How fast was Forrest Gump running when he jogged across the country? The running community on Reddit did the math. A study has confirmed that some people do actually age faster than others, quite a bit faster in fact. And turns out AIs are way better at coming up with pick-up lines than us humans are. Sponsors: NordVPN, Get 70% off a two-year plan at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKE Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trial Links: 108 thoughts o...
Mar 23, 2021•19 min
The AI built to tell pastries apart that’s now being used for cancer research. It turns out a large portion of Mars’ water may be hiding in the planet’s crust. And, if one of your online orders got lost, it may now be lurking at the bottom of the ocean. Sponsors: Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trial NordVPN, Get 70% off a two-year plan at nordvpn.com/kottke or use coupon KOTTKE Links: The Pastry A.I. That Learned to Fight Cancer (The New Yorker) M...
Mar 22, 2021•20 min
The family feud putting the US’s COVID-19 test swab supply at risk. Could we use our food waste and sewage to fuel jets? And the projected symbol that was spotted in towns all around the world last night. Sponsors: Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottke Links: Supply of Swab Tests for Covid-19 Rests on Embattled US Company Puritan (Bloomberg) Could we fuel our jets using our sewage? (Wired) The Lo...
Mar 19, 2021•17 min
Today marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Paris Commune––and it remains as controversial as ever. Scientists have grown a mouse embryo in an artificial womb and have set their sites on human embryos next, speaking of controversy... And why people in Taiwan keep legally changing their names to "Salmon." Sponsors: StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottke Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Links: Paris Commune: The revolt di...
Mar 19, 2021•18 min
Why analog TVs never had channel 37. Spoiler: the answer includes aliens. The rise of bitcoin ATMs. And the pretty amusing self-reported symptoms from the AstraZeneca vaccine. And all the latest breaking marine mammal news. Sponsors: Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottke Links: Why You Generally Can't Find TV Stations on Channel 37 (Tedium) This Month in Physics History (APS News) Bitcoin ATMs ar...
Mar 17, 2021•20 min
How St. Patrick’s Day, as we know it now, is kind of more of an Irish-American holiday than a purely Irish one. More of the Dead Sea Scrolls have been uncovered in Israel for the first time in sixty years. And the family who decided to really lean into the “time is just a social construct” idea. Sponsors: StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottke Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Links: All the pubs in Ireland used to be closed on St...
Mar 16, 2021•19 min
Brood X is coming: what you need to know about your soon-to-be neighbors. A new discovery in Spain has led to questions about the true role of women in the Bronze Age. The science behind why, once you pop, the fun just don’t stop. And a new app that will purposefully sabotage your Zoom calls. Sponsors: Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke StartMail, Get 50% off your first year at StartMail.com/kottke Links: Giant Brood of Billions of Insects Set to Emerge i...
Mar 15, 2021•20 min
The proposal to create a “modern ark” aka scientists want to store sperm and eggs in lava tubes on the moon as a back-up plan in case we accidentally destroy the earth. A new tool that could help us spot deepfakes. And how beer-making used to be women’s work until men figured out how to monetize it and accused women brewers of being witches. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottke Lightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottke Links: Scientists...
Mar 12, 2021•18 min
It was written off as a forgery in 1883, but now it’s being reconsidered as the oldest known Biblical manuscript. Also, how the pandemic has affected the names people are choosing for their babies. And how a lake in Turkey may hold the key to finding signs of ancient life on Mars. Sponsors: Lightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottke Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: Is a Long-Dismissed Forgery Actually the Oldest Known Biblical Manuscrip...
Mar 11, 2021•18 min
Reflections from a man who quit using the internet right before the pandemic started. A meteorite older than Earth was discovered in the Sahara Desert. And playable music videos? How film and music are pulling more and more from gaming both in terms of tech and mentality. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottke Lightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottke Links: He Quit the Internet 2 Months Before the Pandemic (NY Times) Scientists Discover ...
