Before Alarm Clocks, Some People Awoke With Help From A “Knocker-Up” (Cool Weird Awesome 1204)

It’s Sleep Awareness Week, so we’re talking about the part of sleep people usually like the least: the part where the alarm clock wakes us up. Or, in the time before alarm clocks, the part where the local "knocker-up" pounded on the doors to get people out of bed.

By |2024-03-15T08:39:11-04:00March 15, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

When South New Jersey Wanted To Become Its Own State (Cool Weird Awesome 881)

Today in 1980, six counties in southern New Jersey voted on whether they should strike out on their own and become a separate state of South Jersey. And five of those counties actually voted yes!

By |2022-11-04T07:51:59-04:00November 4, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

The Chicago Cubs Once Had A “College of Coaches” Instead of a Manager (Cool Weird Awesome 693)

Today in 1961, the Chicago Cubs announced they wouldn't hire a manager for the new season, and would instead use a rotating "College" of coaches. You can probably guess how well that worked out.

By |2024-01-12T10:07:19-05:00January 12, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , |

A Wooden Clock That Writes Out The Time (Cool Weird Awesome 684)

Our last show of the year is about the Plock, a very unique clock that doesn’t so much tell the time as it writes the time out.

By |2024-01-01T10:08:15-05:00December 31, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Why Are Clocks More Accurate The Hotter They Are? (Cool Weird Awesome 540)

Time is a funny thing, and measuring time can get pretty wild too. The proof is a study out of the UK that finds clocks that use more energy, and give off more heat, are also more accurate. Plus: a book of photos by Rumi Ando showcases Tokyo, but with its signs, cables, doors and windows removed. 

By |2024-03-15T08:51:14-04:00May 20, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

For A Person Who’s Hiding Something, Time Slows Down (Cool Weird Awesome 446)

A new study from researchers at Aoyama Gakuin University and Osaka University finds that something interesting happens when we’re trying not to reveal something: our perception of time slows down.

By |2023-12-29T17:02:33-05:00December 29, 2020|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , |
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