Seniors hacking the lottery, living their best lives and inventing plant-based fuels | Full Episodes

This paragraph discusses the story of Jerry and Marge Selby, a retired couple from Michigan who managed to win the state lottery multiple times by understanding the game's mathematical probabilities. They exploited a unique feature in the lottery game called 'rolldown', which significantly increased the payouts for lower tier winners. By applying basic arithmetic and setting up a corporation, they involved family and friends in their lottery winnings, creating a sort of hedge fund. Their strategy was based on the concept that in the Windfall lottery, if no one won the jackpot, the money would roll down to the lower prize tiers. Their success story was eventually discovered by the Boston Globe, leading to an investigation but no evidence of foul play was found.

This paragraph continues the narrative of the Selbys, highlighting their comparison to a syndicate of math majors from MIT who also figured out how to win the lottery legally. The MIT group, comprised of young individuals, was led by an undergraduate who discovered the lottery's statistical twist and pooled money with his friends to play professionally. Over seven years, they bet between $17 to $18 million on the Cash Winfall game, earning $3.5 million in profits, a similar rate of return as the Selbys. The Massachusetts state treasurer shut down the Cash Winfall game due to suspicion of rigging, but an investigation found no corruption. The Selbys' and MIT group's stories are contrasted, showing that mathematical genius can lead to unexpected outcomes in games of chance.

This paragraph introduces the 90+ Study, a groundbreaking research project aimed at understanding the factors that contribute to living past the age of 90. The study began with data collected from 14,000 residents of Leisure World, now Laguna Woods, a retirement community in California. Dr. Claudia Kos and her team, funded by the National Institutes of Health, tracked the health and longevity of these individuals, with a focus on diet, exercise, vitamins, and activities. The study has revealed that behaviors such as moderate alcohol consumption, maintaining weight, and regular exercise are associated with longer life. Interestingly, the study also challenges some common beliefs, such as the effectiveness of vitamins in prolonging life.

This paragraph delves into the 90+ Study's findings on Alzheimer's and Dementia among the oldest old. The study has shown that the risk of developing dementia doubles every five years starting at the age of 65. However, the presence of Alzheimer's pathology, such as plaques and tangles, in the brain does not always correlate with clinical dementia. Some individuals with significant brain pathology exhibit no cognitive decline, a phenomenon termed 'resilience'. The study also found that high blood pressure in the oldest old may lower the risk of dementia, contrary to its effects in younger individuals. The research provides valuable insights into the complex nature of dementia and highlights the need for further study.

This paragraph further explores the complexities of dementia, emphasizing that it is a syndrome with various potential causes, not just Alzheimer's disease. The 90+ Study has discovered that many elderly individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's during their lifetime may actually have other conditions contributing to their dementia, such as TDP-43 protein, microinfarcts, or hippocampal sclerosis. The study also reveals that some individuals with significant brain pathology do not exhibit cognitive decline, suggesting the presence of resilience. This resilience could be due to genetic factors, and the study aims to investigate this further. The findings challenge the simplistic view of dementia and open up new avenues for understanding and potentially treating the condition.

This paragraph tells the story of Marshall Medoff, an amateur scientist with no formal scientific education, who dedicated over a decade of his life to finding a way to convert inedible plant life into environmentally friendly transportation fuels. Medoff's innovative approach using electron accelerators to break down biomass and access the sugars within has attracted the attention of investors and led to the establishment of a factory. His work has resulted in the creation of a bioplastic that can be programmed to disintegrate over specific time spans and environmentally friendly biofuels. Medoff's persistence and self-belief have led to significant advancements in the field of sustainable energy and materials.

This paragraph discusses the potential impact of Marshall Medoff's invention in the fields of sustainable energy and waste management. His process of extracting sugars from biomass to create biofuels and bioplastics presents a promising alternative to petroleum-based products. The biofuels produced through his method have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional fuels. Additionally, the bioplastics developed can be programmed to degrade over specific periods, addressing the issue of plastic pollution. Despite the challenges of breaking into established markets, Medoff's inventions tick many boxes, including compatibility with existing infrastructure and environmental benefits. His work, inspired by his reflections at Walden Pond, demonstrates the power of individual innovation in solving global challenges.