1 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 1: You're listening to Part Time Genius, the production of Kaleidoscope 2 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: and iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 2: Guess what, Mango, what's Ouwell, we are finally here. This 4 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: is the end of twenty twenty five, and you know 5 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 2: what that means. It's actually time four and I think 6 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:37,480 Speaker 2: this is right, the forty fourth annual Part Time Genius Awards. 7 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 2: It's hard to believe we've been doing this for forty 8 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 2: four consecutive years, or about this single interruption, like that's 9 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 2: we were doing this this awards as a podcast before 10 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 2: podcasts were podcasts before Mango. 11 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:49,200 Speaker 3: How long ago? 12 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: This was forever ago, so long. We used to do 13 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: it on our Walkmans. Yeah, Sony Walkman's. We were just 14 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: like tape it and mail it to one another and 15 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: just synk them up. 16 00:00:58,360 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: Incredible, incredible. 17 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: But you know, this is one of the things I 18 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: look forward most too, because end of your lists are 19 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: always really fun. But somehow looking at the things that 20 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: are so weird and so wonderful just makes my heart leap. 21 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:17,559 Speaker 1: You know. It's so fun to see all the things 22 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,119 Speaker 1: that improve over the course of the year, even in 23 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: really difficult years like this one. 24 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right, And you know, weird and wonderful is 25 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: exactly what we have on deck here today, because this 26 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 2: year's honorees include an invention that will make it easier 27 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 2: to enjoy cast roles in space. I know that was 28 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 2: a concern of ours, A musical mushroom, a very nerdy 29 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 2: new math holiday, and that's just to name a few. 30 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 2: So change into your fanciest of outfits, poor glass of 31 00:01:43,240 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 2: something festive, and let's dive in. Hey, their podcast listeners, 32 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: welcome to Part Time Genius. I'm Will Pearson, and as 33 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: always I'm joined by my good friend mangesh Hot Ticketer 34 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 2: and over there in the booth wearing the fanciest tuxedo 35 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 2: I think I've seen in a long time, and holding 36 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 2: a briefcase that's been handcuffed to his arm. 37 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 3: That's all. 38 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: I didn't notice that until we just started here. That's 39 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 2: our PALIN producer, Dylan Fagan. But actually I think I 40 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 2: get it. It's like how Ernst and young people show 41 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: up at award shows with the vote tallies and the 42 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 2: names of the award winners, right yeah, yeah. 43 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: Super secure, Except we already have all of tonight's winners 44 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: written down right here. I'm not sure we need to 45 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: go to those lens. 46 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's true, it's true. All right, Well, I hope 47 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 2: Dylan has the key for that thing at least. But Mengo, 48 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: before we give our first award out, I'm curious if 49 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: you could give yourself an award for something that you 50 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 2: did this year, what would it be? 51 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: Hmmm. I think the most impressive thing I did this 52 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: year is that when I realized that kids started saying 53 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: six to seven after someone accidentally said like six to seven, 54 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: I stopped using those numbers insequentially. Wow. 55 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, that's a. 56 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: Real numerical awareness award, I think is what I'd get 57 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: for this year. 58 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 2: That is really really impressive. So I think I win 59 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 2: the award for enduring during an entire day where I 60 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 2: had worn two different pairs of shoes or two shoes 61 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 2: from different pairs, and I stuck it out. I didn't retreat, 62 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 2: I didn't go back to the hotel. It was a 63 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: busy day in New York. We were trying to get 64 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 2: stuff done, and I just went with it. I just 65 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 2: embraced it. People pointed out all day long. I told 66 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 2: them what happened, and I endured, and I was really 67 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 2: proud of myself. 68 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: Oh I love that it's very fashioned forward too. Did 69 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: you try to sell it as something that's like, oh, 70 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: this is going to come around next year. 71 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 2: I know a couple people ask that, and I haven't 72 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: noticed whether they've followed up with actually doing this themselves, 73 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 2: but I'm gonna say that they did. I'm going to 74 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: say that this started a trend. We'll probably notice it 75 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: going in the next year. 76 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: I'm glad. I'm glad we can make our listeners aware 77 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: as well. So let's get started with our first award, 78 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: which is the Grammy Award. 