Cool Stuff Daily

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 balance DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Engineering Links: U.S. Sewer Data Warns of a New Bump in Covid Cases After Lull (Bloomberg) Is omicron subvariant BA.2 to blame for rising Covid cases? (CNBC) People, Not Science, Decide When a Pandemic Is Over (Scientific American) Anyone can be trained to be creative: New program shows early success with US Army, others (ScienceDaily) Officials Confirm Several Geomagnetic Storms Are Hitting Earth This Week (Science Alert) Why are we seeing more northern lights this year? (The Conversation) Sofiane Pamart live under the Northern Lights, in Lapland, Finland for Cercle (Cercle, YouTube) Netflix drops trailer for Barack Obama's national parks documentary series (Mashable) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many digits of pi is the right amount to use? Plus, what actually causes people to lose their sense of smell when they get COVID? And how can you work to recover yours if you lost it? And, Saturday Night Live’s Pete Davidson is going to space. Sponsors: DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Future Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Links: Vsauce short explaining Not A Wake (Vsauce, Twitter) Not a Wake: A Dream Embodying (Pi)'s Digits Fully for 10000 Decimals by Michael Keith How Much Pi Do You Really Need? (Wired) 20 Best Pi Day 2022 Deals and Freebies on Pizza, Pies and More (Good Housekeeping) How the Coronavirus Steals the Sense of Smell (NY Times) Covid Stole Your Sense of Smell? Try Physical Therapy for Your Nose. (NY Times) Pete Davidson will go to space on Blue Origin’s 4th human flight (CNBC) SNL star Pete Davidson is heading to space with crew of five on next Blue Origin flight (The Verge) 24 Years (Kottke.org) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Novo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottke Links: How Abraham Lincoln Used the Telegraph to Help Win the Civil War (History) Hank Green on Inspiring Curiosity (Offline with Jon Favreau) This App Can Diagnose Rare Diseases From a Child's Face (Wired) A Bird Is Blamed as 10,000 Lose Power in New Orleans (NY Times) Bird causes 10,000 people to lose power in New Orleans (A/V Club) Just Say No to CBDCs (The Upheaval) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/kottke Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: Joro spiders likely to spread beyond Georgia (University of Georgia) The joro spider is an invasive species, but you don't need to fear the invasion (NBC News) Thread from a science communicator on Joro spiders (ScienTEAific, Twitter) Jokes about Axios' fearmongering of Joro spiders (Katie Bowers, Twitter) Giant Joro spiders expected to drop from sky across the East Coast this spring (Axios) Huge invasive spiders native to Asia expected to spread along US east coast (The Guardian) Smithsonian to give back its entire collection of Benin bronzes (Washington Post) In a Landmark Move, the Smithsonian Will Return Benin Bronzes in Its Collection to Nigeria (ArtNet) Biden considers digital dollar—here's how it could differ from regular money (Ars Technica) Tue. 02/08 - Wine Bricks To The Rescue + Decoding Dickens & Digital Dollars (Kottke Ride Home) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Novo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottke Links: At the Bottom of an Icy Sea, One of History's Great Wrecks Is Found (NY Times) Endurance: 'Finest wooden shipwreck I've ever seen' (BBC) Endurance: Shackleton's lost ship is found in Antarctic (BBC) Shackleton's lost shipwreck discovered off Antarctica (Phys.Org) Ernest Shackleton's Ship Found After 106 Years (Kottke.Org) Ukraine war: Why has 'Z' become a Russian pro-war symbol? (BBC) Why has the letter Z become the symbol of war for Russia? (The Guardian) Alvin & the Chipmunks tweet (Jeff Blehar, Twitter) Chipmunks On 16 Speed - Sludgefest (Full Album) (LunarOrbit, YouTube) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/kottke Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: How Much Medieval Literature Has Been Lost? (Scientific American) Can ecological extinction models help us understand the literature we’ve lost? (Literary Hub) How a diamond company is giving carbon capture a boost (The Verge) A startup is sucking CO2 from the sky and making diamonds. No more mining? (Interesting Engineering) A new hotline offers pep talks from kindergartners (NPR) Call Peptoc at 707-998-8410 Disney+ Announces New Series The Muppets Mayhem (Consequence) Is It Cake? Trailer Reveals a Baking Competition With a Deceptive Twist (Collider) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Novo, Sign up for a free business checking account and get access to over $5,000 in perks and discounts at novo.co/kottke Links: Death toll surpasses 6 million for pandemic now in 3rd year (AP) Why have some people never caught Covid? The answers could help protect us all (The Guardian) Genetic study reveals causal link between blood type and COVID severity (New Atlas) The NYC Squirrel Census is back with new results — and a toll-free number (Gothamist) THE SQUIRREL CENSUS Call the Squirrel Census Phone Tree toll-free at 1-833-NYC-SQRL Stream Squirrel Census Records (Squirrel Census, Soundcloud) Squirrel Sighter (Apple App Store) Japan's 'killing stone' splits in two, releasing superstitions amid the sulphur springs (The Guardian) Sesshōseki (Killing Stone) – Nasu, Japan (Atlas Obscura) The things Apple might announce next week, ranked by how likely they are (Ars Technica) Techmeme Ride Home Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/Future Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Links: Why marine biologists think ocean cleanups are a bad idea (Vox) Ocean Cleanup struggles to fulfill promise to scoop up plastic at sea (Reuters) Tech Companies Are Reopening Their Offices, but Tech Work Has Changed Forever (Wall Street Journal) The Five-Day Workweek Is Dying (The Atlantic) Heardle A piece of a Chinese rocket slammed into the Moon this morning (The Verge) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A look at how the design of Gotham City has changed throughout each incarnation of Batman, reflecting the soul and vengeance of the caped crusader. Plus, the technicolor array of blood throughout the animal kingdom. And, your chance to take your name to the moon. Not in an investing sense. Like, literally. NASA will put your name on Artemis-I. Sponsors: Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Engineering Links: The Long and Twisted History of Designing Gotham City (The Ringer) So, Why Do We Call It Gotham, Anyway? (NYPL) Animal blood comes in a rainbow of colors—here's why (National Geographic) NASA is offering to fly your name around the moon because sure, why not? (Mashable) NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission, 1st flight of new megarocket, won't launch until May (Space.com) Around the Moon with NASA's First Launch of SLS with Orion (NASA) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

175 nations have agreed to craft a legally binding treaty to reel in the world’s out-of-control plastic problem. Plus, remember that rocket booster no one is taking responsibility for? It’s still hitting the moon on Friday. Here’s what it might be able to tell us. And, a Beetlejuice sequel might finally be happening––unless Batman thwarts him again. Sponsors: DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Future Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Links: Ice Cream Machine Hackers Sue McDonald's for $900 Million (Wired) 11/30 episode with a McDonald's milkshake update (Kottke Ride Home) Fri. 04/23 - A McShake Up: The Battle Over McDonald's Ice Cream Machines (Kottke Ride Home) Plastic pollution: Green light for 'historic' global treaty (BBC) The World Is Awash in Plastic. Nations Plan a Treaty to Fix That. (NY Times) A rocket is going to crash into the Moon – the accidental experiment will shed light on the physics of impacts in space (The Conversation) 'Beetlejuice 2': Brad Pitt's Plan B Boards Sequel In Early Development (Deadline) Michael Keaton & Winona Ryder Reportedly Returning For Beetlejuice 2 (Screen Rant) Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian [Script to Pieces] (Wicked Horror) Brad Pitt's 'Beetlejuice' (The Ankler) Beetlejuice The Animated Series - Everything You Didn't Know (Syfy Wire, Youtube) Beetle House NYC Beetlejuice Broadway Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 order DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Engineering Links: Scientists propose Tyrannosaurus had three species, not just 'rex' (Reuters) Call to split T. rex into 3 species sparks fierce debate (National Geographic) They Want to Break T. Rex Into 3 Species. Paleontologists Aren't Pleased. (NY Times) "Did anything of scientific merit happen..." (SUEtheTRex, Twitter) Animal-free dairy milk set to finally hit US retail shelves (New Atlas) Better Dairy slices into new funding for animal-free cheeses (TechCrunch) Your lunchtime walks in the summer could be making you less productive: Researchers find that a brief walk outside on a hot day impairs cognitive performance (Science Daily) Walk It Off newsletter (Isaac Fitzgerald, Substack) Unseen JRR Tolkien paintings, photographs and