi Do You Really Need? (Wired)
20 Best Pi Day 2022 Deals and Freebies on Pizza, Pies and More (Good Housekeeping)
How the Coronavirus Steals the Sense of Smell (NY Times)
Covid Stole Your Sense of Smell? Try Physical Therapy for Your Nose. (NY Times)
Pete Davidson will go to space on Blue Origin’s 4th human flight (CNBC)
SNL star Pete Davidson is heading to space with crew of five on next Blue Origin flight (The Verge)
24 Years (Kottke.org)
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 03/11 - Abe Lincoln: Telegraph Influencer

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 19:20:02 -0000

Abraham Lincoln was a telegraph power-user, and the one thousand telegrams he sent during his presidency might have helped the US win the Civil War. Plus, an app that can diagnose rare diseases just by scanning a child’s face. And, ten thousand people in New Orleans were without power for hours due to a surprising, but it turns out not uncommon, cause.

Sponsors:

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Links:

How Abraham Lincoln Used the Telegraph to Help Win the Civil War (History)
Hank Green on Inspiring Curiosity (Offline with Jon Favreau)
This App Can Diagnose Rare Diseases From a Child's Face (Wired)
A Bird Is Blamed as 10,000 Lose Power in New Orleans (NY Times)
Bird causes 10,000 people to lose power in New Orleans (A/V Club)
Just Say No to CBDCs (The Upheaval)
Kottke.Org
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Thu. 03/10 - We Need To Talk About The Spiders

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 21:13:03 -0000

The giant yellow spiders set to invade the eastern seaboard of North America are… not as scary as the internet is making them seem. Plus, the Smithsonian is returning a number of artworks to Nigeria. And President Biden is considering a digital currency for the US.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Joro spiders likely to spread beyond Georgia (University of Georgia)
The joro spider is an invasive species, but you don't need to fear the invasion (NBC News)
Thread from a science communicator on Joro spiders (ScienTEAific, Twitter)
Jokes about Axios' fearmongering of Joro spiders (Katie Bowers, Twitter)
Giant Joro spiders expected to drop from sky across the East Coast this spring (Axios)
Huge invasive spiders native to Asia expected to spread along US east coast (The Guardian)
Smithsonian to give back its entire collection of Benin bronzes (Washington Post)
In a Landmark Move, the Smithsonian Will Return Benin Bronzes in Its Collection to Nigeria (ArtNet)
Biden considers digital dollar—here's how it could differ from regular money (Ars Technica)
Tue. 02/08 - Wine Bricks To The Rescue + Decoding Dickens & Digital Dollars (Kottke Ride Home)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 03/09 - Why Has "Z" Become a Pro-War Symbol?

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 18:43:40 -0000

One of the most famous shipwrecks has finally been discovered at the bottom of a sea in Antarctica. Plus, why the letter “Z” has become a Russian pro-war symbol. And, post-punk Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Sponsors:

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Links:

At the Bottom of an Icy Sea, One of History's Great Wrecks Is Found (NY Times)
Endurance: 'Finest wooden shipwreck I've ever seen' (BBC)
Endurance: Shackleton's lost ship is found in Antarctic (BBC)
Shackleton's lost shipwreck discovered off Antarctica (Phys.Org)
Ernest Shackleton's Ship Found After 106 Years (Kottke.Org)
Ukraine war: Why has 'Z' become a Russian pro-war symbol? (BBC)
Why has the letter Z become the symbol of war for Russia? (The Guardian)
Alvin & the Chipmunks tweet (Jeff Blehar, Twitter)
Chipmunks On 16 Speed - Sludgefest (Full Album) (LunarOrbit, YouTube)
Kottke.Org
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Tue. 03/08 - Diamonds Are the Air's Best Friend

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 19:52:25 -0000

Giving all new meaning to “taking a leaf out of their book,” medieval literature scholars have adopted ecological models to quantify lost works of fiction. Plus, what if you could create diamonds out of thin air? And, had a rough day? Let some kindergarteners give you a pep talk.

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Links:

How Much Medieval Literature Has Been Lost? (Scientific American)
Can ecological extinction models help us understand the literature we’ve lost? (Literary Hub)
How a diamond company is giving carbon capture a boost (The Verge)
A startup is sucking CO2 from the sky and making diamonds. No more mining? (Interesting Engineering)
A new hotline offers pep talks from kindergartners (NPR)
Call Peptoc at 707-998-8410
Disney+ Announces New Series The Muppets Mayhem (Consequence)
Is It Cake? Trailer Reveals a Baking Competition With a Deceptive Twist (Collider)
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 03/07 - Why Have Some Of Us Never Gotten COVID?

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 20:26:52 -0000

After two years, why have some of us never gotten COVID? Plus, the surprisingly artistic and wonderful Squirrel Census. And a volcanic rock in Japan rumored to contain a thousand-year-old demonic spirit has just been found split in two. Nbd.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Death toll surpasses 6 million for pandemic now in 3rd year (AP)
Why have some people never caught Covid? The answers could help protect us all (The Guardian)
Genetic study reveals causal link between blood type and COVID severity (New Atlas)
The NYC Squirrel Census is back with new results — and a toll-free number (Gothamist)
THE SQUIRREL CENSUS
Call the Squirrel Census Phone Tree toll-free at 1-833-NYC-SQRL
Stream Squirrel Census Records (Squirrel Census, Soundcloud)
Squirrel Sighter (Apple App Store)
Japan's 'killing stone' splits in two, releasing superstitions amid the sulphur springs (The Guardian)
Sesshōseki (Killing Stone) – Nasu, Japan (Atlas Obscura)
The things Apple might announce next week, ranked by how likely they are (Ars Technica)
Techmeme Ride Home
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 03/04 - How Hybrid Work Could Change Cities & the Workforce

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 21:55:49 -0000

Is it possible for ocean cleanup programs to do more harm than good? And how might offices, cities, and the nature of work itself change if––as looks increasingly likely––many office jobs never return to fully on-site work. Plus, the latest Wordle-style game recommendation.

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Links:

Why marine biologists think ocean cleanups are a bad idea (Vox)
Ocean Cleanup struggles to fulfill promise to scoop up plastic at sea (Reuters)
Tech Companies Are Reopening Their Offices, but Tech Work Has Changed Forever (Wall Street Journal)
The Five-Day Workweek Is Dying (The Atlantic)
Heardle
A piece of a Chinese rocket slammed into the Moon this morning (The Verge)
Kottke.Org
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Thu. 03/03 - Designing Gotham: Batman's Universal Hometown

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 18:56:25 -0000

A look at how the design of Gotham City has changed throughout each incarnation of Batman, reflecting the soul and vengeance of the caped crusader. Plus, the technicolor array of blood throughout the animal kingdom. And, your chance to take your name to the moon. Not in an investing sense. Like, literally. NASA will put your name on Artemis-I.

Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order
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Links:

The Long and Twisted History of Designing Gotham City (The Ringer)
So, Why Do We Call It Gotham, Anyway? (NYPL)
Animal blood comes in a rainbow of colors—here's why (National Geographic)
NASA is offering to fly your name around the moon because sure, why not? (Mashable)
NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission, 1st flight of new megarocket, won't launch until May (Space.com)
Around the Moon with NASA's First Launch of SLS with Orion (NASA)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 03/02 - Death to Plastic

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 21:54:14 -0000

175 nations have agreed to craft a legally binding treaty to reel in the world’s out-of-control plastic problem. Plus, remember that rocket booster no one is taking responsibility for? It’s still hitting the moon on Friday. Here’s what it might be able to tell us. And, a Beetlejuice sequel might finally be happening––unless Batman thwarts him again.

Sponsors:

DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Future
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Links:

Ice Cream Machine Hackers Sue McDonald's for $900 Million (Wired)
11/30 episode with a McDonald's milkshake update (Kottke Ride Home)
Fri. 04/23 - A McShake Up: The Battle Over McDonald's Ice Cream Machines (Kottke Ride Home)
Plastic pollution: Green light for 'historic' global treaty (BBC)
The World Is Awash in Plastic. Nations Plan a Treaty to Fix That. (NY Times)
A rocket is going to crash into the Moon – the accidental experiment will shed light on the physics of impacts in space (The Conversation)
'Beetlejuice 2': Brad Pitt's Plan B Boards Sequel In Early Development (Deadline)
Michael Keaton & Winona Ryder Reportedly Returning For Beetlejuice 2 (Screen Rant)
Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian [Script to Pieces] (Wicked Horror)
Brad Pitt's 'Beetlejuice' (The Ankler)
Beetlejuice The Animated Series - Everything You Didn't Know (Syfy Wire, Youtube)
Beetle House NYC
Beetlejuice Broadway
Kottke.Org
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Tue. 03/01 - Dino Drama: Should Tyrannosaurus Be Split Into Three Species?

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 22:45:52 -0000

Is the tyrannosaurus rex going to be broken up into three species? Plus, we’ve talked a lot about meat alternatives, but now it’s time for: dairy milk alternatives. No, not oat or almond. Actual dairy milk but without the use of animals. And, finally a study that says going for a walk is bad for you.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Scientists propose Tyrannosaurus had three species, not just 'rex' (Reuters)
Call to split T. rex into 3 species sparks fierce debate (National Geographic)
They Want to Break T. Rex Into 3 Species. Paleontologists Aren't Pleased. (NY Times)
"Did anything of scientific merit happen..." (SUEtheTRex, Twitter)
Animal-free dairy milk set to finally hit US retail shelves (New Atlas)
Better Dairy slices into new funding for animal-free cheeses (TechCrunch)
Your lunchtime walks in the summer could be making you less productive: Researchers find that a brief walk outside on a hot day impairs cognitive performance (Science Daily)
Walk It Off newsletter (Isaac Fitzgerald, Substack)
Unseen JRR Tolkien paintings, photographs and video clips released (The Guardian)
The Tolkien Estate
The Office: Kevin's Famous Chili Recipe Revealed by Peacock (Consequence TV)
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 02/28 - Pres. Zelensky's Uncanny Comedy Career & the Perils of Idol-worship

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 21:31:15 -0000

That thing you’re looking at right now, it’s already fifteen seconds in the past. Plus, new findings from Apple and Harvard’s giant period-tracking study. And, before emerging as a wartime president, Volodymyr Zelensky had a prolific career as a comedian. Here’s a rundown of some of the wildest clips that have been resurfacing––and a note on holding their humor together with the gravity of the moment.

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Links:

Why your brain is a "time machine" living 15 seconds in the past (Inverse)
Everything You See Is From 15 Seconds in the Past, New Research Claims (Popular Mechanics)
Periods, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and heart health (Harvard)
Apple's latest women's health study results focus on PCOS (Engadget)
Apple Period-Tracking Data Powers PCOS Health Study (Gizmodo)
Ukraine’s Courage, Putin’s Logic, and the Fox News Axis of Evil (The Problem With Jon Stewart, YouTube)
Ukraine's President Zelensky: In the streets of a war-rattled city, a hero is born (Washington Post)
Ukraine Elected a Sitcom Star President. His Show Tells Us What to Expect. (Slate, 2019)
Слуга народа: Full Servant of the People episodes (Servant of the People, YouTube)
"It's no coincidence that Trump got his start as a TV star..." (Joel Silberman, Facebook)
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dancing With the Stars DWTS in Ukraine in 2006. (Joel Thingvall, YouTube)
Watch Ukraine's president perform Hava Nagila on piano "with his genitals" (Boing Boing)
"Single Ladies"-esque music video (Студия Квартал 95 Online, YouTube)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Did Voice Paddington (The Hollywood Reporter)
Behind the Scenes: Zelensky recording Paddington 2 (VLGFILM Ukraine, YouTube)
Paddington Bear, Refugee (The New Yorker, 2017)
Volodymyr Zelensky's inaugural address (The Ukrainian Weekly)
Ukraine conflict: Nigeria condemns treatment of Africans (BBC)
Thread on ways to help African/Caribbean students evacuating Ukraine (Korrinesky, Twitter)
OutRight Action International
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 02/25 - The Meme Accounts Behind Misinformation

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 20:50:58 -0000

The meme accounts behind some of the spread of misinformation already this week, as well as some guidance for seeking out and sharing accurate information. Plus, seals that are being recruited by scientists to spy on whales. And the latest vaccine seeking authorization.

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Links:

Scammy Instagram 'war pages' are capitalizing on Ukraine conflict (Input)
How to avoid sharing bad information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (MIT Technology Review)
Advice for not spreading misinformation (Kate Starbird, Twitter)
Scientists are recruiting elephant seals to eavesdrop on whales (Vox)
Sanofi, GSK to seek approval for Covid vaccine candidate that prevents 100% of hospitalizations (CNBC)
A new Covid vaccine shows 100 percent efficacy against severe disease and hospitalizations, its makers say. (NY Times)
Miscellanea: Understanding the War in Ukraine (Bret Devereaux)
Why is Russia invading Ukraine and what does Putin want? (BBC)
Russia's war in Ukraine: complete guide in maps, video and pictures (The Guardian)
The beauty and everyday life in Ukraine, in photos (Jennifer J. Carroll, Twitter)
“February. Get the ink and weep.” Contemporary Poetry From Ukraine (Literary Hub)
Kottke.Org
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Thu. 02/24 - The Little-Known Women Who Saved Millions of Children

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 22:16:51 -0000

The too-little-known story of the creation of the whooping cough vaccine. Plus, the remarkable initiatives in Taiwan that are helping keep the country clean with a little help from Beethoven. A new Netflix docuseries that uses AI to recreate Andy Warhol’s voice reading his diaries. And a note on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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Links:

The Unsung Heroes Who Ended a Deadly Plague (Smithsonian Magazine)
How American Conservatives Turned Against the Vaccine (Kottke.Org)
In Taiwan, When You Hear Beethoven, It's Time to Take Out the Trash (NY Times)
'The Andy Warhol Diaries' Trailer Is Here, Queer, and Compelling (The Advocate)
Watch trailer Netflix's The Andy Warhol Diaries docuseries (Entertainment Weekly)
The Russian Invasion of Ukraine (Kottke.org)
Ukraine standoff, drone strikes, Johnson's woes (Bloomberg)
Russia attacks Ukraine; peace in Europe ‘shattered’ (AP)
Biden Speech on Putin, Russia-Ukraine Invasion: Live Updates (NY Times)
Livefeed of Kyiv (Washington Post, YouTube)
Russia-Ukraine Monitor Map (Centre For Information Resilience)
10 Videos From the Invasion of Ukraine That Are Actually Fake (Gizmodo)
Understanding the Ukraine Crisis: A Comprehensive Reading List (Literary Hub)
4 Meaningful Ways You Can Help Ukraine (Global Citizen)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 02/23 - I'm Feeling Lucky

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 21:05:58 -0000

Why does Google still have the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button? And what do the ways Google Search has changed mean for us as a society? Plus, a proposed global library of underwater audio with a perfect name, and what fish are usually “talking” about when they communicate acoustically. And finally, Kraft Heinz is throwing their hat in the plant-based alternatives ring, but how do plant-based alternatives actually stack up to real meat?

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Links:

Why does Google still have that “I’m Feeling Lucky” button? (Real Life Magazine)
Easy Answers –– The more we can google, the less we know (Real Life Magazine)
PSA: Google Photos Has “I'm Feeling Lucky” Too (How To Geek)
Scientists Propose the Creation of a Global Aquatic Sound Library (Smithsonian Mag)
Hums, honks and boops? That's just fish chatting about sex and food (The Guardian)
The Cephalopodcast
Kraft Heinz wants to make plant-based hot dogs through new joint venture (CNBC)
Here's How Plant-Based 'Meats' Stack Up, Nutritionally (LifeHacker)
Kottke.Org
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Tue. 02/22 - Hot Jupiter Is Raining Gems

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 21:51:22 -0000

The mysteries of people with super color vision. Plus, a Hot Jupiter that rains gems. And Hank the Tank, the furry 500 pound dumpster diving home invader taking California by storm.

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The Rare Gift of Seeing Extra Colors (Wall Street Journal)
'I'm really just high on life and beauty': the woman who can see 100 million colours (The Guardian)
A “hot Jupiter’s” dark side is revealed in detail for first time (MIT News)
A 'hot Jupiter's' dark side is revealed in detail for first time: The planet's night side likely hosts iron clouds, titanium rain, and winds that dwarf Earth's jetstream (Science Daily)
Scientists study a 'hot Jupiter' exoplanet's dark side in detail for the first time (Engadget)
Hank the Tank, a 500-Pound Bear, Ransacks a California Community (NY Times)
A 500-pound bear called Hank The Tank now rules California (A/V Club)
Mystery Deepens as China Denies Owning Space Junk Set to Crash Into Moon (Science Alert)
Corrected identification of object about to hit the moon (Project Pluto)
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 02/21 - Emo Poet & Wrestling Champ Abe Lincoln

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 21:35:51 -0000

Hundreds of birds dropped from the sky in northern Mexico. Why it happened and two brothers in India who heal birds who have suffered a similar fate. Plus: wrestler. Poet. Mattress King? The semi-true extracurriculars of Abraham Lincoln. And some recommendations for Brad Neely Appreciation Day.

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Links:

Why did birds fall from sky in Mexico? Probably a predator, experts say (The Guardian)
Jordan Peele posts Nope hashtag with video of creepy bird disaster (A/V Club)
As More Birds Fly Into Buildings, Scientists Study How To Limit Collision Deaths (NPR)
All That Breathes: The Indian brothers who heal birds dropping from the sky (BBC)
All That Breathes Review: Transfixing Doc About Delhi's Bird Rescuers (IndieWire)
Is Abraham Lincoln in the Wrestling Hall of Fame? (Snopes)
Poems of Abraham Lincoln by Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln in the Bardo a book by George Saunders
I'm Abraham Lincoln and I Beg of You, Please Commemorate My Birthday with Mattress Sales (McSweeney’s)
Before Hamilton, there was the Washington music video (Polygon)
George Washington (TheRealBradNeely, YouTube)
The Professor Brothers - History Lesson (JFK) (TheRealBradNeely, YouTube)
Wizard People, Dear Reader (Brad Neely, SoundCloud)
You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington by Alexis Coe
Jack's Presidents' Day Playlist (Spotify)
Presidential podcast (Washington Post)
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 02/18 - Did the Index Destroy How We Read? Will eBooks?

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 21:52:38 -0000

How a medieval hatred of indexes mirrors debates today about how search engines are changing our brains. Plus, a round-up of the unceasing Wordle news and spin-offs. A thousand Porsches are on fire in the middle of the Atlantic. And how about a caffeinated doughnut with your space-themed Coca-Cola?

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How Scholars Once Feared That the Book Index Would Destroy Reading (Literary Hub)
Students Today Can't Prepare Bark to Calculate Their Problems (Quote Investigator)
Wordle Has Ad Trackers Now That the New York Times Owns It (Gizmodo)
The New York Times has changed Wordle's solutions (The Verge)
Extra credit: You can play Wordle in other languages! (Duo Lingo)
Worldle
Primel
Reversle
Quordle
dordle
Wordle Unlimited
Star Wordle
Queerdle
Lordle of the Rings
Taylordle
Subwaydle
1,000 Porsches are burning aboard this abandoned cargo ship (The Verge)
Ship Carrying 1,100 Porsches and Other Luxury Cars Is Burning and Adrift (NY Times)
Just one last job... (Evan Simko-Bednarski, Twitter)
Cargo Ship Full of Porsches, Bentleys and VWs Is On Fire and Adrift in the Atlantic [UPDATED] (The Drive)
Coca-Cola introduces a first-of-its-kind flavor (CNN)
Snack maker Hostess unveils caffeinated doughnuts as market for caffeine-spiked food heats up (Washington Post)
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Thu. 02/17 - The Origins and Physics of Luge

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 21:13:09 -0000

The history and the science of luge, bobsledding, and skeleton. Plus, a new study has found that the US’s corn-based ethanol is worse for the climate than regular gasoline. And a bit of a pop culture round-up, including some new releases to look forward to this Record Store Day.

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How in the World Did Luge Happen? (Atlas Obscura)
The high-speed physics of how bobsled, luge and skeleton send humans hurtling faster than a car on the highway (The Conversation)
Which Winter Olympics Sport Is the Slipperiest? (Slate)
Luge, bobsled, skeleton: What's the difference? Burning Sochi questions answered (Today)
US corn-based ethanol worse for the climate than gasoline, study finds (Reuters)
US corn ethanol tweet (David Roberts, Twitter)
How Corn Ethanol for Biofuel Fed Climate Change (Civil Eats)
‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 Will Be Split Into Two Parts, Release Dates Announced (Collider)
Record Store Day 2022: The 20 Must-Have Releases (Consequence of Sound)
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Wed. 02/16 - EPCOT 2.0? Disney's New Residential Housing Communities

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 22:12:59 -0000

A new startup that is working on making steaks and chicken breasts out of thin air. Plus, the first woman has seemingly been cured of HIV. And Disney is developing a new round of residential communities around the US.

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Links:

This Startup Is Trying to Make Juicy Steaks Out of Thin Air (Wired)
Something in the Air (Protein) These Days (The Spoon)
Can lab-based meat be vegan? (Fortune)
Can You Make Meat From Air? Dr. Lisa Dyson, CEO and Founder of Air Protein, Explains on The Plantbased Business Hour (Vegconomist)
This Startup's Futuristic Idea to Fight Climate Change? Make Meat From Thin Air (Inc.)
A Woman Is Cured of HIV Using a Novel Treatment (NY Times)
First woman reported cured of HIV after stem cell transplant (Reuters)
Scientists have possibly cured HIV in a woman for the first time (NBC News)
Disney is developing planned communities for fans who never want to leave its clutches (The Verge)
Disney Launches New Business to Develop Residential Communities (Walt Disney Company)
Disney To Build New Residential Communities, First Is In Rancho Mirage (Deadline)
Walt Disney (DIS) to Develop Residential Housing Communities Across US (Bloomberg)
Walt Disney's radical vision for a new kind of city (The Conversation)
DeLorean DMC Will Return In 2022 As Luxury Electric Sports Car (Inside EVs)
The DeLorean Is Officially Back, And It's Electric (IGN)
Downton Abbey stars Michelle Dockery and Michael Fox to debut musical album (Washington Post)
DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA - Official Trailer [HD] (Focus Features, YouTube)
Kottke.Org
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Other recommended watching:

Framing John DeLorean (IFC Films)
Defunctland: Walt Disney's City of the Future, E.P.C.O.T. (Defunctland, YouTube)

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Tue. 02/15 - The Love Story Behind the High Five Wikipedia Page

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 21:02:51 -0000

Uncovering the story behind two anonymous people whose photographs serve as instructions on the high five Wikipedia entry. Plus, people apparently find AI-generated faces more trustworthy than real human ones. And the Idaho Potato Commission just dropped their first fragrance.

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Links:

The adorable love story behind Wikipedia's 'high five' photos (Input)
Depths of Wikipedia (Instagram)
Depths of Wikipedia (Twitter)
Goofing Off (Wikipedia)
4/8/21 episode about the origin of the high five (Kottke Ride Home)
Fake faces created by AI look more trustworthy than real people (NewScientist)
Humans Find AI-Generated Faces More Trustworthy Than the Real Thing (Scientific American)
AI generated faces are MORE trustworthy than real faces say researchers who warn of “deep fakes” (Lancaster University)
AI Creates Photorealistic Portraits of Cartoon Characters (Kottke)
"Frites by Idaho" is a new perfume that smells like french fries (Boing Boing)
Love is in the Air... And it Smells like French Fries (Idaho Potato Commission)
Laserwriter II by Tamara Shopsin
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 02/14 - Rejected Olympic Sports

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 21:14:47 -0000

Speed skiing, synchronized skating, ski ballet, and other rejected sports from the Olympics. Plus, remember that SpaceX rocket stage headed for the moon? Turns out it’s a different piece of rocket junk, not from SpaceX at all. And the tropical disease that may be on the verge of eradication in humans.

