Latest / Be Amazed / Amazing Secrets Hidden In Everyday Things – Part 9
Transcript
- 0:00[SPEAKER_00]: We all love a good secret, and luckily it turns out the objects we use every day are absolutely full of them.
- 0:07[SPEAKER_00]: From Coke's biggest secret to how batteries really work, join me for yet another dive into some of the most amazing secrets hidden in everyday things.
- 0:30[SPEAKER_00]: If you thought that Coca-Cola's best-cap secret was it's elusive recipe, just wait till you see what else they're hiding right under your nose.
- 0:40[SPEAKER_00]: Once emerged in a highly corrosive alkaline solution containing sodium hydroxide, like Draenun blocker, a coke can goes through a chemical process known as hydrolysis.
- 0:51[SPEAKER_00]: This reaction causes the aluminum in the can to dissolve, revealing a surprising secret hidden within, a plastic lining which resists dissolving, but what's it doing there?
- 1:05[SPEAKER_00]: Alongside carbonated water and lots of sugar, soda contains acid.
- 1:10[SPEAKER_00]: Coke is one of the most acidic drinks in our refrigerators, namely because of its contents of phosphoric and citric acid.
- 1:18[SPEAKER_00]: These assets are corrosive and nature giving Coke a pH reading of about 2.5.
- 1:24[SPEAKER_00]: That's not much higher than battery acid.
- 1:27[SPEAKER_00]: While we all know sodas like Coke can corrode our pearly whites, thanks mom.
- 1:32[SPEAKER_00]: Did you also know that sodas acidity is strong enough to eat away at metal too?
- 1:38[SPEAKER_00]: And seeing his cookies sold in aluminum cans, that's where our little tube of plastic comes into play.
- 1:44[SPEAKER_00]: Made from polymer or epoxy, this resin layer is installed in the manufacturing process as a protective barrier between the acidic soda and the aluminum walls of the can.
- 1:57[SPEAKER_00]: Not only does this prevent the liquid from corroding the metal, and doing so it also protects the soda's flavor from being tainted by the dissolved metal.
- 2:06[SPEAKER_00]: While you've probably never seen a soda can in this form, manufacturers of cantranks have been lining the insides of their cans with this plastic coating for more than 50 years.
- 2:17[SPEAKER_00]: But if manufacturers have to go through the trouble of coating every can with this protective layer, why not just do away with cans all together in favor of purely using glass or plastic bottles?
- 2:29[SPEAKER_00]: Well, not only is aluminum the most abundant metal on earth, but aluminum cans also have a much higher rate of recycling compared to plastic and even glass bottles.
- 2:40[SPEAKER_00]: So the next time you crack one open, not only are you in for some refreshing bubbles, but also a true taste of ingenious everyday design.
- 2:49[SPEAKER_00]: After a reminder of just what a can of Coke can do to our pearly whites, I'd say it's time for a good old brush.
- 2:56[SPEAKER_00]: While we get up close and personal with our toothbrushes at least twice a day, I hope.
- 3:01[SPEAKER_00]: You might be surprised at how little you know about what you're putting in your mouth.
- 3:05[SPEAKER_00]: You've probably noticed that most toothbrush heads have an array of different colored bristles.
- 3:11[SPEAKER_00]: While you might have assumed these are just an extra touch for aesthetics, these bold bristles are hiding a very deliberate design secret and plain side.
- 3:20[SPEAKER_00]: Alton blue and color, these colored bristles are known as toothbrush indicators, and tell us when it's time to change brushes.
- 3:28[SPEAKER_00]: On average, most Americans change their toothbrush just twice per year.
- 3:33[SPEAKER_00]: But according to the American Dental Association, we should be switching out brushes at least four times a year for good oral health.
- 3:40[SPEAKER_00]: toothbrush indicators are designed to fade in color as you brush in, once most of the color is disappeared, the bristles have
- 3:49[SPEAKER_00]: That's when you know it's time to change your brush you'll fill the animal.
- 3:54[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know about you, but for most of my childhood, I assume the batteries we use every day are full of liquid energy that fuels our devices.
- 4:02[SPEAKER_00]: However, most batteries of the kind most household items used are actually tricell batteries, and don't contain liquid.
