Episodes

March 30, 2022

Wed. 03/30 - Prayers on the Blockchain & the Oldest Ever Star

Could alpaca antibodies one day provide treatment for COVID-19? Plus, the Hubble telescope has spotted the oldest star ever seen by humans, by a long shot. The European Union is cracking down on fast fashion. And the scammers trying to turn prayers in NFTs.
March 29, 2022

Tue. 03/29 - Koons' Moons

Artist Jeff Koons’ next sculpture installation? On the moon. Plus, it’s not just you. Seasonal allergies really are worse this year. And, the Northern Lights might be visible Wednesday night in parts of the northern US and Canada, with bonus rockets being blasted into them by NASA.
March 28, 2022

Mon. 03/28 - The Hoax Behind Pringles' Mascot's Name

The Scottish dolphin who lives among and seems to “talk” with porpoises. Plus, how a Wikipedia hoax became official branding for Pringles. And sheep are pivoting to solar.
March 25, 2022

Fri. 03/25 - Digital Rest Stop Ahead

Digital resting points are an increasingly popular way to recharge and slow down in the midst of endless scrolling. Plus, are we facing a “sensory extinction?” And, meet the giant eerie glowing orb that might be installed in London.
March 24, 2022

Thu. 03/24 - You're Not Actually Laughing, lol

The origin and fascinating evolution of “lol.” Plus, it turns out the speed of sound on Mars is different and weirder than anticipated. And some of the researchers behind the discovery of Captain Shackleton’s lost ship are developing a sort of Google Maps for arctic waters.
March 23, 2022

Wed. 03/23 - Lettuce Medicine, Ranch Diamonds, & eWaste Coins

How genetically-modified lettuce grown in space could protect astronauts’ bones on long voyages. Plus, meet Doug, the false potato stripped of Guinness World Record glory in the eleventh hour. And, a two-carat diamond made out of ranch dressing, the Royal Mint in the UK is going to start recovering…
March 22, 2022

Tue. 03/22 - Competitive Water Drinkers On YouTube: One of the Internet's Last Friendly Places?

Turns out humans have been cooking and enjoying carbs for much longer than we initially thought, and the experiments some archaeologists have been conducting to lend credence to their hypotheses are very cool. Plus, welcome to the weird and wonderful world of competitive water drinking on YouTube. …
March 21, 2022

Mon. 03/21 - Squid Tech to Prevent Human Sunburns

How to appear effortlessly charming to new people you meet. Plus, using squid technology to protect humans from the sun. And a new generation of search apps that search everything you touch on your devices.
March 18, 2022

Fri. 03/18 - What Do We Lose By Keeping The Lights On?

Should we be making a greater effort to reduce light pollution? Plus, scientists are trying to use murder hornets’ own sexual behavior to eradicate them. And an app that will help you safely find and eat roadkill.
March 17, 2022

Thu. 03/17 - Why Are Movies So Long These Days?

Why have movies gotten so long recently? Plus, the startups working to develop lab-created chocolate. And a nightmarish creature from Texas to rival all the hype around those giant Joro spiders.
March 16, 2022

Wed. 03/16 - Permanent Daylight Saving Time?

How Prohibition was far more global and far more progressive than it’s often portrayed. And, is the United States about to stay in Daylight Saving Time forever?
March 15, 2022

Tue. 03/15 - Solar Storms & Subvariants, But It's All Fine

Subvariants, spikes, and sewers. A few indicators remind us that we’re not quite out of the woods yet when it comes to COVID. Plus, a new method that shows how any person can be trained to harness the creativity inside of themselves. And what it means that the sun is getting more and more active.
March 14, 2022

Mon. 03/14 - Why COVID Causes Loss of Smell and How To (Maybe) Get It Back

How many digits of pi is the right amount to use? Plus, what actually causes people to lose their sense of smell when they get COVID? And how can you work to recover yours if you lost it? And, Saturday Night Live’s Pete Davidson is going to space.
March 11, 2022

Fri. 03/11 - Abe Lincoln: Telegraph Influencer

Abraham Lincoln was a telegraph power-user, and the one thousand telegrams he sent during his presidency might have helped the US win the Civil War. Plus, an app that can diagnose rare diseases just by scanning a child’s face. And, ten thousand people in New Orleans were without power for hours due…
March 10, 2022

Thu. 03/10 - We Need To Talk About The Spiders

The giant yellow spiders set to invade the eastern seaboard of North America are… not as scary as the internet is making them seem. Plus, the Smithsonian is returning a number of artworks to Nigeria. And President Biden is considering a digital currency for the US.
March 9, 2022

Wed. 03/09 - Why Has "Z" Become a Pro-War Symbol?

One of the most famous shipwrecks has finally been discovered at the bottom of a sea in Antarctica. Plus, why the letter “Z” has become a Russian pro-war symbol. And, post-punk Alvin and the Chipmunks.
March 8, 2022

Tue. 03/08 - Diamonds Are the Air's Best Friend

Giving all new meaning to “taking a leaf out of their book,” medieval literature scholars have adopted ecological models to quantify lost works of fiction. Plus, what if you could create diamonds out of thin air? And, had a rough day? Let some kindergarteners give you a pep talk.
March 7, 2022

Mon. 03/07 - Why Have Some Of Us Never Gotten COVID?

After two years, why have some of us never gotten COVID? Plus, the surprisingly artistic and wonderful Squirrel Census. And a volcanic rock in Japan rumored to contain a thousand-year-old demonic spirit has just been found split in two. Nbd.
March 4, 2022

Fri. 03/04 - How Hybrid Work Could Change Cities & the Workforce

Is it possible for ocean cleanup programs to do more harm than good? And how might offices, cities, and the nature of work itself change if––as looks increasingly likely––many office jobs never return to fully on-site work. Plus, the latest Wordle-style game recommendation.
March 3, 2022

Thu. 03/03 - Designing Gotham: Batman's Universal Hometown

A look at how the design of Gotham City has changed throughout each incarnation of Batman, reflecting the soul and vengeance of the caped crusader. Plus, the technicolor array of blood throughout the animal kingdom. And, your chance to take your name to the moon. Not in an investing sense. Like, li…
March 2, 2022

Wed. 03/02 - Death to Plastic

175 nations have agreed to craft a legally binding treaty to reel in the world’s out-of-control plastic problem. Plus, remember that rocket booster no one is taking responsibility for? It’s still hitting the moon on Friday. Here’s what it might be able to tell us. And, a Beetlejuice sequel might fi…
March 1, 2022

Tue. 03/01 - Dino Drama: Should Tyrannosaurus Be Split Into Three Species?

Is the tyrannosaurus rex going to be broken up into three species? Plus, we’ve talked a lot about meat alternatives, but now it’s time for: dairy milk alternatives. No, not oat or almond. Actual dairy milk but without the use of animals. And, finally a study that says going for a walk is bad for yo…
Feb. 28, 2022

Mon. 02/28 - Pres. Zelensky's Uncanny Comedy Career & the Perils of Idol-worship

That thing you’re looking at right now, it’s already fifteen seconds in the past. Plus, new findings from Apple and Harvard’s giant period-tracking study. And, before emerging as a wartime president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a prolific career as a comedian. Here’s a rundown of some of the wildest cl…
Feb. 25, 2022

Fri. 02/25 - The Meme Accounts Behind Misinformation

The meme accounts behind some of the spread of misinformation already this week, as well as some guidance for seeking out and sharing accurate information. Plus, seals that are being recruited by scientists to spy on whales. And the latest vaccine seeking authorization.