logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2023
59m 23s

Astroturf and Cancer

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

At first, it sounded too good to be true: grass that never died, never wilted, and never gave way to weeds. Major league baseball hailed it as one of the greatest innovations in the world of professional sports. As thousands and thousands of 'astroturf' fields sprouted up across the US and Canada -- and then spread to playgrounds -- adults and children alike enjoyed seas of endless, verdant green. Until, that is, the reports came in. In today's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel slide headlong into the home base of a troubling conspiracy decades in the making: Does artificial turf give you cancer?

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
ScienceStuff, with Jorge Cham
Are we living in a simulation? What's the future of AI? How can humans understand the past, present, and future of the universe -- assuming, of course, that time exists? In this interview segment, Ben, Matt and Noel welcome special guest Dr. Jorge Cham, the creator of the new hit ... Show More
1h 4m
Jul 10
Listener Mail: Bird Deaths, Gas Station Bars, The Battle of Blair Mountain and More
Sloth inspires a round-up of recent news stories from the world of birds. Fae shares a story of real-life bars inside gas stations. Kevin prompts an exploration of hidden history -- the earth shaking Battle of Blair Mountain, and the resulting cover-up from the Powers That Be. Pl ... Show More
54m 3s
Jul 9
The Raymond Allen Davis Incident
It's an open secret that not everything is as it seems in the world of diplomacy -- a great many individuals operate with some degree of subterfuge and invisibility. So what happens when things go wrong, and these often disturbing, unseen things become visible? Tonight's story ta ... Show More
1h 16m
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Grass Works? Yes, How Grass Works
There’s nothing more boring than watching grass grow, which is why Josh and Chuck aren’t asking you to do that. Instead, you can learn about all sorts of neat things about grass - like how American became obsessed with perfect lawns - in this episode. Learn more about your ad-cho ... Show More
49m 36s
Apr 2023
Should we ban artificial grass?
Installing artificial grass is becoming an increasingly popular way to achieve a neat, green lawn without much effort. But with environmental and potential health costs associated with plastic turf many campaigners and gardeners would like to see it banned. Madeleine Finlay speak ... Show More
14m 41s
Oct 2022
The lawn con: A history of grass
Grab your hedge clippers and don’t forget to feed your plastic flamingos! Joy and cohost Max are exploring the surprising history—and even more surprising legacy—of the American lawn. The clean, green front lawn has been synonymous with the American Dream for decades, but…why do ... Show More
34 m
Mar 2024
The Evolution Of Cancer Treatment
Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a first-of-its-kind cancer therapy to treat aggresive forms of skin cancer. It has us thinking of the long history of cancer. One of the first recorded mentions of cancer appears in an ancient Egyptian text from around 3000 B ... Show More
13m 58s
Mar 2022
EP224: I worked my way out of workaholism, The Grass and the Furious: Ladies, Start Your Lawnmower Engines! and A Grave Escape
On this episode of Our American Stories, Steve Trice, the founder of Jasco Products, speaks on serving his employees and a higher calling than money. Julie Tynmann shares her story about the greatest show on turf. Tom Ryan brings us a chilling tale from the family funeral parlor. ... Show More
38m 16s
Sep 2016
How the Negro Leagues Worked
A decade before the U.S. officially segregated in 1896, baseball banned black players. A decade before the US integrated, baseball broke the color barrier. Between, the Negro Leagues produced some of the finest players to ever take the field. Learn more about your ad-choices at h ... Show More
54m 39s
Jan 2021
How Research Into Cancer Has Affected Us
The Word Affairs is currently no. 9 in Society and Culture in Uzbekistan! As a biomedical student, Kaiynath has spent the past weeks studying the mechanisms of cancer and how difficult it actually is to acquire mutations leading to it. Kaiynath looks into why cancer is actually q ... Show More
33m 27s
Jun 2024
Listen Now: Wow in the World's Summer of Wow!
Wow in the World is the #1 science podcast for kids and their grown-ups. Hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz share stories about the latest news in science, technology, and innovation. Stories that give kids hope, agency and make us all say "WOW"!New episodes come out every Monday. Li ... Show More
6m 15s
Feb 2024
CREED
Ever feel like cultural heritage months fly by without their due recognition? Well, not on our watch! We unravel the significance of cultural celebrations like Black History Month and the curious absence of corresponding days off for Hispanic Heritage Month. We dive into the disc ... Show More
38m 26s