Home » Blogs Page

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!

See the Full Listing

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do We Blow Out Birthday Candles?

My birthday is coming, so I’m getting ready to blow out a lot of birthday candles on my funfetti cake. (Hey, I may be getting old but I’m still a kid at heart). But the question arises: why do we even put candles on a cake & blow them out to celebrate our birthday? I mean, celebrating the anniversary of someone’s entry into the world by enjoying delicious baked goods does seem like a pretty good idea, and our ancestors thought so, too, as birthday cakes have been around since ancient Roman times. But who was the first person to light a cake on fire? Well, there are a few theories.

Some believe the birthday candle tradition began in Ancient Greece, when people brought cakes adorned with lit candles to the temple of the goddess of the hunt, Artemis. The candles were lit to make them glow like the moon, which was a popular symbol associated with Artemis. Many ancient cultures also believed that smoke carried their prayers to the heavens. So, our modern tradition of making wishes before blowing out birthday candles likely began with that belief.

There are some, however, who believe that the tradition of blowing out birthday candles actually began in 18th century Germany, when Count Ludwig Von Zinzindorf celebrated his birthday in 1746 with an extravagant festival that included, of course, a cake with candles. A missive from that time documented that “there was a Cake as large as any Oven could be found to bake it, and Holes made in the Cake according to the Years of the Person’s Age, every one having a Candle stuck into it, and one in the Middle.” The Germans also celebrated with birthday candles during Kinderfest, a 1700s version of birthday parties for kids. But only a single candle was lit & placed on the cake to symbolize the “light of life”.

Wherever the tradition came from, I’ll definitely be celebrating it this weekend. So, wish me luck on another trip around the sun!

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Berryville Graphics

Powered By SoCast