Cool Stuff Daily

How the pandemic is changing our taste in music. The most ironic thing that could happen to a newly-published book titled Word Perfect. How asbestos might actually be a weapon against the climate crisis. And a Rocky Horror Picture Show-themed monument in New Zealand. Links: Is Pandemic Brain Changing Your Taste in Music? You're Not Alone (Vice) "Music is 5x as good right now" (Demi Adejuyigbe, Twitter) Famed lexicographer's new book "Word Perfect" released with a ton of typos (Boing Boing) Asbestos could be a powerful weapon against climate change (you read that right) (MIT Technology Review) There's a park in New Zealand dedicated to Riff Raff from ROCKY HORROR (Boing Boing) Riff Raff (Visit Hamilton) RiffRaffStatue.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

Archaeologists have found evidence of neurons in the brain of a Mount Vesuvius victim that basically turned to glass. The latest entrepreneurial trend of the pandemic taking off, in part thanks to influencers? Vending machine ownership. A Wikipedia hack for learning new-to-you complex topics. And another U.S. president whose illness had the potential to throw the nation into chaos. Sponsor: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORT Links: Archaeologists find evidence of neurons in glassy brain of Vesuvius victim (Ars Technica) The economics of vending machines (The Hustle) Simple Wikipedia George Washington nearly died from the flu. (Washington Post) George Washington (Brad Neeley, 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

It turns out crows have some skills we once thought were unique to humans. Breaking down what exactly ingredients like “eye of newt” and “tongue of dog” actually are. And Neil Cicierega’s latest mash-up album, Mouth Dreams, is here to bring you a smile in this tough year, but also give you nightmares. Links: Crows possess higher intelligence long thought primarily human (STAT News) Smartest Birds: How Smart Are Crows Compared to Humans? (Popular Mechanics) Please Pass Me The Eye Of Newt; What's Really In That Witch's Cauldron (Dave’s Garden) Neil Cicierega's Mouth Sounds mashes up Star Wars, Limp Bizkit, Peter Gabriel (A/V Club) MOUTH DREAMS (Neil Cicierega) 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 are people saying there’s a black hole at the center of the Earth? The Irish Supreme Court declares that Subway’s bread is not actually bread. The surprising controllers the US Navy uses for its subway periscopes. And winter is coming. So here are some practical tips for preparing for it. Links: No, There Isn’t A Black Hole At The Center Of The Earth (Forbes) Strange Research Paper Claims There's a Black Hole at the Center of the Earth (Futurism) Subway sandwiches contain 'too much sugar' to legally be considered bread, Supreme Court rules (The Journal) Subway's Bread Has Too Much Sugar to Be Called Bread in Ireland (Gizmodo) If You're Already Dreading Winter, Here Are Some Small Ways to Prepare Now (Vice) US Navy submarines are getting Xbox 360 controllers to control their periscopes (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 guide to the lunar spectacles in October. Some tips for improving communication when wearing masks. The surprising discovery that some of Edward Hopper’s early works were copied. And the wearable social-distancing tech allowing the London Marathon to go forward. Links: Moon Today Halloween Blue Moon in 2020: How Rare Is a Full Moon on Halloween? (Old Farmer’s Almanac) All you need to know: 2019’s Hunter’s Moon (EarthSky) What is a Hunter's Moon? (Universe Today) 2020, October 31: Rare Halloween Full Moon (When the Curves Line Up) How to Use Nonverbal Cues to Make Your Point While Wearing a Face Mask (LifeHacker) Early Works by Edward Hopper Found to be Copies of Other Artists (NY Times) The London Marathon will go ahead thanks to social-distancing wearables (Engadget) 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 Halloween rocket launch. A brief peek into the history of book burnings in honor of Banned Books Week. The surprising and grim origins of Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan. More water has been found on Mars. And the return of Fat Bear Week. Links: NASA targeting Halloween for next SpaceX Crew Dragon astronaut launch (CBS News) The Shockingly Grim Origins of Nike’s Famous Slogan (Better Marketing) Nike 'Just Do It' slogan inspired by Utah spree killer Gary Gilmore (Business Insider) Buried lakes of liquid water discovered on Mars (BBC) Bad Astronomy | Scientists find several lakes of liquid water under the surface of Mars (Syfy) Astronomers Find Potential Hidden Lakes on Mars (The Mary Sue) Fat Bear Week 2020 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