79 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 2: So Mango, I don't I hate to break this to you. 80 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 2: I don't think we can give out a Grammy Awards 81 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 2: that's actually well definitely trademarked. 82 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: Yeah, So not that Grammy Award. It's our own Grammy Award. 83 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: It's the Generating really awesome Mushroom Music Yes Award, And 84 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 1: that yes, I think makes me sound like Uncle Baby 85 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 1: Billy from Writers Stones. But this award goes to John 86 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: Ross and Andy Kidd. They are a pair of UK 87 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 1: based experimental artists also known as Bionic and the Wires, 88 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: and they describe themselves as a fusion of technology, art 89 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: and nature, which is a fancy way of saying they 90 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: attach bionic arms to mushrooms and make them play instruments. 91 00:04:58,279 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: So do you want to hear a club? 92 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 3: I mean obviously so yeah. 93 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: So that is from a video uploaded earlier this year 94 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: called Mushroom in the Wild playing Keyboard. It has one 95 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: point four million views on YouTube, and it's exactly what 96 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,679 Speaker 1: it sounds like. There's a wild mushroom with sensors attached 97 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: to its cap, and those sensors are connected to a 98 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: pair of bionic arms and it is so cute. Each 99 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: one is holding a little mallet and they play a 100 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: tiny synthesizer. It is just the very best thing I've 101 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: seen today. 102 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: That is fantastic. And this isn't a special mushroom that 103 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 2: went to Juilliard. It's just a regular mushroom growing in 104 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 2: the woods, right. 105 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: Yeah. It really taps into their innate abilities. So here's 106 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: how it works. The mushroom is alive, which means it's 107 00:05:55,480 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: doing stuff like photosynthesis, it's doing stuff chemically and growing. 108 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: All these active processes generate bioelectrical signals, and that's what 109 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: the sensors are picking up and registering as vibrations. Those 110 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 1: vibrations get converted to motion and that means the bionic 111 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: arms holding the mallets. And there's just something so strange 112 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: and beautiful about listening to music made by an individual mushroom, 113 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: which is not a sentence I'd ever thought. 114 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 2: I'd said, Yeah, I didn't see that one coming. All right, Well, 115 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 2: our next award is a game changer for folks who 116 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 2: love trying new foods but hate being surprised by a 117 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 2: blast of painful spice. Now we're calling it the putting 118 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 2: the hot ones guy out of work Award, and it 119 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 2: goes to this team led by Weijun Ding and Jinghu 120 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 2: at the Shanghai Institute of Technology. See, the only way 121 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 2: to tell if a food is spicy is to taste it. 122 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,359 Speaker 2: And if it is spicy and you can't handle the heat, 123 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: while by tasting it, you've exposed yourself to the thing 124 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 2: that you're trying to avoid. Right, it's a real dilemma here. 125 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: I guess you could have someone else tasted for you, 126 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: like the way kings used to have tasters. 127 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 2: That is one way you could, but people would probably 128 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 2: just stop going on to eat with you, I'm guessing. 129 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:10,119 Speaker 2: And luckily researchers have invented an artificial tongue that uses 130 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 2: a special sensor to detect the presence of capsation and 131 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 2: other spicy compounds like alison, which gives fresh garlic that burn. 132 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 2: And the way they came up with this is actually 133 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 2: pretty amazing. So you've seen hot ones. What do they 134 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 2: have standing by in case guests start to panic? 135 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: A glass of milk? 136 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 2: Right, It's exactly right. So milk has proteins called casins 137 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 2: that bind to spicy compounds and neutralize the heat. So 138 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 2: this artificial tongue sensor contains milk, powder and chemicals that 139 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 2: conduct an electrical current. Now, when it comes in contact 140 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 2: with the spice, the current decreases, indicating that the casin 141 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 2: is binding to something hot. So they tested the tongue 142 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 2: with peppers, ginger, garlic, and a lineup of eight other 143 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: different hot sauces, and overall it was as accurate as 144 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 2: a panel of human testers and detecting these different spice levels. 145 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 3: Oh. 146 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: I love that because I love eating hot food, and 147 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: I love that you can have a measure that other 148 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: people can rely on, you know, because I feel like 149 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: I'm not a good indicator of how hot something is. Yep, Well, 150 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: this next award is definitely cool. I am calling it 151 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: the Golden Banana Peel Award, and it goes to Martin Muser, 152 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: Oshroff Attila and Sergei Zukomlinov at Zarland University in Germany 153 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: because earlier this year they figured out the real reason 154 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: why we. 155 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 2: Slip on ice. I assume they came up with something 156 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:36,319 Speaker 2: more scientific than because ice is slippery. 157 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, And in fact, they disproved a theory that's been 158 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: around for about one hundred and fifty years. So back 159 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: in the eighteen hundreds, a British engineer named James Thompson 160 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 1: suggested that two forces conspire to make us wipe out 161 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: on icy surfaces, pressure and friction. In other words, when 162 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 1: you step on ice, your weight applies pressure, and because 163 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: your shoes are warmer than the ice, that pressure makes 164 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: some of the ice melt. Then friction kicks in, making 165 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: your foot slide against the wet surface. But it turns 166 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: out that's actually not quite what's happening. So using computer simulations, 167 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: Muser and his team discovered that molecular die poles are 168 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: the real source of slipperiness. So you're probably wondering what 169 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: a die pole is. 170 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 2: I only think of north pole, South pole. Is there 171 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 2: a die pole that's like an addition to that or something. 172 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 1: That's kind of the same idea. So molecules can have 173 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: degrees of positive and negative charge or polarity, and a 174 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: positive end and a negative end, and these poles orient 175 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: them in a particular direction. Now, when water freezes, the 176 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:44,079 Speaker 1: molecules align in a nice, tidy crystal structure. But when 177 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: you step on it, the orientation of molecules in your 178 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: shoe messes everything up. It's like walking into Martha Stewart's 179 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: kitchen and throwing a bucket of ping pong balls everywhere. Right, 180 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: So when the ice crystal structure is disrupted, some of 181 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 1: it falls apart and turns back to liquid, so you go. 182 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: Of course, none of this will prevent you from slipping 183 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: on ice, but at least now you can impress people 184 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: with your knowledge of molecular physics while you're waddling along 185 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: a frozen sidewalk. 186 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 2: That is pretty cool. I'm guessing you may get more 187 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 2: mileage out of this one than I do, since you 188 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 2: live in the Northeast and I'm in Alabama. But still 189 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 2: pretty cool in the end. All right, Well, time for 190 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 2: our fourth award, and Mango, I have a question do 191 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 2: you remember what you were doing on September sixteenth, twenty 192 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:26,839 Speaker 2: twenty five. 193 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:34,680 Speaker 1: Mm, probably desperately searching for a blated gift for my 194 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: kid's birthday. 195 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 2: Well, what you should have been doing is celebrating Pythagorean 196 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 2: triple square day, which was identified by a recent Williams 197 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 2: College grad named Jake Malarkey. I love that is the 198 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 2: last name, and his math professor, Colin Adams. 199 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: So I remember the Pythagorean theorem partially because I remember 200 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: Shack saying he was like the Pythagorean theorem and there 201 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: was no solution. C squared is the solution of But 202 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,719 Speaker 1: how does that apply to a random band September. 203 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 2: It's not a random day September sixteenth, twenty twenty five 204 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 2: or nine sixteen twenty five. All three of those numbers 205 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 2: are perfect squares. Nine is three squared, sixteen is four squared, 206 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,959 Speaker 2: and twenty five is five squared. And you'll notice something 207 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 2: about those numbers, right, Sure, they're consecutive exactly, and it 208 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 2: gets better or at least mathier. So that sequence three 209 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 2: four five is a Pythagorean triple, which goes back to 210 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 2: the theorem we learned in school. A squared plus b 211 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 2: squared equals c squared. Substitute the numbers in for A, 212 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 2: B and C three squared plus four squared equals five 213 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 2: squared or nine plus sixteen equals twenty five. 214 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: Yes, yeah, it's like a like a magic try. 215 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,199 