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No Such Thing As A Fish
No Such Thing As A Fish

No Such Thing As Pudsey's Passport

January 01, 2026 • 57m

Summary

⏱️ 25 min read

Overview

A live episode recorded at London's Royal Institution featuring Professor Alice Roberts as a guest. The team discusses four fascinating facts: Auguste Picard's dramatic first stratospheric balloon journey with makeshift safety helmets, ancient medical misconceptions about blood and arteries, kryptonite's real-world mineral counterpart that could power electric cars, and how Pokemon was inspired by childhood insect collecting. The episode blends scientific history, medical discoveries, modern technology, and natural history in typical Fish fashion.

Royal Institution Context and Podcast Introduction

The episode opens with the hosts' excitement about recording at the Royal Institution in London, a venue steeped in scientific history. Dan expresses particular enthusiasm about being at such a venerable location where great scientists have worked, while also promoting Alice Roberts' new book 'Domination' about the fall of the Roman Empire and the growth of Christianity, and the podcast's Patreon membership club, Club Fish, which offers extended versions of episodes.

  • The episode was recorded live at the Royal Institution in London, described as a venerable venue for great scientists
  • Alice Roberts' new book 'Domination' covers the fall of the Roman Empire and growth of Christianity
  • Club Fish on Patreon offers extended versions of episodes for members who want more content
" The venerable, venerable place where so many great scientists have been over the years, and now us. "

The First Stratospheric Journey: Auguste Picard's Pillow-Headed Adventure

Auguste Picard's 1931 attempt to reach the stratosphere was a disaster-prone mission that somehow succeeded. The Swiss scientist, who inspired Professor Calculus in Tintin, attempted to help prove Einstein's theories by studying cosmic rays from high altitude. Despite German authorities' insistence on helmets (which were just pillows), equipment failures, mercury spills, extreme heat, and frozen controls, Picard and his assistant survived 16 hours in a sealed aluminum gondola. The press declared them dead, but they eventually landed on a glacier and hiked down to safety.

  • Auguste Picard was the inspiration for Professor Calculus in Tintin, standing six foot six and never traveling without two wristwatches and a slide rule
  • The Germans required helmets for the stratospheric journey, but only had pillows available, which Picard wore despite the absurdity
  • Multiple disasters struck: a hole in the gondola, broken temperature control propeller, exploded barometer with mercury eating through the floor, and frozen descent mechanism
  • The capsule reached 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) and they had to lick the walls for moisture during their ordeal
  • Newspapers reported them dead after they were up longer than expected, and they were stranded for hours waiting for nightfall to descend
" If only I had a vacuum cleaner. "
" It's Apollo 13, it's the original Apollo 13 basically. "

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