It's National Potato Chip Day, so of course we’re going to take you through the history of potato chips and the story of chef George Crum, the man sometimes called “the Edison of grease.” Plus: potatoes have been turned into chips, fries, soup and more; now they're being used for perfume. 

How the Potato Chip Took Over America (Smithsonian)

‘Frites by Idaho’: Idaho Potato Commission giving away potato perfume (KXLY)

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Researchers in Europe have built an algorithm that can decode the sounds of pigs to figure out what they’re feeling, whether it's happy, concerned, curious, anxious or just sort of hanging out. Plus: this weekend in Owensboro, Kentucky, it's the Kentucky State Fiddle Championship. 

Pig grunts reveal their emotions (University of Copenhagen)  

Kentucky State Fiddle Championship

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There's a new exhibit at the Indiana State Museum about Marshall "Major" Taylor, a Black cycling star who became famous before Jack Johnson, Joe Louis or Jackie Robinson. Here's some of his story. Plus: today in 1888, actor Barry Fitzgerald was born; he later proved with an Academy Award that if you win something big, be careful with it. 

Major Taylor Fastest Cyclist In The World (Indiana State Museum)

Uncovering The Story Of Cyclist Major Taylor, America's 1st Black Sports Star (Fresh Air)

Double Trouble for Foxx's Oscar Quest? (ABC News)

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Today Lionel Richie is receiving the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Not only has he sold millions of records, he’s become a home goods entrepreneur, an art enthusiast - and one time, personal clothes shopper for none other than Nelson Mandela. Plus: today in Northbrook, IL, it’s the 2022 World Clown Association convention - aka the Class Clown Reunion.

Lionel Richie to Receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song (Library of Congress)

Lionel Richie on being Nelson Mandela's stylist (CBC)

World Clown Association 2022 Convention 

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There were cold-like illnesses and sore throats long before there were humans to catch colds and to get sore throats. A research project has found another creature that got sniffles: dinosaurs. Plus: this month marks 200 years since the birth of Harriet Tubman, and there's a lot happening to celebrate her life and her legacy.

Even dinosaurs couldn’t escape the sniffles (Popular Science)

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway (Visit Maryland)

How Philadelphia Is Honoring Harriet Tubman’s Birthday in 2022 (Visit Philly)

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Today in 1929, the start of one of the most outlandish stories in American political history: the time Louisiana Governor Huey Long had the governor's house torn down and a virtual replica of the White House built in its place, because (as it's said) he wanted to get used to living in the White House before he was elected president. Plus: meet the Flairdrum, a percussion instrument built out of recycled plastic drink bottles. 

Strippers, Insane Asylums, Assassination, and Termites: Inside the Insane History of the World’s Greatest White House Replica (The Daily Beast) 

Old Louisiana Governor's Mansion (National Park Service)

Flairdrum, A Wonderful Percussion Instrument Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles (Laughing Squid)

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Today in 1837 an act to incorporate the city of Chicago passed. A decade or two later, thousands of workers helped raise many of its buildings up 14 feet to make way for a badly needed wastewater and stormwater system. Plus: today in 1791, Vermont became a state, and one that's home to a 38 drawer tall filing cabinet.

Chicago’s ‘sunken’ homes are remnants of a bold effort to raise the city out of the mud (WGN)

Tallest Filing Cabinet on Earth (Atlas Obscura)

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Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology took stem cells and treated them with high-frequency sound waves, which was enough to convert them into bone cells. Plus: today in 2018, runner Murielle Ahoure found an ingenious way to celebrate her country after a big win. 

Sonic advance: How sound waves could help regrow bones (RMIT)

World Indoor Championships: Ivory Coast's Ahoure celebrates 60m gold with Irish flag (BBC)

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Today in 1962 one of the most stunning performances in the history of basketball, or really in all of pro sports: Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game. Plus: today in 1935, the release of a short film called “Donkey Baseball," in which humans lead donkeys around in a baseball game (the donkeys aren't the ones playing baseball). 

The Legacy Of Wilt Chamberlain's 100-Point Game (WBUR)

Five things you didn't know about Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game (Sporting News)

Donkey Baseball (YouTube)

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Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday, etc is typically the day a community in central Mexico has a somewhat notorious festival in which people put homemade explosives on top of sledge hammers and slam the hammers into stuff to make big explosions. If you go, don't blame us for anything that happens. Plus: a town in Kansas marks Pancake Day with a pancake flipping race. 

The explosive festival of San Juan de la Vega (La Silla Rota Guanajuato) 

Annual 'exploding hammer' festival might be the most dangerous event in Mexico (Mashable) 

Liberal pancake race (Kansas Historical Society)

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