video clips released (The Guardian) The Tolkien Estate The Office: Kevin's Famous Chili Recipe Revealed by Peacock (Consequence TV) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/Future Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Links: Why your brain is a "time machine" living 15 seconds in the past (Inverse) Everything You See Is From 15 Seconds in the Past, New Research Claims (Popular Mechanics) Periods, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and heart health (Harvard) Apple's latest women's health study results focus on PCOS (Engadget) Apple Period-Tracking Data Powers PCOS Health Study (Gizmodo) Ukraine’s Courage, Putin’s Logic, and the Fox News Axis of Evil (The Problem With Jon Stewart, YouTube) Ukraine's President Zelensky: In the streets of a war-rattled city, a hero is born (Washington Post) Ukraine Elected a Sitcom Star President. His Show Tells Us What to Expect. (Slate, 2019) Слуга народа: Full Servant of the People episodes (Servant of the People, YouTube) "It's no coincidence that Trump got his start as a TV star..." (Joel Silberman, Facebook) President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dancing With the Stars DWTS in Ukraine in 2006. (Joel Thingvall, YouTube) Watch Ukraine's president perform Hava Nagila on piano "with his genitals" (Boing Boing) "Single Ladies"-esque music video (Студия Квартал 95 Online, YouTube) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Did Voice Paddington (The Hollywood Reporter) Behind the Scenes: Zelensky recording Paddington 2 (VLGFILM Ukraine, YouTube) Paddington Bear, Refugee (The New Yorker, 2017) Volodymyr Zelensky's inaugural address (The Ukrainian Weekly) Ukraine conflict: Nigeria condemns treatment of Africans (BBC) Thread on ways to help African/Caribbean students evacuating Ukraine (Korrinesky, Twitter) OutRight Action International Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: Scammy Instagram 'war pages' are capitalizing on Ukraine conflict (Input) How to avoid sharing bad information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (MIT Technology Review) Advice for not spreading misinformation (Kate Starbird, Twitter) Scientists are recruiting elephant seals to eavesdrop on whales (Vox) Sanofi, GSK to seek approval for Covid vaccine candidate that prevents 100% of hospitalizations (CNBC) A new Covid vaccine shows 100 percent efficacy against severe disease and hospitalizations, its makers say. (NY Times) Miscellanea: Understanding the War in Ukraine (Bret Devereaux) Why is Russia invading Ukraine and what does Putin want? (BBC) Russia's war in Ukraine: complete guide in maps, video and pictures (The Guardian) The beauty and everyday life in Ukraine, in photos (Jennifer J. Carroll, Twitter) “February. Get the ink and weep.” Contemporary Poetry From Ukraine (Literary Hub) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/kottke Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: The Unsung Heroes Who Ended a Deadly Plague (Smithsonian Magazine) How American Conservatives Turned Against the Vaccine (Kottke.Org) In Taiwan, When You Hear Beethoven, It's Time to Take Out the Trash (NY Times) 'The Andy Warhol Diaries' Trailer Is Here, Queer, and Compelling (The Advocate) Watch trailer Netflix's The Andy Warhol Diaries docuseries (Entertainment Weekly) The Russian Invasion of Ukraine (Kottke.org) Ukraine standoff, drone strikes, Johnson's woes (Bloomberg) Russia attacks Ukraine; peace in Europe ‘shattered’ (AP) Biden Speech on Putin, Russia-Ukraine Invasion: Live Updates (NY Times) Livefeed of Kyiv (Washington Post, YouTube) Russia-Ukraine Monitor Map (Centre For Information Resilience) 10 Videos From the Invasion of Ukraine That Are Actually Fake (Gizmodo) Understanding the Ukraine Crisis: A Comprehensive Reading List (Literary Hub) 4 Meaningful Ways You Can Help Ukraine (Global Citizen) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: Why does Google still have that “I’m Feeling Lucky” button? (Real Life Magazine) Easy Answers –– The more we can google, the less we know (Real Life Magazine) PSA: Google Photos Has “I'm Feeling Lucky” Too (How To Geek) Scientists Propose the Creation of a Global Aquatic Sound Library (Smithsonian Mag) Hums, honks and boops? That's just fish chatting about sex and food (The Guardian) The Cephalopodcast Kraft Heinz wants to make plant-based hot dogs through new joint venture (CNBC) Here's How Plant-Based 'Meats' Stack Up, Nutritionally (LifeHacker) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/kottke Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: The Rare Gift of Seeing Extra Colors (Wall Street Journal) 'I'm really just high on life and