Bacteria Can Consume Used Plastic And Turn It Into Medicine

Researchers have a new way to make one of the most commonly used pain relievers, out of plastic that might otherwise end up in landfills.

By |2025-07-29T07:29:30-04:00July 29, 2025|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

The Great Naha Tug of War Gets Thousands Of People Pulling And Partying

This Sunday on Okinawa in Japan, it’s an event on a grand scale: the Naha Great Tug of War, with thousands of people pulling a 200 meter long rope.

By |2024-12-10T07:49:37-05:00October 9, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Whey Protein Could Help Stop E-Waste

Could the secret weapon against electronic waste may be cheese? Research finds a process involving the byproduct of cheesemaking known as whey protein could help recover gold and other precious metals from old computer motherboards.

By |2024-12-15T15:54:13-05:00March 6, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Whitney Smith Flew The Flag For Studying Flags

Today in 1940, the birthday of the world’s number one flag expert: Whitney Smith, who not only studied flags his entire life, he invented the word for studying flags.

By |2024-12-10T07:51:10-05:00February 26, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Meet ESTHER, A Robot That Plays Wheelchair Tennis

We’ve talked a lot on the show about the many different skills robots are learning. Now we can tell you about Experimental Sport Tennis Wheelchair Robot, which is learning to play tennis. 

By |2024-12-07T21:23:13-05:00May 9, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

A Company In Mexico Is Making 3D Printed Bricks Out Of Eggshells

Can you build a wall out of eggshells? You can if you're the Mexican design studio MANUFACTURA, which developed a sustainable way to make bricks out of discarded shells and bio-binders.

By |2024-12-06T06:49:59-05:00March 15, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

Sound Waves Could Help Keep High-Tech Batteries Going And Going And Going

Rechargeable batteries like the ones in our smartphones typically last a few years, but a new project out of Australia could lead to batteries that last nearly a decade. And that's thanks in part to sound waves.

By |2024-12-10T09:20:19-05:00February 2, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

This Solar Powered System Can Help Address Both Plastic Waste And Greenhouse Gases

Too much waste plastic? Too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? Researchers in the UK may have a partial solution for both problems: a process that uses solar energy to convert plastic and greenhouse gases into useful products.

By |2024-12-07T19:56:40-05:00January 25, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Hydrogel Sheets Could Clean Up Spills Quicker Than Ever Before

A lot of us turn to paper towels when there’s a mess to be addressed, but they could also be greener. Researchers are developing a reusable kitchen towel made of hydrogel.

By |2024-12-14T10:58:22-05:00January 23, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Cranberry-Based Packaging Is Plastic-Free And Completely Dissolvable

A lot of products, even some otherwise green ones, still use a lot of disposable single-use plastic. But there’s a research project that aims to replace that plastic wrapping with a completely biodegradable version made from cranberries.

By |2024-12-07T20:06:29-05:00January 10, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , |
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