An undergrad has proven that paradox-free time travel is indeed possible. If you thought email newsletters were ubiquitous now, let me introduce you to the world of 1930s mimeograph newsletters. The emerging field of biomedical tattoos. And the Satanic tea company here to bust stereotypes. Links: Time Travel Theoretically Possible Without Leading To Paradoxes, Researchers Say (NPR) Time Travel Is Possible: Math Proves Paradox-Free Time Travel (Popular Mechanics) Time Travel - Is It Possible? (Popular Mechanics) Peak Newsletter? That Was 80 Years Ago (Wired) We’re at Peak Newsletter, and I Feel Fine (Vanity Fair) Dynamic tattoos promise to warn wearers of health threats (The Conversation) Care for a Cup of Satanic Chamomile? (NY Times) Bones Coffee Company 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 face mask economy––how everyone from high fashion designers to mom and pop shops on Etsy met the demand, and where they go from here. The origins of the phrase “jack of all trades.” Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to fund polling locations. And Vin Diesel pivots to singer-songwriter. Sponsor: Indeed, Get a $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: How a couple of mom-and-pop Etsy shops made millions off masks (The Verge) The Real Reason Every Fashion Company Is Now Making Face Masks (Marker) Vistaprint, Gap, and Etsy Sellers Pivoted to Making Masks. What Happens When the Bubble Pops? (Marker) Jack of All Trades meaning (The Idioms) "Jack of all trades, n." (Oxford English Dictionary) Essayes and Characters of a Prison and Prisoners by Geffray Mynshul Arnold Schwarzenegger says he'll pay to reopen polling centers across America so everyone can vote (Upworthy) Vin Diesel Is a Sensitive Club King on Debut Single 'Feel Like I Do' (Rolling Stone) 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 guide to saying no for people-pleaser’s. A recently discovered secret party room located under Grand Central Terminal and other strange breaking news from the New York City subway. Experts weigh in on why humans evolved to have butts. And the mysterious reason the internet went out every morning at seven am across an entire village in Wales. Sponsor: Indeed, Get a $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: How To Say No, For The People Pleaser Who Always Says Yes (NPR) Secret 'Man Cave' Discovered in Room in Beneath Grand Central Station (Gizmodo) Subway Pooping Ban On MTA Board To-Doo List (Patch) Why Do We Have Butts? (Gizmodo) Old TV caused village broadband outages for 18 months (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

A new discovery indicates chromium is about a thousand years older than we thought. Why it’s sometimes better not to use your full potential on things. A group of chefs trying to make drive-thru fine dining a thing. And an Enola Holmes PR stunt from Netflix that’s shining a light on women’s representation. Sponsor: Indeed, Get a $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: 1,000-Year-Old Precursor to Stainless Steel Found in Iran, Surprising Archaeologists (Gizmodo) This 'Modern' Invention Is Really 1,000 Years Old, Researchers Discover (Vice) In Defence of Half-Arsing (David R. MacIver) Why this drive-through restaurant could be the future of fine dining (Fast Company) Netflix Enola Holmes Statues Thread (Netflix UK, Twitter) Netflix Celebrates 'Enola Holmes' Release With Statues Of Sisters Overshadowed By Famous Brothers (Forbes) More Monuments to Women (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) 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 study has found that fans of horror movies are having an easier time coping with the pandemic. The woman who serves as the Queen of England’s body double. A new species of dinosaur discovered with perfectly preserved fossils in China. And a few ways to get your nature fix from the National Parks Service, including one that will make you $50,000 richer. Sponsors: Indeed, Get a $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: Horror Movie Fans Are Having an Easier Time Dealing With the Pandemic, Study Says (Vice) The Morbid Curiosity Scale Coltan Scrivner (Psychology of Morbid Curiosity) 125-Million-Year-Old Dinosaurs Found Buried By Volcano Eruption In China (All That’s Interesting) 125 million-year-old dinosaur found buried by a volcanic eruption in China (CNN) Visit Any National Park for Free on September 26—or Volunteer to Help Maintain Them (Mental Floss) National Public Lands Day (National Environmental Education Foundation) Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold CEO A Photographic Window into the Remote Siberian Territory of Yakutia (Kottke) 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 do we eat fish sticks? The story behind those viral annual 21st of September videos. How to get the mental health benefits of “vacation anticipation” without going on vacation. And one of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s favorite teachers. Sponsors: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORT Indeed, Get a $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: How marketers convinced America to eat fish sticks (The Hustle) The shifting popularity of fish throughout American history (Splendid Table) Interview: Demi Adejuyigbe's 'September 21' Videos (Vulture) 9/21 (Demi Adejuyigbe, YouTube) September 21st! A Charity Fundraiser (Action Network) How travel excitement can provide COVID-19 stress relief (LA Times) Ruth Bader Ginsburg on how Vladimir Nabokov influenced her writing. (Lit Hub) Opinion | Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Advice for Living (NY Times) Egypt tomb: Sarcophagi buried for 2,500 years unearthed in Saqqara (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

