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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook 

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook 

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook       

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook 

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook 

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook 

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook 

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook 

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook 

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook

'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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com Instagram - Facebook

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com  

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) Contact us - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com  

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) Contact us - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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) contact us - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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. Contact us - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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 contact us - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com  

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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) Connect with us by email using the address coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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

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) Contact us - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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 email - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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. Ireland Wind Energy Snapchat AI Snapchat Release Google App Removal Fast Food Punishment email - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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 Show email - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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 email - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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 Contact us - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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) Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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/ Contact us - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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

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 Contact us at coolstuffcommute@gmail.com  

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 Contact us at coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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

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

On today's episode, a nearly extint 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 Contact us - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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. EU Ban AdpotAxolotl Lottery Tickets First US Auto Race   Contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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 Cimbue Painting Chinese Cup Landfill Mining Late Return contact the show - coolstuffcommute@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.  

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/goodnewsZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuffLinks: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 PodcastThe Twisted Life of Clippy (Seattle Met)  Voice ChangerOnline Shopping in the 1950s (Messy Nessy)The Astounding Physics of N95 Masks (Minute Physics, YouTube)My newsletter, First Draft Theater (Substack) My TwitterMy YouTube ChannelMy InstagramMy TikTokThe Neo-Futurists, the experimental theater company I'm inThe NY Neo-Futurists’ podcast, Hit PlayHit Play Live in NYC on 2/13C.A.M.P. this summer in the CatskillsEverything’s BiggerBook me to speak at your event!My bookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/coolstuffIndeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/goodnewsZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuffLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/coolstuffIndeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/goodnewsZocDoc, zocdoc.com/coolstuffLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/coolstuffIndeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:Shaking Ordinary Ice (Very Hard) Transformed It Into Something Never Seen Before (NY Times)Scientists made a new kind of ice that might exist on distant moons (Nature)James Cameron Tests Infamous 'Titanic' Door Theories in a New 25th Anniversary Special (Collider) James Cameron aims to finally put that 'Titanic' door debate to rest, 25 years later (NPR)The Inventor of Cult-Fave 'Cascatelli' Pasta Has Dropped 2 New Pasta Shapes (Vice)Everything You Need To Know About Cascatelli, The New Pasta Shape From The Sporkful’s Dan Pashman (The Sporkful)Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania In-World Scott Lang Autobiography Is Actually Available to Buy (Comicbook)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ShapiroChronophoto‘King Of The Hill’ Revival Ordered By Hulu; Original Cast Returning (Deadline)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 ClockThe 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 KreinerIt’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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/coolstuffLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/coolstuffLinks: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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/coolstuffLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/coolstuffLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/coolstuffLinks: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 textBeyond 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:The “disappearing” human microbiome — and the fraught push to preserve it (Inverse)A Mass Extinction Is Taking Place in the Human Gut (WIRED)The Invisible ExtinctionEXPLAINER: How the House of Representatives elects a speaker (AP)Kevin McCarthy’s failed House speakership bid, explained (Vox)Congressman-elect to be sworn in on the Constitution — and a Superman comic (Washington Post)First 'History of the World Part II' Images Tease Long Awaited Mel Brooks Sequel (Collider)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 PepysThe Diary of Samuel Pepys tweets (samuelpepys, Twitter)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 KlostermanJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Rocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLLinks: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 DiscsJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Rocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Rocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Sign up for a free trial at shopify.com/coolRocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Rocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLShopify, Sign up for a free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 ForbesJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Shopify, Sign up for a free trial at shopify.com/coolRocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLLinks: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 ForbesThe Battle for Christmas: A Social and Cultural History of Our Most Cherished Holiday by Stephen NissenbaumThe 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Rocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLShopify, Sign up for a free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 BogartA 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Sign up for a free trial at shopify.com/coolRocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Sign up for a free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Up First from NPR, Listen wherever you get your podcastsUncommon Goods, Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Uncommon Goods, Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/coolUp First from NPR, Listen wherever you get your podcastsLinks: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 MelendezBackstory – 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Up First from NPR, Listen wherever you get your podcastsUncommon Goods, Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/coolLinks: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 GundersAsteroid 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Uncommon Goods, Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/coolUp First from NPR, Listen wherever you get your podcastsLinks: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 ShapiroContested 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Up First from NPR, Listen wherever you get your podcastsUncommon Goods, Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Uncommon Goods, Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/coolAmerican Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Links: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Sign up for a free trial at shopify.com/coolAmerican Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Links: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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!Sponsors:Shopify, Sign up for a free trial at shopify.com/coolAmerican Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Links: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Rocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLAmerican Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Links: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:American Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Rocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Uncommon Goods, Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/coolShopify, Sign up for a free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 IngleheartIt'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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Sign up for a free trial at shopify.com/coolUncommon Goods, Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/coolLinks:Competition between respiratory viruses may hold off a ‘tripledemic’ this winter (Science)RSV, covid and flu push hospitals to the brink — and it may get worse (Washington Post) Children's hospitals call on Biden to declare emergency in response to 'unprecedented' RSV surge (CNBC)Libraries Are Launching Their Own Local Music Streaming Platforms (VICE)Libraries — MUSICat KanopyLibby App: Free ebooks & audiobooks from your library | by OverDrive Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Uncommon Goods, Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/coolRocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Rocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLUncommon Goods, Get 15% off your next gift at uncommongoods.com/coolLinks:A Lab-Grown-Meat Startup Gets the FDA’s Stamp of Approval (WIRED)Lab-Grown Meat Receives Clearance From F.D.A. (NY Times)FDA approval puts lab-grown meat one step closer to your dinner plate (Vox)New genetically engineered houseplant cleans air as efficiently as 30 plants (BGR) This genetically engineered houseplant does the work of 30 typical plants (Inverse)‘Yeehaw, bae,’ official Scrabble dictionary adds 500 new words (PBS)Words Added to the Scrabble Dictionary (Merriam-Webster)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:Rocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLShopify, Sign up for a free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Rocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Rocket Money, Cancel your unnecessary subscriptions at RocketMoney.com/COOLLinks:People here live in complete darkness for 2.5 months. Here's how they do it (NPR)Cecilia Blomdahl (@sejsejlija) Official TikTokCecilia 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Uncommon Goods, Get 15% off at uncommongoods.com/coolI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks:How MSNBC used tech from ‘The Mandalorian’ to bring election night to life (Mashable)Thu. 11/04 - How the World Series Led To the Television Boom (Cool Stuff Ride Home)Tunnel discovered under Egyptian temple may lead to Cleopatra's tomb, archaeologist says (CNN)"Geometric miracle": Archaeologists discover vast tunnel beneath Egyptian temple (CBS News)An Ancient Tunnel Discovered Beneath an Egyptian Temple May Lead to Cleopatra’s Tomb, Archaeologists Say (ArtNet)Secret Tunnel Discovered Under Egyptian Temple To God Of The Underworld (IFL Science)Archaeologists Discover Vast ‘Miracle’ Tunnel Under Egyptian Temple Ruin (VICE)Chris Rock Makes History With First Live Netflix Special (Collider)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastUncommon Goods, Get 15% off at uncommongoods.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Uncommon Goods, Get 15% off at uncommongoods.com/coolI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks:How the Ballpoint Pen Killed Cursive (The Atlantic)In world-first trial, lab-grown blood was just injected into two people (The Verge)Lab-grown blood given to people in world-first clinical trial (BBC)AMC thinks, somehow, Zoom meetings would feel good in a place like this (A/V Club)AMC Theatres® and Zoom Partner to Bring Zoom Rooms to the Comfort and State-of-the-Art Sight and Sound Technology of AMC Movie Theatres (AMC Theatres)Zoom is coming to Tesla so you can Zoom in your Tesla (Mashable)Cygnus Freighter Reaches ISS With Only One Functioning Solar Array (Gizmodo) NASA's Moon Rocket Will Have to Ride Out the Storm as Potential Hurricane Approaches (Gizmodo) Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Uncommon Goods, Get 15% off at uncommongoods.com/coolI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastUncommon Goods, Get 15% off at uncommongoods.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.  Sponsor:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFIndeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:American Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsAmerican Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Links: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 EddyWhat 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:American Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsAmerican Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Links: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-SobekInsects 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:American Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 LyonsReligion 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 NightmareOne 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 Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 CATEGORYThe 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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks:‘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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastBetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastBetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:American Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Links: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) Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:American Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Links: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:American Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Links: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:American Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:American Musical Supply, Use code COOL at https://ter.li/AmericanMusicalSupply-COOL for $20 off your next purchase of over $100I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks:‘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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 OnlyThe 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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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) Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Bambee, Schedule a conversation at bambee.com/coolBetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFBambee, Schedule a conversation at bambee.com/coolLinks:China Discovers Stunning Crystal on the Moon, Nuclear Fusion Fuel for Limitless Energy (Vice)China’s Moon Missions Shadow NASA Artemis’s Pace (IEEE Spectrum) China discovers new mineral – and a possible energy source – on the Moon (New Atlas)NASA Adjusts Dates for Artemis I Cryogenic Demonstration Test and Launch; Progress at Pad Continues (NASA)What to Expect from NASA’s DART Mission to Deflect an Asteroid (Gizmodo)The Trans Joker Movie Is a Sight to See. Too Bad It Might Never Be Seen Again. (Slate)The People’s Joker, a hilarious trans riff on DC characters, shut down over ‘rights issues’ (Polygon)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:Bambee, Schedule a conversation at bambee.com/coolBetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFBambee, Schedule a conversation at bambee.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Bambee, Schedule a conversation at bambee.com/coolBetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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 FestivalThe 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 FactorParty City Launches Scavenger Hunt in Haunted Cities Across America (All Hallows Geek)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFKolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFKolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/COOLSTUFFLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 OttThe 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 Links:What Does It Mean to Win at Saving Lives? (Sports Illustrated)The internet is losing its mind over the U.S.A. Mullet Championship kids (Input)Meet this year's child Mullet Championship finalists (NPR)'Forever chemicals' in rainwater exceed safe levels (BBC)'Forever chemicals' stay in the air and water permanently. But scientists have found a new way to destroy them. (NBC News)'Spider-Man: No Way Home - The More Fun Stuff Version' Will Have 11 Minutes of New Footage (Collider)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 OttSee Papa Johns new pizza bowls: Just toppings, no crust (CNN)Explanation for today's episode title (YouTube)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Bambee, Schedule a conversation at bambee.com/coolIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsBambee, Schedule a conversation at bambee.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Bambee, Schedule a conversation at bambee.com/coolIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsBambee, Schedule a conversation at bambee.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Bambee, Schedule a conversation at bambee.com/coolIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 globeJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsor:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsKolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:Codebreakers Find ‘Sexts,’ Arctic Dispatches in 200-Year-Old Encrypted Newspaper Ads (Vice)Fourth patient seemingly cured of HIV (BBC)Fourth person 'cured' of HIV, but is a less risky cure in sight? (Medical Xpress)Stranger Things Season 4: Duffer Brothers on Fixing Will's Birthday (Variety)Netflix retroactively editing Stranger Things is the beginning of a dangerous TV trend (GQ)Is Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Editing Out Jonathan’s Creepy Behavior in Season 1? (The Mary Sue)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsKolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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? Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolKolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolKolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 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 Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Kolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90 Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 FinderOld 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsKolide, Got Slack? Got Macs? Get Kolide: Device security that fixes challenging problems by messaging your users on Slack. Try Kolide Today! https://l.kolide.co/3aVdR90Links: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Calm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsCalm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Calm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Calm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Calm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 KlostermanFrench'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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks:The Capstone Launch Will Kick Off NASA's Artemis Moon Program (Wired)NASA's planning a moon base in space for astronauts. Today is the first major step. (Mashable)A tiny NASA spacecraft launches to test out a new orbit around the Moon (The Verge)‘It’s dopamine’: why we love to track our watching and reading habits (The Guardian)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolIndeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Calm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 ManjapraOn Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-ReedWatch 13TH (Netflix)Poet Amanda Gorman reflects on what lies beneath the celebrations of Juneteenth (NPR)Call Us What We Carry by Amanda GormanJuneteenth 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastCalm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Calm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 todayInternet 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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastCalm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffLinks: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 LangeTwo 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Calm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit PLUS earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor: Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/coolLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Calm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/FutureLinks: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 MarcusABBA 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/EngineeringCalm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Calm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/FutureLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/EngineeringCalm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Calm, Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription calm.com/coolstuffDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/FutureLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start Links:The multiverse is huge in pop culture right now – but what is it, and does it really exist? (The Conversation)The Internet Gave Rise to the Modern Multiverse Movie (Wired)Why 2021 Was The Year of the Multiverse (IGN)How 'Our Flag Means Death' embraces fanfiction tropes (Xtra)Doctor Strange and the historical roots of the multiverse (BBC)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/start Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/startLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Novo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeOuter, Get $300 off and free shipping at liveouter.com/kottkeLinks: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 FestivalChop and Steele documentary  #dracula daily on Tumblr Belle and Sebastian: A Bit of Previous Album Review (Pitchfork)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Outer, Get $300 off and free shipping at liveouter.com/kottkeNovo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeLinks:Pop Culture Has Become an Oligopoly (Experimental History)Cultural Dopes (LA Review of Books)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Novo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeOuter, Get $300 off and free shipping at liveouter.com/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Outer, Get $300 off and free shipping at liveouter.com/kottkeNovo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:Novo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeOuter, Get $300 off and free shipping at liveouter.com/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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? Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks: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 RadnerJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors: Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks: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) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseI Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:I Am Bio, Subscribe at bio.org/podcastMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Outer, Get $300 off and free shipping at liveouter.com/kottkeShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeOuter, Get $300 off and free shipping at liveouter.com/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Outer, Get $300 off and free shipping at liveouter.com/kottkeShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeOuter, Get $300 off and free shipping at liveouter.com/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Outer, Get $300 off and free shipping at liveouter.com/kottkeShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/startLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.orgInheritance Pass guarantees entrance to Yellowstone in 150 years (Billings Gazette)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 RonsonHow 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 TwitterJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/startLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsNovo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Novo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:Tanis: Fossil of dinosaur killed in asteroid strike found, scientists claim (BBC)Scientists find fossil of dinosaur 'killed on day of asteroid strike' (The Guardian)Scientists say they found a dino fossil from the day a dinosaur-killing asteroid struck Earth (Live Science)Astonishment, skepticism greet fossils claimed to record dinosaur-killing asteroid impact (Science)Amtrak Is Streaming an Empty Railroad on Twitch to Beef With Freight Rail Companies (Vice) Buttigieg Brushes Up On Honking For Upcoming Talks With Nation’s Big Rigs (The Onion)British charity hunts for team to run Antarctica post office (BBC)Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsNovo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Novo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsNovo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/FutureThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/startLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/startDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/EngineeringLinks: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 McBrideThe Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality (TransLash Media)Trans Week of Visibility & ActionWatch Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launch its first New Shepard space crew of 2022 (CNBC) Jackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/FutureThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/startLinks: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 StarsEuropean 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/startDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/EngineeringLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/FutureThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/startLinks:For the first time, wild dolphin observed 'talking' with harbor porpoises (National Geographic)The Music of Dolphins by Karen HesseThe 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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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 TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/FutureLendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceLinks: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 BogardResearchers 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) WeezleWordle, 15 Million Tweets Later / Robert Lesser (Observable) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/EngineeringLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/FutureLendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/EngineeringLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/FutureLendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceLinks:Vsauce short explaining Not A Wake (Vsauce, Twitter)Not a Wake: A Dream Embodying (Pi)'s Digits Fully for 10000 Decimals by Michael KeithHow 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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsNovo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Novo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsNovo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Novo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 707-998-8410Disney+ Announces New Series The Muppets Mayhem (Consequence) Is It Cake? Trailer Reveals a Baking Competition With a Deceptive Twist (Collider)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsNovo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottkeLinks: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-SQRLStream 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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/FutureJenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 orderDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/EngineeringLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/FutureJenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderLinks: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 NYCBeetlejuice Broadway  Kottke.OrgJackson 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.