beauty': the woman who can see 100 million colours (The Guardian) A “hot Jupiter’s” dark side is revealed in detail for first time (MIT News) A 'hot Jupiter's' dark side is revealed in detail for first time: The planet's night side likely hosts iron clouds, titanium rain, and winds that dwarf Earth's jetstream (Science Daily) Scientists study a 'hot Jupiter' exoplanet's dark side in detail for the first time (Engadget) Hank the Tank, a 500-Pound Bear, Ransacks a California Community (NY Times) A 500-pound bear called Hank The Tank now rules California (A/V Club) Mystery Deepens as China Denies Owning Space Junk Set to Crash Into Moon (Science Alert) Corrected identification of object about to hit the moon (Project Pluto) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: Why did birds fall from sky in Mexico? Probably a predator, experts say (The Guardian) Jordan Peele posts Nope hashtag with video of creepy bird disaster (A/V Club) As More Birds Fly Into Buildings, Scientists Study How To Limit Collision Deaths (NPR) All That Breathes: The Indian brothers who heal birds dropping from the sky (BBC) All That Breathes Review: Transfixing Doc About Delhi's Bird Rescuers (IndieWire) Is Abraham Lincoln in the Wrestling Hall of Fame? (Snopes) Poems of Abraham Lincoln by Abraham Lincoln Lincoln in the Bardo a book by George Saunders I'm Abraham Lincoln and I Beg of You, Please Commemorate My Birthday with Mattress Sales (McSweeney’s) Before Hamilton, there was the Washington music video (Polygon) George Washington (TheRealBradNeely, YouTube) The Professor Brothers - History Lesson (JFK) (TheRealBradNeely, YouTube) Wizard People, Dear Reader (Brad Neely, SoundCloud) You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington by Alexis Coe Jack's Presidents' Day Playlist (Spotify) Presidential podcast (Washington Post) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/Future Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: How Scholars Once Feared That the Book Index Would Destroy Reading (Literary Hub) Students Today Can't Prepare Bark to Calculate Their Problems (Quote Investigator) Wordle Has Ad Trackers Now That the New York Times Owns It (Gizmodo) The New York Times has changed Wordle's solutions (The Verge) Extra credit: You can play Wordle in other languages! (Duo Lingo) Worldle Primel Reversle Quordle dordle Wordle Unlimited Star Wordle Queerdle Lordle of the Rings Taylordle Subwaydle 1,000 Porsches are burning aboard this abandoned cargo ship (The Verge) Ship Carrying 1,100 Porsches and Other Luxury Cars Is Burning and Adrift (NY Times) Just one last job... (Evan Simko-Bednarski, Twitter) Cargo Ship Full of Porsches, Bentleys and VWs Is On Fire and Adrift in the Atlantic [UPDATED] (The Drive) Coca-Cola introduces a first-of-its-kind flavor (CNN) Snack maker Hostess unveils caffeinated doughnuts as market for caffeine-spiked food heats up (Washington Post) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 purchase DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Engineering Links: 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.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/Future Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: This Startup Is Trying to Make Juicy Steaks Out of Thin Air (Wired) Something in the Air (Protein) These Days (The Spoon) Can lab-based meat be vegan? (Fortune) Can You Make Meat From Air? Dr. Lisa Dyson, CEO and Founder of Air Protein, Explains on The Plantbased Business Hour (Vegconomist) This Startup's Futuristic Idea to Fight Climate Change? Make Meat From Thin Air (Inc.) A Woman Is Cured of HIV Using a Novel Treatment (NY Times) First woman reported cured of HIV after stem cell transplant (Reuters) Scientists have possibly cured HIV in a woman for the first time (NBC News) Disney is developing planned communities for fans who never want to leave its clutches (The Verge) Disney Launches New Business to Develop Residential Communities (Walt Disney Company) Disney To Build New Residential Communities, First Is In Rancho Mirage (Deadline) Walt Disney (DIS) to Develop Residential Housing Communities Across US (Bloomberg) Walt Disney's radical vision for a new kind of city (The Conversation) DeLorean DMC Will Return In 2022 As Luxury Electric Sports Car (Inside EVs) The DeLorean Is Officially Back, And It's Electric (IGN) Downton Abbey stars Michelle Dockery and Michael Fox to debut musical album (Washington Post) DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA - Official Trailer [HD] (Focus Features, YouTube) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter Other 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 purchase