Scientists have been trying for years to figure out why there's a gap in Earth's geologic record that's about a billion years long, known as the Great Uncomformity. Plus: today in 2001 an artist painted a Wyoming house inside and out with government surplus cheese. 

Erasing a Billion Years of Geologic Time Across the Globe (Eos)

So, Uh, Where Did a Billion Years of the Geologic Record Go? (Popular Mechanics)

The Wyoming Cheese House (Weird Universe)

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Today is the birthday of Ruth Faison Shaw, an art teacher who spotted a kid smearing iodine on the school walls and saw a way kids could express themselves. Plus: art is alive and well in cats, or at least in a photographer taking portraits of cats going wild for - and sometimes on - catnip.

Ruth Faison Shaw (A Woman To Know)

A Photographer Takes Pictures of Cats "High" on Catnip, and It'll Be Your New Favorite Thing (PopSugar)

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Millions of people have back pain that just plain makes things harder to do. A team at Vanderbilt University has developed an exosuit that may ease all that back strain. Plus: how do you let an economist know he's won the Nobel Prize when you don't have his phone number? Have his fellow winner knock on his door in the middle of the night, of course. 

Vanderbilt wearable exosuit that lessens back muscle fatigue could redesign the future of work (Vanderbilt University)

The #NobelPrize committee couldn't reach Paul Milgrom to share the news that he won (Stanford University on Twitter)

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Today in 1947 was the first performance of the Weeki Wachee Mermaids, professional mermaids in Florida who put on choreographed shows for hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, completely underwater. Plus: the Oklahoma Banjo Fest is now underway, completely virtual and still completely banjo-ey. 

More mermaids than men (Mashable)

Oklahoma Banjo Fest (Travel OK)

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To mark our 400th episode, we have stories of some of the people who have set world records for screaming! Two of them are educators, though I don't think they practice on their students. Plus: scientists have figured out how to 3D print treats out of milk. 

Loudest scream (individual) (Guinness World Records)

Belfast teacher still in class of her own for shouting (BBC)

Got 3D milk? These adorable printed dairy products will satisfy your creamiest cravings (Fast Company)

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Food banks are seeing growing demand, and feeding hungry people takes money. Amazingly, a study out of Ohio State University finds these nonprofits might be able to boost their donations by paying closer attention to typefaces. Plus: this weekend is the deadline to cast your vote in this year's Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.

Donors more likely to give to COVID causes when font matches message (Ohio State University)

The Affinity Photo People's Choice Award (Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards)

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Shoes only last for so long, but they're made from materials that last seemingly forever. Designer Shahar Asor has an alternate idea: shoes for kids with an expiration date. Plus: a pizza place in Brooklyn is letting customers order "comforting words" along with their food. 

Shahar Asor knits children's shoes with an expiration date using biodegradable thread (designboom)

Vinnie’s Pizzeria in Brooklyn Delivers Comforting Words of Positive Reinforcement for the Very Small Fee of $1 (Laughing Squid)

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It's hard to believe we're saying goodbye to guitar great Eddie Van Halen. His band won millions of fans on record and offstage, and won a reputation for offstage excess. But one of their most infamous stories - that they banned brown M&Ms from backstage - wasn't quite what it seemed. Plus: a Gloria Estefan hit gets a heavy metal treatment on YouTube. 

Did Van Halen’s Concert Contract Require the Removal of Brown M&Ms? (Snopes)

A Headbashingly Good Metal Cover of Gloria Estefan’s Conga (Geeks Are Sexy)

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We’ve known for some time that at least a few exoplanets could support liquid water, making them potentially habitable. But a paper from Washington State University suggests some of those planets may be super-habitable - as in, they may be more appropriate for life than Earth is! Plus: a new map fills Mars with water, so we can see what the Red Planet would look like if it wasn't red. 

Some planets may be better for life than Earth (Washington State University)

Mars map with water: incredible terraforming image shows Elon Musk’s dream (Inverse)

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If you've read the negative reviews about last week's debate, know that there are other stories of candidate face-offs gone wrong in the history books - like the one in Arkansas that left the audience all wet. Plus: for National Fire Prevention Week, we pay a visit to Busted Plug, a four story tall sculpture of a fire hydrant. 

Everyone is Entitled to My Opinion by David Brinkley

The World’s Largest Fire Hydrant Is Right Here In South Carolina And You’ll Want To Visit (Only in South Carolina)

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