Cool Stuff Daily

How the pandemic is changing our taste in music. The most ironic thing that could happen to a newly-published book titled Word Perfect. How asbestos might actually be a weapon against the climate crisis. And a Rocky Horror Picture Show-themed monument in New Zealand. Links: Is Pandemic Brain Changing Your Taste in Music? You're Not Alone (Vice)  "Music is 5x as good right now" (Demi Adejuyigbe, Tw...

Archaeologists have found evidence of neurons in the brain of a Mount Vesuvius victim that basically turned to glass. The latest entrepreneurial trend of the pandemic taking off, in part thanks to influencers? Vending machine ownership. A Wikipedia hack for learning new-to-you complex topics. And another U.S. president whose illness had the potential to throw the nation into chaos. Sponsor: Better...

It turns out crows have some skills we once thought were unique to humans. Breaking down what exactly ingredients like “eye of newt” and “tongue of dog” actually are. And Neil Cicierega’s latest mash-up album, Mouth Dreams, is here to bring you a smile in this tough year, but also give you nightmares. Links: Crows possess higher intelligence long thought primarily human (STAT News) Smartest Birds:...

Why are people saying there’s a black hole at the center of the Earth? The Irish Supreme Court declares that Subway’s bread is not actually bread. The surprising controllers the US Navy uses for its subway periscopes. And winter is coming. So here are some practical tips for preparing for it. Links: No, There Isn’t A Black Hole At The Center Of The Earth (Forbes) Strange Research Paper Claims Ther...

A guide to the lunar spectacles in October. Some tips for improving communication when wearing masks. The surprising discovery that some of Edward Hopper’s early works were copied. And the wearable social-distancing tech allowing the London Marathon to go forward. Links: Moon Today  Halloween Blue Moon in 2020: How Rare Is a Full Moon on Halloween? (Old Farmer’s Almanac) All you need to know: 2019...

A Halloween rocket launch. A brief peek into the history of book burnings in honor of Banned Books Week. The surprising and grim origins of Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan. More water has been found on Mars. And the return of Fat Bear Week. Links: NASA targeting Halloween for next SpaceX Crew Dragon astronaut launch (CBS News) The Shockingly Grim Origins of Nike’s Famous Slogan (Better Marketing) Nike...

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...