You'll Die Smarter

The Champagne industry has been committed to an environmental transition since 2000. Champagne was the first wine industry to carry out a carbon assessment and take ambitious measures to reduce its emissions. One of these actions was adopting a new, lighter standard bottle. Since then, major research and development has been carried out in collaboration with glassmakers to find the best possible compromise to reduce the weight of the bottle while still preserving the mechanical properties. Because the bottle must withstand large quantities of handling and pressure, and task has been a real technological challenge! As a result, after 5 years of experimentation, Champagne has adopted a bottle that weighs 853 grams instead of the previous 900 grams, a 7% reduction. This figure that may seem anecdotal, but it actually allows a reduction of 8,000 tons of CO2 per year, the equivalent of the emissions of 4000 vehicles. But the bottle weight reduction is actually only one part of a broader action plan initiated in the early 2000s. Concerned about preserving their terroir and the typicality of their wines, the winemakers and Champagne Houses have been meeting for more than twenty years to discuss both the climate challenge and the changing societal expectations for champagne. The industry has set up an action program in three parts: Carbon Footprint (the bottle weight reduction falls under this part), Water Footprint, and Biodiversity Footprint. So, the sector is acting with three priorities: product excellence, respect for the terroir and the environment, and industry sustainability. Significant results have already been obtained: 50% less of phytosanitary products, 90% of industrial waste treated and recovered, 100% of wine waste treated and recycled, and 100% of by-products recovered. A 20% reduction in the carbon footprint of each bottle and the creation of the “Viticulture Durable” in Champagne reference system To continue its momentum, the sector has set new ambitious targets: by 2025, the use of herbicides will be abandoned entirely, and, by 2050, the carbon footprint per bottle will have been reduced by 75%. Also, by 2030, 100% of the vineyards will be environmentally certified. Environmental preservation is a constant process, and while is an obvious path in the face of climate change, it is not always an easy one. Champagne's permanent quest to improve their environmental footprint is a long-term process. The challenges for these goals are twofold because natural cycles cannot be controlled, and traditional business model transformation takes years, even when the business does not need to take ecological cycles into account. But Champagne is constantly innovating and leading the collective approach of continuous progress with goals to preserve its unique terroir. The Champagne vineyard is already suffering from the effects of climate change. To combat, more than 50 research and development programs are underway, including the research of new grape varieties, the adoption of semi-large vines, and the fight against vine decline. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This question seems to be on many people's minds if we believe the Google searches. It is indeed one of the most frequent searches about champagne. To answer this question, you must first know that the wines of champagne, which have been produced since at least the 5th century, have not always had bubbles. The technique of sparkling champagne was not mastered until the end of the 17th century! Legend has it that Dom Pierre Pérignon, a cellarer monk at Hautvillers Abbey from 1668 until he died in 1715, invented champagne as we know it today. In reality, this is not the case (pun intended). But he did invent the art of selecting specific grapes from different origins before pressing them. This results in better-balanced wines. Sparkling Champagne is a happy byproduct from the desire to understand and master a natural phenomenon. Champagne is a northern vineyard with a harsh climate for the vine. In the 17th century, the grape harvest took place quite late, in October. For this reason, the yeasts of the grape did not have time to finish fermenting when the winter cold came, blocking their action. But in the spring, when the wine was bottled, they came back to life. The carbonic gas could not escape during this second fermentation, so the bubbles appeared. In fact, the wine fizzing was so extreme the bottles initially could explode from the pressure. For a long time, the limited scientific understanding of fermentation was not possible. Thanks to the work of François, Maumené, Chaptal, and Pasteur, we finally understood the importance of yeasts and the contribution of sugar dosage during bottling. They also learned to measure the pressure inside the bottles. To these pioneers, we owe the Champagne method, which is now famous today for its rigor and excellence. So, as you can see, the bottles themselves are a fundamental tool for creating the iconic bubbles. Let's take a closer look. Alcoholic fermentation occurs when the yeast consumes sugar and releases carbon dioxide as a result of the reaction. Other compounds are also released, creating a wine's aroma. Now, based on how the wine is fermented, there are two possible results. If the wine is aged in vats or barrels, the gas escapes, creating still wines. If the wine is bottled, the carbonic gas from the fermentation remains trapped in the bottle. This is known as foam grip. In order for carbonic gas to be released inside the bottle, it is vital that the bottle can withstand the pressure. You will notice that the glass of champagne bottles is much thicker than that of still wine bottles. This is to withstand the pressure, which is from 5 to 6 kilograms per square centimeter. The glass is also important because of its shape and the presence of micro-apertures, which allow the formation of bubbles. Micro-apertures retain micro-bubbles that gradually grow and detach to form a train of bubbles that move to the surface of the wine, up to 50 per second. This means it is important to use a glass with a large base to let them form. The cap also needs specific attention. It must be made of cork and reinforced by a wire and a wire plate, an invention patented in 1844 by Adolphe Jacquesson, a merchant in Chalons en Champagne. Before we finish today, let's take a look at the effects of bubbles on flavour... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ideal drink during Christmas Time and year's end celebrations is of course Champagne. But, are you sure to know exactly how to match food with this exceptional wine ? Before answering precisely to this question, here's a little reminder: Champagne is THE special drink of the celebration and that is nothing new since Champagne wines were served during French kings' coronations that used to happen in Reims since the baptism of Clovis, on Christmas Day in 496.   If the question of matching food with Champagnes wines arises, it is because of the great diversity of those wines. Beyond the choice of vinification (barrel ageing, ageing time, ...), the diversity of Champagne wines is coming specifically from the art of blending. Blending is selecting and combining several fermented wines between them until getting the precise style that we want to give to its Champagne. First of all, the crus: soil, subsoil, exposure and climate give each village (or cru) different characteristics. Then, the grape varieties: for Champagne, the majority are chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier. And finally the dosage, which depends on the style of wine desired: "extra brut, brut, sec or sweet".   You get the picture, factors that I have just listed allow the production of the different types of Champagnes. It's among them that you would be able to choose in order to go with your dishes.   First there is the Champagne without year: it is the most symbolic in terms of brands' style and know-how, as they work to ensure its consistency from year to year. It is therefore the standard of the brands and is their pride and joy. Then there is the vintage Champagne. It corresponds to the case where the winemaker chooses to blend wines from a single year because it has exceptional characteristics. These wines must then be aged in the cellar for a minimum of 3 years and are characterised by their power, maturity and balance. Then we find the Blanc de blancs. These are Champagnes made from 100% white grapes. They are lively, airy and have a fresh aroma. Next, the Blanc de Noirs Champagne. These champagnes are made from 100% black grapes (pinot noir and meunier) and can be defined as greedy, powerful and complex. Finally, there is Rosé Champagne. It can be made from a "saignée" or a blend of white and red champagne wines. Delicate to make, it is fruity and structured.   Which ones should you choose ? I use plural because if you wish to surprise your guests for the special occasion like New Year's Eve, you can serve Champagne wines at unexpected moments (or even throughout the meal, it is totally possible for an extraordinary night!)   To conclude, at dessert time: if it is sweet, it is recommended to opt for a Sec or demi-sec champagne  champagne, which will not distort the flavours of your pastries and cakes. However, citrus-based desserts can be combined very well with most of “classic” brut Champagnes and those with red fruits with a Rosé Champagne. The end of year celebrations can be a good occasion to discover the diversity of champagnes wines; a diversity that allow you to compose subtle food and wine pairings all year long! Don't hesitate to talk to your wine merchant or the producer, he will be delighted to guide you. And above all, don't hesitate to taste it: Champagne is a product of pleasure and conviviality, what matters above all is what you are feeling when you taste it (in moderation, of course!). The perfect match is above all the one that transports you. Here's a toast for all these great suggestions! I hope I've made your mouth water! Happy holidays to all! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As you probably know, Champagne is the name of a particular type of wine, but it is, more importantly, the name of a particular region in France – a region proud of its vineyards and its people who have preserved and developed the region through such a unique product, the very name has become synonymous with class and refinement. So, as you'll soon learn, this region and it's wine are so intimately linked, that in modern times, only Champagne can produce Champagne. Before talking about the means in which the Champenois protect this name, let's underline that the title of ‘Champagne' was not made in one day. The history of the wine itself is several centuries old and rich with multiple key events. You may recall much of this from a previous episode, but let's do a quick recap. Between the 1st and 4th centuries, the Champagne vineyards were formed with monks heading the precise selecting and mixing of grapes. Soon the wines were particularly noted for their effervescent nature, and shortly thereafter, Champagne became the drink of the elite, notably the favorite wine of Louis XIV and many more French and foreign royalty to follow. Here's where things begin to get a little interesting. From the 19th century, wines from other regions began using the name “champagne” for their own wines, making the most of the prestige association with the title. The first lawsuits to defend the name took place in 1844. The Champenois were urgent to protect it legally. To