Mary Roach's Hands-On Exploration of Scientific Oddities - Episode Hero Image

Mary Roach's Hands-On Exploration of Scientific Oddities

We Can Be Weirdos · · Listen to Original Episode →
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TL;DR

  • Mary Roach's research process involves deep dives into obscure academic journals, often leading to unexpected discoveries like sexual intercourse as a treatment for hiccups, demonstrating that rigorous investigation can uncover surprising and often humorous scientific findings.
  • Roach's approach to interviewing scientists and researchers often requires her to request participation in demonstrations or experiments, transforming her research into a form of documentary filmmaking to capture dynamic scenes and characters.
  • The pursuit of obscure facts and stories, even those with limited appeal, is central to Roach's writing, as she aims to connect with a specific audience that shares her fascination with the peculiar.
  • Roach's willingness to explore controversial or fringe topics, such as paranormal claims and medical oddities, has generally resulted in minimal backlash due to her engaging and non-confrontational writing style.
  • The practice of collecting dropped business cards represents Roach's openness to serendipity, hoping that a chance encounter with an unusual profession or individual might spark an idea for future books.
  • Roach's career is characterized by an openness to synchronicity, actively seeking out unexpected opportunities and stories by engaging with her audience and remaining receptive to unusual leads.

Deep Dive

Mary Roach's work explores the fringes of science, delving into topics often deemed too peculiar or macabre for mainstream attention. Her approach to scientific inquiry, characterized by genuine curiosity and a willingness to engage directly with the unusual, reveals profound insights into human nature and our relationship with the unknown. This interview highlights how her meticulous, often hands-on research process, coupled with a distinctive narrative voice, allows her to uncover fascinating implications and reframe our understanding of complex subjects, from the practicalities of space travel to the enduring mysteries of the afterlife.

Roach's investigative method is not simply about documenting facts; it's about immersing herself in the subject matter to understand its deeper consequences. This is evident in her discussion of NASA's need for advanced recycling systems for space travel, where the implication is not just about survival, but about a fundamental shift in human behavior: willingly consuming reprocessed waste. Similarly, her exploration of cadaver research for her book "Stiff" goes beyond the morbid, revealing the crucial role these donations play in advancing medical understanding and developing safety technologies. Her willingness to physically engage with these topics, such as testing urine recycling kits or observing crash sled tests with cadavers, demonstrates a commitment to experiencing the implications firsthand, which then informs her writing.

A recurring theme is the human drive to understand and control the body, whether through prosthetics, organ replacement, or even exploring the persistence of personality after death. Roach's inquiry into these areas reveals the tension between scientific advancement and deeply held personal beliefs. Her research into reincarnation in India, for instance, illustrates how cultural frameworks can imbue ordinary lives with extraordinary narratives, offering comfort and community, even when empirical verification is elusive. This highlights a second-order implication: the power of narrative and belief systems to shape lived experience and social structures, regardless of objective proof. Her own "batshit list" of interests, ranging from telepathy to cryptids, underscores a professional and personal openness to phenomena that challenge conventional scientific paradigms, driven by a belief that exploring the improbable can yield valuable insights into human curiosity and the boundaries of knowledge.

The interview also touches upon the challenges and rewards of her unique career. Roach's process often involves direct engagement with researchers, sometimes requiring persistence bordering on pestering, to gain access and firsthand accounts. This proactive approach, akin to a documentary filmmaker seeking compelling scenes, ensures her work is rich with narrative and character. The implication here is that groundbreaking discoveries and understanding often lie beyond easily accessible information, requiring a dedicated effort to uncover the human element behind scientific endeavors. Furthermore, her reflections on the potential for synchronicity and chance encounters to guide her next book suggest an openness to serendipity in discovery, positioning her career not just as a pursuit of knowledge, but as an adventure guided by curiosity and a willingness to follow unexpected paths.

Action Items

  • Audit research process: Identify 3-5 potential biases or limitations in data collection for future book topics.
  • Create a system for tracking promising leads: Log 5-10 potential book ideas from listener submissions for follow-up.
  • Design a framework for evaluating unconventional research: Define criteria for assessing the validity of anecdotal evidence for 3-5 topics.
  • Test hypothesis: For 2-3 recurring themes (e.g., reincarnation, telepathy), explore existing scientific counter-arguments.
  • Measure impact of personal anecdotes: For 3-5 past book topics, analyze how anecdotal evidence influenced reader perception.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"I know objectively that I am drawn to things that are perhaps not of as much interest to other people but I think of I mean I'm proud to be called a weirdo but I don't feel weird in the like clinical sense."

