Summary
Overview
In this episode of Lateral, host Tom Scott challenges guests Evan and Caitlin (from the Evan and Caitlin YouTube channel) and Sage the Bad Naturalist to solve bizarre trivia questions. The panel tackles puzzles about traffic gridlock in Oslo, urban finches in Mexico City, accidental ASMR videos, Mumbai's honking problem, Steve Jobs' license plate loophole, and dangerous cookware for pet birds. The questions span topics from urban planning to animal behavior to tech industry quirks.
Oslo's Red Square Bus Gridlock
The panel solves a puzzle about four red articulated buses creating a perfect square at an Oslo roundabout in November 2025, trapping vehicles inside. Sage impressively guesses this involves bendy buses at a roundabout despite being based in Los Angeles, revealing their background in urban planning. The same gridlock incident had occurred at the identical roundabout in 2019, suggesting poor infrastructure planning.
- Four red articulated buses converged on the same small roundabout creating a perfect gridlock
- Several vehicles were trapped inside the square of buses on the double-lane roundabout
- The same gridlock happened at the same roundabout in 2019
" If they had not sent the year, I was so sure this was going to be about the day that, I think it's Norway, the day they switched which side of the road they drive on. "
Mexico City Finches and Cigarette Butts
This fascinating question explores how urban finches in Mexico City protect their nests from parasites by incorporating discarded cigarette butts. The nicotine and chemicals in the filters act as natural insecticides, reducing mites and other parasites that harm chicks. The discussion includes an amusing tangent about the word 'cloaca' and whether birds have 'butts,' before revealing the answer involves actual cigarette butts rather than bird anatomy.
- Urban finches deliberately weave cigarette butts into their nests
- Nicotine and chemicals in cigarette filters act as insecticides against mites and parasites
- This behavior has been studied specifically in Mexico City
" Can't believe I'm having this conversation on camera. "
" I have a degree in urban planning. "
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