June 23, 2025 • 20 mins
Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: creator of PhD comics and host of "ScienceStuff", Jorge Cham!
Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask AI” and audio rebuses.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello puzzlers. Let's start with a quick puzzle. What word
comes after rocket, data, weird and pseudo. I'm looking for
a word, the same word that can follow rocket or
data or weird or pseudo. The answer and more puzzling
goodness after the break, Hello puzzlers, Welcome back to the
(00:35):
Puzzler Podcast. The French cuffs on your herringbone blue puzzle shirt.
I'm your host, Ada Jacobs, and I am here with
senior puzzler Andrea Schomberg Andreya. Before the break, we asked
what word might follow rocket, data, weird and pseudo. Did
you have any thoughts that came to mind?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I did have some thoughts. I was not expecting to
get the promotion. Here are my new title. There you go.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
I thought it was important to do it in a
public way.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
It's kind of thrown me. I was already with the
answer in my head.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Well, now you're a senior puzzler, you should be smarter.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
So can you repeat the words rocket.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Data, weird and pseudo?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Right, that's right, that's right. I believe science follows all.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
You believe correctly. That is rocket science, data science, weird science.
The nineteen eighty five classic film with young Robert Downey
Junior and pseudo science, which unfortunately is having quite a
moment here in the world. But anyway, I bring that
up because our guest today is deeply involved in science,
(01:45):
real science, not pseudo science. He draws a syndicated comic
strip very funny called Piled Higher and Deeper abbreviated PhD
and it's sort of like the Dilbird of graduate student life.
And he is also the host of the Science Stuff
podcast produced by our own friendly overlords. iHeart welcome, Orgey.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Cham Hello, nice to be here.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
We are delighted to have you. And by the way,
where you inspired to be a scientist because of Weird Science?
The movie.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
I was a big fan of that movie. I've seen
it maybe more times than a young man should, because
now that you look back, there are some a few
inappropriate things about it. Yeah, I love that movie well
and definitely got me. You know, generally incident in science
and engineering.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Well, there you go. You can thank Robert Downey j Yeah. No,
like most eighties movies, it's completely inappropriate and offensive. But
your podcast Science Stuff not inappropriate. It's wonderful. It explores
scientific stuff like should you get cryogenically frozen. What is
(02:57):
it like to live and poop in space? By the way,
should I get cryogenically frozen? Do you recommend it?
Speaker 3 (03:05):
It's fine to freeze yourself. It's the defrosting that's going
to be a problem.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
I say, all right, so step one they've worked out.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
It's the back end they haven't quite figured out yet.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Okay, yeah, so no yet. Well yeah, it's kind of
a gamble. You're like, Okay, they're going to figure it out.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Now.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
You are also a scientist yourself. You got your PhD
in robotics. Was it at Stanford?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Yep, at Stanford University?
Speaker 1 (03:31):
And what were the robots you worked on?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Oh? Great question. So we wanted to make robots that
maybe could go to other planets or maybe go into
like a disaster area, like an earthquake site, and you know,
be able to walk around and step over all those
rocks that you find on Mars or through rubble. And
so we looked to nature to try to get inspiration
from some animal nature to designer robots. And so we
(03:56):
looked at every animal nature, which is the best runner
out there? And most people think it's the cheetah, right
is running animals? Yeah, but it turns out the best
running animal on earth is the lowly cockroach. Oh interesting, right,
anyone who's tried to kill a cockroach, you know, they're
really hard to catch. Even if you hit him, they'll
(04:17):
keep going. So it turns out if you take a
cockroach and scale it up to about the size of
a car, which is a frightening thought. I know. If
you do that, you would get an animal that can
run about two hundred miles per hour and it can
go very easily over like huge boulders and rocks. So
we try to build robots that kind of had the
same dynamics and physics in them.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So you built cockroaches the size of toyotas.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Online, No, not quite. We built them about the size
of a shoe box or smaller, okay, yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
And then they would cruise around helping what like with resk,
finding people in avalanches, things like that.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yeah, you're asking me if my research had practical applications.
That hurts me deeply. Well, it was a research project
that we built prototypes and then we tested them and
analyzed their their you know, the dynamics and the physics
of them, and so we build several generations of it.
Me and others in my lap. God.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Yes, well, you're right. I am a big fan of
pure science, but I'm also a fan of applied science.