- 4:09[SPEAKER_00]: Instead, they're made up of electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical charges.
- 4:16[SPEAKER_00]: These cells are usually only capable of producing around one and a half volts of electricity each, but if added together, they can achieve a lot more.
- 4:25[SPEAKER_00]: The 12-volt A23 battery for example often contains 8-1.5 volt cells hidden inside the larger battery wrapping.
- 4:34[SPEAKER_00]: And the battery section doesn't stop there.
- 4:37[SPEAKER_00]: Some even bigger batteries like this extra long life 6-volt battery are hiding their inner cells with it and other batteries.
- 4:45[SPEAKER_00]: Another unlikely place you'll find instances of batteries and batteries
- 4:49[SPEAKER_00]: isn't a Tesla car battery, which contains around 375 volts provided by hundreds of individuals cells.
- 4:57[SPEAKER_00]: Well, Android's majoring with electric sheep turns out battery manufacturers dream of how many different batteries they can fit inside bigger batteries.
- 5:06[SPEAKER_00]: picture this.
- 5:07[SPEAKER_00]: You walk up to a crosswalk, press the button and wait for what seems like an eternity for that little walking man to show himself.
- 5:14[SPEAKER_00]: You cross the street in first split second you wonder, did that button actually do anything at all?
- 5:19[SPEAKER_00]: Well, you're not alone.
- 5:21[SPEAKER_00]: And in reality, the world is full of buttons that have been completely lying to you.
- 5:26[SPEAKER_00]: Out of the 1000 crosswalk buttons in New York City, for example, it's estimated that only about 100 of them actually serve any real function to actively stop traffic.
- 5:38[SPEAKER_00]: The remaining 900 are examples of what's known as a placebo button.
- 5:42[SPEAKER_00]: A button that can be pushed but has no effect whatsoever.
- 5:46[SPEAKER_00]: By what's the point of all this?
- 5:49[SPEAKER_00]: Inventing the 1964 Crosswalk buttons were first introduced in a time when city traffic was a lot lighter than the gridlocks we see today.
- 5:57[SPEAKER_00]: At that time, traffic lights would remain green until a pedestrian pushed the button.
- 6:02[SPEAKER_00]: As the city became more reliant on cars for transport and foot traffic increased, the crosswalk button began causing more problems than it was solving, and was constantly stopping traffic in its tracks.
- 6:14[SPEAKER_00]: To solve this problem, city planners have been gradually disconnecting buttons all over the city and replacing them with time traffic signals.
- 6:23[SPEAKER_00]: And this has since been happening in other cities all over the world as well.
- 6:26[SPEAKER_00]: So why have the buttons there at all if they don't do anything?
- 6:30[SPEAKER_00]: Well, there's no official answer to this question, some theorize that placebo buttons are placed among us as psychological tricks that give us an illusion of control.
- 6:39[SPEAKER_00]: It's pretty frustrating regardless, especially considering less busy junctions, especially those in smaller towns, do still function as expected.
- 6:49[SPEAKER_00]: Making it pretty hard to tell when you're being duped by a dead button.
- 6:52[SPEAKER_00]: And, like those found at Crosswalks, push to close elevator buttons are also suspected of employing the placebo button tactic.
- 7:01[SPEAKER_00]: Turns out that the push to close door buttons and most elevators have been obsolete for decades, though the reason behind it is pretty uplifting.
- 7:09[SPEAKER_00]: When the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, it meant that elevator manufacturers had to remove the function of many push to close door buttons.
- 7:20[SPEAKER_00]: This was to prevent people from getting in and closing the door before a disabled person has time to get inside.
- 7:26[SPEAKER_00]: However, while most of these elevator buttons won't work by default for the public, many buildings have keys or codes that can render the buttons operational in an emergency.
- 7:37[SPEAKER_00]: Even with the rise of streaming and at-home entertainment, nothing quite matches up to a trip to Yield movie theater.
- 7:44[SPEAKER_00]: The soda fountains butter-drenched popcorn, and who can forget the iconic movie theater seat.
- 7:50[SPEAKER_00]: Now you might have noticed it more or less every classic movie theater opts for red seats.