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Links:

Speed skiing: too fast for the Olympics (Financial Times)
12 Sports That Used To Be In The Winter Olympics (BuzzFeed)
When Ski Ballet Pushed at the Porous Boundary Between Art and Sport (NY Times)
The Most Insane Ex-Olympic Sport! SPEED SKIING! ⛷ (Olympics, YouTube)
HOW was this an Olympic sport? Ski ballet! (Olympics, YouTube)
Plot Twist: A Different Rogue Rocket Is Going to Hit the Moon (Gizmodo)
A rocket is still set to slam into the Moon next month — but it may not be from SpaceX after all (The Verge)
Astronomers now say the rocket about to strike the Moon is not a Falcon 9 (Ars Technica)
1/26/22 episode about the SpaceX rocket stage (Kottke Ride Home)
Just 14 cases: Guinea worm disease nears eradication (Nature)
AirAsia flight diverted due to unexpected snake on the plane (NPR)
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 02/11 - Rams vs. Bengals In the Wild

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 19:51:17 -0000

MoviePass is back and it wants to track your eyeballs. Plus, who would win in a real-world animal showdown: a ram or a Bengal tiger? NASA has released the first images of a star taken by the James Webb Space Telescope. And the Comanche language version of Wordle that Facebook doesn’t want you to see.

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Links:

MoviePass 2.0 Wants to Track Your Eyeballs to Make Sure You Watch Ads (Vice)
MoviePass is officially coming back (The Verge)
Who Would Win in a Real-World Battle: A Bengal Tiger or a Ram? (Smithsonian Magazine)
Nathan Chen Makes 'Crazy' Joe Burrow Comment And Predicts Super Bowl Winner (HuffPost)
Photons Received: Webb Sees Its First Star – 18 Times (NASA)
James Webb Space Telescope captures its first images of a star (Engadget)
Comanche Wordle vs. Facebook (Dr. Kate Pewenofkit Briner, Twitter)
Words removed from Wordle after move to New York Times (Boing Boing)
Comanche NotWordle (TalkingComanche.org)
Wordle players' streaks are returning after NYT switch (Polygon)
Tech bug keeps Mazda radios locked in to NPR (BBC)
Stuck in KUOW purgatory: Seattle Mazda drivers can't change the radio dial (KUOW)
Gary Bowser is going to prison for selling Nintendo Switch hacks (The Verge)
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Thu. 02/10 - Valentine's Meat Juice

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 21:47:45 -0000

A possible third planet has been spotted orbiting Proxima Centauri. Plus, a new record has been set by a nuclear fusion lab in the UK. And, just in time for the holiday, a brief history of Valentine’s Meat Juice.

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Links:

A third world may be orbiting around our closest neighboring star (The Verge)
A Third Possible Planet for Proxima Centauri, The Closest Star To The Sun! (SyFy Wire)
Astronomers Spot Third Possible Planet Orbiting Nearest Star (Gizmodo)
New planet detected around Proxima Centauri, closest star our solar system -- ScienceDaily (Science Daily)
JET fusion facility sets a new world energy record (Science Daily)
Fusion experiment smashes record for generating energy, takes us a step closer to a new source of power (Space)
Nuclear fusion heat record a 'huge step' in quest for new energy source (The Guardian)
Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy (BBC)
In the 1800s, Valentine’s Meant a Bottle of Meat Juice (Atlas Obscura)
Video Shows Starlink Satellite Disintegrating Over Puerto Rico (Gizmodo)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 02/09 - 300 y/o Arctic Sponges Found Surviving on Fossilized Worms

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 21:31:28 -0000

The mysterious century-old sponges somehow surviving on a dead underwater mountain near the North Pole. Plus, doctors in Canada can now prescribe patients annual passes to National Parks. And SpaceX is set to lose 40 of the 49 Starlink satellites it launched last week due to a geomagnetic storm.

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Scientists Discover Centuries-Old Arctic Creatures Surviving on Fossils (Vice)
These Animals Are Feasting on the Ruins of an Extinct World (The Atlantic)
Arctic Sponges Survive Dark, Hostile Conditions by Feasting on The Extinct (ScienceAlert)
Doctors Can Prescribe Year-Long Pass To Canada's National Parks (National Parks Traveler)
Doctors in Canada Can Prescribe Annual National Park Passes to Patients (Mental Floss)
Doctor's orders: 'Nature prescriptions' see rise amid pandemic (Thomas Reuters Foundation News)
SpaceX loses up to 40 satellites to geomagnetic storm after Starlink launch (Ars Technica)
SpaceX to lose up to 40 Starlink satellites after geomagnetic storm (The Guardian)
SpaceX loses 40 Starlink satellites to a geomagnetic storm (Engadget)
Gumby Characters Acquired by FOX for Live-Action, Animation Projects (Collider)
Gumby The Movie (1995) Explained by RiffTrax (RiffTrax, YouTube)
Nerdle
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Tue. 02/08 - Wine Bricks To The Rescue + Decoding Dickens & Digital Dollars

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 21:48:06 -0000

Is a national digital currency coming to the US? And what would that look like? Plus, coders have teamed up with scholars of British literature to decode Charles Dickens’s secret notes. And the very clever wine bricks from the Prohibition Era that helped keep the wine industry afloat.

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The US is debating whether to adopt a digital dollar (NPR)
A US Digital Dollar Should Serve the Public, Not Banks (Bloomberg)
Fed releases long-awaited study on a digital dollar but doesn't take a position yet on creating one (CNBC)
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Feedback Form (Federal Reserve Board)
Decoding Dickens’s Secret Notes to Himself, One Symbol at a Time (NY Times)
Forget Wordle! Can you crack the Dickens Code? An IT worker from California just did (The Guardian)
Dickens Code
How Wine Bricks Saved The US Wine Industry During Prohibition (Vinepair)
CDC launches wastewater tool to help show COVID-19 trends (The Verge)
CDC COVID Data Tracker
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 02/07 - How Many Micromorts Is Listening To This Podcast?

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 21:38:08 -0000

Micromorts, the unit of measurement that predicts your risk of death. How effective are they and how could we make it more effective, especially with regards to the pandemic? Plus, why Washington state is building highway overpasses for cougars. And two rappers who have been added to the Super Bowl halftime show lineup and will be making history with their performances.

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Links:

We Need A Standard Unit Of Measure For Risk (Adjacent Possible)
microCOVID Project
Why Washington state wants to spend millions building bridges for cougars (Fast Company)
Dr. Dre Adds Two Deaf to Super Bowl Halftime Show (Consequence of Sound)
Deaf Detroit rapper to join Eminem, Dre, Snoop at Super Bowl halftime (Detroit Free Press)
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 02/04 - The "Eminently Boycottable" Olympics

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 21:33:18 -0000

The Olympic Games have officially begun––how to reconcile excitement for the sports and the spectacle with the reality of the situation. Plus, controversy is brewing over the remains of Captain Cook’s ship the HMS Endeavour. And choose your fighter: 3D-printed vegan meatballs or Build-A-Bear’s sultry “After Dark” line of stuffed animals for adults.

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Thu. 02/03 - Where Did Numbers Come From?

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 21:23:18 -0000

When did we start counting? Are numbers just a modern human concept? Plus, we have more details about the impending end of the International Space Station as focus turns ever-more to the moon and Mars. And a new search engine that only gives you one result and it’s always a book that was published before 1927.

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Links:

How did Neanderthals and other ancient humans learn to count? (Nature)
NASA Plans a Fiery End for the International Space Station by 2031 (Scientific American)
NASA: Decommissioned International Space Station to plunge into Pacific Ocean in 2031 (Washington Post)
NASA Provides Updated International Space Station Transition Plan (NASA)
New company run by former NASA leader aims to build robotic outpost near the Moon (The Verge)
A Search Engine That Finds You Weird Old Books (Debugger, Medium)
11/2/21 episode about Rewilding Your Attention (Kottke Ride Home)
Weird Old Book Finder
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 02/02 - How Many Weeks of Winter When the Groundhog Dies?

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 21:34:36 -0000

How does your brain know when you’ve had enough to drink each time you take a sip of water? Plus, a Groundhog Day tragedy, how North America came to celebrate this wacky holiday, and what it’s future might look like in lieu of the climate emergency. And finally, the Pope’s personal playlist.

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Links:

Thirsty? Here's how your brain answers that question (NPR)
Your Body's Thirst Messenger Is in an Unexpected Place (NY Times)
A celebrity groundhog dies shortly before his big day (NPR)
Groundhog predictions of spring no better than chance (National Geographic)
Groundhogs Aren't Looking for Their Shadow—They're Scoping Out the Opposite Sex (National Geographic)
Can a groundhog's shadow really predict if there will be six more weeks of winter? (Library of Congress)
Punxsutawney Phil Reckons with His Jungian Shadow (McSweeney’s)
Flowers in The UK Are Blooming a Whole Month Earlier Than They Did in The 1980s (ScienceAlert)
The Pope's Playlist Is Pretty Decent! And, Honestly, Weirdly Romantic (Mother Jones)
The (unofficial) Pope Francis Playlist (America Magazine)
Pope Francis Visits Rome Record Shop And Gets Classical CD (UDiscover Music)
Kottke.Org
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Tue. 02/01 - 2,500 Subway Cars Under the Sea

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 21:03:28 -0000

The New York City subway cars taking on a second job on the ocean floor. Plus, a successful drone created using Leonardo da Vinci’s aerial screw design. And crows in Sweden are being trained to pick up litter.

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Links:

Sinking 1,000 NYC subway cars in the Atlantic to create a reef didn't (Fast Company)
Growing Pains for a Deep-Sea Home Built of Subway Cars (NY Times, 2008)
New York's Subway Lives On in the Atlantic Ocean as Artificial Reefs (PBS Thirteen)
Bye bye Brightliners: MTA's oldest subway cars bid farewell on final run after almost 58 years (amNewYork)
More Than 2,500 New York City Subway Cars Are Now Artificial Underwater Reefs. See This Artist’s Remarkable Photos of Them Here (artnet)
Photographing the New York City Subway Cars That Retired as Artificial Reefs (Atlas Obscura)
New York City's newest oyster bed is 50,000 mollusks and 5,000 old public school toilets (Washington Post)
NY State Drops Two More Vessels, Including "Chickadee" The Tugboat, Into Waters For Artificial Reefing (Gothamist)
MTA Redbird Train Scrapping off Shark River Reef New Jersey (YouTube)
This drone flies using da Vinci's 530-year-old helicopter design (CNET)
A New Quadcopter Is Based on da Vinci's 530-Year-Old Helicopter Model (Interesting Engineering)
Swedish firm deploys crows to pick up cigarette butts (The Guardian)
Crows may soon be Sweden's newest litter pickers (The Local Sweden)
Crows trained to collect cigarette butts on the street (Boing Boing)
Latest Attraction at French Theme Park: Crows That Pick Up Trash (NY Times)
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Mon. 01/31 - I Want a Christmas Moon Tree & A Shot of Spikevax

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 21:22:20 -0000

The lost history of moon trees. Not quite as exciting as it sounds, but still really cool. Plus, the lineup of new emojis that just dropped on iOS 15.4––as well as a new study showing how emoji use can be an early detector of remote work burnout. And Moderna’s HIV vaccine has entered human trials.

Sponsors:

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Links:

We Almost Forgot About the Moon Trees (The Atlantic)
The Moon Trees (NASA)
Is There An Apollo 14 Moon Tree Near You? (Universe Today)
Moon Trees Stand as Living Testaments to First Voyages to Moon (NASA)
Can you help us find the Moon Trees? (Royal Astronomical Society)
Buy a Half Moon Tree Seedling (American Heritage Trees)
First Look: New Emojis in iOS 15.4 (Emojipedia)
Can emoji use be the key in detecting remote-work burnout? (Phys.org)
Moderna's HIV Vaccine Has Officially Begun Human Trials (them.)
Hunting the holy grail: the marred history of HIV vaccine trials (Clinical Trials Arena)
Moderna begins early-stage trials of mRNA-based HIV vaccine (Engadget)
The F.D.A. grants Moderna’s vaccine full approval. (NY Times)
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Fri. 01/28 - Why the Metaverse Doesn't Have Legs

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 20:59:30 -0000

Catalonia is set to pardon a thousand people who were condemned for witchcraft four hundred years ago. Plus, a mysterious object discovered in our galaxy has astronomers a bit stumped. And why don’t avatars in the metaverse have legs?

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Links:

Catalonia to pardon up to 1,000 people accused of witchcraft (The Guardian)
Hundreds of Women Executed for 'Witchcraft' Were Just Pardoned (Vice)
Catalonia Pardons Hundreds of Witch Trial Victims (Mental Floss)
What the hell is this new thing in the Milky Way? (Mic)
Astronomers detect powerful cosmic object unlike anything they've seen before (Space.com)
Scientists amazed by blinking star's 'totally unexpected' behavior (Reuters)
'Spooky' object that unleashes periodic bursts of energy detected in Milky Way (NBC News)
Astronomers Detect Strange Signals We've Never Seen Before in Our Cosmic Vicinity (Science Alert)
I found out why metaverse avatars don't have legs (The Next Web)
Tongan Flag Bearer Cancels Olympic Plans to Help Tsunami-Stricken Nation (Vice)
Tonga Tsunami relief by Pita Taufatofua (GoFundMe)
Kottke.Org
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Thu. 01/27 - The History of “sus” is… pretty sus

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 21:59:32 -0000

What’s up with the drastically different predictions for this weekend’s Nor’easter, and how is snowfall measured anyways? Plus, the sus-prisingly long history of the term “sus.” And, sometimes pre-ordering a book does not mean you’ll get it right on the publication date. Like when the shipping container it was being transported in sinks to the bottom of the ocean, for example.

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How is snowfall measured? A meteorologist explains how volunteers tally up winter storms (The Conversation)
Why This Weekend's Bomb Cyclone Snow Forecast Is So Challenging (Gizmodo)
Why Northeast Winter Storms Can Be Difficult to Forecast (Weather.com)
How do we tell how much snow fell in a storm? (The Verge)
What does 'sus' mean? (Merriam-Webster)
Sus meaning: 'Among Us' catchphrase has a controversial past (Inverse)
sus | suss, n. (Oxford English Dictionary)
Thread on 'sus' (with original illustrations!) (Austin Kleon, Twitter)
Thanks for Preordering! Your Cookbook Is at the Bottom of the Atlantic Ocean (Eater)
Turkey and the Wolf's Hotly Anticipated Cookbook Delayed After Copies Sink in the Atlantic (Eater New Orleans)
Large swell in 22-knot wind caused idling Madrid Bridge to roll and lose boxes (The Loadstar)
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Wed. 01/26 - Dun, Dun, Duuuuun!

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 21:30:51 -0000

Is there liquid water under Mars ice cap or isn’t there? Recent studies have claimed both. And what about an underground ocean on Saturn’s death star moon? Here’s all of your space water updates. Plus, the origins of the melodramatic “dun dun duuuun” sound. And, and old SpaceX rocket stage is on track to slam into the moon this March.

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So is there liquid water under the Martian ice cap or not? (Bad Astronomy, Syfy Wire)
Saturn's moon Mimas may have a liquid water ocean under its surface (Bad Astronomy, Syfy Wire)
Saturn's 'Death Star' moon might be hiding an underground ocean (The Verge)
Dun, Dun Duuun! Where did pop culture's most dramatic sound come from? (The Guardian)
Desperate Desmond (Library of Congress)
The Devil's Tritone: The History of a Most Sinister Chord (Fender)
A SpaceX Rocket Is Going to Slam Into the Moon (Gizmodo)
After 7 years, a spent Falcon 9 rocket stage is on course to hit the Moon (Ars Technica)
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Tue. 01/25 - Extreme Ironing: Can You Take The Heat?

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 20:32:56 -0000

A look into the world of extreme ironing. Plus, how China has been making strides in controlling the weather by shooting rockets at clouds. And, a much more low-key opportunity to help NASA collect data about real, non-modified clouds.

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Meet an athlete heating up the world of extreme ironing (A/V Club)
Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
The Finely Pressed, Death-Defying World of Extreme Ironing (Mel Magazine)
Extreme Ironing Around the World (60 Second Docs, YouTube)
Extreme Ironing - Pressing For Glory (2003 TV Program) (YouTube)
The Winter Olympics could highlight China’s innovative — and troubling — efforts to control the weather (Washington Post)
China 'modified' the weather to create clear skies for political celebration (The Guardian)
Operation Beijing storm: rockets target rain (Reuters)
NASA wants you . . . to look into the clouds (Washington Post)
NASA GLOBE Cloud Challenge 2022: Clouds in a Changing Climate (NASA GLOBE Program)
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Mon. 01/24 - Why Do Americans Eat So Much Peanut Butter?

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 22:00:08 -0000

The James Webb Space Telescope has officially reached its destination. What can we expect next? And why do Americans eat so much more peanut butter than anyone else? A bit of history on this National Peanut Butter Day.

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Links:

NASA’s revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope reaches final orbit in space (The Verge)
The James Webb Space Telescope glides to its deep-space parking spot today! (Space.com)
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has reached its destination. Now what? (Tech Radar)
How World War I Turned Peanut Butter Into a Kitchen Staple (Mental Floss)
Why Do Americans Love Peanut Butter? (Slate)
Golden Snitchwiches
Robot vacuum cleaner escapes from Cambridge Travelodge (BBC)
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Fri. 01/21 - False Bananas & Sexy Skeletons

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 21:25:11 -0000

How a new technique for 3D printing metal could revolutionize manufacturing. Plus, the great potential of the false banana. And archeology’s “sexual revolution.”

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3D printing's next act: big metal objects (Axios)
Seurat Technologies raises $41M to bring "revolutionary" Area Printing to market (3D Printing Industry)
False banana: Is Ethiopia's enset 'wondercrop' for climate change? (BBC)
Enset - Gastro Obscura (Atlas Obscura)
Archaeology's sexual revolution (The Guardian)
'The Great British Bake Off' is becoming a stage musical (Mashable)
Punxsutawney Phil Will Wish You a Happy Groundhog Day on Cameo (Mental Floss)
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Thu. 01/20 - A Film Studio IN SPACE

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 20:24:40 -0000

Some reassurance from the experts that being bad at Wordle is not a sign you’re less smart than everyone else. Plus, the International Space Station is getting a film studio and sports arena. No word yet if Space Jam 3 will be shooting there. And how officials around the world have continued to successfully use sewage to predict COVID outbreaks.

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Links:

Being Bad at Wordle Doesn't Mean You're Dumb. Here's Why (NBC LXTV)
Georgia Tennant text tweet (Georgia Tennant, Twitter)
A film studio may be launching in space in 2024 (Mashable)
UK company behind Tom Cruise space film unveils plans to launch space movie studio (The Verge)
Film Studio to Be Launched in Space in 2024 (The Hollywood Reporter)
In Sewage, Clues to Omicron's Surge (NY Times)
Yankee Candle Reviews Say 'No Smell' Amid Omicron Surge (Business Insider)
Biobot wastewater data for US (Biobot Analytics)
Wed. 06/17 - How Poop Can Prevent COVID-19 Outbreaks (Kottke Ride Home)
M&M characters redesigned for a "more dynamic, progressive world," Mars announces (CBS News)
M&Ms' beloved characters are getting a new look (CNN)
green m&m (greenmfanfic, Instagram)
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Wed. 01/19 - No Fries, Pricey Lumber, & Fake Soup

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 20:31:38 -0000

From french fries to snow plows, the global shortages continue. But are we starting to see the beginning of a whole new world for workers and the supply chain? Plus, you know what kind of soup you can never be short of? The kind that doesn’t exist. And, what’s going on with the 5G rollout at US airports?

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Links:

Lumber Prices Are off the Rails Again. Blame Climate Change. (The Atlantic)
Grocery Store Shortages Are Back. Here's Why. (Eater)
Potato shortage: A growing global spud crisis is affecting french fries, from Japan to Kenya (Washington Post)
You Can Overcome Your Empty Grocery Store (LifeHacker)
Yes, There's Even A Snowplow Driver Shortage in America (Jalopnik)
One of the Most Famous Victorian Dishes Is a Hilarious Lie (Atlas Obscura)
Campbell's Releases Two Scented Candles That Smell Like Soup (Food & Wine)
On our wish list: the SK-II x Andy Warhol Limited-Edition collection you should not miss (Vogue Singapore)
Why Airlines Are Fighting the 5G Rollout (Wired)
Telecoms delay 5G launch near airports, but some airlines are cancelling flights (NPR)
Why AT&T and Verizon are feuding with the FAA over a last-minute delay to 5G (The Verge)
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Tue. 01/18 - tl;dr idk (and that's ok)

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 20:34:08 -0000

Choosing to remain in the dark; on the power of “deliberate ignorance.” Plus, AI that can make academic articles more comprehensible, and one site in particular that took off last week. And a new browser-based history game that I at least can’t stop playing.

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Links:

What We Don't Want to Know (Vice)
"Deliberate ignorance can be understood as a cultural skill" (Max Planck Society)
Jon Hamm Narrates Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, Updated for the Timeline Era (Kottke.org)
A New Use For Ai: Summarizing Scientific Research For Seven-Year-Olds (The Verge)
tl;dr papers
tl;dr papers twitter examples
This AI model will help you summarise a research paper in seconds (Study International)
Wikitrivia is a web game that challenges your knowledge of historical dates (The Verge)
Wiki History Game
“Weird Al” Yankovic Biopic to Star Daniel Radcliffe (Pitchfork)
Daniel Radcliffe to Play 'Weird Al' Yankovic in Roku Movie (Variety)
Daniel Radcliffe tweet (Aliza Weinberger, Twitter)
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Mon. 01/17 - What's In a Name? From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to MLK

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 20:52:37 -0000

The thought leaders who inspired Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plus, his childhood name change, what to make of his legacy, and more. Also today, what caused the massive volcanic eruption in Tonga over the weekend? And gather up your silver bullets, it’s a Full Wolf Moon tonight.

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National Day of Service (AmeriCorps)
Commentary: The Historical Disruption of Martin Luther King Jr. (Daily Yonder)
Just in Time for MLK Day, Comcast NBCUniversal Releases New Documentary, Avenue of Dreams: Reclaiming MLK Boulevards (The Root)
How MLK's 13-year-old granddaughter thinks you should spend the holiday (NBC News)
Americans see Martin Luther King Jr as a hero now, but that wasn't the case during his lifetime (CNN)
The story of how Michael King Jr. became Martin Luther King Jr. (Washington Post)
Coretta Scott King, 'thought partner' in building the dream (Philadelphia Tribune)
Martin Luther King Jr.'s first date with Coretta: She was not impressed (Washington Post)
Henry David Thoreau's Influence on Martin Luther King Jr. (Mental Floss)
Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.: 5 things I've learned curating the MLK Collection at Morehouse College (The Conversation)
The public has underestimated the radicalism of Martin Luther King Jr.'s early work (Washington Post)
MLK is revered today but the real King would make white people uncomfortable (The Guardian)
The Tonga eruption explained, from tsunami warnings to sonic booms (National Geographic)
Why the volcanic eruption in Tonga was so violent, and what to expect next (The Conversation)
Pacific volcano: New Zealand sends flight to assess Tonga damage (BBC)
Full Wolf Moon, the first full moon of 2022, rises tonight (Space.com)
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Fri. 01/14 - The Internet's (and French Dressing's) Identity Crisis

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 20:31:20 -0000

What is slow internet and is it a thing we should still be striving towards? What about slow email? Plus, in some very pressing news, the US Food & Drug Administration has officially deregulated French dressing. And Welsh scientists have determined that masks make people look more attractive.

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Links:

The Subversive Genius of Extremely Slow Email (The Atlantic)
The US Federal Government Deregulates French Dressing (Wall Street Journal)
FDA drops regulations on French dressing (NPR)
FDA revokes French dressing standard of identity (The Takeout)
Face masks make people look more attractive, study finds (The Guardian)
Face masks 'make wearers look more attractive', study suggests (Cardiff University)
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Thu. 01/13 - Un-distilled Non-Whiskey & the King of No One

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 22:15:40 -0000

The growing market for non-alcoholic beers, and a new “undistilled non-whiskey” that’s arrived just in time for Dry January. Plus, the search for a new king of a tiny island. And, the debate over “ghost flights” is heating up in Europe.

