Having to pee makes you scientifically better at video games
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FACTS: The Atomic Priesthood, Space Smells of Beef, Power of Pee Fuel
By: Jess Boddy
I’m back with another solo hosted episode! This week I’m inviting two of my closest friends who love diving deep into science. Lindsey, known online as ohlindsey, had the idea to discover the smell of space.
Many people cite the oft-repeated “raspberry” flavor, but as Lindsey points out, that’s a misconception. She set out to uncover the truth after seeing a TikTok where someone smelled NASA Space Water, a fragrance formulated by the space agency to mimic the molecular compounds found up there. Spoiler alert: it smells mistake. A bit like rotting flesh, a touch of ozone, and maybe like opening a package of beef stew in your kitchen. Watch the full episode to find out what else Lindsey discovered, including the scent of Jupiter’s moons and Cleopatra’s hair.
Meanwhile, Misti explained how a live, laughing, loving piece of stick-on wall art inspired her favorite thing to talk about when cornering someone new at a party: nuclear semiotics. This interdisciplinary field of science and research attempts to determine how to warn humans in the very distant future about nuclear waste sites. How do you signal danger to humans who have radically changed, language and all, thousands of years in the future?
It’s more complicated than you think, because most symbolic warnings invite exploration (think reverse psychology). Listen to the full episode to hear Misti talk about the real solutions currently being sought, including ritual atomic priesthood, songs and stories.
Finally, I discuss a phenomenon that I experienced anecdotally, but for which I now have scientific proof: having to go to the bathroom makes you better at playing video games. Research from the University of Twente in the Netherlands found that peeing helps you make less impulsive decisions. Anyone who has played a touch of Ancient Ring knows that patience and resisting impulses are essential in these difficult boss fights. Listen to the full episode to find out how the power of piss can make you a better player.
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