Wed. 12/01 - Duolingo's Bizarre Sentences

<p><strong><em>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.</em></strong></p><p>Sponsors:</p><ul><li>Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at <a href="http://lendtable.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lendtable.com</a> to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance</li><li>Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at <a href="http://tentree.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tentree.com</a></li></ul><p> Links:</p><ul><li><a href="https://slate.com/technology/2021/11/duolingo-weird-sentences-linguistics.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Why are Duolingo sentences so weird?</a> (Slate)</li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/29/amazing-science-researchers-find-xenobots-can-give-rise-to-offspring" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">‘Amazing science’: researchers find xenobots can give rise to offspring</a> (The Guardian)</li><li><a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/11/mobile-clusters-of-cells-can-help-assemble-a-mini-version-of-themselves" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Interesting research, but no, we don’t have living, reproducing robots</a> (Ars Technica)</li><li><a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/world-s-first-self-replicating-living-robots-look-like-pac-man-but-are-much-weirder" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bizarre Creatures Are World's First Self-Replicating 'Living Robots', Scientists Say</a> (Science Alert)</li><li><a href="https://bookshop.org/books/christmas-a-candid-history-9780520251045/9780520258020" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Christmas: A Candid History</a> by Bruce David Forbes </li><li><a href="http://instagram/jackisnotabird" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jack's Countdown to Christmas</a> (Instagram) </li><li><a hre