Speaker 2: Nope, it's actually just math. But yeah, it's still very cool. 216 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 2: And September sixteenth, twenty twenty five was the only date 217 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 2: in this century that nails the Pythagorean triples square. So Congress, 218 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 2: as to Jake and Colin, we're giving you the Once 219 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 2: in a Blue Moon Award. I actually think this one 220 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 2: is really really cool. 221 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's really fun. So speaking of rarities, next up, 222 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: it's the Wingman Award, or the year it's the wing Woman, 223 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: because it's going to a New Zealand cartoonist and illustrator 224 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 1: named Giselle Clarkson. I actually checked out her art online 225 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 1: and it is really wonderful. But that's not why she's 226 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,439 Speaker 1: getting an award tonight. She is being honored for her 227 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: efforts to find a rare snail a mate. And before 228 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: you start picturing a dating app for snails, let me explain. 229 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: So one day Giselle was pottering around in her garden 230 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,320 Speaker 1: and she noticed an unusual snail. It's shell coil to 231 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: the left, not to the right, which might not sound 232 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 1: like a big deal, but for snails it is a 233 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: very rare mutation. In fact, just one in forty thousand 234 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: snails have it. And the thing is, lefty snails can 235 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 1: only mate with other lefty snails because their shells affect 236 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: the position of their reproductive organ and so if a 237 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: lefty stail tried to mate with a righty things just 238 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: would not line up. 239 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 3: That is wild. 240 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 2: And if it's only one in forty thousand snails, in 241 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 2: the odds of two lefties finding each other, I mean, 242 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 2: that's so so small. 243 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, it really is so Luckily, Gazelle has always been 244 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: interested in snails, and as soon as she spotted this 245 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: little guy, she knew he was special and that if 246 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: he was going to find his true love, he would 247 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 1: need some help. So she named him Bed, moved him 248 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: to her tank in her living room, and teamed up 249 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: with New Zealand Geographic magazine to launch a campaign to 250 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: find him a mate. Now, before everyone runs outside to 251 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: start checking their yards for left shelled snails, I should 252 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: mention that New Zealand has pretty strict rules about importing 253 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:46,439 Speaker 1: animals even if they're looking for love, which means Ned's 254 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 1: partner needs to be a Kiwi. Now, Gazelle hasn't found 255 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: a match for him just yet, but she is holding 256 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: out hope. So if you happen to be in New Zealand, 257 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 1: keep your eyes peeled for a snail who looks a 258 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: little different, maybe a little lonely. And if they enjoy 259 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: taking long walks in the garden, that'll help too. All right, Well, 260 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: fingers Crossed, twenty twenty six is Ned's lucky year. All right, 261 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 1: we have to take a quick break. But when we 262 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 1: come back, Water Buffalo's who made a midlife career pivot 263 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: and what it takes to cook in space, So don't 264 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: go anywhere. Welcome back to Part Time Genius, where we're 265 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,120 Speaker 1: closing the book on twenty twenty five by handing out 266 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: our coveted end of year awards. I know everyone is 267 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: covening them, but if you're feeling left out, do not worry. 268 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: We also have a limited number of our official, equally 269 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: coveted Part Time Genius membership cards, and we'll send you 270 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: one for free if you give us your name, address 271 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: and one fun fact. You can leave a message at 272 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: three or two four oh five five nine two five. 273 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: That is our part Time Genius hotline, or you can 274 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: email us at high Geniuses at gmail dot com. That's 275 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: Hi Geniuses at gmail dot com. You can also dm 276 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: us on Instagram or Blue Sky. There are no shortage 277 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: of ways to reach out. 278 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 2: I mean, I feel like Mango. Honestly, it's the best 279 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 2: deal of the season. It really is just such a 280 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 2: cool thing. Not only do these cards look super snazzy, 281 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 2: I mean they're also a great way to win an argument. 282 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 2: Can't agree on what's the longest river in Europe? Slap 283 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 2: one of these puppies on the table and whatever you say. 284 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 2: I mean, who's going to argue with a card carrying 285 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 2: part time Genius. 