- 7:56[SPEAKER_00]: This tradition partially stems back to a trance set by 18th century Italian opera houses,
- 8:08[SPEAKER_00]: However, the color choice in movie theaters today is also a very deliberate design decision that's specially selected to trick your eyes.
- 8:18[SPEAKER_00]: Our eyes have two different types of cells that work together to help us detect the presence of light and color.
- 8:24[SPEAKER_00]: The rods are most sensitive to changes in light, shape and movement, but are not good for color vision.
- 8:31[SPEAKER_00]: The cones meanwhile are most sensitive to color, but they work in bright light, which is why colors harder to see in the dark.
- 8:39[SPEAKER_00]: Different colors have different wavelengths, which affect our ability to see them in low light.
- 8:44[SPEAKER_00]: The shorter a color's wavelength, the easier it is for our cones to detect them in darker conditions.
- 8:51[SPEAKER_00]: Red light has a longer wavelength than any other color in the spectrum, so it's the first color we lose the ability to identify in the dark, even when other colors are still visible.
- 9:02[SPEAKER_00]: This is known as the perkingee effect, which is in full effect when the lights go down at the start of a movie.
- 9:10[SPEAKER_00]: As the red seats, walls and curtains quickly fade into the darkness, our eyes can focus there, bullet tension on the screen.
- 9:17[SPEAKER_00]: And we're now done seeing red just yet, there's no doubt the image of a red barn in a coin field is as American as the Fourth of July and Apple Pie.
- 9:27[SPEAKER_00]: But have you ever stopped to wonder why this iconic shade is a farmer's first choice?
- 9:32[SPEAKER_00]: Some believe that farmers painted barns in a rusty hue so they would appear to be made of bricks, a more expensive material that made farmers appear wealthier.
- 9:41[SPEAKER_00]: Another popular belief is that farmers paint barns read to help their cows find their way home, which seems smart until you find out that cows are colored blind in all colors except yellow and blue.
- 9:51[SPEAKER_00]: Now we could talk about all these theories till the cows do or don't come home, but the reality is a much clearer picture.
- 10:00[SPEAKER_00]: The early farmers that settled in New England didn't have the extra money for paint, but still needed a way to protect their unpainted barns from the elements.
- 10:08[SPEAKER_00]: The result was a rusty colored mixture of skimmed milk, lime, linseed oil, and red iron oxide from the New England soil, which has been found to limit the weathering of wooden surfaces.
- 10:21[SPEAKER_00]: talk about a humble beginning.
- 10:23[SPEAKER_00]: Farmers to this day still paint their barns red and homage to their forefathers in genuity, though utilizing the entirely modern stroke of genius that is, on depot.
- 10:34[SPEAKER_00]: Without a doubt the most iconic lunch menu item of all time, the humble sandwich would be nothing without two slices of good old bread.
- 10:43[SPEAKER_00]: Americans eat more than 300 million sandwiches every single day.
- 10:47[SPEAKER_00]: That's a human
- 10:51[SPEAKER_00]: That number of sandwiches requires a colossal amount of bread, so it's no surprise that a loaf of bread is a staple for almost everyone's grocery list.
- 11:00[SPEAKER_00]: You've likely noticed the colorful tags that seal bread bags, but did you realize that these tags hold the secret to the sandwich of your dreams?
- 11:09[SPEAKER_00]: While the different colors are mostly there to help employees know when to refresh the bread on the shelves, being in on this color code can also help you shop smarter.
- 11:19[SPEAKER_00]: Each color tag corresponds to a different day of the week with each low tag with a color corresponding to the day the bread was baked.
- 11:27[SPEAKER_00]: While there's no universal code for what each color symbolizes, generally the schedule most grocery stores use is something like this.
- 11:35[SPEAKER_00]: Gloves baked and packaged on Monday or Tag Blue, Tuesday lows with green, Thursday bread has a red tag, Friday with white and Saturday dawns a yellow tag.
- 11:46[SPEAKER_00]: If you're wondering why there are no color tags for Wednesdays and Sundays, that's because these are days that most bread bakeries take a day off from production.
- 11:54[SPEAKER_00]: Now you know this tag secret, you can use your powers for the good of all sandwiches by picking out the freshest loaf every time you shop.