Mar 10, 2021•18 min
Can we find extraterrestrial civilizations by searching the cosmos for their pollutants? Are humans hard-wired to be productive? And what can we learn about leisure from hunter-gatherer societies? Plus, a big uh-oh from HBO Max and masks that are sure to freak out everyone you encounter. Sponsors: Lightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream.com/kottke Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: Can Alien Smog Lead Us to Extraterrestrial Civilizations? (Wired)...
Mar 09, 2021•17 min
Could The Simpsons replace their entire cast with AI replicas? A look at the scientific, artistic, and legal possibilities. Researchers have discovered an interesting trait in green tree frogs that they’re describing as built-in noise-canceling headphones. A few highlights from the 1,200 new words added to the German dictionary last year. And a website that lets you play streaming music on a vinyl interface. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership at Fitbod.me/kottke Lightstream, Get a specia...
Mar 08, 2021•18 min
Will warp drive ever be possible? These scientists say they’ve created the first physical model for how it could work. A lookback at the Star Wars immunization PSAs of the 1970s. And a potential new type of COVID-19 test that will double as a form of stress relief. Plus, vaccinated orangutans, SXSW in VR, and the first-ever podcast NFT? Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottke Links: A potential...
Mar 05, 2021•17 min
Will NFTs bring about an economic and creative revolution for artists and change the way we buy our media? Kings of Leon are willing to give it a shot. A small village in Iceland is making a big bid for Oscar glory. And another small town that just might be the job capital of the U.S. Sponsors: Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottke Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: Kings of Leon Will Be the First Band to Release an Album as an N...
Mar 04, 2021•19 min
Cuttlefish have passed a test designed for small human children. Polaroid has made a pen that draws in edible 3D candy. What we can learn from cats about being happier and more content with life. And a website that translates your typing into jazz music. Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottke Links: A Cephalopod Has Passed a Cognitive Test Designed For Human Children (Science Alert) Cuttlefish...
Mar 03, 2021•19 min
Scientists have created light-up OLED tattoos that could tell you when to put on sunscreen or when your avocados have gone bad. The Twitter account tracking Geneva Convention violations in video games. And good news: scientists have confirmed that all of us suck at ending conversations with each other. Sponsors: Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottke Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: Scientists Invent Light-Up OLED Tattoos (Gizmo...
Mar 02, 2021•17 min
How the RNA-based platform used for some of the COVID-19 vaccines is already changing the game for other diseases. Plus, “I got vaccinated” stickers and selfie stations are starting to pop up. And an app that’s bringing back the disposable camera… without the disposable camera. Sponsors: Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Mint Mobile, Get a new wireless plan for just $15 a month mintmobile.com/kottke Links: First vaccine to fully immunize against malaria builds on pandemic-driv...
Mar 01, 2021•19 min
Delving into the world of crypto art and non-fungible tokens. A history of Mr. Potato Head, or, I’m sorry, just Potato Head? And a few links to help you chill out this weekend. Sponsors: Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trial The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Links: Techmeme Ride Home Kenny Schachter Gets Sucked Into the Surreal NFT Vortex… and Makes a Fortune Overnight in the New Virtual Art Market (ArtNet) A coat check tick...
Feb 26, 2021•18 min
How to make your clothes last longer and practice the art of “radical keeping” according to “the anti-Marie Kondo.” A segment about #Buttergate in Canada that’s not really about Buttergate afterall. And a browser extension that shows you what the internet would look like without Big Tech. Sponsors: Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trial The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Links: The Golden Age of Free Stuff Is Upon Us (NY Times)...
Feb 25, 2021•18 min
How the flu you had as a kid could shape your immune response to future flu viruses. A bunch of videos have been going viral showing snow not melting when held up against a flame, but it’s not a conspiracy. It’s science. And the first song produced using the audio recorded on Mars. Sponsors: The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trial Links: The immune effects of childhood viruses are even more com...
Feb 24, 2021•18 min
Beer culture is perceived as overwhelmingly white, but its history and its present is not. A historical look at the erasure of Black brewers. The impact of pandemic boredom on the economy. And a new app that will put David Attenborough in your living room to teach you about the prehistoric world. Sponsors: The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 to start your 30-day free trial Links: How the Whiteness of Beer Culture Erases B...