DeVry University, Learn more at DeVry.edu/Engineering Links: The adorable love story behind Wikipedia's 'high five' photos (Input) Depths of Wikipedia (Instagram) Depths of Wikipedia (Twitter) Goofing Off (Wikipedia) 4/8/21 episode about the origin of the high five (Kottke Ride Home) Fake faces created by AI look more trustworthy than real people (NewScientist) Humans Find AI-Generated Faces More Trustworthy Than the Real Thing (Scientific American) AI generated faces are MORE trustworthy than real faces say researchers who warn of “deep fakes” (Lancaster University) AI Creates Photorealistic Portraits of Cartoon Characters (Kottke) "Frites by Idaho" is a new perfume that smells like french fries (Boing Boing) Love is in the Air... And it Smells like French Fries (Idaho Potato Commission) Laserwriter II by Tamara Shopsin Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/Future Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: Speed skiing: too fast for the Olympics (Financial Times) 12 Sports That Used To Be In The Winter Olympics (BuzzFeed) When Ski Ballet Pushed at the Porous Boundary Between Art and Sport (NY Times) The Most Insane Ex-Olympic Sport! SPEED SKIING! ⛷ (Olympics, YouTube) HOW was this an Olympic sport? Ski ballet! (Olympics, YouTube) Plot Twist: A Different Rogue Rocket Is Going to Hit the Moon (Gizmodo) A rocket is still set to slam into the Moon next month — but it may not be from SpaceX after all (The Verge) Astronomers now say the rocket about to strike the Moon is not a Falcon 9 (Ars Technica) 1/26/22 episode about the SpaceX rocket stage (Kottke Ride Home) Just 14 cases: Guinea worm disease nears eradication (Nature) AirAsia flight diverted due to unexpected snake on the plane (NPR) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 package Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: MoviePass 2.0 Wants to Track Your Eyeballs to Make Sure You Watch Ads (Vice) MoviePass is officially coming back (The Verge) Who Would Win in a Real-World Battle: A Bengal Tiger or a Ram? (Smithsonian Magazine) Nathan Chen Makes 'Crazy' Joe Burrow Comment And Predicts Super Bowl Winner (HuffPost) Photons Received: Webb Sees Its First Star – 18 Times (NASA) James Webb Space Telescope captures its first images of a star (Engadget) Comanche Wordle vs. Facebook (Dr. Kate Pewenofkit Briner, Twitter) Words removed from Wordle after move to New York Times (Boing Boing) Comanche NotWordle (TalkingComanche.org) Wordle players' streaks are returning after NYT switch (Polygon) Tech bug keeps Mazda radios locked in to NPR (BBC) Stuck in KUOW purgatory: Seattle Mazda drivers can't change the radio dial (KUOW) Gary Bowser is going to prison for selling Nintendo Switch hacks (The Verge) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 package Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: A third world may be orbiting around our closest neighboring star (The Verge) A Third Possible Planet for Proxima Centauri, The Closest Star To The Sun! (SyFy Wire) Astronomers Spot Third Possible Planet Orbiting Nearest Star (Gizmodo) New planet detected around Proxima Centauri, closest star our solar system -- ScienceDaily (Science Daily) JET fusion facility sets a new world energy record (Science Daily) Fusion experiment smashes record for generating energy, takes us a step closer to a new source of power (Space) Nuclear fusion heat record a 'huge step' in quest for new energy source (The Guardian) Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy (BBC) In the 1800s, Valentine’s Meant a Bottle of Meat Juice (Atlas Obscura) Video Shows Starlink Satellite Disintegrating Over Puerto Rico (Gizmodo) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Links: 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.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Links: The US is debating whether to adopt a digital dollar (NPR) A US Digital Dollar Should Serve the Public, Not Banks (Bloomberg) Fed releases long-awaited study on a digital dollar but doesn't take a position yet on creating one (CNBC) Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Feedback Form (Federal Reserve Board) Decoding Dickens’s Secret Notes to Himself, One Symbol at a Time (NY Times) Forget Wordle! Can you crack the Dickens Code? An IT worker from California just did (The Guardian) Dickens Code How Wine Bricks Saved The US Wine Industry During Prohibition (Vinepair) CDC launches wastewater tool to help show COVID-19 trends (The Verge) CDC COVID Data Tracker Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Links: We Need A Standard Unit Of Measure For Risk (Adjacent Possible) microCOVID Project Why Washington state wants to spend millions building bridges for cougars (Fast Company) Dr. Dre Adds Two Deaf to Super Bowl Halftime Show (Consequence of Sound) Deaf Detroit rapper to join Eminem, Dre, Snoop at Super Bowl halftime (Detroit Free Press) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: 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.