This week's little bits of science challenge long-held assumptions and reveal the unexpected dangers lurking in everyday situations. A groundbreaking study on phantom limb syndrome has overturned decades of medical thinking by proving that the mysterious sensations amputees feel aren't caused by brain changes at all - they're likely nerve-related, opening up entirely new treatment possibilities.

Meanwhile, a man with the world's largest penis broke his arm in a shower accident because he couldn't see his feet, proving that even anatomical fame comes with occupational hazards. The space exploration front delivered its own dose of terror when Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano nearly drowned inside his helmet during a spacewalk, with water sloshing around his head while he floated in the vacuum of space. Back on Earth, researchers discovered that smearing Greek yogurt on your windows can cool your house by up to 3.5 degrees Celsius, offering a dairy-based solution to summer heat that sounds ridiculous but actually works.

Perhaps the most spectacular story involves a 1950s nuclear test called Operation Plumbbob, where scientists accidentally launched a 900-kilogram manhole cover at six times Earth's escape velocity - potentially making it the first human-made object to reach space, beating Sputnik by several years. The incident perfectly captures the chaotic, consequence-free spirit of 1950s nuclear experimentation, when scientists would essentially ask "what happens if we nuke this?" and then find out in the most dramatic way possible.

 

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Fastest Human-Made Objects

1:45 - Fastest Cars, Planes, Bullets and Spacecraft

3:30 - Space Records: Apollo 10 & Parker Solar Probe

5:15 - Your hosts, Rod & Will: Academics with Beers

6:15 - Cool Study: Phantom Limb Syndrome Research

11:50 - Be Careful What You Wish For: World's Largest Penis Injury

22:20 - Space Drowning: Astronaut Nearly Dies in Helmet

31:25 - Yogurt Window Cooling

34:15 - That Was Dumb: Nuclear Manhole Cover Launch Story

45:10 - Cry For Help (aka CTA)

SOURCES:

https://www.spacecentre.nz/resources/faq/spaceflight/rocket-speed.html

https://epicflightacademy.com/fastest-plane-in-the-world/#h-21-nasa-x-43-2004-the-fastest-plane-in-the-world-ever-reaching-hypersonic-heaven-at-mach-9-6

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/x-15-rocket-aircraft

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Solar_Probe

https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/technology-articles/engineering/fastest-manmade-object-manhole-cover-nuclea-test/

https://www.wearethemighty.com/tech/the-8-fastest-man-made-objects-ever/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-17/spacewalk-cut-short-after-water-leaks-into-astronauts-helmet/4825472

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/aug/20/astronaut-helmet-drowning-interview

https://abcnews.go.com/US/astronaut-drowned-space-due-nasas-poor-communication-report/story?id=22687977

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah_Falcon

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/man-left-broken-arm-because-093006168.html

https://www.vice.com/en/article/this-man-has-the-worlds-largest-penis-and-broke-his-arm-because-of-it/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg4rg3nqq7go?_bhlid=ebb1558b2f6fd997169270e31a94567be10792f6

https://theconversation.com/scientists-have-been-wrong-about-phantom-limbs-for-decades-new-study-263547

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563218302978

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