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Links:

WhistlePig Devil's Slide Non-Alcoholic Rye Whiskey (Paste)
Why I Love the Continuing Growth (And Improvement) of Non-Alcoholic Beer (Paste)
WhistlePig's New Non-Alcoholic Whiskey Is Aged for 6 Years Before Being 'Undistilled' (Food & Wine)
Wanted: The Future King and Pub Manager of Piel Island (Atlas Obscura)
Pub landlord, caretaker and monarch sought for isolated Piel Island (The Guardian)
Piel Island: Search on for landlord to run pub and island (BBC)
"Ghost Flights" Are Wreaking Havoc On The Environment For No Good Reason (Mic)
Ghost Flights Are Polluting the Skies Thanks to Omicron (Gizmodo)
EU Defends Airline Slot Rules Over Lufthansa Ghost Flights Row (Bloomberg)
Girl Scout Cookie season officially begins and this year DoorDash will deliver (Good Morning America)
08/19/2020 episode explaining the double-naming system of Girl Scout Cookies (Kottke Ride Home)
Thin Mints and Grape Nuts Cereal? Ryan Seacrest Reveals 'Life-Changing' Girl Scout Cookie Hack (People)
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Wed. 01/12 - Go Ahead and Listen To This Episode at 1.5x Speed

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 20:51:47 -0000

The real physics of Wile E. Coyote’s 10 billion volt electromagnet. Plus, cannabis can prevent SARS CoV-2 from spreading. Technically. And does listening to this podcast at double speed decrease your comprehension?

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The Physics of Wile E. Coyote's 10 Billion-Volt Electromagnet (Wired)
Scientists: Cannabis Can Prevent COVID-19 Infection (Vice)
Oregon State research shows hemp compounds prevent coronavirus from entering human cells (EurkAlert)
How much do students learn when they double the speed of their class videos? (Science Daily)
Play mini golf to see how politicians tilt elections using maps (Washington Post)
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Tue. 01/11 - Wordle Wordle Everywhere

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 20:48:59 -0000

A human has received a genetically-altered pig’s heart in a transplant for the first time ever. Plus, China’s lunar lander found water on the moon. And a look into the origins and phenomenon of Wordle.

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Links:

In a First, Man Receives a Heart From a Genetically Altered Pig (NY Times)
In 1st, US surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient (AP)
First transplant of a pig heart into a person sparks ethics questions (STAT)
A gene-edited pig’s heart has been transplanted into a human for the first time (MIT Technology Review)
Chinese Lunar Lander Makes The First Ever On-Site Detection of Water on The Moon (Science Alert)
Chang'E-5 lander makes first onsite detection of water on moon (Phys)
China's Chang'E-5 lander finds first onsite evidence of water on the Moon (New Atlas)
Wordle Is a Love Story (NY Times)
Wordle creator overwhelmed by global success of hit puzzle (The Guardian)
Wordle creator promises viral game will stay simple and ad-free (BBC)
Done your Wordle for the day? Try out these spoofs instead (The Verge)
Heard Of Wordle? Now There's A Pokémon Version (Nintendo Life)
How to win at Wordle using linguistic theory (The Guardian)
The Physical Manifestation Of Wurdle Pounds My Butt As A Slightly Frustrating But Ultimately Rewarding And Meditative Daily Routine by Chuck Tingle
United States Mint Begins Shipping First American Women Quarters™ Program Coins (US Mint)
Maya Angelou becomes first Black woman to appear on US quarter as Treasury begins distribution (CNN)
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Mon. 01/10 - Deep Space Tardigrades

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 21:19:38 -0000

Scientists are working on a plan to shoot tardigrades into interstellar space on lasers. Plus, the James Webb Space Telescope is so-far going better than anyone had dared to imagine. And alpaca’s favorite new year snack: Christmas trees.

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Scientists Want to Send Tardigrades to Distant Stars With Massive Lasers (Vice)
Sending Life to the Stars (The UCSB Current)
All hail the Ariane 5 rocket, which doubled the Webb telescope's lifetime (Ars Technica)
Even NASA Seems Surprised by Its New Space Telescope (The Atlantic)
Bad Astronomy | James Webb Space Telescope ready to begin testing components (Bad Astronomy, Syfy Wire)
In a Truly Historic Milestone, JWST Has Been Successfully Deployed! Now What? (Science Alert)
Louth alpaca farmer delighted at Christmas tree donations (RTÉ)
The weird reason why alpacas and goats love Christmas trees (Suffolk Live)
Arby's new sandwich is so spicy it comes with a free shake (CNN)
Best Deals During National Pizza Week 2022 (Thrillist)
05/20/2020 episode about Chuck E. Cheese's ghost kitchen & character lore (Kottke Ride Home)
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Fri. 01/07 - Boaty McBoatface and the Doomsday Glacier

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 20:52:29 -0000

How Boaty McBoatface is helping diagnose the severity of the situation at the Doomsday Glacier in Antarctica. Plus, it looks like solar shingles are finally actually a thing. And something to try this weekend––the Dutch practice of uitwaaien.

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How Explosives, a Robot, and a Sled Expose a Doomsday Glacier (Wired)
Boaty McBoatface Is Set to Confront Antarctica's Doomsday Glacier (Gizmodo)
Doomsday Glacier in Antarctica Could Collapse Soon: New Research (Rolling Stone)
Scientists explore Thwaites, Antarctica's 'doomsday' glacier (AP)
What Antarctica's 'Doomsday' Glacier Could Mean For The World (Science Alert)
10/19/2020 - Grand Duke Travis of Westarctica Wants To Save the Planet (Kottke Ride Home)
The solar roof could finally become a reality thanks to GAF's nailable solar shingles (The Verge)
Solar shingles you can nail to a roof unveiled by GAF Energy (Venture Beat)
GAF Energy's easy-install solar shingles aim to outshine Tesla roofs and traditional panels (Tech Crunch)
Forget hygge, it's time for uitwaaien (Washington Post)
Uitwaaien: the Dutch invention you never knew you needed, until now (Dutch Review)
Uitwaaien, or Outblowing, Is the Dutch Cure for the Winter Blues (Mental Floss)
09/17/2020 episode - Practice Friluftsliv This Winter (Kottke Ride Home)
Corona's New Beer Adds Vitamin D, Removes Alcohol (AdWeek)
Corona Looks to Conquer the "Vitamin D Beer" Market With Odd New "Sunbrew 0.0" Non-Alcoholic Beer (Paste)
Wes Anderson to Direct Benedict Cumberbatch in Roald Dahl Film Adaptation (Collider)
Wes Anderson to make new Roald Dahl adaptation with Benedict Cumberbatch (The Guardian)
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Thu. 01/06 - 1922's Predictions for 2022 + FOVs (Fish-Operated Vehicles)

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 21:13:34 -0000

A look at predictions for today from a 1922 article in The New York Herald. Plus, move over self-driving cars, introducing fish-operated vehicles. And car commercials in France will soon require advertisers to tell people not to drive.

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Image 87 of The New York herald (New York, N.Y.), May 7, 1922 (Library of Congress)
"One Hundred Years From Now" poem by Mary A. Ford (Library of Congress, LOC Serendipity)
What the World Will Be Like in a Hundred Years (1922) (Hacker News)
Scientists train goldfish to drive a fish-operated vehicle on land (Ars Technica)
Not to Alarm Anyone, but Scientists Taught Goldfish to Drive (Gizmodo)
Scientists Defy God, Teach Goldfish to Drive on Land (Vice)
Car ads in France soon must encourage more environmentally friendly travel (NPR)
'Opt for cycling': French car ads required to back travel alternatives from 2022 (France24)
French Car Ads Will Soon Be Required by Law to Tell You Not to Drive a Car (Gizmodo)
Kew scientists name new tree after Leonardo DiCaprio (BBC)
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Wed. 01/05 - The Climate Emergency: Reasons to Hope

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 21:42:41 -0000

Gravity as a possible solution to one major drawback of wind and solar power, and reasons to be cautiously optimistic about our prospects for the climate overall. Plus, the link between physical strength and mental health. And the CDC’s zombie preparedness guide.

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Links:

Gravity Could Solve Clean Energy's One Major Drawback (Wired UK)
Gravity Energy Storage Will Show Its Potential in 2021 (IEEE Spectrum)
The rare spots of good news on climate change (MIT Technology Review)
What's the Difference Between a Rise of 1.5, 2, and 3 Degrees Celsius? (Global Citizen)
On the Surprising Link Between Physical Strength and a Healthy Brain (Literary Hub)
How the CDC would act in a zombie outbreak (Boing Boing)
Preparedness 101; zombie pandemic (CDC)
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Tue. 01/04 - Time Capsules in a Confederate Statue & the History of the Future

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 21:34:02 -0000

The history and future of predicting the future. Plus, a new “open-source” COVID vaccine that could help way more people around the world get vaccinated. And, after taking down a statue of Robert E. Lee in Virginia, local experts found two time capsules inside its base.

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Mon. 01/03 - It's Raining Fish (Hallelujah)

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 20:36:11 -0000

A fresh argument for reclassifying Pluto as a full-fledged planet that would open the doors for way more planets than just the OG nine. Plus, it was raining fish in Texas last week. And if you’ve been trying to remember the title of a book you read as a kid, a new community on Instagram might be able to help you out.

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Links:

Pluto should be reclassified as a planet, scientists argue (NBC News)
Scientists avenge Pluto, claim 150 planets in our solar system (A/V Club)
Moons are planets: Scientific usefulness versus cultural teleology in the taxonomy of planetary science (ScienceDirect)
Fish fell from the sky in East Texas (NBC News)
It rained fish over a Texas town this week in a bizarre weather event (CNN)
Strange Rains (National Geographic)
Can it rain frogs, fish, and other objects? (Library of Congress)
Still looking for that picture book you loved as a kid? Try asking Instagram (NPR)
Pease Porridge Press (@myoldbooks) (Instagram)
52 Things I Learned in 2021 (Kottke.org)
52 things I learned in 2021 (Tom Whitwell, Fluxx)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 12/29 - Why Donuts Are Emblems of America (& some NYE traditions from around the globe)

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 18:30:00 -0000

A history of the humble donut as a symbol of American patriotism, and a circular source of joy world round. Plus, a round-up of New Year’s traditions from around the world––in case you’re looking for a little inspiration on this perhaps quieter-than-usual New Year’s Eve.

Links:

Doughnuts: The fried treat that conquered the modern world (BBC)
The Delicious Democratic Symbolism of...Doughnuts? (JSTOR Daily)
The History of the Doughnut (Smithsonian Mag, 1998)
Everything You Need to Know About the Great American Doughnut (Eater, 2015)
How doughnuts became Australia's symbol of Covid hope (The Guardian)
New Year's Good Luck Traditions: 7 food rituals to ward off misfortune in 2017 (Mic, 2017)
New Year's Traditions from Around the World (Old Farmer’s Almanac)
7 New Year's Eve traditions from around the world to try at home (Washington Post)
Tracing the Origins of a Black American New Year's Ritual (NY Times)
New Year's Eve In Spain Is All About The Grapes — Save The Cava For Later (NPR, 2016)
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Tue. 12/28 - Emojis As Folklore & Cows On Waterbeds

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 21:36:48 -0000

The argument for emojis as folklore, the top emojis of 2021, and why an emoji reference site is being archived in the Library of Congress. Plus, it turns out gray hair can return to its original color… sometimes, and temporarily. And, waterbeds didn’t fully go away after the early 90s. Their main consumer base just shifted… to cows.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Emojis Are Folklore (Emojipedia)
The Most Frequently Used Emoji of 2021 (Unicode)
Emoji to Scale
7/17/20 episode about World Emoji Day (Kottke Ride Home)
Gray Hair Can Return to Its Original Color--and Stress Is Involved, of Course (Scientific American)
What Ever Happened To Waterbeds? (Mental Floss, 2016)
Cows Deserve Waterbeds, Too (TIME, 2012)
Yep, Dairy Cows Really Love Water Beds (Modern Farmer, 2019)
Cow Waterbeds: How Advanced Comfort Technology Sold A Crazy Idea To Dairy Farmers (HuffPost, 2013)
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Mon. 12/27 - I'm Disgusted

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 14:22:16 -0000

What is the real driver of all of humanity’s innovations, doctrines, and oddities? According to some psychologists, disgust. Plus, the surprisingly recent history of counting down to midnight on New Year’s Eve. And forget smell-o-vision, now there’s a TV you can taste.

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Links:

How Disgust Explains Everything (NY Times)
Why Do We Count Down to the New Year? (Zócal)
Would You? (Gizmodo)
Tasty TV: Japanese professor creates flavourful screen (Reuters)
Where Is Webb? (NASA)
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Wed. 12/22 - Rollerskating, The Holy Pooper, & X-Mas Carol Extortion: Traditions From Around the World & Days of Yore

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 20:14:08 -0000

A round-up of Christmas traditions from around the world and throughout time. Plus, the US Army is working on a vaccine that could protect against all COVID and SARS variants, including omicron. And there’s a cream cheese shortage so Kraft Heinz is bribing us not to make cheesecakes over the holidays.

Sponsors:

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Links:

11 of the Weirdest Christmas Traditions We Should Absolutely Bring Back (Lifehacker)
13 of the Weirdest Christmas Traditions From Around the World (Lifehacker)
12/22/20 episode about Tió de Nadal and El Caganer (Kottke Ride Home)
12/21/20 episode about the German flaming mulled wine, feuerzangenbowle (Kottke Ride Home)
The Battle for Christmas: A Social and Cultural History of Our Most Cherished Holiday by Stephen Nissenbaum
Transgender Warriors: Making History from Joan of Arc to Marsha P. Johnson and Beyond by Leslie Feinberg
Sweden's bizarre tradition of watching Donald Duck (Kalle Anka) cartoons on Christmas Eve. (Slate)
From All Of Us To All Of You 1960 FANRES 2019 (Archive.Org)
The Mummers Parade is returning to Broad Street on New Year's Day 2022 (Philadelphia Inquirer)
US Army Creates Single Vaccine Against All COVID & SARS Variants, Researchers Say (Defense One)
Army Testing a Universal Vaccine: Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle SpFN for All Variants (Business Insider)
How the Cream Cheese Shortage Is Affecting NYC Bagel Shops (NY Times)
Kraft will literally pay you not to make cheesecake this holiday season (NPR)
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Tue. 12/21 - Why the Webb Telescope Launch Is Freaking Out Astronomers

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 20:01:22 -0000

The James Webb Space Telescope is launching on Friday. Here’s what to expect, and why astronomers are so stressed out about it. Plus, Scotland may soon be issuing a three centuries overdue pardon to victims of its many witchcraft trials. And when the snowstorms come this season, your town might just be de-icing the roads with beet juice.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Webb Telescope Approaches Launch, With an Eye Toward Cosmic Origins (NY Times)
James Webb Space Telescope: how our launch of world's most complex observatory will rest on a nail-biting knife edge (The Conversation)
Watch this space: New telescope to unlock mysteries of the cosmos (NBC News)
Astronomers are freaking out over the launch of the James Webb telescope. (Slate)
NASA refuses to rename James Webb Space Telescope (NPR)
NASA Sets Coverage, Invites Public to View Webb Telescope Launch (NASA)
Witches of Scotland: Bill to be brought forward to pardon women and others convicted of witchcraft (The Scotsman)
Women executed 300 years ago as witches in Scotland set to receive pardons (The Guardian)
UN adopts landmark resolution condemning witchcraft accusations (Humanists International)
March episode about witches & ale wives (Kottke Ride Home)
To Beat Winter, Cities Fight Back, With Beets (Bloomberg)
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Mon. 12/20 - Athletes' Supercharged Blood & Pro Santas On a Boat

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 18:45:00 -0000

How an athlete’s blood could boost cognitive function, potentially in non-athletic people. Plus, the origin and meanings of the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” And, Christmas in July takes on a whole new meaning with cruises designed specifically for professional Santas.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Can an Athlete's Blood Enhance Brainpower? (NY Times)
The 12 Days of Christmas, explained: The story behind the carol (Vox)
William Studwell's 2008 Carol of the Year (Religious News Service, 2008)
12 Days of a POP PUNK Christmas (YouTube)
FACT CHECK: The Twelve Days of Christmas (Snopes, 2000)
When Santa Goes on Vacation (NY Times)
Scenes From a Bearded Santa Pleasure Cruise (MEL)
Scenes From a Mall (This American Life)
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Fri. 12/17 - The Mystery of the Secret Library Hidden Inside a Library Book

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 18:30:00 -0000

How a librarian discovered a secret library within her library. Plus, some tips for unplugging more deeply when you’re on vacation. And the group of actual birds knocking Adele and Ed Sheeran off the top of the Australian music charts.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Inside a hollow library book, a secret library (Capital Daily)
@inusedbooks (Instagram)
Decentralized Zine Library Project
'Punk' DC public library shirt raises $100K (Washington Post)
How to Use Your Phone Less: 6 Tips for Going Device-Free on Vacation (Condé Nast Traveler)
Bird songs bump stars off Australian music chart (BBC)
Songs of Disappearance album featuring birdsongs of endangered species reaches the Top Five ARIA album charts (ABC Australia)
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Thu. 12/16 - DOOM BLOOM: Spotted Lanternfly-Tainted Honey

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 19:48:37 -0000

It turns out those pesky spotted lanternflies have changed the local honey in Pennsylvania, and it’s… kind of good? Plus, the FDA has approved eye drops that fix age-related vision problems. And one company is trying to prevent new staff turnover by letting them see what the job is really like using VR headsets.

Sponsors:

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Links:

When Life Gave Pennsylvania Spotted Lanternflies, Its Bees Made Spotted Lanternfly Honey (Atlas Obscura)
09/17 episode about spotted lanternflies (Kottke Ride Home)
The FDA Just Approved Eye Drops to Correct Aging Vision (Gizmodo)
New FDA-approved eye drops could replace reading glasses for millions: "It's definitely a life changer" (CBS News)
New Eye Drops Offer an Alternative to Reading Glasses (NY Times)
The First FDA-Approved Eye Drops to Treat Blurry Vision Are Now Available in The US (Science Alert)
MGM Resorts Job Seekers Can Try Out Roles in VR Before Starting (Business Insider)
Alexa's latest celebrity voice is Santa Claus himself (The Verge)
Ted Lasso Loses His Mustache in New Animated Holiday Short (Consequence TV)
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Wed. 12/15 - Are Floating Neighborhoods the Future?

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 20:45:24 -0000

A NASA spacecraft has just touched the sun for the first time in human history. Plus, are floating neighborhoods the future for coastal towns? And a look back at the origin of online reviews, and a question about their future.

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Tue. 12/14 - Sad Keanu & A Sleeping Bag to Save Astronauts' Eyeballs From Being Squashed

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 19:35:25 -0000

When did we first start sending holiday cards and will the tradition ever end? Plus, the health risks for humans in space and a high-tech sleeping bag that could prevent astronauts’ vision from deteriorating. And, Keanu Reeves explains what was going on in the infamous Sad Keanu photo.

Sponsors:

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Links:

A Brief History of the Holiday Card (JSTOR Daily)
Millennials are embracing the tradition of holiday cards (Washington Post)
Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes
Halloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday by David J. Skal
NASA scientists consider the health risks of space travel (Space.com)
NASA's new sleeping bags could prevent eyeball 'squashing' on the ISS (Engadget)
Space sleeping bag to solve astronauts' squashed eyeball disorder (BBC)
Study Investigates How Men and Women Adapt Differently to Spaceflight (NASA, 2011)
Keanu Reeves finally explains "Sad Keanu" to Stephen Colbert (A/V Club)
Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney talk about 'BRZRKR', the top selling debut comic in 30 years (Mashable)
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Mon. 12/13 - Science-Backed Nap Hacks From Salvador Dalí

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 21:21:23 -0000

Need a creative boost? Try this napping hack from Thomas Edison and Salvador Dalí––research from this month says it actually works. The woman who successfully traded a bobby pin for a house. And Swedish towns are trying to reclaim their names from IKEA products.

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Links:

Sleep technique used by Salvador Dalí really works (Science Alert)
Spark Creativity with Thomas Edison’s Napping Technique (Scientific American)
Edison was right: Waking up right after drifting off to sleep can boost creativity (Science.Org)
Just 10 Minutes of Moderate Running Can Boost Brain Activity, Study Shows (ScienceAlert)
Salvador Dali (Hallmark Art Collection)
From hairpin to house: woman who mastered ‘trading up’ realizes dream (The Guardian)
05/27/21 episode about the bobby pin project (Kottke Ride Home)
Sweden reclaims place names from IKEA (CNN)
Sweden wants to reclaim the names behind Ikea’s toilet brushes and trash cans (Fast Company)
Discover the originals of Sweden (Visit Sweden)
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Fri. 12/10 - The Science (& Ethics) of Netflix’s ‘Don’t Look Up’

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 19:25:06 -0000

Insights from the real-life NASA scientist behind Netflix’s new killer-comet movie, Don’t Look Up. Plus, reindeers are the only mammals whose eyes change color with the seasons. And their noses kind of do too––the science behind that, and the history of the most famous red-nosed reindeer of all.

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Links:

Meet the real NASA scientist behind Netflix’s Don’t Look Up (The Verge)
Asteroid scientist Amy Mainzer talks space rock impacts and Netflix's new movie 'Don't Look Up' (Space.com)
Netflix's Most Realistic Apocalypse Movie Reveals A Controversial Scientific Debate (Inverse)
What a Times Journalist Learned From His 'Don't Look Up' Moment (NY Times)
Why Are Reindeer Eyes Golden In Summer But Blue In Winter? (National Geographic)
The Scientific Reason Why Reindeer Have Red Noses (Smithsonian Magazine)
Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes
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Thu. 12/09 - Birds Aren't Real (And Neither Is This Gen Z Conspiracy Theory)

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 21:39:31 -0000

Finally we get some truth from bird truthers. Everything you need to know about the Birds Aren’t Real movement. Plus, New Zealand is banning tobacco completely for the upcoming generations. And Instagram is bringing back the chronological feed! Kind of.

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Wed. 12/08 - Cleaning Hacks From Victorians

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 20:29:59 -0000

Cleaning advice from nineteenth century housekeepers. An upcoming feminist retelling of 1984. How to watch the Geminid meteor shower next week. And MST3K is officially coming back next year.

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Links:

Milk for Floors, Bread for Walls: 19th-Century Cleaning Tips for the Modern Era (NY Times)
Spring Cleaning the Old-Fashioned Way (English Heritage)
The Domestic Revolution by Ruth Goodman
The Difference Between Disinfecting and Sanitizing, According to the CDC (LifeHacker)
Feminist retelling of Nineteen Eighty-Four approved by Orwell’s estate (The Guardian)
Sandra Newman is writing a feminist retelling of Nineteen Eighty-Four. (Literary Hub)
A ‘feminist retelling’ of George Orwell’s 1984 is in the works (Polygon)
Geminids: You need to watch the fiery fragments of an asteroid fall to Earth (Inverse)
In Depth | Geminids – NASA Solar System Exploration (NASA)
What's Up: Skywatching Tips from NASA (NASA)
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Tue. 12/07 - Scientists Want SpaceX's Starship To Go To Infinity & Beyond

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 22:27:19 -0000

How SpaceX’s giant Starship rocket could herald a new generation of space exploration. Plus, all sound recordings from the mid-1800s to 1923 are going to be released to the US Public Domain on January 1st. And Heinz and Terry’s have partnered to create a chocolate orange mayonnaise. Yeah.

