Bananas on the Rotting Sea
Summary
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick explore the maritime superstition that bananas bring bad luck on ships. They discuss the fruit's history, domestication, and global spread, noting its role in trade. The episode examines scientific explanations, particularly how bananas emit ethylene gas, which accelerates the ripening and potential spoilage of other perishable cargo during long voyages.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and intro
Introduction to maritime superstitions
The superstition: Bananas are bad luck on ships
History and global spread of bananas
Origins of the banana trade and superstition
Ethylene gas and fruit ripening science
Historical discovery of ethylene's effects
Banana ripening explosions and gas risks
Stowaway animals in banana shipments
Other theories and conclusion
Listen ad-free on Castria