Cool Stuff Daily

It is a Weird Wednesday episode, and we cover scientists that have developed technology to control cyborg insect swarms, a town that made getting sick illegal, toilet seats that can’t handle toilet paper, and another town that is just going bananas over pealed bananas- we’ll explain. Plus, on This Day in History, we look back to the Battle of New Orleans.

Scientists develop technology to control cyborg insect swarms | ScienceDaily

Scientists develop technology to control cyborg insect swarms | TechXplore

Swarm navigation of cyborg-insects in unknown obstructed soft terrain | Nature Communications

Italian mayor's proclamation makes it illegal to get sick - UPI.com

Toilet maker warns customers not to wipe the seats with toilet paper - UPI.com

Peeled bananas left on English street corner each month vex locals - UPI.com

TDIH: Chalmette National Historical Park (Battle of New Orleans)

TDIH: The American Battlefield Trust's map of the War of 1812 Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815

TDIH: Battle of New Orleans

YouTube: Johnny Horton Sings The Battle of New Orleans (1959)

TDIH: The Battle of New Orleans

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Bioengineers develop a groundbreaking 'Smart Cell' construction kit for disease-fighting therapies" and how some video games can improve your mental health and add balance to your life. Plus, on This Day in History, the video phone that was released over 30 years ago.

Breakthrough for 'smart cell' design | ScienceDaily

Journal of Medical Internet Research - Open-World Games’ Affordance of Cognitive Escapism, Relaxation, and Mental Well-Being Among Postgraduate Students: Mixed Methods Study

Open-World Video Games Boost Relaxation and Mental Well-Being - Neuroscience News

Open-World Games Like Zelda Can Boost Your Mental Health, Study Says : ScienceAlert

AT&T calls new video phone wave of the future - UPI Archives

AT&T launched the VideoPhone 2500 in 1992. It sold for $1,499 | CNN Business

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On today’s episode, we’ve all heard it before during winter - “If you don’t dress warm, you're going to catch a cold”. We take a look at why winter makes you more vulnerable to colds. Also, what 2025 has in store for your stargazing plans. Plus, on This Day in History, we spin the wheel for the first time, as Wheel of Fortune debuts on NBC.

Why winter makes you more vulnerable to colds – a public health nurse explains the science behind the season | The Conversation

January stargazing: Ring in 2025 with a meteor shower, 'planet parade,' and best chance to spot Mars | Popular Science

The Sky Promises Many Big Events in 2025

The first meteor shower of 2025, the Quadrantids, is here. Here's how to catch a glimpse | AP News

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Turns 40, But Do You Remember the Other Versions? | TV Insider

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Human activity could be changing the Earth’s tilt and rotation, and researchers discover squirrels that don’t just eat nuts - they hunt and eat voles. Plus, on This Day in History, construction begins on the Brooklyn Bridge, the first steel-wire suspended bridge in the world.

Human activity is changing Earth’s tilt and rotation. What does that mean for the planet? | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Carnivorous squirrels documented in California | ScienceDaily

ASCE Metropolitan Section - Brooklyn Bridge

A Mini History Lesson on the Brooklyn Bridge, Downtown’s Stunning Suspension - Downtown Alliance

Brooklyn Bridge - New World Encyclopedia

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We look back at some of the more interesting species discovered in 2024. Plus, an update on the Weird Wednesday story of a man targeting the record for consecutive days living underwater. On This Day in History, the first spacecraft to escape Earth’s gravity and enter geocentric orbit – and here’s a hint – it did NOT come from the United States.

Scientists have identified an estimated 10% of all species on Earth. Here’s what they found in 2024 | CNN

Vampire hedgehogs, pirate spiders and fishy fungi - the strangest new species of 2024 | BBC

Scientist refuses to resurface after breaking world record for longest time underwater

Researcher Experiments Living Underwater for 100 Days to Study How High Pressure Impacts Longevity. The Results Are Baffling

NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details

Luna | Moon, Soviet, & Exploration | Britannica

On this date: USSR launches Luna 1 probe to moon

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Scientists notice that great apes love teasing and fooling around, which leads them to believe humor is older than humans. Plus, researchers discover some artificial heart patients are able to regrow heart muscle, offering new hope for future treatments. On This Day in History, the tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve at Times Square began over 100 years ago and a few later, the ball drop begins.

Great Apes Joke Around, Suggesting Humor Is Older Than Humans | Scientific American

Spontaneous playful teasing in four great ape species | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Can the heart heal itself? New study says it can | ScienceDaily

NYE History & Times Square Ball | Times Square NYC

The History of New Year's Eve in Times Square | CityPASS® Blog

A Brief History of Times Square’s New Year’s Eve Celebration

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AI-designed "nanocages" that mimic viral structures are offering groundbreaking advancements in gene therapy and biomedical innovation. Also, 250 shipwrecks containing 22 tons of gold and silver have been identified off the coast of Portugal. Plus, on This Day in History, the first major labor dispute in the US auto industry.

Virus that threatened humanity opens the future | ScienceDaily

250 ships with treasures off Portugal coast - The Portugal News

Shipwreck with 22 Tons of Gold Treasure Identified off Portugal Coast - GreekReporter.com

Shipwreck Holding 22 Tons of Gold Treasure Found off Portugal’s Coast

The 1936 Sit‑Down Strike That Shook the Auto Industry | HISTORY

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On today's episode; the oldest mammalian ancestor is discovered, an update on the flight of the Parker Solar Probe, plus, on 'This Day in History', the show that would influence children's television for generations to come -- Howdy Doody.

World's oldest mammalian ancestor discovered in Mallorca

This dog-like predator is the oldest known mammal ancestor | Popular Science

Early–middle Permian Mediterranean gorgonopsian suggests an equatorial origin of therapsids | Nature Communications

TDIH: Norb’s Corner: “It’s Howdy Doody time!”

TDIH: 1947: NBC Introduces Howdy Doody on 'Puppet Playhouse Presents'

From Doodyville to Detroit: The History of Howdy Doody, a Legendary Show of the Golden Age of TV

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On Christmas Eve NASA aims to touch our Sun in hopes to learn more about how it works and the source of its high-energy solar particles. Plus, on This Day in History, we look back one of the most famous holiday poems of all time - “Twas the Night Before Christmas".

Watch: NASA Experts Discuss Mission to 'Touch the Sun' with Parker Solar Probe - Newsweek

NASA is set to touch sun on Christmas Eve | firstcoastnews.com

Parker Solar Probe - NASA Science

It's been a hell of a year, and we're going to end it by pinging a spacecraft travelling at 430,000 mph off the Sun in a presumed affront to the laws of the universe | PC Gamer

The Story Behind the Most Famous Christmas Poem of All | Columbia Magazine

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One New York homeowner’s yardwork unearths a rare mastodon jaw. Plus, there is new evidence that humans, giant sloths, and mastodons coexisted for over 10,000 years. On This Day in History, we look at the failed coup attempt by Adolf Hitler before he was elected Chancellor of Germany.

New York Homeowner’s Yardwork Reveals Complete Mastodon Jaw Bones and Teeth | Good News Netowrk

Giant sloths and mastodons lived with ancient humans in the Americas | AP News

Murder Hornets Have Been Eradicated From The U.S. | Mic.com

Beer Hall Putsch | Facts, Summary, & Outcome | Britannica

The Munich Putsch – The Holocaust Explained: Designed for schools

The Beer Hall Putsch - 100th Anniversary Special (Video)

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