Science You Believe That Isn't True & The Story of The Lie Detector - SYSK Choice
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How do trees contribute to crime prevention?
Hi, welcome and thank you for joining me for another episode of Something You Should Know. And we're going to start today talking about trees. If you live in a neighborhood that has a lot of nice big trees, it's a little safer than neighborhoods without them. According to the U.S. Forest Service, less crime occurs in neighborhoods with big trees in the front yards and along the street. So what exactly makes having trees a deterrent to crime? Well, for the most part, it's an unexplained phenomenon, but researchers have come up with a few ideas. Some say trees signal that the area is well cared for, similar to the broken windows theory, which suggests that disorder invites crime. Some say green spaces make an area inviting and can lead to more informal surveillance.
Other theories point to the well-documented calming effect of vegetation and nature, or that the idea that greenery promotes trust in the community. Whatever the reason, trees fight crime. And that is something you should know.
What are some common science myths?
I'm sure you've heard statements, scientific-y kind of statements, like lightning never strikes the same place twice, or your blood is red because of the iron in it, or that the Big Bang Theory explains the beginning of the universe. But these are actually examples of statements that are not true. And there are a lot of them. Things that you may believe that just aren't so. And here to reveal several of them and explain why they're not true is Brian Clegg. Brian is a science writer and speaker who has written over 40 science books. One of them is called Lightning Often Strikes Twice, The 50 Biggest Misconceptions in Science. Hi, Brian. Welcome to Something You Should Know. Thanks for having me.
So what made you decide to tackle this, to try to explain that a lot of things that we perhaps believe about science are in fact not true?
I spend a lot of time talking to people about science, and all too often what comes up is it's a bit more complicated than we thought, that science tends to be a little more complicated than we think about it. And what I'm looking at here, in a fairly light way, a fairly fun way, is... areas where we think that science is different from the way it really is, or where we simplify it so much that actually we don't really understand what's happening. So it's just trying to open up a little bit. It might be urban myths, it might be folklore, or it might just be not quite getting the science right in what I hope is an enjoyable way.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
How do trees contribute to crime prevention?
1:45–2:57
2
What are some common science myths?
2:57–7:17
3
Does water really conduct electricity well?
7:17–11:29
4
What is the truth about lightning striking twice?
11:29–15:32
5
Does sugar make kids hyperactive?
15:32–19:55
6
What misconceptions exist about the Big Bang theory?
19:55–32:31
7
Can subliminal messages in movies influence behavior?
32:31–39:27
8
Why do some science myths persist?
39:27–49:55
Speakers
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