1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Brought to you by the reinvented two thousand twelve Camray. 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: It's ready. Are you welcome to stuff you should know 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: from House Stuff Works dot Com? Hey, and welcome to 4 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: the podcast. I'm Josh Clark. Charles W. Chuck Bryant is 5 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: seated across from me, sorting through papers, taking a last 6 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: second look at the information. His sponge like brain is 7 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 1: absorbing like an an absorbent might soak up oil floating 8 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: on top of the Gulf of Mexico. Did you plan that? 9 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: I know I'm getting too good at this. I'm like 10 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: the Robert Yuruke of podcasting. I'm just an old probe 11 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 1: by now. I think it's like the third or fourth 12 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: time we've said Robert York in the show. Has it 13 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: ever been recorded before? What? Robert? Robert? Yeah? Okay, recorded 14 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: and release, my friend. This podcast is going to bum 15 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: people out, especially if you have any hardness for the environment. 16 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: Pelicans sand Trump trimpers. This is the local economy we've 17 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: been We probably should have done this weeks ago, but 18 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: we took our time getting around to it because Josh 19 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: was a being all Japanese so oil spills. It's high 20 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,759 Speaker 1: time we tackled this it's high tide or oil spill 21 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: clean up? Brother? Yeah. Um, I actually wrote an article 22 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: about it. Back in two thousand and six there was 23 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: a spill in San Francisco Bay and UM our boss 24 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: was like, hey, go write something on this right now. 25 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 1: I was like, okay, So I wrote it and um 26 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: I was happy to see that pretty much nothing's changed 27 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: since the then in four years, the technology hasn't advanced, 28 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: and we're actually using some really primitive techniques. No kidding, 29 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: but check. Let's let's first start by talking about how 30 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: the Gulf um oil spill started in the first place, 31 00:01:56,440 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 1: right the deep water horizon and oil rig in the 32 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: Gulf of Mexico. Yeah, this is claud Did they call 33 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: this a spill? I guess they're calling a spill, aren't they. Yeah. 34 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: I think anytime it's introduced to yeah, water, it's a spill, 35 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: because I generally even think it has to be water. 36 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: I think oil gets out of whatever containment system is 37 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: supposed to be holding it. It's a spill. So my 38 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 1: old Plymouth Valiant that I had in Los Angeles all 39 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: over my driveway, I'll bet I got charged for that 40 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: by my renter or by my ails. Always oil spots. 41 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: It's like ten bucks apiece. It's a wear and tear. 42 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: That's what I said. You know something cool I just 43 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: thought of too. When you google earth my house, you 44 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: could see my car, my driveway, my l a house, 45 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 1: and the oil spill. Can you really that's crazy? Anyway, 46 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: you can also google Earth the oil spill in the 47 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: gulf right now as far as I know, Yeah, all 48 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:52,239 Speaker 1: those pictures that are coming out are just awful. Yeah. 49 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: We sent out UM you know, we have a Facebook page, 50 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: stuff you should Know page, and we posted and tweeted 51 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 1: on our Twitter account to UM a link to this 52 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: PBS blog that had a live feed video of the 53 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 1: oil under the Gulf of Mexico a mile down right. 54 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: Was the most depressing thing I've ever seen. It's just 55 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 1: shooting out plumes of oil and there's a really big discussion. Anyway, 56 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: the deepwater horizon exploded. The BP was capping a well 57 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: to come back and drill later because I wanted to 58 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: go start another drill or another well UM by March 59 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: and they were running behind. From what I understand, it's 60 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: starting to emerge that their May year have been something 61 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:35,119 Speaker 1: of a rush job and capping this well. Some UM 62 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: gas built up in the in the well, it exploded 63 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: in this pipe that went from the rig to the well. 64 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: Cap UH killed eleven people, and UM sunk the rig, 65 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: burst the pipe in at least three places, and now 66 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: we have these plumes that are plumes of oil that 67 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: are being introduced into the Gulf of Mexico. At first 68 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,839 Speaker 1: they thought it was what a thousand barrels a day? Right, Well, yeah, 69 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: thousand barrels a day. VPS numbers aren't quite lining up 70 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: with the numbers from the experts. No, and the government said, well, 71 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: we're going to figure this ourselves, but we're going to 72 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: use a an equation that is specifically recommended to not 73 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 1: be used for calculating oil released underwater. Not recommended by 74 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: oil oil companies, are not recommended by experts. So they 75 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: came up with five thousand barrels a day. Some experts, 76 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: like some people who know UM, have said it's probably 77 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: about four or five times that. So what we're talking 78 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: about is as much as twenty five thousand barrels, and 79 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: there's forty two gallons in a barrel, twenty five thousand 80 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 1: barrels a day. If that's the case, then as of 81 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: this podcast, recording the Gulf oil spill, the BP golf 82 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 1: oil spill it's going on right now, has released the 83 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: amount the Exxon Valds dropped eight times over w Yeah, 84 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: well they just actually on seen in just released like 85 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: two hours ago. They they're officially calling it the worst 86 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: oil spill in US history, in US history, But it's 87 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: not the worst ever, is the Chuckers. No. I don't 88 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: know if you have different info, but um nine Persian 89 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: Gulf War, two hundred and forty million gallons off the 90 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: coast of Saudi Arabia, Is that what you got? Yeah? 91 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: And right now we've got about eighty eight million. If 92 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 1: it's twenty five thousand barrels a day, we've read about 93 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: eighty eight million. It's two hundred forty million barrels gallons, 94 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: forty million gallons. That's enormous. I don't think we'll ever 95 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: top that. Yeah, And the Valdez was eleven million gallons. Yeah. 96 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: And the second worst spill also took place in the 97 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: Gulf of Mexico, but it was off the coast of Mexico, 98 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: right right, And that one was I think like a 99 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: hundred and forty million gallons something like that. I think 100 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: so a hundred and forty million gallons. It was the 101 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: Ish talk one talk I know x in in uh 102 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: Mexican dialect as tech maybe is wach What are you 103 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: talking about? Something like that like wahaka. You're right, yeah, yeah, 104 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: there's an accent there. So it's the talk one. Somebody 105 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: will let us know, won't they. That took place from 106 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: June of ninety February of ninety. It just kept going 107 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: and that was a hundred and forty million gallons. Right, 108 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: I got three more stats. If we're doing stats and 109 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: people are taking shots, every one hundred every year, one 110 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: hundred million US gallons of oil spill every year, yeah, 111 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: is what they say. There's there's stat number one. Um 112 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: the United States uses seven hundred and ten million gallons 113 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: of oil per day, and in fact, every twenty two minutes, Josh, 114 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: the US uses up what was spilled in the Exxon 115 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 1: Valdes spill every twenty two minutes. I know, isn't that weird? 116 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 1: It's weird, it's disturbing, but that also accounts for why 117 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: um oil spills are so massive. It's actually kind of 118 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: wondrous that more oil doesn't spill. Right. Apparently the um 119 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: U s Coast Guard reported that after the Exxon Valdi's accident, 120 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: there was a lot of like tightening and restrictions. It 121 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: was just such a very public accident, and it happened 122 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: in the US, so it mattered, you know. UM, So 123 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, there's all this these restrictions on 124 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: UM tanker design, like you need to have double holes UM, 125 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: and then other regulations that that made restrictions tighter. And 126 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: I think UM spillage dropped by like fifty eight percent 127 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: between and two thousand four. Yeah. You know, Maddie Frederick 128 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: of coolest stuff on the planet. Have you ever seen 129 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: his Facebook stuff? No, he's just like you need a 130 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: Facebook friendom. Personally, he's like the liberal crusader of all times. 131 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: It's like four times a day he sends out. I 132 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: bet you didn't know this. He came by the other 133 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: day and told me about a basically every country in 134 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 1: the world that does off short drilling has this process 135 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: in place that UM, when there's a situation like just happened, 136 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: an implosion happens, is triggered immediately to implode and seal 137 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: everything up at the source. And he said, the US 138 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: is the only country that, huh, recently and like several 139 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: years ago, said oh, we don't need this because it 140 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 1: costs a lot of money. We're the only country that's great. 