- 12:03[SPEAKER_00]: Happy Sandwiching!
- 12:05[SPEAKER_00]: While many drivers consider them quite the nuisance, there's no denying that speed bumps are an essential part of road safety.
- 12:12[SPEAKER_00]: Designed to slow drivers down in areas where there's a lot of pedestrians, speed bumps generally slow drivers down to between two and ten miles per hour.
- 12:22[SPEAKER_00]: While driver and pedestrian safety is the priority, some experts believe that speed bumps may
- 12:30[SPEAKER_00]: According to the U.K.'s National Health Institute, because speed bumps caused drivers to frequently accelerate and decelerate, which increases car emissions, they may be inadvertently contributing to traffic noise and air pollution.
- 12:44[SPEAKER_00]: As a solution, city planners in London, England have given fake speed bumps a test drive.
- 12:49[SPEAKER_00]: From the driver's seat point of view, the faux bumps are painted in such a way that they appear raised like regular speed bumps, when in reality they're not.
- 12:58[SPEAKER_00]: Experts claim the optical illusion could reduce emissions by up to 20% thanks to the smoother driving experience the faux bumps facilitate.
- 13:07[SPEAKER_00]: As the drivers don't have to accelerate as hard afterwards to counteract the decelerating slope of a real speed bump.
- 13:14[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it's a pretty clever way to get people to drive safely in an eco-friendly way, but does anyone else feel like it's a little deceptive?
- 13:22[SPEAKER_00]: Even the roads can't be trusted these days.
- 13:25[SPEAKER_00]: While we all know we need food and water to power our bodies, there's one other power source that has become just as essential in our daily lives.
- 13:34[SPEAKER_00]: The coveted USB.
- 13:37[SPEAKER_00]: Fully powered electronic devices have grown to ruler daily lives, and you probably pop your phone in other devices on to charge multiple times a day without a second thought.
- 13:48[SPEAKER_00]: short for Universal Serial Bus many intriguing theories have been put forward over the years for what the USB symbol means.
- 13:57[SPEAKER_00]: The most popular theory was that the symbol is a representation of Neptune's Trident known as the Dry Zach.
- 14:03[SPEAKER_00]: While the Drizac symbolizes the power of the sea, those who propose this theory suggest the USB's three-pronged trident could symbolize the power of technology and adaptability.
- 14:13[SPEAKER_00]: Well, it's fun to theorize the mystery of the USB symbol may have a more official solution.
- 14:20[SPEAKER_00]: In 2020, Cora user Jim Douse claimed that he was the designer behind the elusive USB symbol, and that the real meaning behind it was a far cry from the suggested theories.
- 14:33[SPEAKER_00]: Jim claims that he came up with the symbol while working as a technical illustrator at the digital equipment corporation in the 1980s, and it was later assigned to the USB which was invented in the 90s.
- 14:45[SPEAKER_00]: As opposed to any fantastical links to mythology, Jim claims that the Triton-like design is actually meant to represent connectivity.
- 14:53[SPEAKER_00]: The larger circle at the base of the symbol represents a computer, while the smaller circle and triangle and square connected to it represent the multiple different outputs that device like USB could potentially be used for.
- 15:06[SPEAKER_00]: So when the USB technology emerged, the generic symbol gem had been tasked with designing proofed perfect for it.
- 15:13[SPEAKER_00]: Of course, these are merely the claims of one man online, so could be fabricated, but they certainly seem believable.
- 15:20[SPEAKER_00]: And it's not just the USB, there are a massive technological symbols whose true meaning escapes our notice every single day.
- 15:29[SPEAKER_00]: Take the power symbol for instance.
- 15:31[SPEAKER_00]: The simple circle broken by a small line is believed to have been derived from the binary system, with the number one standing for power and zero indicating power off.
- 15:41[SPEAKER_00]: But hey, don't hit that power button just yet.
- 15:43[SPEAKER_00]: We've got even more amazing secrets coming right up.
- 15:47[SPEAKER_00]: One of the most recognizable brands out there, there's no doubt that Heinz is the undisputed king of condiments.
