Learn about research into how you should clean your teeth; the world’s loneliest whale; and how to argue with a partner. When it comes to cleaning your teeth, here's what the evidence supports — and what it doesn't by Cameron Duke Dental care: The best, worst and unproven tools to care for your teeth, according to a UB study. (2021, September 29). Buffalo.edu. http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2021/09/038.html Volman, E., Stellrecht, E., & Scannapieco, F. (2021). Proven Primary Prevention Strategies for Plaque-Induced Periodontal Disease – An Umbrella Review. The Journal of International Academy of Periodontology, 23(4). https://www.perioiap.org/publications/57-october-2021/256-proven-primary-prevention-strategies-for-plaque-induced-periodontal-disease-an-umbrella-review The "world's loneliest whale" is loved more than it will ever know by Cameron Duke Dahl, M. (2016, April 7). World’s Loneliest Whale May in Fact Be the World’s Horniest Whale. The Cut; The Cut. https://www.thecut.com/2016/04/loneliest-whale-is-now-horniest-whale.html Elsevier. (2004, December). Fig. 6. North–south tracks (C) of the 52-Hz whale for 94–95, 97–98,... ResearchGate; ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/North-south-tracks-C-of-the-52-Hz-whale-for-94-95-97-98-98-99-01-02-the-meandering_fig3_223377110 Fessenden, M. (2015, April 15). Maybe the World’s Loneliest Whale Isn’t So Isolated, After All. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/maybe-worlds-loneliest-whale-isnt-so-isolated-after-all-180955005/ Revkin, A. (2004, December 21). Song of the Sea, a Cappella and Unanswered (Published 2004). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/21/health/science/song-of-the-sea-a-cappella-and-unanswered.html Shantz-Hilkes, C. (2021, July 19). The world’s “loneliest whale” can teach us a lot if we listen to it, says filmmaker. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-the-friday-edition-1.6100931/the-world-s-loneliest-whale-can-teach-us-a-lot-if-we-listen-to-it-says-filmmaker-1.6100933 52 blue sound recording, Public Domain: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ak52_10x.ogg This Is the Best Way to Argue with Your Partner, Says a Communication Expert by Joanie Faletto originally aired June 26, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/black-hole-alternatives-literally-immortal-jellyfi Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day withCody Gough andAshley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.
Learn about research into how you should clean your teeth; the world’s loneliest whale; and how to argue with a partner.
When it comes to cleaning your teeth, here's what the evidence supports — and what it doesn't by Cameron Duke
The "world's loneliest whale" is loved more than it will ever know by Cameron Duke
This Is the Best Way to Argue with Your Partner, Says a Communication Expert by Joanie Faletto originally aired June 26, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/black-hole-alternatives-literally-immortal-jellyfi
Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.
Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/how-to-clean-your-teeth-52-blue-best-way-to-argue-with-a-partner
CODY: Hi! You’re about to get smarter in just a few minutes with Curiosity Daily from curiosity-dot-com. I’m Cody Gough.
ASHLEY: And I’m Ashley Hamer. Today, you’ll learn about what does and doesn’t work when it comes to cleaning your teeth, according to research; the world’s loneliest whale; and the best way to argue with your partner so you both walk away happy.
CODY: Let’s satisfy some curiosity.
Good dental hygiene can seem complicated. There are so many things to do and products to buy that are supposed to promote healthy teeth and gums. But how much of that really works? Never fear: Curiosity Daily is here to help you separate tooth truth from mouth myth!
First off, all of this information comes from a study performed by the University at Buffalo’s dental school. In October 2021, they published a review of the evidence supporting various dental care practices.
So what did they find? Let’s start with the proven things first: As you might expect, the best thing you can do for your dental health is to use a basic, regular ol’ toothbrush. The researchers found that your run of the mill toothbrush does a pretty great job of keeping tabs on plaque buildup that could farm gum-disease-causing microbes.
As far as cleaning between teeth, they found that interdental toothbrushes work really well. These toothbrushes look sorta like pipe cleaners, and they are good at getting in between your teeth.