141 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 1: Pretty cool, Well, we're the only country with our minerals 142 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: Management Service, which apparently had has had a pretty cozy 143 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: relationship with energy companies, right, m yeah, if you think 144 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: about that, though, Chuck, this oil spilling the Gulf, coupled 145 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 1: with the mine explosion in West Virginia, like those two 146 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: accidents coming that close together can actually completely change energy 147 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: policy and it probably will be pretty interesting. Um. All right, 148 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: So Chuck, let's say that you had just gotten your 149 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: hair cut. I did. In fact, all right, let's say 150 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,199 Speaker 1: you said, you know what, I want my hair to 151 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: go to matter of trust, because it's going to be used, 152 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: um to clean up this oil spill. Right. Remember, we 153 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: got a bunch of emails about this, like you guys 154 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: mentioned this's mentioned this that if you send your hair 155 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 1: to the Gulf, like it will be used to clam 156 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: the oil spill. Uh is that hair being used? Now? 157 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 1: That was the initial idea, and hair can be used 158 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: in fact for smaller spill for smaller spills. But they say, uh, 159 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: I read in the New York Times today they said 160 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: that there is not deemed feasible after a technical evaluation. No. 161 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 1: BP's like, hey, um, that's a really good idea. But 162 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:39,559 Speaker 1: we are actually going to use real sorbins, real stuff, right, um. 163 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:41,559 Speaker 1: And like you said, hair can be used, it is 164 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: used on a much smaller scale. Um. But the people, 165 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,839 Speaker 1: I guess who have really kind of started this initiative, 166 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,079 Speaker 1: I think it's a matter of trust out of San Francisco. 167 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 1: They said, oh yeah, um, well you asked for it initially, 168 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: so we're gonna send it to you and it's up 169 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 1: to you to figure out what to do with it. 170 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,839 Speaker 1: And all the hair is being sent to BP and 171 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: they're rolling it in a big hairball from San Francisco, 172 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: like the size of a car. Um. So, chuck, why 173 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 1: would you use hair or a better A better question 174 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: is how would you use hair to clean up oil? Well, 175 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,839 Speaker 1: I guess hair would be a sorbent, right, I think so. 176 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: So basically, a sorbent is something that acts as a 177 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: giant sponge two. I mean, it's so primitive sounding, but 178 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: it literally just soaks up the oil from the water. 179 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 1: And it can do this because oil uh sits about 180 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 1: It forms a layer on top of water, especially saltwater, 181 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: about a millimeter thick, isn't that right? Sometimes a little more. 182 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: It depends, especially at first, Right, So it's thickest in 183 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,719 Speaker 1: the first couple hours, which is when you really want 184 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 1: to get to it. Uh, if you get to it initially, 185 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,599 Speaker 1: you can contain it by using these buoyant booms and 186 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: they float on the water and there's a skirt that 187 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: hangs down into the water and it basically keeps it 188 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: from spreading. So that's that's what you want to Yeah, 189 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: and then you come along with some skimmers that may 190 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: use um centripetal, which is not centrifugal. Centripetal force is 191 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 1: when you spin something and it's the force that pulls 192 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: you to the center. So because oil is is lighter 193 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: than water, it will be pulled more easily, or the 194 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 1: water will be pulled more easily one of the two. 195 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,560 Speaker 1: But it separates them. You can also just scrape it 196 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: up and they also have a conveyor belt systems skimmers 197 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: where like you just basically like it just pulls the 198 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: oil up right off of the water. Yeah. You know 199 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: what I didn't find in any of this is if 200 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: they can because they soak up this oil and put 201 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: it in a containment tanker. Can they use this oil? Yes? 202 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: Really you knew this, I did. I actually ran across 203 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 1: it in research that there there. Yeah, they they when 204 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: you soak it up and you use like say hair 205 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: or some other kind of sorbent, and you can use 206 00:11:56,440 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: natural stuff like um, uh, pine bark, yeah, banana fibers. Actually, 207 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: I don't know if they still use that, but that 208 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 1: was one for a while. Right, So there's there are 209 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: some naturally occurring materials that um will soak up oil 210 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: more than it soaks up water, right, Um, But you 211 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 1: can squeeze it out and there's your oil because really 212 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: nothing's happened to it hasn't had the chance to mix 213 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: with water yet, right. You just literally like they have 214 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:22,559 Speaker 1: a dude that's got an oily rag and you just 215 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: squeeze it into a little containers as oil. So that's you. 216 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: That's your job. Um. You can also burn it, and 217 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: actually this is the most efficient means of taking care 218 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: of an oil slick. Yeah, because it sits on top. 219 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: You can burn it away. But that's clearly not a 220 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: very good thing to do because when you burn oil 221 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: creates some pretty noxious fumes for the environment. It does. 222 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: It's about umcent efficient though. Um. Again, you want to 223 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 1: do it away. It's called institute burning. You want to 224 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: do it when the slick is away from the shore. 