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Links:

Planetary scientists are starting to get stirred up by Starship’s potential (Ars Technica)
How SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket might unlock the solar system—and beyond (MIT Technology Review)
NASA announces 10 new astronaut candidates who could fly to the Moon someday (The Verge)
All Sound Recordings Prior to 1923 Will Enter the US Public Domain in 2022 (Public Domain Review)
Public Domain Audio Release 2022 (Citizen DJ, Library of Congress)
What Will Enter the Public Domain in 2022? (Public Domain Review)
Chocolate Orange Mayonnaise exists, and you can win a jar right now (Boing Boing)
How To Buy The Heinz Terry's Chocolate Orange Mayonnaise In The UK (Bustle)
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Mon. 12/06 - Why Is It So Hard To Hear Movie Dialogue These Days?

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 19:54:45 -0000

Do you feel like the dialogue in movies has gotten harder to understand? It’s not just you. Sound professionals dish on all the reasons why it’s gotten worse in recent years. Plus, a giant steel structure coming soon to Tasmania has already started recording us to provide evidence of our shame to future civilizations. And honeybees that survived for weeks under volcanic ash after the eruption in the Canary Islands.

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Links:

The Real Reason You Use Closed Captions for Everything Now (Wired, 2018)
Here's Why Movie Dialogue Has Gotten More Difficult To Understand (And Three Ways To Fix It) (Slash Film)
October episode on open captions (Kottke Ride Home)
This Mysterious, Indestructible 'Black Box' Will Tell The Future What Happened to Us (Science Alert)
Earth is getting a black box to record our climate change actions, and it's already started listening (ABC Australia)
Honeybees Survived for Weeks Under Volcano Ash After Canary Islands Eruption (NY Times)
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Fri. 12/04 - Krampus, the Unabomber, & Tickle Me Elmo

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 19:58:34 -0000

Why the FBI thought the inventor of Tickle Me Elmo might have been the Unabomber. A new potential method for freeze-drying vaccines. And it’s Krampusnacht this weekend. Here’s everything you need to know about the sinister anti-Santa.

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Links:

Tickle Me Kaczynski: How the Inventor of the Ultimate Elmo Toy Became a Unabomber Suspect (MEL)
Study: How to freeze-dry a potential COVID-19 vaccine (University at Buffalo)
Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes
The Battle for Christmas: A Social and Cultural History of Our Most Cherished Holiday by Stephen Nissenbaum
The Origin of Krampus, Europe's Evil Twist on Santa (Smithsonian Magazine)
What is Krampus? How the Christmas 'Devil' Became Cool (National Geographic)
Who is Krampus? Explaining Santa Claus's Scary Christmas Counterpart (National Geographic)
Krampus: the demonic Santa Claus you haven't heard about (Vox)
Weird Krampus drive-thru parade puts terrifying twist on Christmas and it's Saturday night (NOLA)
Necromanor Haunted House hosting pictures with Krampus for Christmas (Shreveport Times)
Krampusfest returns to Orlando's Milk District in December to give a little festive punishment to the naughty (Orlando Weekly)
Krampusnacht Celebrates Milwaukee's German Roots (Shepherd Express)
3rd Annual San Francisco Krampus Pageant at El Rio in San Francisco (SF Station)
A Houston Area Brewery Released a Krampus Themed 12-Days of Christmas Beer Box (Texas Is Life)
The R-Rated "Naughty Cut" Of Krampus Will Bring The Christmas Horror Movie To 4K (Slash Film)
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Thu. 12/02 - How a College Student Invented Oregon Trail 50 Years Ago

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 21:49:07 -0000

How a twenty-one-year-old student-teacher and his roommates created Oregon Trail fifty years ago, and never made a cent from their creation. Plus, a letter Catherine the Great wrote in favor of vaccinations just sold for $1.3 million. And, for one night only, you can stay in the original Home Alone house.

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Links:

‘Oregon Trail’ at 50: How Three Teachers Created the Computer Game That Inspired — and Diverted — Generations of Students (The 74 Million)
Oregon Trail game history: An interview with the inventor, Don Rawitsch. (Slate)
Watch the creators of retro gaming classic Oregon Trail reminisce in a now-retro video (A/V Club)
The Oregon Trail emulator (Archive.Org)
Oregon Trail Gets A Makeover With More Accurate Native American Representation (NPR)
Miracle Workers (TBS)
George Washington and the First Mass Military Inoculation (Library of Congress)
Catherine the Great Letter Supporting Inoculations Sells for $1.3 Million (NY Times)
Catherine the Great's Letter Endorsing Vaccines Sold at Auction (Mental Floss)
'Home Alone' house will be on Airbnb for one night only this month (NBC News)
The 'Home Alone' house is on Airbnb. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal. (Mashable)
In Denmark, a snow storm means people overnight in an IKEA (AP)
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Wed. 12/01 - Duolingo's Bizarre Sentences

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 21:55:40 -0000

Why does Duolingo use such weird and sometimes deeply relatable phrases to teach its users new languages? Plus, the real science behind the much-hyped “first living robots that can now reproduce.” And the origins of the twelve days of Christmas. Like, the actual days. Not the song about turtle doves.

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Links:

Why are Duolingo sentences so weird? (Slate)
‘Amazing science’: researchers find xenobots can give rise to offspring (The Guardian)
Interesting research, but no, we don’t have living, reproducing robots (Ars Technica)
Bizarre Creatures Are World's First Self-Replicating 'Living Robots', Scientists Say (Science Alert)
Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes
Jack's Countdown to Christmas (Instagram)
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Tue. 11/30 - How Mark Twain Invented the Bra Clasp

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 19:58:40 -0000

How Mark Twain invented the bra clasp. Kinda. Plus, beavers doing the work of million dollar machines to restore land and prevent wildfires––in a fraction of the time and for a fraction of the cost. And a new twist has emerged in the McDonald’s milkshake machine lawsuit saga.

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Links:

Mark Twain disliked suspenders so much that he invented the bra clasp. (That’s right.) (Literary Hub)
Mark Twain, Scrapbook Innovator (West Virginia University Libraries)
Celebrity Invention: Mark Twain's Elastic-Clasp Brassiere Strap (The Atlantic)
How Mark Twain’s Hatred of Suspenders Drove Him to Invent (Smithsonian Magazine)
The Facts in the Case of Mark Twain's Vest Strap (Journal of the Patent Office Society, 1939)
Curious Questions: Did Mark Twain really invent the bra strap? (Country Life)
A dry California creek bed looked like a wildfire risk. Then the beavers went to work (Sacramento Bee)
The McDonald’s Ice Cream Machine Hacking Saga Has a New Twist (Wired)
New details in the McDonald's ice cream machine hacking lawsuit (The Takeout)
McDonald's Ice Cream Machine Drama Gets Messier as Restraining Order Issued | Food & Wine (Food and Wine)
Fri. 04/23 - A McShake Up: The Battle Over McDonald's Ice Cream Machines (Kottke Ride Home)
Thu. 09/02 - What Is Grimace & Why Are Hyperlinks Blue? (Kottke Ride Home)
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Mon. 11/29 - Canada's Emergency Maple Syrup Reserves

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 21:48:01 -0000

Are influencers’ aesthetic choices for their kids threatening their brain development? Probably not, but the science behind it is kind of interesting. Plus, pub-goers in England got stranded for three days with an Oasis tribute band. And there’s a maple syrup shortage, but don’t worry, Canada was ready for it with their emergency maple syrup reserves.

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Links:

Are Instagram’s Aesthetic Moms Hindering Kids’ Development? (Wired UK)
Snowstorm Leaves Dozens Stranded for Days in a Remote UK Pub (NY Times)
"Snowasis": Blizzard Traps Dozens of People with Oasis Cover Band for Three Nights (Consequence of Sound)
Storm Arwen: Repairs begin after worst storm damage in 20 years (BBC)
Minus 10C Arctic blast predicted as Storm Arwen rages on (The Guardian)
Facing shortages, Canada taps its strategic reserves of maple syrup (CNN)
Amid massive shortage, Canada taps strategic reserves — of maple syrup (Washington Post)
'Vaccine' Is Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year (Gizmodo)
Word of the Year 2021 (Merriam-Webster)
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Wed. 11/24 - Made-Up Words For Very Real Feelings

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 18:30:00 -0000

How does the CIA go about recruiting young people who are increasingly skeptical of government institutions and also not exactly covert about their lives on social media? Plus, a dictionary of fake words for very real feelings. And are we cautiously eyeing an end in sight for the supply chain issues? Kind of.

Links:

The CIA Is Trying to Recruit Gen Z—and Doesn't Care If They're All Over Social Media (Washingtonian)
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (Tumblr)
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (Kottke)
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig
Supply-Chain Problems Show Signs of Easing (Wall Street Journal)
Beanie Babies airlifted from Chinese factories to O’Hare to circumvent shipping backlogs in time for the holidays (Chicago Tribune)
Techmeme Ride Home
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Tue. 11/23 - Why Do We Say "Sh*t Hit the Fan"?

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 18:30:00 -0000

Why we rely on idioms for communication and how some of the more nonsensical ones entered our lexicon. Plus, a company working on a sort of 10,000 g slingshot to launch satellites into space with zero emissions just pulled off their first successful test launch. And some reflections on reconnecting with the Earth in this era of the climate emergency, without appropriating indigenous cultures.

Links:

The Linguistic Case for Sh*t Hitting the Fan (JSTOR Daily)
History of Swear Words (Netflix)
Thanksgiving offers a way forward (Indian Country Today)
This Company Wants to Launch Satellites Into Orbit Using a Giant Spinning Centrifugal Slingshot (Gizmodo)
SpinLaunch's rocket-free kinetic launch system conducts first test flight (New Atlas)
First Native to head the National Park Service (Indian Country Today)
Senate confirms first Native American to lead National Park Service (NBC News)
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Mon. 11/22 - Oxygen From Moon Rocks Could Sustain Humanity for 100,000 Years

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 18:21:47 -0000

Could lunar explorers of the future be sucking air out of moon rocks? Could all of us? Plus, a device made from household objects could expand the world’s access to vaccines. And the psychological case for decorating for the holidays as early as you want.

Links:

The Moon's top layer alone has enough oxygen to sustain 8 billion people for 100,000 years (The Conversation)
This Cheap Device Could Expand the World’s Access to Vaccines (Scientific American)
India's Limit on Syringe Exports Hobbles Global Covid Vaccinations (NY Times)
What is syringe nationalism - and how is it slowing the global COVID-19 vaccine roll-out? (World Economic Forum)
Why It's Actually Good to Decorate 'Early' for Christmas, According to Science (LifeHacker)
POV: Does decorating for the holidays early improve mental health? (Vital Record, Texas A&M)
Adele gets Spotify to take shuffle button off all album pages (BBC)
Adele Asks Spotify to Remove ‘Shuffle’ Button From Her Albums, and It Does — Kind of (Variety)
Justice At Spotify (Union of Musicians)
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Fri. 11/19 - The Fake 2000s Yo-Yo Career of 'What We Do In the Shadows' Mark Proksch

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 20:32:27 -0000

A brief history of takeout and delivery. Plus, a What We Do In The Shadows actor’s previous career as an award-winning yo-yo-er. And the abomination that is RanchNog.

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Links:

How Apps Commandeered the Age-Old Idea of Takeout (Wired)
Hidden Valley Ranch Releases RanchNog Kit (Food and Wine)
Mark Proksch of 'What We Do in the Shadows' Pranked Midwest TV Stations as Yo-Yo Expert in the Early 2000s (Laughing Squid)
FRI Apr 22: Mark Proksch 1 (ADrinkWithDave, YouTube)
Zim Zam Yo-Yo Corp! (Doctor Popular)
Instant replay: Alleged yo-yo champ dupes TV shows (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
K-Strass on WGN Morning News 5/18/09 (Taobeth, YouTube)
Biden to transfer power to Harris during colonoscopy on Friday -White House (Reuters)
Biden will temporarily hand power to Harris during medical procedure (Politico)
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Thu. 11/18 - AMC Will Soon Deliver Popcorn to Your Home

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 21:42:17 -0000

Will we soon have a new Planet Nine? The first human trial for an Alzheimer’s nasal vaccine is about to be under way. And Papa John’s has changed their name. Technically. And AMC Theaters has said, “movies, who? Never heard of her. We’re a popcorn company now.”

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Links:

Planet 9: Old data could uncover the Solar System's newest world, 38 years late (Inverse)
A 1980s Space Telescope May Have Seen Planet Nine (Gizmodo)
Mysterious Object Glimpsed Decades Ago Might Have Actually Been Planet Nine (Science Alert)
In Depth | Hypothetical Planet X (NASA)
First human trial of Alzheimer's disease nasal vaccine to begin at Boston hospital (CBS News)
Brigham and Women’s Hospital is testing a nasal vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease (Boston Globe)
Business Insider catches up with disgraced Papa John Schnatter (A/V Club)
Papa John's redesigns its logo and stores (CNN)
Papa John's drops apostrophe, is now Papa Johns (The Takeout)
AMC Theatres Will Start Selling Popcorn Outside of Movie Theaters (Variety)
AMC to start delivering popcorn straight to your house (A/V Club)
The end of “click to subscribe, call to cancel”? One of the news industry’s favorite retention tactics is illegal, FTC says (Nieman Lab)
Cancelling Cable (Saturday Night Live, YouTube)
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Wed. 11/17 - The 1930s "Streaming" Music Service from Seattle

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 19:23:55 -0000

The progenitors to on-demand streaming music, including the multiphone in the 1950s American west and the Théâtrophone in 1880s Paris. Plus, new findings about Jupiter’s Great Red Spot from NASA’s Juno spacecraft. And the woman whose own immune system seems to have effectively cured her of HIV.

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Links:

Early On-Demand Music Streaming Required Lots of Nickels (Atlas Obscura)
Le streaming du XIXe siècle (ARTE Découverte, YouTube)
Seattle's original streaming music service was launched in 1939 (NBC King5)
Stop Everything and Behold this Mini Art Deco Telephone Jukebox circa 1935 (Messy Nessy)
Jupiter: mission unveils the depth and structure of planet's shrinking red spot and colourful bands (The Conversation)
Jupiter's Great Red Spot is deeper than we thought, NASA Juno spacecraft finds (NPR)
NASA’s Juno spacecraft finds just how deep Jupiter’s Great Red Spot goes (The Verge)
Scientists report finding a second person 'naturally' cured of HIV (STAT)
Woman's own immune system has possibly cured her of HIV (NBC News)
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Tue. 11/16 - Pastel Pavement to Appeal to Women Drivers & More Tired Ideas From Auto History

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 22:05:37 -0000

The US finally has a national recycling strategy as of yesterday. Plus, what is the ultimate song to listen to at any time of the day or night? Scientists figured it out. The gendered history of car and road design. And the giant Reese’s cup “pie” that sold out in mere minutes.

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Links:

The US finally adopts a national recycling strategy (The Verge)
EPA finalizes first national recycling strategy (Washington Post)
EPA unveils national recycling plan with goal of 50 percent rate (The Hill)
This particular song is perfect any time day or night, scientists report (Boing Boing)
'Every Breath You Take' is the ultimate all-round song (according to science) (NPR)
The Sorry History of Car Design for Women (JSTOR Daily)
I Just Found Out About Reese’s Take On a Thanksgiving Pie and It’s Already Sold Out (The Mary Sue)
Heinz Gravy 'Floa-lloonicle' Coming to Thanksgiving Day Parade (Nerdist)
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 11/15 - Welcome To The Human Library

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 21:06:58 -0000

Zillow is out of the iBuying game. What does that mean for its competitors and for the future of real estate? Plus, a look into the Human Library. And astronauts aboard the International Space Station were forced to take shelter in their return ships this morning due to on-coming space junk.

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Links:

Why Zillow Couldn’t Make Algorithmic House Pricing Work (Wired)
Is that viral TikTok about housing market manipulation true? (Input)
Redfin CEO explains how its iBuyer home buying program avoided pitfalls that sunk Zillow Group (Geek Wire)
Zillow (Saturday Night Live, YouTube)
This library lets you borrow people instead of books. It just may help bridge our bitter divisions (CNN)
Space debris forces astronauts on space station to take shelter in return ships (Space.com)
NASA was forced to change the orbit of the ISS due to space junk (Slash Gear)
Space Station Space Debris and Human Spacecraft (NASA)
Russia blows up a satellite, creating a dangerous debris cloud in space (The Verge)
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Fri. 11/12 - The Year Without A Santa Claus? "Labor Shortages" Hit the North Pole

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 20:01:11 -0000

White-tailed deer in America have been found to be transmitting SARS-CoV-2 among each other in higher than expected rates. Plus, next week will be the century’s longest partial lunar eclipse. A new, huge species of dinosaur was discovered on the Isle of Wight. And it’s not just shipping delays to be concerned with this holiday season, now we have a shortage of Santas.

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How SARS-CoV-2 in American deer could alter the course of the global pandemic (NPR)
Maine experts respond to COVID-19 deer study out of Iowa (News Center Maine)
White-tailed deer study hints at a frightening new era for Covid-19 (Inverse)
Longest partial lunar eclipse this century: How to watch the moon darken Nov. 18-19 (CNET)
Map of Partial Lunar Eclipse on November 19, 2021 (Time and Date)
New species of big-nosed dinosaur discovered by retired doctor (The Guardian)
New species of iguanodontian dinosaur discovered from Isle of Wight (Science Daily)
Stuff your own stockings: There's a Santa Claus shortage (A/V Club)
Is Santa Claus Coming to Town? Maybe Not. Blame the Labor Shortage. (Wall Street Journal)
Last year's episode about virtual Santa visits (Kottke Ride Home)
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Wed. 11/10 - Could Dogs Survive Without Us?

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 19:40:23 -0000

The curious story of how sushi became popular in America. Plus, what would happen to dogs if all their humans disappeared? And in their latest stunt, Heinz says they’ve grown ketchup in Martian conditions.

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Links:

The Untold Story of Sushi in America (NY Times)
Who could dogs become without humans in their lives? (Aeon)
Heinz grew “Martian” tomatoes that are good enough for ketchup (Quartz)
Introducing the Heinz Marz Edition (Heinz, YouTube)
Instead of Making the Orange Cream Shake a Permanent Menu Item, Arby’s Is Giving Us French Fry Vodka (The Mary Sue)
Kottke.Org
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Tue. 11/09 - Why Does America Have So Few Public Restrooms?

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 19:49:09 -0000

A deep dive down the drain pipe to discuss why America has so few public restrooms. Plus, how Pinterest ruined Google Search, and a few options for fixing it.

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Links:

Why Public Bathrooms Disappeared From US Cities (Bloomberg)
Which Cities Have The Most and Fewest Public Toilets? (QS Supplies)
How Pinterest utterly ruined photo search on the internet (Input)
Saturday Afternoon Ikea Trip Simulator
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Mon. 11/08 - The Messy Legacy of Emily Dickinson and Her Favorite Cake

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 21:50:23 -0000

Another even more promising antiviral pill for COVID-19 has been announced, this time from Pfizer. Plus, why adults aren’t as good at learning new things as kids are, but is it such a bad thing? And the messy legacy of both Emily Dickinson and her favorite cake recipe.

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Links:

Pfizer says COVID-19 pill cut hospital, death risk by 90% (AP)
Pfizer says its COVID-19 pill cuts disease's worst risks by 89% (NPR)
Pfizer's Experimental Covid-19 Pill Found Highly Effective at Preventing Hospitalization and Death (Gizmodo)
Why Children Learn Better Than Adults (Wall Street Journal)
The Messy History of Emily Dickinson's Black Cake Recipe (Atlas Obscura)
Dickinson (Apple TV+)
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Fri. 11/05 - A Universal Vaccine For EVERY Coronavirus, Not Just COVID-19

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 19:30:00 -0000

How would a universal coronavirus vaccine work and how close are we to having one? Plus, how cosplaying as a superhero can actually make you a better person, at least temporarily. And one of the most notorious serial killers in horror is getting his own killer breakfast cereal.

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Links:

The Race Is On to Develop a Vaccine Against Every Coronavirus (Wired)
Scientists in Africa are taking it upon themselves to create a COVID vaccine for the world's poor (Mother Jones)
Superhero cosplay makes you a better person for one science-backed reason (Inverse)
A photo of stoned Ghostface is all over TikTok (Daily Dot)
Henry Winkler Auctioning Fonzie Jacket From 'Happy Days,' Ghostface Mask From 'Scream' (Collider)
SCREAM Cereal Coming Next Year, Because There Are Rules to Having Breakfast (Collider)
UK's biggest range of american cereal + poptarts (Cereal Killer)
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Thu. 11/04 - Steel Igloos In Iceland Turn CO2 Into Rocks

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 19:30:00 -0000

New international space laws may soon be on the horizon. Plus, the brewing battles between artists using AI to reconstruct lost artworks and the estates of the original artists. And some steel igloos in Iceland that protect one of the most promising examples of carbon capture yet.

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Links:

The United Nations Could Finally Create New Rules for Space (Wired)
UK Wants UN To Create New Space Rules That Could Prevent Military Confrontations Outside Earth (Tech Times)
From a hidden Picasso nude to an unfinished Beethoven, AI uncovers lost art — and new challenges (NBC News)
A Neuroscientist and a Physicist Used AI to Recreate a Lost Painting Buried Under a Beloved Picasso Canvas (Artnet)
Is Carbon Capture Here? (NY Times)
Thu. 11/05 - Why Nebraska Splits Its Electoral Votes (Kottke Ride Home)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 11/03 - The McRib, Space Tacos, and Tropicana Toothpaste

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 19:03:35 -0000

An abridged history of the McRib sandwich. Astronauts have leveled up their taco game by growing chile peppers in space. And Tropicana just introduced their own line of toothpaste.

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Links:

What You Didn't Know About The McDonald's McRib (Mashed)
History of McDonald's McRib: Military Experiments, the Flintstones & More (Thrillist)
The Cult of the McRib (Maxim)
The History of the McRib (Retroist)
Was the McRib invented in Nebraska? (Nebraska.gov)
The Invention of the McRib and Why It Disappears from McDonald’s (Chicago Magazine)
If You Think a McRib-Inspired Cocktail Sounds Delicious Then You're in Luck (Ad Week)
McRib Locator
Thu. 09/02 - What Is Grimace & Why Are Hyperlinks Blue? (Kottke Ride Home)
NASA Grew Chili Peppers in Space, Astronaut Used for Tacos (Business Insider)
Astronauts grew green chile on the space station and made themselves space tacos (NPR)
Plant Habitat-04 (NASA)
Sick of Orange Juice That Tastes Like Dirty Pennies? Tropicana Toothpaste May Be the Solution (Ad Week)
Tropicana Toothpaste Doesn't Make Your Orange Juice Taste Bad (Food and Wine)
The Reason Orange Juice Tastes Bad After Brushing Your Teeth Is Surprisingly Complicated (Food and Wine)
‎Atlas Obscura Travel Guide (Apple App Store)
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Tue. 11/02 - How to Rewild Your Attention

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 20:29:42 -0000

Some tips for “rewilding your attention.” Plus, how to help NASA train future rovers to better navigate Mars. And what’s going on with those NFT billboards in Times Square… and also, the McRib is now an NFT?

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Links:

9 Ways to 'Rewild Your Attention' (Forge)
Rewilding your attention. To find truly interesting ideas, step… (UX Collective)
Rewild Your Attention (Tom Critchlow, Twitter)
Rewilding Your Attention (CJ Eller)
A Search Engine Designed To Surprise You (OneZero)
The Inner Ring of The Internet by Ali Montag (Divinations)
You Can Help Train NASA's Rovers to Better Explore Mars (NASA JPL)
AI4Mars (Zooniverse)
The McRib is back at McDonald's. It's also an NFT. (NBC News)
The Sauciest Season of the Year is Here …the McRib is Back at McDonald's® USA This Fall (McDonald’s)
McDonald's The Flintstones McRib Movie Tie-In Ad (1994) (YouTube)
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Mon. 11/01 - "Behind The Joy Are The Algorithms"

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 20:56:55 -0000

A meditation on streaming entertainment, algorithms, and David Foster Wallace’s prescient writing on the illusion of choice. Plus, a possible functional cure for HIV has just been approved to enter human trials. And, the Wampanoag woman who grew heirloom corn on its original land for the first time in over three centuries.

