Épisodes

  • Musical Household Appliances

    Musical Household Appliances
    Aug 17 2025
    From dryers playing Schubert to microwaves playing inspirational melodies, when did household appliances become the soundtrack to daily life? In this episode, we explore the beginnings of the product sonification trend that has become mainstream for nearly all types of household appliances. And, we share a taxomony of human reactions to the trend. Some of my favorite choreography videos to appliance songs: https://youtube.com/shorts/J-5t3EvhAlU?si=QX2VTb6vosJb9JTT https://www.tiktok.com/@cost_n_mayor/video/7192425403661765931 Thanks to the pianist and guitarist who posted their duets on YouTube and are included in the episode, and some other faves: Pianist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu1g3h4lAvQ Guitarist: https://youtu.be/y3vWVynL9Q4?si=0eqUhJKc8dQK9MzS One man band: https://youtu.be/XG9xHIG7RII?si=eSywG5fCH6SZndVc Credits: Huge thank you to Mike Hahm and Meegan's friend Jill for sharing the household appliance jingles from their homes. And thanks to the following audio artists who have made their work available for use: Sal Monella Eatery and Pub by - by Steven F Allen (audiomirage) -- https://freesound.org/s/718491/ , People Talking 01 by iameligator -- https://freesound.org/s/494102/ , Bright sfx hit by xkeril -- https://freesound.org/s/736849/ , VS_Short Whoosh 2.mp3 by Vilkas_Sound -- https://freesound.org/s/460471/ , Production Sounder: Button Zipper Usage by BWSmithATL -- https://freesound.org/s/245314/ Contact us: admin@thatssuperinteresting.com References: 1) https://www.gearpatrol.com/home/a45038903/singing-appliances/ 2) https://www.wtnh.com/news/national/what-is-behind-the-end-of-cycle-song-on-your-samsung-washer-can-you-turn-it-off/#:~:text=According%20to%20Husker%2C%20a%20Samsung,convey%20comfort%20in%20the%20home.&text=Composed%20in%201817%2C%20the%20song,lyrics%20to%20sing%20along%20to! 3) https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2020/08/20/appliance-jingles-classical-music 4) https://www.its-her-factory.com/2018/11/singing-appliances-reproductive-labor/ 5) https://interlude.hk/classical-sounds-in-modern-machines-household-appliances-play-classical-music/ 6) https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/09/why-are-washing-machines-learning-to-play-the-harp/594706/ (I read on: https://www.nightterrorsof1927.com/why-washing-machines-are-learning-how-to-play-the-harp ) 7) https://www.upworthy.com/violinist-washing-machine-duet 8) https://musescore.com/user/28662213/scores/9601027#:~:text=The%20funky%20little%20song%20that,Poacher%2C%20composed%20by%20Pete%20Morton. 9) https://www.audiobrain.com/ 10) https://www.zojirushi.com/blog/design-explained-our-signature-tune/ 11) https://www.20k.org/episodes/domesticsymphony (podcast) 12) https://rksdesign.com/home-appliance-design/#
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    35 min
  • A Brief History of Contact Lenses

    A Brief History of Contact Lenses
    Aug 3 2025

    Many people with not-so-perfect vision take contact lenses for granted. But how and when did they become so easily accessible? We explore the history of contact lenses and come across some funny anecdotes about their origins and evolution. And bonus: there's even a fun science adjacent activity you can try at home.

    We'd like to thank retired optomestrict, Christine Janty, for sharing her expertise with us!

    Sources:

    https://www.eyecarecenter.com/how-do-glasses-work

    https://www.britannica.com/biography/Willebrord-Snell

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Sahl_(mathematician)

    https://www.glasses.com/gl-us/blog/when-were-glasses-invented#:~:text=It%20is%20generally%20accepted%20that,the%20bridge%20of%20the%20nose.

    https://www.contactlenses.org/timeline.htm

    https://www.warbyparker.com/learn/when-were-contacts-invented#:~:text=In%20the%201630s%2C%20French%20scientist,glass%20contact%20lens%20onto%20patients.

    https://clspectrum.com/issues/2022/april/history-of-contact-lenses/

    https://www.bbc.com/news/health-40630852

    Leonardo da Vinci's contact lens drawing. Image credit: supercurioso.com

     Light refraction experiment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeIVhcIo1V4
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    35 min