Podcast Summary
Why are there so many chicken bones on the streets?: Three journalists revisited their dynamic and shared history while investigating an intriguing question, despite not finding a definitive answer.
Three journalists, Manny, Noah, and Devin, who used to work together and argue about various topics, received an intriguing email with a simple question: why are there so many chicken bones on the streets and who is responsible? They found this question intriguing and decided to investigate, uncovering layers of complexity. Devin, who had recently fostered dogs, noticed the issue more acutely due to their curiosity and tendency to eat anything they found on the streets. The investigation led them to explore various theories, from food trucks to homeless populations, but no definitive answer was found. However, the process of investigating the question led them to explore their dynamic and their shared history, providing entertainment and engagement for their listeners. The experience reminded them of their early days in journalism when they would argue about trivial matters in their shared workspace. The investigation may not have led to a definitive answer, but it provided an opportunity for them to explore, entertain, and engage with their audience.
Mapping Chicken Bone Discarding Hotspots: Journalists used friends' photos and metadata to identify neighborhoods with high instances of chicken bone littering in cities worldwide
There's a widespread issue of chicken bones being carelessly discarded on the streets in cities, particularly in densely populated areas. This problem is often reported by dog owners whose pets consume the bones, leading to potential health hazards. The speakers, who have a journalism background, conducted an informal survey by asking friends to send photos of chicken bones they encountered, along with their locations. The metadata from these photos allowed them to map out the hotspot neighborhoods for this issue. The problem seems to be prevalent in major cities around the world, with various online platforms hosting discussions about it. The speakers plan to investigate further to determine the source of this issue and potential solutions.
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From Exotic Gifts to Industrial Food Source: Chickens have a rich history, initially valued for cultural significance and later becoming a widespread food source due to industrialization
Chickens have a rich history that spans from their early domestication in Asia over 10,000 years ago to their introduction in America in the late 15th or early 16th century. Initially, chickens were not primarily raised for their meat but were valued for their novelty and various associations, such as being linked to sun gods in China and Japan or used for medicinal purposes in ancient Greece. However, as time passed, chickens became more ubiquitous and were eventually brought to America as a source of food due to their hardiness. The commercial broiler chicken industry began in the 1920s, leading to the widespread popularity of chicken as an industrial product. During World War 2, the government encouraged the consumption of chicken as a meat substitute due to rationing, resulting in a significant increase in chicken consumption. Despite this, once the war ended, chicken consumption decreased until the 1950s when it began to rise again. Throughout history, chickens have served various roles, from exotic gifts to industrial food sources, and their significance has evolved with cultural and societal changes.
The Rise of Larger Chickens and the Surplus of Bones: The shift towards breeding larger chickens for meat production in the late 1940s led to an increase in discarded chicken bones, with over 8.88 trillion bones being discarded annually due to human consumption.
The drastic increase in chicken production over the decades, leading to the creation of larger, more profitable chickens, has resulted in a significant number of chicken bones being discarded each year. This trend began with the "Chicken of Tomorrow" contest in 1948, which encouraged farmers to breed larger chickens for meat production. The result was chickens with more meat on their bodies, particularly on their breasts, making them more profitable to raise. This shift in chicken size coincided with the emergence of big name brands like Tyson and Purdue, as well as the rise of fast food chains like KFC and McDonald's. By the late 1970s and 1980s, chickens were starting to catch up with other meats in terms of popularity. Today, over 74 billion chickens are raised and slaughtered for food annually, leading to an estimated 8.88 trillion chicken bones being discarded each year. The primary suspect in the discarding of these bones is human consumption - people eating chicken wings, legs, and thighs and discarding the bones on the ground.
Chicken bone littering: Understanding the motivation and impact: Despite being an environmentalist, the speaker was surprised by people discarding chicken bones outside. The cause and impact of this behavior are complex, involving both individual actions and systemic factors.
There seems to be a problem with people throwing chicken bones on the streets, but the motivation behind this behavior and its impact on the environment are not yet fully understood. The speaker, an investigative journalist, shared an anecdote about a friend observing a woman eating chicken wings in her car and discarding the bones outside. The journalist expressed surprise and confusion about this behavior, as she is an environmentalist who cares about littering. She also questioned whether the problem is caused by a small number of people who don't care about the environment or if it's a larger issue. The speaker acknowledged her own bias as a progressive journalist and her tendency to blame structures and systems rather than individuals for problems. She also shared her personal experience of being taught not to litter as a child and the debate around the biodegradability of food waste. Overall, the discussion highlights the complexity of understanding and addressing environmental issues and the importance of considering both individual actions and systemic factors.
