Something You Should Know

The lottery is one of the few games where everyone knows the odds are terrible—and millions of people play anyway. Why? It turns out there are some fascinating psychological reasons people buy lottery tickets, along with a few surprising facts about the odds and strategies that most players never consider. https://www.wired.com/video/watch/lottery-strategy

When Uber launched, many people thought the idea was ridiculous. Let strangers drive you around in their personal cars? Airbnb faced similar skepticism. Why would anyone stay in a stranger's house? Yet these companies went on to reshape entire industries. The same is true of Twitter, Twitch, and many other breakthrough businesses. What separates ideas that change the world from ideas that never get off the ground? According to venture capitalist Mike Maples Jr., truly transformative companies don't succeed by being slightly better than the competition—they succeed by seeing the world differently. In this conversation, Mike explains the patterns behind history's most disruptive startups, why the best ideas often sound wrong at first, and what it takes to build something that changes the future. Mike is co-founder of Floodgate, one of Silicon Valley's premier seed-stage investment firms, host of the podcast Starting Greatness (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starting-greatness/id1488560647), and author of Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future (https://amzn.to/3W8BXlT).

Black holes may be the most mysterious objects in the universe. Their gravity is so powerful that not even light can escape. Yet despite their reputation as cosmic vacuum cleaners, black holes do much more than simply swallow things. In fact, astronomers now believe that the giant black hole at the center of our galaxy may have played a critical role in making life on Earth possible. How can something so destructive also be so important? Why does nearly every galaxy appear to have a supermassive black hole at its center? And what have scientists learned recently that is forcing them to rethink these extraordinary objects? Marcus Chown, former radio astronomer at Caltech and author of A Crack in Everything: How Black Holes Came in from the Cold and Took Cosmic Centre Stage (https://amzn.to/3W9cFUE), takes us on a fascinating tour of one of the strangest and most important discoveries in modern science.

Most people rely on sunscreen as their primary defense against skin cancer—and for good reason. Yet skin cancer rates continue to rise. Researchers are increasingly discovering that sun protection may involve more than what you put on your skin. Emerging evidence suggests that what you put on your plate could also influence how your skin responds to the sun. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/08/well/eat/diet-skin-cancer-risk-melanoma.html

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Nothing can ruin a meal faster than someone loudly slurping soup, coffee, or noodles. At least that's what many people think. Yet in some cultures, slurping isn't rude at all—it's expected. And as annoying as it may sound, there is actually a surprisingly good reason people do it. https://www.discovermagazine.com/its-not-rude-slurping-makes-food-taste-better-42739

Your beliefs do far more than influence how you see the world—they influence what happens next. The beliefs you hold about yourself, your abilities, other people, and the future affect the opportunities you notice, the risks you're willing to take, and even how successful you're likely to become. The remarkable thing is that many of our most important beliefs operate in the background, quietly steering our decisions without us even realizing it. Shawn Achor, one of the world's leading experts on mindset, happiness, and human potential, explains how beliefs shape our lives, where those beliefs come from, and how changing them can dramatically alter your path. Shawn's TED Talk has been viewed more than 25 million times, and he is author of The Power of Beliefs (https://amzn.to/4a1eR7m). Shawn’s TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work

When people talk about helping the environment, the conversation often sounds like a list of things you have to give up: drive less, fly less, consume less, turn down the thermostat, and generally make life a little less enjoyable. But what if that approach is backward? What if some of the best things you can do for the planet also happen to make you happier? Psychologist Elizabeth Dunn offers a refreshing alternative to guilt, sacrifice, and doom-and-gloom messaging. Elizabeth's work has appeared in major media outlets around the world, and she is co-author of Leave the Lights On: How Joyful Decisions Can Save Our Species (https://amzn.to/4oyXl09). Elizabeth’s TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_dunn_helping_others_makes_us_happier_but_it_matters_how_we_do_it

The English language is alive. Words and phrases that were once considered incorrect, awkward, or even ridiculous can become perfectly acceptable over time. In fact, some expressions we use every day would have made earlier generations cringe. The evolution of language offers a fascinating look at how culture changes—and how today's "mistakes" sometimes become tomorrow's rules. https://time.com/4293303/garner-common-words-mistakes/

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With all of the recent excitement surrounding the NBA & Stanley Cup finals and the World Cup you might wonder why do millions of people spend hours every week watching sports? Most people think of it as entertainment, a way to relax or pass the time. But what if watching sports is actually doing something good for your mind, your emotions, and even your health? That’s why today’s SYSK Trending topic is A lot of people look at sports fans and wonder what all the fuss is about. Why invest so much time and emotion in a team you don't play for and have no control over? Why let a win make your day or a loss ruin your mood?

