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MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do Students Give Apples To The Teacher?

With school in-session & students back in the classroom, if you were to ask any teacher what he or she needs to feel appreciated, apples probably wouldn’t be high up on the list. In spite of that, we still associate educators with apples. It’s part of their unofficial logo. Just look at any back-to-school commercial or classroom decoration…apples. So where did the idea of gifting an apple to the teacher come from?

Well, this seemingly all-American tradition probably actually originated in Scandinavia, where Danish & Swedish teachers in the 1500s-1700s were paid even worse than they are today. Since a good portion of teachers were single women, it was the families of the students’ who were responsible for keeping the teachers housed & fed. And, at that time, that meant a basket of produce (such as apples) was more than just a token of appreciation…in a lot of cases, it was payment. That practice made its way here to America, where the apple was also a valuable commodity, as cider was the default drink in the developing colonies (since it was cheaper to make than other alcoholic beverages & usually safer to drink than water). Apples were also a popular item to barter with, as well, so it wasn’t unusual to see parents paying their kids’ teachers with apples.

Teaching wages eventually rose high enough that educators could live on them, and full bushels of apples were ultimately replaced with single apples that teachers could display on their desks or bookshelves. Oh, and the fact that the beginning of the school year also happened to coincide with the start of the harvest season helped the apple remain popular as a gift for teachers throughout the 1800s & into the early 1900s.

But while the idea of “an apple for the teacher” may still persist in pop culture, modern teachers rarely receive apples from their students on the first day of school nowadays. Though, I’m sure most teachers would welcome the gesture because…I mean, c’mon…who doesn’t love a good apple?

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via Twitter (@AndyWebbRadio), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Does Blowing On Hot Foods Or Drinks Really Cool Them Off?

Nothing ruins a good meal like immediately burning the roof of your mouth with too-hot food. But what is “too-hot”? Well, drinking beverages or eating foods at anywhere above 110°F runs the risk of irritating your mouth, but consuming anything at 160 degrees or hotter usually equals an immediate burn. Now, while no one can exactly calibrate the temperature of the food or drink they’re taking in, most folks realize that if a cup or plate of something is steaming, it’s likely hot enough to scald you. So, we all will do what if we see that steaming food or drink? We’ll, out of instinct or habit, blow on it. But does blowing on hot foods & drinks really help to cool them off, or are we just blowing hot air?

Well, the answer is: yes…to both questions.

When you blow air over piping hot food, you’re moving air that’s about the same as that of your own body temperature (98.6 degrees on average) to replace warmer air. It’s what’s known as “convection”. Because the air around the mug or plate is cooler after you blow, it increases the rate of heat transfer. Think of it this way: if you had a bowl of soup in a warm room, it would take a longer time to cool down. But if that same bowl were placed in an unheated room, it would cool off much more quickly. The reverse is also true, though: imagine an ice cream cone that quickly melts on a steamy summer day versus one that stays pretty much intact when you’re inside on a cool winter night.

When left alone, food will still lose heat by transferring energy into a bowl, otherwise known as conduction. Blowing on it speeds that up. When you blow on food with a lot of moisture, you can also enact “evaporative cooling”, when your breath moves the water vapor away from the surface of the heated element, allowing more of the water molecules to evaporate. Think blowing puffs of steam away from your cup of tea. And because evaporative cooling is more effective, it’s easier to cool liquids than solid foods. You can also help food cool off by breaking it up into smaller pieces, so that they retain less heat. And the hotter the food or drink, the more of a difference in temperature, so blowing on hot stuff is best. If something is merely warm, there may not be enough of a disparity in heat to make a difference.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via Twitter (@AndyWebbRadio), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Can’t You Tickle Yourself?

I’ve never known anyone who enjoys getting tickled. But I know plenty of people, my wife included, who love to tickle others (namely me). But have you ever wondered why you can’t tickle yourself?

Well, much to the dismay of fun-loving masochists everywhere, the human brain is wired against self-tickling. Because the brain controls movement, it knows what your hand is going to do before you do it. So, it anticipates the exact force, location, and speed of the tickle & uses that information to desensitize you to your own prodding hands.

So, why do we have a tickle response anyway? Well, as it turns out, it’s a defense mechanism that was originally meant to alert our cave-dwelling ancestors to creepy crawlies that didn’t know their place. And the uncontrollable laughing fit that goes along with being tickled is actually a panic response.

Even if you know someone else is about to go for your rib cage, it’s hard to turn the response off because: A) your brain can’t anticipate exactly how & where they’ll tickle you; and B) knowing someone is about to tickle you is usually enough to keep those panic receptors open & ready to fire. So, keep your guard up this weekend against those roving tickle terrorists.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via Twitter (@AndyWebbRadio), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

House of the Week 10/21/22

Prepare to fall in love with this entertainer’s paradise! Situated on a spacious tree-lined corner lot in a quiet community, this stunning home offers great curb appeal and leaves you anxious to see what awaits inside. Step into the expansive open concept living area featuring soaring cathedral ceilings and gleaming Argentinian Oak flooring flowing seamlessly throughout. Your inviting great room offers a stone surround gas fireplace and access to the refinished rear deck. Your inner chef will be delighted by the gourmet kitchen which boasts an oversized island/breakfast bar with soft close doors, gorgeous granite counters, ample cabinet space and stainless steel appliances including a gas cooktop, wall oven and dual purpose microwave. A large picture window and skylights that easily open allow plenty of natural light inside. Completing the main level is the beautiful addition consisting of a mud room, full bath with roman shower and the laundry room with built-in cabinetry with an apron sink and the front loading, large capacity washer and dryer The upper floor hosts all three bedrooms along with the primary bath and full hall bath which were both remodeled in 2008. Additional space awaits in the finished lower level which hosts a family room with a wood burning fireplace and an office, ideal for working from home. The sprawling rear lawn backs to mature trees and offers a gazebo and a fenced in portion which is great for your pets. The gazebo is connected to the built-in indoor/outdoor Bose sound system, making entertaining a breeze. Storage is not an issue with the insulated loft space in the oversized 2 car garage and a large storage shed. Additional highlights include the hot tub and top of the line Napoleon gas grill which will convey, a new roof and windows along with dual heaters and water heaters for each side of the home which really help keep energy costs low. Offering close proximity to highways, shopping and dining, this fantastic home checks all the boxes!

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