And actually today's puzzle is about scientific inventions, and it
is called name that patent. So I am going to
read you some language from actual US patent applications, and
(05:39):
I'm going to ask if you can figure out what
is the invention being referred to in the patent? Oh boy, no,
you're gonna do fine, No, no need for.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Oh boy, lost siene is not my expertise.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Well, here's an example to put your mind at ease.
If I said that this patent application was for quote
and apparatus and method for replicating sounds associated with the
release of gas from the human body unquote, what might
that be a pen?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Quote? Oh boy, I might be tapping into my eleven
year old brain here, but I'm gonna say, like a
like a fort like a something that makes fart sounds.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Yeah, exactly, a whoop, big cushion nineteen seventy two. Who
big cushion. Oh I was saying higher tech, but oh yeah, no,
these go back, some of them go back, so even
before weird science. So all right, well that's the idea.
That was an example, so it didn't even matter if
you got it. And these patents could be toys, they
(06:43):
could be closed household items, just everyday stuff. It's not
the large Hadron collider.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Type pat Oh boy, I won how long? The title
for that one is.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Exactly Are you ready?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Okay, here's invention number one and it's from nineteen sixty five.
In case that helps a smooth and velvety composition of
matter which is soft, pliable, non sticky, non toxic, substantially
lump free, reworkable and remoldable. Do you know what that is?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Oh? Boy? First I thought it was maybe like a food.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
You can't eat it, it says in the patent it's
not recommended, but but you can't. Children can't eat it,
and they will. It consists by the way of grain,
flower water, kerosene, and non toxic inorganic chlorine salt. And
it is reworkable and remoldable and that and it is
(07:46):
found in many classrooms.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Okay, and it can be I think the reworkable makes
me think maybe it's play doo.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
You think correctly now, if you got it playto exactly,
that's it. That was the nineteen sixty five, the birth
of Plato. So thank you.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
I didn't just from like food stuff like storch.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Yeah, that's what I said. Well, kerosene, I don't know
how to let your status.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I thought you said carotine. I'm like, oh, that that's
a healthy.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Yeah, you get all of your daily kerosene needs.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Yeah, perfect to gift the children exactly.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
But they did say it is non toxic, and who knows,
it might have changed by now. I don't know if
they still have kerosene. All right, I got another one.
This is from nineteen sixty eight, so still in the sixties.
We've got the heated silicone fluid rises in the center
of the lower portion, lifting gem granules where they gently
(08:46):
fall again due to the cooling of the silicone oil
in contact with the enclosure. This creates a dynamic light show.
And he thought you maybe you're too young for this,
although my kids have it. My kids have it in
their room, so well.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
First I thought it was one of those little toys
where you press it and it like shoots the bubbles.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Oh, I love those.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
And then you mentioned the lighting and the heating. I
want to guess since it's the sixties, a lava lamp.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
You gass correctly, that's it exactly. The lava lamp is
just gem granules and heated silicone.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Oh, I didn't know it was a silicon.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yeah, or at least the original. All right, I got
another couple. This is a saucer shaped implement which has
a series of concentric disconuity I can't even say it,
concentric discontinuities on the convex side. And these help create
a turbulent layer of air to reduce aerodynamic drag. What
(09:50):
might be this saucer shaped implement from nineteen sixty seven?
Another sixty seven, another sixty one.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Things are happening in the sixties.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I know they were very creative.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
I'm gonna guess this isn't it a toy? Yeah? Yeah,
it's this continuity are throwing me off? And I'm gonna
guess maybe frisbee, Yes.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
A frisbee, And I guess it's those little ridges on
the top. I had no idea that they were so
important to the invention, but apparently they are. All Right,
you're doing great. A couple more. We've got two. When
two layers of this type are pressed face to face,
a substantial percentage of the hooks engage with one another,
(10:37):
and the two layers are thus hooked to each other.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Oh, this one is very abstract, right. However, it is
the subject of our very first episode of the TV
show Eleanor Wonders Why Really, which I produce with a
partner for PBS Kids. If I'm correc we will say,
(11:02):
we will say I think it's talking about velcrow.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
You are correct. Well, that is awesome. I actually didn't
even see that. So what what did you learn about
velcrow while researching the episode?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Oh? Lots of interesting things. So the TV show is
kind of about how there are connections between nature and kids'
everyday lives. So velker is a great example because the
inventor of velcro was the Swiss man who was walking
his dog in the countryside and then he noticed all
these like seed birds from plants kind of sticking to
(11:35):
his dog's fur. And then when he looked closer, he
saw that it was basically like just had little tiny hooks,
and so he invented velcro.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Yeah, So taking something that's totally annoying and turning it
into a multi billion dollar company, yeah yeah, good for
good for our hiking inventor that that's great. You also
give talks at colleges about all sorts of things, and
(12:06):
one of you touch on sort of creativity and looking
to nature. That is a great one. Are there any
other things you did to boost your creativity when you
were designing robots?
