Explain This: Recent Episodes
Jin Kim
The world is getting increasingly complex, yet our attention spans are getting shorter. Do you wish someone could just explain everything to you as if you were a five-year-old kid? Are you curious about science, philosophy, history, life and the world in general, but don't know where to start learning everything from scratch? Welcome to Explain This, where we'll untangle the complexities of life and the universe, one bite-sized, child-friendly explanation at a time!
How come salamanders can regenerate limbs while we can't? Can we use stem cells to regrow organs for transplanting? What is an iPSC and why is it a total gamechanger? When is a human being considered first "alive"?
All of this and more in this hot, fresh episode exploring the fascinating world of stem cells and their potential applications! Listen to the end of the episode for a special announcement.
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How does a computer use a bunch of 0s and 1s to show you cat memes? What do 19th-century weaving looms have to do with the "bugs" in modern software? And how do I know what specs to look for if I want a smooth-running computer or phone?
This week, we're opening up the magic box on your desk to explain how computers actually work.
Transistor diagram (source: ExplainThatStuff)
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Why shouldn't you eat brains? How are cannibalism and mad cow disease linked? Can Jin say "transmissible spongiform encephalopathy" three times as fast?
Let's learn about one of the most terrifying, unstoppable infectious diseases we know about: prions.
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Do you really know all of your Facebook friends? How many people can you know personally? Why does city life feel so isolating?
Join Jin as he unpicks Dunbar's Number, the "Monkeysphere," and its fascinating implications for our social lives!
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Why are some babies born through surgery instead of by natural delivery? Is a Caesarean section better for the mum and baby? What is the dark history behind the C-section?
Let's explore the miraculous and icky world of how we come into the world!
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How does our economy work? What does it mean to seize the means of production? How is late stage capitalism ruining my life? And why did so many people lose their jobs in 2008?
Jin takes you down the windy rabbit hole of the most prevalent economic system in the world, the history behind how it came about, and whether it's good or evil (or both).
CAPITALISM · Céline Tshika
Ken Liu - The Perfect Match
IMDB - The Big Short
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Did you know.... that many of your fun facts are just plain wrong? Come join us for a spirited session of "well, actually"s and learn about factoids: facts that aren't, in fact, facts!
Thorn
Kurzgesagt - We Fell For The Oldest Lie On The Internet
Jin's blog - Jineral Knowledge
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How do you know which Chinese Zodiac animal's year is when? Why is there no Year of the Cat or Year of the Capybara? What's the sexagenary cycle?
Let's learn about the Asian counterpart to the Western Zodiac, how it's related to the calendar, and the cute origin story of why the zodiac animals are in the order that they are!
Photo of the twelve animals in anthropomorphised statue form at the National Folk Museum in Seoul, Korea
Order of zodiac animals, along with the Twelve Earthly Branches
Chart to correlate your birth year to your zodiac animal
Ten Heavenly Stems
Twelve Earthly Branches
Sexagenary cycle
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Why does cancer happen? How come chemotherapy kills cancer but not us? What does my doctor mean when he says I have a "lesion"?
We learn all about the emperor of maladies in today's episode, what makes it terrifying, and some of the exciting new ways science has figured out how to fight against it.
(Apologies for the shoddy audio quality - I've rearranged my office and my setup is still being optimised! Will try to fix some of the mic booming issues as well...)
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What's the best anti-aging cream available? Which is better - physical or chemical sunscreen? Can you get sunburnt through a glass window? What does SPF even mean?
Get ready for the coming summer by Slip Slop Slapping some knowledge about how sunscreen works and why you should use it!
Electromagnetic radiation spectrum
Diagram of UV absorption in sunscreen molecules
More detailed explanation of how sunscreen works - Lab Muffin
Example of photoaging on a truck driver's face
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What is electricity made up of? How do power plants use magnets to generate electricity? What is the largest machine in the world? How can you make a mountain into a battery?
Join us for our first one-hour-plus episode as we cover a lot of ground in helping you understand the complex and deep world of electrical physics!
