Is the leap second finally running out of time, and who on Earth is porting Super Mario 64 to a Microsoft Zune? In Episode 815 of Technorama, “The Infinite Loop of Bad Decisions,” Chuck and Kreg dive into NASA launching miniature human organs (including peppercorn-sized brains!) to the ISS, a $100 pocket-sized muon detector, and a retro computing wizard recreating Lunar Lander on a 1959 PDP-1. We also pay tribute to Apollo software engineering pioneer Margaret Hamilton and debate the ethics of using AI to clone commercial software.
Plus, we share your favorite book recommendations from the past year, swap reviews on everything from Vision Quest and Ad Astra to Netflix’s Below, and ask our Question of the Week: What was your personal “Welcome to the Future” tech moment? Tune in for all the geeky goodness and let us know what gadget first blew your mind!
Listen below with the audio player or Click Here for complete show notes and video from the show.
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Feedback
- QOTW:
- Patreon comments from Spiffy
On This Day In History for October 14, 2026
On this day in history for October 14th, 2026. This is the 287th day of the year, there are just 78 days remaining in 2026.
- Back in 1884, George Eastman received a U.S. patent for his revolutionary paper-strip photographic film.
- Moving to 1888, Louis Le Prince filmed the world’s very first motion picture, the famous Roundhay Garden Scene.
- Fast forward to 1947, when Captain Chuck Yeager officially broke the sound barrier in level flight aboard the Bell X-1, reaching Mach 1.05 over California.
- In 1964, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle against racial inequality.
- Four years later, in 1968, the Apollo 7 crew conducted the first live television broadcast by American astronauts in orbit.
- And in 2012, extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner successfully jumped to Earth from a balloon high in the stratosphere.
Happy birthday goes out to the notable figures born on this day in history.
- Scottish mathematician and academic Robert Simson was born 339 years ago today.
- Belgian physicist Joseph Plateau, who invented the early animation device known as the Phenakistoscope, came into the world 225 years ago.
- We also remember Nobel Prize-winning American chemist and physicist Raymond Davis Jr., born 112 years ago.
- Iconic English actor Roger Moore would have been celebrating his 99th birthday today.
- And turning 68 today is English singer-songwriter and producer Thomas Dolby.
Listener Birthdays
- 18 – Megan Enloe
- 19 – Russell Pearson (Ninereeds)
- 20 – Mike
And that’s the way it was, on this day in history for October 14, 2026
- If you want to get on the Technorama Birthday Calendar, visit our website and look for the Birthday Calendar link.
News
- The leap second is on the chopping block — and timekeeping could change forever | KSL.com
- Mini organs launching to space may help future astronauts and humans on Earth stay healthy – ABC News
Hacks & Strange Stories
- Super Mario 64 Ported to the Microsoft Zune HD
- CosmicWatch: A $100 Handheld Detector for Invisible Cosmic Particles
Shout out to the chat room
Watch us live every Sunday night at 8:30PM ET on Facebook. Go to Join our page and get notified automatically. Join us on the live chat!
Remember When
- 2026 Retrocomputing Challenge: Lunar Lander on the PDP-1
- Remembering Margaret Hamilton: Apollo Flight Software Pioneer Dies at 90
Thank you Patrons!
This show is brought to you by… YOU! Thank you to our Patrons who enable us to keep the show running and bring you special episodes.
Commander
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| Chris Martinez | Gary Lindros | Jason Pollard |
| Sarah Rose |
Lieutenant
| Kyle Nishioka | Ben Vaughan | John Noble |
| John Clifford | Denise Inglis | Steve Cody |
| Tim Cook | Steve Webb | Amber Elstad |
Ensign
| Amy Bowen | Brad Miller | ||
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| Stephen Wesche | Steve Therrien |
If you want to become a patron, visit our Patreon Page. We’ve got various levels of donations and in return we have various patron packages including a special “after show” we record just for the patrons! chuckchat.com/patreon
Visit our store at chuckchat.com/teepublic
Pass me the remote
- Kreg
- Ad Astra – Netflix
- Matchbox – Apple TV
- War Machine – Netflix
- VisionQuest – Disney+
- Ted Lasso – Apple TV
- Dave’s Garage – Should AI Cloning be Illegal? – YouTube
- Chuck
- Below – Netflix
- History of The Eagles – Netflix
- Canceled Paramount+
Question of the week
- What was your personal ‘Welcome to the Future’ moment—the first time a piece of tech made you stop and think, ‘Holy cow, we actually made it to the future’?
Patreon Topic this week
- Pebble Time Round was Delivered!
- Kreg’s flippant remark is wasting Chuck’s time
End of Show Stuff
We appreciate your support. If you like the show, there are many ways to show your love:
- Visit our Amazon page for recommended books, toys, and other fun stuff!
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- How about a donation to the tip jar: one time or monthly micropayment on Patreon!
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Also Thanks to
- Everyone who sent us links during the week
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- You, for downloading and listening
Tell a friend about Technorama and…
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