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:Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/EngineeringLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/FutureJenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderLinks: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 InternationalKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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 LincolnLincoln in the Bardo a book by George SaundersI'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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/FutureMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks: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 QuordledordleWordle Unlimited Star WordleQueerdleLordle of the RingsTaylordle Subwaydle1,000 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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/EngineeringLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/FutureMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterOther recommended watching:Framing John DeLorean (IFC Films)Defunctland: Walt Disney's City of the Future, E.P.C.O.T. (Defunctland, YouTube)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseDeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/EngineeringLinks: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 ShopsinKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/FutureMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year packageIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year packageIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year packageLinks: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 Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year packageLinks: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 CodeHow 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 TrackerKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year packageLinks:We Need A Standard Unit Of Measure For Risk (Adjacent Possible)microCOVID ProjectWhy 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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks:2022 Beijing Winter Olympics: Given China's human rights abuses, why report on them or pay attention? (Slate)Olympic spotlight back on China for a COVID-tinged Games (AP)2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony: How Zhang Yimou pulled off a masterpiece for multiple audiences. (Slate)The 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremonies planners have fallen out of favor in China in 2022 (Washington Post)Olympics 2022 -- How we ended up with a Winter Games amid China's human rights crisis (ESPN)Controversy erupts over Aussie museum's identification of HMS Endeavour wreck (Ars Technica)Row erupts over wreck in US waters identified as Captain Cook's Endeavour (The Guardian)IKEA is offering 3D-printed vegan meatballs to job candidates while it interviews them (Business Insider)Build-A-Bear just launched an 'After Dark' series (CNET)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseJenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseJenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:Meet an athlete heating up the world of extreme ironing (A/V Club)Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl MendelsonThe 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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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 SnitchwichesRobot vacuum cleaner escapes from Cambridge Travelodge (BBC) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How a new technique for 3D printing metal could revolutionize manufacturing. Plus, the great potential of the false banana. And archeology’s “sexual revolution.”Sponsors:Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseJenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors: Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseJenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first orderMunk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchaseLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceIndeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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? Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceIndeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year packageShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year packageLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year packageShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year packageLinks:The History of Predicting the Future (Wired)This Reddit Thread Predicting The Things People Are Sure Will Happen In 2022 Will Get You In The Right Headspace For The Rest Of The Year (Digg)New patent-free COVID vaccine developed as “gift to the world” (New Atlas)India's Corbevax vaccine was developed at Texas Children's Hospital. It expects nothing in return. (Washington Post)Editorial: Houston-made Corbevax vaccine welcome news in pandemic fight (Houston Chronicle)Two Time Capsules Found at Removed Confederate Statue Base (The Mary Sue)Experts find books, a coin and an envelope in Robert E. Lee statue's base (NPR)2nd time capsule found at the Robert E. Lee statue site in Richmond (NPR)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year packageShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeGiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeGiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgTentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comGiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgTentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comLinks:NASA craft 'touches' sun for 1st time, dives into atmosphere (AP)NASA Enters the Solar Atmosphere for the First Time (NASA)Embracing a Wetter Future, the Dutch Turn to Floating Homes (Yale E360)How online reviews came to rule our lives — How Did We Get Here? (Mashable)Section 230: everything you need to know about the law protecting internet speech (The Verge)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comGiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgLinks: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 ForbesHalloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday by David J. SkalNASA 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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgTentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 ForbesKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsGiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgLinks:Birds Aren’t Real, or Are They? Inside a Gen Z Conspiracy Theory. (NY Times)Birds Aren't Real New Zealand to Ban Tobacco Permanently for Anyone Born After 2008 (Gizmodo)New Zealand to ban cigarettes for future generations (BBC)Novel New Plan in New Zealand To End Smoking (NPR)Instagram Is Bringing Back the Chronological Feed (Gizmodo) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 GoodmanThe 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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsGiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:GiveWell, Have your donation matched up to $250 by entering Kottke Ride Home at check out at GiveWell.orgIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceTentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comLinks: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 ForbesThe Battle for Christmas: A Social and Cultural History of Our Most Cherished Holiday by Stephen NissenbaumThe 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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comLendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceLinks:‘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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceTentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com 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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.  Sponsors:Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comLendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance 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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balanceTentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 HomeKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeTentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.”Sponsors:Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeTentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comShopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeTentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.comLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:inkl, Get a 25% discount at inkl.com/rideIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsinkl, Get a 25% discount at inkl.com/rideLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:inkl, Get a 25% discount at inkl.com/rideIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsinkl, Get a 25% discount at inkl.com/rideLinks: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+) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Tentree, Use code KOTTKE for 15% off your first order at www.tentree.comLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Tentree, Use code KOTTKE for 15% off your first order at www.tentree.comLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Tentree, Use code KOTTKE for 15% off your first order at www.tentree.comLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsor:Tentree, Use code KOTTKE for 15% off your first order at www.tentree.comLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Tentree, Use code KOTTKE for 15% off your first order at www.tentree.comLinks:How David Foster Wallace Anticipated Netflix’s Digital Gatekeeping (Literary Hub)Everything, All the Time, Everywhere: How We Became Postmodern by Stuart JeffriesOne 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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:NetSuite, netsuite.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:NetSuite, netsuite.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:NetSuite, netsuite.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:NetSuite, netsuite.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:NetSuite, netsuite.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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 RogersHow to Tell If Your Onions Are Linked to a Salmonella Outbreak (LifeHacker)Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Onions (CDC)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks:"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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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! Sponsor:Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottkeLinks: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 HomeKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsRaycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:Raycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 TabsKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsRaycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsors:Raycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsRaycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks: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 PodcastNative Appropriations | Representations MatterNotable 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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Novo, BankNovo.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:Novo, BankNovo.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Novo, BankNovo.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor: Novo, BankNovo.com/kottkeLinks:​​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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Novo, BankNovo.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:NetSuite, netsuite.com/kottkeLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:NetSuite, netsuite.com/kottkeLinks: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 Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:NetSuite, netsuite.com/kottkeLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:NetSuite, netsuite.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:NetSuite, netsuite.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Novo, BankNovo.com/kottkeRaycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks: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 Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Raycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeNovo, BankNovo.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Novo, BankNovo.com/kottkeRaycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks: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 RogersThe Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature a book by J. Drew Lanham by J. Drew LanhamNASA'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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Raycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeNovo, BankNovo.com/kottkeLinks: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 Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Novo, BankNovo.com/kottkeRaycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsUpstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsUpstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsUpstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)TelosaForget 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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Raycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsor:Raycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Raycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Raycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Raycon, Get 15% off at buyraycon.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Sponsors:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks:‘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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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? Sponsor:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 WiredFirst 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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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?Links:The 2021 UN climate change report, explained: IPCC says humans caused “unequivocal” warming (Vox)New IPCC climate report is the clearest guidebook for selecting a future (Ars Technica)Climate change: IPCC report is 'code red for humanity' (BBC)Climate change widespread, rapid, and intensifying (IPCC)The era of 'rapid' climate change has begun (The Phoenix)1.5 degrees Celsius: the sad truth about our boldest climate change target (Vox)Want to pretend to live on Mars? For a whole year? Apply now (AP)NASA looking for people to spend a year pretending they live on Mars so it can prepare to send astronauts to red planet (Sky News)Rice, rice baby: Japanese parents send relatives rice to hug in lieu of newborns (The Guardian)Behold this creepy and adorable 1911 book of captioned cat photos. (Literary Hub)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks: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 BogartPerseid 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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks:These 6 countries are most likely to survive a climate change-caused societal collapse (Mic)Study: Which Countries Will Best Survive a Collapse? (NY Times)Chocolate "snow" dusts Swiss town after malfunction at Lindt factory (CBS)The secrets of the Alps' strange red snow (BBC)What 'Glacier Blood' on the French Alps Tells Scientists About Climate Change at High Elevations (Smithsonian Mag)Glacier Blood? Watermelon Snow? Whatever It’s Called, Snow Shouldn’t Be So Red. (NY Times)You Fell Asleep Watching a DVD History of Dean Kamen's Segway: The mysterious invention was going to change the world, and I helped kill it. (Slate)Bargaining for Clean Water: Why Dean Kamen Invented the Coca-Cola Freestyle (Bio Huma Netics)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks: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 AndersenStarbucks 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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Upstart, upstart.com/kottkeLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.Sponsor:Green Chef, go to GreenChef.com/kottke100 and use code kottke100 to get $100 off including free shippingLinks: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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.”Sponsor:Green Chef, go to GreenChef.com/kottke100 and use code kottke100 to get $100 off including free shippingLinks:The reason there's a furniture shortage (sorry, couch and table buyers). (Slate)COVID-19: kids are using soft drinks to fake positive tests – I've worked out the science and how to spot it (The Conversation)Who Needs the Grand Canyon? Try a Microadventure. (NY Times)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Green Chef, go to GreenChef.com/kottke100 and use code kottke100 to get $100 off including free shippingLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Green Chef, go to GreenChef.com/kottke100 and use code kottke100 to get $100 off including free shippingLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 shippingLinks: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 TwitterKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)SwimplyOklahoma 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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 River​Maritime MuseumThe 20-Ton Packet (Wired)Mary Robinette Kowal’s Web siteBezos 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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 CokePoochie (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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsCredit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcastLinks: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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcastIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsCredit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcastLinks: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 biosignaturesMuskegon 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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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:Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcastIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks: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 SkepticalUltra-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)StrandbeestGlenn on TwitterThe Tiny Type Museum & Time CapsuleGlenn’s type artifact photos (Flickr)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/goodnewsCredit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcastLinks: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)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 FleishmanKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/podcastLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/podcastLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/podcastLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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/podcastLinks: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.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What’s with the on-going trend of horror films and TV shows being set in the 1980s? Is sunscreen worse in the United States compared to Europe? And one of the sports returning to the Olympics next month has a deadly precedent.Sponsor:Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcastLinks:Screams, slashers and Thatcher: why horror films are going back to the 80s (The Guardian)Why So Many Modern Horror Movies Are Set In The 1980s (Screen Rant)Are European Sunscreens Better Than Those in the U.S.? (Discover)Peak Performance: The Most Hazardous Sport In Olympic History (Mental Floss)British Mountaineer Kenton Cool's Odd Quest | Outside Online (Outside)Indoor Weekly: History of Climbing as Olympic Sport (Gripped)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why exactly were McDonald’s french fries so good back in the day? Why did they change and can the secret original recipe be recreated? Plus, a new sort of post-post-punk subgenre is emerging in the post-Brexit United Kingdom. And, a completely pointless but wonderful website I discovered last week.Links:My Hunt for the Original McDonald's French-Fry Recipe (Atlas Obscura)McMenu Grinding It Out by Ray Kroc (Internet Archive)The New Wave Of Post-Brexit Post-Punk, From Dry Cleaning To Squid (NPR)Sublime TextKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As promised on Friday, more information on the so-called Dragon Man––the recently unveiled 140,000-year-old skull that may be a new species of extinct human. The science behind why all your in-person coffee dates since reopening have been so awkward. And a first-of-its-kind study puts a number on the nonbinary population in the US.Links:Discovery of ‘Dragon Man’ Skull in China May Add Species to Human Family Tree (NY Times)Move Over Neanderthals, Newly Discovered ‘Dragon Man’ Might Be Our True Sister Species (Gizmodo)Massive human head in Chinese well forces scientists to rethink evolution (The Guardian)Scientists hail stunning 'Dragon Man' discovery (BBC)Science 'Dragon Man' skull may be new species, shaking up human family tree Hidden down a (National Geographic)The neuroscience behind why your brain may need time to adjust to 'un-social distancing' (The Conversation)The first population estimate of LGBTQ non-binary adults in the US is out. Here's why that's significant. (Washington Post)Groundbreaking Study Finds Over One Million Nonbinary Adults Live in the U.S. (them.)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Researchers have found evidence of a coronavirus epidemic from 20,000 years ago. A new blood test that can detect fifty different types of cancer. And what the lowercase “i” in Apple products stands for and why they stopped using it.Links:A Coronavirus Epidemic Hit 20,000 Years Ago, New Study Finds (NY Times)20,000 years of coronaviruses (and counting) (Cosmos Magazine)A Coronavirus Epidemic Hit Humanity 20,000 Years Ago, DNA Study Reveals (Science Alert)Blood test that finds 50 types of cancer is accurate enough to be rolled out (The Guardian)Blood test for early detection of cancer: final study results support screening use (Eurek Alert)Why Apple Products Have An 'i' (Apple Explained, YouTube) Why The Apple Watch Wasn't Named iWatch (Apple Explained, YouTube)The Death of Apple's 'i' (Apple Explained, YouTube)How the Internet Happened: From Netscape to the iPhone by Brian McCullough'Under the Banner of Heaven' Miniseries with Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones Greenlit at FX (Collider)Prophet's Prey (2015) (Showtime)Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon KrakauerDiscovery of ‘Dragon Man’ Skull in China May Add Species to Human Family Tree (NY Times)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The growing attempts to put flavor back into our produce because, yes, apparently it left. An update on the lumber industry and what it could mean for the economy overall. And the surprisingly strange things astronauts have done with their dirty laundry, plus the introduction of NASA Tide.Links:How farmers and scientists are engineering your food (BBC)Lumber Prices Are Falling Fast, Turning Hoarders Into Sellers (Wall Street Journal)Lumber price decline supports Powell's view that inflation will prove temporary (Washington Post)Mon. 05/10 - Got Wood? America's Mounting Lumber Problem (Kottke Ride Home)‘NASA Tide’ will be the first-ever laundry detergent for astronauts (Fast Company)Astronauts' Dirty Laundry (NASA)What We Do in the Shadows Wellington Paranormal CW Trailer (Gizmodo) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A very big and very strange comet-ish object has entered our solar system. Some tips to help your body recover from a year of virtual learning, working, and socializing. And the two badass twelve-year-old girls going to the Tokyo Olympics for skateboarding.Links:A huge comet called 2014 UN271 is heading toward the Sun (Syfy’s Bad Astronomy)Visitor From Oort Cloud Could Be Among the Largest Comets Ever Documented (Gizmodo)Unexpected Minor Planet to Visit the Inner Solar System Soon (Kottke)Extremely eccentric minor planet to visit inner solar system this decade The outskirts of our solar (New Atlas)Zoom Nearly Broke My Body. Here’s How to Protect Yours (Wired)Skateboarders Sky Brown & Kokona Hiraki Qualify For 2021 Olympics (Skate World)Two girls head to the Olympics for skateboarding at age 12 (Upworthy)Medals and Tokyo skate spots dished out in Des Moines (Olympics)Honest Trailers | The Fast & The Furious (Honest Trailers, YouTube)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How a single-celled yellow slime is changing the way scientists think about intelligence. A new upcycled food label that would let you know when your food has been made with food scraps that would’ve otherwise gone to waste. And everything you need to know about this week’s Strawberry Supermoon.Links:This Weirdly Smart, Creeping Slime Is Redefining Our Understanding of Intelligence (Science Alert)How This Blob Solves Mazes (Wired, YouTube)'Upcycling' promises to turn food waste into your next meal (The Conversation)Upcycled food trend turns waste into ingredients found on store shelves (CBS News)When to See the 'Strawberry Moon,' the Last Supermoon of 2021 (LifeHacker)Strawberry Moon: Full Moon in June 2021 (Old Farmer’s Almanac)The Next Full Moon is the Strawberry Moon and a Marginal Supermoon – NASA Solar System Exploration (NASA)Moonrise & Moonset Calculator (Old Farmer’s Almanac)Check out this D&D-style choose-your-own-adventure book from Chuck Tingle (Boing Boing)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What will our homes look like in the future and how much has the pandemic shaped that vision? Plus, why are humans so thirsty? And, Brian Eno has found a home for hundreds of his previously unreleased songs.Links:America Should Become a Nation of Renters (Bloomberg)What Will Future Homes Look Like?  Filmed in the 1960's - Narrated by Walter Cronkite (16mm Educational Films, YouTube) The New American House - Post-Pandemic Architecture and Design 2021 (Veranda)Human Evolution Led to an Extreme Thirst for Water (Scientific American)Brian Eno Launches His Own Radio Station with Hundreds of Unreleased Tracks: Hear Two Programs (Open Culture)Brian Eno Launches Sonos Radio Station With Unreleased Music (Pitchfork)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new species of giant rhino might be the largest land mammal that ever walked the earth. Did you know there are probably dinosaur teeth on the moon? For real. The Girl Scouts have millions of leftover cookies and we must do our part by eating as many as we can. And China sent its first crewed mission up to their new space station yesterday.Sponsors:Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcastUTEP Connect, Apply at online.utep.edu or call UTEP Connect at 1-800-684-UTEPLinks:National Geographic Fossils of rhino taller than a giraffe found in China (National Geographic)New Fossil Reveals One of The Largest Land Mammals Ever Found, And It's a Rhino (Science Alert)A giant prehistoric rhino was the biggest land mammal to walk the Earth (CNN)Dinosaur teeth on the moon (Hank Green, TikTok)We Are Pleased To Inform You There Are Probably Dinosaur Remains On The Moon (IFLScience) Asteroid impact excerpt/discussion (Matt Austin, Twitter)The Ends of the World by Peter Brannen Girl Scouts Stuck With Over 15 Million Boxes of Unsold Cookies (NY Times)Be a patriot and buy the Girl Scouts' 15 million extra cookies (A/V Club)China space station: Shenzhou-12 delivers first crew to Tianhe module (BBC)China launches three astronauts to new space station: What to know (CNET)LIVE: China Launches Shenzhou-12 Manned Spaceship (CCTV, YouTube)Tamagotchi’s new smartwatch lets you strap a needy digital pet to your wrist (The Verge)Feels (emoji game) (Games For Crows) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A ranking of the top ten best places in our solar system to find extraterrestrial life. Plus, you know about the food pyramid, but what about the nature pyramid? Also called the 20-5-3 rule. And, I guess we have to talk about that Jeff-Bezos-Eating-the-Mona-Lisa petition.Sponsors:UTEP Connect, Apply at online.utep.edu or call UTEP Connect at 1-800-684-UTEPCredit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcastLinks:The best places to find extraterrestrial life in our solar system, ranked (MIT Tech Review)Aliens Wouldn't Need Warp Drives to Take Over an Entire Galaxy, Simulation Suggests (Gizmodo)How Much Time Should You Spend Outside, According to Michael Easter (Men’s Health)Exploring the Nature Pyramid – The Nature of Cities (The Nature of Cities)The Nature Pyramid (Biophilic Cities)People Want Jeff Bezos to Buy the Mona Lisa and Eat it (Hyperallergic)It's time to ponder Jeff Bezos buying and eating the Mona Lisa (A/V Club)Yes, Jeff Bezos Could Buy and Eat the Mona Lisa if He Wanted To (Vice)Petition · We want Jeff Bezos to buy and eat the Mona Lisa (Change.Org)Aussie hosts can't keep straight face over Jeff Bezos' rocket (Today Show Australia, YouTube) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How Juneteenth has evolved over the years from its origins in Texas, and its reception today. How the Xerox machine (and several dozen dalmatian puppies) saved Disney Animation Studios from closing up shop. And a portal for exploring the cosmos… on Google Chrome.Sponsors:Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcastUTEP Connect, Apply at online.utep.edu or call UTEP Connect at 1-800-684-UTEPLinks:Honoring Black History on Juneteenth (NY Times)On Juneteenth: Pulitzer Prize-Winning Historian Annette Gordon-Reed Explores the Origin of an American Holiday (The Root)Senate passes bill to make Juneteenth, day commemorating the end of slavery in Texas, a federal holiday (Washington Post)Why many Americans don't want to talk about Juneteenth (LA Times)How to Celebrate Juneteenth (NY Times)What is Juneteenth? (Juneteenth.com)How 'One Hundred and One Dalmatians' Saved Disney (Smithsonian Mag)Redefining the Line: The Making of 101 Dalmatians (Sean Dudley, YouTube)100,000 StarsKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new report from fifty of the world’s leading experts on the need to combine solutions for combatting the climate crisis and our planet’s rapidly declining biodiversity. California’s historically low water levels may have inadvertently helped solve the case of a missing plane that crashed fifty-six years ago. And an update on that telescope NASA is now planning to construct on the far side of the moon.Sponsors:UTEP Connect, Apply at online.utep.edu or call UTEP Connect at 1-800-684-UTEPCredit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcastLinks:How to Protect Species and Save the Planet—at Once (Ars Technica)56-Year-Old Plane Crash May Be Solved by California's Drought (Gizmodo)NASA Might Put a Huge Telescope on the Far Side of the Moon (Wired)The fat bear cams at Alaska's Katmai National Park are back, baby (Mashable)Wed. 07/01 - The Beer Garden Run By Nuns (Kottke Ride Home)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The full story of the man who was swallowed by a humpback whale on Friday and lived to tell the tale. Calories. Who’s responsible for their inclusion in the world of nutrition? Some weird highlights from the history of this controversial measurement. And the growing need for a bill of neuro-rights.Sponsors:Credit Karma, creditkarma.com/podcastUTEP Connect, Apply at online.utep.edu or call UTEP Connect at 1-800-684-UTEPLinks:Man swallowed by whale by Cape Cod; MA lobster diver survives humpback (Cape Cod Times)A humpback whale swallowed Michael Packàrd as was lobster diving in Cape Cod (Washington Post)Cape Cod: Diver Swallowed by Humpback Whale Story Doubted (Insider)Humpback Whale Nearly Eats a Lobsterman, Then Thinks Better of It (NY Times)I'm a lobster diver who recently survived being inside of a whale. AMA! (r/IAmA)A Brief History of the Calorie (JSTOR Daily)'This is not science fiction,' say scientists pushing for 'neuro-rights' (Reuters) The Rise of Neurotechnology Calls for a Parallel Focus on Neurorights (Scientific American)Limit on lab-grown human embryos dropped by stem-cell body news (Nature)Bone Music: Forbidden Soviet Records Made From Used X-Ray Films (Kottke)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thanks to a new study that sequenced the genomes of several types of wild melons, we now have a better idea of the origins of the watermelon… but we still don’t know how tornadoes are formed. And that’s a problem. Plus, in a bid to continue dominating all Halloween-themed playlists, Danny Elfman released a new punk rock album today, his first since 1994.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:Tornado warnings lag behind hurricane predictions because of a meteorology mystery (Vox)Where Your Watermelon Came From (NY Times)Watermelon Was Domesticated in Sudan from Kordofan Melon, New Genetic Study Suggests (Sci-News)Danny Elfman Came Here to Make a Big Mess (The Ringer) Danny Elfman - Big Mess music videos (Epitaph Records, YouTube)‘Lord of the Rings’ Anime Feature Fast-Tracked by New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation (Variety)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new method of carbon capture that would turn carbon dioxide from the ocean into rocks. Mosquitos beefed up with virus-fighting bacteria have proven even more effective at preventing dengue fever than expected. And the often forgotten history of a turn of the century scientist way ahead of his time and his groundbreaking gender and sexuality clinic that was destroyed by the Nazis.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:To Combat Climate Change, Researchers Want to Pull Carbon Dioxide From the Ocean and Turn It Into Rock (Smithsonian Mag) Market for carbon emissions (Wojtek Kopczuk, Twitter)'Miraculous' mosquito hack cuts dengue by 77% (BBC)Mosquitoes armed with virus-fighting bacteria sharply curb dengue infections, hospitalizations (Science Mag)The Forgotten History of the World’s First Trans Clinic (Scientific American)Transgender Warriors by Leslie Feinberg Christopher and His Kind by Christopher IsherwoodThe First Man-Made Man by Pagan KennedyTransgender History by Susan StrykerA member of the SA throws confiscated books into the bonfire during the public burning of "un-German" books on the Opernplatz in Berlin. (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)Watch Andrew Garfield in trailer for Lin-Manuel Miranda's tick, tick, BOOM! (A/V Club) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why some people don’t have a mind’s eye and others can visualize things in incredible detail. Watermelons on Mars and human-animal hybrid babies born across the world––neither of those are true, but if you read two of the biggest newspapers in the US, you might have been led to believe they are. And El Salvador has become the first country to officially recognize bitcoin as currency.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:Can't See Pictures in Your Mind? You're Not Alone. (NY Times)Are you a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in this apple visualization exercise? (Twitter)Ball on a Table - Visualization Experiment (r/Aphantasia)We Don't All Have a "Mind's Eye" | Aphantasia (SciShow Psych, YouTube)New York Times Publishes Then Deletes Article Claiming Watermelons Were Found on Mars (Futurism)Netflix's Sweet Tooth Advertorial in USA Today Was Beyond Irresponsible (Gizmodo) El Salvador becomes first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender after passing law (CNBC)El Salvador Becomes First Country to Recognize Bitcoin as Currency (Gizmodo)El Salvador 'Legal Tender' Move Unlikely to Change US Tax on Bitcoin: Former IRS Counsel (Decrypt)The 'ring of fire' solar eclipse of 2021 will look like the 'Death Star' in front of the sun, astronomer says (Space) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New ocean just dropped. And a new dinosaur species. Big release day. All about the fifth ocean and one of the newest, largest dinosaurs. Plus, what a new cereal says about current marketing trends, the state of cereal as a whole, fan-franchise relationships, and the contemporary fusion of ancient folklore.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:There's a new ocean now—can you name all 5? (National Geographic)New Dinosaur Species Is Australia’s Largest, Researchers Say (NY Times)Introducing Australotitan: Australia's largest dinosaur yet spanned the length of 2 buses (The Conversation)Scientists say new dinosaur species is largest found in Australia (BBC)Cereal: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Web Exclusive) (Last Week Tonight, YouTube)John Oliver Accepts Cheerios Counter-Challenge – But With a Sick Twist (The Wrap)Ghostbusters Afterlife Cereal Messed Up Bad (Gizmodo)Loki Charms cereal: Marvel gets marshmallowy ahead of Disney Plus premiere (CNET)Of Norse Loki and the Celtic Lugh | Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids (Druidry.Org)Norse Loki = Celtic Lugh? (Fortress of Lugh, YouTube)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