Basic circuit
Current, voltage, resistance as garden hose courtesy of Freeing Energy
Voltaic pile - pictures courtesy of Ted-Ed
Electric eel electrocyte anatomy
Veritasium video on electric field lines
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What does it mean to be functionally literate? How does reading help protect you from being manipulated and controlled? Why are books burned and banned in dystopias?
Let's delve deep into understanding the sinister social threat of rising illiteracy rates, and why you should give a hoot about reading and writing!
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What is the REAL story behind penicillin? How do antibiotics treat infections? Should we be worried about superbugs taking over the world?
Jin geeks out on one of his favourite medical topics and teaches you about our table-turning super weapons against humanity's bane - bacteria.
Relevant XKCD comic
Alexander Fleming's original petri dishes showing the effect of penicillin
Anatomy of bacteria
Beta-lactam ring structure
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How do you fly in the sky? What do swoll pecs have to do with flying? Is it true that physics says that bumblebees shouldn't be able to fly?
We're back from our hiatus with an exciting episode on how planes, birds and bees take to the sky and soar freely!
Airfoil, camber, angle of attack and how Newton's Third Law of Motion creates lift
Bernoulli's principle visualised with a wine bottle
Video of how various birds move their wings during flight
Diagram of how leading edge vortices cling to an insect's wings to generate lift
Visualisation of inferior mirage
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How can you use the Sun, the stars, and time to measure your location on Earth? Why were clocks instrumental in conquering the seas? How can you use shadows and wells to prove that the Earth is round?
Today, we learn all about the science of location, location, location! And the fascinating history of how sailors navigated the high seas before satellites and Google Maps.
Latitude and longitude visualised
Using latitude and longitude as coordinates
Eratosthene's method for calculating Earth's circumference
Astrolabe
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How do infections kill us? What happens when my immune system overreacts? Why is horseshoe crab blood important in medicine?
All these questions and more are answered in today's episode, covering the often misunderstoon topic of sepsis. Step inside my world of emergency medicine, and how we fight against infectious diseases!
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How can you split a supposedly indivisible atom to release a lot of energy? Why was this discovery so controversial in the context of history? What does Einstein have to do with nukes? Are nuclear reactors good or evil?
We dive into the nature of the fundamental particles that make up everything in the world, and how we came to harness the awesome yet terrible power that is nuclear energy!
Anatomy of an atom
Nuclear chain reaction visualised
Gun-type vs implosion-type nuclear weapon designs
Half-Arsed History - Episode 197: The History of Nuclear Weapons
Kurzgesagt - Nuclear Energy Explained
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What can star signs tell me about my personality and love life? (spoiler: nothing.) How did the Zodiac come about? Who is the mysterious, hidden thirteenth Zodiac sign?
Let's kick off 2024 not with pseudoscience, but some real astronomical science and fascinating Greek mythololgy stories!
Image of what the Zodiac band looks like, and each constellation
Rod of Asclepius vs Caduceus
Example of The Mentalist cold reading
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Why do smokers live 10-18 years fewer on average than non-smokers? What is in cigarette tar and why is it deadly? How can smoking cause impotence? Should I vape?
In today's episode, we do a deep dive and tackle the world's greatest cause of preventable death in human society: smoking tobacco!
Graph showing relationship between smoking and lung cancer prevalence
Diagram of lung anatomy
Photo comparison of healthy vs smoker's lungs
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How can you squeeze in infinite people into an already full hotel? Are some infinities bigger than others? What's the relationship between infinity and zero?
Come explore the boundless, magical world of infinity with the help of some fantastical thought experiments!
Zig zag method to convert a grid into a line
Cantor's diagonal argument visualised
Möebius Strip II, 1964 - M.C. Escher
Ouroboros
Lemniscate symbol in Roman mosaics
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How do doctors put you to sleep for surgery? How do medicines and poison work on our body? What are the anaesthetic medications doing to your brain to keep your unconscious and paralysed? What do you mean we don't know???
Today we continue on from our special 50th episode by talking about ANOTHER topic that you'd be surprised to know that we don't know fully about - the mechanism of general anaesthesia!
Phospholipid bilayer diagram
Lipid bilayer expansion hypothesis diagram
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Why do we sleep? How do bicycles stay upright? Why does gravity exist? Wait...what do you mean you don't know???