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Links:

How David Foster Wallace Anticipated Netflix’s Digital Gatekeeping (Literary Hub)
Everything, All the Time, Everywhere: How We Became Postmodern by Stuart Jeffries
One Complaint Per Table (Kottke.org)
A Possible “Functional Cure” for HIV Will Soon Begin Human Trials (them.)
Excision BioTherapeutics to Proceed with HIV Clinical Trial (Philadelphia Magazine)
HIV/AIDS (WHO)
Covid's global death toll now tops 5 million (NBC News)
Covid death toll overtakes that of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. (Boing Boing)
A Mashpee Wampanoag woman reconnects with a traditional corn (WCAI NPR)
King Philip Corn (Truelove Seeds)
King Phillip Corn - Arca del Gusto - Slow Food Foundation (Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity)
Panic, lockdown and a rush to vaccinate in Tonga as first Covid case recorded (The Guardian)
Covid Zero: China Locks Guests Inside Disneyland for Testing After Shanghai Case (Bloomberg)
Vax declared Oxford English Dictionary's word of the year (BBC)
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Fri. 10/29 - Disease and the Vampire Myth + Hallowmeme History

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 20:21:57 -0000

Digging up the origins of some of the most popular Halloween memes––from “Spooky Scary Skeletons” to the dancing pumpkin man, and also touching on the Disney Channel’s 1980s answer to MTV. Plus, how times of disease have historically led to an uptick in vampire fear and folklore. And, on a more optimistic note, hopefully meaning we’ll have one less thing to fear in the future, phase one vaccine trials for the most aggressive type of breast cancer have just begun.

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Links:

Silly Symphonies - The Skeleton Dance (Walt Disney Animation Studios, YouTube)
Spooky, Scary Skeletons (Undead Tombstone Remix) (Official Audio) (Andrew Gold, YouTube)
Andrew Gold - Spooky Scary Skeletons (Official Audio) (Andrew Gold, YouTube)
DTV Pop & Rock (ALurkingGrue, YouTube)
Spooky Scary Skeletons (metal cover by Leo Moracchioli) (Frog Leap Studios)
KXVO Pumpkin Dance (Original Taping, Unedited) (Dancing Pumpkin Man, YouTube)
The Story Behind the Greatest Halloween Video Ever in the History of the Internet | Studio 360 (WNYC)
More 'disease' than 'Dracula' – how the vampire myth was born (The Conversation)
The Real Vampires of Europe (JSTOR Daily)
A Vaccine Trial for the Most Aggressive Form of Breast Cancer Just Started (Gizmodo)
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Thu. 10/28 - Human Eggs Made From Blood Cells

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:10:01 -0000

Could we one day create sperm and egg cells from any human cell, even across the sexes? Plus, how BJ Novak from The Office’s face ended up on products all around the world without him knowing. And the latest drops from two of the internet’s leading mischief-making companies, including Andy Warhol forgeries and a vegan cannibal steakhouse.

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Links:

How Silicon Valley hatched a plan to turn blood into human eggs (MIT Technology Review)
B.J. Novak’s Face Is on Products Worldwide. He’s Not Sure Why. (NY Times)
Why BJ Novak Is The Face Of Random Products Worldwide (BuzzFeed)
Museum of Forgeries (MSCHF)
The Vegan Cannibal Steakhouse by Liquid Death (Liquid Death)
Photoshop will get a 'prepare as NFT' option soon (The Verge)
5 unbelievable tech sneaks from Adobe Max 2021 (Creative Bloq)
Adobe brings new Creative Cloud apps to M1 Macs and the web (Ars Technica)
Facebook just revealed its new name: Meta (The Verge)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 10/27 - Permafrost Thaw May Unleash Radioactive Waste & Bacteria

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 18:12:47 -0000

It turns out that melting permafrost could unleash Cold War-era radioactive waste and millions of years old antibiotic resistant bacteria. Cool cool cool. Plus, a look back at when picnicking in cemeteries was a common past time––and not just for goths. And the annual drop of totally weird and probably disgusting candy cane flavors from Archie McPhee.

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Links:

We're now at risk of radioactive waste exposure thanks to melting permafrost (Mic)
Permafrost thaw could release bacteria and viruses (European Space Agency)
Permafrost Thaw Could Unleash Pathogens and Radioactive Waste (Gizmodo)
Finally: Hot dog flavored candy canes (Boing Boing)
Candy canes episode from last year (Kottke Ride Home)
Remembering When Americans Picnicked in Cemeteries (Atlas Obscura)
The 10 Iconic Cemeteries That Made Death Beautiful (Atlas Obscura, 2016)
Is This Timothée Chalamet’s Xbox Modding YouTube Channel? An Investigation (Vice)
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Tue. 10/26 - Can AI Simulations Solve the Supply Chain Disruptions?

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 19:14:59 -0000

Could a new generation of AI simulations help solve the mounting supply chain disruptions? Plus, the history and future of haunted houses. And Jeff Bezos is basically trying to start a WeWork in space.

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Links:

How AI could solve supply chain shortages and save Christmas (MIT Technology Review)
Cardboard shortages deal another blow to strained supply chains (Ars Technica)
A Brief History of the Haunted House (Smithsonian Mag)
Blue Origin: Jeff Bezos unveils plans for 'space business park' (BBC)
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin plans to build a 'business park' in space (Mashable)
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Mon. 10/25 - Music That Gives You Chills, and Why It Does

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 20:20:06 -0000

The countercultural witchcraft music of the 1960s, and a study exploring what it is about certain songs that give us a spine-tingling chill. Plus, elephants in Mozambique have evolved to be born without tusks. And the guy who discovered a budget hack for spending just $150 on meals all year: eat every meal at Six Flags.

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Links:

13 Vintage Halloween Songs from the 1910's, 20's, & 30's (History Tea Time with Lindsay Holiday, YouTube)
A Look Back at America's Psychedelic Countercultural Witch Music (Atlas Obscura)
The Munsters - At Home With The Munsters - Vinyl LP (Rough Trade)
Researchers analyzed 700-plus songs known to give people chills. Here’s the playlist (Quartz)
Songs To Give You Chills playlist (Quartz, Spotify)
Tuskless Elephants Escape Poachers, but May Evolve New Problems (NY Times)
Poaching drove the evolution of tusk-free elephants (Ars Technica)
Meet the Guy Who Spends Just $150 a Year to Eat All His Meals at Six Flags (Mel Magazine)
Iron-stomached man discovers savings benefits of eating meals at a Six Flags par (A/V Club)
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Fri. 10/22 - A Solar Storm Proved the Vikings Visited The Americas Exactly 1000 Years Ago

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 18:00:00 -0000

Thanks to a collab between trees and the sun, we can now pinpoint an exact year that the Vikings were in North America. Plus, are sirens actually effective tools for emergency vehicles? And why are apples associated with Halloween? Like what is up with apple bobbing?

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Links:

Vikings visited North America in 1021 AD, long before Columbus (Syfy)
Vikings Were in the Americas Exactly 1,000 Years Ago (NY Times)
Sirens: Loud, Ineffective and Risky, Experts Say (NY Times)
The Secret, Steamy History Of Halloween Apples (NPR)
Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night by Nicholas Rogers
How to Tell If Your Onions Are Linked to a Salmonella Outbreak (LifeHacker)
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Onions (CDC)
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Thu. 10/21 - Using These Memes Is A Red Flag 🚩

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 19:52:28 -0000

Open captions are coming to the big screen as AMC Theaters takes a big step towards accessibility, and a look at captions’ growing popularity among the hearing. Plus, how some of the most popular memes are completely inaccessible. And the group of museums who have started an OnlyFans account.

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Links:

AMC Is Expanding Its Open Film Captioning Support Across the U.S. (Gizmodo)
Do deaf people go to the movies? (Quora)
Lauren Ridloff, MCU's First Deaf Hero in 'Eternals,' on Her Superpower (NY Times)
AMC to Add Onscreen Captions at Some Locations (NY Times)
How to Watch Netflix's Squid Game (or Any Translated Show) With the Right Subtitles (LifeHacker)
The Real Reason You Use Closed Captions for Everything Now (Wired, 2018)
The red flag meme is a red flag for accessibility (Tech Crunch)
Vienna museums have started a fine arts OnlyFans account (A/V Club)
Vienna museums open adult-only OnlyFans account to display nudes (The Guardian)
Bone up on your math studies with calculus tutorials on Pornhub (A/V Club)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 10/20 - None Pizza With Left Beef: A Slice of History

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 18:35:25 -0000

A brief history of one of the most famous pizzas on the internet. Surgeons have successfully transplanted a kidney from a genetically-altered pig to a human. And how to watch the Orionid Meteor Shower this week, if the big ol’ full moon doesn’t get in your way.

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Links:

"On this day in history: "None pizza with left beef" was first..." (Adam Quinn, Twitter)
The Great Pizza Orientation Test (The Sneeze)
None Pizza with Left Beef | Special Delivery Instructions (Know Your Meme)
Reflections on the 10th Anniversary of None Pizza With Left Beef (Gizmodo)
Sexy None Pizza With Left Beef Halloween Costume (Talia, Twitter)
None Pizza With Left Beef's Creator Steve Molaro Interview (Intelligencer)
The Truth about None Pizza with Left Beef (Vlogbrothers, YouTube)
Pig-to-human transplants come a step closer with new test (AP)
In a First, Surgeons Attached a Pig Kidney to a Human — and It Worked (NY Times)
October's full Hunter's Moon of 2021 rises tonight! Here's what to expect. (Space.com)
Full moon in October will obscure Orionid meteor shower (CNN)
Orionid meteor shower 2021: When, where & how to see it (Space.com)
Facebook plans to change company name to focus on the metaverse (The Verge)
Facebook Plans to Change Its Name Because the Brand is Toxic (A/V Club)
A Plague of Nosebleeds Hit Twitch Streamers, But It Was All an Apple TV+ Stunt (Ad Week)
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Tue. 10/19 - Grand Duke Travis of Westarctica Wants To Save the Planet

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 19:23:01 -0000

A look at the micronation of Westarctica, whose Grand Duke Travis started a nonprofit arm of the micronation to raise awareness about the consequences of the climate emergency in Western Antarctica. Plus, AstroAccess successfully completed their first zero-g flight with their disability ambassadors, taking an important step towards space accessibility and inclusivity. And, in our latest shortage report: the 12 foot Home Depot Skeletons.

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Links:

Westarctica, Antarctica: A Micronation With a Mission (Afar)
Micronations in the United States prepare for coronavirus, send messages of goodwill to the American people (Newsweek)
Fake Countries Have a Hard Time Dealing with the Pandemic, Too (Wall Street Journal)
Westarctica, Land of the Brave (Lyric Video) (Westarctica, YouTube)
Disability ambassadors successfully complete Zero-G flight (Space.com)
They ordered a 12-foot skeleton online. They got a 12-inch one instead. (Input)
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 10/18 - Thank Exoplanets For Your iPhone's Display

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 20:16:17 -0000

How the push to search for signs of life on exoplanets fueled the development of the technology we use in our latest generation of smartphones. Plus, what your punctuation habits can say about you as a writer––and a new website based on a 2016 art project that allows you to visually analyze those findings. And walruses from space!

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Links:

How the Search for Extraterrestrial Life Helped Make Your Smartphone’s Screen Possible (Wall Street Journal)
NASA Spinoff (NASA)
NASA Home & City (NASA)
What I Learned About My Writing By Seeing Only The Punctuation (Creators Hub)
Punctuation in novels. (Adam J. Calhoun)
just the punctuation
WWF'S Walrus From Space Project Seeks Volunteer 'Walrus Detectives' (NPR)
Where’s walrus? Scientists seek public ‘detectives’ to spot giant animals from space. (Washington Post)
Walrus From Space (WWF)
Tech Meme Ride Home
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Fri. 10/15 - Responding to Pandemic Uncertainty Like an Engineer

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:51:43 -0000

A proposal for approaching this next phase of the pandemic less like an epidemiologist and more like an engineer. Plus, new findings from the Mars Perseverance rover that has NASA breathing a sigh of relief. And product placement in novels, added without the author’s knowledge. It’s a real thing that I hope remains in the past.

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Links:

Reimagining our pandemic problems with the mindset of an engineer (MIT Technology Review)
A Prayer for Our Next COVID Era (The Atlantic)
Mars scientists now know where to look for life (BBC)
Boulders On Mars Suggest a Warm and Humid Past (Time)
The time Terry Pratchett’s German publisher inserted a soup ad into his novel. (Literary Hub)
Pratchett anecdote and responses with photos (Neil Gaiman, Twitter)
Terry Pratchett and the Maggi Soup Adverts (Stuffed Crocodile)
Heinz Halloween Tomato Blood Costume (Heinz)
Kottke.Org
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Thu. 10/14 - Do Spoilers Actually Make Movies Better?

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 20:00:53 -0000

Should you read the spoilers for horror movies before you watch them? Plus, a butterfly species in Finland with parasitic wasps in its belly… and even more wasps inside of that one. And, what if instead of lamps we one day use glowing plants to light our homes?

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Links:

Read Spoilers First So You Can Watch a Horror Movie Without Feeling Terrible (Lifehacker)
Spoiler alert: spoilers make you enjoy stories more (UC San Diego)
17 Unscary 'Horror' Movies For Halloween Wimps (Lifehacker)
Butterflies released in Finland contained parasitic wasps – with more wasps inside (The Guardian)
‘Russian doll' set of stomach-bursting parasites released inside butterfly on remote Finnish island (LiveScience)
The next generation of glowing plants (MIT News)
Engineers create plants that glow (MIT News, 2017)
Does the platform matter? Social media and COVID-19 conspiracy theory beliefs in 17 countries (New Media & Society) via Today In Tabs
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Wed. 10/13 - Who's To Blame For Candy Corn?

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 20:17:24 -0000

How candy corn went from a year round candy marketed at farmers to the love-to-hate it Halloween treat it is today. Plus, a new interactive image gallery that starkly shows what effects three degrees of global warming will have on coastal cities around the world. And, in ten years, one of the biggest comets ever recorded will be passing by Earth.

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Links:

Why Is Candy Corn the Most Hated Halloween Candy? (Eater)
Episode Three - Satan's Earwax (Preserve Halloween Podcast)
Where Our Love/Hate Relationship With Candy Corn Comes From (The Atlantic)
The Saccharine History of Candy Corn (National Geographic)
Why Brach's Turkey Dinner Candy Corn Might Taste Different This Year (Mashed)
All About Candy Corn (National Confectioners Association)
What To Know About Confectioner's Glaze (Taste for Life)
Why is there shellac in my chocolate mints? (McGill)
How Candy Corn is Made | Unwrapped (Food Network, YouTube)
See how climate change could drown landmarks around the world (The Verge)
What sea level rise will do to famous American sites, visualized (The Guardian)
Google AR Brings Endangered Swedish Animals Into Your Living Room (Gizmodo)
One of the largest comets ever seen is headed our way (National Geographic)
Largest comet ever observed will come close to Earth in 2031 (A/V Club)
The Biggest Comet Ever Discovered, Bernardinelli-Bernstein, Is Headed Our Way (The Daily Beast)
Here's how to watch live coverage of NASA's next asteroid mission (Space.com)
More about the Lucy Mission from the 09/22 episode (Kottke Ride Home)
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Tue. 10/12 - Why Do We Casually Kill Spiders Without Remorse?

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 19:51:42 -0000

What is it that makes spiders so frightening to us, and why do most of us kill them without sparing a second thought? Plus, a Scottish nightclub that’s using the body heat of their dancing patrons to heat and cool the venue. And Prince Charles, trying to out British everyone else, fuels up his Aston Martin with England’s finest wine and cheese byproducts.

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Links:

Why so many of us are casual spider-murderers (BBC)
Scottish nightclub to generate power from dancers' body heat (Planet Ark)
This green nightclub traps dancers' body heat for later (Fast Company)
Introducing a radical plan to power SWG3 using body heat (SWG3 TV)
Prince Charles’ Vintage Car Runs on Wine and Cheese Because Of Course It Does (Gizmodo)
Blue Origin readies for space launch with William Shatner aboard (CBS News)
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Mon. 10/11 - The Very Intense Miss Navajo Nation Pageant

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 18:10:28 -0000

It’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day. More and more local governments are making it official, but why did we start celebrating Columbus Day to begin with? Plus, the impressive and gnarly competition to be crowned Miss Navajo Nation. And the history of National Coming Out Day, including the connection between Pride celebrations and Halloween.

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Links:

Biden is first president to mark Indigenous Peoples' Day (AP)
Indigenous Peoples' Day, as explained by Native Americans (NPR)
Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day? How the holiday has been shaped by oppression (National Geographic)
Miss Navajo Nation is a pageant like no other (LA Times)
Reservation Dogs (FX)
All My Relations Podcast
Native Appropriations | Representations Matter
Notable Native People by Adrienne Keene
Dallas Goldtooth (@dallasgoldtooth) (Instagram)
The history of National Coming Out Day contains both pride and pain (The 19th)
Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on National Coming Out Day (White House)
International Day of the Girl Child (UN Women)
#GirlsGetLoud Day of the Girl (Twitter)
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Fri. 10/08 - Is The Nobel Prize Bad For Science?

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 20:06:03 -0000

The winners of the Nobel Peace Prize have been announced! As well as the winners in Chemistry and Literature. More on each winner, as well as a question about whether we really need the Nobel Prize. Plus, the remnants of the oldest Black church in the US have been uncovered in Colonial Williamsburg. And a Google AI has recreated famous works of art by Gustav Klimt that were lost in World War II.

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Links:

Maria Ressa is only the 18th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in its 126-year history. (NY Times)
The Nobel Peace Prize 2021 - Press release (Nobel Prize)
Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov win Nobel Peace Prize (Washington Post)
Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded to Scientists for Creating a Tool to Build Molecules (NY Times)
Abdulrazak Gurnah wins the 2021 Nobel prize in literature (The Guardian)
The flaws in the Nobel Prizes in medicine, physics, chemistry, and economics (Vox)
Why COVID vaccines didn't win a science Nobel this year (Nature)
Remnants of Black church uncovered in Colonial Williamsburg (AP)
Colonial Williamsburg Project Unearths Foundation of First Baptist Church (NY Times)
The Quest to Unearth One of America's Oldest Black Churches (Wired, 2020)
Google used AI to recreate Gustav Klimt paintings burned by Nazis (Mashable)
Klimt vs. Klimt (Google Arts & Culture)
'The case remains open': FBI rebuts claim Zodiac Killer case is solved (NBC News)
'Hot Garbage': Zodiac Expert Calls 'Bulls---' on Possible ID of Infamous Serial Killer (Rolling Stone)
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Thu. 10/07 - It's Like Venmo, But For the Post Office

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 20:53:44 -0000

The WHO has officially approved the first-ever malaria vaccine. The United States Postal Service is trying out being a bank. And the story of a white-naped crane named Walnut who fell in love with a human named Crowe.

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Links:

World Health Organization Approves First Malaria Vaccine (NY Mag)
Malaria vaccine: When will it be available? (BBC)
World's first malaria vaccine gets WHO recommendation (NPR)
WHO recommends groundbreaking malaria vaccine for children at risk (WHO)
The USPS is testing out becoming a bank, and it's about damn time. (Boing Boing)
USPS Begins Postal Banking Pilot Program (Prospect)
The crane who fell in love with a human (Washington Post, 2018)
Crowe and Crane "It's complicated." (Amanda Deibert, Twitter)
The 9,090-Piece Titanic Is Now the Largest Lego Model Ever Released (Gizmodo)
Accurate Titanic Model (bikekill, TikTok)
Wandavision Agatha Harkness Marvel Spinoff at Disney+ (iO9)
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Wed. 10/06 - "Corpse Medicine," Brain Implants, & Actors In Space

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 19:59:12 -0000

A Russian film crew have arrived on the International Space Station to shoot the first-ever feature length film in space. A woman has received a brain implant that is successfully treating her depression by painlessly zapping her hundreds of times a day. And the seventeenth century health trend that was all the rage in Europe: corpse medicine.

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Links:

This Russian duo are set to make the first feature film in space (Euro News)
Russian film crew in orbit to make first movie in space (AP)
A Russian actor blasts off to make a movie on the International Space Station (NPR)
This woman’s brain implant zaps her with electricity when it senses she’s getting depressed (MIT Technology Review)
A surgically implanted brain stimulation device could help treat severe depression (The Verge)
European 'Corpse Medicine' Promised Better Health Through Cannibalism (Atlas Obscura)
Zodiac Killer Allegedly Identified by Team of Independent Investigators (Complex)
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Tue. 10/05 - The Facebook Outage Revealed a Grim Reality

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 20:58:41 -0000

Are we prepared to reckon with how much of the world came to a stop when Facebook went down yesterday? Plus, thanks to a new discovery, you may soon be able to find out if you had an identical twin in the womb using just a simple cheek swab. And it’s Nobel Prize week! The winners announced thus far produced groundbreaking work using everything from spin glass to chili peppers.

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Links:

Why Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp All Went Down Today (Wired)
Millions of people rely on Facebook to get online. The outage left them stranded. (MIT Tech Review)
Facebook’s Apps Went Down. The World Saw How Much It Runs on Them. (NY Times)
Why Facebook and Instagram went down for hours on Monday (NPR)
All identical twins may share a common set of chemical markers on their DNA (Science News)
DNA markers reveal if you shared a womb with twin that didn't survive (New Scientist)
Identical twins carry genetic modifications no one else has (Science)
Medicine Nobel goes to scientists who discovered biology of senses (Nature)
Scientists Studied Spicy Chili Peppers and Cool Menthol for Their Nobel Prize–Winning Research on Heat and Touch (Smithsonian Mag)
Nobel Prize in Physics Honors Work on Climate Change (NY Times)
Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann win half of Nobel prize for modeling Earth's climate, Giorgio Parisi wins other half for describing fluctuating physical systems (Washington Post)
Netflix establishes scholarship in Chadwick Boseman's name (A/V Club)
Denzel Washington Paid for Chadwick Boseman to Study at Oxford (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, YouTube)
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Mon. 10/04 - Thor's Antiviral COVID-19 Pill & Sexist Suitcases

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 20:28:12 -0000

The sexist history of the rollerboard suitcases. Plus, the facts about Merck’s new COVID-19 antiviral pill, including its connection to Thor. And the return of Nick Lutsko’s absurdist Spirit Halloween music videos.

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Links:

Meet molnupiravir, Merck’s Thor-inspired pill that hammers COVID (Ars Technica)
How Merck's Covid-19 pill molnupiravir could change the Covid-19 pandemic (Vox)
Merck's antiviral pill reduces hospitalization of Covid patients (STAT)
How Merck's antiviral pill could change the game for COVID-19 (National Geographic)
The hedge fund manager behind a long-shot coronavirus pill (Financial Times, 2020)
Mystery of the wheelie suitcase: how gender stereotypes held back the history of invention (The Guardian)
Who Actually Invented the Wheeled Suitcase? (Interesting Engineering)
Reinventing the Suitcase by Adding the Wheel (NY Times)
Spirit Halloween Planet (Nick Lutsko, Twitter)
Halloween Planet EP (Nick Lutsko, Bandcamp)
Spirit Halloween Theme - FULL TRILOGY (Nick Lutsko, YouTube)
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Fri. 10/01 - Edibles In Your Kid's Trick-Or-Treat Candy? Don't Bet On It.

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 16:16:15 -0000

The persisting myth of tampered-with and tainted trick-or-treat candy, and why it’s an urban legend that will never die. Plus, how we humans produce speech and a website that shows you both the beautiful engineering and the chaos of our mouths. And a selection of haunted houses you can sleep over at in case you’re looking to up the ante on your spooky experiences this month.

