Destroying Space-Time for Power (w/ Randall Munroe), Hourglass Figure Myths, Clown Science

Curiosity Weekly

Warner Bros. Discovery

Self-improvement, Science, Astronomy, Education

4.6 • 935 Ratings

🗓️ 3 October 2019

⏱️ 10 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Learn how to power your house by destroying the fabric of space-time, with help from xkcd creator Randall Munroe. Then, learn about the surprising reasons why hourglass figures are considered attractive; and, the scientific reason why clowns creep us out.

In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes:

The Evolutionary Reason Hourglass Figures Are Considered Attractive Isn't What You've Heard — https://curiosity.im/2la3Aw0
Here's the Scientific Reason Why Clowns Creep Us Out — https://curiosity.im/2LvbBpH

Additional resources from Randall Munroe:

“How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems” on Amazon — https://amazon.com
xkcd, “A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language" — xkcd.com
“What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions” — https://amazon.com
Randall Munroe: Is It Possible To Change The Moon's Colour? [Video] — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avYPeoU0nI8

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Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/destroying-space-time-for-power-w-randall-munroe-hourglass-figure-myths-clown-science

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, we're here from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter in just a few minutes.
0:05.0	I'm Cody Gough.
0:06.0	And I'm Ashley Hamer.
0:07.0	Today, you learn about one of the most absurd ways you could possibly think of to power your house.
0:12.0	With some help from Randall Monroe, the creator of the popular geek web comic XKCD.
0:17.0	You'll also learn about the surprising reasons why our glass figures are considered attractive,
0:22.0	and the scientific reason why clowns creep us out.
0:24.8	Let's satisfy some curiosity.
0:26.8	If you had to power your house and you had these two options, which would you choose?
0:30.9	The first option, solar power? The second option?
0:34.0	Destroying the fabric of space time? Wait, what? Yeah, so it turns out that's an idea
0:40.1	explored in a book by Randall Monroe,
0:42.5	creator of the amazingly popular and funny
0:44.9	geeky web comic X KCD.
0:47.3	In his new book, How To, Absurd Scientific
0:50.0	Advice for Common Real World Problems,
0:52.3	he explores the science behind wildly impracticism. advice for
0:55.0	everything from common real-world problems, he explores the science behind wildly impractical advice
0:56.0	for everything from landing a plane to digging a hole.
0:58.0	And here's Randall on something that definitely got our attention,
1:01.0	how to power your house by destroying the fabric of space time.
1:05.0	I think in some kind of objective sense that might be the literal, the worst idea in my entire book, because I was looking at all the different sources of power
	...

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