For our 50th episode, we have a special topic - concepts that we don't fully understand yet! And why it's okay to say "I don't know".
Thank you for being a patron of Explain This for so long! We're looking forward to continuing to explain complex concepts in simpler ways for people of all ages. <3
Caster wheels
Hammer and feather drop on the Moon
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Why do people sometimes say things that they don't mean? What is the difference between irony and a coincidence? What is wrong with Alanis Morissette's hit song "Ironic"?
Let's take a deep dive into irony - one of the most misunderstood concepts in English!
Rene Magritte - The Treachery of Images
Alanis Morissette - Ironic
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How does Youflixbook know to recommend the perfect content for me, so I can continue doomscrolling and binging? What makes ChatGPT such a powerful, scary new piece of tech? Will AI kill us all?
We're back with a fresh new topic! Come learn all about algorithms, neural networks and large language models, so you can stay informed in all the interesting party and water cooler discussions!
ChatGPT
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How did Romans use calendars for political purposes? When do we have leap years? Where do the names of the months come from?
Let's learn about the weirdly fascinating history of the Gregorian calendar, and what can go wrong when calendars aren't made accurately!
Knuckle method for figuring out if a month has 30 or 31 days
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How can I use a mirror to make a death ray? What is the colour of a mirror? Why do mirrors flip left and right, but not top and bottom?
Let's step in through the looking-glass to learn about the simple yet amazing invention that is the mirror!
Diagram showing light's angle of incidence and angle of reflection - MinutePhysics
Enantiomers - John Wiley and Sons Inc
Hand with Reflecting Sphere by MC Escher
How a telescope works
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How can I level up my gaming with mental shortcuts? Why do smart people make stupid mistakes and believe outrageous things? What the hell ARE vibes?
Come learn about our amazing yet very imperfect brains, and how to know when to think fast and when to think slow.
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What ARE electrolytes? Why do we need them, and do sports drinks give us enough of it? How do nerve cells conduct electricity? What do plants crave?
Come get roasted as Jin calls you a meatbag full of salty water! And learn about how cells can waterbend.
Sodium/Potassium pump in action - Crash Course
Idiocracy - Electrolytes, it's what plants crave scene
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What does science have to say about the possibility of aliens existing? Why haven't we come across any aliens yet? What if we're truly alone? How significant are we in the grand scheme of things?
All of these existential questions and more in today's episode about the strange paradox of how aliens SHOULD exist!
Yearly Theme (Episode 4 - New Year's Resolution)
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Why is everything getting pricier? Why did German bread cost billions of marks in the 1920's? What do interest rates have to do with inflation? How has COVID-19 affected the economy?
It's time to learn some Economics 101 to understand all of the news posts about inflation and interest rates, and why everything seems to get more expensive each year!
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What are the vital signs? Why is the nurse checking out my pecs, while choking my biceps with a very tight band? What can go wrong when your blood pressure is too low?
All this and more as we learn about how physiological monitoring helps healthcare workers look out for dangerous, life-threatening events while caring for you!
Lynn, L.A., Curry, J.P. Patterns of unexpected in-hospital deaths: a root cause analysis. Patient Saf Surg 5, 3 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1754-9493-5-3
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What is happening in the brain when someone is depressed? How can an electric shock to the brain treat depression? Why is ECT still used in medicine, when movies such as One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest show how horrible it is?
Today we talk about a controversial medical treatment with a rather terrible public image. We'll discuss how it works, how effective and safe it is, and try debunk some widespread myths about ECT!
Watch this video for a visual example of what ECT looks like nowadays!
The ECT Journey - Gold Coast Health
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How do magnets stick to metals? Why isn't the Iron Throne magnetic? How can we use magnets to record and play sound, or levitate a frog?
Let's learn about one of the fundamental physical forces that glues the world together, by learning about how magnets work!
Bar magnet field lines
Iron filing experiment
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What is DNA and how does it work? How can scientists tweak DNA with molecular scissors, and why would they want to? How could genetic engineering create an unfair society?
All this and more on this episode of Explain This, where we learn about how this cool new technology has completely revolutionised the world of genetics!