Feb 23, 2021•19 min
Scientists have tapped deeper into the depths of our dreams by achieving two-way communication with lucid dreamers. Why were there so many serial killers between 1970 and 2000? And what stopped them? And space is getting more diverse in more ways than one. Sponsors: Audible, audible.com/kottke or text kottke to 500-500 The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Links: Scientists Find a Way to Communicate With Dreaming People (Gizmodo) Dream Hacking: Watch 3 Groundbreaking Experimen...
Feb 22, 2021•18 min
A history of how the US government started deciding what color our food is allowed to be. Could lab-grown wood disrupt the lumber industry? And, The Muppet Show has been released from the Disney Vault. Sponsors: OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottke Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Links: How the Government Came to Decide the Color of Your Food (Smithsonian) Why The U.S. Government Decides The Color Of Our Food (Cheddar, YouTube) Decoder Ring on the history of ...
Feb 19, 2021•18 min
The Los Angeles musician who helped design the microphones on the Perseverance rover that will hopefully give us our first-ever audio recordings of Mars. Can a 19th century etiquette book make Twitter bearable? And what some of the top websites looked like on this day in 2011. Sponsors: Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottke Links: The LA Musician Who Designed a Microphone for Mars (Wired) Everyone on Twitter Needs an Etiquette M...
Feb 18, 2021•16 min
A historical defense of arranging book collections by color. Scientists have sequenced the oldest DNA ever found and made some mammoth discoveries in the process. And NASA’s Perseverance rover is set to touch down on Mars tomorrow––some background on one experiment it will be running that could set the stage for human travel to the red planet. Sponsors: OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottke Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Links: No Mere Foppery: A Defense of R...
Feb 17, 2021•18 min
The new fruit taking over Instagram. Why the winter storm sweeping the US is causing an energy crisis, especially in Texas. And a new-ish game that lets you take a virtual vacation with your friends. Sponsors: Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottke Links: Instagram Fruit (Grow) The rise, fall, and rise of the status pineapple (BBC) Hurricane Harvey vs. now (The Weather Channel, Twitter) How Extreme Cold Turned Into a U.S. Energy ...
Feb 16, 2021•20 min
Scientists in Antarctica accidentally discovered animal life beneath an ice shelf half a mile deep. An app that lets you tune into live radio stations all over the world. A new study that challenges the long held theory about the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. And a snarky Valentine’s tradition at the El Paso Zoo. Sponsors: OurCrowd, ourcrowd.com/kottke Skillshare, Get a free trial of Premium Membership at skillshare.com/kottke Links: Scientists Accidentally Discover Strange Creatures Under...
Feb 15, 2021•19 min
The story of how two brothers gamed the YouTube system thirteen years ago and have since used that method to raise nearly 14 million dollars for charity. An interactive site that simulates the audio experience of being at your favorite bar. Coca-Cola is trying out paper bottles. And the guy who built a functioning guitar out of his dead uncle’s skeleton. For real. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottke Lightstream, Get a special interest ...
Feb 12, 2021•18 min
How the UK variant of Sars-CoV-2 may have evolved inside just one human. Some dating apps are adding video components, but it’s just another case of modern tech “inventing” something that has already existed for decades. Let’s talk about the original recipe. And a German teenager has created a new Myspace. Not like a social media platform similar to Myspace. Literally he recreated a functional clone of Myspace. And it’s pretty awesome. Sponsors: Lightstream, Get a special interest rate discount ...
Feb 11, 2021•19 min
Do all of these UV light “virus-killing” appliances really work? The mystery of the purple flower photo that has accounted for nearly 20% of all Wikimedia Commons traffic since last summer. And, it’s been ten years since “Friday” by Rebecca Black debuted to collective cringe on YouTube. To celebrate, Rebecca Black is back with a remix. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get 25% off a membership when you sign up now through 2/28 at Fitbod.me/kottke Lightstream, Get a special interest rate discount at lightstream....
Feb 10, 2021•18 min
