Podcast Summary
Technology transforms agriculture and home services: AI and CRISPR technology boost food production in agriculture, Angie's List simplifies home projects with skilled pros, and tech brings efficiency to daily tasks
Technology is revolutionizing various industries, from agriculture to home services, to make our lives more efficient and productive. On the Tools and Weapons podcast, Microsoft's Brad Smith discussed with Bayer CEO Bill Anderson how AI and CRISPR technology are being used in agriculture to increase food production without fertilizers. Meanwhile, Angie's list is simplifying home projects by connecting users with skilled professionals and new tools. At Popular Science, the editors share interesting facts that don't make it into their articles, and they're inviting listeners to join them for a live show on Halloween in New York City. These examples demonstrate how technology is making a difference in our daily lives and making complex tasks more manageable.
Uncovering the Surprising Stories Behind Ordinary Things: From Eleanor Roosevelt's unexpected death to the advanced technology in poop factories, seemingly mundane topics can reveal surprising facts and hidden innovations.
There's more to the world of seemingly mundane things than meets the eye. During a recent discussion, the team shared intriguing facts they came across, ranging from Eleanor Roosevelt's unusual death to the scientific basis for walking 10,000 steps a day, and even a tour of a poop factory. While the topics seemed diverse, they all revealed surprising details. For instance, Eleanor Roosevelt's death was not as peaceful as myths suggest, and there's no scientific evidence supporting the 10,000 steps a day rule. The poop factory tour, on the other hand, unveiled the advanced technology used to produce toilet paper, including robots designed to test paper properties and prevent fingers from touching the product. These seemingly unrelated facts show that even the most ordinary aspects of life can hide fascinating stories and innovations.
Toilet Paper: Balancing Softness and Strength: Engineers create toilet paper that's soft yet strong, consumers prioritize softness or strength, and the industry innovates to use less paper and water.
Toilet paper manufacturing involves a delicate balance between softness and strength. Engineers strive to create a product that can withstand use while also breaking down effectively in water to prevent clogs. Consumers prioritize either softness or strength based on their preferences, leading to various offerings in the market. However, it's essential to consider how much toilet paper is needed and the environmental impact, as making soft toilet paper from recycled fibers is challenging. The industry continues to innovate, designing patterns to increase absorbency while using less paper and water. Ultimately, it's a reminder that toilet paper is more complex than it seems and that consumers have various options to choose from based on their priorities.
Sensory Testers at Procter and Gamble: Humans play a crucial role in testing P&G products' sensory qualities through rigorous training and unique experiments, ensuring top-notch quality.
At Procter and Gamble, humans are essential for testing and evaluating the sensory qualities of products like toilet paper, which cannot be measured by robots or analytics labs. These sensory testers undergo rigorous 6-month training and face stiff competition. They perform various experiments, such as stacking marbles or using "balloon butts," to demonstrate the superiority of their products. While some of these tests are too explicit for television, they serve to ensure the highest quality standards. Additionally, for product testing involving poop-like substances, Procter and Gamble uses artificial BM, a patented fake poop made from kitchen cupboard ingredients, instead of NASA's Phe Clone.
Understanding consumer habits through unexpected interview questions: Companies go to great lengths to gather consumer insights, even if it means asking detailed and unexpected questions during job interviews.
During a job interview with Charmin, the interviewers asked very detailed questions about how applicants use toilet paper, including demonstrating how they retrieve and wipe it. This unexpected and somewhat embarrassing experience left the interviewees feeling flustered and vulnerable. The purpose of these questions is to understand consumers' habits and preferences, allowing Charmin to create products that cater to their needs. Another interesting revelation was the discovery that people have different ways of using toilet paper - some fold it neatly, while others crumple it up. This highlights the importance of understanding and accommodating individual differences in consumer behavior. Overall, the experience showcases the lengths companies go to in order to gain insights into their customers' habits and preferences.
Origins of the 10,000 steps goal: The 10,000 steps goal may not be based on scientific evidence and its origins can be traced back to a Japanese public health campaign in the 1960s.
The recommendation of taking 10,000 steps a day as a health goal may have originated from a Japanese public health campaign in the 1960s, rather than being based on scientific evidence. The symbol of a person walking without a head in Japanese characters, "manpo-kei," inspired the name of the 10,000 step meter. This campaign aimed to encourage people to walk more to combat weight gain, but the origin and validity of the 10,000 step goal have been questioned in recent studies. The speaker found that on days when they didn't reach this goal, they still took enough steps to maintain their health. Therefore, it's essential to consider the origins of health recommendations and question their validity based on current scientific evidence.