SpaceX just delivered a bunch of tardigrades and baby squids to the International Space Station. New research finding pupil size is an indicator of intelligence. And why it seems like vaccine lotteries are actually working.Sponsor:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:Why NASA Is Blasting Water Bears And Bobtail Squid Into Space (NPR)NASA Squid In SpaceX Mission To International Space Station (Jalopnik)SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Mission to Space Station (NASA) NASA’s Juno probe will get close to Jupiter’s moon Ganymede on Monday (The Verge)Pupil Size Is a Marker of Intelligence (Scientific American)FDA approves first drug to slow decline of Alzheimer’s disease (Washington Post)Wait, Vaccine Lotteries Actually Work? (Wired)A 6-Year-Old Requested A Birthday Cake Showing The Beheading Of Anne Boleyn And That’s Exactly What She Got (Buzzfeed News)Girl, 3, requests morbid 'Lion King' scene on birthday cake so she can have it all to herself (NBC News)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

COVID-19 precautions largely prevented outbreaks of the flu this past winter, and they also may have caused two types of flu viruses to go extinct. Spinking of extinction, sharks apparently lost 90% of their population 19 million years ago and never fully recovered. And what day-to-day life is like for the first team to arrive at the Tokyo Olympic campus.Links:Flu virus became less diverse, simplifying task of making flu shots (STAT News)[January] Flu Cases Dramatically Low So Far This Season (Johns Hopkins Medicine)2 types of flu viruses may have gone extinct (LiveScience)Certain Strains Of Flu May Have Gone Extinct Because Of Pandemic Safety Measures (NPR)Mystery event caused shark populations to crash 19 million years ago (National Geographic)The world saw a shark-pocalypse 19 million years ago, and we don’t know why (Ars Technica)90% of Sharks Were Mysteriously Wiped Out and Never Recovered, Scientists Find (Vice)Australian Team Arrives at a Constricted Tokyo Olympics (NY Times)Why 'Cursed' Olympics in Tokyo Are Pressing Ahead Amid Covid (NY Times)Elon Musk Files Trademark Paperwork for Tesla Restaurant Concept (Bloomberg)What dishes could Elon Musk's upcoming Tesla drive-in serve us? (A/V Club) Apple WWDC 2021: iOS 15, new MacBook Pros, and what else to expect (The Verge)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if your pick-up truck could power your whole neighborhood? That’s the potential people are imagining with the new Ford F-150 Lightning. The science behind why unique people are more attractive. And updates from the annual State of NASA address, including the latest planet they’ll be returning to. Links:Can Millions of New Ford F-150 Trucks Become a Clean-Energy Storage Grid? (Curbed)2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Revealed! The Electric Pickup Has a Shockingly Low Price, Mega Specs (Motortrend)As electric vehicles take off, we'll need to recycle their batteries (National Geographic)Why 'quirky' people are attractive (BBC)State of NASA tweets (NASA, Twitter)NASA will send two missions to Venus for the first time in over 30 years (The Verge)NASA Picks Twin Missions To Visit Venus, Earth's 'Evil Twin'? (NPR)New NASA Missions Will Study Venus, a World Overlooked for Decades (NY Times)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Steinbeck’s secret unpublished werewolf novel that his estate doesn’t want you to read. Lithuania built a portal to Poland and more may soon follow. And set your alarms for the “ring of fire” solar eclipse next week.Links:Yes, Steinbeck Wrote a Werewolf Novel. Don’t Expect to Read It. (NY Times)John Steinbeck’s estate urged to let the world read his shunned werewolf novel (The Guardian)John Steinbeck's Lost Werewolf Novel Is HBO Max Gold (Jezebel) Beast of Eden tweet (Erik M. Gregersen, Twitter)Opinion | John Steinbeck’s editor removes all the werewolves from his work (Washington Post)Vilnius, Lithuania built a ‘portal’ to another city to help keep people connected (The Verge)How to watch next week's rare "ring of fire" solar eclipse (CBS News)2021's first solar eclipse will show off a 'ring of fire' in the sky (CNET)'Ring of fire' solar eclipse on June 10 'Ring of fire' solar eclipse on June 10 (EarthSky)Annular Solar Eclipse of 2021 Jun 10 (NASA)Seth Rogen's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle reboot has a release date (A/V Club)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Five hundred years later the Medicis continue to ruin Michelangelo’s artworks, but fortunately some bacteria are on the scene to restore his works to their former glory. The new naming scheme for COVID-19 variants. And the story of Allandale, Texas––once the only village in the entire world to be fully air conditioned. Links:Send in the Bugs. The Michelangelos Need Cleaning. (NY Times)Bacteria get a fresh gig as art restorers in Italy (The Verge)Is it all Greek to you? Coronavirus variants get new names (Reuters)How to use the air conditioning without ruining the environment (Quartz)Living in an Air Conditioned Village (Austin Public Library) The Air Conditioned Village (Amusing Planet) The air conditioning trap: how cold air is heating the world (The Guardian)It's high time we electrocute some hot dogs and see what happens (The Takeout)Will It Waffle? (Jackson Bird, YouTube)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seven counties in the US state of Oregon have now voted to leave their state behind and merge with neighboring Idaho. Could this actually work? A new English dictionary of Ancient Greek fully and explicitly makes up for the modesty of its previous Victorian translators. And the best way to cook a hot dog.Links:Oregon's Rural Counties Search for Representation With Idaho (Business Insider)Don Kahle: Greater Idaho: thinking it through Don Kahle (The Register-Guard) Their Own Private Idaho: Five Oregon Counties Back a Plan to Secede (NY Times)Oregone? 7 Oregon Counties Vote To Back Seceding, So Citizens Can Vote GOP In Idaho (NPR)English dictionary of ancient Greek ‘spares no blushes’ with fresh look at crudity (The Guardian)New Ancient Greek Dictionary Includes Words for S---, F---, C---------- (Jezebel)The Absolute Best Way to Cook a Hot Dog, According to So Many Tests (Food52)Pints With A View: London Eye Is Launching A Pub In A Pod (The Handbook)Cicada Plushie (Tyler Thrasher, DFTBA) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Potentially good news for longterm COVID-19 immunity. Pizza farms, not just a figment of my imagination, apparently they’re a real and wonderful thing. And the story of a naked mole rat named Joe who just won’t die, and what he could mean for human longevity.Links:Immunity to the Coronavirus May Persist for Years, Scientists Find (NY Times)Vaccinated COVID-19 survivors may be immune for life, according to new research (Mic)Pizza farm (Wikipedia)Pizza-shaped farm draws tourists with organic slice (USA Today)The Pizza Farm (via Web Archive)'Pizza farm' also a place to learn about organic methods (The State Journal-Register)Where to Eat Pizza on a Farm in Minnesota and Wisconsin (Eater)Where the Produce Includes Pepperoni: The Pizza Farm (NY Times)The Long, Strange Life of the World’s Oldest Naked Mole Rat (Wired)"Our definition of 'summer' will change" (Alissa Walker, Twitter)L.A. County Fair is moving from scorching September to cooler May (LA Times)Exclusive: Phil and Lil's mom Betty will be gay in new Rugrats series (A/V Club)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. B was the most well-known nationwide vaccine finder in the US. But did anyone actually end up getting their vaccine through the service? Plus, the artist raising awareness about the gender gap on the moon, Disneyland’s $100 sandwich and the newest Willy Wonka on the block.Links:Vaccine waitlist Dr. B collected data from millions. But how many did it help? (MIT Technology Review)We Know What You Did During Lockdown video (Kottke, Financial Times)An Artist Sketches the Giant Gender Gap on the Moon (NY Times)$100 Ant-Man-inspired sandwich coming to Disneyland (A/V Club)Disneyland Adds Family-Sized $100 Sandwich to Marvel-Themed Menu (Food & Wine)Timothée Chalamet is your new Willy Wonka (A/V Club)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The flavorful history of frozen pizza. We check in on how the pandemic continues to affect our dreams. And meet the dude actually taking advantage of Krispy Kreme’s free donut a day offer for vaccinated people.Links:Frozen Pizza History: Ready To Heat, Nearly Ready To Eat (Tedium)Pizza Was the Restaurant Hero of 2020 (NY Times)Frozen pizza sales are red hot and expected to outlast the pandemic (CBC)How Frozen Pizza Got Hot (Published 2004) (NY Times)Covid: How the pandemic is affecting your dreams (BBC)Krispy Kreme free doughnut: A man who is trading his vaccine for one doughnut every day explains himself. (Slate) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The latest floating wind farm technology and the part of the US that could make the biggest difference when it comes to offshore wind energy. What we can learn from the Amish about how we use technology. Links:Why the Northeast Could Be America's New Energy Capital Wind farms rivaling the output of coal (NY Mag)GE's designs controls for offshore wind turbines to ride the waves (The Verge)To be more tech-savvy, borrow these strategies from the Amish (Psyche) Biden admin wants to bring sexy back with dating app vaccination statuses (Ars Technica)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Brood X cicadas have reemerged and are losing their butts due to a zombie-inducing fungus. Bald eagles are reemerging from the brink of extinction, causing a new trend in puppy fashion: incredibly punk spiky vests. And one of the best fictional bands, Mouse Rat, has reemerged from the Pit to produce an actual real album coming later this summer.Sponsors:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:A Fungus Is Pushing Cicada Sex Into Hyperdrive And Leaving Them Dismembered (NPR)Cicadas tripping thread (Tara Golshan, Twitter) A fungus could turn some cicadas into sex-crazed ‘salt shakers of death’ (Washington Post)Brood X Cicadas Are Here! We Got Up Close So You Don't Have To (Wired) What Are Cicadas, and Why Are They So Strange? | Science (Smithsonian Magazine) Brood X Cicadas Have an Existential Problem (The Atlantic)Brood X Bird Feast ProtocolCicada Safari  Bald Eagles Are Back. And They Want to Eat Your Pets. (Wall Street Journal)Parks And Recreation Band Mouse Rat Announce Debut Album (Stereogum)Chris Pratt's 'Parks and Recreation' band Mouse Rat are releasing a real album (Entertainment Weekly)Cool teen to have her cool Hannibal fan art displayed in U.S. Capitol building (A/V Club)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why the sun is about to get quite temperamental and how that could spell danger for NASA’s upcoming lunar mission. In other sun news, the case for turning airports into giant solar farms. And a website that will help make your Twitter timeline a bit more pleasant––if you’re okay with taking a rather extreme route.Sponsor:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Links:How space weather could wreck NASA’s return to the moon (MIT Technology Review)The sun is getting stormier, and it'll peak just in time for a total solar eclipse (National Geographic)Why Not Turn Airports Into Giant Solar Farms? (Wired)MegaBlock | Nuke tweets in one clickUFO answers coming soon? US government to report on mysterious sightings (Space.com)Obama on UFO videos: 'We don't know exactly what they are' (NBC News)Someone Took A Closer Look At The Pyramid-Shaped UFO Video That Was Confirmed By The Pentagon And Explained Why It's Just An Optical Effect (Digg)  Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A promising method for producing carbon-neutral gasoline from, basically, thin air. The strange story of the very first ransomware attack. And the surprisingly long history of bizarre ice cream flavors.Sponsor:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:How to Make Carbon-Neutral Gasoline Out of Thin Air (NY Magazine)The bizarre story of the inventor of ransomware (CNN)Ransomware attacks can take down pipelines but you could be at risk too (CNN)Who Invented Weird Hipster Ice Cream Flavors? (JSTOR Daily)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What’s next now that China has officially landed their first rover on Mars? How come us mammals don’t have bright, fluorescent plumage like birds or cool neon stripes like bugs? A panel of scientists weighs in. And the little-known detail that makes the real-life story of the Brontë sisters even more goth and tragic than it already was.Sponsor:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Links:China has landed a rover on Mars for the first time—here’s what happens next (MIT Technology Review)China lands its Zhurong rover on Mars (BBC)Why Aren't There Mammals in Super Vivid Colors Like There Are Birds and Bugs? (Gizmodo)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)Legends of the Hidden Temple Reboot Moves From Quibi to CW (IGN)Now Casting: ADULT TEAMS FOR LEGENDS OF THE HIDDEN TEMPLE Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The microscopic error with major implications that seems to have delayed public health officials in acknowledging the aerosol transmission of COVID-19. Why Shrek continues to endure as a touchstone of internet culture and how it changed the game for animated films. And a quick look at two new video games doing some good in the world.Sponsor:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:The 60-Year-Old Scientific Screwup That Helped Covid Kill (Wired)How “Shrek” Changed Animated Movies Forever (BuzzFeed News)The Internet's Shrek Obsession, Explained (Kotaku)How Shrekfest keeps the 20-year legacy of 'Shrek' alive (Mashable)Final Fantasy director’s Paralympics RPG is launching next month (The Verge)Oregon Trail Gets A Makeover With More Accurate Native American Representation (NPR)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What a new lawsuit against TikTok says about the rights of actors who lend their likeness to AI and similar projects. How nostalgia could help you make connections when you return to the office. And what is even the point of wasps?Sponsors:America Dissected, americadissected.comIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:Actor says TikTok used her voice without permission for viral text-to-speech feature (The Verge)Actor sues TikTok for using her voice in viral tool (BBC)Voice Actor Sues TikTok, Saying They Took Voice for Text-To-Speech (Insider) Tue. 05/11 - The Real Voice Behind Alexa | Kottke Ride Home (Kottke Ride Home)How nostalgia makes you work better (BBC)Nervous about going back into the office? Here's how to break the ice (CNN)Stinging wasps are precious, not pointless, say scientists (The Guardian)Space race 2: Russian actor bound for ISS in same month as Tom Cruise (The Guardian) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How Netflix’s new top ten lists actually work, some other features they’re testing out, and what their findings mean for the future of algorithmic recommendations. Plus, how drones are helping change what we thought we knew about great white sharks––in both good ways and bad.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsAmerica Dissected, americadissected.comLinks:The Real Story Behind Netflix's 'Top Ten' Most Popular Lists (Vulture)Spying on California's great white sharks with drones (LA Times)Enola Holmes is getting a sequel on Netflix (The Verge) Wed. 08/26 - Netflix's Enola Holmes Hit With Lawsuit From Doyle Estate (Kottke Ride Home)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A look at how epidemiologists are approaching their personal returns to everyday life. How Denmark has quadrupled their cardiac arrest survival rate and whether the same system could be adopted in other nations. And a program that will make your website inaccessible to visitors every night, all in the name of improving health and wellbeing.Sponsors:America Dissected, americadissected.comIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:How US Epidemiologists Are Returning (Carefully!) to Everyday Life (NY Times)An app that swiftly sends CPR volunteers to heart attack sufferers has made a big difference in Denmark. Could this be copied in the U.S.? (Washington Post)How an App Can Save You From a Heart Attack (Gizmodo)You're more likely to survive cardiac arrest in Denmark thanks to an app (Input Mag)A website that shuts down for the night (Boing Boing)nightnight.みんな  Ford Patents Terrible Billboard Scanning Tech, Shows In-Car Ads (Motor1) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new book digs into the origins of Amazon’s Alexa and allegedly reveals the woman who provided the voice for their original virtual assistant. A teenage wannabe influencer from France is set to be Italy’s next queen. Didn’t think Italy had royal leaders anymore? You’re right. And someone should tell this noble family that. And, screw the free donuts and half-hearted store coupons we have as incentives in America, Romania is offering vaccinations inside Dracula’s castle!Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsAmerica Dissected, americadissected.comLinks:Meet the real Alexa: voice actor reportedly responsible for Amazon’s AI assistant revealed (The Verge)The Secret Origins of Amazon's Alexa (Wired)'I'm the original voice of Siri' (CNN)Paris Teenager’s New Gig: Would-Be Queen of Italy. A Nation Shrugs. (NY Times)Romania would like you to get vaccinated at Dracula's castle (A/V Club)Covid: Dracula's castle in Romania offers tourists vaccine (BBC)COVID-19 Vaccination Site at the Museum (American Museum of Natural History)A woman gave birth prematurely on a flight to Hawaii. Luckily, 3 NICU nurses and a doctor were on board to help (CNN)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

America is off candy. All we want is chicken wings and lumber. At least according to the market. A productivity hack that lets you celebrate your accomplishments instead of wallowing in frustration about your unfinished tasks. And space coins. I somehow have multiple stories about space coins for you today.Sponsors:America Dissected, americadissected.comIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:Why is there chicken wing shortage? How Covid-19 spurred a rise in chicken wing prices, explained. (Vox)Gummy Bears and Candy Bars Are Casualties of the Pandemic (Wired)Wood prices are out of control. I went to a sawmill that explains why. (Slate)Why are lumber prices skyrocketing? The lumber shortage and housing boom, explained. (Vox)Fri. 12/18 - The Business of X-Mas Trees & How COVID Changed Science (Kottke Ride Home)Forget To-Do Lists. You Really Need a 'Got Done' List (Wired)SpaceX is literally sending DOGE to the moon. Here's what that actually means. (Mashable)SpaceX to Launch DOGE-1 to the Moon! (PR News Wire)US Quarters to Honor Maya Angelou and Sally Ride (Kottke)Call for Recommendations: Prominent American Women and the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