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Yeah, for sure. I am a big proponent of procrastination.
Oh I I don't know if I'm just trying to
find an excuse for it or if there's really something here,
but I do a lot, a lot, and I find
that it helps with my creativity. You know, they've done
research as scientists on you know, scientists have done research
(12:37):
is kind of on creativity and help people come up
with insightful ideas. And they found that if you sometimes
if you focus on what you're trying to solve too hard,
you know, like if you think about it too much,
you can actually kind of prevent the kind of long
distance brain connections that need to happen for you to
really come up with original ideas.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Oh yeah, that is so true. Even in solving puzzles,
like if you are still, one of the best things
to do is walk away and it's so weird. You
come back and it's like magic. That something has been
seeping in the back of your mind and it suddenly
makes sense. And when I was researching my book on puzzles,
this is not a new idea. Leonardo da Vinci wrote
(13:17):
about So I guess he was a procrastinator.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
In a way.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
There you go, yeah, because he said when he was painting,
he'd get to a hard part and he would be like,
I'm walking away, and then he'd come back and it
would all make sense, and walking through and hiking, so
it all works, all works together, all right. I got
one or two more, how about nineteen fourteen, So this
is going back. This is an invention that relates to
(13:45):
the methods or systems for humidifying and regulating the humidity
and temperature of air in textile mills. That's what the
patent is requesting, relating the humidity and temperature of air
and textile mills.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
It's not something simple like a boiling pod I imagined.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
No, it's a little more complicated.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Now.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
It turned out it had applications beyond textile mills. So
I think one of the big boons was movie theaters.
Movie theaters started getting this, and then movies is like
a love affair between this and movie theaters, and that
is one of the reasons why Hollywood succeeded. Any thoughts on.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
That, Oh boy, now you really stumpy. I was going
to go with like an iron maybe because you may
be thinking of textiles and ironing and humidity and steam.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Well, the textile mills is pretty much a like a
red herring.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
It's red herring.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, it has. I mean it was originally proposed for
textile mills because they needed to keep the fabric dry
and cool. But now this invention is everywhere and it
has changed the world, and it is especially useful in
the summer and probably in Panama. I would think they
(15:09):
would have this and in movie theaters.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Okay, okay, it wouldn't be just like a humidifier with
it that seems to close.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
It's in the in the area. It's for humidifying and
regulating the temperature of air. That's the key. I think,
the temperature of air.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
I see an air conditioner.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
That's it. It conditions the air.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
That's well.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
You know that science is all about experimenting and uh
and failing and experimenting again. So I'm a big fan
of that. Well you did great. We didn't even get
to Jamie Lee Curtis's invention. The actress Jamie Lee Curtis,
Do you want to take us? I did not know
about this until I started researching patents, but in nineteen
(16:01):
eighty eight she has a patent for any guesses, there's
no way you would guess.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
It's Oh my goodness, she's so accomplished. She's an author,
an actress.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
That's true, she is an author. I'll just tell you
since it's absolutely is a a new kind of diaper
with a pocket diaper with a pocket, and in the
pocket you would get a free wipe, so the wives
would always be which I thought.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
I was like, that's good, that is good.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, why didn't that Why didn't it take off?
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Now?
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Are these diapers for adults or for babies?
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Great question? It seems in the patent application mostly for babies,
but listen, like with air conditioning, it could go anywhere.
