The week isn’t over: Medals, lizards, and a change of vibes

Olly Mann and The Week dive into headlines and debate what really matters.

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In this week’s episode, we will discuss:

Medal of China

Chinese-American skier Eileen Gu won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. In China, her victories have cemented her hero status, but in America, they seem to cause mixed emotions. Many commentators cannot understand why anyone born in the US would choose to represent another country, especially China, instead of her home country. This story illustrates an even greater challenge for dual nationals, who can easily find themselves caught between two countries.

Lizard’s tail

Self-mutilation – whereby animals shed their body parts, often to escape predators – has long been a mystery to scientists. Now, a team of researchers has discovered how lizards can keep their tails attached in everyday life and then shed it as soon as an attacker grabs them by the neck. What they discovered could help engineers develop a new approach to prosthetics, or even to create robots that can take apart damaged parts.

Vibe shift

According to a prominent American cultural commentator, we are at the peak of a “vibe shift” – a time when existing attitudes and aesthetics are overturned and a new set is installed. The forecast was published before Russia invaded Ukraine, as the pandemic seemed to be coming to an end and many were looking for a fresh start. But the outbreak of war in Europe could have cultural as well as political ill effects, even if some of it is subconscious.