No, there is not evidence of mushrooms on Mars, and the story of how that misinformation spread yesterday goes even deeper than you may think. Part of the rocket China launched at the end of last month is hurtling uncontrollably back to Earth and no one exactly knows where it will land. And LEGO dropped an ASMR mixtape.Sponsors:Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeOur Opinions Are Correct, Subscribe on Apple Podcasts ouropinionsarecorrect.comLinks:No, NASA photos are not evidence of fungus growing on Mars, sorry (CNET)Experts Shred Paper Claiming to Identify Mushrooms on Mars (Futurism)Scientists Claim to Spot Fungus Growing on Mars in NASA Rover Photos (Futurism)Fungi on Mars? Researchers claim signs of life on red planet (South China Morning Post)No one is sure where this hunk of Chinese rocket is gonna land (A/V Club) Huge rocket looks set for uncontrolled reentry following Chinese space station launch (Space News)Pentagon Not Planning To Shoot Down Chinese Rocket As It Hurtles Uncontrollably Toward Earth (Forbes) Lego share soothing new 'White Noise' playlist of the sound of Lego bricks (NME)A New Mindful Mix: the LEGO Group releases a soothing soundscape created with thousands of LEGO® bricks (LEGO)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are you cheugy? Am I cheugy? What the heck is cheugy? The more we post photos of ourselves online, the easier it is for AIs to recognize us. But what if there were a way for them to forget our faces? And a useful site that will tell you exactly how long you need to watch any TV show you want. Sponsors:Our Opinions Are Correct, Subscribe on Apple Podcasts ouropinionsarecorrect.comMint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeLinks:Cheugy: Is New TikTok Slang Aimed at Millennials? (Rolling Stone)'Cheugy' Is Hard to Define But Easy to Identify (The Cut)What Is ‘Cheugy’? You Know It When You See It. (NY Times)Thu. 08/27 - Why Pumpkin Spice Will Never Die (Kottke Ride Home)How to stop AI from recognizing your face in selfies (MIT Technology Review)"Can I Binge?" is an excellent single-serving site for managing your TV time (Boing Boing)Can I Binge?Surprise COVID trend: Doomscrolling moved to desktop (Axios)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Company tries running Facebook ads that transparently point out how Facebook ads work. Facebook blocks the ads. Shocking! Mermaid diving––like free diving but while wearing a mermaid tail––is quickly becoming a real sport. Dunbar’s number says human brains can’t keep up with more than 150 casual friendships, but new research disagrees. And it’s time to vote on a name for the newest baby raven at the Tower of London.Sponsors:Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeOur Opinions Are Correct, Subscribe on Apple Podcasts ouropinionsarecorrect.comLinks:Facebook Bans Honest Signal Ads on Instagram (Gizmodo)The Instagram ads Facebook won't show you (Signal)  Why so many people in China are becoming mermaids (CNN)Study Debunks Dunbar's Number: You Can Have More Than 150 Friends (Gizmodo)Human Brain Limit of '150 Friends' Doesn't Check Out, New Study Claims (Science Alert)Tower of London: Public to vote on baby raven's name (BBC) Vote on the baby raven's name (Historic Royal Palaces) Early Manned Spaceflight, First Spaceflight Information, Facts, News, Photos (National Geographic)Blue Origin targeting July for first crewed flight, opens auction for a seat (The Verge) SpaceX's next flight for Crew Dragon Resilience is a private launch of 4 civilians (Space.com)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The physics of jumping to hyperspace, Disney teases their retractable lightsaber, and more Star Wars Day updates. Plus, in real space news: China launched the first module of the Chinese Space Station into orbit last week.Sponsors:Our Opinions Are Correct, Subscribe on Apple Podcasts ouropinionsarecorrect.comMint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeLinks:When You Jump to Hyperspace, Make Sure You Wear a Seatbelt (Wired)China Launches First Module of New Space Station Into Orbit (Smithsonian Magazine)China launches core module of new space station to orbit (Space.com)China Is Set to Launch First Module of Massive Space Station (Scientific American)Disney reveals its ‘real’ lightsaber, and it looks extremely cool (The Verge)Star Wars Hotel: It's Not a Hotel At All, It's a 2 Day Cruise (io9)How Disney’s ‘real’ lightsaber patent actually works (The Verge)"Ben" (Blue Milk Run, Bandcamp)Baby Yoda Day in the Life (Preeti Chhibber, Twitter) ‘I’m bursting with fiction’: Alan Moore announces five-volume fantasy epic (The Guardian)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Average human life expectancy doubled in the last century. Has it reached its cap or can we double it again? Some considerations. And NASA conducted a tabletop simulation of an asteroid impact last week, with… less than ideal results. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with tips on how to survive a killer asteroid.Sponsors:Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeOur Opinions Are Correct, Subscribe on Apple Podcasts ouropinionsarecorrect.comLinks:How the Human Life Span Doubled in 100 Years (NY Times)How Long Can We Live? (NY Times)Can We Live to 200? Here's a Roadmap (NY Times)An Asteroid Impact Simulation Is Currently Underway—and It's Absolutely Terrifying (Gizmodo)NASA Simulated an Asteroid Impact, Couldn't Avoid a Crash in Europe (Science Alert)How to Survive a Killer Asteroid (Wired)How to Stop Time by Matt Haig Co-founder of brain implant startup Neuralink leaves the company (Engadget)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

