SciShow Quiz Show: Invest in Your Digestion!

TL;DR

Scishow Quiz Show uncovers fascinating information about potatoes, absinthe, World War II animal-based bombs, ocean contaminants, and Guppies.

Transcript

thanks to Skillshare for supporting this scishow quiz show ladies and gentlemen and non-binary friends welcome to scishow quiz show the only quiz show where I Michael Aranda and standing in between a married couple about to fight to the death in this corner we have hay green like a thumb fight to the thumb debt like what kind of death I don't know ... Read More

Key Insights

• 💚 Potatoes turn green when exposed to sunlight, but green parts should be cut away to avoid consuming the toxic compound, solanine.
• 🫱 Absinthe was erroneously given to French soldiers as a treatment for malaria during colonial wars.
• 💦 Coconut water was used as a substitute for saline solution by soldiers during World War II.
• 💦 Bats were experimented with incendiary bombs during World War II, but the project was eventually dropped due to concern and limited resources.
• 🌊 Mussels in Puget Sound tested positive for oxycodone and other chemicals, highlighting the issue of ocean contamination.
• 😃 Guppies change the color of their eyes to black as a visual signal of aggression to other Guppies.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why does solanine, a compound found in green potatoes, pose health risks?

Solanine is a pesticide-like compound that can disrupt cell membranes and interfere with an enzyme called cholinesterase, causing health problems when consumed in large amounts.

Q: Why was absinthe given to French soldiers during colonial wars?

Absinthe was mistakenly thought to prevent malaria, but it was actually sweet wormwood, a cousin of the wormwood used in absinthe, that had anti-malarial properties.

Q: What were the casings dropped from planes during World War II's Project X-Ray filled with?

The casings were filled with bats that had incendiary bombs attached to them, intended to set buildings on fire.

Q: How do mussels in Puget Sound help monitor ocean contaminants?

Mussels act as filter feeders and pick up various chemicals and contaminants in their tissues, providing insights into pollution levels in the ocean.

Q: How do Guppies signal aggression to each other?

When Guppies are ready to fight or compete over food, their eyes change color from silver to black.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Potatoes turn green when exposed to sunlight due to chlorophyll production and can become poisonous if consumed in this state.

• Absinthe, a drink popular among French artists, was given to French soldiers during colonial wars to prevent malaria.

• Coconut water was used by both British and Japanese soldiers during World War II as a substitute for saline solution.

• Pigeons were trained to mechanically steer missiles in World War II, while bats were experimented with incendiary bombs attached to them.

• Mussels in Puget Sound were found to test positive for oxycodone, raising concerns about contamination in the ocean.

• Guppies change the color of their eyes to black to signal aggression and to compete for food.