Water picks have quite a bit of solid evidence backing them up too. These things are electric devices that use water to firehose food particles out from between your teeth and beneath your gums.
Finally, they found that certain mouthwashes do a pretty bang-up job of keeping a mouth clean, too. There are three things to look for that get the researchers’ stamp of approval, in case you want to write these down: there are those based on essential oils, like Listerine; those that contain the compound CPC, like the Crest Pro Health line of mouthwashes; and those that contain the compound CHX, which are available by prescription.
Other things were not super supported by evidence. They found that electric toothbrushes only perform as well as basic toothbrushes. Things like probiotics and supplements don’t perform well in experimental trials, either. Finally, mouthwashes based on ingredients like tea tree oil, green tea oil, and hydrogen peroxide aren’t going to pull their hygienic weight.
Finally, and you might be surprised to hear this, but flossing? That’s in the “maybe” column. The researchers warn that this isn't a reason to stop doing it, so don’t toss your floss just yet. Instead, they say, there isn’t much evidence to support flossing on its own simply because it is almost always studied alongside brushing. But given that interdental brushes get a glowing review, you might try subbing those in for your roll of floss instead.
But in the end, dental care is simple: just brush your teeth, clean between your teeth, and maybe use a little mouthwash.
They say that 1 is the loneliest number, but there’s a strong case for the number 52. 52 blue is the name of the loneliest whale on the planet. He is an animal that has captivated imaginations, inspired songs, and is loved more than he can ever know. In case you haven’t heard it, here’s the story of why we think he’s so lonely.
During the Cold War, the US Navy built an extensive array of top-secret underwater microphones to monitor submarine movement. In 1989, this system picked up a sound coming from deep underwater that was clearly not from a sub. They had no idea what the sound was. But they kept hearing it.
After the Cold War ended, the Navy turned the mystery recordings over to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. It was there that a bioacoustics researcher named William Watkins determined that the sound was coming from a whale — and a pretty unique one.
This is where 52 blue’s name comes in. For more than 30 years, 52 has been known only by his call, which has a fundamental frequency of 52 Hertz. That’s about the pitch of the A flat two octaves below middle C. It’s low to human ears, but it is nearly twice as high as other whale songs. For example, the Fin whale typically calls at 20 Hz, which is right at the threshold of human hearing. And the Blue whale has a sweeping call that ranges from 10 to 40 Hz.
Here’s a recording of his call, sped up to make it easier to hear: [52blue.mp3]
52 has spent decades roaming the Pacific Ocean calling out to other whales that can never and will never respond. It’s not that other whales can’t hear the song — it probably just sounds like a foreign language to them.
Scientists have no idea what species 52 blue might be. He is very likely a hybrid between a Blue Whale and a Fin Whale based on his yearly migration pattern, but it’s hard to say. In fact, we’re not even 100 percent sure he’s male.
Since his discovery, 52 has become a kind of icon to many people who see their own loneliness and alienation reflected in his solitary existence. Searches for him have spawned documentaries, books, art, and even a song by the K-pop group BTS called “Whalien 52.”
He’s so loved and appreciated, but he’ll never know. Instead, he keeps singing his song into the inky ocean, hoping this will finally be the time someone sings back.
ASHLEY: You can’t avoid arguing with your partner. I mean, even the happiest couples need to work certain things out sooner or later. And that’s why we thought you might appreciate some advice for getting the most out of your arguments — whether you’re coupled up or not. Here’s a story we originally ran in 2018, remastered just for you.
[CODY: 2:01 clip]
Let’s recap the main things we learned today
[ad lib optional]
ASHLEY: Today’s writers were Cameron Duke and Joanie Faletto.
CODY: Our managing editor is Ashley Hamer.
ASHLEY: Our producer and audio editor is Cody Gough.
CODY: [AD LIB SOMETHING FUNNY] Join us again tomorrow to learn something new in just a few minutes.
ASHLEY: And until then, stay curious!