Black Box
Summary
This Radiolab episode explores the mystery of anesthesia, detailing how scientists like Patrick Purden use brainwave monitoring to understand the "black box" of unconsciousness. It also features Jesse Cox’s investigation into his grandparents, the 1950s radio mentalists The Pittingtons, whose telepathy tricks remain unsolved. Finally, magician Penn Jillette explains why magic secrets are intentionally ugly to preserve the illusion.
Topics discussed
Intro: Ads and episode theme
Ether Day: The first public demonstration of anesthesia
The Black Box: The mystery of anesthesia and consciousness
Brain waves: How anesthesia disconnects the brain
Ads: Progressive and Stop & Shop
The Pittingtons: A 1950s telepathy radio mystery
Penn & Teller: The ethics of revealing magic secrets
Metamorphosis: What happens inside a chrysalis?
Outro: Credits and sponsors
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