286 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm not sure how this works, but the Volga 287 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: is the longest river in Europe. Card or no card. 288 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 2: That is word for word what my daughter told. 289 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 3: Me, Mango. 290 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: So how about you just give out the next award? 291 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 2: All right, Well, it's time for one of the most 292 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 2: competitive awards of the evening. It's the Bovine Glow Up Award, 293 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 2: and it honors the member of the cattle family who 294 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 2: underwent the most positive trend information this year. This can 295 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 2: be in terms of appearance, or self confidence or just 296 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 2: general well being. So there's a lot of opportunities here 297 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 2: to be entered into this one, and it's always down 298 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 2: to the wire with this one. But the twenty twenty 299 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 2: five winner is Todd. So Todd's a Todd. Todd did 300 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 2: it freaking finally, you know what I mean. He's a 301 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 2: five year old water buffalo with black fur, and he 302 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 2: won first place at the annual water Buffalo Beauty pageant 303 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 2: in chn Bury, Thailand. 304 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: We had all been keeping an eye on Todd this 305 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: whole time, you know, certainly aware of some elements of 306 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: his progress. But why is there a beauty contest for buffaloes? 307 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: Aren't they, you know, treated as like beasts of burden 308 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: normally mango please? I mean this, The term is draft animals, 309 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: not beasts of burden. But even that doesn't apply in 310 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: this case because while water buffaloes used to plow fields 311 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: and rice pattis in Thailand, most farms have long since 312 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: switched to tractors, so that made plowing faster, but it 313 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: also left farmers with a conundrum. Water buffaloes have been 314 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 1: a major part of Thai agriculture, for generations, and people 315 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 1: who work side by side with them didn't like the 316 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,679 Speaker 1: idea of selling them off for meat. So about a 317 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: decade ago, a group of farmers decided that they'd start 318 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 1: pampering their buffaloes instead. They gave them comfy pins and 319 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: a space to rome, and so folks even began treating 320 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: their herds to daily baths and a special high vitamin diet. 321 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: So pretty soon Thailand's buffaloes were looking so big and 322 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: so healthy that people started holding competitions just to show 323 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: them off. These events rekindled national interest in water buffalos, 324 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: and now the Thai government offers assistance to any farmers 325 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,920 Speaker 1: who want to join the festivities. How does a water 326 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,959 Speaker 1: buffalo beauty contest even work? Right? Like? Who determines that 327 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: one water buffalo is more beautiful than another? Yeah? 328 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 2: I mean, I guess high qualified judges that that's who 329 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 2: does it. And they wear these bolo ties and cowboy 330 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 2: hats so you'll know that they're legit. Like once you 331 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,360 Speaker 2: have those things on, you're like, oh, this person, they 332 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:06,919 Speaker 2: get it. So and the judges rank each contestant in 333 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 2: these three categories. There's horn size, there's hoof smoothness, and 334 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 2: overall physique. 335 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 1: So they're judging how buff is your buff. 336 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 2: That's exactly right. And like I said, Todd, the buffalo 337 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 2: won Best in Show this year. It was his first competition, 338 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 2: but I'm guessing not his last. He shared this honor 339 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 2: with his owner, who's a food vendor and a farmer, 340 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,439 Speaker 2: which I thought was just so sweet. And the farmer 341 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:34,159 Speaker 2: says here, it's like the saying goes, people raise buffaloes 342 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 2: and buffaloes raise people. It's like a family member. Did 343 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 2: you say that in your house, lockering up all the time. 344 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 2: I mean that was sort of the main thing we 345 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 2: lived by. 346 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 1: People raise buffaloes and buffaloes raised people. I love it. 347 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 1: Now a family member with prize winning horns and super 348 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: smooth hoofs is a great thing. But our next award 349 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: is good news for any aspiring astronaut worried about the 350 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: menu options, especially on long haul space flights. It is 351 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,919 Speaker 1: the Pie in the Sky Award and it goes to 352 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: aerospace engineer Jim Sears of Boulder, Colorado. So earlier this year, 353 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 1: Sears unveiled a next gen space oven called SAATED, which 354 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: is an acronym for safe Appliance, tidy, Efficient and delicious. 