Atomic Gardening, Microwave Conspiracies and the Rise of Phubbing

A Little Bit Of Science

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

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