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 li...
Sep 29, 2020•17 min
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? (Po...
Sep 28, 2020•19 min
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) ...
Sep 25, 2020•18 min
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' Discover...
Sep 24, 2020•19 min
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...
Sep 23, 2020•19 min
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, Stu...
Sep 22, 2020•15 min
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 Ta...
Sep 21, 2020•17 min
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 curren...
Sep 19, 2020•55 min
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 ...
Sep 18, 2020•22 min
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 consp...
Sep 17, 2020•18 min
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 ...
Sep 16, 2020•18 min
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 o...
Sep 15, 2020•18 min
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 Br...
Sep 14, 2020•18 min
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 t...
Sep 11, 2020•18 min
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 ...
Sep 10, 2020•20 min
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-Yea...
Sep 09, 2020•18 min
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...
Sep 08, 2020•20 min
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' T...
Sep 04, 2020•19 min
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 (Popula...
Sep 03, 2020•17 min
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 b...
Sep 02, 2020•20 min
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 Ex...
Sep 01, 2020•20 min
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 resear...
Aug 31, 2020•18 min
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 R...
Aug 28, 2020•20 min
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 almo...
Aug 27, 2020•20 min
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...
Aug 26, 2020•20 min
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 C...
Aug 25, 2020•16 min
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 ...
Aug 24, 2020•17 min
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 p...
Aug 21, 2020•18 min
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...
Aug 20, 2020•17 min
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...
Aug 19, 2020•16 min
