Podcast Summary
Discovering the Power of Unknown Superfoods and Technologies: The Kakadu plum, an Australian superfood, packs 100x more vitamin C than oranges. AI shapes future tech, and creating a perfect vacuum remains a challenge.
The Kakadu plum, an Australian native superfood, contains 100 times more vitamin C than oranges, yet it's not widely known. This was discussed in an episode of JB Smooth's podcast, which emphasizes straightforward pricing from AT&T Fiber. Meanwhile, in the realm of technology, artificial intelligence is expected to play a significant role in shaping the future. This was explored in the second season of Technically Speaking, an Intel podcast. Regarding physics, while it's now understood that a vacuum or void can exist, creating a perfect vacuum is challenging. This concept was discussed in the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, which delved into the history of the belief that a vacuum couldn't exist in nature. In real-world applications, vacuums are often areas with low gas particle density or the inside of containers with lower gas particle density than the outside. Examples include incandescent light bulbs, which operate more effectively in a vacuum to prevent the filament from failing quickly.
The Significance of Vacuum Technology in Guitar Amplifiers: Vacuum technology remains relevant in guitar amplifiers due to the unique feel and sound of tubes, despite being replaced by modern technologies in most other applications.
While vacuum technology was once prevalent in various devices such as light bulbs and vacuum tubes, it has largely been replaced by more modern technologies like inert gases and silicon transistors. However, vacuum technology still holds significance in certain applications, particularly in guitar amplifiers where some players prefer the unique feel and sound of tubes over solid state amps. The debate over the superiority of tubes versus solid state technology is ongoing, with some arguing that the difference can be heard in the final product. Vacuum technology achieves different levels of vacuum through technological means, with Earth's atmosphere serving as a reference point. Space is also considered a vacuum compared to Earth's atmosphere, but it is important to note that the term "vacuum" can have different meanings depending on the context.
The universe's density of particles decreases as you go higher in altitude: The universe's vastness contains particles dispersed at larger distances due to gravity causing matter to clump together, resulting in an overall low average density of 6.1 x 10^-31 kg/m³.
The universe's density of particles decreases as you go higher in altitude, and it becomes increasingly sparse in interplanetary, interstellar, and intergalactic spaces. The reason for this is gravity, which causes mass to clump together. However, even in the seemingly empty spaces, there are still particles present, just dispersed at larger distances. The early universe was more uniformly distributed, but as space expanded, gravity caused matter to clump together, creating the varied terrain we see today. Despite this, Aristotle's idea of perfectly empty space being nonexistent is technically correct but misleading, as there is no such thing as a perfect vacuum in the universe. The average density of the universe overall is estimated to be around 6.1 x 10^-31 kg/m³, which is extremely low.
The Universe's Flatness and Mass Density: A Mystery: The universe is mostly dark energy, challenging our understanding of its composition. Isolation tanks, despite limiting space, can inspire creativity.
According to research by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), the universe is flat and has a mass density of approximately 9.9 x 10^-30 grams per cubic centimeter, which is much less than the mass density of normal matter. This finding challenges our everyday understanding of the universe's composition, as less than 5% of it is made up of atoms. The rest is a form of energy, often referred to as dark energy. The distinction between emptiness and nothingness, and the role of stimuli in creativity, were also discussed. The exploration of these concepts can lead to interesting philosophical questions and subjective experiences. For instance, isolation tanks, despite limiting space, can also provide a sense of boundary-breaking and serve as a source of inspiration for creativity. Ultimately, the universe's vastness and the complexities of its composition continue to challenge our understanding and fuel our curiosity.
Relaxation vs Technology-induced Stress and Allergy Solutions: Nature can reduce stress, but technology and social isolation can increase it. Astepro, a steroid-free nasal allergy spray, can help alleviate symptoms.
Nature can be absorbing and relaxing, but excessive use of technology and social isolation can be stress-inducing. Astepro, a fast-acting, steroid-free nasal allergy spray, was highlighted as a helpful solution for allergy symptoms. The Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator, was mentioned as an impressive human-made vacuum system, with over 100 kilometers of piping held in a state of vacuum. This vacuum system is crucial for the collider's particle beams to travel through without colliding with gas molecules and ruining experiments. Additionally, today's episode was sponsored by eBay Motors, emphasizing the unique character and individuality of car ownership and the availability of parts to keep rides running smoothly.
Empty spaces in horror films: Horror films use empty or neglected settings to exploit fear of emptiness, heightening suspense and isolation through contrast with potential danger, providing a blank canvas for audience's imagination to fill with fear.
The horror genre in cinema often exploits the fear of emptiness or vacant spaces by utilizing settings that are literally empty or neglected in the narrative. This creates a sense of unease and terror, as seen in the scene from Suspiria with the blind man in the open city plaza. The contrast between the emptiness and the potential danger heightens the sense of fear. Horror films often favor these settings as they provide a blank canvas for the audience's imagination to fill with fear and suspense. Examples include abandoned or empty buildings, such as Dracula's castle, which adds to the isolation and solitude of the villain. The absence of human activity or presence in these settings creates a sense of unease and vulnerability, making the fear felt by the characters and the audience all the more palpable.
Empty locations in horror movies create a unique sense of unease and danger: Empty spaces in horror movies, like abandoned cities, hospitals, churches, schools, and castles, can create a feeling of isolation, vulnerability, and unease, making them an effective tool for building tension and fear.
Empty locations in horror movies create a unique sense of unease and danger. The contrast between an empty space that is usually full of people or activity, and the isolation and vulnerability that comes with being alone, can be a powerful source of fear. Examples of this include abandoned cities, hospitals, churches, schools, and castles. These locations can invite critical questions about what they represented when they were full, and the absence of people or activity can make the environment feel unholy or rebellious. For instance, in movies like "Dawn of the Dead" and "Shopping Mall," the depopulated malls represent a loss of normal constraints and a sense of freedom, but also a sense of unease and danger. Overall, empty locations in horror movies can create a feeling of isolation, vulnerability, and unease, making them an effective tool for building tension and fear.
The emptiness of abandoned locations in horror stories: Abandoned locations in horror stories can be scarier due to their conceptual implications, inviting us to question their purpose and history, and creating uneasiness through negative space in visual composition.
Empty and abandoned locations in horror stories can be scarier not only due to the fear of the unknown or safety in numbers, but also on a conceptual level. These locations invite us to question their purpose and history, leading to deeper reflection on the meaning of places and their significance to the people who inhabit them. Horror stories often explore this idea by using negative space in the visual composition of the film to create uneasiness and anticipation. Whether it's a church at midnight or an abandoned building, the emptiness can be just as terrifying as any supernatural threat. This concept is not only limited to horror films but is a common theme in various genres, reflecting our natural psychological expectations and learned conventions from watching movies.
The power of negative space in cinema and weird fiction: The open sky's vastness in films and literature can evoke fear and unease, inspiring emotions through the unknown and unfulfilled expectations.
The use of negative space in cinema and weird fiction can create a sense of tension and uneasiness. When we expect something to fill that space and it doesn't, it leaves us with unresolved tension. A recent example of this is Jordan Peele's film "Get Out," which uses the open sky as a potential threat, leaving viewers with a feeling of danger even after leaving the theater. This feeling of fear towards open spaces, such as the sky, is known as Cassidastrophobia, a fear of falling up into the sky. While this fear may not correspond to anything in reality, it highlights the power of the open and the unknown to evoke strong emotions. The vastness of the sky, whether clear blue or filled with stars, can be both inspiring and overwhelming, leading us to ponder what would happen if we were to float up into it.
Impact of night sky on human civilization: Throughout history, the night sky has influenced civilizations by providing practical applications like navigation and understanding seasons, while also inspiring superstitions and religious beliefs.
The perception of the night sky and the understanding of the cosmos have significantly influenced various civilizations and their beliefs throughout history. From ancient Egypt to the Greeks, Babylonians, Indians, Chinese, Persians, Mayans, and many others, advanced astronomical systems were developed, leading to a mix of practical applications and supernatural beliefs. These astronomical cultures recognized the connection between the movements of the sun and stars and the cycles of life, seasons, and navigation. However, they also held superstitions about certain anomalies, such as eclipses and lunar phases, which could inspire fear. Overall, the study of archaeoastronomy and ethnoastronomy reveals the profound impact of the night sky on human civilization and the complex interplay between scientific, religious, and superstitious beliefs.
Cosmic horror and the fear of the unknown: The fear of encountering monstrous beings and the vastness of the cosmos is a common theme in cosmic horror. eBay Motors helps individuals transform their vehicles, while Visible offers affordability and transparency in wireless services.
The fear of the unknown and the insignificance of humankind in the face of greater cosmic forces is a common theme in horror literature, particularly in the subgenre of cosmic horror. This fear can manifest in various ways, such as the violation of physical laws or the revelation of monstrous beings from the depths of the universe. An example of this can be found in H.P. Lovecraft's 1921 story "The Other Gods," where a character expresses terror at the idea of encountering the "gods of the outer hells" and the vastness of the cosmos. Today's discussion also highlighted the role of eBay Motors in helping individuals transform their vehicles into unique rides, and the affordability and transparency offered by wireless carrier Visible.
The vastness of the universe evokes emotions from relaxation to fear of insignificance: The infinite universe can evoke emotions from peace to fear, influenced by individual experiences and the Copernican principle.
Our perception of the vastness of the universe, whether it be the clear blue sky or a starscape, can evoke a range of emotions from relaxation and inspiration to feelings of vulnerability and insignificance. This connection between the infinite and the finite is subjective and can be influenced by individual experiences and environments. The Copernican principle, which challenges the notion of human centrality in the universe, can lead to feelings of cosmic horror, despair, and fear of the unknown. This fear can be amplified by the addition of misanthropy, xenophobia, and other negative emotions. The experience of being in vast open spaces can be both empowering and frightening, leading to a loss of a sense of self and a fear of the limitless. Ultimately, the way we perceive and react to the vastness of the universe is a complex and subjective experience.
Feeling insignificant in vast open spaces: Encountering large open spaces like the ocean, sky, or desert can evoke feelings of insignificance and disconnection from our sense of belonging. Reflecting on these experiences can be intriguing.
Encountering vast open spaces, such as the ocean, sky, or desert, can evoke feelings of insignificance and a lack of belonging due to their overwhelming scope. This sense of disconnection from our spatial sense of belonging can be a subjective experience, but it's an interesting one to reflect on. If you've had similar or conflicting reactions to open skies or star vistas at night, we'd love to hear from you. Our podcast, Stuff to Blow Your Mind, publishes listener mail episodes on Mondays, and you can contact us at contact@stufftoblowyourmind.com to share your thoughts. Other episodes cover core science topics on Tuesdays and Thursdays, short form Monster Facts on Wednesdays, and strange films on Weird House Cinema on Fridays. We're produced by Iheartradio, and you can find us on the Iheartradio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Today's episode is brought to you by Visible, a wireless company offering unlimited 5G data for $25 a month, with no hidden fees. Stay connected to Detroit's black community with the Michigan Chronicle Digital Daily, and get your 2024 Cedar Point Summer Pass for unlimited visits and free parking.