People who accidentally became memes are using NFTs to regain a sense of ownership over their likenesses––and make some pretty nice chunks of change. Scotland could become the first “rewilding nation.” And another shortage report. This time: computer chips.Links:The World Knows Her as 'Disaster Girl.' She Just Made $500,000 Off the Meme. (NY Times)They were ancient internet memes. Now NFTs are making them rich (Wired) NFTs Are Hot. So Is Their Effect on the Earth’s Climate (Wired)NFTs, explained: what they are, and why they're suddenly worth millions (The Verge)The climate controversy swirling around NFTs (The Verge)I Accidentally Became A Meme (BuzzFeed Video, YouTube)Scotland could become the world’s first ‘rewilding nation’(Euronews)Get Ready For A Shortage Of iPads And MacBooks (NPR)Global Chip Shortage Set to Worsen for Car Makers (Wall Street Journal)Office: How "Kevin's famous chili" was made (A/V Club)Brian Baumgartner’s Best Chili Pot…EVER (BUSH’s Beans, YouTube)The Office Deep Dive with Brian Baumgartner (Spotify)Office Ladies (Spotify)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How an AI, after failing for a decade, finally won the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. The Olympics are going virtual, but not how you’re probably thinking. And remembering Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins.Links:Dr. Fill, an AI, won the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Here's how. (Slate)Win a gold medal from your front room? IOC launches Olympic Virtual Series (The Guardian)Olympic Virtual Series gaming event launched by IOC (NBC Sports) Photos: Apollo 11: As They Shot It (NY Times)For Apollo 11 He Wasn’t on the Moon. But His Coffee Was Warm. (NY Times)Michael Collins, ‘Third Man’ of the Moon Landing, Dies at 90 (NY Times) Space community mourns the death of Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins (The Verge)What going to the moon taught Michael Collins about Earth (PBS)‘It’s time’: Blue Origin teases ticket sales for its New Shepard rocket (The Verge) Jeff Goldblum Jones Dungeons & Dragons Podcast Dark Dice (iO9)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s time for a toilet revolution. No, I’m not just talking about bidets. Our wastewater systems are dangerously out of date, but sustainable innovations could be just around the u-bend. Plus, the future of contact lenses is bright––or not, if you’d prefer they block the sun. And Apple dropped a very pandemic-themed update to their emojis.Links:The Pandemic Proved That Our Toilets Are Crap (Wired)High-tech contact lenses are straight out of science fiction — and may replace smart phones (The Conversation)The new syringe emoji is a better fit for the age of COVID-19 vaccines (CNET)The 'Vaccine' Emoji Gets a New Look This Week (Wired)💉 Syringe Emoji (Emojipedia) ‎Kottke Ride Home: Thu. 1/14 - How We Narrowly Avoided an Emoji Shortage on Apple Podcasts (Kottke Ride Home)'Great Gatsby' Musical to Be Written by Florence Welch (Variety) Citizen Kane lost its perfect Rotten Tomatoes score (A/V Club)Citizen Kane loses 100% "Fresh" rating after 80-year-old negative review added to Rotten Tomatoes (Boing Boing)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why the story of aerospace engineer Judith Love Cohen, who helped rescue the Apollo 13 astronauts, is making the rounds again and why we should remember her name. A new ice cube tray-shaped retinal patch that could help restore vision. And the rattlesnake-like jumping worms invading the American midwest. Links:Meet Aerospace Engineer Judith Love Cohen (Kottke.Org)In Memory of Judith Love Cohen: Mother, Wife, Friend, Author, Engineer (USC Viterbi)Women in the Workplace / Judith Love Cohen : Engineering a Change (LA Times)Highly Invasive Jumping Worms Have Spread to 15 States (Smithsonian Magazine)Invasive Jumping Worms That Violently Thrash If Handled Now in at Least 15 US States (Newsweek)Fear is the mind killer (Molly Lambert, Twitter)"Ice cube tray" retinal patch is loaded with cells to restore vision (New Atlas)TX population increase (Texas Tribune, Twitter)Census Bureau announces 331 million people in US, Texas will add two congressional seats (CNN)Fewest seats shifted since 1940 (Phil Jankowski, Twitter)Narrowest margin to decide seat in Congress (David H. Montgomery, Twitter)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dozens of people named Josh gathered in Nebraska over the weekend for a battle to crown the ultimate Josh. Who won and why the heck did this happen? I’ve got the details. The precursor to laugh tracks: professional applauders in 19th century France. And the Oscars saw many firsts last night, including one long overdue first for the award ceremony’s set. Links:Josh Swain Tells All About Viral 'Josh Fight' And How He Turned A Meme Into A Charity Event (Know Your Meme)Josh Fight won by very small Josh (A/V Club)Joshes Battle for Josh Supremacy in Nebraska (NY Times)Inaugural #Josh Fight is over and 'Little Josh' is crowned the best Josh (ESPN)Josh Battle Take Over Lincoln, Nebraska, Park (Buzzfeed News)When Paid Applauders Ruled the Paris Opera House (JSTOR Daily)This Oscar nominee plans to shatter the film world's crippling ableism (MSNBC) CRIP CAMP: A DISABILITY REVOLUTION | Official Trailer (Netflix, YouTube)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do you call a collection of black holes? That’s not the tee-up for a punchline. Scientists are legitimately trying to decide what word to use. Plus, how Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was based on Blackfoot principles that he got wrong. And how the problem of McDonald’s perpetually broken ice cream machines is even more super-sized than you might think.Sponsor:StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottkeLinks:What Do You Call a Bunch of Black Holes: A Crush? A Scream? (NY Times)Maslow Got It Wrong. (GatherFor)Maslow's hierarchy connected to Blackfoot beliefs (A Digital Native American) They Hacked McDonald's Ice Cream Machines—and Started a Cold War (Wired)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NASA has generated oxygen on Mars. The story of the women retirees who hacked the stock market decades before GameStop and Wall Street Bets. And on the eve of his 404th death day, a look at what Shakespeare can teach us about living through pandemics.Sponsor:StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottkeLinks:NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover Extracts First Oxygen from Red Planet (NASA)NASA's Perseverance rover makes oxygen on Mars for 1st time (Space)The Midwestern grandmas who became stock market celebrities (The Hustle)What Shakespeare Teaches Us About Living With Pandemics (NY Times)Earth's Mightiest Heroes Meets Shakespeare Later This Summer with 'William Shakespeare’s Avengers: The Complete Works' (Marvel)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A few newly-announced NASA funded projects, including one to build a radio telescope in a crater on the moon. A Welsh farmer shares his secrets to ultimate contentment. And can machine learning help us understand what whales are saying to one another? Sponsor:StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottkeLinks:Groundbreaking effort launched to decode whale language (National Geographic)NASA Selects Innovative, Early-Stage Tech Concepts for Continued Study (NASA JPL)Experience: I’ve had the same supper for 10 years (The Guardian)Russia mulls withdrawing from the International Space Station after 2024 (Science Mag) NASA Updates Launch Date, TV Coverage for Crew-2 Mission (NASA) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Will this decade be another “Roaring 20s?” A social epidemiologist and a Nobel Prize-winning economist weigh in. How many T-Rexes roamed the land throughout their time on Earth? A team of paleontologists did the math. And scientists have created the whitest paint ever, which could make a sizable difference in the climate crisis.Sponsor:StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottkeLinks:Looking Back at the First Roaring Twenties (NY Times)Epidemiologist looks to the past to predict second post-pandemic 'roaring 20s' (The Guardian)How many T. rex ever existed? Calculation of dinosaur's abundance offers an answer (Nature)Enough T-Rexes to eat us all (Christopher Mims, Twitter) 'Whitest ever' paint reflects 98% of sunlight (BBC)Researchers Created the Whitest White Paint Ever (Earther) Ted Lasso season two trailer (AppleTV, Twitter)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You may have heard about a bit of a shake-up in the world of soccer today with a dozen of the world’s biggest teams forming what they’re calling the Super League. To help explain what the heck is going on, we’re joined today by Tech Meme Ride Home host Brian McCullough who shares the context, the consequences, and how this affects way more than just the world of soccer, or even sports. That is in the second half of today’s extra long show, but first: NASA has officially flown a helicopter on Mars. Why is it such a big deal? And pizzly bears. Grizzly and polar bear hybrids that are apparently growing in number due to the climate crisis.Sponsor:StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottkeLinks:NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Succeeds in Historic First Flight – NASA's Mars Exploration Program (NASA) How NASA Flew a Helicopter Flight on Mars (Intelligencer)NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter achieves historic powered flight on Mars (The Verge)NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Titan Will Look for Origins, Signs of Life (NASA)Are 'Pizzly Bears,' a Polar-Grizzly Mix, Real? (Snopes)The European Super League Explained (NY Times)Tech Meme Ride HomeKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scientists have created human-monkey hybrid embryos––yes, you heard that right. Archaeologists have found an entire lost city in Egypt. We have even more pterosaur news this week! And a very delicious false alarm in Krakow.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsSkillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:Scientists Created the First Embryo With Human and Non-Human Primate Cells (TIME)Embryos That Are Part Monkey, Part Human Raise Ethical Concerns (NPR)Controversial 'Chimera' Embryos Made by Scientists Are Part Human, Part Monkey (Science Alert)First monkey–human embryos reignite debate over hybrid animals (Nature)Archaeologists discover 3,000 year-old 'lost' city in Egypt (CNN)'Lost golden city of Luxor' discovered by archaeologists in Egypt (National Geographic) Archaeologists find “lost golden city” buried under sand for 3,400 years (Wired)Adorable 'Porg' Pterosaur Flapped Above Jurassic China (Gizmodo)Mystery tree beast turns out to be croissant (BBC)Krakow's very own lizard cryptid turns out to be a croissant (A/V Club)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The CDC says we should wait two weeks after our final COVID-19 vaccination to be considered fully vaccinated, but why? What do spiderwebs sound like? These scientists turned them into music. Google Earth’s latest feature shows us how destructive we’ve been to the planet. And the new YouTube channel I can’t get enough of featuring Hot Wheels on a treadmill.Sponsors:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:Covid vaccine: Why it's wise to wait two weeks after your shot (Mashable)Antibody persistence graph (Ian Haydon, Twitter)Scientists Turned Spiderwebs Into Music, And It's Hauntingly Beautiful (Vice)Spider songs (Markus J. Buehler, YouTube)Google Earth Now Shows You Our Planet’s Slow Deterioration (Wired)Google Earth’s historical 3D time lapses show the ravages of climate change (The Verge)Die-Cast Treadmill Series (Steve Wilkins, YouTube) 5/18 episode with Marble Racing segment (Kottke Ride Home)Kominers’s Conundrums: Can You Escape This Column? (Bloomberg)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’ve all been talking about Zoom Fatigue for the past year, but a new study has the facts on the phenomenon. Have you tried booking a rental car and noticed they’re all sold out or only going for exorbitant prices? Here’s why. And, a double dose of pterosaur news today! A look at the unique structure of their vertebrae that enabled the giant creatures to take flight and new evidence that one species of pterosaur may have been the oldest animal yet discovered with an opposable thumb.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsSkillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:'Zoom fatigue' may be with us for years. Here's how we'll cope. (National Geographic)Wait, Where Did All the Rental Cars Go? (Wall Street Journal)Paleontologists Describe 'Monkeydactyl,' Pterosaur With Opposable Thumb (Gizmodo)How the Largest Pterosaurs Supported Giraffe-Like Necks (NY Times)How to shut down Spot the robot 'dog,' should you ever need to (Mashable) Boston Dynamics' Spot is now a beer-peeing robot (Mashable)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Researchers have found a methane-eating bacteria living in a common species of Australian tree. The UK is considering a legal “right to disconnect” for remote workers. Archaeologists in Saudi Arabia have uncovered evidence of the oldest domesticated dog in that region in what could be the beginning of huge insights about the development of human society across the Middle East. Uber just had their biggest month ever in a sign that certain businesses might not have much trouble bouncing back from last year’s losses. And what happens if a shark bites your arm off after you get your COVID vaccine? Do you have to get another dose? Dr. Akiko Iwasaki has the answer.Sponsors:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsLinks:We found methane-eating bacteria living in a common Australian tree. It could be a game changer for curbing greenhouse gases (The Conversation)Ministers urged to give UK home-workers a ‘right to disconnect’ (The Guardian)Google is accelerating partial reopening of offices and putting limits on future of remote work  (CNBC)Archaeologists uncover earliest evidence of domesticated dogs in Arabian Peninsula (EurekAlert)285: A Pill Meant for Horses (Dear Hank and John, Spotify)Antibody response after removal of muscle (Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, Twitter) Differential dependence on target site tissue for gene gun and intramuscular DNA immunizations (National Library of Medicine)Uber Posts Record Demand for March (Wall Street Journal)Airbnb/Vrbo inventory sold out (Rafat Ali, Twitter)AirDNA Market Review | US March 2021 (AirDNA)Airbnb is trying to preemptively cancel post-pandemic bacchanals  (The Verge)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Genetically-modified mosquitoes are set to be released in Florida, but will locals thwart the project? A new technology that can 3D print bones directly inside of patients’ bodies. Is TikTok our latest great art movement? No really, stay with me on this one.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnewsSkillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:First GMO Mosquitoes to Be Released In the Florida Keys (Undark)This ceramic ink can 3D-print bones directly into a patient’s body. Here’s how (World Economic Forum)Scientists use novel ink to 3D-print ‘bone’ with living cells (UNSW Newsroom)TikTok Duets Are Reviving the Exquisite Corpse (Wired)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The story of the woman whose decades of research helped make the mRNA COVID vaccines possible. Plus, electric cars don’t make much noise, which means we have the opportunity now to design what the future will sound like. And the co-founder of Elon Musk’s Neuralink casually mused over the weekend that they could technically build Jurassic Park if they wanted to.Sponsors:Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeLinks:Kati Kariko Helped Shield the World From the Coronavirus (NY Times)The story of mRNA: From a loose idea to a tool that may help curb Covid (STAT News)How Electric Cars Could Craft the Soundscape of the Future (TIME)Fri. 08/07 - Netflix's Rejected Goat Sound Logo & the Vege… (Kottke Ride Home)Elon Musk's Neuralink Co-Founder Says They Could Build Jurassic Park… if They Wanted To (IGN)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Where did the high five come from? Who came up with it? And why has it persisted for so long? Plus, what if we could turn the entire Earth into a telescope? One astronomer has drawn up the plans. And, how bad is blue light for you, really?Sponsor:Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeLinks:From the archives: The wild, mysterious history of sports' most enduring gesture -- the high five (ESPN)The Gay History of the High Five (The Advocate)Who invented the high five? (Getting Better, Together)An astronomer has come up with a way to use the entire Earth as a telescope: The Terrascope (Syfy)What Happens to Your Eyes When You Stare at Screens All Day (LifeHacker)Prince’s ‘Welcome 2 America,’ an Unreleased Album, Is Due Out in July (NY Times)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When social media happened over the phone. Have physicists found a new force of nature? And the long-lost Lord of the Rings made-for-TV-movie produced by Soviet Russia.Sponsor:Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeLinks:The Prototype for Clubhouse Is 40 Years Old, and It Was Built by Phone Hackers (OneZero)Remote learning isn't new: Radio instruction in the 1937 polio epidemic (The Conversation)What Did the Old Telephone Network Sound Like? Overview of the Recordings (Evan Doorbell, YouTube)'Strong' evidence found for a new force of nature (BBC) Muon g-2 Experiment at Fermilab Finds Hint of New Particles (Quanta Magazine)Fermilab’s latest muon measurements hint at cracks in the Standard Model (Ars Technica)Finding From Particle Research Could Break Known Laws of Physics (NY Times)The long-lost Lord of the Rings adaptation from Soviet Russia is a glorious fever dream (The Verge)Soviet TV version of Lord of the Rings rediscovered after 30 years (The Guardian)The Emoji Story: You should never have this much fun learning about Unicode (Ars Technica)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new bacteria was discovered on the International Space Station and it could mean interesting things for our future on Mars. The latest shortage in the US has left restaurant owners scrambling to catch up. And are seasonal allergies sexist? Of course not. But kind of...Sponsors:Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeFitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:Sneaky New Bacteria on the ISS Could Build a Future on Mars (Wired)The New Shortage: Ketchup Can’t Catch Up (Wall Street Journal)'Botanical Sexism' Could Be Behind Your Seasonal Allergies (Atlas Obscura)Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4 (A/V Club) Request download of your Yahoo Answers content (Yahoo)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Busting some myths and sharing some doctor-backed advice on COVID vaccine side effects. The history of cigarette cards and how they played an important role in World War II. And how narwhal tusks act as a kind of history book, but the most recent chapters are a bit alarming.Sponsors:Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottkeMint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeLinks:How to Prepare for Your COVID Vaccine & Reduce the Side Effects (LifeHacker)Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine (CDC)When Cigarettes Came With a Prize (Study Marry Kill)Cigarette Cards and Cartophily (Historic UK)Cigarette Cards Tell History (American Antiquities) Narwhal Tusks Tell a Troubling Tale (Ars Technica) Space Jam: A New Legacy | Official SiteKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It turns out we got lucky with how quickly the Ever Given was freed. The last time the Suez Canal was blocked, it dragged on for eight years and led to the creation of a micro-nation at sea with a separate postal service and even their own Olympic Games. How Finland celebrates Easter with trick-or-treating and Easter Witches. NASA’s InSight lander has observed two strong marsquakes recently, helping us measure the planet’s core, but what are quakes like on a planet without tectonic plates?Sponsors:Gabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottkeLadder, ladderlife.com/kottkeLinks:The Last Time the Suez Canal Was Blocked a Utopian Communist Micronation Was Formed at Sea (Vice)Suez: The Yellow Fleet trapped by the 1967 Arab-Israeli War (Al Jazeera)Suez Canal Opens, but Shipping Will Be Snarled for Months (Wall Street Journal)Wandering witches welcome Finnish Easter (This Is Finland)NASA's InSight Detects Two Sizable Quakes on Mars (NASA JPL)NASA's Insight spacecraft has recently measured the radius of Mars' core (Syfy)NASA InSight (@NASAInSight) (Twitter)'Game of Thrones' Play in the Works for Broadway, Will Revive Iconic Characters (Exclusive) (Hollywood Reporter)OMEGA MART — “Grand Opening” (Meow Wolf, YouTube)nonstandard mcdonald's (nonstandard mcdonalds, Twitter)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Could humans evolve to be venomous? The man currently walking from Washington D.C. to New York City and tweeting all the way. The Hamilton/Space Jam mashup you never knew you needed. A brief roundup of corporate April Fools’ Day pranks we definitely didn’t need. And Chipotle is running a burritos and bitcoin contest that is miraculously not an April Fools’ Day prank. I think.Sponsors:Ladder, ladderlife.com/kottkeGabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottkeLinks:Humans Will Probably Evolve to Be Venomous Popular Mechanics (Popular Mechanics)Could humans ever be venomous? (Live Science) Neil King's twitter thread of his journey (NKingofDC, Twitter) Slamilton - A Basketball Musical (Full Album) (Psynwav, Youtube)Slamilton: A Basketball Musical (Psynwav, Bandcamp)Neutral Bling Hotel (Psynwav, Soundcloud) April Fools' Day 2021: Duolingo toilet paper, Velveeta skincare and more pranks (CNET)Where to Get Free and Cheap Burritos for National Burrito Day (LifeHacker)BurritosOrBitcoin.comBitcoin millionaires forgetting passwords (Kottke Ride Home)Enter the Age of the Vaccine Selfie (NY Times)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why did every movie theater in the 90s install that galaxy-themed carpet? A mafia fugitive who got caught by authorities after starting a cooking channel on YouTube. And the theory that the remains of proto-planet Theia may still be residing deep inside the Earth.Sponsors:Gabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottkeLadder, ladderlife.com/kottkeLinks:If Y2K-Era Movie Theater Carpets Could Talk (A24)For years, a mafia fugitive hid from police. Then they spotted his Italian cooking videos on YouTube. (Washington Post)New theory suggests large blobs of material in Earth's mantle are remnants of protoplanet Theia (Phys.org)Remains of impact that created the Moon may lie deep within Earth (Science Mag)Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine highly effective in adolescents (The Verge)Photos: The Great Vaccination Campaign (The Atlantic) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The medieval version of the millennial avocado craze––if avocados were only eaten when rotten and commonly referred to with a sexual nickname, anyways. Turns out that after we die, certain “zombie cells” go into overdrive. And the super popular Twitch stream of… a stop sign. Just thousands of people watching a live feed of stop sign that cars never seem to pay attention to. Sponsors:Ladder, ladderlife.com/kottkeGabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottkeLinks:The forgotten medieval fruit with a vulgar name (BBC)There are zombie cells in your brain that go into overdrive after death (Syfy Wire)'Zombie' genes? Research shows some genes come to life in the brain after death: Post-mortem changes may shed light on important brain studies (Science Daily)Twitch's hottest new stream is just a stop sign nobody stops at (A/V Club)Twitch Stop Sign Stream Temporarily Stops After Address Leaks, Neighbors Receive Pizzas (Kotaku)stopsigncam (Twitch)11 foot 8 bridge (yovo68, YouTube) That Gibberish Tweet From US Strategic Command Came From A Child (The Daily Dot)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new fossil analysis that bolsters the theory that primates may have lived alongside dinosaurs––and somehow survived extinction. The high school girl who invented color-changing sutures that show when a wound has become infected. And why the filter made famous from the viral Lawyer Cat video was installed as a default setting on thousands of Dell computers. Sponsors:Gabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottkeLadder, ladderlife.com/kottkeLinks:Did ancient primates walk alongside T. rex? New evidence backs up theory. (National Geographic)Our earliest primate ancestors rapidly spread after dinosaur extinction (Berkeley News) This High Schooler Invented Color-Changing Sutures to Detect Infection (Smithsonian Magazine)That Zoom Call with the Lawyer-Cat, Explained (The New Yorker) Zoom Cat Lawyer Rod Ponton Has Controversial Prosecutor Past (Insider)Forever Given NUMTOT Tinder Is a Dating Site for Transit Nerds (The Atlantic)  Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The gargantuan container ship is still blocking traffic from flowing in the Suez Canal, but it has not stemmed the creativity of people online––from memes to fanfic, here’s your Ever Given round-up. Plus, archaeologists have found the oldest yet discovered mass production brewery. And Grape-Nuts are back! Where did they go and what’s the deal with Grape-Nuts anyways?Sponsors:Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialNordVPN, Get 70% off a two-year plan at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:We Are All This Boat Now (Wired) Suez Canal Blocked After Container Ship Gets Stuck (NY Times)A Cargo Ship Drew a Giant Dick Pic in the Ocean Then Got Stuck in the Suez Canal (Vice)Ship blocking Suez Canal prompts flood of memes (Al Jazeera)Sweet Suez (All_My_Fandoms_Are_Killing_Me, Archive of Our Own) h/t Ryan BroderickSea shanty critique (Walter Hickey, Twitter) Former sailor breaks down the "crash" (@Nature_Grrrl, Twitter)Suez Canal Authority's dramatic videos of nothing happening (Josh Billinson, Twitter) Cargo ship stuck in the Suez Canal: Children have ideas for how to move it. (Slate)Is the ship still stuck? Archaeologists found the oldest mass-production brewery in ancient Egyptian ruins (Boing Boing)Abydos beer factory: Ancient large-scale brewery discovered in Egypt (BBC)Grape-Nuts to Offer Refunds to Those Who Overpaid (AARP)Why You Can't Find Grape-Nuts Anywhere (Vice)Thu. 12/17 episode about Kellogg Brothers (Kottke Ride Home)Grape-Nuts Hot: Chorizo - Recipes (Post Consumer Brands)Pepsi and Peeps Have Joined Forces to Create Marshmallow Soda (People) Toilet Paper Shortage Could Return Due to Shipping Container Crisis (Bloomberg)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever wondered who or what comes up with the explanatory blurbs beneath trending terms on Twitter? I’ve got your answer. Your guide to eating and enjoying the Brood X cicadas. And a website to help you out when a word is just on the tip of your tongue.Sponsors:NordVPN, Get 70% off a two-year plan at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKEAudible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialLinks:Twitter trends: Who comes up with the descriptions for trending topics? (Slate)The 17-Year Cicadas Are Returning to the East Coast This Summer—and Yes, You Can Eat Them (Food and Wine)Mon. 03/15 - Brood X and Self-Sabotaging Zoom Calls (Kottke Ride Home)The Best Wine and Bug