- 15:53[SPEAKER_00]: When you go to a restaurant that's serving Heinz, you know that means they care about quality.
- 15:58[SPEAKER_00]: Or does it?
- 15:59[SPEAKER_00]: As an established household brand, Heinz costs more than many catch-ups used in the catering industry.
- 16:06[SPEAKER_00]: But some restaurants have been using this fact to fool their customers.
- 16:10[SPEAKER_00]: Shockingly, 20% of restaurants surveyed by Heinz admit to refilling Heinz catch-up bottles with cheaper alternatives to save money.
- 16:18[SPEAKER_00]: And Heinz isn't happy.
- 16:20[SPEAKER_00]: And response to this epidemic of counterfeit catch-up, Heinz has devised a solution, and it all lies in the label.
- 16:28[SPEAKER_00]: On some of the bottles distributed to restaurants, Heinz has transformed their iconic label into a control tool to help consumers check whether the catch-up they're being served is truly Heinz.
- 16:39[SPEAKER_00]: The new label includes a red outline that has been perfectly color matched to Heinz catch-up.
- 16:45[SPEAKER_00]: On an authentic bottle of Heinz catch-up, this border is almost invisible, but at there's imposter sauce inside it stands out as a blaring warning that you're the victim
- 16:56[SPEAKER_00]: that'll teach those saucy devils.
- 16:59[SPEAKER_00]: While it's a note-brainer, then a suitcase needs a zipper.
- 17:02[SPEAKER_00]: You might have noticed that most suitcases have not just one, but two little pull tabs on their zippers.
- 17:09[SPEAKER_00]: Those nifty little sliders are known in the industry as cars, by the way.
- 17:13[SPEAKER_00]: So there's a free hot steaming fact right out of the gates.
- 17:17[SPEAKER_00]: Now we're all familiar with the anxiety that comes along with traveling with an overloaded suitcase.
- 17:22[SPEAKER_00]: And while it might seem like the bulging case is working against you, it's two zippers are secretly rooting for you to succeed.
- 17:30[SPEAKER_00]: While an overloaded case could pull a single zipper car apart, a second zipper pull acts as a failsafe if the first were to fail.
- 17:39[SPEAKER_00]: Allowing you to still close your case.
- 17:41[SPEAKER_00]: Not only that, but having two zipper pulls allows you to reach into just a small corner of your case without having to open the entire thing.
- 17:49[SPEAKER_00]: Two zips also allow you to padlock your suitcase for extra security, even without a built-in lock system.
- 17:56[SPEAKER_00]: Yet another lesser-known protective design feature on some suitcases are these plastic tabs that help to protect the case from the bumpy journey that happens behind the scenes at airports, offering a little shock absorption in case your case meets with a disgruntled baggage handler.
- 18:12[SPEAKER_00]: It has lowered nose, careless baggage hanglers certainly exist.
- 18:17[SPEAKER_00]: Dang it, Bobby.
- 18:18[SPEAKER_00]: My pros glassier and porcelain doll collection was in there.
- 18:22[SPEAKER_00]: Whether you're a tennis player or not, everyone is familiar with the iconic tennis racket.
- 18:28[SPEAKER_00]: But I'll bet you didn't realize just how much thought is put into its design.
- 18:33[SPEAKER_00]: There's open space just beneath the racket's frame is called the throw, and while you've probably seen players use this area to hold spare balls, that's not really what it's there.
- 18:44[SPEAKER_00]: Also known simply as the triangle, the throat is an integral part of a tennis racket's aerodynamic ability.
- 18:51[SPEAKER_00]: The open space allows air to pass directly through the racket creating a lot less drag when swinging.
- 18:57[SPEAKER_00]: It's something absent from vintage tennis equipment and makes the old wooden rackets feel pretty cumbersome by comparison.
- 19:04[SPEAKER_00]: For a second serve of tennis factoids now while everyone knows that the markings on the court play an integral role in every tennis match, you might not realize that the position of the court itself can be even more important.
- 19:16[SPEAKER_00]: While you'd never notice it from the ground if you'd take a look from the sky, you'll find the most tennis courts mysteriously face the exact same direction.
- 19:26[SPEAKER_00]: But what's the reason for this aligned orientation?
