A short podcast about everyday risks from germs
he image depicts a cheerful Girl Scout at an outdoor cookie-selling booth. Among the cookies on display, one features a bold hazardous-waste symbol, creating an eerie contrast to the otherwise wholesome scene. The background suggests a typical suburban or park setting, reinforcing the unexpected and unsettling detail.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from Girl Scout Cookies
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
A realistic depiction of a friendly, quirky character with a warm smile, casually chewing on a piece of paper featuring typed words. The character, dressed in casual clothing, is seated in a cozy indoor setting with soft lighting, surrounded by subtle details like books and a coffee cup, evoking a relaxed atmosphere.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating a paper ballot.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
An ominous black plastic spatula with sharp, sleek edges floats against a dark background. Surrounding it are glowing, otherworldly chemical symbols, emitting an eerie light. The mysterious ambiance is heightened by the dim lighting and the unsettling presence of the symbols, creating a sense of intrigue and unease.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using a black plastic spatula.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
DALL·E - The image depicts a Halloween candy with a gummy center and crunchy, colorful bits surrounding the outside, designed with vibrant hues of orange, green, and purple. A small cochineal insect (scientifically named Dactylopius coccus), which is used in the natural production of carmine dye, is positioned near the candy, observing it. Above the insect is a thought bubble containing the words "Happy Samhain." The background of the image is dark and spooky, featuring subtle Halloween elements like faint shadows of pumpkins or bats, adding a festive and mysterious atmosphere.
The overall theme blends Halloween imagery with Samhain, a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The candy, reminiscent of popular seasonal treats, is central to the composition, while the insect adds an unusual yet natural element tied to the historical use of cochineal as a red food dye.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating Nerds Gummy Clusters (when you are not allergic to Carmine B).
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
DALL·E - A close-up image of an egg being fried on a very hot Astroturf field under a bright, scorching sun. The egg white is sizzling and bubbling, with the yolk slightly runny, and the green synthetic grass of the Astroturf contrasts with the golden egg. The grass is visibly affected by the heat, with some slight melting or warping where the egg is resting. Heatwaves rise from the scene, enhancing the sense of extreme temperature.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating an egg fried on Astroturf.
Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️
DALL·E - A cocktail with a giant ice cube in a glass. The ice cube has an ominous dark black streak running through the middle of it.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking a cocktail using ice from a core sample from your birth year.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
DALL·E - A delicious-looking pizza with a perfectly baked crust, gooey cheese, and a variety of toppings like pepperoni, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Someone is squirting Elmers glue on the pizza.
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating pizza made with white glue.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
DALL·E - A chocolate chip cookie on a sea of bubbling wax
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from baking cookies on wax paper.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
DALL·E - a sliced loaf of bread with sawdust falling out
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating bread made with some amount of sawdust.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
DALL·E - basil growing out a man's suit with a skull and cross bones sign
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from vegetables grown near a restaurant that used to be a dry cleaners.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating a hotdog bun that has been printed with the expiration date on the bun instead of the package.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of blanching corn in the dishwasher prior to freezing.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks posed by the sweetener Splenda based on a recent research study from North Carolina State University.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using homemade Teriyaki sauce stored in an old hair spray bottle.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using butter candles.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating pasta that fell in clean soapy water
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of lining wooden beer casks with pine pitch in Czech tradition.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using a do it yourself pizza oven from TikTok.
Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from s’mores cooked on wood from pallets of unknown composition.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
Dr. Don and Professor Ben venture outside of their food microbiology comfort zone to talk toxicology, specifically about the risks from eating off vintage dishware.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