Paranormal researcher Fiona Broome discusses false memories, Mandela Effect origins, and the complexity of memory. They explore false memories in bees and how they enhance complexity. The episode also touches on flashbulb memories, memory accuracy, and the art of putting a plant.
False memories can lead to belief in conspiracy theories like the Mandela Effect, highlighting the complexity of memory recall.
Indoor gardening has a rich history dating back to ancient civilizations, symbolizing wealth and evolving into modern-day houseplant trends.
Houseplants offer psychological benefits like mood enhancement and stress reduction, but environmental concerns arise from unsustainable practices.
The podcast explores the dual themes of false memories and indoor plants, shedding light on memory reliability and the evolution of indoor gardening.
Deep dives
Evolution of Indoor Gardening
Indoor gardening traces back to ancient Egypt, India, and parts of China where plants were grown in pots for both food and various other purposes like ornaments, raw materials, and even household objects. The concept evolved into decorative indoor plants with Greeks and Romans using plants exclusively for decoration, and later practices like Hon Lon Bo, Pen Jin, Banzai introduced in China, Vietnam, and Japan.
Symbol of Wealth and Status
Plants in pots symbolized wealth and status, with the rich being the primary users. Tools like terrariums and miniature scenescapes were loved for creating miniature worlds indoors. The practice of indoor gardening faded across Europe after the Victorian era, with limited instances of indoor plant culture until after 1000 AD.
Functional Usage of Indoor Plants
Some medieval homes kept gilly flowers for cooking, breath freshening, and as a form of payment, showcasing a practical and functional use of indoor plants. In later periods, indoor plants were even used to mask unpleasant odors, offering a glimpse into the varied roles these plants played throughout history.
Resurgence of Indoor Gardening
Indoor gardening saw a resurgence by the 17th century, evident in Sir Hugh Platt's book 'The Garden of Eden,' which explored the idea of growing plants indoors. This marked a shift towards considering indoor plant cultivation, laying the groundwork for the modern-day fascination with indoor gardening.
Evolution of Houseplants from Rediscovery to Modern Popularity
Houseplants have evolved from being rediscovered in Europe to becoming symbolic of wealth during the Victorian era. The Victorians popularized houseplants due to advances like heating homes, building greenhouses, and having large windows for sunlight. The era saw an increase in trade and theft of plants from other countries, with terrariums, citrus fruits, and orchids becoming trendy. Victorians even rented plants or sent them to 'winter hotels' when not at home.
Impact of Houseplants on Well-being and Environmental Considerations
Houseplants can enhance mood, reduce stress levels, improve air quality perception while actual air quality benefit remains debated. Additionally, caring for plants may increase focus, job satisfaction, and reduce health complaints in office environments. However, environmental concerns arise from historical illegal plant trading, excessive importation, and plastic pots. Buying from local nurseries and focusing on long-term plant care is highlighted.
The Mandela Effect and Memory Studies
The podcast delves into the Mandela Effect, discussing false memories, the unreliability of flashbulb memories, and the impact of conspiracy theories on memory retention. It explores the changing trends of indoor plants, from ancient Egyptian uses to the Victorian era's plant popularity. The discussion also addresses the psychological benefits of houseplants on mental health and well-being, contrasting perceptions with scientific findings and emphasizing care for both plants and the environment.
How much real science is there to the Mandela Effect, and how much should we be worried about our faulty memories? And what's the science and history behind our long love for house plants?
Timestamps: (00:00:00) Intro (00:03:31) False Memories (00:57:30) House Plants (01:37:47) Outro
Yes Ella my favorite host of Let’s Learn Everything, Fiona Broome - Paranormal Researcher, Ella is shocked to learn the Mandela Effect was a conspiracy first, repressed memories, the McMcartin Preschool Trial again, the concept of memories at all is bonkers, we shoudl do more experiments, flashbulb memories aren’t as “unchanging as the slumbering rhinegold”, the original study didn’t even check if the memories were accurate they just assumed, flash bulb memories only Feel more accurate, the concept of false memories can make people believe in the mandela effect MORE, don’t have an existential crisis, rebunking your memories, most memory recalls aren’t adversarial like mandeal effect questions, Metamemory effects, just like memory isn’t so simple false memories aren’t so simple either, “I wish I hadn’t said yay when you said racism”, does anyone remember the 2 president Obamas? we gave false memories to bees, having false memories makes bees MORE complex not less, false memories aren’t flaws they’re just part of memory, classic meatbrain, “my brain is a beautiful and complex thing”, movies can exist, The Four Legged Chairs, the art of putting a plant into a pot, egyptians used plants for a ton of stuff, portable plants, gillyflowers for bad breath and paying rent, peppercorn payment, (ayyy), Wes Anderson’s The Winter Hotel for Plants, renting plants for a party, the illegal orchid trade, plant hunters, pteridomania, the World War 2 potted plant boom, the millenial urge to care for plants is more of a historic urge, guilting your cohosts into talking about your plants, you’d need 10 potted plant per square foot in the home to clean the air, just imagine yourself as a Sim you need art and plants, hot or not for plants, there aren’t really huge health benefits from plants, it feels like studies are asking “why do we like plants so much??”, just enjoy plants for the sake of enjoying them, office plants are nice but I feel like work life balance will do better for my health, I just think they’re neat!
