Wed. 12/01 - Duolingo's Bizarre Sentences

Why does Duolingo use such weird and sometimes deeply relatable phrases to teach its users new languages? Plus, the real science behind the much-hyped “first living robots that can now reproduce.” And the origins of the twelve days of Christmas. Like, the actual days. Not the song about turtle doves.

Sponsors:

• Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance
• Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com

Links:

• Why are Duolingo sentences so weird? (Slate)
• ‘Amazing science’: researchers find xenobots can give rise to offspring (The Guardian)
• Interesting research, but no, we don’t have living, reproducing robots (Ars Technica)
• Bizarre Creatures Are World's First Self-Replicating 'Living Robots', Scientists Say (Science Alert)
• Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes
• Jack's Countdown to Christmas (Instagram)
• Kottke.Org
• Jackson Bird on Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices