Cool Stuff Daily

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...

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 mil...

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/GOODNE...

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...

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 I...

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...

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 blo...

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) Emerge...

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 mem...

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...

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 L...

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: Bea...

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 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: Th...

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...

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 po...

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 Bui...

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 Swa...

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 eve...

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...

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...

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 I...

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: S...

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 Magazi...

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 N...