Tag: car

• Corpse Medicine and Tetris Effects

  The idea of ingesting human skulls from the freshly killed seems repulsive today, but it was shockingly common among British and other European aristocrats from the 16th century all the way up into the so-called Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century. Jeff and Anthony discuss what it would take to try the recipe, and why it was so pervasive. Then, a new study reports that playing just 20 minutes of Tetris following an automobile accident can help prevent the formation of the painful, intrusive memories that can follow trauma. Anthony and Jeff investigate why this might be, and tip their hat to the greatest video game of all time. [more]

  October 29, 2021Episodes

• Useful Commutes and Masked Cows

  Studies show the morning commute is the least favorite part of the day, and the commute home the third-least favorite, but it’s also possible to miss aspects of that enforced time between work and home. For all its downsides, the daily commute does have some positives. Anthony and Jeff discuss the science behind commuting, and how we can adapt in a new world. Then, there are 1.6 billion cattle on Earth, and their burps and farts are becoming a big problem. Cows expel methane, which is approximately 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to warming the planet. Jeff and Anthony look at a company proposing an unusual solution to a very big problem. [more]

  January 15, 2021Episodes

• Alien Radio and Rat Drivers

  Astronomers behind the most extensive search yet for alien life are investigating an intriguing radio wave emission that appears to have come from the direction of Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the sun. Anthony and Jeff start celebrating prematurely. Then, why would anyone teach a rat to drive a car. How? With what? The answers to all of the questions is science. Jeff and Anthony sort it out for you. [more]

  December 27, 2020Episodes

• Crash Ear

  Crash safety technology has come a long way in the past decade or so, with cars that now sense an impending crash and can prepare the driver for impact or even attempt to avoid a collision entirely. Current Mercedes cars even go so far as to provide your ears with an extra layer of audio protection. It’s called “pink noise” and it’s designed to keep your hearing intact after being bombarded by the extremely loud sounds typically associated with a vehicle crash. Jeff and Anthony wonder what this show is doing to their listeners' hearing. [more]

  April 20, 2018Episodes

• Smite Angle

  Hampshire's Ipley Cross is a notorious crossroads where cyclists keep getting hit and even killed by motorists, despite the mostly level terrain around the place where two roads cross each other at a seemingly innocuous angle. A navigational hazard called "constant bearing, decreasing range" means that frequently, the first time a driver and a cyclist will see each other is a second or two before the car strikes the bicycle. Jeff and Anthony take the issue head on. [more]

  January 24, 2018Episodes