The Evolution of Symbols: From Pirates to Radiation Warnings

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This chapter explores the historical origins of iconic symbols such as the skull and crossbones, tracing their evolution from religious art to pirate branding tools. It also delves into the complexities of creating lasting warning symbols for nuclear waste sites, discussing innovative proposals and contrasting practical approaches to convey danger to future generations. The narrative touches on contamination issues faced by communities, reflecting on the challenges of effectively warning about potential hazards over long periods of time.

Mr. Yuk is a neon green circular sticker with a cartoon face on it. His face is scrunched up with his eyes squeezed tight and his tongue is sticking out of its mouth. It's the face you make when you taste something disgusting. He's the pictorial embodiment of the sentiment of yuck. Aptly enough: he was designed to be the symbol for hazardous substances, aimed at deterring children from ingesting them. The idea what that if you saw a Mr. Yuk sticker on something around the house, it meant that that something was poison.

Friend of the show, Gillian Jacobs, is a BIG FAN of Mr Yuk, who turns out to be a hometown hero of her beloved Pittsburgh, and talked Roman through the origins of the mean, green face that was meant to save children from their worst impulses.

Plus, we revisit another story about warning symbols from our archive: the quest to find a symbol that would warn future humans of dangerous radiation 10,000 years in the future.

Mr. Yuk

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