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 purchase Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Links: How did Neanderthals and other ancient humans learn to count? (Nature) NASA Plans a Fiery End for the International Space Station by 2031 (Scientific American) NASA: Decommissioned International Space Station to plunge into Pacific Ocean in 2031 (Washington Post) NASA Provides Updated International Space Station Transition Plan (NASA) New company run by former NASA leader aims to build robotic outpost near the Moon (The Verge) A Search Engine That Finds You Weird Old Books (Debugger, Medium) 11/2/21 episode about Rewilding Your Attention (Kottke Ride Home) Weird Old Book Finder Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: Thirsty? Here's how your brain answers that question (NPR) Your Body's Thirst Messenger Is in an Unexpected Place (NY Times) A celebrity groundhog dies shortly before his big day (NPR) Groundhog predictions of spring no better than chance (National Geographic) Groundhogs Aren't Looking for Their Shadow—They're Scoping Out the Opposite Sex (National Geographic) Can a groundhog's shadow really predict if there will be six more weeks of winter? (Library of Congress) Punxsutawney Phil Reckons with His Jungian Shadow (McSweeney’s) ​Flowers in The UK Are Blooming a Whole Month Earlier Than They Did in The 1980s (ScienceAlert) The Pope's Playlist Is Pretty Decent! And, Honestly, Weirdly Romantic (Mother Jones) The (unofficial) Pope Francis Playlist (America Magazine) Pope Francis Visits Rome Record Shop And Gets Classical CD (UDiscover Music) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 purchase Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Links: Sinking 1,000 NYC subway cars in the Atlantic to create a reef didn't (Fast Company) Growing Pains for a Deep-Sea Home Built of Subway Cars (NY Times, 2008) New York's Subway Lives On in the Atlantic Ocean as Artificial Reefs (PBS Thirteen) Bye bye Brightliners: MTA's oldest subway cars bid farewell on final run after almost 58 years (amNewYork) More Than 2,500 New York City Subway Cars Are Now Artificial Underwater Reefs. See This Artist’s Remarkable Photos of Them Here (artnet) Photographing the New York City Subway Cars That Retired as Artificial Reefs (Atlas Obscura) New York City's newest oyster bed is 50,000 mollusks and 5,000 old public school toilets (Washington Post) NY State Drops Two More Vessels, Including "Chickadee" The Tugboat, Into Waters For Artificial Reefing (Gothamist) MTA Redbird Train Scrapping off Shark River Reef New Jersey (YouTube) This drone flies using da Vinci's 530-year-old helicopter design (CNET) A New Quadcopter Is Based on da Vinci's 530-Year-Old Helicopter Model (Interesting Engineering) Swedish firm deploys crows to pick up cigarette butts (The Guardian) Crows may soon be Sweden's newest litter pickers (The Local Sweden) Crows trained to collect cigarette butts on the street (Boing Boing) Latest Attraction at French Theme Park: Crows That Pick Up Trash (NY Times) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: We Almost Forgot About the Moon Trees (The Atlantic) The Moon Trees (NASA) Is There An Apollo 14 Moon Tree Near You? (Universe Today) Moon Trees Stand as Living Testaments to First Voyages to Moon (NASA) Can you help us find the Moon Trees? (Royal Astronomical Society) Buy a Half Moon Tree Seedling (American Heritage Trees) First Look: New Emojis in iOS 15.4 (Emojipedia) Can emoji use be the key in detecting remote-work burnout? (Phys.org) Moderna's HIV Vaccine Has Officially Begun Human Trials (them.) Hunting the holy grail: the marred history of HIV vaccine trials (Clinical Trials Arena) Moderna begins early-stage trials of mRNA-based HIV vaccine (Engadget) The F.D.A. grants Moderna’s vaccine full approval. (NY Times) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: Catalonia to pardon up to 1,000 people accused of witchcraft (The Guardian) Hundreds of Women Executed for 'Witchcraft' Were Just Pardoned (Vice) Catalonia Pardons Hundreds of Witch Trial Victims (Mental Floss) What the hell is this new thing in the Milky Way? (Mic) Astronomers detect powerful cosmic object unlike anything they've seen before (Space.com) Scientists amazed by blinking star's 'totally unexpected' behavior (Reuters) 'Spooky' object that unleashes periodic bursts of energy detected in Milky Way (NBC News) Astronomers Detect Strange Signals We've Never Seen Before in Our Cosmic Vicinity (Science Alert) I found out why metaverse avatars don't have legs (The Next Web) Tongan Flag Bearer Cancels Olympic Plans to Help Tsunami-Stricken Nation (Vice) Tonga Tsunami relief by Pita Taufatofua (GoFundMe) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/kottke Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: 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.