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Why does steak taste so much better grilled or seared, compared to boiled? What does the colour brown have to do with the taste of food? How can I up my cooking game to impress my date?
Let's learn about the science of what makes cooked food delicious!
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What happens to us after we die? What is the weirdest, sex-related death in history? How is Death personified in different parts of the world?
Explain This is back from Jin's long exam study hiatus and we're coming strong out of the gates with the deep, fascinating topic of how we die! Come learn about all of the fascinating things that happen in your body as death overcomes you, and how death has been envisioned throughout the ages.
Trigger warning: mentions of suicide, violent death, decay of human bodies in this episode. Listen at your own discretion please!
Dumb Ways To Die - original video
Example of Dancing Death (Danse Macabre)
Example of Memento Mori
Can people change? What can I do to improve my school grades, job performance and relationship? How does mindset affect success, learning, growth and happiness?
For our last episode of the year, we explore a powerful mental tool that will change how you approach learning new skills, overcoming challenges, and becoming a happier, better you!
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How does breathing and thinking work? What magic makes my body tick and keep me alive? Where in the Sistine Chapel can I find an anatomical painting of the human brain?
Today's episode is a five-part rapid fire episode, covering the five "most important" organs in your body (the bias will be explained in the episode). Come learn about how YOU work!
Heart anatomy
Lung anatomy
Kidney anatomy
Liver anatomy
Brain anatomy
Prometheus Bound by Rubens
The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo
Comparison of The Creation of Adam with actual brain cross-section
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What is the scientific method? What do you mean that Power Pose is pseudoscience? How is the Replication Crisis invalidating my pop psychology knowledge base?
We're back from our break to bring you more simplified explanations of complex concepts, like the Replication Crisis - one of the biggest crises to shake the academic world in modern times! Come learn how we (should) learn new things!
Relevant xkcd comic - "Significant"
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NB: This episode was reuploaded as the original upload had a corrupted audio file. Please enjoy and sorry for the interruption!
Why does coffee make me feel so good and let me work harder, faster and longer? Why do I need to poop every time I drink coffee? How did caffeine start the greatest scientific revolution in European history?
Let's learn about the world's most popular and most used psychoactive, performance-enhancing drug, and the various benefits of being hooked on it!
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How can I use perspective to draw physical space more accurately? What was the Renaissance? How can learning about art history improve my Instagram influencer status?
We're learning all about art today, by talking about how the technique of linear perspective completely revolutionised how we capture 3D space on 2D paper! Join us on a journey to 15th century Florence to see human ingenuity in action.
Jin's beautiful beach drawing, or "Why Jin went to med school instead of art school"
An example of beach photography with accurate perspective
Wile E. Coyote attempts to catch the Road Runner with perspective
Brunelleschi's contraption
Holy Trinity by Masaccio
Examples of paintings that don't use linear perspective
Examples of paintings showing linear perspective
V-J Day at Times Square by Alfred Eisenstaedt
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Why am I so exhausted all the time? How can I be more resilient against work-related stress? What can I do to feel less burnt out?
In this episode, we talk about a special topic that I'm particularly interested in learning and teaching about, because it's such a common source of stress and misery, yet many people don't know enough about it to fight against it.
Hope this episode adds something to your life, or helps you make a step towards positive change!
The Happiness Lab
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Why is the sky blue and not yellow or tan? Did ancient Greek people see the same blue skies we do now? Why do Koreans call a green light on a traffic signal "blue"? How can language affect the colours that our brains see?
Today we take a deep dive into the colour BLUE, along with all the fascinating history and science behind the colour! You'll be surprised that you can learn so much about a single colour, and it might even make you re-examine how you perceive the world.
Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian
Blue square amongst green squares (English-speakers can distinguish)
Different shade green square amongst green squares (Himba tribe people can distinguish)
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Are prime numbers sponsored by Amazon Prime? What do maths have to do with secure online messages and cicadas? How can I win $250,000 using maths?
It's time to go back to elementary maths class and study the fundamental building blocks of numbers, while learning about how the weird and cool properties of prime numbers can be super useful! Turns out, maths CAN be fun.
