How Batteries Changed the World & Why Status and Culture Matter

Anyone who cooks on a grill has wondered why it is that hot dogs come in packages of ten while hot dog buns are sold in packages of eight. Why the mismatch? This episode begins with the explanation. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a40984485/hot-dogs-buns-packages/ Much of your life is powered by batteries. From your TV remote to your car to your cellphone, you rely on batteries every single day. Yet, you probably don’t know a lot about them - like why there are different sizes or why they seem like they last longer than they used to. Here to explain all of this as well as the fascinating history of battery technology is James Morton Turner, author of the book Charged: A History of Batteries and Lessons for a Clean Energy Future (https://amzn.to/3QYnR1n). Have you ever wondered why hairstyles and fashion and music styles change? Why do you cringe when you see your clothes or hair in old pictures of yourself? What causes these things to fall in and out of style – and who is responsible for it? It all has to do with how our culture changes as well as our desire for status according to W. David Marx. David is a long-time writer on culture based in Tokyo and he is author of a book…