Pairings, According to an Expert (Food and Wine) You Can Eat 17-Year Cicadas Emerging In Georgia (Patch)Cicada-Licious: Cooking and Enjoying Periodical Cicada (University of Maryland Cicadamaniacs)OneLook Reverse Dictionary Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The saga of the shrimp tails in the Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and what it has to do with Chance the Rapper, women’s basketball, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, and Topanga. Scientists have identified the first “space hurricane.” And a round-up of the free stuff you can get if you get your vaccine. Sponsors:Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialNordVPN, Get 70% off a two-year plan at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:Man Says He Found Shrimp Tails in Cinnamon Toast Crunch (NY Times)"A man named Karp..." (@HarveyBar22, Twitter)Who Are The Pistol Shrimps? Aubrey Plaza Plays For This LA-Based Basketball Team (Romper)Shrimp tails in Cinnamon Toast Crunch? Jensen Karp says yes (LA Times)Chance the Rapper's connection to Shrimp Tails Guy (Chance the Rapper, Twitter)Cinnamon Toast Crunch tempura shrimp (Chef Andy Lunique, Twitter)My glass-laden salsa (Jackson Bird, Tumblr) Scientists spot a 'space hurricane' for the first time (National Geographic)Here are a few of the freebies for getting the Covid vaccine (CNBC)Krispy Kreme will give you a free doughnut every day this year — if you've been vaccinated (CBS News)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How fast was Forrest Gump running when he jogged across the country? The running community on Reddit did the math. A study has confirmed that some people do actually age faster than others, quite a bit faster in fact. And turns out AIs are way better at coming up with pick-up lines than us humans are.Sponsors:NordVPN, Get 70% off a two-year plan at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKEAudible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialLinks:108 thoughts on “Forrest Gump's Running Route” (Centives)(Request) how many miles did Forrest Gump run (r/TheyDidTheMath)Forrest Gump running pace? (r/running) Study confirms that some people age more slowly (United Press International)By Midlife, Some People Are Already on the Path to the Frailties of Old Age (Duke Health)GPT-3 tries pickup lines (AI Weirdness)Which one is correct: O.K., OK, ok, or okay? (Literary Hub)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The AI built to tell pastries apart that’s now being used for cancer research. It turns out a large portion of Mars’ water may be hiding in the planet’s crust. And, if one of your online orders got lost, it may now be lurking at the bottom of the ocean. Sponsors:Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialNordVPN, Get 70% off a two-year plan at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:The Pastry A.I. That Learned to Fight Cancer (The New Yorker)Mars might be hiding most of its old water underground, scientists say (The Verge)Mars may hide oceans of water beneath its crust, study finds (Space)Where Are Those Shoes You Ordered? Check the Ocean Floor (Wired)The Leslie Jones Cut (Leslie Jones, Twitter) Live feed from Iceland volcano (RÚV) Incredible Drone Videos of an Erupting Volcano (Kottke)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The family feud putting the US’s COVID-19 test swab supply at risk. Could we use our food waste and sewage to fuel jets? And the projected symbol that was spotted in towns all around the world last night.Sponsors:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottkeLinks:Supply of Swab Tests for Covid-19 Rests on Embattled US Company Puritan (Bloomberg)Could we fuel our jets using our sewage? (Wired)The London Eye Has Been Transformed Into Captain America's Shield, And It's As Cool As It Sounds (BuzzFeed)Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong apparently filed paperwork to run for president as a Republican (Yahoo) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Paris Commune––and it remains as controversial as ever. Scientists have grown a mouse embryo in an artificial womb and have set their sites on human embryos next, speaking of controversy... And why people in Taiwan keep legally changing their names to "Salmon."Sponsors:StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottkeSkillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:Paris Commune: The revolt dividing France 150 years on (BBC)Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century by Greil MarcusRevolution, Rebellion, Resistance: The Power of Story by Eric SelbinThe Paris Commune Is Still a Beacon for Radical Change (The Jacobin)Vive la Commune? The working-class insurrection that shook the world (The Guardian)A mouse embryo has been grown in an artificial womb—humans could be next (MIT Technology Review)Taiwan official urges people to stop changing their name to 'salmon' (The Guardian)Taiwan warns people against changing their name to 'Salmon' (Washington Post)This Salmon Was Burned Alive - A Series of Unfortunate Events (Netflix) Season 2 (YouTube)How Sperm Whales Learned to Collectively Outsmart 19th-Century Whalers (Kottke)Studying Humpback Whales to Better Communicate with Aliens (Kottke)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why analog TVs never had channel 37. Spoiler: the answer includes aliens. The rise of bitcoin ATMs. And the pretty amusing self-reported symptoms from the AstraZeneca vaccine. And all the latest breaking marine mammal news.Sponsors:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottkeLinks:Why You Generally Can't Find TV Stations on Channel 37 (Tedium)This Month in Physics History (APS News) Bitcoin ATMs are coming to a gas station near you (Reuters)Dogecoin Will Be Available in Bitcoin ATMs Across America (Crypto Briefing)What are AstraZeneca's self-reported side effects? (Quartz)There's a whale in the San Francisco Bay right now, something never before seen in March (SF Gate)‘Putrid’ stench of rotting whale carcass on Australian beach leaves locals retching (The Guardian)Exploding Whale 50th Anniversary, Remastered! (KATU News, YouTube)Thu. 07/02 - The Exploding Whale Memorial Park (is a real thing) (Kottke Ride Home) Arctic walrus takes a nap on an iceberg, wakes up in Ireland (LiveScience)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How St. Patrick’s Day, as we know it now, is kind of more of an Irish-American holiday than a purely Irish one. More of the Dead Sea Scrolls have been uncovered in Israel for the first time in sixty years. And the family who decided to really lean into the “time is just a social construct” idea.Sponsors:StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottkeSkillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Links:All the pubs in Ireland used to be closed on St. Patrick’s Day (Irish Central)Washington’s Army Celebrated St. Patrick’s Day to Cure Winter Blues (Smithsonian Magazine)A day off from Lent: St Patrick's Day traditions from the past 2019 (RTÉ)Israeli experts announce discovery of more Dead Sea scrolls (AP)Israel Reveals Newly Discovered Fragments of Dead Sea Scrolls (NY Times)Dead Sea Scrolls discoveries are first ancient Bible texts to be found in 60 years (NBC News) Can We Get Rid of Daylight Saving Time? (The Atlantic)Daylight Saving Time By Country (Wikipedia) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brood X is coming: what you need to know about your soon-to-be neighbors. A new discovery in Spain has led to questions about the true role of women in the Bronze Age. The science behind why, once you pop, the fun just don’t stop. And a new app that will purposefully sabotage your Zoom calls.Sponsors:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottkeLinks:Giant Brood of Billions of Insects Set to Emerge in US in Mass Synchronized Event (Science Alert)Get ready for Brood X, a swarm of screaming sex-fiend cicadas (A/V Club)Brood X, the great cicada swarm, is coming. And DC is ground zero. (Washington Post)Cicada Safari (SciStarter)Bronze Age Tomb in Spain Hints Women Helped Govern (NY Times)The Science Behind Your Need for One More Potato Chip (NY Times)Zoom Escaper (Sam Lavigne)Welcome to my Homepage Digital Artist ResidencySam Lavigne (@sam_lavigne) It's Been 23 Years (Kottke)Thu. 03/04 - Will NFTs Change How We Buy Music & Movies? (Kottke Ride Home)Will Ferrell gets an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song (A Journal of Musical Things)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The proposal to create a “modern ark” aka scientists want to store sperm and eggs in lava tubes on the moon as a back-up plan in case we accidentally destroy the earth. A new tool that could help us spot deepfakes. And how beer-making used to be women’s work until men figured out how to monetize it and accused women brewers of being witches. Sponsors:Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottkeLightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottkeLinks:Scientists Want to Send a Massive Load of J--- to the Moon (Vice)Will Experts Send Sperm and Egg Samples to the Moon Through This Modern Noah's Ark? (The Science Times)Mon. 10/26 - Water on the Moon & Oreo's Arctic Vault (Kottke Ride Home)Tool spots deepfake photos via light in the eyes (Futurity)How to spot deepfakes? Look at light reflection in the eyes (University at Buffalo) Robert Downey Jr and Tom Holland in Back to the future - This is heavy! [ deepfake ] (EZRyderX47, YouTube)Biden Delaware back tattoo deepfake (jojobiden46, Tiktok)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)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was written off as a forgery in 1883, but now it’s being reconsidered as the oldest known Biblical manuscript. Also, how the pandemic has affected the names people are choosing for their babies. And how a lake in Turkey may hold the key to finding signs of ancient life on Mars.Sponsors:Lightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottkeFitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:Is a Long-Dismissed Forgery Actually the Oldest Known Biblical Manuscript? (NY Times)Murder Among the Mormons | Official Trailer (Netflix, YouTube)How COVID Influenced Most Popular Baby Names Of 2021 (Refinery29)From ‘Alma’ to ‘Zuri,’ Parents Are Looking for Positive Baby Names (NY Times)What Is Cottagecore? : 1A (NPR)Mars on Earth: Turkish lake may hold clues to ancient life on planet (Reuters)Netflix 'The Last Blockbuster' Docu Release (Hypebeast)If I Did It (Alanna Bennett, Twitter)September Kottke episode mentioning The Last Blockbuster (Kottke Ride Home)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reflections from a man who quit using the internet right before the pandemic started. A meteorite older than Earth was discovered in the Sahara Desert. And playable music videos? How film and music are pulling more and more from gaming both in terms of tech and mentality. Sponsors:Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottkeLightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottkeLinks:He Quit the Internet 2 Months Before the Pandemic (NY Times) Scientists Discover Chunk of Protoplanet Older Than Earth In Sahara Desert (Vice) This Is a Piece of a Lost Protoplanet, And It's Officially Older Than Earth (Science Alert)A music video you can play: Indie rock inside the Unity engine (Ars Technica)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can we find extraterrestrial civilizations by searching the cosmos for their pollutants? Are humans hard-wired to be productive? And what can we learn about leisure from hunter-gatherer societies? Plus, a big uh-oh from HBO Max and masks that are sure to freak out everyone you encounter.Sponsors:Lightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottkeFitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:Can Alien Smog Lead Us to Extraterrestrial Civilizations? (Wired)How Civilization Broke Our Brains (The Atlantic)Zack Snyder's Justice League leaked early on HBO Max (CNET) Maskalike — Your Own Face On A MaskKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Could The Simpsons replace their entire cast with AI replicas? A look at the scientific, artistic, and legal possibilities. Researchers have discovered an interesting trait in green tree frogs that they’re describing as built-in noise-canceling headphones. A few highlights from the 1,200 new words added to the German dictionary last year. And a website that lets you play streaming music on a vinyl interface.Sponsors:Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottkeLightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottkeLinks:Could The Simpsons replace its voice actors with AI deepfakes? (Wired)Digital Image Rights & Right of Publicity (SAG-AFTRA) Treefrogs have noise-cancelling headphones built into their ears (Popular Science)Coronaangst ridden? Overzoomed? Covid inspires 1,200 new German words (The Guardian)Needledrop: A turntable interface for music playback We Don't Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy by Caseen Gaines Jack Dorsey is offering to sell the first tweet as an NFT (CNBC)Boot fills Foot’s boots as Shoe Zone finance boss (The Evening Standard) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Will warp drive ever be possible? These scientists say they’ve created the first physical model for how it could work. A lookback at the Star Wars immunization PSAs of the 1970s. And a potential new type of COVID-19 test that will double as a form of stress relief. Plus, vaccinated orangutans, SXSW in VR, and the first-ever podcast NFT?Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWSMint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeLinks:A potential model for a real physical warp drive (Phys.org)Scientists Announce a Physical Warp Drive Is Now Possible. Seriously. (Esquire)Star Wars vaccination PSA: C-3PO and R2-P2 vs. measles and polio (A/V Club)An Oral History of the Star Wars Immunization Campaign (Mel Magazine)Vintage Star Wars C-3PO   R2-D2 smoking PSA commercial (Hoth Iceplanet, YouTube)Scream, not swab: Dutch inventor hopes he discovered new COVID test (Reuters)This Trained Singer Teaches Metal Bands How To Scream (Kottke)Looks Like You Need Iceland (Inspired By Iceland) SXSW Will Build a Virtual Downtown Austin for Attendees to Experience in VR (Ad Week) Announcing SXSW Online XR Including the Full Virtual Cinema Program (SXSW)Tech Meme Ride Home NFT (Tech Meme Ride Home)First great apes at US zoo receive COVID-19 vaccine made for animals (National Geographic)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Will NFTs bring about an economic and creative revolution for artists and change the way we buy our media? Kings of Leon are willing to give it a shot. A small village in Iceland is making a big bid for Oscar glory. And another small town that just might be the job capital of the U.S.Sponsors:Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWSLinks:Kings of Leon Will Be the First Band to Release an Album as an NFT (Rolling Stone) Unfortunately, We're Going to Talk About Blockchain Now (The Content Mines, Spotify) NFTs Explained: Why They're Nifty and Terrible (FutureNow, YouTube)“BUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WITH CRYPTOART WILL BE SOLVED SOON, RIGHT?” (Everest Pipkin)"The next 10 years will be a total revolution..." (Raoul Pal, Twitter) "Sounds like a gimmick until..." (Brian Hiatt, Twitter) Undeterred by “Jaja Ding Dong” snub, the town from Eurovision stumps for its Oscar (A/V Club)Óskar for Húsavík – My hometown the job capital of america (BNet)New York City woman finds hidden empty apartment behind her medicine cabinet (Boing Boing)Hidden basement TikTok: Ponder its unseen horrors (A/V Club)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cuttlefish have passed a test designed for small human children. Polaroid has made a pen that draws in edible 3D candy. What we can learn from cats about being happier and more content with life. And a website that translates your typing into jazz music.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWSMint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeLinks:A Cephalopod Has Passed a Cognitive Test Designed For Human Children (Science Alert)Cuttlefish can pass the marshmallow test (Ars Technica) Polaroid Made a Pen That Lets You Draw Pieces of Candy (Gizmodo)Feline philosophy: what humans can learn from cats (Vox)Jazz Keys (Plan8) Digitally Reading 17-Century Locked Letters (Kottke)Meet this year’s winners of the Dance Your PhD contest (Ars Technica)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scientists have created light-up OLED tattoos that could tell you when to put on sunscreen or when your avocados have gone bad. The Twitter account tracking Geneva Convention violations in video games. And good news: scientists have confirmed that all of us suck at ending conversations with each other.Sponsors:Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWSLinks:Scientists Invent Light-Up OLED Tattoos (Gizmodo)Light-emitting tattoo engineered for the first time (University College London News)Sharp needles for the Cold War: Yes, some kids got tattooed with their blood type (Washington Post)Quantum-dot tattoos hold vaccination record (Rice News) False claim: Bill Gates wants to microchip people; Anthony Fauci wants people to carry vaccination certificates (Reuters)The Twitter Account Tracking Geneva Conventions Violations in Video Games (Vice)Can You Pet the Dog? (@CanYouPetTheDog)People Literally Don’t Know When to Shut Up—or Keep Talking, Science Confirms (Scientific American)Dr. Seuss: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Stuff You Should Know) 6 Dr. Seuss Books With Racist Imagery Pulled From Printing (Vulture) Just how racist is children’s literature? The author of ‘Was the Cat in the Hat Black?’ explains. (Washington Post)How to 'Read Across America' Without Dr. Seuss (Life Hacker)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How the RNA-based platform used for some of the COVID-19 vaccines is already changing the game for other diseases. Plus, “I got vaccinated” stickers and selfie stations are starting to pop up. And an app that’s bringing back the disposable camera… without the disposable camera.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWSMint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottkeLinks:First vaccine to fully immunize against malaria builds on pandemic-driven RNA tech (Academic Times)The joy of vax: The people giving the shots are seeing hope, and it’s contagious (Washington Post)Vaccine centers embrace stickers and selfie stations (The Verge)Dispo, David Dobrik's Photo-Sharing App, Is Taking Off (NY Times)Pass/Fail class (Harmit S. Malik, Twitter)"Coming in late with a C minus" (Johan Miranda, Twitter)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Delving into the world of crypto art and non-fungible tokens. A history of Mr. Potato Head, or, I’m sorry, just Potato Head? And a few links to help you chill out this weekend.Sponsors:Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribeLinks:‎Techmeme Ride Home Kenny Schachter Gets Sucked Into the Surreal NFT Vortex… and Makes a Fortune Overnight in the New Virtual Art Market (ArtNet)A coat check ticket, a magic spell (Robin Sloan)Trailer for the Sundance award-winning — Feels Good Man eeby deeby (Garbage Day)The spudly history of Mr. Potato Head (The Takeout)The iconic Mr. Potato Head gets a 21st-century rebrand (Fast Company)A mister no more: Mr. Potato Head goes gender neutral (AP)No, Mr. Potato Head isn’t going “gender neutral” (Katelyn Burns)Mr. Potato Head Brand Update (Hasbro)Vintage Original Mr and Mrs Potato Head commercial  1960's (VintageTVCommercials, YouTube)Mr. Potato Head (PBS)NASA to Honor 'Hidden Figure' Mary W. Jackson During Naming Ceremony (NASA) BlobmixerDraw an Iceberg and See How It Will Float (Kottke) chill room (YouTube)Self-Medicating Media: Relax in Online Ambiance Rooms (Kottke) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How to make your clothes last longer and practice the art of “radical keeping” according to “the anti-Marie Kondo.” A segment about #Buttergate in Canada that’s not really about Buttergate afterall. And a browser extension that shows you what the internet would look like without Big Tech.Sponsors:Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Links:The Golden Age of Free Stuff Is Upon Us (NY Times)Feed your moths and hide your trousers: the expert guide to making clothes last for ever (The Guardian)Buttergate: Why are Canadians complaining about hard butter? (BBC)Opinion: The dairy industry’s use of palm oil breaches its moral contract with Canadians (The Globe and Mail)This browser extension shows what the Internet would look like without Big Tech (The Verge)Gizmodo Goodbye Big Five (Gizmodo)Listen to Post Malone cover Hootie & the Blowfish for Pokémon’s 25th anniversary (The Verge)Long COVID symptoms (Mara Gay, Twitter)For All Mankind (Apple TV)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How the flu you had as a kid could shape your immune response to future flu viruses. A bunch of videos have been going viral showing snow not melting when held up against a flame, but it’s not a conspiracy. It’s science. And the first song produced using the audio recorded on Mars. Sponsors:The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialLinks:The immune effects of childhood viruses are even more complicated than we thought (Popular Science)How Childhood Infections Could Shape Pandemics (UPMC)TikTok Users Are Burning Snowballs in Viral Videos to 'Prove' the Snow is Fake (Gizmodo)Snow that doesn't melt! Is it a government conspiracy?! (Hint: no.) (The Bad Astronomer, YouTube)No, the snow isn't government-generated. This is what a snowball does when you take a lighter to it. (Politifact)The episode about the LA musician who helped design the Perseverance microphones (Kottke Ride Home)Hello, Mars (Foxannemusic, Soundcloud)'Hello, Mars' music video (VideoFromSpace, YouTube) Foxanne: It's real (I knew it) (Foxanne, Bandcamp)Pass n' Puff Football (Indiegogo) Renegades: Born in the USA (Spotify)Buy this ranch and Area 51 will be your next-door neighbor (Boing Boing) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Beer culture is perceived as overwhelmingly white, but its history and its present is not. A historical look at the erasure of Black brewers. The impact of pandemic boredom on the economy. And a new app that will put David Attenborough in your living room to teach you about the prehistoric world.Sponsors:The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialLinks:How the Whiteness of Beer Culture Erases Black Brewers (Eater)The Boredom Economy (NY Times)Museum Alive AR With David Attenborough (Alchemy Immersive)Experience 3D & augmented reality in Search (Google)NASA's Perseverance Rover Microphone Captures Sounds from Mars (NASA)Onboard Camera Views from Perseverance Rover's Descent & Touchdown on Mars (Kottke) Hillary Clinton's working on a political thriller that has a very familiar plot (A/V Club) Dunkin' Donuts Has Matcha Doughnuts Now (Eater)The Ben Affleck Renaissance Runs on Dunkin' (The Ringer)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scientists have tapped deeper into the depths of our dreams by achieving two-way communication with lucid dreamers. Why were there so many serial killers between 1970 and 2000? And what stopped them? And space is getting more diverse in more ways than one.Sponsors:Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribeLinks:Scientists Find a Way to Communicate With Dreaming People (Gizmodo)Dream Hacking: Watch 3 Groundbreaking Experiments on Decisions, Addictions, and Sleep (PBS NOVA, YouTube)Scientists Achieve Real-Time Communication With Lucid Dreamers in Breakthrough (Vice)Serial Killer Era: Why 1970 - 2000 Saw So Many Murders in America (Rolling Stone)She Beat Cancer at 10. Now She'll Join SpaceX's First Private Trip to Orbit. (NY Times)Europe Wants to Diversify Its Pool of Astronauts (NY Times)Ken Burns Answers Every Question We Have About His Hair (GQ)Daft Punk Have Broken Up (Kottke)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A history of how the US government started deciding what color our food is allowed to be. Could lab-grown wood disrupt the lumber industry? And, The Muppet Show has been released from the Disney Vault.Sponsors:OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottkeSkillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Links:How the Government Came to Decide the Color of Your Food (Smithsonian)Why The U.S. Government Decides The Color Of Our Food (Cheddar, YouTube)Decoder Ring on the history of blue raspberry, color consulting, blueberries, and the Wheatley steak study (Slate)Nature Makes Wood. Could a Lab Make It Better? (Wired)Best Muppet Show Episodes to Stream on Disney+: Kermit, Cameos (io9)OK Go and The Muppets - Muppet Show Theme Song (Ok Go, YouTube)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Los Angeles musician who helped design the microphones on the Perseverance rover that will hopefully give us our first-ever audio recordings of Mars. Can a 19th century etiquette book make Twitter bearable? And what some of the top websites looked like on this day in 2011.Sponsors:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottkeLinks:The LA Musician Who Designed a Microphone for Mars (Wired)Everyone on Twitter Needs an Etiquette Manual (Wired)Ten Years Ago (Neal.fun)r/Stuck10YearsBehind (Reddit)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A historical defense of arranging book collections by color. Scientists have sequenced the oldest DNA ever found and made some mammoth discoveries in the process. And NASA’s Perseverance rover is set to touch down on Mars tomorrow––some background on one experiment it will be running that could set the stage for human travel to the red planet.Sponsors:OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottkeSkillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:No Mere Foppery: A Defense of Rainbow Bookshelves (Book Historia)Announcing the fifth annual Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize. (Literary Hub)Million-Year-Old Mammoth Teeth Contain Oldest DNA Ever Found (Gizmodo)Million-Year-Old DNA Rewrites the Mammoth Family Tree (NY Times)Scientists Have Sequenced Mammoth DNA That's Over a Million Years Old (Science Alert)Watch Online: Mars Landing (NASA) Krispy Kreme makes special ‘Mars Doughnut’ to celebrate Perseverance rover landing (Space.com)Here's how the Perseverance landing could pave the way for humans on Mars (Space.com)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The new fruit taking over Instagram. Why the winter storm sweeping the US is causing an energy crisis, especially in Texas. And a new-ish game that lets you take a virtual vacation with your friends.Sponsors:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottkeLinks:Instagram Fruit (Grow)The rise, fall, and rise of the status pineapple (BBC)Hurricane Harvey vs. now (The Weather Channel, Twitter) How Extreme Cold Turned Into a U.S. Energy Crisis (Bloomberg) Frozen Wind Farms Are Just a Small Piece of Texas’s Power Woes (Bloomberg) Texplainer: Why Does Texas Have Its Own Power Grid? (Texas Tribune)Storm updates & resources for helping out at the bottom (Texas Tribune)City GuesserKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scientists in Antarctica accidentally discovered animal life beneath an ice shelf half a mile deep. An app that lets you tune into live radio stations all over the world. A new study that challenges the long held theory about the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. And a snarky Valentine’s tradition at the El Paso