Numberphile - Lucas-Lehmer Primality Test
Numberphile - Euclid's Theorem
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How do pain relief medications like paracetamol and morphine work? What should I take when I have a headache? Why do we curse when we hurt ourselves? Why is life pain?
We go for a deep dive into Jin's specialty world that is medicine and learn all about pain and how we treat pain in the hospital! Learn how to manage your own pain at home with the right kind of medication.
Pain scale from Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half
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What is game theory? What's the best strategy when you don't know if someone is a friend or foe? How can maths minimise the number of years I'll go to jail for?
All this and more in today's episode about the infamous Prisoner's Dilemma - where two prisoners have to make a choice, while trying to figure out if they trust the other prisoner or not! It's about to get mathematical.
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How can I turn lead into gold? Why did Lord Voldemort and the Elric brothers seek the Philosopher's Stone? How can I use alchemy to make my own Philosopher's Stone?
In this episode, we explore the magical world of alchemy, while learning about the power of allegories and science!
The Squared Circle
Rebis
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How do the new COVID-19 vaccines work? What happened to smallpox? What is the anti-vaccination movement about it? Why should my children and I be vaccinated?
We learn all about the history and science behind vaccines and immmunisation, the scientific evidence supporting the safety of them, and the harrowing stories of how misinformation can literally kill people.
John Green's The Anthropocene Reviewed
Roald Dahl - Measles: A Dangerous Disease
Kurzgesagt video on The Side Effects of Vaccines
Opisthotonus in a patient suffering from tetanus - Painting by Sir Charles Bell
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Who was Sigmund Freud and why is he a big deal? What are ego and id, repression and Freduian slips? Why do I have deep, secret urges to sleep with my mother?
Today, we go deep into the murky waters of the unconscious mind through the lens of one of the earliest theories on how our unconscious mind work. Along the way, we'll learn about the beginnings of psychotherapy, crazy theories on what drives us, and how our personalities are formed!
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How does Bitcoin work? What is a blockchain? How can I make insane amounts of money through memes?
We return from our hiatus with an exciting episode on the weird world of cryptocurrency - a type of money that only exists virtually!
A small PSA: we're publishing every two weeks from now, but in exchange, each episode should be longer and more detailed than the first season of episodes. Hope you enjoy, and make sure to subscribe and share!
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Why do people sometimes "overreact" to little things like losing their car keys? What can I do to to prevent myself from having a meltdown? What on earth is the Fork Theory, and how does it relate to the Spoon Theory?
We continue our cutlery-themed episodes with a follow-up to last week's episode on Spoon Theory! Let's delve into the world of self-care.
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Why am I tired and irritated all the time? What does it feel like to have a chronic health condition like lupus? What can cutlery teach us about being a functional adult with a balanced life?
Today we explore the zany-sounding Spoon Theory, a cool analogy that explains how we need to mindful of our physical and emotional energy reserves, and how to balance our life to improve our mental health.
Read the original essay by Christine Miserandino at https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
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If you inherit your grandfather's axe then replace both the blade and the handle, is it still the same axe? Is it true that our body is completely turned over every seven years? Why does the Ship of Theseus matter?
Today, we delve deep into one of the oldest thought experiments in Western philosophy and discuss how pondering philosophy can help us resolve our quarter- and mid-life crises!
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Can bacteria get infections too? How do the new mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 work? Why on Earth would doctors make you swallow a pill full of poop?
Today we study a curious organism with a name that literally means "devourer of bacteria" and how we can harness the power of viruses in modern medicine.
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What do cameras, eyes and TVs have in common? How do we see and detect colour? Can you imagine a colour you have never seen?
Today's episode is a colourful exploration of how colour vision works...and when it doesn't.
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What is the meaning of life? Why should I bother doing anything if nothing really matters? How can philosophy make me happy and content?
This week, we explore a way of life that appears to be too oxymoronic to be effective, yet it can have a profound impact on your satisfaction with life.
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What do insects, angels and centaurs have in common? Why are dragons and pegasi unrealistic? How can we make an animal grow more limbs?
Today we examine mythical creatures through the lens of science, learning a lot about evolutionary biology on the way!
Example of forearm bone homology: https://i.imgur.com/0atTBJ8.png
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Why does my coffee get cold? How will the universe end? What can I do about my propensity for laziness and procrastination?