355 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 1: It is barely larger than a toaster, but it's poised 356 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 1: to have a big impact on space based cuisine, finally 357 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 1: providing astronauts with a practical way to cook food in 358 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 1: zero gravity. 359 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:36,640 Speaker 2: I was actually thinking about this not too long ago, 360 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 2: because obviously, growing up you would, you know, one of 361 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 2: the most exciting things going to like science stores or 362 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 2: things like that, was buying all the sort of replica 363 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 2: space food or whatever. And I was wondering, like, how 364 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 2: much that's advanced? Are they not cooking now in space? 365 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 2: Are they still just eating freeze dried ice cream up there? 366 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 2: I mean, it's not quite that dire, but it is close. 367 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 2: Like most of the food served on NASA missions and 368 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 2: aboard the ISS is freeze dried or dehydrated, and the 369 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 2: only way to like quote unquote cook it is to 370 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 2: soak it in water. Flammability is obviously a huge concern 371 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,640 Speaker 2: in space, so cooking with high heat hasn't been an option. Yeah, 372 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 2: I can see how an open flame would be a 373 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 2: bad idea, but I feel like, you know, with an oven, 374 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,640 Speaker 2: the heat sources contain there, So why are space ovens 375 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 2: just now catching on? 376 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 1: The major hold up actually has been the lack of gravity. 377 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 1: So with the standard connection oven, a fan pushes heat 378 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: around because hot air cooks food faster when it's circulating, 379 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: but you actually need gravity for that. So Sears came 380 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: up with an oven that used conductive heat transfer, which 381 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: relies on direct contact rather than air currents. So basically, 382 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: you load your ingredients inside this metal cylinder, which spin 383 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,680 Speaker 1: its around so fast that it creates its own artificial 384 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 1: gravity through centrifugal forces, and this pushes the food up 385 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: against the walls of the cylinder, which are heated with 386 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,399 Speaker 1: ceramic heaters, and a few minutes later you've got this 387 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:01,479 Speaker 1: perfectly crisp cylindrical pizza or you know, a rich, moist 388 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: cylindrical birthday cake. It's pretty great. 389 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 2: It actually kind of sounds like those tilta worlds at 390 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 2: a carnival. 391 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,160 Speaker 1: It is, except the walls are hot and the passengers 392 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:16,959 Speaker 1: are pizza dir Yeah. Yeah, But you know what's amazing 393 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: is that soon astronauts will be able to enjoy home 394 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 1: cooked or rather space cooked meals up there. And you know, 395 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: it might not be the best news for their waistlines, 396 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: but it should do wonders for them morale. 397 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think i'd be more willing to book a 398 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,120 Speaker 2: trip to Mars if I knew they were serving pizza 399 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 2: on the way. But speaking of tasty treats and hard 400 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:37,879 Speaker 2: to reach places, our next award is the Cherry on 401 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 2: Top Award, and it goes to the mystery man in 402 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:44,360 Speaker 2: Colorado who gave ice cream to weary mountain hikers over 403 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:45,360 Speaker 2: Labor Day weekend. 404 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 1: What's the story here, Like he just posted up in 405 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 1: a parking lot and headed out ice cream to people 406 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:50,400 Speaker 1: coming down. 407 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 2: No, he made it much more fun than that. So 408 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 2: this guy did something truly next level. He hauled a 409 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 2: sixty pound pack loaded with dry ice and ice cream 410 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,160 Speaker 2: bars all the way to the sum of Huron Peak 411 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 2: and gave treats to climbers as a reward for actually 412 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 2: reaching the top and for listeners who aren't experienced mountaineers 413 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:10,199 Speaker 2: like me and Mango. You know, Huron is one of 414 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 2: the tallest peaks in the Rockies, measuring over fourteen thousand feet. 415 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:16,880 Speaker 2: I mean it's hard to carry your own weight into 416 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:19,680 Speaker 2: thin air like that, much less an extra sixty pounds 417 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 2: of ice cream. Oh my god, I remember being at 418 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 2: like twelve thousand the game elevation in Nepal and Tibat 419 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 2: and like carrying a backpack up a flight of stairs 420 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 2: and it was just insane. I feel like crazy, And 421 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 2: I was like in my twenties and I was fit 422 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:39,919 Speaker 2: at the time. But you know, taking sixty pounds of 423 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 2: ice cream, I feel like I'd be bragging about that NonStop. 