Mary Roach explains that while she is drawn to unusual topics, she does not consider herself "weird" in a clinical sense. This highlights her perspective on her own work, framing it as a professional pursuit rather than a personal eccentricity. Roach's statement suggests a conscious effort to approach her subjects with journalistic objectivity.

"I mean the way I do my research people say oh do you have an assistant I'm like no because I'd have to just download my brain into that person because I don't know what I want until I find it."

Mary Roach describes her research process as intuitive and self-directed, indicating that she doesn't use assistants because her research is driven by discovery rather than a pre-defined plan. Roach's analogy of "downloading her brain" emphasizes the deeply personal and evolving nature of her investigative method. This approach suggests that her books are a result of organic exploration.

"I always try to throw a cadaver in every book laughter needs to get a dead body in there for the stiff fans so nasa was doing this this was back in the obama years they were doing a capsule splashdown test like what happens if the capsule comes down sideways and hits it in the wrong way and they're slammed against the side of the capsule what will happen to their shoulder and then there's no crash test dummy for space capsule crash landings so they were gonna do a cadaver test and nasa was just like they were dead set against me covering that which makes me really determined to get in you know."

Mary Roach reveals her consistent practice of including cadavers in her books, a nod to her first book "Stiff," and her determination to cover a NASA cadaver test despite initial resistance. Roach's anecdote illustrates her tenacious approach to reporting, especially when faced with institutional opposition. This demonstrates her commitment to pursuing a story even when access is restricted.

"I have a hippo head do you want to see laughter you know that's kind of Mary Roach bait right there yeah yeah exactly that's so good what book was this was this back in my magazine this was a magazine piece back in the early '90s I would say yeah."

Mary Roach recounts an anecdote about being offered a hippo head to view, humorously identifying it as "Mary Roach bait," which signifies her attraction to the unusual and macabre. This exchange highlights Roach's characteristic enthusiasm for bizarre and unexpected discoveries. The host's reaction confirms that such topics are central to Roach's appeal.

"I mean what does it mean when we say we believe we don't know I don't know that ghosts exist but I I'm just saying I'm going to say I believe but people equated belief with knowledge like I was trying to say that I know because I've written this book I know that they exist nah I'm just saying I want to keep the door open."

Mary Roach clarifies her stance on belief, particularly regarding ghosts, stating that her expressed belief is a desire to keep possibilities open rather than a declaration of factual knowledge. Roach explains that she uses the word "believe" to signify an openness to mystery, not an assertion of certainty. This distinction is important for understanding her approach to subjects that lack definitive scientific proof.

"I do have this belief in and it's not I believe in fate but I do have this thing like what if I pick up the card and it's some person with this weird job and this weird universe that will that's going to be my entree to a new book or some you know that it's going to open some door it's why I always pick them up but they're always like sales representative or like middle management an insurance I mean I don't know so I'm not it's not paid off yet but this might be you know they say that everyone has one good book in them your greatest book might be just a quite down the line book about salesmen and their world."

Mary Roach discusses her habit of picking up dropped business cards, hoping they might lead to a new book idea by revealing unusual professions or worlds. Roach admits that this practice has not yet yielded a direct book topic, but it reflects her ongoing search for intriguing stories and characters. This illustrates her proactive approach to finding inspiration in everyday occurrences.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "Stiff" by Mary Roach - Mentioned as the first book the host read by the author, focusing on cadaver research.
  • "Six Feet Over" by Mary Roach - Mentioned as a book by the author, focusing on adventures in the afterlife.
  • "Bonk" by Mary Roach - Mentioned as a book by the author, focusing on the curious coupling of sex and science.
  • "Packing for Mars" by Mary Roach - Mentioned as a book by the author, discussing outer space and NASA.
  • "Replaceable You" by Mary Roach - Mentioned as the author's latest book, exploring prosthetics, organ printing, and regenerative medicine.
  • "The Theory of Everything Else" by Dan Schreiber - Mentioned as a book by the host, covering creatures and zoology.

Articles & Papers

  • "Journal of Sex Research" - Mentioned as a publication where a paper on sexual intercourse as a potential treatment for hiccups was found.
  • "Sexual intercourse as a potential treatment for intractable hiccups" (Journal of Sex Research) - Discussed as a paper found by the author.
  • "Fertility and the effects of wearing polyester underwear" (Ahmed Shafiq) - Mentioned as a paper by Ahmed Shafiq.
  • "The effects of temperature and through polyester underwear temperature increases in fertility" (Ahmed Shafiq) - Mentioned as a paper by Ahmed Shafiq.
  • "The persistence of personality after death" (University of Virginia) - Mentioned as a research area funded by Chester Carlson.
  • "Telepathy" (University of Edinburgh/Psychop Committee) - Discussed as a study investigating claims of the paranormal.
  • "UFO encounters" (Salon.com) - Mentioned as a piece written by Mary Roach for Salon.com about alien exams.
  • "Cosmic dust" (NASA) - Mentioned in relation to a curator at NASA.

