Episode 047 = If Bees Flew Your Weight and Honey Use-By Date

2022-11-21
00:49:29

News: Matt at the world's largest beer garden
00:01:49–00:06:44

During the US tour, Matt usually chose hotels near craft beer places. One of those was the largest beer garden of the world in Raleigh — according to the number of beers on tap, which is approximately 400.

News: Bec at Comic Con
00:06:45–00:09:54

Bec will be co-hosting Comic Con Brussels. She might be able to use her visit to measure some stairs for slinky action. She only has a short amount of time though. On Monday, she'll be on set for filming something that, so far, only patrons know about.

Problem 047-1 = How many bees would it take to lift a person?
00:09:57–00:20:41

Problem poser: Josh
Problem solver: Matt

Problem statement

How many bees would it take to lift a person?

Solution attempt

1.5 million for Matt, 1 million for Bec.

People have measured how much weight a bee can carry using two approaches, both of which involve attaching string to them. On average, a standard bee can lift (flying) 53% of its body weight.

According to research by the Queen Mary University of London and the University of Western Australia, it would only take 3 horned dung beetles to lift Bec, or 4 to lift Matt. Bec is skeptical, and can't ding this additional information. However, she does concede she could be lifted by 17 cats.

Ding

A ding, but not a dung(beetle)

Problem 047-2 = Does honey really have an infinite shelf life?
00:20:45–00:36:10

Problem poser: Jens W
Problem solver: Bec

Problem statement

I've heard that honey can't get bad over time. Is that true, and if it is, why? Subproblem: Also, are there other foods with basically infinite shelf life?

Marcos sent in a very similar problem.

Solution attempt

Yes, it is true. Archaeologists have found 5000 year old jars of honey in Aegyptian tombs and it was still edible (though crystallized, but that's perfectly fine). However, the honey needs to stay sealed.

Honey is a sugar, and sugars are hygroscopic, which means they will suck in moisture if unsealed. It is also pretty acidic, which will kill of things that try to grow in it. Finally, bees have an enzyme in their stomach (glucose oxidase) that breaks down, among other things, into hydrogen peroxide, which will also kill off things. These factors mean that honey is also good for putting on wounds, apparently. If a pig ran into a beehive, you'd have honey roast ham.

There have been unconfirmed stories about (Russian) explorers taking bites out of mammoth corpses. Some paleontologists used the marrow of a 50'000 year old horse bone, and researchers ate meat from a 36'000 year old bison corpse. Fruit cake is also a candidate.

Ding

The "ding" of your microwave after heating your crystallized honey

News: DJ name suggestions
00:36:22–00:39:37

There were lots of good suggestions. Bec's favourites were DJ Miss Heard Lyrics, DJ Jee Day, DJ Flipflop Anonymous, DJ Hilla Cool, DJ Spooky Waxwork Ghosttrain (Bec doesn't want context), Simon, DJ Beeside Flips, DJ Flip It, Flip It Real Good, and DJ Lil Sausage (and not a sausage more).

Update for problem 044-1
00:39:37–00:43:38

Ben loves the way the question was answered. They like butterflies as a symbol for hope. While a common symbol, it also references the butterfly effect, which Bec likes. Ben would love to commission an artist of Bec's choice to design such a symbol, as a gift to the podcast.

Someone else mentioned Jewish spiritualism, where you carry the phrases "I am dust and ashes" and "the whole world was made for me, only me" in your hands (in your mind). Bec suggests "yeah" and "nah", one on each wing of the butterfly.

News: Pun closure
00:43:38–00:44:13

The correct answer (which some people got), was Shya LaBeouf.

News: Close to 900'000 downloads
00:44:13–00:45:30

The podcast is almost at 900'000 downloads. Matt is underwhelmed because he views it from a YouTube perspective. Matt and Bec are looking for a way to celebrate 1'000'000 downloads (which Matt now interprets as similar to 1'000'000 subscribers on YouTube).

Note: Pre-USA twisties
00:47:53–00:49:29

Someone gave Bec Fonzies from Italy, which Matt describes as anemic twisties that have been living in the UK for 17 years. Bec and Matt like them; they're the closest to twisties so far.