This week, we tackle a particularly complicated thermodynamic physics concept, while applying it to our lives to strive for better productivity!
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Is hygge some new interior design style promoted by influencers? What makes you feel cozy and safe? How do you introduce more sustainable happiness in your life?
Let's jump into the wonderful world of hygge - a Danish word that encompasses so many different ways we can add happiness to our days. Come learn a thing or two about being consciously cozy!
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Why does alcohol make us do silly things? What causes blackouts and Asian flushes? How can I get over hangovers quicker?
In this episode, we go deep into the effects of alcohol on our brain, body and personalities. Because if you're going to recreationally use a poison, you might as well understand how it works, right?
Side note: this episode pairs excellently with a glass of single malt whisky or a fine cabernet sauvignon.
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How can you shatter a wine glass with perfect singing? Why do I get goosebumps when I listen to sweet tunes? What have vibrations got to do with finding a soulmate?
Today we'll learn about the science of resonance and vibrations, followed by an alternative interpretation of resonance and how it can positively impact our lives!
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Why do we get fevers when we're sick? How do paracetamol and ibuprofen work? How did doctors in the early 20th century "fight fire with fire" using fever as a treatment?
Let's learn about the cool (and hot) ways the body controls it's internal environment - and what happens when it goes pear-shaped!
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Why do New Year's Resolutions never work? What's the best way to plan for and action positive life change? What should the theme of my year be, and what is a Yearly Theme even?
This episode, we learn about how SMART goals and Yearly Themes will help you lose weight, save money, get stuff done and generally become a better, more awesome you in 2021!
Special thanks to @CortexPodcast for introducing me to Yearly Themes! Watch this awesome video by CGP Grey if this episode wasn't enough to convince you to try it out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVGuFdX5guE
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Is it right to let one person die to save five people? What do doctors, terrorists and self-driving cars have in common? How come Jin keeps pronouncing "lever" differently each time?
We return to another thought experiment and go deep into the world of morality and ethics, while picking up some tips on how to look out for our own happiness!
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Why do I keep forgetting my anniversary date? How can I get better grades with flashcards? What's the easiest way to memorise the names of every Pokémon?
Today Jin shares his not-so-secret, but super powerful study technique: spaced repetition! If you want to try Anki (free for web version and Android), follow this link: https://apps.ankiweb.net/
Forgetting curve graph: https://i.imgur.com/z4Q0hBT.png
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If my friend is A+ and I'm B-, is their blood superior to mine? What would happen if I injected myself with monkey blood? Why would a mother's body try to kill it's own baby in the womb?
Today we'll learn all about the fascinating world of blood transfusions and how scientific discoveries and awesome, altruistic people have saved millions of lives!
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What do musicians, artists and athletes mean when they say they're "in the zone"? What's the happiest state your mind can be in? How do you pronounce Mihály Csíkszentmihályi??
This week, we delve into the wonderful world of positive psychology and learn how to live a happier, more fulfilling life! Or in Jin's case, how to make exam study more bearable.
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When's the best time to start investing? Why is my credit card bill going up despite monthly payments? How can maths help me make money?
In this episode, we'll explore the wonderful, scary world of compound interest and how powerful exponential growth can be! I wish someone had explained all of this to me 10 years earlier...
Compound interest formula:
A = P(1+r)^n
(A = future value, P = present value, r = interest rate as decimal, n = number of periods/years)
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Why are feelings so darn complicated? How do I avoid my emotions taking over my life? How can I be proactive instead of reactive?
Let's delve into the weird world of emotions and learn how we can be more in sync with our feelings to live happier, less stressful lives!
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How can you shock a dead person back to life? What happens when your heart stops beating? Which awesome 80's song should I play in my head while doing CPR?
Listen to an emergency doctor explain how CPR works and why it's so important in layman's terms!
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Who was Erwin Schrödinger and why is his cat so famous? How can quantum physics help us with our career choices and love life? What do you mean I might technically be immortal?
Jin dives straight into the deep end on our first episode of Explain This, by tackling the task of explaining one of the most famous and popular thought experiments in science!
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