People

  • Mary Roach - Guest, bestselling science writer.
  • Dan Schreiber - Host, author of "The Theory of Everything Else."
  • Cassie Merritt - Producer.
  • Al Riddell - Head of Podcasts.
  • Ahmed Shafiq - Researcher who wrote papers on sexual intercourse and fertility.
  • Jonathan Enser - Musician who planned to carve his amputated leg bone into a flute.
  • Judy Burna - Woman profiled in "Replaceable You" who has a photograph of her amputated foot.
  • Case Moluker - Former head of the Natural History Museum in Rotterdam, documented necrophilia in mallard ducks, and keeps bodily samples.
  • Gaspare Tagliacozzi - Historical figure who developed techniques for nose reconstruction.
  • Frank Tettemore - US Army surgeon who invented a suspended celluloid nose attached to glasses.
  • David Jacobs - Researcher at Temple University who interviewed people claiming alien abduction.
  • John Mack - Researcher at Harvard University who researched people claiming alien abduction.
  • Bruce Grayson - Researcher at the University of Virginia studying reincarnation and near-death experiences.
  • Dan Schreiber's Husband (Ed) - Participated in an ultrasound study for Mary Roach's book.

Organizations & Institutions

  • NASA - Mentioned in relation to space travel, recycling rigs, and cadaver crash test dummy experiments.
  • UCSF Medical School Library - Location where Mary Roach researched.
  • University of Edinburgh - Location of a telepathy experiment.
  • Psychop Committee - Skeptic group involved in a telepathy study.
  • University of Virginia - University with a grant for paranormal work.
  • Chester Carlson - Inventor of Xerox technology, funded paranormal research.
  • Temple University - Institution where David Jacobs conducted research.
  • Harvard University - Institution where John Mack researched alien abductions.
  • Welcome Institute - Institution where Mary Roach handled Darwin's journal.
  • Nasa Public Affairs - Department at NASA.
  • Ohio State University - Location of a crash sled test.
  • Global Player Original - Production company.

Websites & Online Resources

  • instagram.com/schreiberland/?hl=en-gb - Host's Instagram profile.
  • instagram.com/authormaryroach/?hl=en - Guest's Instagram profile.
  • salon.com - Website where Mary Roach published an article on UFO encounters.
  • maryroach1@gmail.com - Guest's email address for story ideas.

Other Resources

  • Cadavers - Discussed in relation to Mary Roach's book "Stiff" and NASA's crash test experiments.
  • Prosthetics - Discussed in relation to Mary Roach's book "Replaceable You."
  • Organ printing - Discussed in relation to Mary Roach's book "Replaceable You."
  • Regenerative medicine - Discussed in relation to Mary Roach's book "Replaceable You."
  • Stem-cell "hair nurseries" - Mentioned in relation to regenerative medicine.
  • Xeno-pig organ farms - Mentioned in relation to regenerative medicine.
  • Human cadavers - Used in NASA's crash test dummy experiments.
  • Urine recycling rigs - Discussed in relation to Mars travel and extreme recycling.
  • Polyester underwear - Mentioned in relation to a study on fertility.
  • Paranormal claims - General topic of discussion.
  • Cryptids - Mentioned as a topic of interest, including Yetis and Loch Ness Monsters.
  • Bigfoot - Discussed as a cryptid with reported activity.
  • Telepathy - Investigated in a study at the University of Edinburgh.
  • Reincarnation - Discussed in relation to studies and experiences in India.
  • Near-death experiences - Discussed in relation to studies on cultural differences.
  • Ghosts - Discussed in relation to belief and personal experiences.
  • Ectoplasm - Examined from a medium's collection at Cambridge.
  • Meteorites - Discussed in relation to finding them in Antarctica and a Martian meteorite.
  • Alien abduction - Discussed in relation to research by David Jacobs and John Mack.
  • Synchronicity - Discussed as a guiding principle for finding new stories.
  • Valentine's hearts with sayings - Mentioned in relation to an unexplained event.
  • Seances - Discussed as a method for historical research.
  • Cosmos - Theme tune by Emperor.

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