So I like the way your mind thinks. Well, I
love I love doing that with you, and I love
your podcast, which which I think is kind of a
love letter to science and curiosity, which we need more
(17:01):
than ever.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Absolutely. Yeah, if you're a curious person, or if you've
ever wanted to know more about science but felt a
little intimidated by it. Please come listen to the podcast
Science Stuff. You know, we take a very approachiable approach
approach l Yeah. We try to make it very relatable
and easy to understand, and we bring on experts and
(17:22):
you sort of get your mind blown each episode.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Oh yeah, it's super fun and super interesting because you
answer questions that I hadn't even thought of, like are
animals aware of death? And so that was a fascinating one.
And I also just think we need all the science
what we can get because this is not a great
era for science. I think people are skeptical and scared
(17:48):
of science, and there's the defunding of science. Any thoughts
on how we can battle this anti science by us
going on?
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Oh my goodness, is it is a tragedy. Yeah, the
way that scientists are feeling a little bit embattled and
getting their funding cut off, and there's so much disinformation
out there also that it's hard to tell what's right
or not. I think the biggest advice is just try
to support science in any way that you can. You know, yeah,
(18:22):
love that, Contact your local congress person, let them know
you're not happy with the way things are going in
this country with regards to science. You know, we might
lose our science, the science lead that we have. A
lot of great things come from science, you know, everyday
inventions that you use every day, like your phone, GPS,
the Dazzlers, but death clone women from the eighties. Oh yeah,
(18:49):
a lot of good things happen to Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Please support science absolutely. I mean it is we would
not be doing this podcast without science. That we would
not be doing anything without science. So thank you, thank
you for being a science cheerleader and everyone. If you
want to have a great time well learning science, check
out the Science Stuff podcast. And I have an extra
credit for the folks at home. This is a patent
(19:16):
from twenty ten and this invention comprises quote a rectangular
blanket wherein a neck hole allows the penetration of the
head at a position slightly higher than the midpoint between
the two sleeveholes. So there you go. That is an
(19:38):
incredibly important scientific invention that revolutionized Western civilization. Maybe you
know what it is. Come back tomorrow and find out
and thank you Jorgey. We're excited to have you back
to talk more science tomorrow, and folks, in the meantime,
if you want more puzzles, check out our Instagram feed
(19:58):
at Hello Puzzlers, where we post original fuzz puzzles and
other fun stuff. And we'll meet here tomorrow for more
puzzling puzzles that will puzzle you puzzlingly
Hello puzzlers. Let's start with a quick puzzle. What word
comes after rocket, data, weird and pseudo. I'm looking for
a word, the same word that can follow rocket or
data or weird or pseudo. The answer and more puzzling
goodness after the break, Hello puzzlers, Welcome back to the
(00:35):
Puzzler Podcast. The French cuffs on your herringbone blue puzzle shirt.
I'm your host, Ada Jacobs, and I am here with
senior puzzler Andrea Schomberg Andreya. Before the break, we asked
what word might follow rocket, data, weird and pseudo. Did
you have any thoughts that came to mind?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I did have some thoughts. I was not expecting to
get the promotion. Here are my new title. There you go.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
I thought it was important to do it in a
public way.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
It's kind of thrown me. I was already with the
answer in my head.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Well, now you're a senior puzzler, you should be smarter.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
So can you repeat the words rocket.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Data, weird and pseudo?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Right, that's right, that's right. I believe science follows all.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
You believe correctly. That is rocket science, data science, weird science.
The nineteen eighty five classic film with young Robert Downey
Junior and pseudo science, which unfortunately is having quite a
moment here in the world. But anyway, I bring that
up because our guest today is deeply involved in science,
(01:45):
real science, not pseudo science. He draws a syndicated comic
strip very funny called Piled Higher and Deeper abbreviated PhD
and it's sort of like the Dilbird of graduate student life.
And he is also the host of the Science Stuff
podcast produced by our own friendly overlords. iHeart welcome, Orgey.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Cham Hello, nice to be here.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
We are delighted to have you. And by the way,
where you inspired to be a scientist because of Weird Science?
The movie.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
I was a big fan of that movie. I've seen
it maybe more times than a young man should, because
now that you look back, there are some a few
inappropriate things about it. Yeah, I love that movie well
and definitely got me. You know, generally incident in science
and engineering.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Well, there you go. You can thank Robert Downey j Yeah. No,
like most eighties movies, it's completely inappropriate and offensive. But
your podcast Science Stuff not inappropriate. It's wonderful. It explores
scientific stuff like should you get cryogenically frozen. What is
(02:57):
it like to live and poop in space? By the way,
should I get cryogenically frozen? Do you recommend it?
