All Podcasts / Lateral with Tom Scott / 199: Unburned gasoline
Lateral with Tom Scott
Lateral with Tom Scott

199: Unburned gasoline

July 31, 2026 • 46m

Summary

⏱️ 7 min read

Overview

This episode of Lateral features returning guests Geoff Marshall, Vivi (VVTV), and VT (VT Physics) solving lateral thinking puzzles. The panel tackles questions about Mexican banknotes hoarded due to cute axolotls, Melbourne tram safety campaigns featuring rhinos on skateboards, Boris Becker's tongue-revealing tennis serves, medieval bell-making casting pits, deep-sea submarines using gasoline for buoyancy, and Dick Van Dyke's age making him ineligible for Lego's recommended age range.

Behind the Scenes: The Panel's Creative Process

Throughout the episode, the guests demonstrate their problem-solving approaches with entertaining diversions including drawing rhinos on skateboards and making astronaut name jokes. Tom Scott shares a fascinating tangent about Germany's Vertical Earth Kilometre artwork, while the panel navigates misdirections and collaborative deductions that showcase the show's format.

  • The podcast has been upgraded to include achievements like 'Confidently Incorrect' and 'Wild Guest combo'
  • Geoff Marshall is focusing on longer-form documentary-style transport videos (20-30 minutes)
  • Vivi creates short-form news content based on personal interests rather than just top stories
  • VT is both a physics teacher and content creator, joking that she can't delete YouTube commenters like pupils
" With YouTube commenters, I can't delete them. I can't delete my pupils. "

Axolotl Banknote Shortage in Mexico

The panel uncovers how a 50 peso Mexican banknote featuring an adorable axolotl caused an unexpected currency shortage. The Bank of Mexico released the note in 2021, but 13 million Mexicans hoarded them instead of spending them, effectively removing 150 million US dollars from circulation. The cute amphibian design proved so popular that people treated the notes as collectibles rather than currency.

  • An axolotl is a mole salamander (amphibian, not a fish) from Mexico
  • The Bank of Mexico released a 50 peso note with an axolotl design in 2021
  • 13 million Mexicans hoarded the notes, removing about 150 million dollars from circulation
  • The axolotl featured is named Gorda and lives at Axolotitlan, a museum in Mexico City dedicated to axolotls
" The axolotl in question is called Gorda. It lives in Axolotitlan, which is a museum in Mexico City dedicated to axolotls. They have a whole museum. They have a whole museum of axolotls. "

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