Strawberry marks visibility by 6 months
Only about 30% of hemangioma (strawberry mark) birthmarks are visible at birth; most develop between 4–6 weeks, and nearly all are visible by 6 months.
Snapshot · Stuff You Should Know
Selects: Birthmarks: Probably Not the Mark of the Devil
Explore episode
Jun 20, 2026
Where this was said
Port Wine Stains and Sturge-Weber Syndrome
At 15:35 · chapter starts 12:35
The conversation shifts to port wine stains, which the hosts treat as the most medically consequential vascular birthmark. Unlike macular stains, these don't fade — they can actually darken and become lumpy or scarred over time. More significantly, researchers investigating Sturge-Weber syndrome (a neurological condition present in about 6% of port wine stain cases) discovered a gene with a molecular switch permanently locked in the 'on' position, believed to be the culprit [1] — Josh Clark "Port wine stains are the only birthmark type with a partially identified genetic cause: a molecular switch permanently stuck in the 'on' po…" 20:40 . This makes port wine stains the only birthmark with a partially identified genetic cause. Josh explains the relationship carefully: having the birthmark doesn't mean you have the syndrome, but every Sturge-Weber patient has the birthmark.
Similar snapshots
50% of U.S. adults report being lonely
The U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 report on loneliness found that half of American adults report feeling lonely, marking a widespread epidemic of social isolation.
Brain.fm increased focus brainwave activity by 119%
In a peer-reviewed study, Brain.fm's audio technology was shown to increase focus-related brainwave activity by 119%, according to the show's sponsor read.
Wealthier countries have highest rates of anxiety and depression
The Easterlin Paradox shows that wealthier nations — and the wealthiest neighborhoods within them — tend to have the highest rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and suicide.
More than 3 in 4 Americans report anxiety or depression
Mental health challenges are nearly universal — BetterHelp's own research found the majority of Americans experiencing symptoms right now.
Medicaid 5-year look-back rule
When applying for Medicaid to cover nursing home costs, there is a 5-year look-back period that can disqualify applicants who gave away or spent down assets.
Pipe broke → hydrogen sulfide studio air
A broken pipe filled the Bad Friends studio with what the hosts identified as hydrogen sulfide — microscopic fecal aeroparticles — that the crew denied smelling.
Robot surgery: 10x less blood loss
Fei-Fei Li's father's liver surgery performed by a da Vinci robot resulted in 10 times less blood loss than a typical open liver surgery, thanks to laparoscopic precision.
115M US adults have prediabetes
Approximately 115 million adults in the US currently have prediabetes, most of whom are unaware, according to the Lingo sponsor segment.
Drug overdose deaths: 110K to 80K to 70K
Drug overdose deaths in the US fell from 110,000 to 80,000 in 2024, and then to roughly 70,000 — the largest single-year drop the CDC has ever recorded.