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Links:

For the Last Time: No One Is Trying to Give Your Kid Edibles (LifeHacker)
Could THC candies make it into your child's Halloween haul? (The Takeout)
Are People Really Trying to Drug Kids With Marijuana-Laced Halloween Candy? (Reason)
Big Candy Is Angry at Look-Alike THC Treats (NY Times)
Halloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday by David J. Skall
Those Treats May Be Tricks (NY Times, 1970)
Pink Trombone
From Grunting To Gabbing: Why Humans Can Talk (NPR, 2010)
You can spend Halloween with Dewey Riley at the original 'Scream' house (Mashable)
Stay somewhere spirited (Airbnb)
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Thu. 09/30 - Chinese Takeout Boxes Are Americancore

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 17:31:00 -0000

The very American history of the Chinese takeout box, and a look at the new “Americancore” trend. Plus, archaeologists have uncovered a hidden neighborhood in the ancient Maya city of Tikal that sheds new light on the imperialism of the Teotihuacán. And a lost David Bowie album is finally being released.

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Links:

The Chinese Takeout Box is As American As Baseball and Apple Pie (The Dieline)
Chinese Food Delivery Containers, Explained (Eater)
The Chinese-Takeout Container Is Uniquely American (NY Times)
Takeout and Delivery Food Can Teach You American History (TIME)
America as an Internet Aesthetic (The New Yorker)
Panda Express (Yuki Chikamori, TikTok)
chinese food box (R & D Tool Engineering & Fourslide Production, YouTube)
Ancient Maya City of Tikal Had a Teotihuacán-Like Neighborhood (Gizmodo)
Startling Discovery Reveals Mysterious Citadel Hidden in Ancient Maya City (Science Alert)
In Guatemala, archaeologist from Brown helps to uncover hidden neighborhood in ancient Maya city (Brown University)
Lost Maya Neighborhood Is a Mini Replica of Teotihuacan Citadel, New Research Finds (ARTnews)
David Bowie’s Lost 2001 Album, Toy, Receiving Long-Awaited Release (Consequence of Sound)
David Bowie’s Unreleased Album Toy Set for Release (Pitchfork)
International Podcast Day
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Wed. 09/29 - When Humans Die On Mars, What Will Happen?

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 20:00:43 -0000

What will happen to the bodies of people who die on Mars? Plus, AI has indicated that a famous painting at the National Gallery might be a phoney. And festival-goers at Glastonbury are endangering rare eels with their drug-addled refusal to use public toilets.

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Links:

How Would Humans Decompose on Mars? (Discover)
What Happens If Someone Dies on Mars? (Atlas Obscura)
How to die on Mars (Space)
Was famed Samson and Delilah really painted by Rubens? No, says AI (The Guardian)
AI study suggests a London gallery's been exhibiting a fake for years (The Next Web)
Glastonbury Festival: Levels of illegal drugs high enough to harm wildlife found in river running through site (Sky News)
Glastonbury: drug traces from on-site urination could harm rare eels (The Guardian)
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Tue. 09/28 - Are Climate Companies Reliving the Dot Com Era?

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 17:48:48 -0000

Could removing methane from the atmosphere be a viable strategy for slowing global warming? And are all of these disparate new ideas and strategies to solve the climate crisis going to lead to real solutions? Plus, pulling back the curtain on the on-going supply chain problems. And the crypto-trading hamster showing up the pros.

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Links:

Pulling methane out of the atmosphere could slow global warming—if we can figure out how to do it (MIT Technology Review)
Climate Change Is the New Dot-Com Bubble (Wired)
The Supply-Chain Mystery (The New Yorker)
No End In Sight For The COVID-Led Global Supply Chain Disruption (Forbes)
An Excerpt from My New Anxiety Dream Where I Personally Break the Global Supply Chain (McSweeney’s)
Brexit means Brexit (r/LeopardsAteMyFace)
Mr Goxx, the crypto-trading hamster beating human investors (BBC)
A Hamster on Twitch Is Trading Crypto and Beating the Stock Market (Vice)
mr_goxx (Mr. Goxx, Twitch)
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 09/27 - 900 Year Old Cosmic Mystery: Officially Solved

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 20:25:32 -0000

How 19th century New Yorkers took advantage of a loophole in the strict drinking laws and ended up creating the world’s worst sandwich. Plus, a supernova that’s been missing since the twelfth century has been found! And how a young woman on Tiktok accidentally caused havoc to thousands of scientific studies.

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Links:

To Evade Pre-Prohibition Drinking Laws, New Yorkers Created the World's Worst Sandwich (Atlas Obscura)
A supernova missing since 1181 AD has finally been found (Syfy)
Astronomers solve 900-year-old cosmic mystery surrounding Chinese supernova of 1181AD (University of Manchester)
A teenager on TikTok disrupted thousands of scientific studies with a single video (The Verge)
'Great British Bake Off' Goes by Different Name in US Due to Trademark (Insider)
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 09/24 - Ancient Teens Shake Up History of Human Migration

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 17:28:59 -0000

Ancient footprints discovered in New Mexico are shaking up what we thought we knew about when humans first arrived in the Americas. Plus, how much plastic do we unknowingly ingest each year? The answer is probably more than you’re comfortable with, but it also turns out that babies take in way more of it than adults. And a new, very unauthorized website that will bring you Chick-fil-A on a Sunday.

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Links:

Ancient Footprints Suggest Humans Arrived In Americas During Ice Age (NY Times)
Fossil footprints prove humans populated the Americas thousands of years earlier than we thought (The Conversation)
Fossil footprints challenge theory of when people first arrived in Americas (National Geographic)
Erosive forces tweet (Michael Roston, Twitter)
Baby Poop Is Loaded With Microplastics (Wired)
Infants have more microplastics in their feces than adults (Science Daily)
You can now risk eternal damnation by buying Sunday Chick-fil-A (A/V Club)
Chick-fil-A’s Owner Is Bankrolling Hate Groups Targeting Trans Kids (them.)
MSCHF Sunday Service
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Thu. 09/23 - Birds Are Real (and Got Louder During Lockdown)

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 20:41:44 -0000

The dark side of the history of epidemiology. Plus, a study that proves, yes actually, birds were louder and more numerous during lockdown. And two women in their hundreds who have lived incredible lives and refuse to quit doing what they love.

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Links:

How Transatlantic Slave Trade Shaped Epidemiology Today (TIME)
Birds Thrived During Covid-19 Lockdowns, New Study Shows (Wall Street Journal)
Fri. 05/15 - Have Birds Gotten Louder During Lockdown? (Kottke Ride Home)
107-Year-Old French Pianist Colette Maze Has A New Album (NPR)
‘America’s Oldest Park Ranger’ Is Only Her Latest Chapter (NY Times)
A few details NYT left out (Jennifer Schuessler, Twitter)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 09/22 - The Wonders of Fall, and the Cosmos

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 20:39:08 -0000

Sharing some reflections, some poetry, and a bit of a historical context on what it is that makes fall strike such a strong chord with so many of us, in honor of this first day of fall. And a look at NASA’s upcoming Lucy mission to Jupiter’s asteroids that somehow includes facts about the Beatles, Mexican track and field athlete Norma Enriqueta Basilio Sotelo, and The Iliad.

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Between Restlessness and Rapture: Autumn and the Sensual Urgency of Aliveness (Brain Pickings)
A Sunset of the City (Gwendolyn Brooks, Poetry Foundation)
Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me… (William Shakespeare, Poetry Foundation)
To Autumn by John Keats (John Keats, Poetry Foundation)
John Keats: “To Autumn” by Caitlin Kimball (Poetry Foundation)
Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night by Nicholas Rogers
The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature a book by J. Drew Lanham by J. Drew Lanham
NASA's Lucy mission will visit at least 8 asteroids on a loop-de-loop trajectory (Bad Astronomy, Syfy)
Queta - The Story Behind the Name - Lucy Mission (NASA)
Where Is Lucy?
Netflix buys Wonka author Dahl's catalog (AP)
Roald Dahl's Family Apologizes For His Anti-Semitic Comments (NPR)
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Tue. 09/21 - Making 26,000 People Out of 20: Ted Lasso's Trick

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 19:49:25 -0000

How Ted Lasso filled a whole stadium for a crowd scene during the pandemic, and how advances, especially in AI, are beginning to change filmmaking. Plus, a Colorado man has won a yearlong treasure hunt for golden tickets, making him the new owner of a candy factory. That last part wasn’t a joke. It was literally a golden ticket competition for a candy factory. And finally, an ambient noise website for the most chaotic among you.

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Links:

How Fake Crowds Are Made For Movies And TV (Insider, YouTube)
AI might help edit the next generation of blockbusters (The Verge)
Andrew Maas won The Gold Ticket competition after clues led him to Kokomo, Ind. (Washington Post)
Colorado man wins candy factory after finding golden ticket in Highland Park (Kokomo Tribune)
Wed. 09/09 - Modern-Day Willy Wonka Is Giving Away His Candy Factory (Kottke Ride Home)
Ambient Chaos
Last year's segment on Demi Adejuyigbe's 9/21 series (Kottke Ride Home)
9/21 videos (Demi Adejuyigbe, YouTube)
Sept21st.com
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Mon. 09/20 - Poison Ivy Vaccines & A Mosh Pit History

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 20:14:04 -0000

The history and science of mosh pits. Exciting developments in the treatment of poison ivy reactions, including a possible vaccine. And how to catch tonight’s Harvest Moon, and why we call it that.

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Links:

Moshing: The History, Anatomy & Art Of The Dance Form (Consequence of Sound)
The Science Behind Mosh Pits (Professor Politics, YouTube)
Moshpits.js (Jesse Silverberg et al)
Mosh Pits Teach Us About the Physics of Collective Behavior (The Atlantic)
A Vaccine against Poison Ivy Misery Is in the Works as Scientists Also Explore New Treatment Paths (Scientific American)
The full Harvest Moon of 2021 rises tonight: Here's what to look for (Space.com)
Harvest Moon 2021: All you need to know (EarthSky)
Celebrate The End Of Summer With Monday's Harvest Moon (NPR)
What Is the Harvest Moon? | Harvest Moon Facts and Folklore (Old Farmer’s Almanac)
The world's tallest nation is getting shorter (CNN)
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 09/17 - Night-Lunch and the Origin of Food Trucks

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 19:03:12 -0000

The history and future of food trucks, and a look at the old tradition of “night lunch.” The visually-striking lanternfly that eastern US states are begging people to kill. And why you may not be getting that book you ordered anytime soon.

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Links:

Before Food Trucks, Americans Ate 'Night Lunch' From Beautiful Wagons (Atlas Obscura)
The Rise of the Taco Truck (JSTOR Daily)
Taco Bell's Subscription Service: We've Gone Too Far (The Atlantic)
Die, Beautiful Spotted Lanternfly, Die (NY Times)
The Book Biz Tries to Avoid Supply Chain Disruptions (Publisher’s Weekly)
Supply Chain Challenges: Put Your Book Orders In Now For The Holidays (Book Riot)
Booksellers warn over Christmas supplies amid UK lorry driver shortage (The Guardian)
Kottke.Org
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Thu. 09/16 - Jane Austen's Advice for Social Media Users

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 18:43:30 -0000

How the social lives of the characters from Jane Austen’s novels are analogous to our digital ones today, and what we can learn from them about being over-stimulated. Plus, a study illustrating how we could build bases on Mars out of astronaut blood. And a couple of updates from the world of LEGO.

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Links:

Is Jane Austen the Antidote to Social Media Overload? (JSTOR Daily)
Scientists Want to Build Mars Bases Out of Human Blood (Vice)
Concrete on Mars Could Literally Be Made Out of Astronaut Blood, Sweat, And Tears (Science Alert)
LEGO releasing fabulous Queer Eye loft set (Digital Spy)
European Championships 2022 to Feature LEGO Wheelchair Ramps (Mental Floss)
22,000 LEGO bricks for Munich 2022 (European Championships)
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis' Wedding Marks 1st Same-Sex Marriage Of Sitting Governor (NPR)
Nonbinary 'Hacks' Star Carl Clemons-Hopkins on Being an Emmys First (The Advocate)
Nonbinary Performers Say Gendered Award Categories Ignore Their Identity (NPR)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 09/15 - Civilian? Amateur? Private? Whatever, They're Going to Space!

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 19:58:57 -0000

SpaceX’s Inspiration4 all-civilian crew is blasting off tonight in Cape Canaveral. Here’s everything you need to know about the historic launch. Plus, the Māori Party in New Zealand has introduced a petition to rename the country its Māori language name, Aotearoa. And a newly identified species of insect has been named after RuPaul.

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Links:

SpaceX's Latest Mission Will Launch Four People Into Orbit (NY Times)
SpaceX Mission: How to Watch the Inspiration4 Launch (NY Times)
Inspiration4: Why SpaceX’s first all-private mission is a big deal (MIT Technology Review)
Private astronauts are not 'space tourists' (op-ed) (Space.com)
SpaceX’s All-Civilian Inspiration4 Crew Readies for Launch (Wired)
The era of orbital private spaceflight truly begins with today’s launch (Ars Technica)
Inspiration4's call signs: The crew of SpaceX's all-civilian mission have special nicknames (Space.com)
Inspiration4 Launch: Where to Watch Netflix Livestream (Indie Wire)
Māori Party campaigns to change New Zealand's name to Aotearoa (CNN)
Bilingual road signs in Aotearoa New Zealand would tell us where we are as a nation (The Conversation)
‘A neat trick’: critics aim to shift Aotearoa debate, but historical fidelity no longer matters (The Guardian)
‘Rainbow colours and legs for days’: Australian fly species named after drag star RuPaul (The Guardian)
Endangered fly with 'legs for days' named after drag queen RuPaul (ABC Australia)
RuPaul fly among species named by CSIRO (CSIRO)
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Tue. 09/14 - Steve Wozniak's New Space Company

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:35:14 -0000

How gas stations actually make money, and their prospects for the future. Steve Wozniak says Don’t Mess With Space. And, a timeless question for the ages: how many s’mores could you make from the giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters?

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Links:

Why most gas stations don't make money from selling gas (The Hustle)
Apple Cofounder Steve Wozniak Starting Space Company Privateer (Business Insider)
Steve Wozniak Announces Privateer, a New Space Company (Gizmodo)
Steve Wozniak's latest moonshot is a private space company (Engadget)
How Many S'Mores Can You Make from the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man? (Mel Magazine)
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 09/13 - De-Extinct Woolly Mammoths & Potty-Trained Cows

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 20:28:42 -0000

Could woolly mammoths help slow the effects of the climate emergency? It’s not just a theoretical question. One entrepreneur is betting on it, and working to bring woolly mammoths back from extinction to prove it. Lorde has re-released part of her latest album with Māori language translations. And a new effort to potty train cows, for the environment.

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Links:

Firm raises $15m to bring back woolly mammoth from extinction (The Guardian)
This Texan Aims to Resurrect the Woolly Mammoth to Save the Planet (Texas Monthly)
Tue. 09/08 - Long Live the (Cloned) Woolly Mammoth (Kottke Ride Home)
Lorde Drops Maori-Language Album Of 'Solar Power' Songs (NPR)
Te Ao Mārama (Lorde, YouTube)
Scientists Potty-Trained Cows to Help Reduce Environmental Pollution (Vice)
Toilet-Training Cows Is A Win For The Planet – And The Cows (IFL Science)
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 09/10 - The Mystery of Blue Moon Ice Cream

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 20:04:59 -0000

What exactly is blue moon-flavored ice cream and where did it come from? Plus, NASA is planning to purposefully hit an asteroid with a spacecraft, more on why and when. And this year’s Ig Nobel Prize winners have been announced!

Links:

The Enduring Midwestern Mystery of Blue Moon Ice Cream (Atlas Obscura)
BLUE MOON (Chicago Tribune)
The Cult of Blue Moon Ice Cream (Food & Wine)
Blue Moon Core Area (BMCA) (somethingaboutmaps)
NASA is going to slam a spacecraft into an asteroid. Things might get chaotic. (MIT Technology Review)
How to Build a Spacecraft to Save the World (Wired)
Deflecting an Asteroid Before It Hits Earth May Take Multiple Bumps (NY Times)
DART Mission Overview (John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory)
Ig Nobel Prize winners include scientists who cleared blocked noses with sex (Mashable)
Sex can relieve nasal congestion, and other work honored by 2021 Ig Nobels (Ars Technica)
Hemp Maze Minnesota Is Almost Surely One-Of-A-Kind (CBS Minnesota)
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Thu. 09/09 - Roof Panels That Cool Your Home, No A/C Required!

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 21:00:34 -0000

Forget air conditioners, give me radiative cooling panels on my roof! That’s what I hope I’ll be saying a few years from now. Plus, a new species of giant carnivorous dinosaur with shark-like teeth has been identified. And Moderna has announced they’re moving forward with their COVID-19 and seasonal flu combo vaccine.

Links:

Can nanoscience help make AC more efficient? (Popular Science)
Designing an Air Conditioner That Doesn't Heat the Earth (Architect Magazine)
Radiative cooling and solar heating from one system, no electricity needed (Science Daily)
New, Giant Carnivorous Dinosaur Was a Terror to Smaller Tyrannosaurs (Smithsonian Mag)
Gigantic 'shark-toothed' dinosaur discovered in Uzbekistan (Live Science)
Moderna shares rise after company reveals single-shot vaccine booster for Covid and flu (CNBC)
Moderna working on combination COVID-19 vaccine booster and flu shot (Reuters)
Moderna developing a combo booster shot for Covid and flu (NBC News)
7.00 ("COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 and the Pandemic") (MIT)
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Wed. 09/08 - What Happens When You Get Struck By Lightning?

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 20:16:29 -0000

What it’s actually like getting struck by lightning, and the community of survivors helping each other cope. Plus, another team of scientists say they have achieved a crucial and record-breaking milestone in the quest for clean fusion power. And an iconic 1970s band that has spawned countless tribute acts over the years is about to reunite to become their own tribute act, with a little help from Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light and Magic.

Links:

Lightning strikes: A man hit seven times (Washington Post)
The Secret Society of Lightning Strike Survivors (Narratively)
MIT-designed project achieves major advance toward fusion energy (MIT News)
Eni completes 'landmark' test in energy fusion project (Reuters)
Cambridge startup takes big step toward clean fusion power (Boston Globe)
Wed. 08/18 - A "Wright Bros. Moment" In Nuclear Fusion (Kottke Ride Home)
Abba delight fans with new 10-song album and virtual concert (BBC)
ABBA fans react to rush for 'Voyage' tour tickets: "robo-ABBA here we go" (NME)
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Tue. 09/07 - Mars Rocks, A Billionaire's Utopia, & The Free Blockbuster Movement

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 20:06:45 -0000

The Mars Perseverance Rover has secured its first rock sample, with big promise for insights to come. A billionaire is working on plans to build a new sustainable city “for the people” somewhere in America. And you may have heard of Little Free Libraries, but what about Little Free Blockbusters?

Links:

Mars rover grabs first rock sample, a major step in hunt for alien life (National Geographic)
"I've got it!" (NASA’s Perseverance Rover, Twitter)
NASA says the Mars Perseverance rover has collected its first sample (Engadget)
Telosa: Marc Lore and Bjarke Ingels unveil plans for 5-million-person city in the American desert (CNN)
How Diapers.com Founder Marc Lore Plans to Build Utopian City Telosa (Bloomberg)
Telosa
Forget Netflix, Some Movie Fans Rewind to VHS Tapes (Wall Street Journal)
Free Blockbuster Is Bringing Back the Community Video Rental Hub (Thrillist)
FreeBlockbuster.org
Want A Free Dental Cleaning? Beat This Dentist At Smash Bros! (Neatorama)
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 09/03 - The Billion Year Gap In the Grand Canyon's Rocks

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 19:32:47 -0000

What if a room could charge all of your devices just by them being in there? Like no wires, no charging pads, just being in the room. Some engineers have made that a reality. Plus, new insights into the billion years of time that are missing from the rock layers in the Grand Canyon. And why Red Delicious apples are so common in the U.S. even though they’re not really that great.

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Links:

This Room Could Wirelessly Charge All Your Devices (Scientific American)
Wireless charging room powers your devices without plugs or cables (ABC)
Welcome to the Age of Wireless Electricity (Interesting Engineering)
Why One Billion Years of Time Are Missing in the Grand Canyon (Vice)
Geologists dig into Grand Canyon’s mysterious gap in time (CU Boulder Today)
Erasing a Billion Years of Geologic Time Across the Globe (Eos)
Red Delicious Apples Weren't Always Horrible (New England Today)
Here's exactly how Red Delicious apples became an affront to God (A/V Club)
Paralympics: Runner's Sighted Guide Proposes On The Track After Their Race (NPR)
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Thu. 09/02 - What Is Grimace & Why Are Hyperlinks Blue?

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 19:58:17 -0000

Why are hyperlinks blue? You ever think about that before? Plus, a look at the tech behind the wheelchairs and prostheses used by Paralympians. And what the heck is Grimace, the big purple McDonald’s mascot? A manager at a Canadian McDonald’s dropped a bombshell on the internet, but is he correct?

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Links:

Why are hyperlinks blue? (Mozilla Distilled)
How Paralympic Wheelchairs and Prostheses Are Optimized for Speed and Performance (Scientific American)
Specialized Sports Chairs and the People Who Use Them (New Mobility)
Para sport explained: Wheelchairs in wheelchair sports (International Paralympic Committee)
Award-winning manager opens up about life at McDonald's during pandemic (CBC)
McDonald's manager explains that Grimace is "a taste bud" (Boing Boing)
Is Grimace a taste bud? One McDonald's manager says yes (The Takeout)
"Grimace is the embodiment of a milkshake" (McDonald’s Corporate, Twitter)
Archivist weighs in (McDonald’s Corporate, Twitter)
What the hell is McDonald's Grimace? (Mashable)
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Wed. 09/01 - Flying EVs, Bedroom Pop, & Murder Hornets 2: Venomous Boogaloo

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 20:59:36 -0000

Would you take a flying rideshare taxi? NASA is betting on it. Plus, murder hornets are back and badder than ever. And the growing genre of “bedroom pop,” which isn’t what it maybe sounds like.

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Links:

NASA is testing electric air taxis with Joby Aviation (The Verge)
Your air taxi has arrived: Why Joby could be the first commercial eVTOL (CNBC, Youtube)
A Special Message from our CEO and Founder, JoeBen Bevirt (Joby Aviation, YouTube)
NASA Begins Air Taxi Flight Testing with Joby (NASA)
'Murder Hornets': Nest of 1,500 eradicated in the US (BBC)
Department of Agriculture Officials in Washington State Attacked While Trying to Remove Murder Hornet Nest (Inside Edition)
Just How Dangerous Is the ‘Murder Hornet’? (Scientific American)
What's bedroom pop? How an online DIY movement created a musical genre (NBC News)
Don’t Call it Bedroom Pop: The New Wave of DIY (Complex)
Elliot Page Is On a "Lo-Fi Bedroom Pop Adventure,” Drops Debut EP (them.)
Mark and Elliot EP (Mark and Elliot, Bandcamp)
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Tue. 08/31 - Could We Delete Our Memories One Day?

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 18:30:00 -0000

The climate crisis is causing some animals to shrink, and that’s definitely not a good thing. Experts weigh in on the possibility of humans ever being able to edit or delete their own memories. And Netflix cheat codes to help you shake off the algorithm.

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Links:

When Insects Lost Their Homes, Evolution Clipped Their Wings (NY Times)
Some birds, mammals, and fish are shrinking. Blame climate change. (Vox)
Urbanization is Causing Mammals to Grow Bigger, New Study Says (Sci-News)
Scary study finds urban rats and mammals are getting bigger (Fast Company)
Will We Ever Be Able to Edit or Delete Memories? (Gizmodo)
The Netflix Secret Codes Cheat Sheet (MakeUseOf)
Thu. 05/13 - I'll Have What She's Having: The Decline of Personalized Recommendations? (Kottke Ride Home)
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Mon. 08/30 - Electric Cars Almost Became the Norm in the 1800s

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 18:30:00 -0000

Electric cars were being made as far back at the late 19th century, with entire fleets of electric cabs roaming the streets of several major cities. So what happened? Why didn’t they become the go-to vehicle from the beginning? Plus, the history of the very delicious and confusingly-named Boston Cooler. And the middle schoolers trying to clear the name of a woman accused of being a witch back in 1693.

