Unexpected Elements Story time
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May 23, 2025 Kathryn Kenney, a book and paper conservator at the Folger Shakespeare Library, dives into the fascinating world of preserving centuries-old texts. She explains the intricacies of maintaining Shakespeare's rare folios and shares eco-friendly conservation methods, like using bats to control pests. The discussion also touches on why our brains crave stories, the unique experience of those with aphantasia who can't visualize narratives, and the impact of storytelling on empathy. Plus, they explore the whimsical concept of phantom islands and the role of fiction in addressing climate change.
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Oxytocin Fuels Story Empathy
- Oxytocin, the 'love hormone,' boosts empathy by building trust through narratives.
- It motivates pro-social behaviors like charity after emotionally engaging stories.
Aphantasia and Visualization
- Some people have aphantasia, the inability to visualize images in their mind when awake.
- They dream in images but don't experience distress from fearful imagery as vividly as others.
Bats Protect Portuguese Libraries
- Two libraries in Portugal keep bats inside to naturally control insect pests.
- Bats eat bugs that threaten old books, protecting the materials without harsh chemicals.