- 19:29[SPEAKER_00]: Seeing as tennis is mostly played outdoors, the position of the sun can play a significant role in the fairness of a game.
- 19:37[SPEAKER_00]: If the sun rises or sets right behind a player, it could really impact their opponent's vision and performance.
- 19:44[SPEAKER_00]: Seeing as the sun moves from east to west during the day, many tennis courts are specifically built to have a north-south orientation to avoid the sun as much as possible.
- 19:54[SPEAKER_00]: This way the sun will always be located to the side of the court with any glare effecting both players equally.
- 20:00[SPEAKER_00]: Unfortunately, many clubs are built on Plads of Land that don't offer enough space for a real choice of orientation, so if you ever find yourself losing a match, double check which way your court's facing.
- 20:11[SPEAKER_00]: It might be that you're at an unfair disadvantage.
- 20:14[SPEAKER_00]: Or at least you can choose to blame it on that.
- 20:17[SPEAKER_00]: The office water cooler is the best place to get in on all the office gossip, but what you may not realize is that there's an even juicier everyday secret right there in your hand.
- 20:28[SPEAKER_00]: While easy to hold, the cone-shaped cups commonly found by water coolers are specifically designed to encourage quick-trinking as the cups can't be placed on flat surfaces.
- 20:39[SPEAKER_00]: This also prevents employees from taking water-filled cups back to set down on desks where it could be knocked over and spilled over computers and other electrical equipment.
- 20:48[SPEAKER_00]: But the true reason behind the cone-cup shape may really lie with sustainability and money-saving.
- 20:55[SPEAKER_00]: As water cooler cups are designed to be single-use, cone-shaped cups are actually less wasteful as they require less paper to construct compared to the regular shaped cups, and hence cost less, too.
- 21:07[SPEAKER_00]: Plus, most importantly, of all, they make for one hell of a stylish hat.
- 21:12[SPEAKER_00]: For many guys out there, shaving isn't a central daily ritual, but the next time you land her up, you'll know there's a hidden everyday secret that's been smoothly passing you by.
- 21:22[SPEAKER_00]: While shaving foam is packaged in a traditional aerosol can containing both product and gas mix together, shaving gel uses what's known as bag on valve filling.
- 21:33[SPEAKER_00]: And cans with these latter types of fillings, the product is filled in two an aluminum pouch, which is attached to the valve.
- 21:41[SPEAKER_00]: The extra space in the cannon filled with compressed air, which squeezes the pouch every time you press the trigger at the top of the cannon.
- 21:48[SPEAKER_00]: Imagine everything all that there could be so many mechanics behind a smooth chant.
- 21:53[SPEAKER_00]: It's a shape new world indeed.
- 21:55[SPEAKER_00]: With hundreds of domestic leagues, cup competitions and international tournaments taking place each year, countless games of professional soccer or football for most of the world are being played every single day.
- 22:09[SPEAKER_00]: If you're one of the three and a half billion footy fans worldwide, you've probably lost count of the number of games you've watched, but you'll never watch one the same way again after hearing this.
- 22:20[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks to the power of technology, the role of the referee has become more precise than ever before, with the introduction of video-assistant referee systems back in 2012.
- 22:31[SPEAKER_00]: But now, a new footy invention has booted its way out of the field, and it could change the face of soccer as we know it.
- 22:38[SPEAKER_00]: In 2022, the World Cup introduced three chargeable footballs that are specially designed to help referees make decisions during games.
- 22:47[SPEAKER_00]: The Bowser fitted with special electronic sensors suspended inside.
- 22:52[SPEAKER_00]: The sensors are able to send at a 50 times per second to the VAR system to help determine the ball's precise position and kickpoint, which helps detect off side disputes more accurately for a fair game overall.
- 23:06[SPEAKER_00]: Is it a little ridiculous that professional soccer players now need to charge their balls before playing?
- 23:12[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe, but honestly, with the way the world said it, it's probably not long before we all have to plug ourselves into the wall to charge overnight, so Brad should just get used to it.
- 23:22[SPEAKER_00]: Ha ha ha!
- 23:24[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening to the podcast, we'll see you again next time you'll want to be amazed.