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Links:

Why weren't cars electric from the start? (Slate)
How the 'Boston Cooler' Became a Classic Detroit Drink (Atlas Obscura)
The Boston Cooler Was an Accidental Detroit Classic (Detroit Is It)
She Was Declared a Witch at Salem. These Middle Schoolers Want to Clear Her Name. (NY Times)
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Fri. 08/27 - The History of the ICEE, The Coolest Drink In Town

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 18:30:00 -0000

The history of and science behind the ICEE. Plus, Glenfiddich is now powering their delivering trucks with spent whisky. And some tips on cleaning your earbuds because, c’mon, how long has it been since you’ve actually done that?

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Links:

ICEE History: The Tech (and Science) Beyond a Sugary Frozen Drink (Tedium)
Flashback: Raise your Slurpees to the drink that almost wasn't (Dallas Morning News)
US3044878A - Process for the preparation of a beverage (Google Patents)
US3628759A - Fishing rod holder (Google Patents)
A Brief History of the Slurpee, a Frozen American Icon (Eater)
Slurpee turns 40 (The Oklahoman)
About Us – ICEE (The ICEE Company)
Fizzies Drink Tablets (Old Time Candy)
One for the road: Glenfiddich uses whisky waste to fuel trucks (Reuters)
Whisky lorries in Scotland will run on ‘green biogas’ made from distillery leftovers to tackle climate change (The Scotsman)
How to Clean Your Apple AirPods, Galaxy Buds, and Pixel Buds (Gizmodo)
An easy tip to keep your earbuds clean and sanitized (Komando)
How AirPods Are Deep Cleaned (Insider, YouTube)
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Thu. 08/26 - What If All Food Was Square?

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 20:21:30 -0000

The 7,200 year old skeleton of a teenage girl is shaking up what we thought we knew about ancient human migration. The creative solution an Oregon hospital has come up with to support its overworked staff, and what we can do to help lessen their load. And a new startup that wants to disrupt the way we eat our meals, specifically by making all of our food look like identical little bricks.

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Links:

‘Genetic fossil’: intact DNA from woman who lived 7,200 years ago discovered in Indonesia (The Guardian)
Who were the Toaleans? Ancient woman's DNA provides first evidence for the origin of a mysterious lost culture (The Conversation)
7,200-Year-Old Human DNA With Unique Denisovan Ancestry Has Been Found in Indonesia (Science Alert)
First ancient human DNA found from key Asian migration route (Nature)
Oregon, once a virus success story, struggles with surge (AP)
Oregon hospital workers smash plates to relieve stress (Upworthy)
WHO says Covid misinformation is a major factor driving pandemic around the world (CNBC)
Covid: CDC study shows unvaccinated people 29 times more likely to be hospitalized (CNBC)
Facebook moms' Vaccine Talk group is fighting misinfo and persuading skeptics (Washington Post)
New start-up presents a selection of weird little food cubes (A/V Club)
This Startup Wants You To Eat All Your Food In Cube Form (Vice)
Are you ready to eat your delicious nutrient square? Yum, yum, yum (The Verge)
What is SquarEat? 'Modular squared food' company is taking over Twitter (Today)
How I Experience Web Today (h/t Garbage Day)
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Wed. 08/25 - Comirnaty? How Pfizer's Vaccine Got Its Brand Name (and what it almost was)

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 19:07:51 -0000

The Paralympic Games kicked off in Tokyo last night. Here’s what you need to know and a brief history of the games. Plus, how did the Pfizer vaccine end up with the brand name Comirnaty, and what were some of the other contenders?

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Links:

Badminton And Taekwondo Make Their Paralympic Debut In Tokyo (NPR)
When Did The Paralympics Start, And How Did The Event Get Its Name? (NPR)
The Paralympics Finally Get To Prime Time (1A)
Paralympics History - Evolution of the Paralympic Movement (IPC)
Paralympics 2020: How much do you know about the sports on offer? (BBC)
The 2020 Paralympics Will See the Most Openly LGBTQ+ Athletes Ever (them.)
How does the Paralympic classification system work? (CNN)
Murderball Trailer (Participant, YouTube)
Pfizer's Covid Vaccine Is Named Comirnaty (Intelligencer)
Comirnaty, Spikevax, and the weird world of branding COVID-19 vaccines (The Verge)
Why ‘Comirnaty’ Is The New Name For Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccines, ‘Spikevax’ For Moderna (Forbes)
The inside story behind Pfizer and BioNTech's new vaccine brand name, Comirnaty (Fierce Pharma)
Samsung phone catches fire on airplane five years after Galaxy Note 7 debacle (Mashable)
Starbucks' new apple crisp macchiato joins pumpkin spice latte on the fall menu (CNBC)
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Tue. 08/24 - Pixels Aren't Square. Or Visible.

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 19:32:04 -0000

What exactly is a pixel? Pixar co-founder Alvy Ray Smith discusses its math and history and his new book. Plus, farmer’s markets, once a cornerstone of in-person weekend outings, have gone digital. And Liquid Death Mountain Water is selling skateboards infused with Tony Hawk’s blood. For real.

Sponsor:

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Links:

A biography of the pixel, the elementary particle of pictures (Aeon)
Hitting the Books: How our lying eyes trick the brain into seeing motion during movies (Engadget)
The Real Story of Pixar (IEEE)
Pixar cofounder Alvy Ray Smith's unseen 1990 presentation (Fast Company)
Pixar cofounder Alvy Ray Smith on 'A Biography of the Pixel' (Fast Company)
The farmers market is moving online (The Verge)
Liquid Death Puts Tony Hawk’s Blood In Limited Edition Skateboards (Liquid Death, YouTube)
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Mon. 08/23 - Critics Hate Them! Netflix's UNBELIEVABLE Clickbait Strategies

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 20:00:00 -0000

Netflix is leaning into the clickbait game that soured online journalism ten years ago. Could this strategy affect the film industry overall, and has it been played before? Plus, how community members in Marseille took over a McDonald’s and turned it into a mutual aid center. And Facebook has released another transparency report, and it doesn’t make them look any better.

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Links:

Netflix Top 10: The streaming service's clickbait problem threatens to ruin it. (Slate)
Why Netflix Features Black Actors in Promos to Black Users (Wired)
Artwork Personalization at Netflix (Netflix TechBlog)
Blockbuster thread (C. A. Funderburg, Twitter)
Unhappy Little Trees: The Dark Legacy of Bob Ross (Vanity Fair)
Lovin it: How a group of Marseille workers seized a McDonald's and turned it into a foodbank (gal-dem)
McDonald's In Marseille Turned Into Food Base To Help Needy (Forbes)
Facebook releases Q1 'widely viewed content' report following criticism (Engadget)
Aug 20: Why Facebook Shelved an Earlier Report on Popular Posts (NY Times)
Q1Content Transparency Report VO (US) - internal copy (NY Times)
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Fri. 08/20 - The Necrobiome: Dead and Loving It

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 20:22:07 -0000

What is the necrobiome and why do some think it’s crucial for restoring our ecosystems? More and more zoo animals across the US are getting their own special animal vaccine, but why doesn’t your pet cat need one? And Disney’s animatronics are getting a huge, AI makeover.

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Links:

Rewilding death: The plan to restore the necrobiome (BBC)
Meet the Necrobiome: The Microbes That Will Eat Your Corpse (The Atlantic)
Bears, baboons, tigers are getting COVID vaccines at zoos across the U.S. (National Geographic)
US zoos giving special animal coronavirus vaccine to tigers, bears and gorillas (CNN)
Disney kills FastPass for costly line-skipping app Disney Genie Plus (Polygon)
Are You Ready for Sentient Disney Robots? (NY Times)
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Thu. 08/19 - The #1 Site on Facebook is a Green Bay Packers Alumni Company?

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:44:30 -0000

Facebook has released a report of their most widely viewed content, but the #1 most viewed link on the platform shows how the report isn’t exactly proving the point they’re trying to make. Plus, are realtors engineering weird listing photos so they’ll go viral? And it turns out we’ve been getting blue moons entirely wrong for at least forty years.

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Links:

How an Obscure Green Bay Packers Site Became the Biggest Thing on Facebook (Wired)
Everyone's fighting about a dating simulator again (Garbage Day)
Facebook releases a report on the most-viewed content in News Feed (The Verge)
Facebook reveals top posts but still won’t share key data about disinformation (Ars Technica)
Knight in Zillow: A realtor explains what is going on in this bonkers real estate listing. (Slate)
The August 2021 full moon is, somehow, a Blue Moon. Here's why. (Space.com)
We'll have a Blue Moon this weekend (EarthSky)
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Wed. 08/18 - A "Wright Bros. Moment" In Nuclear Fusion

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 19:17:41 -0000

A lab in California has achieved a historic breakthrough in nuclear fusion. Three new species from the post-dinosaur mammalian revolution have been identified, including one that’s been named after a Hobbit character. And recent studies shedding light on the pro’s and con’s of exoskeleton suits as consumer goods.

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Links:

US lab stands on threshold of key nuclear fusion goal (BBC)
Physicists in California Achieve 'Historic' Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough (Science Alert)
Lawrence Livermore Lab makes significant achievement in fusion (CNBC)
Three Extinct Mammals Found in Wyoming Were Part of the Post-Dinosaur Revolution (Gizmodo)
Discovery of prehistoric mammals suggests rapid evolution of mammals after dinosaur extinction (Science Daily)
Newly discovered prehistoric creature named after The Hobbit character (CNET)
Exoskeleton Suits: A New Device to Help You Walk and Run Better (NY Times)
Exoskeletons have a problem: They can strain the brain Exoskeletons (Ohio State News)
Pumpkin spice everything is coming back to Dunkin' this month (Houston Chronicle)
Starbucks Introduces New and Returning Pumpkin Spice Products At Home Coffees (Starbucks)
When does Pumpkin Spice come back to Starbucks? (Guilty Eats)
Fast And Furious 10 hits the gas pedal, gets 2023 release date (A/C Club)
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Tue. 08/17 - The Thriving Imported Mango Market on WhatsApp

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 19:46:19 -0000

Inside the world of the quasi-secret WhatsApp mango economy. It turns out Saturn is kind of jiggly inside. And the beginning of a season, marked by the end of an era for department stores.

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Links:

Why Are the World’s Greatest Mangoes Almost Impossible to Buy in the U.S.? (Eater)
Saturn's Insides Are Sloshing Around (MIT Technology Review)
Saturn’s Rings Are Like a Seismometer That Reveal the Planet’s Core (NY Times)
Saturn Has a 'Fuzzy' Core, Ring Ripples Reveal (Gizmodo)
Barneys, Deader Than Ever, Is Becoming a Spirit Halloween (Curbed)
Spirit Halloween Rises from the Dead. Again. And Again. (NY Times)
12-Foot Skeletons Return: Associate Shares Halloween Inspiration (Home Depot)
Spirit Halloween Theme Song (Nick Lutsko, Twitter)
Kottke.Org
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Mon. 08/16 - Eerily Accurate 1990s Predictions of Current Tech Dangers

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 20:32:36 -0000

How one of the earliest bloggers predicted the dark side of the internet, and then went completely off the grid. Plus, the first tribally-affiliated medical school, on tribal land, in the US. is bridging gaps. And Yik Yak is back.

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Links:

Philip Agre predicted technology's pitfalls and then he disappeared (Washington Post)
Everything is too complicated: our annual list of confusing tech questions (The Verge)
Missing Internet Pioneer Phil Agre Is Found Alive (NPR)
Phil Agre's articles in Wired
First Tribally-Affiliated Medical School Bridging Gaps in Indian Country, Rural America (The Daily Yonder)
Remember Yik Yak? Well, it's back and still anonymous. (Mashable)
There would be no screen — only a locomotive (Garbage Day)
Kottke.Org
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Fri. 08/13 - Woolly Mammoth Adventures & Goodreads Pages Held For Ransom

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 19:27:48 -0000

The groundbreaking study that has basically given us a daily diary of the entire life of a 17,000 year old woolly mammoth. Why coffee prices are spiking. And a ransom scam targeting authors that says a lot about the state of the world.

Links:

A Woolly Mammoth’s Tusks Reveal a Map of Where It Roamed in Life (NY Times)
Ice Age mammoth's life story reconstructed in stunning detail (National Geographic)
Mammoth's epic travels preserved in tusk (Nature)
A Mammoth Tusk Reveals a Woolly (and Unprecedented) Tale (Wired)
Your Daily Coffee Habit Is About to Get More Expensive (NY Times)
Coffee Jolt Gets Pricier as Costs of Beans, Labor, Transport Rise (Wall Street Journal)
The summer of writing scams continues with a series of Goodreads ransom notes. (Literary Hub)
How the alt-right are resurfacing old tweets to get Trump's critics fired (The Guardian)
Number of twins in Inverclyde schools hits 80 (The Scotsman)
Fifteen sets of twins to start schools in Inverclyde (BBC)
The number of twins in the world is the highest it has ever been (New Scientist)
Countries With Most Twins Identified (Live Science)
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Thu. 08/12 - The Nickelodeon Design Aesthetic

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 20:05:12 -0000

How does a kid’s network establish their brand identity? Apparently, riff on a high brow architectural style and add heaping amounts of radioactive green slime. On the 30th anniversary of the first Nicktoons, a look back at Nickelodeon’s iconic aesthetic. Plus, a new––huge––study that upends a lot of what we thought knew about metabolism. And a fake website about fake movies.

Links:

How Nickelodeon Created Its Slime-Drenched ’90s Style (The Ringer)
The Best Nickelodeon Character Bracket: The Elite Eight (The Ringer)
Nickelodeon's Generational Divide (The Ringer)
What We Think We Know About Metabolism May Be Wrong (NY Times)
Metabolism in adulthood does not slow as commonly believed, study finds (NBC News)
Nestflix
Nestflix is a Netflix for fake movies and shows from real movies and shows (The Verge)
Kottke.Org
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Wed. 08/11 - Robin, Batman's Sidekick, Has Come Out of the Closet

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 18:48:57 -0000

Robin has officially come out of the closet. No statement yet from Batman, but I do have the other details, and a brief history of LGBTQ+ superheroes. Plus, SpaceX is planning to put billboards in space. And plastic pollution is confusing the hermit crabs in Yorkshire.

Links:

Robin, Batman's Sidekick, Comes Out, Which Only Makes Sense (NPR)
Robin comes out as gay in new Batman comic, adding to DC's LGTBQ characters (Polygon)
The Evolution of Extraño, DC's First Openly Gay Super Hero (DC Universe Infinite)
Why Tim Drake's Coming Out as Bisexual Matters (Nerdist)
Sav Rodgers: The rom-com that saved my life (TED)
No One Wants Your Space Billboards, Elon Musk (The Mary Sue)
SpaceX and Canadian Startup Launching Space-Advertising Satellite (Business Insider)
SpaceX acquiring satellite data start-up Swarm Technologies (CNBC)
Plastic pollution in North Yorkshire is arousing hermit crabs, University of Hull scientists say (Washington Post)
Plastic waste: Study finds crabs confused by chemical additive (BBC)
Embrace the 90s again with Kid Pix's web app (It’s Nice That)
Kid Pix web app
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Tue. 08/10 - A New Carnivorous Flower CAPTCHAs Its Prey

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 19:46:23 -0000

Why are CAPTCHA’s so frustrating and, in a way, so grim and disconcerting? Plus, botanists have identified the first carnivorous plant in twenty years, but don’t go calling it Audrey III just yet. And, a new development in the McFlurry Cold War.

Links:

Why CAPTCHA Pictures Are So Unbearably Depressing (Clive Thompson)
How to Solve Captchas—and Why They've Gotten So Hard (Wired)
1st Carnivorous Plant Identified In 20 Years Grows Near Vancouver (NPR)
This Flower Hides a Secret: It’s Actually a Carnivore (New York Times)
A Carnivorous Plant Has Been Hiding in Plain Sight in North America Triantha occidentalis is picky (Gizmodo)
McFlurry Machine Maker At the Center of Right-to-Repair Fight (Gizmodo)
Why the McFlurry Machine Company Just Got Hit With a Restraining Order (Motherboard)
Did the Company That Makes McFlurry Machines Get Hit with a Restraining Order? (Snopes)
Fri. 04/23 - A McShake Up: The Battle Over McDonald's Ice Cream Machines (Kottke Ride Home)
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Mon. 08/09 - That “Code Red” Climate Report, Explained

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 19:33:32 -0000

Some context and takeaways from the big UN climate report released this morning. NASA has opened applications for their Mars simulation mission. And why are some people in Japan sending bags of rice with their baby’s face on them to relatives?

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Fri. 08/06 - A Gardener's High? Can Playing In Dirt Make You Happier?

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 20:05:45 -0000

What are forest schools? And the science behind why gardening can make you feel happy and peaceful. Plus, the Perseid meteor shower is happening in just a few days. And the co-creator of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been immortalized as a Barbie doll.

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Links:

We Should All Be Playing in the Dirt More… According to Science! (Literary Hub)
Can Climbing Trees Replace Preparing for Tests? (NY Times)
The Ground Beneath Us: From the Oldest Cities to the Last Wilderness, What Dirt Tells Us about Who We Are by Paul Bogart
Perseid meteor shower peaks this month! New moon bodes well for skywatchers. (Space.com)
Perseid meteor shower 2021 peaks soon: How to watch the sparkling show (CNET)
New Barbie Dolls Include A Vaccine Developer And Other Female Scientists (NPR)
Vaccinologist Barbie: Prof Sarah Gilbert honoured with a doll (The Guardian)
Equestrian Sumo scare? Riders say horses might be spooked by statue (AP)
Jessica Springsteen makes Olympic show jumping debut (NBC Olympics)
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Thu. 08/05 - Vaccine APP-rehension

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 20:18:10 -0000

As the tides trend toward requiring vaccinations for entry in more places, what is the landscape of apps and methods to verify vaccination status? Plus, meatball-scented candles from IKEA and two very different commercial space flight updates.

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Links:

More than 450 airlines can now use IBM's Digital Health Pass (Quartz)
Unvaccinated People Need to Bear the Burden (The Atlantic)
Privacy and efficacy concerns remain for New York's vaccine passport apps (NBC News)
IKEA Made a Swedish Meatball Scented Candle (Food and Wine)
ARROW WEIRD Make Your Home Smell Like Swedish Meatballs With IKEA's New HUVUDROLL Candle (Mental Floss)
Ikea's First Smart Air Purifier Comes Camouflaged as a Side Table (Gizmodo)
NASA, Boeing Continue Starliner Data Analysis (NASA)
SpaceX is hiring a 'Spaceport Mixologist' to make cocktails (The Verge)
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Wed. 08/04 - Why Is Snow on the Alps Turning Red?

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 19:53:20 -0000

The six countries most likely to survive all-out societal collapse from climate change. Why is snow on the Alps turning red? And a website that will transport you back to sleepy nights in front of the TV in the early 2000s.

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Tue. 08/03 - What Edgar Allan Poe's Forgotten Science Writing Can Tell Us About Misinformation

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 19:23:24 -0000

Edgar Allan Poe wasn’t just the sad author of spooky tales we all know and love, but also a passionate science journalist, and the writings he left behind can tell us a lot about our current relationship to misinformation and science communication. Plus, Starbucks officially sells more cold drinks than hot ones now, by a lot. What’s responsible for the trend and how do baristas feel about it? And the newly re-dubbed Cleveland Guardians can’t catch a break when it comes to their team name.

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Links:

Edgar Allan Poe science writing: His forgotten journalism has a lesson about COVID. (Slate)
Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History by Kurt Andersen
Starbucks Becoming 'Frappuccino Factory' Amid Cold Drinks Boom (Business Insider)
Here's why Starbucks sells so many frozen drinks (The Takeout)
Starbucks pushing high-end coffee, might raise prices (The Takeout)
Starbucks, Facing Higher Costs, Pushes Upscale Coffee (Wall Street Journal)
Cleveland baseball team now in fight with roller derby team over the name Guardians (Deadspin)
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Mon. 08/02 - Why Skateboarding Is An Olympic Sport, But Cricket Isn't

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 20:00:00 -0000

What makes an Olympic sport an Olympic sport? And what does it take to get cut from the lineup? Namely, why is baseball getting cut once again in 2024, but breakdancing will make its Olympic debut? A breakdown of how it works. Plus, Boeing is trying again for a successful launch of their CST-100 Starliner tomorrow afternoon. What went wrong last time and what’s at stake? And, the mysterious jetpack man has returned to the Los Angeles airspace.

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Links:

From skateboarding to surfing, 6 new Olympics sports will appear at the Tokyo Games (Vox)
Tokyo Olympics embrace fun of mixed events (Sports Illustrated)
Mixed-Gender Relays Make Their Olympic Debut (NY Times)
Boeing’s second Starliner mission to the ISS is a make-or-break moment (MIT Technology Review)
NASA, Boeing launch Starliner to the ISS: How to watch test flight live (CNET)
All eyes on weather as Boeing looks to Starliner launch on Tuesday (Space)
NASA Updates Coverage, Viewing Options for Starliner Launch (NASA)
What happened on the International Space Station when Russian module's thrusters misfired? (Washington Post)
‘Possible jetpack man in sight,’ LAX air traffic control reports (LA Times)
"Jetpack Man" returns to menace the skies of LA once more (A/V Club)
Mysterious 'Jetpack Guy' Could Actually Be a Drone (Gizmodo)
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Fri. 07/30 - Millions of Views & Not a Dollar To Show For It

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 19:00:00 -0000

I read a BuzzFeed article about virality and go on a rant about the creator economy. PornHub has a new campaign to help bolster museum tourism. And we may have found a fingerprint from Michelangelo… on a statue’s butt.

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Links:

His Video Got 75 Million Views But He Didn't Make A Cent (BuzzFeed News)
I took Pornhub’s tour of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s nudes (Input Mag)
Classic Nudes
Michelangelo's fingerprint possibly found on butt of wax statue (Live Science)
Michelangelo's thumb print seen in BBC Two's Secrets of the Museum (BBC)
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Thu. 07/29 - Kids Are Using Soda To Fake Positive COVID Tests

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 19:00:00 -0000

Why it could take you months to get a new sofa. Kids are trying to get out of class by using soda to fake positive COVID tests. And how to reinvigorate your health with a “microadventure.”

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Wed. 07/28 - Why the COVID Vaccines WEREN'T Hacked... So Far

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 19:00:00 -0000

How a task force prevented the COVID-19 vaccines from being hacked because, yes, that was a real and valid concern. Plus, the sometimes controversial history of timekeeping at the Olympics and the AI-based innovations introduced this year. And, how the garbage industry is a lucrative one in the US because of course.

Sponsor:

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Links:

The COVID-19 vaccines weren’t hacked — this task force is one reason why (The Verge)
Thu. 10/22 - The Rare Tree Needed for a COVID-19 Vaccine (Kottke Ride Home)
Wed. 12/16 - What Pfizer Can Learn From Dippin’ Dots (Kottke Ride Home)
Fri. 07/23 - Time Keeps on Slipping, Slipping, Slipping (Kottke Ride Home)
What Happened to Milorad Cavic? (The Ringer)
How AI Will Help Keep Time at the Tokyo Olympics (Wired)
How the garbage industry outperformed the market (CNBC)
Here's why we call this time of year the 'dog days' of summer (National Geographic)
Fri. 07/10 - Groceries Delivered Via Puppy (Kottke Ride Home)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 07/27 - Are Personalized Digital Billboards the Future?

