PODCAST:Search Engine
TITLE:Why are there so many chicken bones on the street? (Part 2)
DATE:2024-01-26 00:00:00
URL:
MODEL:gpt-4-gizmo
The episode of "Search Engine" titled "Why Are There So Many Chicken Bones on the Street (Part 2)" delves into the mystery behind the abundance of chicken bones found on city streets. Host PJ Vote and his guests explore various angles to understand the phenomenon.
Guests Manny, Noah, and Devin return to discuss their individual investigations into the matter. Manny focused on neighborhood changes that might lead to more chicken bones on the streets, while Noah researched the history of chickens and their consumption. Devin looked into potential animals responsible for the discarded chicken bones.
The team decided to conduct an experiment using GoPro cameras to observe what happens to chicken bones left on the streets. They consulted a rat expert, Jason Munshi-South, a professor of biology at Fordham University, specializing in urban animal behavior, particularly rats. Jason provided valuable insights into rat behavior and offered tips for their experiment, emphasizing the need to make it realistic.
The experiment involved placing chicken wings in trash bags and recording what happens. Manny's attempt was thwarted by his building's superintendent, who disposed of the bag before rats could interact with it. Devin, however, successfully captured footage of rats dragging the bag away and later found the bag torn apart with chicken bones scattered around, confirming that rats were indeed responsible for the chicken bones on the streets.
Francesca Haas, the executive director of policy and planning at New York's Department of Sanitation, was interviewed to discuss broader implications. She explained that the prevalence of rats and consequently chicken bones on the streets is largely due to the way trash is disposed of in the city. Unlike in suburbs where trash is stored in containers, in dense urban areas like New York, trash is often left in bags on the street, making it easily accessible to rats.
A pilot project in Hamilton Heights, Manhattan, showed a 68% reduction in rat sightings after introducing shared trash containers. This suggests that modifying trash disposal methods could significantly impact rat populations and, by extension, the number of chicken bones found on the streets.
The episode concludes with the hosts reflecting on the investigation and their changed perceptions of rats. The team's website, mannynowadevin.com, is mentioned for listeners interested in following their future investigations. The episode is a blend of scientific inquiry, urban studies, and humorous anecdotes, providing a thorough investigation into a seemingly trivial yet intriguing urban mystery.
