Uploaded March 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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You have 100 pounds of potatoes and you know that they’re made up of 99% water. You leave them out overnight and they dry out a bit, so they’re only 98% water. How much do they weigh now? 99lbs? 98lbs? They’ve only lost 1%...

Nope. 50 pounds -- they’ve lost half their weight! But how? Bust out your burlap potato sack, because Kevin is about to do the dirty work of uncovering the answer to a bizarre veridical paradox that just doesn’t seem to add up. Gravy not included.

*** SOURCES ****

Origins of Colorado Potato Beetle: phys.org/news/2018-03-major-potato-pest.html

Colorado Potato Beetle Genome Research and Propaganda History: https://news.wisc.edu/colorado-potato-beetle-genome-gives-insight-into-major-agricultural-pest/

Czechoslovakian American Beetle Propaganda Video: youtu.be/28N6TSaKQ-g

USDA Food Composition Data: ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2958?fgcd=&manu=&lfacet=&format=&count=&max=50&offset=&sort=default&order=asc&qlookup=raw+cucumber&ds=&qt=&qp=&qa=&qn=&q=&ing=

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Hosted, Produced And Edited by Kevin Lieber
Instagram: instagram.com/kevlieber
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Website: kevinlieber.com

Research And Writing Contributions by Matthew Tabor
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VFX By Eric Langlay
youtube.com/c/ericlanglay

Special Thanks Paula Lieber
etsy.com/shop/Craftality

Special Thanks Michael Stevens
youtube.com/Vsauce

Select Music By Jake Chudnow: youtube.com/user/JakeChudnow