Speaker 3 (03:05):
It's fine to freeze yourself. It's the defrosting that's going
to be a problem.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
I say, all right, so step one they've worked out.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
It's the back end they haven't quite figured out yet.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Okay, yeah, so no yet. Well yeah, it's kind of
a gamble. You're like, Okay, they're going to figure it out.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Now.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
You are also a scientist yourself. You got your PhD
in robotics. Was it at Stanford?
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Yep, at Stanford University?
Speaker 1 (03:31):
And what were the robots you worked on?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Oh? Great question. So we wanted to make robots that
maybe could go to other planets or maybe go into
like a disaster area, like an earthquake site, and you know,
be able to walk around and step over all those
rocks that you find on Mars or through rubble. And
so we looked to nature to try to get inspiration
from some animal nature to designer robots. And so we
(03:56):
looked at every animal nature, which is the best runner
out there? And most people think it's the cheetah, right
is running animals? Yeah, but it turns out the best
running animal on earth is the lowly cockroach. Oh interesting, right,
anyone who's tried to kill a cockroach, you know, they're
really hard to catch. Even if you hit him, they'll
(04:17):
keep going. So it turns out if you take a
cockroach and scale it up to about the size of
a car, which is a frightening thought. I know. If
you do that, you would get an animal that can
run about two hundred miles per hour and it can
go very easily over like huge boulders and rocks. So
we try to build robots that kind of had the
same dynamics and physics in them.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
So you built cockroaches the size of toyotas.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Online, No, not quite. We built them about the size
of a shoe box or smaller, okay, yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
And then they would cruise around helping what like with resk,
finding people in avalanches, things like that.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yeah, you're asking me if my research had practical applications.
That hurts me deeply. Well, it was a research project
that we built prototypes and then we tested them and
analyzed their their you know, the dynamics and the physics
of them, and so we build several generations of it.
Me and others in my lap. God.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Yes, well, you're right. I am a big fan of
pure science, but I'm also a fan of applied science.
And actually today's puzzle is about scientific inventions, and it
is called name that patent. So I am going to
read you some language from actual US patent applications, and
(05:39):
I'm going to ask if you can figure out what
is the invention being referred to in the patent? Oh boy, no,
you're gonna do fine, No, no need for.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Oh boy, lost siene is not my expertise.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Well, here's an example to put your mind at ease.
If I said that this patent application was for quote
and apparatus and method for replicating sounds associated with the
release of gas from the human body unquote, what might
that be a pen?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Quote? Oh boy, I might be tapping into my eleven
year old brain here, but I'm gonna say, like a
like a fort like a something that makes fart sounds.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Yeah, exactly, a whoop, big cushion nineteen seventy two. Who
big cushion. Oh I was saying higher tech, but oh yeah, no,
these go back, some of them go back, so even
before weird science. So all right, well that's the idea.
That was an example, so it didn't even matter if
you got it. And these patents could be toys, they
(06:43):
could be closed household items, just everyday stuff. It's not
the large Hadron collider.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Type pat Oh boy, I won how long? The title
for that one is.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Exactly Are you ready?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Okay, here's invention number one and it's from nineteen sixty five.
In case that helps a smooth and velvety composition of
matter which is soft, pliable, non sticky, non toxic, substantially
lump free, reworkable and remoldable. Do you know what that is?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Oh? Boy? First I thought it was maybe like a food.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
You can't eat it, it says in the patent it's
not recommended, but but you can't. Children can't eat it,
and they will. It consists by the way of grain,
flower water, kerosene, and non toxic inorganic chlorine salt. And
it is reworkable and remoldable and that and it is
(07:46):
found in many classrooms.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Okay, and it can be I think the reworkable makes
me think maybe it's play doo.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
You think correctly now, if you got it playto exactly,
that's it. That was the nineteen sixty five, the birth
of Plato. So thank you.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
I didn't just from like food stuff like storch.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Yeah, that's what I said. Well, kerosene, I don't know
how to let your status.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I thought you said carotine. I'm like, oh, that that's
a healthy.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Yeah, you get all of your daily kerosene needs.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Yeah, perfect to gift the children exactly.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
But they did say it is non toxic, and who knows,
it might have changed by now. I don't know if
they still have kerosene. All right, I got another one.