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: 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.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/kottke Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: Meet an athlete heating up the world of extreme ironing (A/V Club) Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson The Finely Pressed, Death-Defying World of Extreme Ironing (Mel Magazine) Extreme Ironing Around the World (60 Second Docs, YouTube) Extreme Ironing - Pressing For Glory (2003 TV Program) (YouTube) The Winter Olympics could highlight China’s innovative — and troubling — efforts to control the weather (Washington Post) China 'modified' the weather to create clear skies for political celebration (The Guardian) Operation Beijing storm: rockets target rain (Reuters) NASA wants you . . . to look into the clouds (Washington Post) NASA GLOBE Cloud Challenge 2022: Clouds in a Changing Climate (NASA GLOBE Program) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: NASA’s revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope reaches final orbit in space (The Verge) The James Webb Space Telescope glides to its deep-space parking spot today! (Space.com) NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has reached its destination. Now what? (Tech Radar) How World War I Turned Peanut Butter Into a Kitchen Staple (Mental Floss) Why Do Americans Love Peanut Butter? (Slate) Golden Snitchwiches Robot vacuum cleaner escapes from Cambridge Travelodge (BBC) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: 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.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 purchase Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Links: Being Bad at Wordle Doesn't Mean You're Dumb. Here's Why (NBC LXTV) Georgia Tennant text tweet (Georgia Tennant, Twitter) A film studio may be launching in space in 2024 (Mashable) UK company behind Tom Cruise space film unveils plans to launch space movie studio (The Verge) Film Studio to Be Launched in Space in 2024 (The Hollywood Reporter) In Sewage, Clues to Omicron's Surge (NY Times) Yankee Candle Reviews Say 'No Smell' Amid Omicron Surge (Business Insider) Biobot wastewater data for US (Biobot Analytics) Wed. 06/17 - How Poop Can Prevent COVID-19 Outbreaks (Kottke Ride Home) M&M characters redesigned for a "more dynamic, progressive world," Mars announces (CBS News) M&Ms' beloved characters are getting a new look (CNN) green m&m (greenmfanfic, Instagram) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: Lumber Prices Are off the Rails Again. Blame Climate Change. (The Atlantic) Grocery Store Shortages Are Back. Here's Why. (Eater) Potato shortage: A growing global spud crisis is affecting french fries, from Japan to Kenya (Washington Post) You Can Overcome Your Empty Grocery Store (LifeHacker) Yes, There's Even A Snowplow Driver Shortage in America (Jalopnik) One of the Most Famous Victorian Dishes Is a Hilarious Lie (Atlas Obscura) Campbell's Releases Two Scented Candles That Smell Like Soup (Food & Wine) On our wish list: the SK-II x Andy Warhol Limited-Edition collection you should not miss (Vogue Singapore) Why Airlines Are Fighting the 5G Rollout (Wired) Telecoms delay 5G launch near airports, but some airlines are cancelling flights (NPR) Why AT&T and Verizon are feuding with the FAA over a last-minute delay to 5G (The Verge) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 purchase Jenni Kayne, Use code KRH at jennikayne.com for 15% off your first order Links: What We Don't Want to Know (Vice) "Deliberate ignorance can be understood as a cultural skill" (Max Planck Society) Jon Hamm Narrates Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, Updated for the Timeline Era (Kottke.org) A New Use For Ai: Summarizing Scientific Research For Seven-Year-Olds (The Verge) tl;dr papers tl;dr papers twitter examples This AI model will help you summarise a research paper in seconds (Study International) Wikitrivia is a web game that challenges your knowledge of historical dates (The Verge) Wiki History Game “Weird Al” Yankovic Biopic to Star Daniel Radcliffe (Pitchfork) Daniel Radcliffe to Play 'Weird Al' Yankovic in Roku Movie (Variety) Daniel Radcliffe tweet (Aliza Weinberger, Twitter) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 order Munk Pack, Use code KRH at Munkpack.com for 20% off your first purchase Links: 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.