Cool Stuff Daily

Did Ben Franklin really think the turkey should replace the eagle as America’s national bird? Analyzing the microbiome of Leonardo DaVinci’s drawings. And scientists who have figured out a way to rewind cellular aging in humans. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottke Links: Should the Turkey Replace the Bald Eagle as the...

Advice for enjoying the holidays even if you’re spending them alone this year. AI researchers have made a sarcasm detector. And a look at the burgeoning field of paleomixology. Sponsors: Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: How To Enjoy the Holidays if You'll Be Alone This Year (Vice)  22 Ways to Make...

Some real talk about celebrating Thanksgiving this year. How artificial intelligence is being used to recreate smells from history. And Bunny the Talking Dog, the latest viral star on Tiktok. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke Links: How to Reduce (but Not Eliminate) Covid Risk at Holiday Gatherin...

A look at trans figures in history in honor of Transgender Awareness Week. New stretchable sensor gloves that could change the game for robots, physical therapy, and VR. Liquid Death, the over-the-top canned water company, has released their second album of the year. Plus a new release from Waffle House. And a quick extra detail about the Moderna vaccine to add to my rundown from yesterday. Sponso...

A second potential COVID-19 vaccine is showing incredible efficacy and bringing us a modest dash of hope. The future of sustainable air conditioning. The French media outlet that accidentally published obituaries for nearly a hundred public figures today… all of whom are still alive. And the Star Wars character that the SpaceX Crew Dragon astronauts brought to space this weekend. Sponsors: Fitbod,...

Why do we associate Friday the 13th with being unlucky? The weird and creative solutions some offices are coming up with for virtual holiday parties this year. And don’t miss the next, and first official, SpaceX astronaut flight launch tomorrow. Sponsor: BitTrust IRA, Waive your signup fee BitTrustIRA.com/kottke Link: 2020’s second Friday the 13th is this Friday (EarthSky) Friday the 13th isn’t un...

A simple question with a very, very complicated answer: how many holes does a straw have? Why the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine could be significant beyond COVID-19. And yet another botched art restoration in Spain. Sponsor: Gabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottke Links: Q: What Is a Hole? A: We're Not Sure! (Kottke) How Many Holes Does a Human Have? (Vsauce, YouTube) What We Talk about When We Talk about Holes...

A deep dive into why a statue of an eighteenth century feminist writer has caused such a stir in England. A new YouTube show to watch, made by Hungarian scientists, called The Genius Dog Challenge. And Collins Dictionary’s word of the year. Sponsor: Gabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottke Links: Mary Wollstonecraft finally honoured with statue after 200 years (The Guardian) On women's bodies in statues (M...

Australian scientists have discovered two new mammals. The trick to sticking to new habits that requires letting yourself be bad at things. A new perfume that smells like books. And a calming, hand-drawn web-based game to help you chill out. Sponsor: Gabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottke Links: Two new species of greater glider discovered (Sydney Morning Herald) Here's how I finally got myself to start...

Pfizer has good news about a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s what you need to know. Meet the man who went viral over the weekend for interrupting a French newscaster. And high fashion scratch-and-sniff t-shirts; plus a brief history of the technology that enabled them. Sponsor: Gabi Insurance, gabi.com/kottke Links: Vaccine efficacy 101 (Natalie E. Dean, PhD, Twitter)  Biden's Plans for Halting...

Scientists have discovered more information about an absolutely hellish, inhospitable planet. And it’s not the one you think. Colorado passed a first-ever of its kind ballot measure to reintroduce a species of animal to its state. An intriguing if not-yet-promising coronavirus deterrent in the form of a nasal spray. And the secret writing life of former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abram...

Remember, remember the fifth of November. Here are some thoughts on the complicated legacy of the Gunpowder Plot. Why Nebraska’s electoral votes are so weird, and the man responsible for keeping them weird. And, inspired by the Korean practice of nunchi, some tips on being a better communicator in virtual spaces. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke HelloFresh, Get $90 off incl...

Brian Eno’s thoughts on social media and the role of the artist in these trying times, as well as a related new finding that smartphones may actually be helping to pop people’s filter bubbles when it comes to news consumption. A new archaeological discovery that has upended previous conceptions about gender roles in ancient hunter-gatherer societies. And Belgium’s cuddle buddy mandate. Sponsors: H...

It’s Election Day in the US. I’ve got some good and some weird tips for staying calm amidst the election storm. An AI that can tell if you have COVID-19 just by listening to your cough. And a deep dive on one type of U.S. citizen who can’t run for public office in eight states. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke HelloFresh, Get $90 off including shipping at HelloFresh.com/rid...

Heading into the U.S. general election tomorrow, a refresher on why polls can be unreliable and how to read them responsibly. An opportunity to own the vintage spyware gadgets of your dreams. It’s 2020: platypuses glow in the dark now. And a new site that will distract you from the election. Sponsors: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORT Fitbod, Get one month free at F...

Why you’re seeing more young Black students working the polls this year. How the pandemic might parallel Prohibition's effect on the American brewing industry. NASA followed up a viral tweet with a literal link to their Soundcloud, and it’s definitely worth listening to, especially this weekend. And Play-Doh has just introduced a new line for adults. Yes, really. Sponsors: Fundrise, Get your first...

Can lab-grown brains become conscious? And should we let them? Burger King’s latest creepy stunt to try to rile up McDonald’s. And why do we say trick-or-treat, and what is Mischief Night anyways? Sponsors: The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe  Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke Links: Can lab-grown brains become conscious? (Nature)...

A look back at one hundred years ago when women ruled a notorious wild west town. Some thoughts on the effects of technology on our ability to remember our thoughts in the long-term. And the internet is calling it the best game of 2020, but it’s actually just a virtual 3D tour of a house for sale. What’s going on? Sponsors: Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/k...

Throwing cold water on that whole signs-of-life-on-Venus news. A new travel guide to haunted hotels, based on bad Tripadvisor reviews. A study looking into why we don’t click or comment on certain posts online. And Kazakhstan changes their stance on Borat. Sponsors: The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe  Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/ko...

NASA’s big announcement has been revealed: there is way more water on the moon than we thought. An update on the murder hornet situation. Oreo has built a vault in Norway to preserve a stash of Oreos in case that Election Day asteroid, which is absolutely not going to hit the Earth, hits the Earth. And mutant crayfish clones have taken over a Belgian cemetery just in time for Halloween. Sponsors:...

Do Venus Flytraps have a short-term memory? A new interactive database of every lifeform that’s ever gone into space from Earth. The Seattle bar that made a pandemic-safe pinball machine. And Burger King is getting in on the zero-waste game with reusable containers in select markets. Sponsors: FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride  Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: The secret of ho...

What does root beer have to do with a potential COVID-19 vaccine? A deep dive on that connection. A peek into the world of people who grow giant vegetables. And the Iowa woman who had her cat successfully cloned. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride Links: A COVID-19 Vaccine Could Rely on Rare Trees in Chile (The Atlantic) COVID-19 tracker: Roc...

Today is International Pronoun Day so here are some historical facts about pronouns. Scientists have discovered a previously unknown organ in the human body. And forget about WeWork, a Japanese amusement park has offered up their ferris wheel as a co-working space. Sponsors: FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride  Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke Links: A brief history of singular 'they'...

Tardigrade sunscreen. Coming soon? How to enjoy a socially-distanced holiday season. Some promising methods for upcycling plastic into more valuable materials. And the curious case of the extremely moldy Twinkie. Sponsors: Fitbod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/kottke FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/ride Links: This tardigrade can glow to protect itself when exposed to UV rays (CNN) How to Make Soci...

The fourteen-year-old Texan who may have just made an important discovery for potential COVID-19 treatments. An update on the safety and new norms surrounding air travel. Nokia is building a mobile network on the moon. And the website that’s basically a more organized Chat Roulette but for trying to heal the US’s political divide. Sponsors: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.co...