Podcast Summary
Connecting with pros and maximizing yield: Angie's platform connects homeowners with local pros, while Bayer uses AI and CRISPR to help farmers increase yield, ensuring convenience and progress in home projects and food production
Technology is making it easier than ever to connect with skilled professionals for home projects and increasing food production without fertilizers. Angie's platform simplifies the process of finding and hiring local pros for home projects, while Bayer is using artificial intelligence and CRISPR technology to help farmers maximize their yield. These advancements are crucial for maintaining homes and ensuring food security in a hotter and more crowded world. Additionally, the editors of Popular Science shared a heartwarming fact about a family in South Carolina who have been recording the weather for the federal government daily since 1893. Overall, technology is bringing convenience, innovation, and progress to various aspects of our lives.
Unsung Heroes: Women's Contributions to Science: Women like Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-century German nun, made significant scientific discoveries despite societal constraints. She accessed academic texts in a coed monastery and contributed to the European scientific revolution with her idea of heliocentrism.
Throughout history, there have been unsung heroes, particularly women, who have made significant contributions to science and knowledge, yet have been overlooked or overshadowed by their male counterparts. For instance, Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-century German nun, came up with the idea of heliocentrism, the theory that the planets revolve around the sun, three centuries before Copernicus. She was able to access academic texts meant for male clergy due to her unique living arrangement in a coed monastery. These texts contained translations of ancient Greek works that had been lost to Western Europe but were instrumental in the European scientific revolution. Hildegard's story is a reminder of the importance of recognizing and celebrating the achievements of women in science and history.
Medieval Scholar Hildegard of Bingen's Botanical Knowledge and Visionary Thinking: Hildegard of Bingen, a medieval scholar, was known for her extensive botanical knowledge, visionary thinking, and contributions to various fields, including suggesting the heliocentric solar system and the concept of universal gravitation, and writing about the female orgasm.
Hildegard of Bingen was a remarkable scholar and thinker during the Middle Ages, known for her extensive botanical knowledge and her ecstatic visions. She is credited with suggesting the heliocentric solar system and the concept of universal gravitation, although the extent of her scientific understanding is debated. Hildegard also showed early thinking about the seasons and the interconnectedness of the natural world. Additionally, she wrote about the female orgasm, describing it as a source of heat and sensual delight that is essential for successful pregnancy. Despite societal norms, Hildegard lived her life independently, much like the spinsters of her time who earned their living by spinning wool. Her contributions to various fields continue to intrigue scholars and inspire awe.
Medieval Abbess Hildegard of Bingen's Insights into Sexual Health: Though much of Hildegard of Bingen's knowledge on sexual health remains a mystery, her writings contain both groundbreaking insights and problematic beliefs, reflecting the complexities of her time and her own perspective.
Hildegard of Bingen, a medieval German Benedictine abbess, is known for her extensive writings on various subjects, including the human body and its functions. However, the extent of her knowledge about sexual health and orgasms remains a mystery. Some theories suggest she may have gained her insights through midwifery or her own experiences, while others believe her writings were influenced by the limited scientific understanding of the time. Regardless, Hildegard's works contain both groundbreaking insights and problematic beliefs, reflecting the complexities of her time and her own perspective. Ultimately, her legacy raises intriguing questions about the nature of knowledge and the role of curiosity in scientific discovery. Despite our inability to fully decipher the truth, Hildegard's contributions continue to inspire and challenge us.
Weather data collection in America began in the 1600s: From John Campanius Holm to modern weather reporting, Americans have long documented weather for various reasons, including military strategy and scientific discovery. Profits from unique weather facts sales support LGBTQ empowerment in STEM.
The collection and recording of weather data in America began as early as the 1640s with John Campanius Holm along the Delaware River. Early recordings were mostly kept by founding fathers like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington for various reasons. The modern weather reporting system started with the military and expanded with the invention of the telegraph, allowing for quick data dissemination and forecasting. Meanwhile, Out in STEM, a nonprofit organization, continues the tradition of using scientific knowledge for the betterment of society, specifically empowering the LGBTQ community in STEM fields. The profits from the sale of these unique weather facts support this cause.
The History of Weather Reporting: From Volunteers to Technology: The National Weather Service was founded on volunteer efforts and has grown into a crucial system for predicting and preparing for weather events, thanks to the dedication of thousands of volunteers and advancements in technology.
The National Weather Service was established in the late 1800s due to the dedication and volunteer efforts of individuals who recognized the importance of collecting and sharing weather data. Initially, this was done through the Washington Evening Star publishing daily weather reports for nearly 20 cities. As the need for accurate weather information grew, Congress authorized the Army's signal service to take over storm warnings and eventually established the Weather Bureau in 1890. The success of this system was largely due to the thousands of volunteers who willingly took on the laborious task of recording and reporting weather data, even before technology made it easier. This extensive network of weather observers allowed for the creation of an extensive climatological record, which is still used today to study the effects of global warming. The passion and dedication of these volunteers created a system that continues to be crucial for predicting and preparing for weather events. Despite the challenges and randomness involved in predicting the weather, the National Weather Service and its volunteers remain committed to providing accurate and timely information to the public.