424 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 2: But what's weird about this is it feels like we 425 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 2: don't actually know this snow angel's name. Yeah, and he 426 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 2: didn't just withhold his name. He actually wore disguise consisting 427 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 2: of sunglasses and a fake mustache. But you know, word 428 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 2: of his generosity spread fast that day, as you might imagine, 429 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,439 Speaker 2: and hikers on the way down and told other people 430 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:04,119 Speaker 2: what was going on, which of course made everyone extra 431 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 2: motivated just to reach the summit. Actually read about one 432 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 2: guy who had brought his two kids on the climb 433 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 2: and when they finally made it to the peak, they 434 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 2: just ran straight to the ice cream man, which is 435 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 2: just so sweet to think about. 436 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:18,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, but I feel like they're gonna be bummed every 437 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 1: time they climb a mountain from now on. It's not 438 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: ice cream waiting yet. That's a good point. Just this lousy, 439 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 1: breathtaking vista. So sticking with costume, heroes. It is time 440 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: for our ninth award, the Bruce Wayne on a Train Award. 441 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 1: So tell me, Will, what would you do if you 442 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:41,399 Speaker 1: were downtown and you suddenly spotted Batman walking towards you? 443 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 1: Would you behave any differently? 444 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 2: I always love your hypotheticals, and I assume you mean 445 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 2: if I saw a random guy dressed as Batman, because 446 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 2: I would definitely cross the street because he's almost certainly 447 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:51,919 Speaker 2: going to ask me to take a selfie and then 448 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:53,159 Speaker 2: charge me ten bucks for it. 449 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,399 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean that's fair. But you're an outlier on 450 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 1: this one, because, according to a recent study, being in 451 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: the presence Batman makes the average person more altruistic. This 452 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:09,400 Speaker 1: research was led by Italian psychologist Francesco Panini, and he 453 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:14,640 Speaker 1: says it's because spontaneous environmental factors increase pro social behavior, 454 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 1: or the act of helping others. So when something snaps 455 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 1: us out of our routines, we tend to be more 456 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: attuned to the people around us. And what does this 457 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 1: have to do with Patman again? Yeah? So to test 458 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: this phenomena, Panini and his team did this experiment on 459 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 1: the Milan subway to see how many passengers would give 460 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: up their seats to a visibly pregnant woman. Then they 461 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 1: ran the same experiment, except this time they had a 462 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 1: man dressed as Batman enter from another part of the train. 463 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 1: Without Batman, only thirty seven percent of passengers offered up 464 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:47,919 Speaker 1: their seats, but when faced with the unexpected appearance of 465 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:51,920 Speaker 1: the dark Night, that number rose to sixty seven percent. 466 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:55,199 Speaker 1: Now here's a strange thing, though, forty four percent of 467 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:57,400 Speaker 1: the passengers who gave up their seats on the Batman 468 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:01,360 Speaker 1: train didn't recall even having seen which I actually suggests 469 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: that unpredictable events can increase pro social behavior even when 470 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 1: we aren't fully aware of them, so think of it 471 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: as pro social osmosis. 472 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 2: Wow, well, there you go. That's pretty wild, all right, Mango. 473 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 2: I hate to say it, but we have reached our 474 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 2: final award of the evening. 475 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: We should have patted this out with a bunch of 476 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: musical guests like at other award shoes. Right, I feel like, I, uh, 477 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 1: maybe I should play that mushrooms clip again. 478 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:29,520 Speaker 2: Maybe later. For now, I just want to hand out 479 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 2: this last award because we've shared some pretty life affirming 480 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:35,880 Speaker 2: stories tonight, but this one is reality affirming. It's called 481 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 2: the Red Pill Award, and it goes to a team 482 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 2: of physicists at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan. Now, 483 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 2: they recently proved that the universe is not, in fact 484 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:47,199 Speaker 2: a computer simulation. How great is that? 485 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: I mean, it is nice to have confirmation, I guess, 486 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:52,200 Speaker 1: but I didn't know that was the thing that everyone 487 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: was questioning. 488 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 2: I mean, there's always somebody asking these kinds of questions. 489 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 2: And yes, the notion that we exist in a virtual 490 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 2: world created by an advanced alien laptop does sound ridiculous, 491 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 2: but it's annoyingly difficult to rule out the possibility because 492 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 2: you know, if we can't trust our own faculties, how 493 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 2: can we know for sure that we're not in a simulation? 