Karolina Olsson, “The Sleeper of Oknö,” Woke Up After 32 Years In Bed (Cool Weird Awesome 1336)

Today in 1861, the birthday of a woman with a very strange story. For reasons that aren’t at all clear, Karolina Olsson went to bed as a 14 year old and apparently didn’t wake up until she was in her forties.

By |2024-10-29T08:02:42-04:00October 29, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Barry Marshall Pinpointed The Cause Of Most Ulcers By Giving Himself One (Cool Weird Awesome 1320)

Today in 1951, the birth of Barry Marshall, a Nobel Prize winning doctor who, while working with colleague Robin Warren, proved what was behind most ulcers by giving himself an ulcer. 

By |2024-09-30T09:27:20-04:00September 30, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

When Planes Were Grounded On 9-11, People Came Together To Get A Donor Liver To A Baby For A Life-Saving Transplant (Cool Weird Awesome 1307)

Today in 2001, while the world watched a tragedy unfold, there was an amazing story happening far from those sites: an effort to help a six month old baby get a transplant that would save her life.

By |2024-09-11T07:49:38-04:00September 11, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , |

Pacemaker Pioneer Wilson Greatbatch Helped Millions Of Hearts (Cool Weird Awesome 1304)

Today in 1919, the birthday of Wilson Greatbatch, who made implantable pacemakers a reality for millions of patients. A pretty big legacy for a guy who considered himself a “humble tinkerer.”

By |2024-09-06T07:01:03-04:00September 6, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb’s “Penny Parade” Helped Build A Northern Wisconsin Hospital (Cool Weird Awesome 1248)

Today in 1953, some 10,000 people took part in Woodruff, Wisconsin's Memorial Day "Penny Parade." They were raising to build a hospital, urged on by the leader of the effort, Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb.

By |2024-05-30T08:54:26-04:00May 30, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Musical Alarms Could Help Save Lives In Hospitals (Cool Weird Awesome 1199)

There's a phenomenon in hospitals called "alarm fatigue" that can actually cause problems for patients. An anesthesiologist and a music cognition researcher have teamed up to find alternatives to the jarring beeps.

By |2024-03-08T08:47:13-05:00March 8, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

This Smart Glove Can Help People Recover From A Stroke

A new wearable device can track arm and hand movements from people recovering from strokes to help improve their rehab exercises.

By |2024-12-01T12:22:56-05:00January 31, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

John Thompson Lost His Arms In A Farm Accident, Got Himself Help And Got The Arms Back

On this day in 1992, John Thompson of North Dakota lost his arms in a farm accident. He then got himself emergency care in time so that he got his arms back.

By |2024-12-01T12:18:23-05:00January 11, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Can We Patch Back Injuries The Way We Patch Holes In Car Tires? (Cool Weird Awesome 1135)

The Tension-Activated Repair Patch could help people with back injuries, and it works a little bit like how we patch flat tires on the road. 

By |2024-11-28T08:35:43-05:00November 28, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , |

A Medical Robot Can Help Steer A Needle Through Living Tissue (Cool Weird Awesome 1112)

It's a big and little development in medicine and technology all at once: a robotic system that can autonomously move a medical needle safely through living tissue. Plus: starting tomorrow in Grand Marais, Minnesota, it's the Moose Madness Family Festival.

By |2023-10-19T06:09:10-04:00October 19, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |
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