Digest

This episode of "No Such Thing as a Fish" was recorded live at Nerdland Festival in Belgium, a festival described as "Disneyland for nerds." The hosts, Dan Schreiber, James Harkin, Andrew Hunter Murray, and Leven Scherer, shared their favorite facts from the past week. Leven's fact was about Alpha Zero, an AI that learned chess in four hours and surpassed human world champions. James discussed the 14th-century European rumor that all Englishmen had tails, which stemmed from a curse by Saint Augustine. Andy's fact was about crocodiles and their ability to cough up hairballs, which can provide insights into their diet over decades. Dan's fact was about the rigorous six-month training program for toilet paper testers at Proctor and Gamble, where they learn to use all their senses to evaluate the perfect toilet paper. The episode also touched upon the use of AI in various fields, including podcasting, beauty contests, and even beer brewing. The hosts discussed the potential for AI to surpass humans in various areas, but also acknowledged the importance of human creativity and the need to protect artists' livelihoods. The episode concluded with a humorous discussion about the origins of the toilet and the surprising role of poo in toilet paper testing.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the episode of "No Such Thing as a Fish" recorded live at Nerdland Festival in Belgium. It mentions the hosts and the format of the show, where they share their favorite facts from the past week.

00:03:01

AI's Chess Mastery

This Chapter focuses on Leven's fact about Alpha Zero, an AI that learned chess in four hours and surpassed human world champions. It discusses the AI's unique strategies and the implications of AI's rapid learning capabilities.

00:03:55

Crocodiles and Hairballs

This Chapter explores Andy's fact about crocodiles and their ability to cough up hairballs. It explains how these hairballs form, their size, and their potential use in understanding the crocodile's diet over decades.

00:04:13

The World of Toilet Paper Testing

This Chapter delves into Dan's fact about the rigorous training program for toilet paper testers at Proctor and Gamble. It highlights the importance of using all senses to evaluate toilet paper and the secretive nature of the toilet paper testing industry.

00:04:43

AI's Impact on Various Fields

This Chapter discusses the increasing presence of AI in various fields, including podcasting, beauty contests, and beer brewing. It explores the potential for AI to surpass humans in these areas and the ethical considerations surrounding its use.

00:04:57

The History of the Toilet

This Chapter delves into the history of the toilet, specifically the invention of the flushing toilet by Sir John Harrington for Queen Elizabeth I. It also mentions the connection between the toilet and Kit Harrington, John Snow from Game of Thrones.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is Alpha Zero and how did it learn to play chess?

  Alpha Zero is an AI developed by DeepMind that learned to play chess by playing against itself millions of times, without any human input or prior knowledge of the game. It learned to play at a superhuman level, surpassing human world champions in just four hours.

• What is the 14th-century European rumor about Englishmen and tails?

  The rumor was that all Englishmen had tails, which stemmed from a curse by Saint Augustine on the people of Kent. This rumor persisted in Europe, with people using it to taunt the English during battles and sieges.

• Why do crocodiles cough up hairballs?

  Crocodiles cannot digest hair, so when they eat animals with hair, like pigs, they form hairballs in their stomachs. These hairballs can be stored for decades and provide insights into the crocodile's diet over time.

• What is the training program for toilet paper testers like?

  Toilet paper testers at Proctor & Gamble undergo a six-month training program where they learn to use all their senses to evaluate toilet paper. They need to understand how it feels in the hand, how it wipes, and even how it tastes. Only half of the trainees make it through to the actual job.

• How is AI being used in various fields?

  AI is being used in podcasting to generate transcripts and even create entire episodes. It is also being used in beauty contests to judge contestants and in beer brewing to develop new recipes. AI's potential applications are vast and continue to expand.

• What is the history of the toilet and its invention?

  The flushing toilet was invented by Sir John Harrington, the godson of Queen Elizabeth I. He built a toilet with valves and a flush system, which Queen Elizabeth I found impressive. A descendant of John Harrington is Kit Harrington, John Snow from Game of Thrones.

• What is the role of poo in toilet paper testing?

  Toilet paper testers use fake poo, created with NASA, to test the absorbency and performance of toilet paper. This is done to avoid using real feces, which can cause disease.

• What is the origin of the Japanese high-tech toilets?

  These toilets were invented in America and were initially intended for care homes. They were sent to Japan, where a company saw their potential and began mass production. However, the early models often fired boiling water into people's anuses, leading to the development of the now-famous Toto toilets with their precise water spray angles.

• What is the golden angle for water spray in Japanese toilets?

  The golden angle for water spray in Japanese toilets is 43 degrees for men and 53 degrees for women. This angle ensures optimal cleaning without causing discomfort.

• What is the connection between the toilet and the throne?

  In British culture, the toilet is often referred to as the throne. This term is attributed to Sir John Harrington, who invented the flushing toilet for Queen Elizabeth I. The toilet, therefore, became a symbol of royalty and power.

Show Notes