Cool Stuff Daily

With fans not allowed in stadiums, some sports leagues are using computer-generated crowds to fill the stands. If your hair has grown to a completely unmanageable length, this new site can help. Scientists have discovered massive unidentified structures deep beneath the earth’s surface. How to work out like a medieval night. And some video recommendations for your weekend queue. Links: Spanish soc...

Weird comfort foods born out of historic times of discomfort. How to hug during a pandemic. Electric vehicle batteries may get a second life. Drones are now delivering library books to kids in Virginia. And the best custom birthday videos on the internet. Links: 6 Comfort Foods Born of Historic Times of Discomfort (Atlas Obscura) How to Hug During a Pandemic (NY Times) Used EV Batteries Could Powe...

The WHO’s new official advice on mask-wearing do’s and don’t’s. The 103 year-old retired Belgian doctor hoping to make a difference in the coronavirus effort. Archaeologists have uncovered an entire ancient Roman city without digging a single thing. Could going for walks replace your coffee habit? A Japanese zoo pivots to fashion. And an Italian woman who didn’t let a little thing like brain surge...

A look at when epidemiologists will personally be resuming various daily activities. The real people behind one of Apple’s most famous sound effects. How dropping f-bombs might actually be a useful strategy. And the first American woman to walk in space makes history again. Links: When 511 Epidemiologists Expect to Fly, Hug and Do 18 Other Everyday Activities Again (NY Times) I was one of the kids...

New Zealand has officially reduced their number of coronavirus cases to zero. Apple apparently patented technology for socially-distanced group selfies. How to order first-class stamps with your face on them. What paleontologists predict animals will look like in the future. The weird music coming from the Golden Gate Bridge. And a Belgian man plagued by mysterious prank pizza deliveries. Links: N...

A further look at the emerging controversy surrounding the data analytics company behind that big hydroxychloroquine study. Another study shows that humans apparently really do want to be kind to each other. Some perfectly specific words from other languages that have no direct English translation. It’s National Donut Day! Which it turns out, wasn’t invented by Dunkin––a look at its longer and mor...

Confirmed case numbers continue to rise around the world as places that were previously spared are now the sites of major outbreaks. How do libraries disinfect books? Isaac Newton’s little known cure for the plague. New synthetic red blood cells that can act as a mechanism for therapeutic drug delivery. And Big Bird’s upcoming CNN Town Hall. Sponsor: FitBod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/goodnew...

The data analytics company throwing several major COVID-19 studies into question. How the pandemic has changed the way we sleep. Why shoe companies used to use x-rays to sell shoes. And South Korea’s gift to the Navajo Nation. Sponsor: FitBod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/goodnews Links: Japan to give people US$190 a day to boost domestic travel (South China Morning Post) Coronavirus: Ibuprofen...

A six month check in on the coronavirus. tl;dr it’s going to last a long time, wear a mask. Recreating what Johann Sebastian Bach’s music sounded like to him. The introvert and extrovert’s guide to thriving during lockdown. And even more evidence that dogs are indeed very good boys. Sponsors: FitBod, Get one month free at Fitbod.me/goodnews Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 Links: Six...

Is COVID-19 actually a vascular disease, not a respiratory one? And is the virus itself getting weaker? Plus, kicking off Pride Month with a look at how much same-sex weddings have boosted the US economy. Could human hibernation become a thing? A new exoplanet that could sustain life. And a 19th century clergyman’s advice for dealing with low spirits and isolation. Sponsors: OurCrowd, info.ourcrow...

Today we’re looking at the different ways the virus spreads and what measures can be taken to prevent spread in different contexts. A new study shows coronavirus epidemics may have started later than originally thought. Plus, the grad student who solved a problem that had stumped experts for half a century. Why Sweden celebrates Taco Friday. And a round-up of Star Wars-related media to check out t...

Is the coronavirus more dependent on super spreaders than we thought? Research indicates possible biological markers to determine how severely an individual will react to COVID-19. And how the decline of local journalism is taking a toll on America’s small towns. Plus, will we be able to trust our memories of this time? Cannibalistic dinosaurs. And why oranges are sold in red mesh bags. Sponsors:...

