Cool Stuff Daily

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...

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 N...

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 membe...

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, T...

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 memb...

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...

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-R...

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 U...

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...

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) D...

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 Develo...

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 I...

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 C...

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...

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...

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...

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 La...

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 ai...

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. Lin...

Can trained dogs sniff out positive COVID-19 infections? It’s 2020 and people are apparently still finding legit buried treasure. This week NASA is sending a 600,000 year old martian rock back to where it came from. And the coolest new Instagram sensations are a pair of octogenarian laundromat owners from Taiwan. Links: Trained dogs were able to sniff out Covid-19 infections with 94% accuracy: stu...

How people kept cool, or like, stayed alive during heat waves before air conditioning, as well as the year the world skipped summer. How Animal Crossing helped return a lost Nintendo Switch to its owner. A promising handheld robotic mobility aid for vision-impaired people. And how the NBA is filing their stands without breaking their quarantine bubble. Sponsor: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first m...

The hottest new app that’s sending people on mysterious adventures. A heartwarming act of charity from Washington’s newly named team. Lin-Manuel Miranda dishes on some pretty mind-blowing inspirations for some of his biggest songs. And a kitchen hack for making better homemade popcorn. Sponsors: OurCrowd, info.ourcrowd.com/goodnews Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial me...

A deep dive into America’s most dangerous water park. How to watch Apple’s decisions to predict upcoming COVID-19 hotspots. And the high school girls from Afghanistan who built their own low-cost, open-source ventilator. Sponsors: OurCrowd, info.ourcrowd.com/goodnews Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: New Jersey's Action Park offered fun and injury fo...

A promising N95 respirator replacement designed by a team from MIT. Tips for staying productive during this unprecedented time. Our first ever direct look at a multi-planet system orbiting a sun-like star. And the small Italian village that just welcomed the first baby born there in eight years. Sponsors: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership OurCrowd, info.our...

Throwing cold water on the panic around COVID-19’s alleged short-lived immunity. The latest wellness trend: hugging cows. T-shirts that are made out of milk. And are you guilty of revenge bedtime procrastination? Sponsors: OurCrowd, info.ourcrowd.com/goodnews Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: How Long Does COVID-19 Immunity Last? (The Atlantic) COVID...