Hockey English, Lasagna Power, How to Find the Light
Feb 12, 2025
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Paleontologist Riley Black, known for her insightful books on prehistoric life, joins to unravel a plant mystery involving brassica species and their phototropism. The discussion takes a quirky turn with Amanda exploring how leftover lasagna can be transformed into a power source. Rachel dives into the cultural nuances of 'hockey English,' shedding light on how accents reveal Canadian and U.S. identities in the sport. Each segment blends humor with fascinating scientific insights, making it a delightful and informative listen.
The podcast highlights how American hockey players adopt 'hockey English,' reflecting cultural influences and linguistic changes from their Canadian counterparts.
A fascinating culinary phenomenon, 'lasagna cells,' reveals the chemical interaction between aluminum foil and salty foods, showcasing science in everyday cooking.
Deep dives
Building Credit with Everyday Purchases
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Exploring Canadian Accents in Hockey
Research highlights a fascinating aspect of hockey culture, where American players are noted to sound 'vaguely Canadian' in their speech patterns. A linguist conducted a study to understand how exposure to hockey culture affects language, leading to similarities in pronunciation and slang. This linguistic phenomenon appears to stem from the strong Canadian identity associated with the sport, influencing even American players through social context and mirroring. As players interact within a predominantly Canadian environment, their speech may unconsciously adopt these characteristics, a testament to the cultural crossover inherent in sports.
The Science of Lasagna Cells
A discussion reveals an interesting culinary concept termed the 'lasagna cell,' which occurs when aluminum foil interacts with salty foods, such as lasagna, creating a corrosive process. This phenomenon happens when the foil develops holes, potentially leading to the release of aluminum salts into the food. Researchers traced this reaction to galvanic corrosion, where two metals corrode when in contact with an electrolyte—in this case, the salty lasagna. This observation bridges culinary practices with chemistry, showcasing how everyday cooking can yield surprising scientific reactions.
Plants' Ability to Sense Light
Recent research sheds light on how plants sense and grow towards light, specifically focusing on the role of air spaces within plant tissues. Scientists discovered that these air pockets enable light refraction, creating a gradient that allows plants to detect stronger light sources. This phototropic behavior is crucial for their survival, as it enables optimal photosynthesis. The breakthrough clarifies a long-standing question about plant biology, highlighting the intricate mechanisms that contribute to their growth and adaptability in response to environmental conditions.
Paleontologist and writer Riley Black joins the show to talk about a plant mystery. Plus, Amanda talks about turning your leftover lasagna into a power source, and Rachel discusses Letterkenny and "hockey English."
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our Facebook group or tweet at us!