Jason Kottke started Kottke.org in 1998, making it one of the oldest, still maintained blogs on the web with over 26,000 posts spanning topics from art and technology to design, culture, and general knowledge. This is a peek behind the scenes of Jason's process, his philosophies, and general thoughts on the internet––where it’s been, and maybe where it’s going. We talked about what running the blog looks like now, how it’s changed over the years. The evolution of patronage models, and his current thoughts on them. We talked a bit about burn out and managing that tension between what you really want to do versus what may appear to be the path of success online. And about the increasingly challenging task of maintaining ownership over what you create online. We also compared and contrasted our experiences as an OG blogger versus an OG vlogger, and how terrible both of those words are. Links: Kottke.Org Jason Kottke 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 2020 Ig Nobel Prize winners were announced last night. Some people are trying to make CD players a thing again. How algorithms can detect our mood based on what we write online. And the surprising connection between Frozen and Arrested Development. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: 2020 Ig Nobel Prize Winners (Improbable Research) Emergency Bra Scientific American Endorses Joe Biden (Scientific American) Sara Little Turnbull Inspired the N95 Respirator From a Bra Cup Design (House Beautiful) CD Players Are Back From the Dead and Now Work With Airpods (Gizmodo) How To Remove Ham From CD Drive (InconseQuest, YouTube) How algorithms discern our mood from what we write online (Sinapticas) Hedonometer This Popular Line In The "Frozen" Song "Love Is An Open Door" Was From An "Arrested Development" Episode (BuzzFeed) 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 tips for tricking the algorithms and having a more neutral social media feed. Scientists have discovered a possible way to prevent motion sickness. The Norwegian concept of friluftsliv and how it could be just what we need this winter. And the latest installment in the sad saga of Chuck E. Cheese versus the pandemic. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: How to Break Out of Your Social Media Echo Chamber (Wired) Firefighter fighting conspiracies (WildlandMike, Tiktok) You can train your brain to reduce motion sickness (Eurekalert) What is ‘friluftsliv’? How an idea of outdoor living could help us this winter (National Geographic) Why Chuck E. Cheese Needs to Destroy 7 Billion Paper Prize Tickets (Food and Wine) Chuck E. Cheese wants to destroy 7 billion prize tickets, watch the world burn (The Takeout) 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 completely preserved extinct cave bear specimen from the Ice Age has been found in Siberia. Why our dreams have been more intense since the pandemic began. Strange new food and drinks hitting the market, and some beloved ones we won’t be seeing this year. And the billionaire who just accomplished his lifelong goal of giving away all of his money. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: Bear from Ice Age found 'completely preserved' in Russian Arctic (BBC) Cave bear carcass found in Siberian permafrost with organs, nose intact (Science Alert) The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Changing Our Dreams (Scientific American) The pandemic is giving people vivid, unusual dreams. Here's why. (National Geographic) Coronavirus Dreams Bot (@CovidDreams) (Twitter) i dream of covid PepsiCo to launch drink to aid sleep as consumers struggle with stress (CNBC) COVID-19 has created a seasonal Peeps candy shortage (A/V Club) Taco Bell is now selling its own custom wine (CNN) Red Lobster 'Dew Garita' Cocktail: Mountain Dew Margarita Hits the Menu (Thrillist) There Won’t Be Halloween Or Christmas Peeps This Year, And It's All COVID-19's Fault (Delish) The Billionaire Who Wanted To Die Broke . . . Is Now Officially Broke (Forbes) 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 have detected phosphine on Venus. Is it a sign of life? What it’s like to be in the virtual audience of a televised game. If you have trouble breathing when wearing a mask, here’s an explanation why and some tips to help. And Shrekfest is going virtual this year. Also, Shrekfest is a thing that exists. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: Life on Venus? Astronomers See a Signal in Its Clouds (NY Times) Announcement About Research on Venus's Chemistry (NASA) Carl Sagan predicted life on Venus in 1967. We may be close to proving him right. (Mashable) Chemical that shouldn’t be there spotted in Venus’ atmosphere (Ars Technica) I Was a Floating Head at an NBA Game. It Gets Weirder (Wired) Why It Feels Like You Can't Breathe Inside Your Face Mask — and What to Do About It (Discover Mag) Shrekfest is going online this year (A/V Club) Here's everything you missed at Shrekfest, where irony goes to die (A/V Club) Shrekfest Kottke.Org Jackson Bird on Twitter Tech Meme Ride Home 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

Have you become intimately acquainted with your own breath since you began wearing a mask? Here’s how to curb the stench. Some insight into how non-human animals use numbers and quantitative information. The sad truth about plastic recycling. And Bielefeld, Germany––a town that may or may not exist––offered a million euro prize to anyone who could prove it definitively does not exist. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: How to Avoid 'Mask Breath' (NY Times) Anti-Maskers Forced to Dig Graves for Covid-19 Victims in Indonesia (Gizmodo) Is Plastic Recycling A Lie? Oil Companies Touted Recycling To Sell More Plastic (NPR) Opinion | The Reign of Recycling (NY Times) In the Animal Kingdom, the Astonishing Power of the Number Instinct (MIT Press Reader) Bielefeld, Germany, Is Offering $1.1 Million If You Can Prove the Conspiracy Theory That It's Not Real (Mental Floss) City of Bielefeld offers €1m for proof it doesn't exist (BBC) Bielefeld Conspiracy – Bielefeld, Germany (Atlas Obscura) Bielefeld Million 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 the cheap rotisserie chicken is ubiquitous in American grocery stores. The new, true proportions of the megalodon. Unpacking the enormous size of Houston, Texas and its highway interchanges, as compared to a tiny Italian city center. And the 2020 finalists of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. Links: The Convenient Truth of Rotisserie Chicken (Taste) Palaeontologists Reveal What Could Be The True Proportions of The Fearsome Megalodon (Science Alert) Yes, This Interchange in Houston Is the Same Size as an Entire City Center in Italy (Texas Monthly) As If You Needed It, Further Proof That Houston Is So Much Bigger Than Most Cities (Texas Monthly) Gallery of Winners and Finalists 2020 Finalists (Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards) 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 big, underlying reason why so many items were tough to find at the start of the pandemic, and why some may still be for a long time to come. The sea anemones who grow extra tentacles when they eat too much. The psychological makeup of mountain-dwellers in the US still matches that of wild west pioneers, a study finds. And the offbeat candy canes that the internet can’t get enough of. Links: The real reason there was a beer, sanitizer, yeast, and pasta shortage in the pandemic. (Slate) After a Feast, These Sea Anemones Grow More Arms (NY Times) ‘Wild West’ mentality lingers in US mountain regions (Cambridge) Where You Live in The US Is Linked to Certain Personality Traits, Study Finds (Science Alert) Candy Canes (Archie McPhee) 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 perfectly sealed 2,500 year old coffins recently discovered in Egypt. How lockdown is making us all socially awkward. The gold ticket competition to win a candy factory, and the Willy Wonka-like figure behind it. And a new strategy New Zealand is trying to help out the deaf and hard of hearing. Sponsor: PodCorn, Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up at podcorn.com/podcasters Links: Egyptian Authorities Have Discovered 13 Completely Sealed 2,500-Year-Old Coffins (Science Alert) The Coronavirus Made Us Socially Awkward (NY Times) Jelly Belly's founder has gone full Willy Wonka (A/V Club) Jelly Belly 'founder' golden ticket hunt: Read fine print (Fast Company) The Trials And Tribulations Of The Real Candy Man, The Inventor Of Jelly Bellies (Business Insider) Candyman: The David Klein Story (Amazon Prime Video) The Gold Ticket Supermarket to trial sign language aisle at checkout (Radio New Zealand) 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 first cloned endangered horse has been born. Next stop woolly mammoth de-extinction? The New Zealand man who won the French Scrabble competition without speaking a single word of French. The rising popularity of produce prescription programs. And have you been more clumsy during lockdown? If so, you’re not alone. Sponsors: PodCorn, Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up at podcorn.com/podcasters BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORT Links: First Clone of Endangered Horse Born in Effort to Save Species (TIME) Revive & Restore | Genetic Rescue to Enhance Biodiversity (Revive & Restore) Japanese scientists make breakthrough in cloning a woolly mammoth (Deutsche Welle) Winner Of French Scrabble Title Does Not Speak French (NPR) What Makes Nigel Richards The Best Scrabble Player On Earth (538) Just What the Doctor Ordered: Produce Prescriptions are More Important—and Popular—Than Ever. (Civil Eats) 'Food Prescriptions' Can Treat Chronic Diseases (Healthline) Why Everyone Is So Clumsy During Quarantine (The Atlantic) 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

New research indicates that Stonehenge may have been able to produce surround sound and was used to amplify rituals. The bizarre tradition of excessively-huge homecoming mums in Texas. A Finnish town is bribing its residents with cake to make them more eco-friendly. And the surprisingly crowded market of squid-based guided meditations. Links: A Remarkable New Study Suggests That Stonehenge Was Built to Amplify Sound During Ancient Ruling-Class Rituals (ArtNet) Homecoming May Feature ‘Mum Mask' This Year (NBC DFW) In Texas, You Don’t Wear a Corsage to Homecoming. It Wears You (Wall Street Journal) In Texas, Homecoming Mums Are a Team Effort (Racked) Inside The Weird Texas Tradition of Enormous Homecoming Corsages (Jezebel) The Queen Mum (Dennis Murphy, YouTube) Finnish town offers locals cake for cutting CO2 emissions (Euro News) 6 Scientifically Proven Benefits Of Mindfulness And Meditation (Forbes) MeditOceans: Our series of soothing mindfulness meditations (Monterey Bay Aquarium) Deep RelaxOcean (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, YouTube) Relaxation and Beyond with the Giant Squidstravaganza (Giant Squidstravaganza, Bandcamp) Trailer for Feels Good Man 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 Swedish scientists that used VR to Freaky Friday some best friends and study how our bodies affect our sense of self. Some exercises you can do at your desk to improve your posture. The curious case of the rust found on the moon. And some social media age life lessons from The Terminator himself. Links: How 'swapping bodies' with a friend changes our sense of self (Science Daily) Would You Swap Bodies with a Friend? (Science Times) Six seated exercises to keep you limber at your desk (Popular Science) Scientists Found Rust on the Moon. That Should Be Impossible (Vice) "A fan on Reddit carved this pipe for Arnold @Schwarzenegger's birthday and then this happened" (OriginalYoni, 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 most massive merger of two black holes ever and mysteries it’s left us with. The fourteen year old viral hit, “Shoes,” is back with a pro-mask follow-up. The new dollar coins in Australia designed specifically for charitable giving. And the 96th annual burning of Zozobra is happening in Santa Fe this Friday. Links: Astronomers say they’ve detected the most massive merger of two black holes ever discovered (The Verge) A black hole merger may have formed a never-before-seen intermediate mass black hole (Bad Astronomy) Kelly "Masks" (LiamKyleSullivan, YouTube) The Story of "Shoes," the First Great Viral Music Video (Vice) Royal Australian Mint releases 'donation dollar' coin designed to be given to charitable cause (ABC) Zozobra: The Quirky New Mexico Tradition That Promises to Take Your Gloom Away (Mental Floss) Zozobra! (Visit New Mexico, YouTube) BURNZOZOBRA.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

The dragon eggs powered by diamonds. No, it’s not a children’s fairy tale, it’s a cutting-edge type of nuclear battery that could give us super long-lasting power and very little waste. The extinct breed of singing dogs that has been rediscovered. A brief history of Kool-Aid and the drink’s totally cool mascot. And new research into the effective use of bee venom for breast cancer treatment. Links: Are Radioactive Diamond Batteries a Cure for Nuclear Waste? (Wired) Singing Dogs Re-emerge From Extinction for Another Tune (NY Times) Scientists Rediscover Rare 'Singing' Dogs Thought to Have Gone Extinct (Vice) Breakthrough Success: Why Kool-Aid's Marketing Packs a Punch (Tedium) The untold truth of Kool-Aid (Mashed) Kool Aid Man - Atari 2600 (Free 80s Arcade) Honeybee venom rapidly kills aggressive breast cancer cells, Australian research finds (ABC) The Problem with Bee Venom Therapy (SciShow, YouTube) New Documentary Explores the Last Blockbuster Store (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

An update on Elon Musk’s brain implant technology. Some slightly bizarre anxiety-reducing exercises. How to make Batman give you driving directions. And the monkey-fighting group of grannies in Japan. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: Musk says that Neuralink implants are close to ready for human testing (Ars Technica) Elon Musk's Neuralink is neuroscience theater (MIT Technology Review) Ahead of Neuralink event, ex-employees detail research timeline clashes (STAT) Five-Minute Coronavirus Stress Resets (NY Times) Batman (and the Riddler) can now give you directions in Waze (Mashable) DC Comics reveals Batman Day plans and digital activities (AIPT) These Feisty Grannies Call Themselves 'Monkey Busters,' Chasing Away Local Primate Pests With Air Guns (Newsweek) 3 Retirees In Japan Form 'Monkey Busters' To Defend Crops From Pesky Primates (HuffPost) COVID-19 Vaccine Research Is Facing a Monkey Shortage (The Atlantic) Class Action Park | Official Trailer (HBO Max, 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

How the Anthropocene has had a bigger impact on North America than the last ice age. The Washington border town that can’t access either Canada or the US anymore. How to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day this weekend. A make-your-own mashup site that’s a blast from the past. And how to see Jupiter, Saturn, and the moon all together tonight. Links: Humans Have Changed North America More Than an Ice Age (Earther) A Border Town Is Now Isolated From Both the U.S. and Canada (Atlas Obscura) Point Roberts residents gain new free ferry service to United States mainland | Urbanized (Daily Hive) 119 Black-Owned, Independent Bookstores By State (Oprah Mag) About BookShop Independent Bookstore Day Portland bookstore Powell's won't sell on Amazon: 'We must take a stand' (CNBC) 2007 forever (The Magic iPod) Meet the Man Behind the Magic iPod (The Ringer) MOUTH SOUNDS See Jupiter and Saturn with the moon this weekend (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

The Scots Wikipedia site that turns out to have been mostly written by an American teenager who does not speak Scots. Some tips and insight on staying safe from COVID-19 when indoors. Breaking down the strange, undefeatable popularity of pumpkin spice. And an update from Elon Musk to be on the lookout for. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: Shock an aw: US teenager wrote huge slice of Scots Wikipedia (The Guardian) I've discovered that almost every single article on the Scots version of Wikipedia is written by the same person - an American teenager who can't speak Scots (r/Scotland) Most of Scottish Wikipedia Written By American in Mangled English (Vice) Smoke on the Wind: the Aerosol Spread of Covid-19 (Kottke) Covid-19: Five ways to avoid catching the virus indoors (BBC) A flavorist explains how pumpkin spice took over the world (The Takeout) Why Is The Pumpkin Spice Latte Still A Thing In 2020? (Refinery29) Pumpkin: The Curious History of an American Icon by Cindy Ott The 1-833-GET-FALL Hotline (Starbucks, Twitter) Elon Musk promises demo of a working Neuralink device on Friday (The Verge) Neuralink Progress Update Announcement (Elon Musk, Twitter) Neuralink (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

Why it’s so hard to find dumbbells right now. Why Netflix’s upcoming Enola Holmes movie landed them a lawsuit from the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle estate. A model for fighting procrastination. And the one quick fix that could save hundreds of thousands of birds a year. Links: Why it's so hard to find dumbbell sets in the US (Vox) The curious case of copyright and character (Intellectual Property Magazine) Watch the trailer for Enola Holmes, the Sherlock Holmes movie that landed Netflix a lawsuit (The Verge) The Strange Case of 'Mr. Holmes' Vs. U.S. Copyright Law (Forbes) How to stop procrastinating by using the Fogg Behavior Model (Deprocrastination) Bird deaths down 70 percent after painting wind turbine blades (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

Why the 2000-year-old redwoods in northern California are safe from the wildfires. How Leo Tolstoy’s mundane procrastination inspired Anna Karenina and can inspire other creatives today. The newly uncovered meteorite that predates the sun. And an upcoming game that simulates the most boring part of air travel. Links: 2,000-year-old redwoods survive wildfire at California's oldest state park (NBC News) The Everyday Inspiration for Anna Karenina (The New Republic) Rainbow meteorite discovered in Costa Rica may hold building blocks of life (LiveScience) An unusual meteorite, more valuable than gold, may hold the building blocks of life (Science Mag) 'Airplane Mode' will let you relive the monotony of economy class this fall (Engadget) Taiwan airport offers 'pretend to go abroad' airport tours amid Covid-19 pandemic (CNN) ANA Flies Its Airbus A380 Carrying Passengers To Nowhere (Simple Flying) 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

It turns out the ‘Oumuamua might be alien tech after all. The truth behind that asteroid allegedly hitting earth the day before America’s election. Finnish scientists have discovered an effective hangover cure. And the weird 1970s commercials hidden in a Disney+ special. Sponsor: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORT Links: Mystery of Interstellar Visitor 'Oumuamua Gets Trickier (Scientific American) Wild Idea: What If Interstellar Visitor 'Oumuamua Is an Alien Light Sail? (Space.Com) Here's The Real Truth About That 'Election Day' Asteroid on Its Way to Earth (Science Alert) Hangover Cure Successfully Tested on Drunk Subjects in Finland (Bloomberg) Finnish Researchers Think They've Found a Real Hangover Cure (Food & Wine) Disney+ Mouseketeer Special Full of Commercials From 1977 (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 3D-printed sushi restaurant that takes a DNA sample with your reservation. Why we may not remember much of our day-to-day lives during the pandemic. The return of mouse-sized elephants. And the emerging trend of drive-thru haunted houses. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: Tokyo Restaurant Offers 3D-Printed Sushi Tailored to Your Health Needs (My Modern Met) SUSHI TELEPORTATION (Open Meals) We won’t remember much of what we did in the pandemic (Financial Times) Tiny elephant shrew species, missing for 50 years, rediscovered (The Guardian) Search for Lost Species (Global Wildlife Conservation) Kenya's Elephant Population Has Doubled Since 1980s (NPR) Netflix's Stranger Things Gets a Drive-Thru Haunted House (io9) Tokyo has a drive-in haunted house. And it's terrifying (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

Talking about lots of old media today. Vice wants to send you physical zines through USPS. It turns out a number of industries are still using floppy disks. A new online database fifty years in the making and created by Julia Child’s former neighbor. And some crop art celebrating Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Link: Introducing The Mail, a Newsletter and Zine About the USPS (VICE) Vice wants to send you print mail to help you understand the plight of the United States Postal Service (Nieman Lab) Boeing 747s Still Use Floppy Disks to Get Software Updates (Gizmodo) Why The Floppy Disk Is Still Used Today (Digital Trends) A Database of 5,000 Historical Cookbooks Is Now Online, and You Can Help Improve It (Atlas Obscura) thesifter.org Kamala Harris crop art turns up near Lawrence (KMBC News) Crop artist spells out 'Thank You' in Kansas field to honor essential workers (KAKE ABC) EARTHWORK (Chris Ordal, Vimeo) 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

Did you know we have two different measurements for feet in the US? Like the twelve inches on a ruler. There are two different versions. But not for long. Some good news regarding the prospects for a COVID-19 vaccine. A new Girl Scout cookie and why the cookies seem to vary from state to state. And a Swiss town that got a very delicious surprise snowstorm last week. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: America Has Two Feet. It’s About to Lose One of Them (NY Times) What the immune response to the coronavirus says about the prospects for a vaccine (Nature) There's a new French toast–inspired Girl Scout cookie coming for 2021 (Good Morning America) This Map of Girl Scout Cookies Differences Based on Location Is Crazy (Wide Open Eats) Snowing cocoa? Chocolate factory glitch dusts Swiss town (AP) 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

Debunking some misconceptions about women’s suffrage on the hundredth anniversary of American women gaining the right to vote. Busting the myth of the Lost Colony. Facebook and NYU are trying to make MRIs better for patients using artificial intelligence. And a website that will replicate the white noise of your office. Sponsors: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: Facebook and NYU use artificial intelligence to make MRI scans four times faster (The Verge) Myths About the 19th Amendment and Women's Suffrage Debunked (TIME) Suffrage at 100: A Visual History (The NY Times) ‘Finish the Fight’: A Special Digital Theater Performance Celebrates 100 Years of Women’s Right to Vote (The NY Times) ‘The mystery is over’: Researchers say they know what happened to ‘Lost Colony’ (The Virginian Pilot) The Mystery of the 'Lost Colony' Has Been Answered; What Really Happened to Them? (Tech Times) Sound of Colleagues 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 find the Butterfly Effect does not exist in the quantum world. Dennis Quaid has adopted a cat named Dennis Quaid. The mural in Warsaw that eats smog. The curious case of beer hidden in the shelves of the Walla Walla Public Library. And a special podcast announcement. Sponsors: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: Scientists Have Shown There's No 'Butterfly Effect' in the Quantum World (Vice) The Time Traveler's Almanac Dennis Quaid adopts cat also named Dennis Quaid (A/V Club) The Pet Show with Dennis Quaid and Jimmy Jellinek (iHeart Radio) Beautiful Mural in Warsaw Eats Up Smog, Purifying The Air Equal to 720 Trees (Good News Network) A stash of beer and gum that dates back to the 1980s was discovered hidden behind the shelves of a Washington library (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

It’s a brand new world today. There’s a new ice cream jingle from Good Humor and RZA. A new dinosaur was discovered in England. Some books of classic literature are being published under new names. And a new use for Little Free Libraries. Links: ‘George Eliot’ joins 24 female authors making debuts under their real names (The Guardian) New Dinosaur Found on Isle of Wight Beach is Related to the T-Rex (Gizmodo) New dinosaur related to T. rex discovered on Isle of Wight (BBC) RZA Wrote a New Jingle for Ice Cream Trucks to Replace 'Turkey in the Straw' (Rolling Stone) Recall That Ice Cream Truck Song? We Have Unpleasant News For You (NPR) Little Free Pantries: Addressing food insecurity during COVID (Christian Science Monitor) Mini Pantry Movement Little Free Library The Fast and the Furious (on a budget) (Budget Boyz, 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

Some facts about left-handedness for International Left Handers Day. Why you should invest in bird poop. Why Tony Hawk just renamed the “mute air” skateboard trick. And how Australian bars turned their excess expired beer from lockdown into renewable energy. Links: Left Handers Day, August 13th (Left Handers Day) 15 Things You Never Knew About Left-Handed People (Reader’s Digest) Geneticists Are Untangling the Mystery of Left-Handedness (Gizmodo) Why is left-handedness rare? It comes down to these 2 words (Fast Company) Seabird poop is worth millions, say scientists trying to save the birds (CNN) Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 Renames Trick To Properly Honor Its Deaf Creator (Kotaku) Beer unsold during lockdown has been turned into renewable energy (CNN) AMC theaters to return this month with 15-cent tickets and old favorites (Mashable) 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 “rumor clinics” that combated fake news during World War II. How scientists have turned ordinary bricks into supercapacitors. Why some groceries are still tough to come by. And your chance to have a sleepover at the last remaining Blockbuster in the world. Links: How 'Rumor Clinics' Fought Fake News 80 Years Ago (Mental Floss) During WWII, 'Rumor Clinics' Were Set Up to Dispel Morale-Damaging Gossip (Atlas Obscura) Clever chemistry turns ordinary bricks into electricity storage devices (The Conversation) Why Are Some Groceries Still So Hard to Find During Covid? (Wall Street Journal) You can soon rent the world's last Blockbuster on Airbnb (AV Club) End of Summer Sleepover at The Last BLOCKBUSTER (Airbnb) 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 a good idea to clean your face mask by putting it in the rice cooker? The weird defunct rides of Disney theme parks past. Why scientists want farmers to paint their cows butts. And how to watch the Perseid meteor shower tonight. Links: Decontaminate your N95 mask with a rice cooker (Popular Mechanics) Electric cooker an easy, efficient way to sanitize N95 masks, study finds (Science Daily) Defunct Disney Rides and Lands (Mental Floss) Alien Encounter: The Life and Death of Walt Disney World's Scariest Ride Ever (Mental Floss) Painting Eyes on The Butts of Cattle Can Protect Them From Lions, Research Shows (Science Alert) Perseid Meteor Shower: Watch It Peak in Night Skies (NY Times) Perseid meteor shower viewing guide (Syfy) The Perseid Meteor Shower of 2020 Peaks tonight! Here's how to watch live. (Space.Com) LiveMeteors.com: Listen live to meteors radio echoes 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 face mask that can translate in eight languages. Tips for lifting your mood as lockdown measures and remote working stretch on. Why people used to rent pineapples. And the renaissance-era wine windows experiencing a comeback in Italy. Sponsors: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORT Links: This Japanese face mask translates into eight languages (CNN) Startup Developed a Smart Face Mask That Translates Speech Into Eight Different Languages (iTech Post) How to lift your mood during the long-haul of remote work (Fast Company) The Super Luxe History of Pineapples—And Why They Used to Cost $8000 (Mental Floss) How Hawaii Lost Its Last Queen, Liliuokalani, to the Fruit Tycoons at Dole (Newsweek) Italy Used "Wine Windows" During The Plague And Now They Are Open Again Because Of The Coronavirus (BuzzFeed) Florence's Forgotten Renaissance 'Wine Windows' Are Open Again for Business (Wine Spectator) NEWS & SO (Buchette del Vino) 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

Today is International Beer Day! How to celebrate and why it exists. How the Netflix sound logo came to be, and what goats and wedding rings have to do with it. And the orchestra that uses fresh produce as instruments. Links: Here's the story behind Netflix's iconic intro sound. A goat is involved. (Mashable) 100 | Ta-dum! It's Netflix (Twenty Thousand Hertz) MOUTH SOUNDS (Neil Cicierega) About International Beer Day (International Beer Day) Here's a List of All the Beer Drinking “Holidays” in 2020 (Just Beer) International Beer Day 2020 deals from Miller Lite, Peroni and more (Newsweek) 'Vegetable Orchestra' Musicians Perform Songs Using Only Fresh Veggies Before Cooking Spare Parts for the Audience (Good News Network) The Vegetable Orchestra SONG CHALLENGE: BEETS (Andrew Huang, YouTube) 99 Red Balloons - played with red balloons. (Andrew Huang, YouTube) Can't Feel My Face - played with dentist equipment. (Andrew Huang, 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

Further findings into just how much of our speech dogs can understand. An American highway that’s been repaved with recycled plastic. Taika Waititi’s new anti-racist website. Scientists who had to rename human genes due to a Microsoft Excel error. And a smoke detector that wakes you up by spitting wasabi scents in your face. Links: Brain researchers: Dogs process speech just like humans do (Fast Company) America now has a stretch of highway paved with recycled plastic (Optimist Daily) Voice of Racism Taika Waititi’s Voice of Racism is an interactive website revealing the damaging effects of ceaseless micro-aggressions (It’s Nice That) Scientists rename human genes to stop Microsoft Excel from misreading them as dates (The Verge) Sonic Hedgehog, DICER, and the Problem With Naming Genes (Pacific Standard) Wasabi fire alarm a lifesaver for the deaf (Reuters) Wasabi fire alarm scoops Ig Nobel prize for Japanese scientists (The Guardian) 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