225 00:12:56,280 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: The shore, yeah, from say coral colonies, that kind of stuff. 226 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: If it's just out in the deep ocean then and 227 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 1: it's it hasn't gotten to be a big problem to 228 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: where it has traveled towards civilization, then you can just 229 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: burn it, right. Yeah. The other weird thing I thought 230 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: that you pointed out not weird, but I found it 231 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: odd was sometimes if it's far enough out, they'll just 232 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: leave it alone and oil eventually will evaporate because the 233 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,440 Speaker 1: sun and the waves and the weather, and they'll just say, 234 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,679 Speaker 1: let the earth take care of it. Right. The wave action, 235 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: I can't remember what it's called when sunlight breaks something 236 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: a photodegradation maybe, um. But you remember when we did 237 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 1: the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Yeah, we were talking about 238 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 1: how like the wave action and the sun breaks down 239 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 1: plastic even in the little globules. The same thing happens 240 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 1: to um oil because plastic is petroleum based. Right. You 241 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 1: can also hasten the breakdown by adding microbes to it, right, yeah, 242 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,680 Speaker 1: the biological agents. Yeah, yeah, that's when UM like a 243 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: fertile eyes or phosphorus and nitrogen. You'll spread it all 244 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: over it and it will actually foster the growth of 245 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: microorganisms and that will help break it down into fatty acids, 246 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: right UM C O two I think right, yes, yes, UM. 247 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: You can actually uh foster the growth of these microbes 248 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: by adding uh, what'd you say, phosphorus and nitrogen, right, 249 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: And when you when you do add these things that 250 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: there's a there's a danger of actually going out to 251 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: the open ocean and creating an algae bloom, which creates 252 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 1: a dead zone, which is not good. So you if 253 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: you're going to use UM phosphorus and nitrogen to hasten 254 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: the growth of UM microbes, you want to do it 255 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: in like a marshal. And that's outside of the title movement. Yeah. Well, 256 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: there's also dispersions. You probably heard this on the news. 257 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: A lot um with with a BP accident and UM 258 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,239 Speaker 1: in tropical areas, they handle they handle it with dispersons, 259 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: and these are chemicals that break the oil down into 260 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: UM basically breaks oil slick apart into little oil droplets 261 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: which can be absorbed into the aquatic system quickly, right, 262 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: but this is not necessarily the best, now you know. Um, 263 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: it turns out in two seven, uh, and Israeli study 264 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: found that the combination of chemical dispersants and UM partially 265 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: broken down oil is actually more harmful to a coral 266 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: ecosystem than just crude oil itself. Yeah, and it actually 267 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: didn't an e p A get on BP and say 268 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: wait a minute, this disperson you're using, you can't use, 269 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: go find another one, like now, probably I could see that. 270 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: I think that happened. I think everybody's taking a shot 271 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: at BPS. Seriously, they're they're kind of gentle as a 272 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: lamb right now. But chuck that that study, that Israeli 273 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: study kind of reveals something that's easy to forget because 274 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: it's so gross looking. But oil is natural, so naturally 275 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: occurring substance. Right. One of the big problems with it 276 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: is when it becomes broken down, Uh, it can be 277 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: it enters the the food cycle, and this equals the 278 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: seafood chain, right, which enters our food chain because we 279 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: eat seafood, which is why the shrimpers are out of 280 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: business right now. Um, And it also becomes it can 281 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: adhere to sand pebbles that kind of stuff and through 282 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: wave action, turns into little tar balls. They're like they're 283 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: they're solid on the outside, but they're like soft and 284 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: gooey in the middle, and things like to eat them 285 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: and choke on them and they sink. They said, though, 286 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 1: I mean they said, you said, you're the one that 287 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: wrote it. You said that they're not as dangerous sometimes 288 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 1: to the environment as a flat out oil problem. But 289 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: it's still not great outously because they're broken up and 290 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: they're separated rather than you know, this big, huge slick. 