A growing number of Americans are choosing to return to earth after death—literally. Green burials, and specifically human composting, is an environmentally conscious, life-sustaining option that’s now legal in 14 states. But how does a human composting vessel work? And what exactly happens to Grandpa’s hip replacement once he’s been “recycled?” PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert dig deep to explain it all.
Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/how-human-composting-works/
If you have a question for a future episode, go to https://popsci.com/ask
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Why do we get goosebumps? Plus: RL Stine!
Goosebumps are a valuable tool for many animals. They keep mammals with thick fur warm by trapping air near their skin, or help make them look bigger when facing off against a rival.
However, in humans a wide range of emotions can also induce goosebumps. BUT WHY? Join PopSci Editor Sarah Durn and Editor-in-Chief Annie Colbert as they explain the science AND chat with Goosebumps legend, RL Stine.
Read the full story that inspired this episode: https://www.popsci.com/science/why-goosebumps-happen/
If you have a question for a future episode, go to https://popsci.com/ask
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Welcome back to Ask Us Anything from Popular Science
Join us as we dive into your weirdest, most mind-burning questions–from the everyday things you’ve always wondered to the bizarre things you never thought to ask. This is… Ask Us Anything. New episodes drop every other Wednesday starting November 12, with more AUA questions and answers here: https://www.popsci.com/category/ask-us-anything/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How do chatbots work?
If you remember chatting with SmarterChild back on AOL Instant Messenger back in the day, you know how far ChatGPT and Google Bard have come. But how do these so-called chatbots work—and what’s the best way to use them to our advantage?
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Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod
Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq
Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How is Voyager's vintage technology still flying?
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 launched back in 1977 with only a five-year mission to take a gander at Jupiter and Saturn’s rings and moons. Obviously, the Voyager spacecrafts have persisted a lot longer than five years: 46 years, to be exact. They’re still careening through space at a distance between 12 and 14 billion miles from Earth. So how have they lasted four decades longer than expected?
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Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskPopSciPod
Produced by Jess Boddy: https://twitter.com/JessicaBoddy
Music by Billy Cadden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6LqT4DCuAXlBzX8XlNy4Wq
Art by Katie Belloff: https://twitter.com/Katie_Bellz
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Popular Science answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions—from the everyday things you’ve always wondered to the bizarre things you never thought to ask. Join our editors as they explain it all, with new episodes every other Wednesday starting November 12th.
Submit a question for a future episode at https://popsci.com/ask
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