meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Something You Should Know

The Fascinating Story of Batteries & How Status Changes Culture - SYSK Choice

Something You Should Know

Mike Carruthers | OmniCastMedia

Science, Self-improvement, Social Sciences, Health & Fitness, Education

4.54.3K Ratings

🗓️ 31 August 2024

⏱️ 49 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Hot dogs come in packages of ten. Hot dog buns come in packages of eight. Why? Is this some sort of marketing ploy or plot? What could possibly be the reason for this obvious mismatch? This episode begins by revealing the explanation. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a40984485/hot-dogs-buns-packages/ Think of all the batteries you use in a day. A good part of your life is powered by batteries. From your flashlight, all your remotes, your car to your cellphone – all these devices require batteries to function. As necessary as they are, you may not know a lot about batteries. For example, why are there different sizes? Why do batteries seem to last longer than before? Joining me to answer these questions and to reveal the interesting history of battery technology is James Morton Turner, author of the book Charged: A History of Batteries and Lessons for a Clean Energy Future (https://amzn.to/3QYnR1n). You probably cringe when you see old pictures of yourself because your clothes and hairstyle look so horrible. Why is that? They looked fine at the time the picture was taken. What causes these things to fall in and out of style? It comes down to culture and status. Culture changes over time and so does our desire for status. That’s according to W. David Marx. David is a long-time writer on culture based in Tokyo and he is author of a book called Status and Culture: How Our Desire for Social Rank Creates Taste, Identity, Art, Fashion and Constant Change (https://amzn.to/3wNJeub). Listen as he discusses the fascinating connection between status and culture and how they work together to drive changes. Can your morning cup of coffee predict the weather? Maybe, if you know how to read the surface bubbles. Listen as I reveal how those bubbles predict the kind of day you are about to have. https://www.instructables.com/Predict-weather-with-a-cup-of-coffee/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This episode is brought to you by Kia. The Kia EV3 electric experience is here.

0:07.0

And you could be one of the first in the UK to see the new compact electric SUV at an event near you, exploring its extensive mile range and

0:15.1

spacious modern interior. Speak to our experts about the Kia EV3 and our

0:20.3

award-winning electric range. Secure your exclusive place today.

0:24.6

Search Kia Electric Experience.

0:27.5

Kia, movement that inspires.

0:38.6

Today on something you should know, why do hot dogs come in packages of 10 while the buns come in packages of 8? Then batteries, they power much of your life and there's a lot of things

0:44.8

about them you don't know. One is you know lead acid batteries right which are in

0:49.3

every vehicle out there. They're the single most highly recycled product in the world.

0:55.0

Or those double A batteries takes almost 150 times more energy to manufacture

1:01.0

than you actually get.

1:02.0

Also, how can a cup of coffee predict the weather,

1:05.0

and the importance of status and culture

1:08.0

and how culture doesn't change like it used to?

1:11.0

If you say the 60s, people think about hippies or the Beatles. If you say the 60s people think about hippies or the Beatles if you think

1:14.6

the 70s you think about disco. People want their era to be represented by something

1:20.0

unique and if music all sounds the same and clothing is all the same from the year

1:23.8

2000 to now there's a sense of cultural relays. All this today on something you

1:29.0

should know. The Admiral spots the Greens. They're doing up their house.

1:35.0

Need a hand with anything?

1:37.0

No, no, once the solar panels are up, a eco-transformation is complete.

1:42.0

We've even bought a new electric car.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Mike Carruthers | OmniCastMedia, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Mike Carruthers | OmniCastMedia and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.