291 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: But you know, if a fish is eating a tar 292 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: ball and dies and it's not good. Same with like 293 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: a pelican or a bird. And then the other problem 294 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: with an oil slick for wildlife is that it gets 295 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 1: on it breaks down the water resistance of um mammal 296 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: fur and birds, aquatic birds which ended up getting gooped 297 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:13,919 Speaker 1: up with this stuff, right, so theirs and seattas and 298 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 1: pelicans and they get soaked or they poison themselves by 299 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: trying to lick themselves clean. I can't look at those pictures. 300 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 1: This picture, yeah, I notice I didn't print that out. 301 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 1: I can't even I just can't even go there. Heartbreaking. Um. 302 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: There is also the beach clean up. Right, So we 303 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 1: talked about marsh clean up. You can you can add 304 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 1: nitrogen and phosphorus and bio remediate it, right. Um, but 305 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 1: you also have beaches. You've got tar balls on beaches, 306 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: you have pelicans walking around like why me? You know? Um? 307 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: And you have to clean up this beach. And apparently 308 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: on Prince William Sound that was the where the Valdess 309 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 1: build in Alaska. Yes. Uh, they said, you know what, 310 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:58,679 Speaker 1: we want to make the beach look clean again. So 311 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 1: we're gonna use high pressure hoses like spray everything off. 312 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: That doesn't really do anything. It pushes the oil down 313 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 1: and actually screws things up worse, pushes it into the sand. Huh. Yeah, um, 314 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: but the beach looks clean at least. Uh. And and 315 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 1: they've been doing that. Um. They did that in Alaska 316 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: and I don't know if they had plans to do 317 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 1: it and Louisiana or not, but it's gonna be bad 318 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 1: either way. Uh. The other thing you pointed out, which 319 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:25,400 Speaker 1: I thought was interesting because I had this thought too 320 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: that all this, just the clean up act itself, would 321 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 1: probably be really bad for the wildlife. And you said 322 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: that they use um sort of like scarecrows and dummies 323 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: and um balloons to scare off animals that are near 324 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 1: these boats that are trying to contain and clean up. Yeah, 325 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: like get out of here. We're coming through to try 326 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:47,479 Speaker 1: and help. Yeah. And again another when you mentioned just 327 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: leaving it, that that that's a viable option, right. One 328 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 1: of the reasons why is because within about twenty four 329 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: to forty eight hours, most of the volatile organic compounds 330 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: found in oil, the most toxic stuff, evaporates, So when 331 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:07,400 Speaker 1: you have an oil spill, it loses its most toxicity 332 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:10,199 Speaker 1: within two days, which is good, it is good. But 333 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: the problem is with a spill like we have now, 334 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: any oil that's losing its most toxic aspects are being 335 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: replaced by new oil constantly. So we were it's a 336 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: big problem that's going on. I mean, you can just 337 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: look at the underwater camera feed and tell it's a 338 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: big problem, but you know, once you have a few 339 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: more of the facts, it's really big problem. Yeah. I was, 340 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: actually today is Thursday, May what and I was I've 341 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: been clicking literally by the minute to see if this 342 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: top kill the thing is where there're BP's latest effort 343 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: to stop this five week old underwater geyser is working 344 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 1: and initial reports. I mean, this will clearly be known 345 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,880 Speaker 1: by Tuesday when this comes out. But they're saying, oh, 346 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: we think it might be working. Um, even though our 347 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: like shooting mud and cement down in there is sounds 348 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: sort of weird, it might be working in our big 349 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,640 Speaker 1: uh big thing that we lowered down on top top. Yeah, 350 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: that didn't work too good. And the idea to shoot 351 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: golf balls into it didn't work too good. So um, 352 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 1: they don't the junk shot they don't even say work 353 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: too well, were too good, working good? Yeah? The what 354 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: the top shot, junk shot, top kill, junk shop, pat 355 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: top hatop kill, junk shot, big mess. Yeah, that's what 356 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: it is, buddy. Uh. If you want to know more 357 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 1: about cleaning up oil spills, you can read my article 358 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 1: um on it. Yes, there's also articles on offshore drilling 359 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 1: and oil spills, not just clean up, so um we 360 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: should probably cover those at some point too. So just 361 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: type in oil spill drilling offshore. There you go, and 362 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 1: the handy search bar how stuff works dot com right right, 363 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 1: And since I had said handy search bar, it's seems 364 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: like that should trigger something. It would normally trigger listener 365 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 1: mail Josh, what what what's going on? Well, this week 366 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:09,680 Speaker 1: we have a couple of thank you's quickly and then 367 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: our New York announcements. Uh so everyone knows