Sawbones: What’s More Edible, Paper or Cotton?
Summary
Hosts Justin and Sydney McElroy answer listener and child questions about flatulence, taste buds, digestive tract length, and canker sores. They distinguish nightmares from night terrors, discuss REM sleep’s role in memory, and debunk myths about Selsun Blue’s color. The episode concludes with an update on a multi-state Cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated produce.
Topics discussed
Intro and sponsor read
Welcome, beach banter, and episode setup
Why do we fart? The science of flatulence
How taste buds work and the tongue map myth
How long is the human intestine?
Boomer behavior and the lead poisoning theory
Can you digest paper, cotton, or gum?
Germs on surfaces and the importance of handwashing
Sponsor: Figs scrubs for medical professionals
Sponsor: Smalls cat food and cat behavior
Sponsor: Judge John Hodgman podcast
Why canker sores are so painful and how they heal
Nightmares vs. night terrors: what's the difference?
The role of REM sleep in memory and brain health
Why is Selsun Blue blue? Branding theories
Cyclospora outbreak update and testing delays
Growing your own herbs to avoid contamination
Outro and final sign-off
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