begin with, the Champenois demanded the strict delimitation of the production area. Then they set rigorous vineyard management methods and required rules of elaboration, which in 1936, finally led to the recognition of the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, the AOC, or in English, “The Controlled Label of Origin.” The AOC is an official sign of quality that identifies and protects a product whose production stages are carried out in the same geographical area and according to recognized know-how. Champagne's AOC covers 34,000 hectares and the aforementioned specifications of production. Because of this AOC the only wines legally recognized as "Champagne" are specifically from the region of Champagne and are produces to the correct standards. Obtaining this AOC for the wine of Champagne was an essential step in its protection, but it was not the only one. Indeed, the winegrowers and wine houses had to – and still have to – fight to prevent the title from being used illegally, especially abroad. United within the framework of the Champagne Committee, the winegrowers and wine houses continue to reinforce this heritage, preserving their prestigious name. These efforts have allowed the recognition of the Champagne name by greater than 120 countries as the continue to fight effectively against frauds and counterfeits, especially since the latter are often of poor quality. The "Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne" (the Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars) have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. This recognition by UNESCO of the Exceptional Universal Value of the sector's heritage is an asset and also a responsibility. It helps defend and promote the prestigious name but, in return, requires great rigor on the part of the sector in the preservation of its historical heritage. Last little interesting fact for today is that the unwavering commitment of the Champagne industry to protect its name benefits all other ventures to do the same. Its multiple scrimmages have advanced the law of the appellations with numerous favorable jurisprudences that benefit all appellations. They play a global role in protecting heritage, a role that reaches far beyond the vineyards and wine houses of Champagne. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Associated with a specific region in France, champagne is a wine not quite like any other. While the world's elite has appreciated it since the Middle Ages, the technique of making sparkling champagne was not mastered until the end of the 17th century. But first, let's take a look back. Between the 1st and 4th centuries, the Champagne vineyards began to form. Like in other wine-producing regions, vinification was mainly the job of abbeys and monasteries. Wine is indeed a central element of the Christian liturgy. The mixing was practiced by monks, who pressed together grapes of different varieties delivered by the winegrowers as their form of tithe, a regular giving to the church. Some cellarer monks, such as the famous Dom Pierre Pérignon from the abbey of Hautvillers, transformed the process of mixing into a precise craft. He carefully and intentionally selected grapes from different regions to obtain better-balanced wines. Some wines, such as the wine of Aÿ or Sillery, already had an excellent reputation. These wines were noted and praised for their effervescence, despite a lack of understanding in how the bubbles were produced. Only at the end of the 17th century did this collection of bubbly wines begin to be dubbed as the “wines of Champagne,” later shortened to “champagne.” From it's conception, champagne was a luxury for the elites, definitely not for more common folk. Since the baptism of King Clovis the First in the 5th century, the coronation of French kings has taken place in Reims, in Champagne, where the wine of the region could be served with prominence. Centuries after Clovis, champagne was the favorite wine of Louis XIV, and then Louis XV and the court of Versailles. This royal favor contributed to the drink's fame, leading it to quickly becoming the wine for celebrations and important events across Europe. In 1717, Tsar Peter the Great, visiting Fontainebleau, liked it so much that he asked for four extra bottles to be brought to his suite after dinner. Philip V of Spain said he drank only this wine. Frederick II of Prussia was passionate about its production, and Casanova used it to seduce his Venetian conquests. Thanks to figures like these, champagne became the most famous wine among the upper class. For a long time, the wine of Champagne was reserved for a thin fringe of society. The delicate conditions of production and the relative smallness of the vineyards explain the exclusivity of its consumption. Little by little, however, it is becoming less elitist and more common a drink, allowing people to celebrate a variety of events alongside the bubbles. If christenings, weddings, and graduations can be celebrated with champagne, then the drink can give a special touch to those other more mundane but equally special moments - a get-together, a romantic meal, a tasting, or even some “personal time.” Whether with family, friends, or lovers, champagne is today the number one wine symbolizing the festive spirit and elegance of France throughout the world. Please drink responsibly. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The clouds we see in the sky seem rather light, almost like absorbent cotton. However, being filled with water and ice, these gigantic suspended masses weigh - in reality - up to several tons. Don't be fooled by appearances, the clouds that float above your heads are more like anvils in suspension. Indeed, being made of billions of water and ice droplets, these vaporous masses can weigh far more than you may expect. With a water density of about 0.5 grams per cubed meter, a cloud of 100 kilometers cubed can reach the mass of 500 000 tons. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Long before Magellan completed the first circumnavigation of the globe, in the 16th century, ancient Greek scientists had demonstrated, by simple observation, that the Earth was round, or rather spherical. Of course, this did not prevent some people from believing that our planet was flat. To be fair, even some individuals don't believe it now. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As you may have already noticed, if you bite aluminum foil, the strange sensation of heat or pain in your teeth is quite unpleasant. This is due to the contact between the aluminum and the metals that make up the fillings in some teeth. If you feel a tingling sensation when biting aluminum foil, it is because some of your teeth have been provided with fillings. In this case, the connection between the aluminum and the elements of the filling causes a reaction similar to that of a battery. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You all know the Bermuda shorts: those shorts that come down to the knee, unlike the classic shorts that only cover part of the thighs. You may be more familiar with the name “dad shorts.” While today it is considered as a vacation or a summer outfit for older generations, its origin is quite different. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

According to some estimates, the surname "Nguyen" is used by around 40% of the population in Vietnam. This country is home to 95 million people, so there are nearly 38 million Mr. or Mrs. Nguyen. This makes Nguyen the 4th most popular name in the world, just behind Lee, Zhang and Wang, all Chinese names. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mankind doesn't just send rockets or space probes into space. In fact, many unexpected objects have been launched into space, all for the sake of science. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On the walls of the Egyptian pyramids, human depictions, and especially depictions of nobility, are often represented in profile. The reason they are designed this way is primarily religious. If you look closely, you'll notice that the ancient Egyptian characters are not entirely represented in profile. Only the face, the legs and the arms are painted in this way. The bust and torse is represented from the front. And actually the singular eye on the profile face is depicted as if being viewed from the front, rather asynchronous to the rest of the face. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Have you noticed this before? Try this little experiment: Try to break a raw spaghetti noodle in half with your fingers by bending it until it breaks. If you give it a go, the noodle will most likely break, but not into two pieces. There's no need to feel sorry for yourself if you failed – your skills are not at fault. Raw spaghetti breaks into 3, 4, 5 or more pieces, but almost never in two. In fact, it is almost impossible to do so. This is the "mystery of the broken spaghetti". It may seem trivial, but it has interested many great scientists, including Richard Feynman, the famous American physicist of the 20th century. He was primarily known for reformulating quantum mechanics. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The paper clip was indeed a symbol of unity and resistance of a particular nation in the face of the Nazi occupation during the Second World War. And this nation is Norway. It is hard to imagine that such a mundane object, primarily used to hold sheets of paper together, could have had such a great and noble meaning. Yet, history and Norway prove us otherwise. At the turn of the 20th century, a Norwegian by the name of Johan Vaaler patented the first paper clip model, close to the one we use today. But it was not exactly the same. His model lacked the two complete loops and resembled a rectangle. This design was not as easy to insert sheets of paper. As a result, his invention was never produced. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's a fact that the more aviation savvy among you may have already observed: on the whole, airliners fly slower than they used to. If we take a random flight, for example from New York to Denver, it takes 19 minutes longer today than in 1983 to connect the two cities. This seems to go against the grain of technological progress, so what are the factors that explain this? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Sphinx of Giza is a monumental statue consisting of two distinct parts: a human face (that of a pharaoh wearing the nemes, the emblematic pharaonic headdress) and the elongated body of a lion. This Sphinx stands in front of the pyramids of the site of Giza, upstream of the Nile Delta in Egypt, near the modern city of Cairo. The Sphinx of Giza is 73 meters long, 20 meters high, and 14 meters wide. It is the largest monolithic monumental sculpture in the world. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Before we begin, you should know that there are approximately 930 million left-handed people in the world. But can dominant sides lead people to be better (or worse) in specific subjects? Actually yes. Left-handed individuals are better at mathematics. To reach this conclusion, researchers from the University of Liverpool and Milan conducted a study of 2,300 Italian students aged 6 to 17 years old. These students were given a mathematics test consisting of easy questions such as addition and subtraction, and also more complex problems. Then each student was tested to determine the percentage See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This curious myth that boys are born in cabbages and little girls in roses has not only one but two claimed origins. Here they are. The first of the two theories, claims that since ancient times, cabbage has been a symbol of fertility. This can probably be explained by its form and composition: its countless superimposed leaves. It is known that in this period, as well as in the Middle Ages, cabbage soup was traditionally served to young couples to increase their chances of having a baby. It was also believed that cabbage helped the development of the foetus and was one of the foods that increased the quality of the sperm. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Maybe you've already asked yourself this question. It's quite natural since there are sometimes very few chips in a bag, especially compared to its size. The reason why chip bags are always half empty is that it is necessary for preservation. In fact, if the chips are exposed to oxygen for too long, they soften and spoil quickly. To keep them edible and crispy, they need to be few in number, and in contact with a particular gas: nitrogen. The absence of oxygen slows down the oxidation of the fatty substances soaking the chips. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Christmas in Japan is a modern tradition that is constantly growing in importance, although the birth of Jesus Christ is rarely celebrated on the occasion. Only 1% of the Japanese population is Christian, so Christmas primarily revolves around the myth of Santa Claus. In Japan, this holiday is not an occasion for family gatherings, but rather meeting up as a couple or with friends. On New Year's Eve, people will gather for fancy meal, but their Christmas spread is a bit different. The center of attention is not a turkey, but rather chicken. To be more specific, fried chicken, and ideally from the classic KFC chain. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The "Hitler moustache": this is the familiar term used to refer to the mustache that prior to the end of the Second World War, was actually known as the "toothbrush moustache". Inevitably associated with the figure of the Führer, it has unsurprisingly been unfashionable since the mid-1940s. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Loneliness affects between 10 and 20% of the population. It is known that loneliness can promote depression, lower the immune system, and even effect development. In order to measure the effects of loneliness on the brain's mechanisms, a study was carried out using data from an English database. This database collects, among other things, genetic data and MRI results from approximately 40,000 people. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As you have no doubt noticed, yawning is a very contagious reflex. This mimicry, specific to humans and certain other primates, is explained by the activation of specific neurons called "mirror neurons". These neurons are activated when we see a person doing certain actions. If we see a person yawning, the mirror neurons lead us to imitate them. But this reproduction only applies to certain behaviors, such as yawning. In many other cases, the brain prevents this propensity to copy our fellow human beings. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The leaves of laurel, a species of evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean basin, are often braided into a crown as a reward or as a symbolism of victory. To understand why, we have to go back to ancient Greece, and more specifically to a particular myth. According to ancient Greek mythology, Eros, the god of Love, decided to punish Apollo, the god of the Sun, for mocking him during an archery session. Both Eros and Apollo were renowned for their archery skills. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Veblen effect, more commonly known as the snobbery effect, can easily be summed up as the fact that we, as humans, like or want to buy objects, not because we need them or because we especially like them, but simply because of their price. Yep, because they're expensive. This effect was highlighted by the economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen in his 1899 book The Theory of the Leisure Class. Veblen observes that if we look at the field of luxury goods, or at least those that allow people to identify themselves as belonging to a certain social class, the price decrease of these products results in decreasing interest of their potential buyers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While not all bacteria that lurk in our homes are dangerous, some can transmit viral diseases and various infections, and some of which can be quite serious. These bacteria hide in every room of your home, but they are most prevalent in the kitchen. Yep, you heard it right. Contrary to popular belief, it is the kitchen and not the bathroom that is the most contaminated room in the house. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In these times of health crisis and containment, teleworking is on the rise. At home, some people tend to neglect their dress code. So the question is, does working in pajamas have consequences on the quality of our work? For many people, working at home does not imply the same dress codes. Many of us consider feel is no need to be dressed up to sit at the computer, especially if there are no video-conferences involved. So why not even stay in pajamas? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Wall of China is the largest construction undertaken by man. Built, for the most part, between the 3rd century BC and the 17th century AD, it was intended to protect a unified China from invasions from the north. According to the latest official estimates, the Chinese Wall extends over 20,000 kilometers. The Great Wall is composed of walls averaging a height of six to seven meters, and also features ditches and natural barriers such as rivers or mountains. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Published in a specialized newspaper, a recent article echoes a Taiwanese study, which claims the consumption of wine would protect against Covid-19. Unfortunately for all our wine drinkers out there, this claim is anything but true. The study insists on the role of two natural components of wine, tannins, a biochemical found in grape skin or seeds, and polyphenols, an organic compound found in many plants. In addition to their antioxidant virtues, polyphenols are believed to disrupt the spread of the virus responsible for Covid-19. As for its part, the tannin would make it more difficult for the virus to penetrate our cells. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The strange phrase "zero stroke" refers to a mental disorder that seems quite astonishing, earning it's position in today's You'll Die Smarter episode, and not on a health podcast. So what is it all about? Zero stroke is a suspected mental disorder, diagnosed by doctors in Germany during the hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic (between 1921 and 1924). And this disorder was mainly characterized by the urge of patients to write endless rows of zeros. Yes, the number 0. How can this urge be explained? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The global symbol for "Peace and love" was invented in 1958. It was created at that time by the British graphic designer Gerald Holtom as part of protests against a nuclear weapons factory. This graphic designer, a graduate of the Royal College of Arts in London, was very involved in the movement. Holtom proposed that the protesters carry flags and posters with his logo during a peaceful march. This march had around 5000 people and took the protesters on a walk from Trafalgar Square in London to the town of Aldermaston, home to the famous atomic weapons research plant. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The protests in Tiananmen Square were immortalized by a photo that has become iconic. You may have seen this famous photo depicting a man with plastic grocery bags in his hands and standing in front of a line of tanks. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You may have heard that, over time, couples end up looking alike. It has been said that by living together and sharing common activities, the faces of couples begin to resemble one another. This resemblance of couples who have been living together for a long time is a common statement, and sometimes supported by psychologists. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Have you ever noticed that most male pilots are clean-shaven? Or if they have facial hair it is often a simple moustache? In fact, it is extremely rare to see a male airline pilot with a full beard, and there is a very special reason for this. And it has nothing to do with fashion. Let me explain. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I'm sure you're familiar with revolving doors. These types of doors that work like a turnstile are often found at the entrance of department stores and large hotels. Consisting of several wings, usually glazed, the user pushes a wing, causing the entire door to turn. By walking with the turning wings, the user then exits the dial on the other side. Interestingly, the direction of rotation doors is usually counter-clockwise. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Yes it did, but also no, it didn't. Before we get into specifics, what was the red phone? The red phone was said to be a direct line of communication between the Pentagon and the Kremlin in Russia, set up in August 1963 after the Cuban missile crisis of the previous year. This episode was, as you may know, a kind of paroxysm of the Cold War. The Americans and Russians were never as close to war as they were when Moscow pointed missiles from Cuba at the United States. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You may have noticed that maintaining eye contact while speaking can be difficult, even though verbal processing seems like it should be independent. Still, many people frequently look away from their conversers while chatting. So is there an interference between the two processes? Well actually, yes. There is scientific evidence supporting that it is more difficult for us to look someone directly in the eye when having a conversation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You may have experienced this feeling: you are stuck in a traffic jam or at the bank, in a line that doesn't move forward. You find yourself thinking that you made the wrong choice, and if you had chosen a different line or lane, it would be moving faster. Two medical researchers in Canada have looked at this phenomenon to see if there is any validity to this feeling. Is there a psychological basis for it, or is it the result of real observation? The result: this thought comes from an illusion of bad luck. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tea bags are by no means new inventions, but their origins may come as a surprise to you. Contrary to what you might expect, we don't owe the invention to the famous tea-loving British Isles, but actually to an American. Tea bags date back to 1908. Technically speaking, it was a little earlier, 5 years prior, that a patent was filed for the first silk tea bag. But these tea bags were initially used for tasting. They were used to present small samples and to preserve the flavor of the tea leaves. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The “Wicked Bible,” also known as the “Sinner's Bible” is the reprint of the King James' Bible published in 1631, in London, by the royal printers Barker and Lucas. This English translation of the Bible was made at the request of James I of England, and this Bible replaced the previous authorized version at the time, becoming the standard Bible for the Church of England. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Champagne is a sparkling wine produced from 3 grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It benefits from an appellation of controlled origin, which means that it can only be produced in a specific geographical area and according to specific regulations. And to drink it, there are also rules. Not binding, of course, but there are specific ways of drinking it in order to fully appreciate this drink. Among them, and perhaps the most well know, relates to the glass, as champagne is intended to be drunk in flutes, not in classic wine glasses. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This characteristic is very old and actually dates back all the way from the 4th century. During this time is when we first see this distinctive hollowed style on the punt, i.e., the bottom of a bottle. The primary purpose of this hollowed punt is to ensure the stability of the bottle when it is placed upright. Why not just make it flat? Fifteen centuries ago, craftsmen were unable to make bottles with a perfectly flat punt, which caused some difficulty in standing them upright. Craftsmen decided to solve the problem by stabilizing them with a heavier concave base. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today the mask is highly recommended in many public places and often required. It is currently considered the best personal protective wear against the Covid-19 pandemic. However, you may have seen some people wearing two masks. Is this more effective? Actually, yes, it may be. This is what a scientific study shows in any case. According to this study, the superimposition of two masks could offer protection equivalent to that of FFP2 masks, which are to date the most effective device. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Before picking up their tickets, many passengers have probably wondered where the safest seat on the plane was. While there are no unbiased, official statistics about the safest seats on an airplane, there are small selection of studies show that some seats may be safer than others. For example, studies have been conducted for specialized publications that have looked into the question. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As far-fetched as it may sound, some plants can actually hear. In fact, it has been scientifically proven by researchers that plants are perfectly capable of setting up defense mechanisms responding to sound. They discovered that when the sound of a specific predators is played near the plant, their defense mechanism to fight against insects are triggered. Let's look a little closer. These researchers first observed, how plants of the Arabidopsis genus, plants related to mustard and cabbage, reacted when a caterpillar nibbled at their leaves. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This strange feeling, this "sick joy" that we may feel when seeing the misfortune of others, has a name: Schadenfreude. This German word literally means "joy of harm". Having been adopted into the English language, it means "to rejoice in the misfortune of others". At first glance, this feeling may appear dangerously close to sadism. Thankfully, we are not all secret psychopaths, as Schadenfreude has a key difference: it's purely passive. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Perhaps should is a strong word. Of course, you can do whatever you want when it comes to eating. Chopsticks, small forks, your hands, whatever. But, if you want to lose weight, the size of your fork just might matter. At least, that's the conclusion reached by researchers at the University of Utah. Not unlike many of the questions we answer on You'll Die Smarter, human psychology is behind this phenomenon. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To begin, the title of our podcast is a generalization many of us are familiar with. Some British police officers actually do carry weapons beyond the traditional police baton. So exactly what is the situation? Let's start with some numbers. In the UK, less than 5% of the police are armed. And these weapons are rarely used. For example, in 2017, out of 15,000 armed police operations, shots were fired only 7 times. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To put it briefly, it saved money. But I think that answer is a little short for us. Let's look a little deeper into the nitty gritty of why that is. To begin with, you should know that writing dates back to approximately 3300 years BC. This is the period from which the first traces of writing have been found in the temples of the cities of Uruk, now in present-day Iraq. At that time, the Sumerians wrote on clay tablets. But this writing was composed of pictograms or symbols representing a word or concept, not like the alphabetic writing we use today. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you have a cat you may have seen this strange but hilarious reaction. House cats seem to have an irrational fear of the ever-threatening cucumber. When this common vegetable is placed next to a cat or they discover it by happenstance, they'll often leap in the air in startlement. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The RMS Titanic, known as the unsinkable ship, struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912 and sank, causing the deaths of over 1,500 passengers. You are probably familiar with James Cameron's famous 1997 film depicting this event. But this was not at all the first film devoted to this tragedy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.