A third of Americans now show signs of clinical anxiety and depression. A round-up of where and how the virus spreads, including how safe you may be on planes and going into the office. Plus, the details behind the futuristic SpaceX flight suits. The woman on TikTok trying to trade a bobby pin for a house. And a soothing soundscape of narwhals. Sponsors: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303...

Young people are getting sick with COVID-19 in very high numbers in Brazil. A rundown on what we know and don’t know at this point. And an argument against immunity passports. Plus, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon launches tomorrow. A new space tax proposal. The world’s oldest living cat celebrates his birthday. How to get free pizza if you’re a graduating senior. And Catholic priests’ new weapon to fight co...

More on that study projecting 36,000 people could have been saved if the US had locked down sooner. How to safely socialize, if you choose to do so. Bots are spreading coronavirus conspiracy theories on Twitter. And, Pac-Man turns 40 today. The hottest new renewable resource on the moon: astronaut’s pee. The twenty-five-year-old skin care consultant fielding Elon Musk’s missed calls. And some reco...

The CDC updates their guidelines on the spread of the virus via surfaces. Is it safe to go swimming? How much of an effect does population density have on the spread of the disease? Plus, throwing cold water on that “NASA discovers a parallel universe” story. Some tips to improve your walking. And the most heartwarming YouTube channel to go viral in a long time. Links: Coronavirus 'does not spread...

U.S. states are all reopening in some fashion this week. How AI-powered biotech can speed up the vaccine development process. And COVID-19 patients are running their own surveys to show the true effects of the disease. Plus, a livestream from Stonehenge. Chuck E. Cheese’s new front. And a British man who has turned one hundred, gotten a book deal, topped the music charts, and been knighted all in...

Testing is expanding in the US, but people aren’t showing up. More findings on people who test positive again after recovering. And "bumper tables" for social distancing. Plus, debunking misconceptions about the 1918 flu pandemic, why we might be seeing an animation renaissance, and is Etsy the new Grubhub? Links: Initial surge in news use around coronavirus in the UK has been followed by signific...

Promising results from the Moderna vaccine trials. Brazil’s cases are mounting. How much of a difference it makes when everyone wears a mask. Plus, why you might be having trouble replying to texts recently, how climate change played a role in the evolution of rice, and the hottest new sport in town: marble racing. Links: State-by-state hospitalization rates (Scott Gottlieb, Twitter) Coalition of...

How far can respiratory droplets fall when we speak? What would a public health plan targeted towards the elderly look like? Some advice on combatting COVID-19 symptoms from someone in recovery. Plus, have birds gotten louder recently? Why did Michael Jordan agree to star in Space Jam? And a site to help you discover new-to-you music on Spotify. Links: Experiment shows human speech generates dropl...

Mental health concerns for children as the pandemic goes on. The seven things we can be doing to beat COVID-19 and save the economy. How our changed behavior has confused the algorithms. Why humans freak out when they get lost, and a new interactive Netflix special to enjoy while you stay home this weekend. Links: Coronavirus suppression: Expert recommendations to beat Covid-19 (Vox) Netflix’s fir...

Los Angeles is considering extending their lockdown for three more months while other places begin reopening. A practical guide to avoiding COVID-19 risks. What the loss of smell and other neurological symptoms might mean for the relationship between coronavirus and the nervous system. Plus, a new online simulator from SpaceX, how to make cold brew in a french press, a comet to look out for tonigh...

Many countries around the world take cautious steps toward reopening, but spikes of new daily cases are still popping up. Should people with mild cases of coronavirus be allowed to isolate at home? Why the passage of time feels so disorienting right now. And why Clorox wipes are still so tough to find. Plus,  and the gene that causes South African bees to have “virgin births.” Links: Coronavirus t...

Numbers are looking relatively promising in a lot of places, but one incident has jeopardized South Korea. The FDA has approved the first antigen test, and what’s the difference between that and an antibody test? Why might a vaccine take so long to develop? Plus, the internet shares their favorite memories of Little Richard, how to cook murder hornets, using nanospacecraft to locate black holes, a...