Scientists in the mid-20th century created "atomic gardens" where they bombarded plants with gamma radiation to induce beneficial mutations like disease resistance and higher yields. Microwaves have been accused of causing cancer, destroying nutrients,and functioning as listening devices. "Phubbing" - phone snubbing - describes ignoring someone in front of you to look at your phone, and it's become the modern signature of distraction. We've created connections across continents through technology yet find it increasingly difficult to maintain eye contact with people sitting across from us. The accidental side glance at notifications has become so normalized that we barely register the social damage it causes, making it a choice we make every time we prioritize the buzzing rectangle over the human in front of us. From gamma-ray gardens to microwave paranoia and phone addiction ruining dinners, this week showed that human curiosity and technological advancement create both excellent outcomes and noteworthy disasters. We've learnt to mutate plants with radiation and overcome irrational appliance fears, yet somehow can't put our phones down long enough to have a proper conversation - proving that some technological problems are harder to solve than others. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 01:32 The Birth of Atomic Gardening 04:09 Muriel Howorth and the Atomic Gardening Society 12:25 The Legacy and Impact of Atomic Gardening 12:59 CJ Spies and the Atomic Golf Balls 13:39 Radiated Golf Balls: The New Sensation 14:04 Introducing the Food Babe 14:48 Microwaves and Nutrient Destruction 17:17 Microwaves and Radiation Exposure 19:57 Microwaved Water and Negative Energy 22:45 Phubbing: The Modern Social Dilemma 26:18 Wrapping Up: Listener Interaction and Feedback SOURCES: Atomic Gardening https://proto.life/2021/05/a-short-history-of-atomic-gardening/ http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/03/atomic-gardening-breeding-plants-with.html http://www.atomicgardening.com/1966/03/01/whatever-happened-to-the-atomic-garden/ https://minnstate.pressbooks.pub/peppermintkings/chapter/global-peppermint/ Microwave Conspiracies https://www.science20.com/cool-links/the_food_babe_took_down_her_goofy_microwave_oven_post_science_win-140892 https://www.vox.com/2015/4/7/8360935/food-babe https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf970670x https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200714-is-it-safe-to-microwave-food Phubbing https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563218302978 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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