10,000 steps goal may not be necessary for older women's health: Focus on overall physical activity, not just steps, for better health outcomes. Activities that raise heart rate, like strength training or carrying heavy objects, can be more effective than just counting steps.
The idea of aiming for 10,000 steps a day as a health goal may be unfounded, as studies suggest that even fewer steps per day can have similar health benefits for older women. Additionally, simply counting steps may not be enough to significantly improve health, as activities that raise the heart rate, such as strength training or carrying heavy objects, may be more effective. It's important to focus on overall physical activity and not get discouraged by falling short of the 10,000 step goal. From a motivational perspective, fixating on this goal can potentially demotivate individuals if they consistently fail to reach it. Instead, focusing on incorporating more movement into daily life and engaging in activities that raise the heart rate can lead to better health outcomes.
Eleanor Roosevelt's Unwavering Spirit Despite Illness: Stay active, engaged in life, and adhere to proper medical treatment to overcome adversity.
Eleanor Roosevelt, despite being diagnosed with a rare and serious condition called aplastic anemia in 1960, continued to live her life to the fullest, traveling, advocating for change, and spending time with loved ones. However, in 1962, her condition worsened, and she was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which was activated by steroids prescribed to treat her anemia. This led to her death at the age of 78. This story serves as a reminder of the importance of staying active and engaged in life, even in the face of adversity. Additionally, it highlights the importance of proper medical treatment and the potential consequences of not adhering to it, as seen with the persistence and aggressiveness of tuberculosis.
Misdiagnoses in medicine can have serious consequences: Inaccurate diagnoses can lead to severe health complications and even death, emphasizing the importance of accurate medical assessments.
Misdiagnoses in medicine can have serious consequences. In the case of Eleanor Roosevelt, a misdiagnosis of pleurisy in 1919 may have led to decades of undetected tuberculosis, which eventually progressed to a severe form of the disease called miliary tuberculosis. This condition can spread throughout the body and cause damage to various organs. Despite advancements in medical technology, diagnosing diseases of unknown origin can be challenging and anxiety-producing for doctors. In Eleanor Roosevelt's case, doctors were split on whether she had miliary tuberculosis or another condition. While some believed she had the more severe form of tuberculosis, others were unsure. In the interim, they put her on antibiotics, but she eventually refused further treatment and had a stroke, leading to her death. The experience was harrowing for Eleanor Roosevelt, who was an active person and did not want to be kept alive at all costs. The misdiagnosis and subsequent events highlight the importance of accurate diagnoses and the potential consequences of misdiagnoses in medicine.
Eleanor Roosevelt's Complex Battle with Tuberculosis: Despite medical advancements, tuberculosis remains a complex disease, especially for immunocompromised individuals, and not all deaths can be prevented.
Eleanor Roosevelt's death from tuberculosis in 1962 was not a simple case. She had a rare and severe form of disseminated tuberculosis that was present in her lungs, brain, liver, and kidneys. At the time, doctors believed her tuberculosis had come back from 1919, a period when she had latent tuberculosis without symptoms. However, it was later discovered that she was immunocompromised due to prednisone treatment for aplastic anemia, which made her susceptible to a new antibiotic-resistant strain of tuberculosis. Despite her doctors' best efforts, including the use of antibiotics, she was unable to be saved. This tragic event highlights the complexity of tuberculosis and the challenges of treating it, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Additionally, it serves as a reminder that not all deaths can be prevented by medical intervention, and that the perception of death as a failure is a common but misguided perspective.
Find skilled professionals for home projects with Angie's List: Angie's List simplifies home projects by connecting homeowners with skilled professionals, promoting sustainability through Paint Care's paint recycling program.
Angie's list simplifies the process of finding skilled professionals for home projects and maintenance. With over 20 years of experience, Angie's list offers an easy solution for homeowners looking to tackle both small and large projects. By bringing your project online or using the Angie app, answering a few questions, and letting Angie handle the rest, you can take care of home projects efficiently. Angie's list also prioritizes sustainability through Paint Care, a program that makes recycling leftover paint simple with convenient drop-off locations. By following Paint Care's three rules - buying only what you need, using up what you already have, and recycling the rest - you can reduce paint waste and contribute to a more sustainable home improvement process. Whether you're looking to maintain your home or embark on a dream project, Angie's list streamlines the process and promotes eco-friendly practices.
