Wed. 02/03 - Are We Too Cynical for Viral Stunts These Days?

<p><strong><em>What causes ice ages? The science behind your frying pan. You know, the one that’s supposed to be non-stick but isn’t. Scientists explain why. Other scientists have engineered spinach to send emails. Sort of. And did you hear about the Hollyboob prank? If not, or if you supremely don’t care, it may say more about our current relationship to viral stunts than the stunt in question.</em></strong></p><p>Sponsors:</p><ul><li>Indeed, Get a free $75 credit at <a href="http://indeed.com/goodnews" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Indeed.com/GOODNEWS</a></li><li>OurCrowd, <a href="http://ourcrowd.com/kottke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ourcrowd.com/kottke</a></li></ul><p>Links:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/ice-ages-what-causes-the-earth-to-freeze-over-every-few-million-years" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ice Ages: What Causes the Earth to Freeze Over Every Few Million Years?</a> (Discover Magazine)</li><li><a href="https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/glad-you-asked/ice-ages-what-are-they-and-what-causes-them/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Glad You Asked: Ice Ages – What are they and what causes them?</a> (Utah Geological Society)</li><li><a href="https://earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/sensing-our-planet/the-un-ice-age" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The un-ice age</a> (Earthdata, NASA)</li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/scientists-explain-why-food-still-sticks-to-your-stupid-1846180908" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scientists Explain Why Food Still Sticks to Your Stupid Non-Stick Pan</a> (Gizmodo)</li><li><a href="https://www.euronews.com/living/2021/02/01/scientists-have-taught-spinach-to-send-emails-and-it-could-warn-us-about-climate-change" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scientists have taught spinach to send emails</a> (Euro News)</li><li><a href="https://news.mit.edu/2016/nanobionic-spinach-plants-detect-explosives-1031" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nanobi