Thousands of volunteers recorded weather data for decades out of civic duty and love for science: Decades-long contributions of thousands of volunteers, who made up 2/3 of weather stations, were crucial for scientific understanding and forecasting, especially during climate change acceleration
For decades, thousands of volunteers across the United States diligently recorded weather data, sending it to local offices, often as a family tradition. These volunteers, who made up about two-thirds of the 11,000 weather stations, did it out of a sense of civic duty and love for science, with no monetary reward. They didn't receive immediate feedback or see how their data was used, but their contributions were crucial for scientific understanding and forecasting. The importance of their work became even more evident in recent years as climate change accelerated, causing unprecedented weather patterns. For instance, an alarming error occurred in a weather station in Utqiagvik, Alaska, where the temperature was rising so rapidly that the National Centers For Environmental Information's algorithm mistakenly flagged the data as incorrect. The volunteers' dedication and the value of their data continue to be essential in monitoring and understanding our changing climate.
Learning from Extreme Weather and Historical Practices: Extreme weather can cause drastic temperature changes and have negative consequences, while historical practices like medical cannibalism may seem shocking but were once accepted.
Weather can change dramatically and quickly, even in extreme temperatures. I learned this from a story about a Chinook wind event in Montana in 1972, which caused a temperature change of 103 degrees Fahrenheit. This rapid temperature shift was due to the atmospheric pressure increasing as the wind came down from the mountains, heating up the air. While this event was impressive, it's important to remember that extreme weather can also have negative consequences, such as breaking windows due to the sudden temperature change. Another interesting fact I came across was about medical cannibalism in history. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just a fictional or ancient practice. People actually consumed human flesh for medicinal purposes during the Middle Ages and into the Victorian era. This is a reminder that historical practices may be shocking or disturbing to modern sensibilities but were once considered acceptable. These two facts demonstrate the power and unpredictability of nature and the lengths people have gone to throughout history to improve their health.
Belief in consuming body parts for cures during Renaissance and Victorian eras: During times of cultural and scientific change, people may turn to unconventional practices like consuming human body parts for explanations and cures, even when faced with conflicting beliefs and rising scientific discoveries.
During the Renaissance and Victorian eras, there was a widespread belief in sympathetic magic and the use of human body parts for medicinal purposes. This practice, which peaked during the Renaissance and continued into the Victorian era, was based on the idea that consuming the body part of a recently deceased person who had suffered from the same affliction could lead to a cure. This belief persisted despite the rising scientific discoveries that were challenging old religious beliefs and ways of understanding the world. The confusion and uncertainty during this time led people to turn to unconventional practices, such as using mummies and publicly executed bodies, for explanations and cures. The Victorian era's fascination with Egypt and colonial exploration further fueled this trend, leading to unwrapping parties and the use of mummy parts in medical treatments. Despite the unsanitary nature of these practices, they reflect the societal uncertainty and search for meaning during a time of significant cultural and scientific change.
Historical fascination with consuming human fat: During the Victorian era, humans consumed human fat for believed healing properties, and executioners profited from selling it.
Throughout history, particularly during the Victorian era, humans have shown intrigue and even consumption of unusual foods, including human flesh and fat. This practice, often driven by beliefs in their healing properties, was a common occurrence. The question was not whether to eat human flesh but what kind to eat, with fat being the most sought-after. Executioners even profited from selling human body parts, including fat. Today, while we find the concept of cannibalism uncomfortable, it's fascinating to consider how close our culture is to this historical practice. For instance, a human adult male contains approximately 125,822 calories of fat and protein. Though it's not a common practice today, understanding this historical context provides insight into human curiosity and consumption habits.
Dangers of Consuming Human Tissue and Importance of Food Safety: Consuming human tissue can lead to fatal diseases like kuru and mad cow disease. Practice food safety to avoid these risks. Use Angie's List for home projects and reduce paint waste by following the 3 simple rules.
Consuming human tissue, particularly brains and spinal cords, can lead to fatal diseases such as kuru and mad cow disease. These conditions are characterized by muscle spasms, dementia, and difficulty controlling emotions. The cause of these diseases is not an infection but rather the body's inability to recognize foreign matter. This is a reminder of the importance of food safety and the potential risks associated with consuming certain types of tissue. Moreover, the discussion touched on the convenience of using services like Angie's List to connect with skilled professionals for home projects. From small repairs to large-scale projects, Angie's List simplifies the process by connecting users with local pros and handling the project from start to finish. Lastly, the importance of reducing paint waste was emphasized. The 3 simple rules for painting smarter and reducing waste are: buy only what you need, use up what you already have, and recycle the rest. By following these rules, individuals can contribute to a more sustainable painting process.
