Episodes

What’s up with all those merpeople and sea monsters on old maps? Why Peru opened up Machu Picchu after seven months for one single man to visit. The supermassive black hole that spaghettified a star. And the Anti-Ad Ad Club paying influencers to trash talk corporations. Sponsor: FightCamp, joinfightcamp.com/RIDE Links: Why Did Renaissance Europeans See Merpeople Everywhere? (Literary Hub) In 1562 Map-Makers Thought America Was Full of Mermaids, Giants, and Dragons (Atlas Obscura) Peru opens Mach...

It’s Indigenous People’s Day today. How and when did this start becoming a thing? How west coast governments are finally turning to tribal leaders for assistance preventing wildfires. A serious collaboration between Weird Al Yankovic and Portugal. the Man. And an interactive website that shows you a global map of tribal territories and languages. Sponsor: FightCamp, JoinFightCamp.com/RIDE Links: The Native History of Indigenous Peoples Day (Yes Magazine) Indigenous Peoples Day: 4 Things to Know ...

What kind of operating system do they use in space? The science behind cocktails, to up your at-home mixology game. The 22-year-old responsible for the most viral beats on Tiktok. And the Connecticut mayor who isn’t taking any of John Oliver’s crap. Links: Definitely not Windows 95: What operating systems keep things running in space? (Ars Technica) Cocktail Chemistry: 10 Science-Backed Tips for the Perfect Drink (Discover Magazine) Good Drinks: Alcohol-Free Recipes for When You're Not Drinking ...

The Islamic scholars who beat Darwin to the punch by about a thousand years. A cool site for finding new books to read. The world’s largest ouija board. And naked celebrities teaching us about naked ballots. Links: A Thousand Years Before Darwin, Islamic Scholars Were Writing About Natural Selection (Vice) Whichbook | A new way of choosing what book to read next World's Largest Ouija Board (Rob Allam, Twitter) World’s Largest Ouija Board Unveiled in Salem, Massachusetts (Mental Floss) OUIJAZILLA...

The twenty-four possible super-habitable planets that could be better than Earth. The man you can pay to gatecrash your funeral. The perfect conclusion to the skateboarding cranberry juice trend, and what the heck that trend was. And the winner of Fat Bear Week 2020. Links: Scientists Have Identified 24 Possible 'Superhabitable' Planets (Vice) 'Coffin confessor' Bill Edgar paid to gatecrash Queensland funerals and speak up for the dead (ABC) Cranberry Juice Skateboarder Gets Surprised With A New...

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, Twitter) Famed lexicographer's new book "Word Perfect" released with a ton of typos (Boing Boing) Asb...

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: BetterHelp, Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/REPORT Links: Archaeologists find evidence of n...

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: How Smart Are Crows Compared to Humans? (Popular Mechanics) Please Pass Me The Eye Of Newt; What's ...

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 There's a Black Hole at the Center of the Earth (Futurism) Subway sandwiches contain 'too much sugar' to...

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’s Hunter’s Moon (EarthSky) What is a Hunter's Moon? (Universe Today) 2020, October 31: Rare Hallowee...

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 'Just Do It' slogan inspired by Utah spree killer Gary Gilmore (Business Insider) Buried lakes of li...

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 Possible: Math Proves Paradox-Free Time Travel (Popular Mechanics) Time Travel - Is It Possible? (Po...

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 millions off masks (The Verge) The Real Reason Every Fashion Company Is Now Making Face Masks (Marker) ...

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/GOODNEWS Links: How To Say No, For The People Pleaser Who Always Says Yes (NPR) Secret 'Man Cave' Discover...

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 Stainless Steel Found in Iran, Surprising Archaeologists (Gizmodo) This 'Modern' Invention Is Really...

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 Indeed.com/GOODNEWS Links: Horror Movie Fans Are Having an Easier Time Dealing With the Pandemic, Stu...

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 eat fish sticks (The Hustle) The shifting popularity of fish throughout American history (Splendid Ta...

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 blog looks like now, how it’s changed over the years. The evolution of patronage models, and his curren...

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) Emergency Bra Scientific American Endorses Joe Biden (Scientific American) Sara Little Turnbull Inspired ...

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 membership Links: How to Break Out of Your Social Media Echo Chamber (Wired) Firefighter fighting consp...

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 303030 for a free trial membership Links: Bear from Ice Age found 'completely preserved' in Russian ...

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 Links: Life on Venus? Astronomers See a Signal in Its Clouds (NY Times) Announcement About Research o...

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: Beachbody on Demand, Text "GOODNEWS" to 303030 for a free trial membership Links: How to Avoid 'Mask Br...

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 True Proportions of The Fearsome Megalodon (Science Alert) Yes, This Interchange in Houston Is t...