494 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:14,359 Speaker 1: Right, It's like you can't prove a negative And I 495 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 1: guess there's no way to investigate this thing kind of scientifically. 496 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 2: Well that is until now. So earlier this year, these 497 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 2: researchers in British Columbia they published a mathematical proof that 498 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 2: shows it's not just unlikely that our universe is a simulation. 499 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 2: It's impossible. This is head spinning stuff. But the long 500 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 2: and short of it is that some aspects of physical 501 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 2: reality cannot be explained solely through computation. There's this deep, 502 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 2: fundamental layer of existence that's just pure information, and it's 503 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 2: not to be the realm from which space time emerged, 504 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 2: and there's no algorithm that can actually account for it. 505 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: So a computer can't have made the universe because a 506 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 1: computer can't understand the foundation of the universe. 507 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,199 Speaker 2: That's pretty much it put simply. In one of the 508 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:01,120 Speaker 2: leads on the study, doctor Mirfasil explained it this way. 509 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 2: Any simulation is inherently algorithmic, it must follow programmed rules. 510 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:08,919 Speaker 2: But since the fundamental level of reality is based on 511 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:12,920 Speaker 2: non algorithmic understanding, the universe cannot be and could never be, 512 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 2: a simulation. 513 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: That is amazing, But it just dawned on me that 514 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 1: there is a downside to this, and what is that 515 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 1: The chances of me ever learning kung fu just completely cratered. 516 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is tragic but also true. But I can 517 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 2: actually live with that if it means our whole existence 518 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 2: isn't just a bunch of ones and zeros on some 519 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 2: alien's hard drive, you know. 520 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's fair. And I also like the with AI 521 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 1: getting more pervasive every day, there's at least one thing 522 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: about the universe that'll just never get to know. And 523 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 1: on that note, that's a wrap on the forty fourth 524 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 1: annual Part Time Genius Awards. If you want to read 525 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:53,479 Speaker 1: more about these incredible stories of breakthroughs, come find us 526 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: on Blue Sky and Instagram. Will be posting some of 527 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:58,640 Speaker 1: those links before we go. I just want to say 528 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 1: how much we appreciate yourself over the past year, whether 529 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 1: you've called in, requested a membership card, you've left a 530 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 1: nice rating. You know, lots of people have sent in 531 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: photos of themselves being inspired by the show. Some people 532 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:15,880 Speaker 1: have sent illustrations. This incredible illustrator named Rihanna Karzu who 533 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 1: who did that? It just means a ton to us, 534 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 1: and it's really wonderful to note that there are so 535 00:28:20,359 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 1: many of you who share our love for science and 536 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:25,960 Speaker 1: history and weird corners of the world. And so I 537 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 1: just want to say thank you for staying curious. We 538 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:32,080 Speaker 1: will be back next year, which is also next week 539 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:35,200 Speaker 1: with another brand new episode, and in the meantime, from 540 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:39,440 Speaker 1: Will Dylan, Barry Gabe and myself, thank you so much 541 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:55,400 Speaker 1: for listening. Part Time Genius is a production of Kaleidoscope 542 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:59,200 Speaker 1: and iHeartRadio. It is hosted by my good pal Will Pearson, 543 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:02,320 Speaker 1: who I've known for almost three decades now. That is 544 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: insane to me. I'm the UTA co host, Mangeshatikular aka Mango. 545 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: Our producer is Mary Phillips Sandy. She's actually a super producer. 546 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to fix that in post. Our writer is 547 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:18,320 Speaker 1: Gabe Lucier, who I've also known for like a decade 548 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 1: at this point, maybe more. Dylan Fagan is in the booth. 549 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 1: He is always dressed up, always cheering us on, and 550 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 1: always ready to hit record and then mix the show 551 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 1: after he does a great job. I also want to 552 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: shout out the executive producers from iHeart my good pals 553 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: Katrina and Norvel and Ali Perry. We have social media 554 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 1: support from Calypso Rallis. If you like our videos, that 555 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 1: is all Calypso's handiwork for more podcasts from Kaleidoscope and iHeartRadio. 556 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: Visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or tune in wherever 557 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 1: you listen to your favorite shows. That's it from us 558 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 1: here at Part Time Genius. Thank you so much for listening.