Impact of Trash Can Availability on Littering: People are more likely to litter when trash cans are not easily accessible, but other factors may also contribute to littering. Making trash cans readily available is an effective way to reduce littering, and proper waste disposal is crucial for the environment.
The availability of trash cans significantly influences people's decision to litter. The study suggests that people are more likely to litter when trash cans are not readily available. However, during an observation in a neighborhood, there were plenty of trash cans, yet chicken bones were still found on the ground. This raises the question of whether the academic research is incorrect or if there are other factors at play. It's possible that people are making a conscious decision to litter despite the presence of trash cans, or there could be other culprits responsible for the littering. Regardless, the study highlights the importance of making trash cans easily accessible to reduce littering. Additionally, the discussion touched upon the concept of biodegradable waste and how long it takes for it to decompose when not disposed of properly. The speaker mentioned that apple cores take longer to biodegrade than chicken bones, and if they were in a situation where they couldn't dispose of it properly, they would be stuck with it for a long time. Overall, the conversation emphasized the impact of individual choices on the environment and the importance of proper waste disposal.
Decluttering and simplifying can lead to savings and improved efficiency: Spring cleaning analogy illustrates financial benefits of reducing expenses. Unified business systems save IT costs and streamline processes. Squirrels can be unexpected factors in daily life.
Decluttering and simplifying, whether it's in your living space or your business operations, can lead to significant savings and improved efficiency. The spring cleaning analogy was used to illustrate this concept, with the discovery of a more affordable wireless plan serving as a metaphor for the financial benefits of reducing expenses. Similarly, transitioning to a unified business management system like NetSuite can help companies save on IT costs, reduce the need for multiple systems, and streamline processes. In the animal investigation segment, the surprising discovery was that squirrels could be the culprits behind the mysterious chicken bones in the trash. This finding underscores the importance of considering the role of nature and animals in our daily lives, as they can often be overlooked factors in various situations. Overall, the discussion highlighted the value of being open-minded, persistent, and resourceful in solving problems and discovering new opportunities for savings and growth.
The Mystery of Chicken Bones in NYC Parks: Despite investigations, the origin of chicken bones found in NYC parks remains a mystery, with squirrels, raccoons, and birds being potential suspects, but none able to fully explain the large quantity of bones found near restaurants.
The mystery of the chicken bones in New York City parks remains unsolved, with squirrels, raccoons, and birds being potential suspects. A squirrel census conducted in 2020 counted only 433 squirrels in Manhattan and Brooklyn, which is not enough to account for the number of bones found. An old article from 1975 suggested that raccoons have a preference for chicken bones, but the speakers have never seen a raccoon in New York City. Birds, particularly pigeons, crows, and ravens, were also considered as suspects due to their omnivorous diet. However, the bones were found near restaurants, making birds less likely suspects. The speakers are still trying to figure out the answer to this intriguing mystery.
Different trash management systems in NYC neighborhoods: The uneven distribution of chicken bones in NYC could be due to varying trash management practices, with plastic bags increasing the likelihood of bones being left on the streets for rats to scavenge.
The uneven distribution of chicken bones in New York City could be due to the different ways neighborhoods manage their trash. Rats are believed to be the primary reason for the presence of chicken bones on the streets, as they dig through trash bags and remove the bones, leaving them behind. However, not all neighborhoods have the same trash management systems. Some neighborhoods put their trash directly into containers that are picked up, while others use plastic bags that are left on the street. The use of plastic bags in the past was a result of the Clean Air Act in 1970, which banned the burning of trash, and the popularity of plastic bags at the time. To test this theory, further investigation could be conducted to analyze the correlation between the prevalence of plastic bags on the streets and the presence of chicken bones. Additionally, studying the trash management practices in different neighborhoods and their impact on the presence of rats and chicken bones could provide valuable insights.
Investigating the Mystery of Chicken Bones in Brooklyn: Podcast team sends chicken bones for rat DNA testing and sets up GoPro to observe rat activity in Brooklyn, concerned about attracting more rats
The team behind the podcast "Search Engine" is conducting experiments to determine if rats are responsible for the large number of chicken bones found on the streets of Brooklyn. Their methods include sending collected chicken bones to a lab for rat DNA testing and setting up a GoPro with chicken wings on a sidewalk to observe rat activity. While they are excited about these investigations, they are also concerned about potentially attracting more rats to the area. The team is dedicated to finding answers and, if rats are found to be the culprits, they plan to take action. The podcast is produced by Odyssey and Jigsaw Productions, and can be listened to for free on the Odysee app or wherever podcasts are available.