Zoo.Sponsors:OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottkeSkillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:Scientists Accidentally Discover Strange Creatures Under a Half Mile of Ice (Wired)Scientists Found Unexpected Life Half a Mile Under Antarctic Ice Shelf (Gizmodo)Radio GardenTwitter reactions to Radio Garden (David Pogue, Twitter)The comet that killed the dinosaurs: New theory explains possible origin of the Chicxulub impactor (Science Daily)Where Did the Dinosaur-Killing Impactor Come From? (NY Times)Astrophysicists Chart Source of Asteroid That Killed Dinosaurs (Smithsonian Mag)El Paso Zoo's Valentine's Day naming a cockroach after an ex returns (El Paso Times)El Paso Zoo's “Quit Bugging Me” (El Paso Zoo)El Paso Zoo (Facebook)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The story of how two brothers gamed the YouTube system thirteen years ago and have since used that method to raise nearly 14 million dollars for charity. An interactive site that simulates the audio experience of being at your favorite bar. Coca-Cola is trying out paper bottles. And the guy who built a functioning guitar out of his dead uncle’s skeleton. For real.Sponsors:Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottkeLightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottkeLinks:Project For Awesome 2021 imissmybar.com I Miss My Bar is like audio therapy for barflies (The Verge)Coca-Cola company trials first paper bottle (BBC)Well now: A man has turned his metalhead uncle's bones into a "Skelecaster" guitar (A/V Club)This Dude Built a Guitar Out of His Dead Uncle's Skeleton (MetalSucks)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How the UK variant of Sars-CoV-2 may have evolved inside just one human. Some dating apps are adding video components, but it’s just another case of modern tech “inventing” something that has already existed for decades. Let’s talk about the original recipe. And a German teenager has created a new Myspace. Not like a social media platform similar to Myspace. Literally he recreated a functional clone of Myspace. And it’s pretty awesome.Sponsors:Lightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottkeFitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:A lone infection may have changed the course of the pandemic (Wired)How 1970s VCR dating paved the way for Tinder and Hinge (Vox)A Teenager Has Remade Myspace and Everyone Is Loving It (Vice)spacehey.com/jackisnotabirdKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do all of these UV light “virus-killing” appliances really work? The mystery of the purple flower photo that has accounted for nearly 20% of all Wikimedia Commons traffic since last summer. And, it’s been ten years since “Friday” by Rebecca Black debuted to collective cringe on YouTube. To celebrate, Rebecca Black is back with a remix.Sponsors:Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottkeLightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottkeLinks:Does Covid-killing UV tech work? (Wired)The mysterious photo of a purple flower that receives 78 million hits each day (Rest of World)Rebecca Black - Friday (Remix) ft Dorian Electra, Big Freedia & 3OH!3 [Official Video] (Rebecca Black, YouTube) Rebecca Black’s new hyper-pop remix of ‘Friday’ is the serotonin boost you need (NME) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The scientific benefits of going for regular walks, and some tips for incorporating more walks into your life. The town in Florida whose water was almost poisoned when a nefarious individual hacked into their water supply. The researchers hoping to recycle face masks as roads. And a pandemic-themed spec script roundup.Sponsors:Lightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottkeFitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:Don't Underestimate the Power of a Walk (Harvard Business Review)Why Walking Helps Us Think (The New Yorker)The Errand Friend (Culture Study)Nilofer Merchant: Got a meeting? Take a walk (TED) High five walking guys (Caleb Stallings, Twitter)A Hacker Tried to Poison a Florida City's Water Supply (Wired)Recycling face masks into roads to tackle COVID-generated waste (RMIT)Spec script roundup (A/V Club)TV Show Fanfiction (Archive of Our Own)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How the Royal Shakespeare Company is using live motion capture to animate a virtual show in real time. A case study of a California town who has this whole pandemic response thing down. A 3D printed house has hit the market on Long Island. And there’s actually still more to say about Four Seasons Total Landscaping? Plus some related recommendations.Sponsors:Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottkeLightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottkeLinks:Is this an avatar I see before me? Audience takes to stage in virtual Shakespeare play (The Guardian)Remote actors thread (Brendan Bradley, Twitter)Dream (Royal Shakespeare Company)A California University Tries to Shield an Entire City From Coronavirus (NY Times)A 3D printed house is for sale in New York. Builders say it will cut housing construction costs (CNN) A 3D-Printed Home Just Popped up on Zillow for a Cool $300,000 (Gizmodo)Biggest 3D Printed House in America ALMOST COMPLETE Part 3 (Jarett Gross, YouTube)At Foggy Pine Books, Customers Like Tom Hanks Know Every Book Is An Adventure Waiting To Happen (The Late Show, YouTube)Opportunity Knocks | Fiverr Big Game Commercial Extended Cut (2021) (Fiverr, YouTube)Inevitable Four Seasons Total Landscaping doc to be titled Four Seasons Total Documentary (A/V Club)My Recent Media Diet, the Still Isolated Edition (Kottke)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How learning to juggle is the perfect example of what happens to your brain when you learn a new skill. A new literary version of Street Fighter II. Why Burger King France is handing out free potatoes. And, following on yesterday’s story about the fetus album, a three-year-old has written a completely delightful new album with her dad.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWSOurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottkeLinks:Here’s What Learning to Juggle Does to Your Brain (Wired)STREET WRITER: The literary video game we didn’t know we needed. (Literary Hub)The Reason Burger King France Drive-Thrus Are Handing Out Bags Of Potatoes (Mashed)A 3-year-old wrote a delightful electro-pop album and her dad produced it (Boing Boing)QuQu by Juni x Dada (Bandcamp)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We were bracing for a flu and COVID double whammy of a winter, but it never came. What happened? An intriguing new community initiative taking off in Europe to help prevent the mounting problem of electronic waste. And have you heard of fetuscore? Ok, it’s not a thing yet. But it may be soon because there’s a new album coming out that was recorded by a baby before she was born.Sponsors:OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWSLinks:The Pandemic Broke the Flu (The Atlantic) The country rejecting throwaway culture (BBC)An unborn baby is releasing an album, paving the way for fetuscore (A/V Club)Unborn Baby Records Debut Album (Consequence of Sound)Luca Yupanqui: Sounds of the Unborn (Sacred Bones)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What causes ice ages? The science behind your frying pan. You know, the one that’s supposed to be non-stick but isn’t. Scientists explain why. Other scientists have engineered spinach to send emails. Sort of. And did you hear about the Hollyboob prank? If not, or if you supremely don’t care, it may say more about our current relationship to viral stunts than the stunt in question.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWSOurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottkeLinks:Ice Ages: What Causes the Earth to Freeze Over Every Few Million Years? (Discover Magazine)Glad You Asked: Ice Ages – What are they and what causes them? (Utah Geological Society)The un-ice age (Earthdata, NASA)Scientists Explain Why Food Still Sticks to Your Stupid Non-Stick Pan (Gizmodo)Scientists have taught spinach to send emails (Euro News)Nanobionic spinach plants can detect explosives (MIT News)Spinach email joke (Ambrose Persimmon, Twitter)Why an influencer turned the Hollywood sign into the Hollyboob sign (CNET)'Hollyboob' and the End of the Viral Stunt (MEL) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How a 1970s seat belt crash test and the animated movie Frozen helped potentially solve the 62-year-old Dyatlov Pass mystery. A fascinating correction to something I said yesterday about Langston Hughes. And remembering Captain Sir Tom Moore.Sponsors:OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottkeIndeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWSLinks:Has science solved one of history’s greatest adventure mysteries? (National Geographic) 9 Russian Adventurers Mysteriously Froze to Death. A New Theory Explains Why (Wired)Langston Hughes Just Got a Year Older (New York Times)Captain Sir Tom Moore dies aged 100 after contracting coronavirus and pneumonia (Sky News) You'll Never Walk Alone - Captain Tom Moore, Michael Ball & The NHS Voices of Care Choir (Decca Records, YouTube)05/20 episode featuring Captain Sir Tom Moore (Kottke Ride Home)Home Movie: The Princess Bride (Kottke)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sharing some thoughts from Langston Hughes on this first day of Black History Month, and questioning what makes someone a hero in our history books. Plus, the discovery of a new blue pigment. And all the Mars news for February.Sponsors:Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWSOurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottkeLinks:We Are the American Heartbreak: Langston Hughes on Race in a Rare Recording (Brain Pickings) Langston Hughes Reads Langston Hughes (Open Culture)How We Celebrate Black Heroes Can Obscure How Change Happens (NY Times) 13TH (Netflix)For the First Time in 200 Years, a New Blue Pigment Is Up for Sale (Smithsonian)Meet YInMn, the First New Blue Pigment in Two Centuries (Hyperallergic)YInMn Blues: The Discovery that Startled the World! | Mas Subramanian | TEDxUNC (TEDx, YouTube)NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover landing will be must-see TV (CNET)NASA Mars Perseverance rover: What to expect on landing day (CNET)February’s Gonna Be a Big Month for Mars (Wired)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What did everyday Romans in Pompeii eat? An archaeologist has tried to reconstruct their meals. Merriam-Webster has added 520 new words to the dictionary. How do they decide which words get added? And a sci-fi dictionary to explore this weekend. Plus, Spotify wants to try to guess your music taste based on the tone of your voice.Sponsors:Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Links:Reconstructing the Menu of a Pub in Ancient Pompeii (Atlas Obscura)2000-Year-Old Snack Bar Unearthed in Pompeii (Kottke) We Added New Words to the Dictionary for January 2021 (Merriam-Webster)Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction Spotify wants to suggest songs based on your emotions (BBC)New Spotify Patent Involves Monitoring Users’ Speech to Recommend Music (Pitchfork)‘Just The Way You Are’: Music Listening and Personality (Spotify)Techmeme Ride HomeKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The mathematics of knitting. How France is trying to legally protect smells. A cautionary tale that will inspire you to go check on your office building if you’ve been working from home and no one’s done that for a few months. And a horrifying new product from Kraft Mac and Cheese.Sponsors:The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialLinks:How one physicist is unraveling the mathematics of knitting (Science News)The Sights, Sounds, and Smells of Rural France May Soon Be Protected by Law (Atlas Obscura)This Startup Left Its Office When Covid Hit. The New Tenants? 20,000 Bees (Inc.) h/t Today In TabsBees Swarm Times Square Hot-Dog Stand (NY Times)Kraft Launches Pink Mac and Cheese for Valentine's Day That Tastes Like … Candy? (NBC Chicago) Kraft Is Releasing A Pink Candy-Flavored Mac And Cheese For Valentine's Day, And The Internet Is Losing Its Mind (BuzzFeed)Thu. 11/12 - How Many Holes Does a Straw Have? (Kottke Ride Home)Topology 101: The Hole Truth (Quanta)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A brief dip into the GameStop Wall Street mayhem. A new water-is-wet kind of study proving that money indeed can buy you happiness. And the story of some students who just found out their new professor this semester has been dead for two years.Sponsors:Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribeLinks:How GameStop found itself at the center of a groundbreaking battle between Wall Street and small investors (The Guardian)Happy birthday, Guy Fieri (Garbage Day)Send This to Anyone Who Wants to Know WTF Is Up With GameStop Stock (Vice)Brief GameStop explainer and updates (William LeGate, Twitter)The First National Bank of GameStop (Kottke)Can Money Buy You Happiness? Yes, But There's a Catch (Bloomberg)Dead Man Teaching (Chronicle) Teacher tweets (Aaron Ansuini, Twitter)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New DNA analysis upends some long held assumptions about the evolutionary background of dire wolves. How Adobe Flash broke an entire railway system. Astronomers have discovered a sextuply-eclipsing sextuple star system. Say that six times fast… And the definitive Werner Herzog interview on… skateboarding. Sponsors:The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialLinks:Dire Wolves Were Not Really Wolves, New Genetic Clues Reveal (Scientific American)Dire Wolves Were Real (Scientific American)Dire wolves were real—and even stranger than we thought (National Geographic)When Adobe Stopped Flash Content From Running It Also Stopped A Chinese Railroad (Jalopnik)'Sextuply-eclipsing sextuple star system' discovered whirling through the Milky Way (Space)DISCUSSING SKATEBOARDING WITH FILMMAKER WERNER HERZOG (Jenkem) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The word “robot” was coined one hundred years ago today in a play about robots taking over the world. Good thing that hasn’t happened yet! ...right? The story behind the moon rock in President Biden’s newly redesigned Oval Office. And the first-known tyrannosaur embryo fossils have been found, shedding new light on the T-Rex’s cousins.Sponsors:Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trialThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribeLinks:On the 100th Anniversary of ‘Robot,’ They’re Finally Taking Over (Wall Street Journal)The Czech Play That Gave Us the Word ‘Robot’ (The MIT Press Reader)Moon rock origins thread (Dr. Robin George Andrews, Twitter)A look inside Biden's Oval Office (Washington Post)Baby tyrannosaurs dinosaurs were the 'size of a Border Collie' (BBC)Baby tyrannosaurs were about the same size as a dog (CNN)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NASA trained an AI to detect craters on Mars. A possible discovery of giant prehistoric carnivorous worms. A new Swedish practice to adopt. And a mobile site that will match you with your film critic soulmate.Sponsors:NordVPN, Get 68% off a two-year plan plus an additional free month––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:NASA Is Training an AI to Detect Fresh Craters on Mars (Wired)Researchers Say They've Found Ancient Dens of Giant Carnivorous Worms  (Gizmodo)Is This a Fossilized Lair of the Dreaded Bobbit Worm? (Wired)This four-letter word is the Swedish key to happiness at work (Quartz)Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break, with Recipes for Pastries, Breads, and Other Treats by Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall Swedish fika series (Sweden, YouTube) Find Your Film Soulmate with Movie Critic Matchmaker (Nerdist) Movie Critic Matchmaker Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recharge Rooms are helping frontline healthcare workers cope with the continued toll the pandemic is taking on their well-being. How bats are helping scientists create better biologging instruments and the discoveries being made with the technology. The nonprofit working on a coast-to-coast, entirely off-road bike trail across the US. And the inevitable generator that transports Senator Bernie Sanders and his folding chair anywhere in the world.Sponsor:NordVPN, Get 68% off a two-year plan plus an additional free month––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:These Recharge Rooms Are Helping Health Care Workers Cope (Wired)Seals With High-Tech Hats Are Collecting Climate Data in the Antarctic (Smithsonian)Today I learned bats are trendsetters in tracking tech (The Verge)Weird West Tale Books by Mike ResnickA new way to travel across the US (BBC)Great American Rail-Trail  (Rails to Trails)Next Stop Adventure zines (Matt Gauck, Etsy)A Website That Lets You Add Bernie Sanders Sitting at the Inauguration to Any Location on Google Maps (Laughing Squid)Put Bernie Anywhere! (Nick Sawhney) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New findings into the cannibalism and sheer size of baby megalodons. Teaching AIs to become our teachers. And The Great Gatsby has only been in the public domain for twenty days and things are already getting weird.Sponsor:NordVPN, Get 68% off a two-year plan plus an additional free month––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:Baby Megalodons Were 6-Foot-Long Womb Cannibals, Study Suggests (NY Times)AI can solve Rubik's cube—and tell us how it did it. (Fast Company)Vampire Great Gatsby? Fitzgerald's classic novel gets an undead spin now that it's in the public domain (CNET)For ‘Gatsby’ fans, 2021 will be the start of remakes. First up: ‘Nick’ (Washington Post) The Great Gatsby Performed By NPR's Planet Money (NPR) Somebody wrote a 104-page Gatsby adaptation for the Muppets (A/V Club) Muppet Show coming to Disney Plus in February 2020 (A/V Club)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A synthetic cornea implant has successfully helped a legally blind man regain his sight. Team USA and Team Canada women’s hockey players can’t stop falling in love and living happily ever after together. And a deep dive into the briny waters of the sea shanty trend––how it started, some standout covers, why the trend has taken off, and if we should even care.Sponsors:NordVPN, Get 68% off a two-year plan plus an additional free month––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKEFundrise, Get started today at fundrise.com/kottkeLinks:Synthetic cornea helped a legally blind man regain his sight (Engadget)Team USA and Team Canada Women's Hockey Players Keep Marrying Each Other (them.)Why TikTok (and Everyone Else) Is Singing Sea Chanteys (Wired)The Scottish postman behind 'Sea Shanty TikTok' (BBC) Tiktok: The Sea shanty 'Wellerman' has gone viral (Polygon)"All Star" shantified (Basscho, TikTok) Original Nathan Evans "Wellerman" dueted (Johnny Stewart, TikTok)Kermit "Wellerman" (artmonkeyworld, TikTok)C++ Shanty (Josh Millard, Metafilter)COVID-19 Vaccine Shanty (Tim Blais, TikTok) Sea shanties like the Wellerman are trending on TikTok (Vox) Why we're singing shanties in a high-stress state (Dan Olson, Twitter)  Decemberists burn (Garrett Bridger Gilmore, Twitter) Microwave Tok (Shmangomungo, TikTok)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Several of the women who influenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and left their own marks on the civil rights movement. A new documentary tracking the FBI’s surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr. and other prominent Black activists, using documentation recently released by the National Archives. And a run-down of the many ways this week’s US Presidential Inauguration will differ from years past.Sponsors:Fundrise, Get started today at fundrise.com/kottkeNordVPN, Get 68% off a two-year plan plus an additional free month––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:From Coretta Scott King to Ella Baker: These women's ideas were key to MLK's work (NBC News)Documentary Exposes How The FBI Tried To Destroy MLK With Wiretaps, Blackmail (NPR)When the FBI Spied on MLK (The Atlantic) The FBI and Martin Luther King (The Atlantic) The Filmmaker as Historian: Sam Pollard and ‘MLK/FBI’ (NY Times)How LA's Amanda Gorman became Biden's inauguration poet (LA Times)Inauguration Playlist (Biden Inaugural, Twitter)What Time Does The Inauguration Start? And What Else To Know : Biden Transition Updates (NPR)Inauguration Guide: Schedule of Events, Performances and How to Watch (Wall Street Journal)Inauguration Schedule (Biden Inaugural)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A couple of stories for the birds today. First, ravens at the Tower of London are living up to their collective name of a conspiracy of ravens by possibly foretelling the fall of Britain. And a pigeon in Australia who was almost sentenced to death by government officials. Plus, the many ways in which Wikipedia is like an MMORPG. And, because I know we all want to relive it so badly, introducing 2020: The Game.Sponsors:Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottkeSkillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:A Raven Queen Vanishes, and Britain Checks a Prophecy (NY Times)Fake US leg band gets pigeon a reprieve in Australia (AP) US pigeon that crossed Pacific to Australia faces death (The New Daily)Wikipedia Is Basically a Massive RPG (Wired)Wikipedia is an MMORPG (Wikipedia)2020 GameKottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The workaround the Unicode Consortium used to make sure we still get new emojis in 2021, pandemic or not. Facial hair is biologically useless. So why do some humans have it? And the SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule returning this evening will be carrying on it a case of twelve unopened bottles of red wine. But why?Sponsors:Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:The Emoji That Nearly Weren't (Jennifer Daniel, Substack) via Today In TabsEmoji ZWJ Sequences: Three Letters, Many Possibilities (Emojipedia)Facial Hair Is Biologically Useless. So Why Do Humans Have It? (Wired)Wild Study Suggests Human Beards Evolved to Absorb Punches to The Head (Science Alert)Our Skulls Didn't Evolve to be Punched (National Geographic)French wine, vines headed home after year in space (AP)Wed. 12/9 - Space Booze: It's... For Science (Kottke Ride Home)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pablo Escobar’s pet hippos have multiplied and are ravaging part of Colombia’s capital. An AI that can create very impressive and artistic images from text commands. Maybe a little too impressive. And a discovery in England this week that could’ve been way worse.Sponsors:Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottkeSkillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:Pablo Escobar's hippos are the world's largest invasive species (Washington Post)American Hippo by Sarah GaileyAmerican Hippopotamus (Atavist Magazine)A radish in a tutu walking a dog? This AI can draw it really well (CNN)DALL·E: Creating Images from Text (OpenAI)'Human foot' in Gateshead field turns out to be potato (BBC)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The sixteenth-century manual on containing the spread of disease that is eerily reminiscent of current COVID guidelines. Bitcoin millionaires who can’t access their digital wallets due to forgotten passwords. And the guy whose massive beer collection is playing an important role in archaeological studies.Sponsors:Skillshare, get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:The 432-year-old manual on social distancing (BBC)As Bitcoin Prices Swing, Millionaires Lose Sleep Over Lost Keys (NY Times)The Archaeologist Who Collected 4,500 Beer Cans (Atlas Obscura)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s time for two writers to pay up on a 25-year-old bet about whether tech would destroy civilization. Tim Berners-Lee’s new quest to transform the web into the one he envisioned when he created it. How the most recent COVID-19 Stimulus Bill created a new National Park––and also may reveal previously classified government research on UFOs?Sponsors:Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottkeSkillshare, get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:A 25-Year-Old Bet Comes Due: Has Tech Destroyed Society? (Wired)He Created the Web. Now He’s Out to Remake the Digital World. (NY Times)The COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Also Created America's Newest National Park (Vice)Emergency COVID Stimulus Will Likely Reveal UFO Documents (Vice)It's not just Covid relief: Smokey Bear, horse racing and the Dalai Lama included in government funding bill (NBC News)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What folklorists can teach us about the structure and resilience of conspiracy theories. The genome of the platypus has been sequenced, and it’s just as weird as you’d expect. And a Swedish film festival that’s sending one person to an abandoned lighthouse on a remote island for a weeklong stay without any human contact or outside communication.Sponsors:Magic Spoon, Save $5 at magicspoon.com/kottke and use code KOTTKENordVPN, Get 68% off plus an additional free month––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:Folklore structure reveals how conspiracy theories emerge, fall apart (Ars Technica)A TikTok Twist on 'PizzaGate' (NY Times)#166 Country of Liars (Reply All)Behind the Curve (Netflix)Rabbit Hole (NY Times)Now We Know Why Platypus Are So Weird - Their Genes Are Part Bird, Reptile, And Mammal (Science Alert) Film festival invites fans to watch movies alone on a Swedish island (CNN)Swedish film festival offers abandoned lighthouse screening (A/V Club)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A prototype for self-repairing planetary exploration robots made of ice. The surprising history of the word “dude.” And a new Danish children’s cartoon about the misadventures of a man with a huge dong. Yep.Sponsors:NordVPN, Get 68% off plus an additional free month––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKEMagic Spoon, Save $5 at magicspoon.com/kottke and use code KOTTKELinks:Robots Made of Ice Could Build and Repair Themselves on Other Planets (IEEE)The surprising history of the word ‘dude’ (BBC)dude, n., adj., and int. (Oxford English Dictionary)mobile, n.2. (Oxford English Dictionary)John Dillermand: New Danish children's TV show features a man with a massive penis (CNN)John Dillermand is kid's TV about a guy with an elastic dick (A/V Club)Denmark launches children's TV show about man with giant penis (The Guardian)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Space missions to keep your eye on in 2021. How satellites built to spy on the Soviets have helped unravel environmental mysteries. Why the dark ages aren’t considered so dark anymore. And a completely perplexing auction from David Hasselhoff and his 14 foot replica doll.Sponsors:Magic Spoon, Save $5 at magicspoon.com/kottke and use code KOTTKENordVPN, Get 68% off plus an additional free month––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:Six space missions to look forward to in 2021 (The Next Web)It Spied on Soviet Atomic Bombs. Now It’s Solving Ecological Mysteries. (NY Times)Inside the C.I.A., She Became a Spy for Planet Earth (NY Times)A Point in Time: The Corona Story (Public.Resource.Org, YouTube)Go read these stories about the use of spy satellite images in environmental studies (The Verge) Just How Dark Were the Dark Ages? (Discover)David Hasselhoff auctions off a terrifying 14-ft. replica of himself (A/V Club)For Auction: SPONGEBOB THE MOVIE "BIG DAVE" (#0112) (Live Auctioneers)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