This is from nineteen sixty eight, so still in the sixties.
We've got the heated silicone fluid rises in the center
of the lower portion, lifting gem granules where they gently
(08:46):
fall again due to the cooling of the silicone oil
in contact with the enclosure. This creates a dynamic light show.
And he thought you maybe you're too young for this,
although my kids have it. My kids have it in
their room, so well.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
First I thought it was one of those little toys
where you press it and it like shoots the bubbles.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Oh, I love those.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
And then you mentioned the lighting and the heating. I
want to guess since it's the sixties, a lava lamp.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
You gass correctly, that's it exactly. The lava lamp is
just gem granules and heated silicone.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Oh, I didn't know it was a silicon.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yeah, or at least the original. All right, I got
another couple. This is a saucer shaped implement which has
a series of concentric disconuity I can't even say it,
concentric discontinuities on the convex side. And these help create
a turbulent layer of air to reduce aerodynamic drag. What
(09:50):
might be this saucer shaped implement from nineteen sixty seven?
Another sixty seven, another sixty one.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Things are happening in the sixties.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I know they were very creative.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
I'm gonna guess this isn't it a toy? Yeah? Yeah,
it's this continuity are throwing me off? And I'm gonna
guess maybe frisbee, Yes.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
A frisbee, And I guess it's those little ridges on
the top. I had no idea that they were so
important to the invention, but apparently they are. All Right,
you're doing great. A couple more. We've got two. When
two layers of this type are pressed face to face,
a substantial percentage of the hooks engage with one another,
(10:37):
and the two layers are thus hooked to each other.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Oh, this one is very abstract, right. However, it is
the subject of our very first episode of the TV
show Eleanor Wonders Why Really, which I produce with a
partner for PBS Kids. If I'm correc we will say,
(11:02):
we will say I think it's talking about velcrow.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
You are correct. Well, that is awesome. I actually didn't
even see that. So what what did you learn about
velcrow while researching the episode?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Oh? Lots of interesting things. So the TV show is
kind of about how there are connections between nature and kids'
everyday lives. So velker is a great example because the
inventor of velcro was the Swiss man who was walking
his dog in the countryside and then he noticed all
these like seed birds from plants kind of sticking to
(11:35):
his dog's fur. And then when he looked closer, he
saw that it was basically like just had little tiny hooks,
and so he invented velcro.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Yeah, So taking something that's totally annoying and turning it
into a multi billion dollar company, yeah yeah, good for
good for our hiking inventor that that's great. You also
give talks at colleges about all sorts of things, and
(12:06):
one of you touch on sort of creativity and looking
to nature. That is a great one. Are there any
other things you did to boost your creativity when you
were designing robots?
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Yeah, for sure. I am a big proponent of procrastination.
Oh I I don't know if I'm just trying to
find an excuse for it or if there's really something here,
but I do a lot, a lot, and I find
that it helps with my creativity. You know, they've done
research as scientists on you know, scientists have done research
(12:37):
is kind of on creativity and help people come up
with insightful ideas. And they found that if you sometimes
if you focus on what you're trying to solve too hard,
you know, like if you think about it too much,
you can actually kind of prevent the kind of long
distance brain connections that need to happen for you to
really come up with original ideas.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Oh yeah, that is so true. Even in solving puzzles,
like if you are still, one of the best things
to do is walk away and it's so weird. You
come back and it's like magic. That something has been
seeping in the back of your mind and it suddenly
makes sense. And when I was researching my book on puzzles,
this is not a new idea. Leonardo da Vinci wrote
(13:17):
about So I guess he was a procrastinator.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
In a way.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
There you go, yeah, because he said when he was painting,
he'd get to a hard part and he would be like,
I'm walking away, and then he'd come back and it
would all make sense, and walking through and hiking, so
it all works, all works together, all right. I got
one or two more, how about nineteen fourteen, So this
is going back. This is an invention that relates to
(13:45):
the methods or systems for humidifying and regulating the humidity
and temperature of air in textile mills. That's what the
patent is requesting, relating the humidity and temperature of air
and textile mills.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
It's not something simple like a boiling pod I imagined.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
No, it's a little more complicated.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Now.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
It turned out it had applications beyond textile mills. So
I think one of the big boons was movie theaters.
Movie theaters started getting this, and then movies is like
a love affair between this and movie theaters, and that
is one of the reasons why Hollywood succeeded. Any thoughts on.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
That, Oh boy, now you really stumpy. I was going
to go with like an iron maybe because you may
be thinking of textiles and ironing and humidity and steam.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Well, the textile mills is pretty much a like a
red herring.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
It's red herring.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, it has. I mean it was originally proposed for
textile mills because they needed to keep the fabric dry
and cool. But now this invention is everywhere and it
has changed the world, and it is especially useful in
the summer and probably in Panama. I would think they
(15:09):
would have this and in movie theaters.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Okay, okay, it wouldn't be just like a humidifier with
it that seems to close.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
It's in the in the area. It's for humidifying and
regulating the temperature of air. That's the key. I think,
the temperature of air.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
I see an air conditioner.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
That's it. It conditions the air.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
That's well.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
You know that science is all about experimenting and uh
and failing and experimenting again. So I'm a big fan
of that. Well you did great. We didn't even get
to Jamie Lee Curtis's invention. The actress Jamie Lee Curtis,
Do you want to take us? I did not know
about this until I started researching patents, but in nineteen
(16:01):
eighty eight she has a patent for any guesses, there's
no way you would guess.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
It's Oh my goodness, she's so accomplished. She's an author,
an actress.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
That's true, she is an author. I'll just tell you
since it's absolutely is a a new kind of diaper
with a pocket diaper with a pocket, and in the
pocket you would get a free wipe, so the wives
would always be which I thought.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
I was like, that's good, that is good.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, why didn't that Why didn't it take off?
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Now?
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Are these diapers for adults or for babies?
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Great question? It seems in the patent application mostly for babies,
but listen, like with air conditioning, it could go anywhere.
So I like the way your mind thinks. Well, I
love I love doing that with you, and I love
your podcast, which which I think is kind of a
love letter to science and curiosity, which we need more
(17:01):
than ever.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Absolutely. Yeah, if you're a curious person, or if you've
ever wanted to know more about science but felt a
little intimidated by it. Please come listen to the podcast
Science Stuff. You know, we take a very approachiable approach
approach l Yeah. We try to make it very relatable
and easy to understand, and we bring on experts and
(17:22):
you sort of get your mind blown each episode.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Oh yeah, it's super fun and super interesting because you
answer questions that I hadn't even thought of, like are
animals aware of death? And so that was a fascinating one.
And I also just think we need all the science
what we can get because this is not a great
era for science. I think people are skeptical and scared
(17:48):
of science, and there's the defunding of science. Any thoughts
on how we can battle this anti science by us
going on?
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Oh my goodness, is it is a tragedy. Yeah, the
way that scientists are feeling a little bit embattled and
getting their funding cut off, and there's so much disinformation
out there also that it's hard to tell what's right
or not. I think the biggest advice is just try
to support science in any way that you can. You know, yeah,
(18:22):
love that, Contact your local congress person, let them know
you're not happy with the way things are going in
this country with regards to science. You know, we might
lose our science, the science lead that we have. A
lot of great things come from science, you know, everyday
inventions that you use every day, like your phone, GPS,
the Dazzlers, but death clone women from the eighties. Oh yeah,
(18:49):
a lot of good things happen to Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Please support science absolutely. I mean it is we would
not be doing this podcast without science. That we would
not be doing anything without science. So thank you, thank
you for being a science cheerleader and everyone. If you
want to have a great time well learning science, check
out the Science Stuff podcast. And I have an extra
credit for the folks at home. This is a patent
(19:16):
from twenty ten and this invention comprises quote a rectangular
blanket wherein a neck hole allows the penetration of the
head at a position slightly higher than the midpoint between
the two sleeveholes. So there you go. That is an
(19:38):
incredibly important scientific invention that revolutionized Western civilization. Maybe you
know what it is. Come back tomorrow and find out
and thank you Jorgey. We're excited to have you back
to talk more science tomorrow, and folks, in the meantime,
if you want more puzzles, check out our Instagram feed
(19:58):
at Hello Puzzlers, where we post original fuzz puzzles and
other fun stuff. And we'll meet here tomorrow for more
puzzling puzzles that will puzzle you puzzlingly
Hosts And Creators
Greg Pliska
A.J. Jacobs
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