Cool Stuff Ride Home
In just 15 minutes, the coolest stuff that happened in the world today. Science, progress, life-hacks, memes, exciting art and hope. The antidote to depressing headlines. Smart stuff in podcast form. Cool news, as a service.
Recent Episodes
May 16, 2025
Nanoparticle Gel Could Help Save Coral Reefs, An Update on Kosmos 482's Crash-Landing & A New Satellite Providing An Unprecedented Look at the Planet's Forests
Nanoparticle Gel Could Help Save Degraded Coral Reefs Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482 likely crashed back to Earth Saturday morning Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482 crashes back to Earth, disappearing into Indian Ocean after 53 year...
May 12, 2025
The Man Who Let Snakes Bite Him 202 Times, Your Name Could Literally Shape Your Face & Chimps Doing Their Best Neil Peart
Go to our sponsor venice.ai/coolstuff and use code coolstuff to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan. A man let snakes bite him 202 times. His blood helped create a new antivenom Here's...
May 9, 2025
Turning Lead Into Gold, T-Rex Leather Handbags, Why Mammalian Lifespans Vary So Greatly & TDIH: The First Paper Currency in the US
On today's episode, Scientists at CERN have successfully turned lead into gold -- a process that requires a shocking amount of speed! Another company touts its T-Rex leather handbags. How do scientists feel about said claim? ...
May 8, 2025
The Origins of T-Rex, Rectal Embalming for Mummification, Russian Satellite Linked to Nuclear Program & TDIH: The 1902 Eruption of Mt. Pelee
T. rex's direct ancestor crossed from Asia to North America Mummy preserved with bizarre rectal embalming method discovered by archaeologists Capable of guiding nuclear weapons, the Russian satellite Cosmos 2553 has gone out of control, experts are sounding the alarm. Russian satellite linked to nu…
May 7, 2025
Weird Wednesday: Bizarre Evolutionary Discovery, World's Largest Dog Meets World's Smallest & Seagull Boy Returns + TDIH: The First Integrated Circuit
Weird Wednesday brings us a strange evolutionary discovery, the world's largest dog meets the world's smallest (and it's hard not to smile), plus 'Seagull Boy' returns to defend his championship. On This Day in History, we look back at the world's first integrated circuit. The surprising evolution …
May 6, 2025
A Massive Star-Forming Gas Cloud Close to Earth, 3 Million Year Old Tools Unearthed & TDIH: The First Adhesive Postage Stamp
A massive star-forming gas cloud has been discovered strangely close to Earth. Plus, ancient tools discovered in Kenya are more than 3 million years old. On This Day in History, we examine the Penny Black stamp, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, and its impact on communication. Massive star…
May 5, 2025
A Sea Lion Beat-Keeper (Better Than Most Humans!), A Flying Squirrel Drone & TDIH: The First Female Patent-Holder in the US
Ronan the Sea Lion – perhaps the best beat-keeper on the planet? We’ve got the fascinating details. A new drone mimics the flying squirrel, which could be a game-changer for robots ability to navigate highly congested spaces....
May 2, 2025
Phthalates Linked to Heart Disease Death, a Portion of an Old Soviet Spacecraft is Headed for Earth & TDIH: The First Commercial Jetliner Service
On today's episode, a new study links phthalates to heart disease death, a portion of a long-forgotten soviet spacecraft originally designed to land on Venus is headed back towards Earth – in an uncontrolled manner. Plus, on...
May 1, 2025
Shark Skin-Like Plastic Makes Planes More Aerodynamic, Benefits or Dangers of Fluoride in Water, and TDIH - Empire State Building Dedicated
A plastic film that mimics shark skin may help airplanes fly a little greener and is there a benefit to fluoride in public water systems? On This Day in History, the Empire State Building is dedicated by President Herbert Hoo...
April 30, 2025
Weird Wednesday: A Man in Need of Rescue TWICE on Mt. Fuji, Dirty Rain in the US & a Lost Dachshund Returns Home after 529 Days Lost. TDIH: Mr. Potato Head
Today's Weird Wednesday episode brings us the man who required rescue twice in four days on Mount Fuji, dirty rain hits part of the US, and a mini dachshund returns home after 529 days in the wild. Plus, on 'This Day in Histo...
April 29, 2025
Oldest Ant Fossil Discovered, Caterpillar Wears Remains of its Prey, and TDIH - First Rubber Patent
Researchers find a 113-year-old ant fossil, the oldest ever found and the caterpillar that wears the remains of its prey. On This Day in History, the first rubber patent is issued, so we look at the history of rubber. Researc...
April 28, 2025
Satellite Lucy Sends Back Images of Odd Shaped Asteroid, Tick Increase Due to Pheasants, and TDIH - Thor Heyerdahl's Journey Across the Pacific on a 'Raft'
The satellite Lucy shares intel on the asteroid Donaldjohnson while on its way to Jupiter and released pheasants may be causing a tick problem. On This Day in History, NASA's Lucy spacecraft beams back pictures of an asteroid...
April 25, 2025
New Satellite Beams Ultra-Secure Internet, Evidence of Gladiator Bitten by Lion, and TDIH - First Sub to Circumnavigate the Globe
A tiny satellite, but a huge leap. Quantum-Encrypted data is beamed across the globe, ushering in a new era for ultra-secure internet. Plus, skeletal evidence of a Roman gladiator that was bitten by a lion. On This Day in His...
April 24, 2025
How Tech Can Help with Cognitive Decline, Cicadas Are Back, Update from Yellowstone, and TDIH - The Library of Congress is Established
How technology could slow down cognitive decline as we age, and the Cicadas are back - will you be hearing them? We also have an update on the seismic experiments taking place in Yellowstone. On This Day in History, the Libra...
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About the Host
Jackson Bird
Host, Kottke Ride Home
Jackson Bird is a writer and internet creator dedicated to demystifying the transgender experience. A YouTube NextUp Creator and GLAAD Rising Star Digital Innovator, Jackson shares his and others’ stories on his YouTube channel, jackisnotabird, and in his debut book Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Vulture, The Advocate, and more, and his TED Talk "How to talk (and listen) to transgender people" has been viewed over one and a half million times. Jackson lives in New York City, where he hosts the daily podcast Kottke Ride Home. You can follow him online @jackisnotabird.