People who are choosing to be surveilled by strangers and productivity nannies in order to stay on task while remote working. A 3D-printed hydrogel inspired by cephalopods that changes shape when exposed to light. And UK officials have arguably messed up a commemorative coin, again.Sponsors:NordVPN, Get 68% off plus an additional free month––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKEMagic Spoon, Save $5 at magicspoon.com/kottke and use code KOTTKELinks:People are hiring productivity nannies to watch them work (Wired)Shape-Shifting Hydrogel Mimics Octopus Skin (Futurity)Let us finally resolve the octopuses v. octopi debate (Quartz)Plural of Octopus: Octopi vs. Octopuses vs. Octopodes (Merriam-Webster)HG Wells fans spot numerous errors on Royal Mint's new £2 coin (The Guardian)Here’s a nice, low-stakes problem: the Royal Mint’s HG Wells coin is riddled with errors. (LitHub)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What “time confetti” is and how to stop spreading it everywhere. A new development in the teleportation of information that means good things for the possibility of quantum internet. And how TikTokers raised a million dollars for The Actors Fund over the weekend with a crowd-sourced fan-created musical, inspired by Ratatouille.Sponsors:Magic Spoon, Save $5 at magicspoon.com/kottke and use code KOTTKENordVPN, Get 68% off plus FOUR additional free months––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:How to get your time confetti under control (Timely)Everything You Need to Enjoy One Tech-Free Day a Week (Wired)High-fidelity, long-distance teleportation paves way for quantum internet (New Atlas)The delightful Ratatouille TikTok musical has already sold more than $1 million in tickets (The Verge)How a Ratatouille Musical Came Together on TikTok: WATCH (Vulture)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why talking out loud to yourself is actually an important cognitive skill, or so I’m telling myself. A new population of blue whales with a distinct song was recently discovered in the Indian Ocean. And a new AI that will hilariously and viciously judge your taste in music.Sponsors:Skillshare, get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Links:Talking out loud to yourself is a technology for thinking (Psyche)A New Population of Blue Whales Was Discovered Hiding in the Indian Ocean (NY Times)Yes! A Previously Unknown Population of Blue Whales Has Been Heard in The Indian Ocean (Science Alert)How Bad Is Your Spotify? (The Pudding) A New Musicians' Union Wants Spotify To Pay Up (WBUR) Support Artists Impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic (Bandcamp)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How is it that humans figured out how to read? New cosmological findings that may finally solve the Hubble tension. And, more monoliths continue to pop up, a look at two of the more interesting ones from this past week. Sponsors:Skillshare, get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottkeLinks:Reading, That Strange and Uniquely Human Thing (Nautilus)Language is a tool, a technology (NomeDaBarbarian, Twitter) Astronomers Get Their Wish, and the Hubble Crisis Gets Worse (Quanta)Mysterious monolith appears in Pittsfield (WCAX)Photos of gingerbread monolith (Alexis Gallagher, Twitter)Christmas Day Wonder: Gingerbread Monolith Mysteriously Appears at SF Park (KQED)Gingerbread monolith delights San Francisco on Christmas Day (AP)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How your brain takes out the trash while you sleep. The English man who crossed the Alps on a space hopper. And a subreddit where over half a million people pretend our world is just one big MMORPG. Sponsors:BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottkeSkillshare, get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Links:Deep sleep drives brain fluid oscillations (Science) During deep sleep, the brain does housekeeping (Reuters)Brain pumps comment (Christopher Mims, Twitter)Experience: I crossed the Alps on a space hopper (The Guardian)The Extraordinary Steven Payne  Documentary Official Trailer (Regijus Simkevicius, YouTube)What if life were a video game? These 650,000 people imagine it that way. (Washington Post)Outside: The free-to-play MMO, on reddit (r/Outside, Reddit)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How Star Wars toys have changed over the years and why it may not be a good thing for kids. What if there were tons of alien civilizations elsewhere in the Milky Way but they’re all long since dead? And the Danish tradition of leaving porridge out on Christmas Eve to bribe mischievous elves.Sponsors:Skillshare, get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottkeLinks:Star Wars toys and Mandalorian figures aren't really for kids anymore (Polygon)How Star Wars used the Force of Fandom to create a merchandising empire (Syfy)The Milky Way is probably full of dead civilizations (Live Science)The Danish Christmas Porridge That Appeased a Vengeful 'House Elf' (Atlas Obscura)Techmeme Ride Home Podcast Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Down the rabbit hole of targeted marketing through the lens of some strange, butt-flap onesie pajamas for adults. Don’t trust the sea foam in Australia. And some Catalonian Christmas traditions that are pretty crappy.Sponsors:BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee at BitTrustIRA.com/kottkeSkillshare, get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottkeLinks:Why are ads for pajamas with a butt flap taking over the internet? (Business Insider)Why Is This Woman's Left A-- Cheek Following Me Around the Internet? (Vice)The Pajamas Suit lets you pretend you’re dressing up for a Zoom meeting (The Verge)Sea snakes may be lurking in foam covering storm-lashed Australian beaches (The Guardian)El Caganer – Barcelona, Spain (Atlas Obscura)A traditional Nativity scene, Catalan-style (BBC)World's Largest El Caganer, 19-Foot Tall Defecating Giant in Barcelona (Laughing Squid)The Crowning Jewel of Catalonia’s Nativity Scene (Great Big Story, YouTube) Tió de Nadal – Barcelona, Spain (Atlas Obscura)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What will movie theaters look like in a post-pandemic world? And what do companies need to do to weather the storm? New research that suggests our early human ancestors could have hibernated. And the pyrotechnic German punch that Atlas Obscura describes as “mulled wine’s metal cousin.”Sponsors:NordVPN, Get 68% off plus FOUR additional free months––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKEBitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottkeLinks:How movie theaters will survive beyond the Covid-19 era (Quartz)Early humans may have survived the harsh winters by hibernating (The Guardian)The Flaming Cocktail Cauldrons of German Christmas (Atlas Obscura)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some ways that COVID could change science forever––both good and bad. The business of Christmas trees and why we’re still seeing the effects of the Great Recession in tree prices today. And a site that plays ambient noise from the forests of the world.Sponsors:HelloFresh, Use code ridehome80 to get $80 off including free shipping at HelloFresh.com/ridehome80Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:COVID-19 Changed Science Forever (The Atlantic)How Christmas trees are made, explained by a tree farmer (Vox) We Buy a Lot of Christmas Trees (NPR)America's Great Recession is still affecting Christmas tree sales (Business Insider)Tune Into Forests From Around The World 🌳🔈  (tree.fm)'Christmas Star' will be closest visible conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 800 years (NBC News)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Physicists have measured sound diffusion in a perfect fluid for the first time ever and created a surprisingly popular SoundCloud track. A bunch of new works are entering the public domain in just a few weeks. And the Kellogg brothers are best remembered for inventing cornflakes, but in their time they were known for a number of other odd foods; a look at their B-side, including snowflake toast and the world’s first patented meat substitute.Sponsors:Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottkeHelloFresh, Use code ridehome80 to get $80 off including free shipping at HelloFresh.com/ridehome80Links:Physicists capture the sound of a “perfect” fluid (MIT News)Public Domain Day 2021 (Duke Law Center for the Study of Public Domain)Before Avocado Toast, There Was Snowflake Toast (Atlas Obscura)We're Entering a New Age of Meatless Meat Today. But We've Been Here Before (Smithsonian Magazine) Corn Flakes | The Brothers of Battle Creek | 1 (American Innovations)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Genetically-engineered pigs have gotten the all clear. Digging into the field of galactic archaeology. And how Dippin’ Dots can help us better understand the leading COVID-19 vaccines, and may play a role of their own.Sponsors:HelloFresh, Use code ridehome80 to get $80 off including free shipping at HelloFresh.com/ridehome80Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:FDA approves genetically engineered pigs (The Verge) Gene editing has made pigs immune to a deadly epidemic (MIT Technology Review)  Galactic archaeology: astronomers are using stars as fossils to study the Milky Way (Horizon Magazine)What the Dippin’ Dots ‘cold chain’ can teach us about COVID-19 vaccines (Popular Science)The world's now scrambling for dry ice. It's just one headache in getting coronavirus vaccines where they need to go (CNN)A vial, a vaccine and hopes for slowing a pandemic — how a shot comes to be (Washington Post)Dippin' Dots Cryogenics (Dippin’ Dots) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What are tone indicators? Where do they come from, how are they used, and a look at both the pre-internet history of tone indicators as well as the origin of the emoticon. And, a question for the ages, what was the deal with the leg lamp in A Christmas Story?Sponsors:Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottkeHelloFresh, Use code ridehome80 to get $80 off including free shipping at HelloFresh.com/ridehome80Links:Tone Indicators and How to Use Them (NY Times)"Joke" Conversation Thread in which the :-) Was Invented (Carnegie Mellon)Here's some historical background on A Christmas Story's leg lamp (A/V Club)Leg lamp Halloween costume and more (Josh Sundquist, Instagram)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some practical tips to help you remember more of what you read. After 51 years, one of the Zodiac Killer’s ciphers has been solved. And Brussels sprouts kind of became cool in the last few years, and it’s not just because bars started serving them with a whole bunch of spices and bacon; it’s also due to some pretty fascinating cross-breeding.Sponsors:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORTFitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:How to Remember Everything You Want From Non-Fiction Books (Better Humans)Let's Crack Zodiac - Episode 5 - The 340 Is Solved! (David Oranchak, YouTube)Zodiac '340 Cipher' cracked by code experts 51 years after it was sent to the S.F. Chronicle (San Francisco Chronicle)Zodiac Killer cipher is cracked after eluding sleuths for 51 years (Ars Technica)From Culinary Dud To Stud: How Dutch Plant Breeders Built Our Brussels Sprouts Boom (NPR)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The household features that were shaped by previous epidemics. An ethics committee has approved the French military to start making bionic soldiers. And hot Dr Pepper. Sponsors:NordVPN, Get 68% off plus FOUR additional free months at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKEBitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottkeLinks:The Curious History of Steam Heat and Pandemics (Bloomberg)From Closets to Subway Tile: How Previous Epidemics Shaped Design (Architectural Digest)French army gets ethical go-ahead for bionic soldiers (CNN)US military closer to making cyborgs a reality (CNN)TIL: People used to drink hot Dr. Pepper during the holidays (The Takeout)What is hot Dr Pepper and where does it come from? (Matador Network)Have You Ever Tried Hot Dr. Pepper? (Serious Eats) Dr Pepper FAQ (Dr Pepper)1968 COLD & HOT DR. PEPPER COMMERCIAL - Dick Clark (Saturday’s World, YouTube) We tried hot Dr Pepper, and it needs to be your next winter drink (The Dallas Morning News)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Great Conjunction is upon us. Learn when and how to see Saturn and Jupiter closer than they’ve visibly been in 800 years. The Austin, Texas pop-up bringing canceled Taco Bell menu items back to life. Advice from a Japanese wellness expert on staying fit without entering a gym. And deepfake Santa is here to spread Christmas cheer.Sponsors:Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottkeNordVPN, Get 68% off––only $3.71/month, plus FOUR additional free months––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:Jupiter and Saturn Head for Closest Visible Alignment in 800 Years (NY Times)How to watch the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction on Dec. 21 2020 (Bad Astronomy)What's Up: December 2020 (NASA)Taco Fuego Pop-Up Is Serving Nixed Taco Bell Dishes Like 'Mexican Pizza,' Fiesta Potatoes, and More (Eater Austin) Austin pop-up resurrects lost Taco Bell favorites (The Takeout) How Japanese People Stay Fit for Life, Without Ever Visiting a Gym (Kokumura)Deepfake Santa Claus Has Logged On (Debugger)Send a FREE personalized AI Santa video! (Synthesia) How do I get audio pronunciation right?  (Synthesia)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why did a French company send a whole case of wine into space last year? And, if NASA technically bans alcohol, how come so many astronauts drink it and why are so many companies designing microgravity alcoholic beverage options? All is not merry and bright behind the scenes of some of the more unlikely Christmas songs that have been banned in the past. And you can blast into the past with this site that broadcasts classic old radio shows all day and night.Sponsors:NordVPN, Get 68% off––only $3.71/month, plus FOUR additional free months––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKEFundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottkeLinks:We Were Promised Cosmic Cocktails (Supercluster)Alcohol in Space: Past, Present and Future (Chris Carberry)Popular Christmas Songs Banned in the Past (Mental Floss)'White Christmas' (NPR)Old Time Radio Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The COVID vaccines headed for distribution were developed on the fastest timeline in the history of vaccines. But could we do it even quicker next time? Or even make the vaccine before an outbreak? Speaking of vaccines, William Shakespeare officially got vaccinated for COVID-19 today. Yep, you heard that right. And in other weird news, Mount Everest is taller than we thought. Plus, a website to help you stop judging books by their covers.Sponsors:Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottkeNordVPN, Get 68% off––only $3.71/month, plus an additional free month––at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKELinks:We Had the COVID-19 Vaccine the Whole Time (NY Mag)Covid-19 vaccine: First person receives Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in UK (BBC)William Shakespeare Gets the Covid Vaccine (NY Times) Shakespeare jokes (Preeti Chhibber, Twitter)  Mount Everest gets new official height in measurement by Nepal and China (Washington Post) Recommend Me a Book The Best Books of 2020 (Kottke)A happy news bloopers season to you and yours (A/V Club)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The finder of Forrest Fenn’s treasure chest has been revealed. Also, what does one do with actual buried treasure in the twenty-first century? A special delivery for the astronauts on board the International Space Station. How you can help save bumblebees. And the latest sport to be added to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games lineup.Sponsors:StoryWorth, Get $10 off your first purchase at StoryWorth.com/ridehomeFundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottkeLinks:The Man Who Found Forrest Fenn's Treasure (Outside)NASA and SpaceX Launch a New Airlock and a Christmas Feast to the ISS (Gizmodo)How You Can Help Count and Conserve Native Bees (NY Times)US National Native Bee Monitoring Network Break-dancing gets Olympic status to debut at Paris Games in 2024 (ESPN)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The latest in deep sea luxury tourism. The story of a guy who just found out this week that he’s been a meme for years. The fascinating geometry of Pringles. And an actually kinda sweet story about the polio vaccine.Sponsors:CastleGrade, Enter code KOTTKE for 10% off at CastleGrade.comStoryWorth, Get $10 off your first purchase at StoryWorth.com/ridehomeLinks:Triton's latest submarine puts six people in a bubble, 3,300 feet under (New Atlas) Guy who became a meme thread (Adrian Smith, Twitter) I Accidentally Became A Meme (BuzzFeed, YouTube)Geometry of Pringles: The Crunchy Hyperbolic Paraboloid (Interesting Engineering)The delightful—and timely—story of how 'A Spoonful of Sugar' ended up in 'Mary Poppins' (Upworthy) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A few reasons why Zoom parties suck so much, some science-backed proposals to make them better, and a few platforms that are trying to do it. A website that will play that radio for you from anywhere in the world and any time going all the way back to 1900. And J.R.R. Tolkien’s house is up for sale.Sponsors:StoryWorth, Get $10 off your first purchase at StoryWorth.com/ridehomeCastleGrade, Enter code KOTTKE for 10% off at CastleGrade.comLinks:A Mission to Make Virtual Parties Actually Fun (Wired)Radiooooo Radiooooo: The Hit Tune Time Machine (The New Yorker) JRR Tolkien House Comes on the Market (NY Times)Save Tolkien's Home — Project NorthmoorLetters from Father Christmas, Centenary Edition by J.R.R. Tolkien Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Classic Tetris World Championship final is this Sunday, streaming live online, and if you were also surprised there is a Classic Tetris World Championship, then have I got a documentary recommendation for you. Archaeologists have discovered tens of thousands of Ice Age paintings on a remote cliff in the Amazonian rainforest. And a Christmas song that has been designed especially for dogs.Sponsors:CastleGrade, Enter code KOTTKE for 10% off at CastleGrade.comStoryWorth, Get $10 off your first purchase at StoryWorth.com/ridehomeLinks:Best of Five: The Classic Tetris Champions (Kickstarter)Ecstasy of Order (earlier documentary from 2013) (Kottke)Why Are Humans Suddenly Getting Better at Tetris? (Kottke) CORRECTION: The finals are on Sunday the 6th, not Saturday. Learn more here: Classic Tetris World Championship (CTWC)'Sistine Chapel of the ancients' rock art discovered in remote Amazon forest (The Guardian)Christmas music for dogs is now a thing; 'Raise the Woof' is 'first-ever' holiday single aimed at canines (CNN)USPS Operation Santa® (USPS) Dear Santa (IFC Films)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scientists have used AI to make a massive breakthrough in protein folding that could cause huge ripples in drug treatments and understanding the human body. China has landed a robotic spacecraft on the moon and is bringing back souvenirs. Leave some milk and cookies in the Zoom chat because Santa Claus is officially going virtual. And another quick update on The Monolith.Sponsors:CastleGrade, Enter code KOTTKE for 10% off at CastleGrade.comStoryWorth, Get $10 off your first purchase at StoryWorth.com/ridehomeLinks:London A.I. Lab Claims Breakthrough That Could Accelerate Drug Discovery (NY Times)DeepMind AI cracks 50-year-old problem of protein folding (The Guardian)DeepMind 101 megathread (Dr. Adam Rutherford, Twitter)China’s Chang’e 5 mission lands on the Moon (The Verge)China's Chang'e 5 lands on the moon to collect the 1st fresh lunar samples in decades (Space)Yes, Virtual Santa Claus Meet and Greets Are Happening on Zoom (Gizmodo)The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York (Alex Palmer)Ripley’s Offering $10,000 Reward For The Missing Utah Monolith (Ripley's)Another Mysterious Monolith Suddenly Appears — This Time In Romania (NPR) Monolith at Four Seasons Total Landscaping (It’s Full Of Stars, Twitter)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An update on the mysterious monolith in Utah. The plant-based seafood companies vying to become the fishy equivalent of Beyond Meat. And some tips for socializing outside during the cold winter months.Sponsors:BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORTCastleGrade, Enter code KOTTKE for 10% off at CastleGrade.comLinks:Utah's Mystery Monolith Appeared Around 2016 Near Site of Old Movie and TV Locations (Gizmodo) Here is our official statement on the rumors surrounding the #Monolith (Utah Bureau of Land Management, Facebook) Mysterious silver monolith disappears from Utah desert (Associated Press) Mystery metal monolith vanishes from Utah desert (The Guardian) The New Wave of Fishless Fish Is Here (Outside Online)The Art of Socializing Outside During Covid Winter (Bloomberg)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Thanksgiving Day prank at NASA that ensured Thanksgiving Day pranks never happened again. How artificial intelligence could finally end the spread of tuberculosis. The new EP from a new wave band that is definitely not just Green Day in masks. And Dr. Fauci’s ruling on whether it’s safe for Santa Claus to visit this year.Links:How a Thanksgiving Day gag ruffled feathers in Mission Control (Ars Technica)These Algorithms Could End the Scourge of Tuberculosis (NY Times)The Network, Which Isn't a Green Day Side Project, Returns With New Music (Rolling Stone)Did Green Day Secretly Release A New Album Tuesday? Only The Snoo Knows (MTV)Fauci claims without evidence that Santa Claus possesses "innate immunity" to coronavirus (Boing Boing)Restore the Howl (Instagram) Duncan Parks' wolf sculpture (Instagram) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The saga of the infamous pig couch on Craigslist. A strange metal monolith has appeared without explanation in a deserted red rock cove in Utah. What does Yellowstone National Park have to do with the COVID-19 test kits? And a new device that will let you listen to things privately, without others being able to hear them, and with no headphones required.Sponsors:The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottkeLinks:Craigslist Pig Couch: Where Is It? (NY Times)Utah helicopter crew discovers mysterious metal monolith deep in the desert (CNN)DPS Aero Bureau Encounters Monolith in Red Rock Country (Utah DPS) How Yellowstone Extremophile Bacteria Helped With Covid-19 Testing (JSTOR Daily)New device puts music in your head — no headphones required (AP)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mars may still be volcanically active, which could mean positive things for the potential of life on the planet. More good vaccine news, this time from Oxford and AstraZeneca. And speaking of Oxford, the dictionary took a weird turn for their Word of the Year.Sponsors:BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottkeThe Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Links:Signs of Recent Volcanic Eruption on Mars Hint at Habitats for Life (NY Times)Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covid-19 Vaccine Up to 90% Effective (Kottke)AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is 70% effective on average, data show (STAT)3rd major COVID-19 vaccine shown to be effective and cheaper (AP)AstraZeneca and Oxford Say Vaccine Is Up to 90 Percent Effective (NY Times)Oxford’s official word of 2020 is . . . well, it’s a lot of words. (LitHub)Words of an Unprecedented Year: 2020 English Language Report (Oxford University Press)OED Word of the Year expanded for 'unprecedented' 2020 (BBC)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by Taraji P. Henson, Wondery (Dr. Death, Dirty John, The Shrink Next Door) and Universal Music Group present Jacked: Rise of the New Jack Sound.The story begins with a keyboard player in the heart of Harlem: Teddy Riley. Teddy’s entire world was music. Playing it. Composing it. Producing it. Teddy and his friend Timmy Gatling followed their dreams and started a revolution in the world of hip-hop and R&B.They crafted hit after hit, and were on top of the world.Their group’s quick rise to fame came with betrayals and broken friendships. Tensions within the band began to flare, and rivalries with other artists turned violent. As the stakes grew higher, their troubled manager pushed the group past their breaking point, with deadly results.Listen today at http://wondery.fm/Jacked_KotSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did Ben Franklin really think the turkey should replace the eagle as America’s national bird? Analyzing the microbiome of Leonardo DaVinci’s drawings. And scientists who have figured out a way to rewind cellular aging in humans.Sponsors:Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottkeBitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottkeLinks:Should the Turkey Replace the Bald Eagle as the National Bird? Ben Franklin Thought So (Discover Magazine)From Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Bache, 26 January 1784 (National Archives)The microbiome of Da Vinci's drawings (Phys.Org)In a First, Scientists Say They've Partially Reversed a Cellular Aging Process in Humans (Science Alert)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Advice for enjoying the holidays even if you’re spending them alone this year. AI researchers have made a sarcasm detector. And a look at the burgeoning field of paleomixology.Sponsors:Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottkeFitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:How To Enjoy the Holidays if You'll Be Alone This Year (Vice) 22 Ways to Make Thanksgiving Into Your Own Weird, Perfect Holiday (Vice)Baskin-Robbins Turkey Cake (Baskin-Robbins) AI researchers made a sarcasm detection model and it’s sooo impressive (Venture Beat)How a Black-Feathered Dino Inspired a Series of Nerdy Cocktails (Atlas Obscura)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some real talk about celebrating Thanksgiving this year. How artificial intelligence is being used to recreate smells from history. And Bunny the Talking Dog, the latest viral star on Tiktok. Sponsors:Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottkeFundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottkeLinks:How to Reduce (but Not Eliminate) Covid Risk at Holiday Gatherings (Wired)A Pandemic Winter Safety Rule: Don't Spend Time Indoors (The Atlantic)How to Decide if It's Safe to Get Together For the Holidays (Kitchn)One-Pot Thanksgiving Dinner Recipe (Kitchn)Kitchn’s Guide for a Festive, Small-Scale Thanksgiving Menu (Kitchn) Our Best Thanksgiving Menu for Just Two People | Kitchn (Kitchn)How AI Is Helping Researchers Recreate Historical Smells (Forbes) Seeing by Smelling – How to Enhance the Experience for Blind and Low Sighted People in a Museum of 'Visual' Art (Odeuropa)How Bunny the dog is pushing scientists’ buttons (The Verge)TheyCanTalk.orgI Am Bunny (@what_about_bunny) (Instagram)I am Bunny (@what_about_bunny) (Tiktok) Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A look at trans figures in history in honor of Transgender Awareness Week. New stretchable sensor gloves that could change the game for robots, physical therapy, and VR. Liquid Death, the over-the-top canned water company, has released their second album of the year. Plus a new release from Waffle House. And a quick extra detail about the Moderna vaccine to add to my rundown from yesterday.Sponsors:Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottkeFitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottkeLinks:Murdered, Suffocated And Burned Alive: 350 Transgender People Killed In 2020 (Forbes)Transgender Awareness Week (GLAAD)Genny Beemyn, "Transgender History in the United States" (Genny Beemyn, UMass) Re-Dressing America’s Frontier Past by Peter BoagRevolutionary by Alex Myers‎One From the Vaults (Apple Podcasts) Disclosure (Netflix) Stretchable sensor gives robots and VR a human touch (Cornell Chronicle)Researchers create Synthetic Skin that lets you ‘feel’ in virtual reality (Popular Mechanics)What you need to know about Liquid Death Mountain Water (Newsday)Liquid Death Drops “Greatest Hates Volume II” with Punk Rock Legends (Ghost Cult)Waffle House Is Releasing A Bacon-Infused Beer (Delish) Dolly Parton partly funded Moderna Covid vaccine research (The Guardian) An mRNA Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 — Preliminary Report (New England Journal of Medicine)Kottke.OrgJackson Bird on TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.