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Links: The Subversive Genius of Extremely Slow Email (The Atlantic) The US Federal Government Deregulates French Dressing (Wall Street Journal) FDA drops regulations on French dressing (NPR) FDA revokes French dressing standard of identity (The Takeout) Face masks make people look more attractive, study finds (The Guardian) Face masks 'make wearers look more attractive', study suggests (Cardiff University) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 balance Indeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: WhistlePig Devil's Slide Non-Alcoholic Rye Whiskey (Paste) Why I Love the Continuing Growth (And Improvement) of Non-Alcoholic Beer (Paste) WhistlePig's New Non-Alcoholic Whiskey Is Aged for 6 Years Before Being 'Undistilled' (Food & Wine) Wanted: The Future King and Pub Manager of Piel Island (Atlas Obscura) Pub landlord, caretaker and monarch sought for isolated Piel Island (The Guardian) Piel Island: Search on for landlord to run pub and island (BBC) "Ghost Flights" Are Wreaking Havoc On The Environment For No Good Reason (Mic) Ghost Flights Are Polluting the Skies Thanks to Omicron (Gizmodo) EU Defends Airline Slot Rules Over Lufthansa Ghost Flights Row (Bloomberg) Girl Scout Cookie season officially begins and this year DoorDash will deliver (Good Morning America) 08/19/2020 episode explaining the double-naming system of Girl Scout Cookies (Kottke Ride Home) Thin Mints and Grape Nuts Cereal? Ryan Seacrest Reveals 'Life-Changing' Girl Scout Cookie Hack (People) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Links: 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.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 balance Indeed, Get a free $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/goodnews Links: In a First, Man Receives a Heart From a Genetically Altered Pig (NY Times) In 1st, US surgeons transplant pig heart into human patient (AP) First transplant of a pig heart into a person sparks ethics questions (STAT) A gene-edited pig’s heart has been transplanted into a human for the first time (MIT Technology Review) Chinese Lunar Lander Makes The First Ever On-Site Detection of Water on The Moon (Science Alert) Chang'E-5 lander makes first onsite detection of water on moon (Phys) China's Chang'E-5 lander finds first onsite evidence of water on the Moon (New Atlas) Wordle Is a Love Story (NY Times) Wordle creator overwhelmed by global success of hit puzzle (The Guardian) Wordle creator promises viral game will stay simple and ad-free (BBC) Done your Wordle for the day? Try out these spoofs instead (The Verge) Heard Of Wordle? Now There's A Pokémon Version (Nintendo Life) How to win at Wordle using linguistic theory (The Guardian) The Physical Manifestation Of Wurdle Pounds My Butt As A Slightly Frustrating But Ultimately Rewarding And Meditative Daily Routine by Chuck Tingle United States Mint Begins Shipping First American Women Quarters™ Program Coins (US Mint) Maya Angelou becomes first Black woman to appear on US quarter as Treasury begins distribution (CNN) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/goodnews Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance Links: 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.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 package Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: 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.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/kottke ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN.com/kottke for an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package Links: 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.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 package Shopify, Get a 14-day free trial at shopify.com/kottke Links: Gravity Could Solve Clean Energy's One Major Drawback (Wired UK) Gravity Energy Storage Will Show Its Potential in 2021 (IEEE Spectrum) The rare spots of good news on climate change (MIT Technology Review) What's the Difference Between a Rise of 1.5, 2, and 3 Degrees Celsius? (Global Citizen) On the Surprising Link Between Physical Strength and a Healthy Brain (Literary Hub) How the CDC would act in a zombie outbreak (Boing Boing) Preparedness 101; zombie pandemic (CDC) Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices