Ora Washington, The “Queen Of Two Courts,” Ruled Tennis And Basketball Alike (Cool Weird Awesome 956)

For National Play Tennis Day, the story of Ora Washington, one of the great early stars of women's tennis who also happened to be one of the great early stars of women's basketball.

The “Lunch Atop A Skyscraper” Photo Was Originally A Publicity Stunt (Cool Weird Awesome 848)

Today in 1932, an unknown photographer took one of the most famous, most astonishing photographs of all time, the one known as “Lunch Atop A Skyscraper.” Here's more about how it happened.

By |2022-09-20T06:44:50-04:00September 20, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Yuan Longping Developed The Rice That Fed Millions (Cool Weird Awesome 607)

Yuan Longping, born today in 1930, was known as the Father of Hybrid Rice, and his work saved countless people from famine and starvation. Here's more of his story. Plus: a school in New Zealand has an unusual crossing guard: a chicken in a safety vest named Henry! 

By |2021-09-07T08:50:32-04:00September 7, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Tennis Balls Are Optic Yellow Thanks To David Attenborough (Cool Weird Awesome 550)

In the old days, tennis balls were white, but when documentary film legend David Attenborough pushed the BBC to carry the Wimbledon tournament in color, the tennis world realized those balls weren't showing up very well for home viewers. Plus: the community of Fitzgerald, Georgia is hoping to attract tourists with - what else - a giant steel topiary chicken. 

By |2021-06-04T08:44:37-04:00June 4, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , |

Let’s Say Something About The Museum Of Nothing (Cool Weird Awesome 433)

Some galleries showcase works of art; others show you what it's like when there's nothing on the canvas. Today we pay a virtual visit to a museum where all the works explore the concept of nothingness. Plus: the Chic!ken photo project aims to show that chickens can be the subjects of fine art. 

By |2021-10-19T06:35:47-04:00December 3, 2020|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

A Rock Painter In New Hampshire Really Loves A Chicken Farmer (Cool Weird Awesome 300)

We explore one of the great mysteries of our time: why is there a rock in Newbury, New Hampshire, with the words "CHICKEN FARMER I STILL LOVE YOU" painted on it? Plus: why is there a giant statue of a chicken eating burgers on top of a restaurant in Wisconsin? Lots of chicken mysteries out there, I guess.

By |2021-06-28T12:03:22-04:00May 18, 2020|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

I See What You Did There, Brain Implant (Cool Weird Awesome 135)

UCLA is testing a brain implant that takes the images captured by a tiny camera and converts them into electrical impulses that stimulate the part of the brain responsible for sight. It helps blind people detect darkness and lightness, as well as sensing motion.

By |2021-03-25T10:37:50-04:00September 25, 2019|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , |

A Bike Trip Around The World With A Cat (Cool Weird Awesome 113)

Dean Nicholson left his job and started a bike trip across the world. While riding through Bosnia, he heard a “desperate meow." So, instead of riding solo, he decided the cat would come along.

By |2023-02-06T09:29:24-05:00August 26, 2019|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

The Alabama Bridge That Roosters Built (Cool Weird Awesome 105)

It’s the 100th anniversary of a time that roosters built a bridge. Ok, not literally, but an auction of roosters donated by the most prominent people in the world helped raise the money needed for a bridge over the Tombigbee River in western Alabama, a span known as Rooster Bridge.

By |2022-09-23T06:49:25-04:00August 14, 2019|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Where’s Francine Pierce? Or Martina Van Buren? What I’ve Been Reading This Week, June 2, 2019

Some excellent links from the past week.

By |2019-06-04T11:13:32-04:00June 2, 2019|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , |
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