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 20:11:29 -0000

The history and future of billboard advertising. The surprisingly big challenge of recycling bowling balls. And the YouTube Creator who just got hired by Lucasfilm.

Sponsor:

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Links:

Billboard History: How Outdoor Advertising Came to Cover the Landscape (Tedium)
Ford Wants to Bring Billboards Inside Your Car, Beamed to the Dashboard Screen (Motor Trend)
Giant cat on 3D illusion jumbo display in Tokyo Shinjuku Japan (Kotaku)
Meet 'The Giant.' a 10-story movable statue that could come to Phoenix (AZ Central)
No, You Can’t Recycle a Bowling Ball (But People Sure Keep Trying) (Curbed)
Wed. July 14th episode about bowling balls under the man's house (Kottke Ride Home)
Lucasfilm hires the YouTube deepfaker who put its Luke, Leia and Tarkin cameos to shame (The Verge)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 07/26 - An Olympic Medal For Designing Olympic Medals

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 20:01:13 -0000

A look back at when the Olympics used to give out medals in artistic categories, including the designing of Olympic medals, and the case for why they should bring that back this year in particular. Plus, some more background on how the wildfires on the west coast of Canada and the US are affecting weather and health all the way in New York City and beyond. And, the Cleveland baseball team has officially changed their name––something they used to do quite a bit around the turn of the century.

Sponsor:

Green Chef, go to GreenChef.com/kottke100 and use code kottke100 to get $100 off including free shipping

Links:

The Olympics Could Be a Covid-19 ‘Super-Evolutionary Event’ (Wired)
Olympic pictogram sequence: The Opening Ceremony highlight for many, but what was it all about? (Olympics)
Olympic Pictograms: Design through History – Media Made Great (Media Made Great)
When the Olympics Gave Out Medals for Making Medals (Mental Floss)
Remember When the Olympics Used to Have an Art Competition? No? (The Atlantic)
2020 Tokyo Olympics: Medals made from recycled metal are unveiled (Washington Post)
How can smoke from West Coast fires cause red sunsets in New York? (The Conversation)
Wildfire Smoke Makes Sun Glow Red in New York City (NY Mag)
The Bootleg Fire Is Now Generating Its Own Weather? (NY Times)
See How Wildfire Smoke Spread Across America (NY Times)
Cleveland's MLB team rebrands as 'Guardians,' dropping 'Indians' name (Washington Post)
Cleveland's baseball team goes from Indians to Guardians (Indian Country Today)
Tokyo Olympics: 13-Year-Old Stars Win Women's Skateboarding (Time)
Glenn Fleishman on Twitter
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 07/23 - Time Keeps on Slipping, Slipping, Slipping

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 18:37:14 -0000

Rounding errors may cause winners to become losers and losers winners, Bezos and James Webb both fall to Earth, and beyond lobster shortages, now crabs.

Links:

The floating point: Rounding error in timing devices (American Journal of Physics)
Apple’s weather app won’t say it’s 69 degrees (The Verge)
Progressives call out Jeff Bezos’s space flight as “self-indulgent” and renew calls for wealth tax (CNN)
NASA investigates renaming James Webb telescope after anti-LGBT+ claims (Nature)
Consider the $34 Lobster Roll (New York Times)
Record lobster prices sign of sky-high demand (SeafoodSource)
Mysterious blue crab shortage spawns big-time sticker shock (E&E News)
Glenn on Twitter (Twitter)

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Thu. 07/22 - Venmore You Venknow

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 18:28:38 -0000

Your payments for dog walking and, er, “love hotels” via Venmo are now no longer subject to global scrutiny, neutron stars have wee tiny mountains, smaller than predicted, pool parties by the hour via Swimply, and former Colombian guerrillas tour you through the beauty of the jungle they still inhabit.

Links:

Venmo drops the global social feed that could make your payments visible to strangers (The Verge)
The Venmo App You Know and Love Now Has a New Look and Feel (PayPal Newsroom)
Venmo payment records reveal a vast network of young women received money from Rep. Matt Gaetz’s associate, the accused sex trafficker Joel Greenberg (The Daily Beast)
Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg scheduled to be sentenced in August (CNN)
We Found Joe Biden’s Secret Venmo. Here’s Why That’s A Privacy Nightmare For Everyone. (Buzzfeed)
Venmo Will Now Let You Hide Your Friend List Because We Found Biden’s Account (Buzzfeed)
Thanks to Venmo, We Now All Know How Cheap Our Friends Are (New York Times)
Modelling neutron star mountains paper (F. Gittins, N. Andersson, and D. I. Jones)
Gravitational waves from star-eating black holes detected on Earth (The Guardian)
An ‘Airbnb for Pools’ Is Making a Splash This Summer (Wall Street Journal)
Swimply
Oklahoma City homeowners cashing in on the ‘Airbnb for your pool’ (The Oklahoman)
Is There a Urine Detector for Swimming Pools? (ThoughtCo)
Tourists In Colombia Can Now Take Jungle Hikes With Ex-FARC Guerrilla Guides (NPR)
FARC Wants You to Come Stay in the Jungle—Voluntarily (The Daily Beast)
Glenn on Twitter (Twitter)

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Wed. 07/21 - It Was in All the Papers

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 17:56:34 -0000

How did paper sizes fall into their century-long groove, how low-wage workers seem to have the upper hand in the job market despite pandemic job losses, and the very newest, freshest words are in.

Links:

The Reason Why a Standard Piece of Paper Is 8.5 Inches by 11 Inches (Mental Floss)
Grandma’s Cooking Secret (Snopes)
Who decided our paper should measure 8.5” x 11”? (International Paper Company)
Library of Congress Bibles Collection (Library of Congress)
The Article About Paper Sizes You Didn’t Know You Needed (Modus)
International standard paper sizes (Markus Kuhn)
Unemployment Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 15, 2021 (Congressional Research Service)
Low Pay, No Benefits, Rude Customers: Restaurant Workers Quit At Record Rate (NPR)
Oof, Y’all, Dictionary.com Just Added Over 300 New Words And Definitions (NPR)
From “5G” to “Zaddy”: Dictionary.com Adds Over 300 New Words And Definitions (Dictionary.com)
A Word on ‘Descriptive’ and ‘Prescriptive’ Defining (Merriam-Webster)
‘Fewer’ and ‘Less’ (Merriam-Webster)
Should “Decimate” be Annihilated? (OUPblog)
Glenn on Twitter (Twitter)

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Tue. 07/20 - Creepy Clown Town 2021

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 18:50:51 -0000

Was the Chinese seed scare of mid-2020 just a matter of delayed orders and pandemic memory? The Ever Green clogging the Suez Canal is probably a sign of things to come, not a one-off accident. And Wally Funk returns from space—oh, also, Jeff Bezos was there and he gave a bunch of money to the Smithsonian.

Links:

2016 clown sightings (Wikipedia)
Invasion of the Clowns (New York Times)
The Truth Behind the Amazon Mystery Seeds (The Atlantic)
What Changes to the Universal Postal Union Treaty Mean for Your Business (Red Stag Fulfillment)
How One of the World’s Biggest Ships Jammed the Suez Canal (New York Times)
Six Days in Suez: The Inside Story of the Ship That Broke Global Trade (Bloomberg News)
Columbia RiverMaritime Museum
The 20-Ton Packet (Wired)
Mary Robinette Kowal’s Web site
Bezos Launches to Space, Aiming to Reignite His Rocket Company’s Ambitions (New York Times)
Jeff Bezos Gives $200 Million to National Air and Space Museum (New York Times)
Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum to Begin Seven-Year Renovation (Smithsonian)
National Air and Space Museum Receives $60 Million Pledge for its Dulles Center (Smithsonian)
You Could Win a Seat on One of the First Virgin Galactic Space Flights (Mental Floss)
David Koch, one half of controversial Koch brothers, donates $35 million to Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (MassLive)
Smithsonian Stands By Wildly Misleading Climate Change Exhibit Paid For By Kochs (ThinkProgress)
We are cultivating a movement to expand access to space for all of humanity (Space for Humanity)
Glenn on Twitter (Twitter)

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Mon. 07/19 - It Brings Good Things Back to Life

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 19:42:01 -0000

Coca-Cola brings your dead taste buds back to life with a new Coke Zero formulation that probably definitely certainly won’t produce a New Coke outrage, Olympic athletes can perform team gymnastics on the beds provided in Japan, and how to watch Jeff Bezos fly into space with all his money. All that and duck-tape fashion.

Links:

Coca-Cola Is Changing the Flavor of a Soda. Again. (New York Times)
The Story of One of the Most Memorable Marketing Blunders Ever (Coca-Cola Company)
Don Keough Speech Classic Coke
Poochie (Simpsons Wiki)
Goodbye, Poochie (YouTube)
New Coke Didn’t Fail. It Was Murdered (Mother Jones)
Was the ‘New Coke’ Fiasco Just a Clever Marketing Ploy? (Snopes)
‘Old Coke’ Booster Can’t Taste the Difference (AP)
The Real Coke, the Real Story by Thomas Oliver (Penguin Random House)
Anti-sex beds tweet by Rhys McClenaghan (Twitter)
“Thanks for debunking the myth” from the official Olympics account (Twitter)
‘Anti-Sex’ Beds in the Olympic Village? A Social Media Theory Is Soon Debunked (New York Times)
Why some athletes at the Tokyo Olympics won’t be vaccinated (Axios)
SpaceX’s 22nd Cargo Resupply Mission Underway as Dragon Journeys to Station (NASA)
As Artemis Moves Forward, NASA Picks SpaceX to Land Next Americans on Moon (NASA)
Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic crew go to the edge of space and back (Los Angeles Times)
How to Watch Jeff Bezos Go to Space (Wired)
2021 Stuck At Prom Entry Gallery (Duck Brand duct tape)
Glenn on Twitter (Twitter)

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Fri. 07/16 - People Have Reservations about Deep-Faking Bourdain’s Voice

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 20:25:12 -0000

The flood of robocalls may soon abate due to a technology named after James Bond’s martini instructions to bartenders, an ethical debate over whether we can revive the dead’s voices to simulate what they said or wrote in life after a documentary filmmaker deep-faked Anthony Bourdain, and dropping fish from planes, Among Us in Irish, and the Hubble, rebooted.

Sponsors:

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Links:

How Do You Stop Robocalls? (New York Times)
National Do Not Call Registry FAQs (FTC)
Robocall Mitigation Database (FCC)
A new Android feature tells you why someone’s calling so you know who to ignore (Input magazine)
Caller ID Authentication May Tame the Scourge of Spam Calls (TidBITS)
Use the AT&T Call Protect app (AT&T)
Scam Shield (T-Mobile)
Screen and automatically block incoming spam calls for free with Call Filter (Verizon)
An AI Bourdain Speaks From the Grave (Kottke.org)
A Haunting New Documentary About Anthony Bourdain (The New Yorker)
What Was Anthony Bourdain Searching For? (GQ)
Ottavia Bourdain denying she gave approval (her Twitter account)
Anthony Bourdain’s ex-wife says she didn’t say he’d be okay with recreating his voice for documentary (EW)
Voice clone of Anthony Bourdain prompts synthetic media ethics questions (Tech Policy Press)
Helen Rosner on the Bourdain deep-fake audio (Twitter)
Fred Astaire dances with vacuums in commercials set for Super Bowl debut (AP)
A Plane in Utah Lets the Fish Fly (New York Times)
Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources has released footage of an airplane dumping fish from the air into a lake (NPR’s Instagram account)
Among Us gets an official Irish translation (The Verge)
NASA Successfully Switches to Backup Hardware on Hubble Space Telescope (NASA)
Orkestra Obsolete play Blue Monday using 1930s instruments (BBC Arts)
New Order, olden style: A unique take on Blue Monday (BBC Arts)
More Cover Songs from the Man Behind Orkestra Obsolete’s ‘Blue Monday’ (Dangerous Minds)

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Thu. 07/15 - NASA, Don’t Flub on Hubble Trouble

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 18:20:37 -0000

It’s not mind reading, but a man’s ability to convey words is partially restored through electrodes and machine learning; NASA carefully prepares to press Control-Alt-Delete on the Hubble Space Telescope; look to the skies, the Perseids are coming; inexplicable black ice worms emerge by the billions from glaciers; and happy 22nd birthday, MetaFilter.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Tapping into the Brain to Help a Paralyzed Man Speak (New York Times)
‘Neuroprosthesis’ restores words to man with paralysis (Science Daily)
Neuroprosthesis for Decoding Speech in a Paralyzed Person with Anarthria (New England Journal of Medicine)
BCI milestone: New research from UCSF with support from Facebook shows the potential of brain-computer interfaces for restoring speech communication (Facebook Reality Labs)
Operations Underway to Restore Payload Computer on NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (NASA)
In praise of celestial mechanics (The Economist)
James Webb Space Telescope (Wikipedia)
Webb Space Telescope Launch Delayed (EarthSky)
The ‘Best Meteor Shower Of The Year’ Is Happening. Here’s How You Can See It (NPR)
Perseid Meteors 2021: All You Need To Know (EarthSky)
It’s Summer, And That Means The Mysterious Return Of Glacier Ice Worms (NPR)
Happy birthday, Metafilter! (MetaFilter)
Glenn on Twitter (Twitter)

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Wed. 07/14 - Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet ETAOIN SHRDLU TK TK TK

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:45:23 -0000

It’s all greeked to me, some new history about the old text “lorem ipsum”; Europa may hide its secrets more deeply than previously thought; and a man happily discovers 160 bowling bowls under his house.

Sponsors:

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Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcast

Links:

Lorem Ipsum: Filler Fail, Killer Tale (Antigone)
De finibus bonorum et malorum (Internet Archive)
Description of the “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet” text that appears in Word Help (Microsoft Support)
What does the filler text “lorem ipsum” mean? (The Straight Dope)
The History of Lorem Ipsum (Priceonomics)
Lorem ipsum : nouvel état de la question (Hypotheses)
Letraset Lorem Ipsum.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)
Europa: Ocean Moon (NASA)
Impact gardening on Europa and repercussions for possible biosignatures
Muskegon County man unearths more than 150 bowling balls during renovations (Detroit Free Press)
David Olson’s Facebook account of finding the bowling bowls (Facebook)
Help the Bowling Ball man fund (GoFundMe)
Flong Time No See (YouTube)
Glenn on Twitter (Twitter)

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Tue. 07/13 - A Cache of Metal Type Found in Korea

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 19:40:40 -0000

Archeologists dig up a massive cache of 15th century metal printing type in South Korea, a baby beaver is born in Exmoor, what if ice cream but also macaroni and cheese, a video-game breaks records and may indicate a sales bubble, and Nic Cage’s Pig: probably good?

Sponsors:

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Links:

Earliest Hangeul metal movable type blocks excavated in Seoul (Korea Times)
Goryeo Metal Type (918–1392 era) (National Museum of Korea)
Seoul lifts development ban on Insa-dong (Korea Herald)
Want to know about Hangeul? (National Institute of Korean Language)
Baby beaver born on Exmoor for first time in 400 years (The Guardian)
First baby beaver born on Exmoor in 400 years (BBC News)
‘Drivers of change’: beavers released on National Trust land to ease flooding risk (The Guardian)
Van Leeuwen and Kraft debut mac and cheese-flavored ice cream (New York Post)
Sealed Mario 64’s Record-Breaking $1.5M Sale Has Retro Experts Skeptical
Ultra-Rare Zelda Cart Fetching 6 Digits Before Auction Even Begins (Update: Sold For $870,000) (Kotaku)
Kelsey Lewin on Super Mario 64 sale (Twitter)
Pat Contri on Super Mario 64 sale (Twitter)
Nicolas Cage on his legacy, his philosophy of acting and his metaphorical — and literal — search for the Holy Grail. (Hollywood Reporter)
Pig is so much richer and stranger than the Nicolas Cage revenge thriller it appears to be (AV Club)
Strandbeest
Glenn on Twitter
The Tiny Type Museum & Time Capsule
Glenn’s type artifact photos (Flickr)

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Mon. 07/12 - The Heliopause That Refreshes

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 21:32:01 -0000

Houseplants became Instagram models in 2020 driving sales up by billions and overwhelming mail-order and garden-supply stores; we know a lot more about the bulbous shape of the sun’s shield against the ravages of the interstellar medium due to data gathered over a decade; and creators learn more about reclaiming their copyright after decades have passed.

Sponsors:

Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews
Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcast

Links:

How the Pandemic Has Changed the Houseplant Industry—and Why (House Beautiful)
Are all those houseplants people got during COVID still alive? (APM Markpetplace)
Partly Sunny Projects (Sonja Detrinidad)
Demand outpacing supply on house plants during pandemic (KMBC News)
Covid lockdowns turned buying plants into the next big pandemic trend — for good reason (NBC News THINK)
Q&A: What Causes Variegation? (Horticulture Magazine)
New Zealand houseplant sells for $19,200 in online bidding war (CNN)
Rhaphidophora tetrasperma (Exotic Rainforest)
The Effects of The Number of Indoor Foliage Plants on Productivity, Stress and Attention (CLIMA 2013 International Conference)
The solar wind bubble that protects Earth has been mapped for the first time (MIT Technology Review)
A Three-dimensional Map of the Heliosphere from IBEX (The Astrophysical Journal Supplement)
Who’s Gotten Their Copyright Back? (Kottke.org)
George Clinton Denied Rights to His Own Work (MTV)
George Clinton Wins Funkadelic Rights (New York Times)
U.S. Copyright Termination Notices 1977-2020: Introducing New Datasets (Journal of Empirical Legal Studies)
Termination of Transfers and Licenses Under 17 U.S.C. §203 (U.S. Copyright Office)
Quantifying copyright reversion (Cory Doctorow’s Pluralistic)

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Thu. 07/08 - Will We Still Own Things In the Future?

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 19:34:29 -0000

New findings in the debate about whether the dinosaurs were actually already in a sharp decline before the asteroid hit the Earth. A rumination on private ownership and how, by 2030, we might not own anything at all, just subscribe to services. And an upcoming Pride and Prejudice-themed reality dating show.

Links:

Scientists propose wild new theory for what originally killed the dinosaurs (Inverse)
Dinosaurs May Have Been Declining Before the Asteroid Struck Earth (Smithsonian Mag)
Dinosaurs were in decline before the end, according to new study (EurekAlert)
Dinosaurs Were Already Going Extinct Before Asteroid Hit Earth: Study (Business Insider)
Dinosaurs were not in decline before the asteroid wiped them out (Natural History Museum)
Hot Dinosaur Summer (NY Times)
In 2030, You Won't Own Any Gadgets (Gizmodo)
Peacock orders Pride And Prejudice-style dating show (A/V Club)
‘Pride and Prejudice’-Inspired Reality Dating Show Ordered at Peacock (Variety)
Glenn Fleishman on Twitter
The Tiny Type Museum and Time Capsule
Take Control Books – Expert Advice from Leading Tech Authors by Glenn Fleishman
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 07/07 - Algae Beer, Lead-Poisoned Emperors, & mRNA Flu Vaccines

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 19:13:41 -0000

Could lead poisoning have led to the fall of Rome? The Australian craft brewery using algae to offset their carbon emissions. And Moderna has started human trials of their mRNA flu vaccine.

Sponsor:

Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcast

Links:

The White House killed William Henry Harrison (Washington Post)
How Lead (Maybe?) Caused the Downfall of the Roman Empire (Reactions, YouTube)
Did lead poisoning cause downfall of Roman Empire? The jury is still out (Ars Technica)
Why ancient Rome kept choosing bizarre and perverted emperors (Vox)
The first artificial sweetener poisoned lots of Romans (Gizmodo)
Cities With the Most Contaminated Tap Water in the US (Business Insider)
The craft brewery using algae to cut emissions (BBC)
'What the hell is that?': Brewery uses algae to reduce carbon emissions (Sydney Morning Herald)
Each sixpack of beer contributes to climate change. 'Going green' might be the solution (ABC Australia)
The Algae Project (Young Henrys Brewing)
Moderna starts human trials of an mRNA-based flu shot (The Verge)
mRNA vaccine yields full protection against malaria in mice: Recent advancements allow for novel approaches against an old enemy (Science Daily)
Are mRNA flu shots in the works? Yes, but not for the upcoming flu season. (Washington Post)
Moderna to Trial HIV and Flu Vaccines With mRNA Technology (Verywell Health)
America used fewer fossil fuels in 2020 than it has in three decades (The Verge)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 07/06 - Is the 4-Day Workweek Actually Happening This Time?

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 18:51:08 -0000

Why do we have a five-day work week and could changes from the pandemic be enough to finally implement the long held fantasy of the four-day work week? Are we looking at a passwordless login landscape in our near future? And vinyl is more popular than CDs, but could disruptions to supply and demand change that?

Sponsor:

Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcast

Links:

Will the post-Covid world include a 4-day workweek? As Kickstarter tests it out, some predict it will catch on (CNBC)
Iceland ran the world's largest trial of a shorter work week. The results will (not) shock you. (Mashable)
Four-day week 'an overwhelming success' in Iceland (BBC)
Where the Five-Day Workweek Came From (The Atlantic)
Why the Password Isn't Dead Quite Yet (Wired)
The time is right to embrace passwordless authentication (Tech HQ)
5 Best Password Managers: Features, Pricing, and Tips (Wired)
Vinyl Is More Popular Than Ever. Surprisingly, That's a Problem (Vice)
The Pandemic Caused An Explosion In Vinyl Demand – Here’s Why The Music Industry Can’t Meet It (Billboard)
We Are Living in a Climate Emergency, and We’re Going to Say So (Scientific American)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 07/02 - The Restaurant Taco Bell Lifted Their Taco Recipe From

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 19:57:48 -0000

The restaurant that inspired Taco Bell, its larger legacy, and the question of authenticity. Plus, the new species of beetle that was discovered in some fossilized dinosaur dung. And the communities of people who devote their time to uncovering the mystery of dogman.

Sponsor:

Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcast

Links:

How Taco Bell 'stole' the taco (BBC)
Newsletter: The best thing our restaurant critic ate this summer (LA Times)
Perspective | I’m from a Mexican family. Stop expecting me to eat ‘authentic’ food. (Washington Post)
Mitla Cafe – San Bernardino, California - Gastro Obscura (Atlas Obscura)
Taco Bell Wouldn't Exist Without San Bernardino's Mitla Cafe (Eater)
A Triassic Insect Was Found Perfectly Preserved in Dinosaur Poop For The First Time (Science Alert)
Over 200 Million Years Ago, Nature Called. It Was Full of Beetles. (NY Times)
The Dinosaur That Books by Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter, and Garry Parsons (Simon & Schuster)
North American Dogman Project - Research, Cryptid (NADP)
Dogman Encounters (Report your Dogman Encounters Here!)
All About Dogman (r/dogman)
Virgin Galactic to launch Richard Branson on July 11, aiming to beat Jeff Bezos to space (CNBC)
Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson to Beat Jeff Bezos to Space (Gizmodo)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 07/01 - How to Stop A/C's from Warming the Planet

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 20:33:13 -0000

This week has proven we need air conditioners more than ever, but we also need them to be better than ever. Here are some of the innovations being considered. Plus, one of the women from the secret Mercury 13 program at 1960s NASA is finally getting the chance to go to space this month. And the UAE’s Hope orbiter on Mars has picked up something scientists have never before been able to capture on the red planet.

Sponsor:

Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcast

Links:

How to Prevent Air Conditioners from Heating the Planet (Scientific American)
Heat Pumps Are Ready to Have a Moment (Gizmodo)
Nowhere Is Ready for This Heat (The Atlantic)
Mercury 13 legend Wally Funk will ride with Jeff Bezos to the edge of space (The Verge)
Grapevine, Texas, woman going to space with Jeff Bezos (Spectrum Local News)
Jeff Bezos picks female aerospace pioneer to launch with him (AP)
UAE's Hope Mars orbiter spots elusive aurora on Red Planet (Space)
Visions of the Future posters (NASA JPL)
Joy Generator (NPR)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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