Do you live in a zip code that’s a Harbinger of Failure? The newly discovered secret to anglerfish’s parasitic success. The woman who returns items left behind in used books to their owners. And the 87 year old athlete who just became the oldest man to complete the Ironman World Championship. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: The "Harbinger Customers" Who Buy Unpopular Products & Back Losing Politicians (Kottke) "Harbinger households": neighborhoods that consistently buy products that get discontinued, buy real-estate that underperforms, and donate to losing political candidates (Boing Boing) Harbingers of Failure (Journal of Marketing Research) The Surprising Breadth of Harbingers of Failure (Journal of Marketing Research) Odd immune system lets anglerfishes fuse males to females (Futurity) A Song About an Anglerfish (Hank Green, YouTube) Emma Smreker scours used books for mementos and gives them to the original owners (Washington Post) @inusedbooks (Instagram) This 87-Year-Old Triathlete Just Became the Oldest Man to Finish the Ironman World Championship (Men’s Health) The 85-year-old Ironman World Champion (On) 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

Cool armor-like technology that butterflies have on their wings to protect them from the rain. How to use Slack without annoying all of your coworkers, or being annoyed yourself. And what 1918 anti-mask culture can teach us about our own mask debates today. Links: Armor on butterfly wings protects against heavy rain (Phys.Org) How to Use Slack Without Driving Your Coworkers Crazy (Wired) The 1918 Flu, Masks and Lessons for the Coronavirus Pandemic (NY Times) 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

Australian scientists have figured out a way to grow colored cotton. How poetry is helping healthcare workers through the pandemic. Get your hands on some official Fyre Festival merchandise, thanks to the US Marshals. And the famous cartoon character who accidentally signed people’s tax refund checks. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: Cotton Conquest: Australian scientists discover how to grow coloured cotton (ABC Landline) Putting the brakes on fast fashion (UN Environment) What Poetry Means for Doctors and Patients During a Pandemic (Wired) Fyre Fest: Merch from the infamous fraud is being auctioned off by the US Marshals (CNN) 08/13/20 US Marshals Service National Online Auction (Fyre Festival fraud scheme) (Gaston & Sheehan) 'Mickey Mouse' signs RI refund checks; technical error to blame (NBC 10) Esther Day (This Star Won’t Go Out) 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 medieval potion that apparently works as an antibiotic. How children's nonsensical emoji use affects their language development. How dogs may be using the Earth’s magnetic field to navigate. And the mysterious origins of everyone’s favorite song, “Who Let The Dogs Out?” Links: A Medieval Potion Proves Its Worth as an Effective Bacteria Killer (Gizmodo) Children Are Using Emoji for Digital-Age Language Learning (Wired) Dogs may use Earth's magnetic field to navigate (Phys.Org) Unraveling the 20-Year Mystery of How 'Who Let the Dogs Out' Became a Global Phenomenon (Mental Floss) Who Let The Dogs Out | Trailer (YouTube) 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

NASA launched their latest Mars rover into space this morning. More details on Perseverance, its mission, and the origins of its Plutonium battery. Archeologists have confirmed the origin of some of the stones from Stonehenge. A few studies are showing that masks protect the wearer as well as others. Plus, some bathroom-humor tinged mask science. And the startup creating clean water out of thin air for the Navajo Nation. Sponsor: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: NASA’s Mars Rover Will Be Powered by US-Made Plutonium (Wired) 1940s Poster in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (r/PropagandaPosters) Oak Ridge "The Secret City" – Oak Ridge, Tennessee (Atlas Obscura) NASA's Perseverance Rover Launched on Mission to Mars (Wall Street Journal) NASA’s life-hunting Mars rover is officially on its way to the Red Planet (The Verge) We're going to record sound on Mars. It'll be eerie. (Mashable) Archaeologists find the source of Stonehenge sarsen stones (Ars Technica) Scientists solve mystery of the origin of Stonehenge megaliths (Reuters) Does Wearing a Mask Protect Me? Some Evidence Says Yes (NY Times) Why You Can Smell a Fart Through a Mask (LifeHacker) Do Masks Work Or Not?? Proving Whether Masks Stop Covid-19 Transmission with Uncle Rob (Uncle Rob, YouTube) Zero Mass Water brings its water-from-air tech to Navajo Nation (Fast Company) 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 world’s largest nuclear fusion project has begun assembly in France, getting us one step closer to a possible future of unlimited, clean energy. Lockdown caused the world to be the quietest it’s ever been on record. What’s the benefit package look like for former US presidents? Asking for a friend… And how to view the YouTube homepage through the eyes of a flat earth-er, prepper, and more. Links: Iter: World's largest nuclear fusion project begins assembly (BBC) Assembly begins on ITER, a massive scientific project that seeks to replicate the sun's fusion power here on Earth (CBS News) Nuclear fusion is 'a question of when, not if' (BBC) All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai (Penguin Random House) COVID has Caused the Longest and Deepest Reduction in Human Noise on Record (Vice) What Benefits Do Presidents Get After They Leave Office? (Mental Floss) Presidential podcast (Washington Post) TheirTube (TheirTube) Rabbit Hole (New York Times) BEHIND THE CURVE | Official HD Trailer (2018) (YouTube) 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