It turns out there may be a lot more going on than simple entertainment.

Researchers have discovered that being a sports fan can provide surprising benefits for your physical health, mental wellbeing, and social life. Following a team can create a sense of belonging, strengthen social connections, reduce feelings of loneliness, and even help people cope with stress and adversity. In some cases, the benefits are remarkably similar to those that come from being part of a close-knit community.

Sports fandom also gives people something increasingly rare in modern life: a shared experience. In a world where entertainment, news, and social media are highly personalized, millions of people still gather around the same games, celebrate the same victories, and suffer through the same defeats together.

Larry Olmsted joins me to explain why sports fans may be happier, healthier, and more connected than non-fans. We discuss the science behind fandom, why rooting for a team can be good for your emotional health, how sports help build relationships, and why being a fan is about much more than the final score.

Larry is a journalist and author of Fans: How Watching Sports Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Understanding (https://amzn.to/2T6YUs1).

Whether you're a die-hard fan, a casual observer, or someone who has never understood sports at all, this conversation may change the way you think about what it means to be a fan.

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Ever notice when you hear someone talking on the phone nearby it’s hard not to listen? You are only hearing one-side of the conversation and that can drive your brain crazy. It’s not just annoying and distracting it can actually be dangerous. https://now.uiowa.edu/news/2017/06/ui-study-explores-why-cell-phone-use-leads-distracted-driving

It’s hard to imagine life without GPS. But now it has become so woven into daily life that most of us never think about it. We use it to navigate, order food, track packages, find rides, locate our phones and even synchronize financial transactions. Yet GPS wasn't created for that. It began as a military technology and evolved into one of the most important—and expensive—infrastructure systems ever built. How does GPS actually know where you are? Why is it free to use? Who pays for it? Is it spying on you? Here to explain is Katherine Dunn, business reporter, editor and author of the book Little Blue Dot: How GPS Shaped the Modern World (https://amzn.to/4uvtk2M).

Why is it that millions of people experience chronic pain, fatigue, digestive problems and other ailments that doctors and medical tests often fail to explain? Too often they're told "it's all in your head." But according to psychiatrist Susan Trachman, that phrase badly misunderstands what's happening. The connection between the brain and body is far more powerful than most people realize. Thoughts, emotions and stress can trigger genuine physical symptoms—and understanding how can be the key to finding relief. Susan has spent more than 30 years treating medically unexplained illnesses. She is author of the popular Psychology Today blog and the book It's Not Just in Your Head. (https://amzn.to/4oqvjDP)

Listen to a tennis match or walk through a gym and you'll hear it everywhere: grunting. Sometimes really loud grunting. It seems odd. Maybe even unnecessary. So why do athletes do it? Is it habit? Showmanship? Or is there something else going on? https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a64691561/grunting-power-output-study/

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A great burger looks simple—but barbecue experts know there is a surprising amount of science and technique behind getting it just right. From choosing the meat to handling the patties to what happens on the grill, a few small mistakes can mean the difference between a memorable burger and a disappointing one. Source: Steve Raichlen, author of The Barbecue Bible (https://amzn.to/4bgBEcM)

Life has a way of speeding up. One day you're making plans for someday, and before you know it, months or years have gone by. That's why so many people eventually find themselves wondering: Did I spend my time on the things that really mattered? According to Jodi Wellman, avoiding regret isn't about quitting your job, moving to a tropical island, or making dramatic life changes. Instead, it comes from being intentional about how you spend your days and paying attention to the experiences, relationships, and opportunities that give life meaning. In this conversation, she shares a refreshing perspective on how to stop living on autopilot, make the most of the time you have, and create a life you'll look back on with satisfaction rather than regret. Jodi is a former corporate executive, executive coach, and author of You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets (https://amzn.to/3KUdQ3Z). Learn more at https://fourthousandmondays.com/

Swear words are among the most powerful words in any language. They can shock, offend, amuse, bond people together, relieve pain, and communicate emotion in ways ordinary words often can't. But where do these words come from? Why are some words considered offensive while others are perfectly acceptable? And why does every generation seem to have a different idea about what language is inappropriate? Writer and language expert Jess Zafarris takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of profanity, insults, taboo language, and the darker corners of English vocabulary. She is author of Words from Hell: Unearthing the Darkest Secrets of English Etymology (https://amzn.to/4cafvyc).

Grandma's health advice was often well-intentioned—but not always correct. Some of the most common health "facts" people still repeat today have been thoroughly debunked by modern science. Yet these myths continue to survive because they sound so believable. https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-10-health-myths-debunked

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