where to 368 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 1: meet up in New York. Um quickly though. I want 369 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: to thank Steve Clayton dot com. They do custom guitar picks. Brian, 370 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 1: there's a fan of the show. He wrote in and said, dude, 371 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: you're in a band, your old man band cover band, 372 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: El Cheap. Oh you should do you want some custom 373 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:34,159 Speaker 1: guitar picks? You can design it? And I was like, 374 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:37,120 Speaker 1: uh yeah, let me think about that for a second. Yes, 375 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: So I designed my little El Cheap guitar pick and 376 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 1: they're pretty cool. It's way cool. And he sent me 377 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: a huge bag of these things. And so I just 378 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: wanted to say thank you to Steve Clayton dot com. 379 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:50,640 Speaker 1: And they're like big time. They do like the Food 380 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: Fighters and Tenacious Dah and now El Chebo was on 381 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 1: their roster. That's really sweet. Yes, pretty are you on 382 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: the website? Is your design on the website? Because I 383 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: saw it and it was very cool. No, it is 384 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:02,919 Speaker 1: actually gonna be on the website at some point. So 385 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:06,120 Speaker 1: thanks to Brian, and thank you to Jacob Storm Deathridge 386 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 1: who they do these cool journals made from old library books, 387 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: so like they'll take the front and back cover an 388 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,159 Speaker 1: old library book and bind it with some of the 389 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 1: first few pages and then the rest of it is 390 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 1: blank journal style. And they sent us some of these 391 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: that was really nice. And they're at www dot book 392 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: journals dot com out of Portland, Oregon. Super creative. Yeah, 393 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:31,160 Speaker 1: very cool. Thank you to both of those guys, right well, 394 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: thanks to one for me. Thanks to two from Chuck 395 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: yes yeah and Chuck right yeah yeah. New York City, 396 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 1: look out, New York City. We're coming to New York 397 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 1: June seven. We are having a happy hour at the 398 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: Knitting Factory. Yeah. We'll be wearing nothing but chaps from 399 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: five thirty to seven thirty. After that we're gonna put 400 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,880 Speaker 1: on our shirts and everything. And uh. We are having 401 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,640 Speaker 1: a trivia night, a bar trivia night at the Bell 402 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:06,479 Speaker 1: House in Brooklyn on Wednesday, June night. Doors open at 403 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 1: six thirty coming rob Elbos. Trivia goes from seven to nine. 404 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: You can challenge the all star team consisting of me 405 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 1: and Josh Joe Randazzo, editor of The Onion newspaper and 406 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 1: two or three unannounced mystery celebrity guests that will be 407 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: on our team, unannounced and uncommitted. So the ideas you 408 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: come and you challenge us. If you think you're smart, 409 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: you get a trivia team together for Wednesday night, and 410 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:34,640 Speaker 1: we will smack you down in the name of smarts 411 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:38,880 Speaker 1: and how stuff works and our egos. Yes, so there's 412 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 1: all that, um, and then the the co ED plug. 413 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, go ahead and hit that one. Uh well, 414 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: as you may have heard if you listen to the 415 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:50,720 Speaker 1: Guatemala podcast Part Uno and part does UM, we are 416 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 1: raising some money, as we do from time to time 417 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:57,679 Speaker 1: for noble causes like co ED Cooperative for Education, which 418 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 1: provides textbooks and and UH computer centers in a very 419 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:06,400 Speaker 1: sustainable manner to UH schools in need in Guatemala, which 420 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 1: you could just say schools in Guatemala UM. And you 421 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: can donate five bucks by typing stuff. When you send 422 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:18,200 Speaker 1: a text to two zero to to two, you're gonna 423 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: get a text back asking you if you're sure. You 424 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:22,920 Speaker 1: text back yes, and you just donated five bucks to 425 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 1: co IT. If you want to learn more about co 426 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,919 Speaker 1: ED or you live outside of the United States, you 427 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 1: can go onto their website at www dot co ed. 428 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 1: You see that's c O E d U see dot org. 429 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: If you live outside of the U S you can 430 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,480 Speaker 1: donate there. If you live inside the US, but you 431 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,719 Speaker 1: need a little more um uh incentive, go look at 432 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: their website and see the work they do, and I'll 433 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 1: bet you still donate the five bucks afterwards. And uh 434 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 1: if you want to send us an email, shoot it 435 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 1: to stuff Podcasts at how stuff works dot com. For 436 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:02,239 Speaker 1: more on this and thousands of other topics, visit how 437 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: stuff works dot com. Want more how stuff works, check 438 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 1: out our blogs on the how stuff works dot com 439 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: home page. Brought to you by the reinvented two thousand 440 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 1: twelve camera. It's ready, are you