BrainStuff
2,648 episodes — Page 28 of 53
BrainStuff Classics: Why Do Some Noises Drive Me Crazy?
If the sound of gum being chewed or the crinkle of plastic fills you with inarticulate, homicidal fury (or any other inexplicable emotion), you may be experiencing misophonia. Learn how researchers think it works in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Who Was Physicist Hedwig Kohn?
As a German Jewish woman who came of age around WWI, Hedwig Kohn defeated all odds against her to live a long, successful life as a physicist. Learn her story in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Can Camping Help Us Sleep Better?
Our use of electric lights after dark can mess with our circadian rhythms and make it harder to get a good night's sleep. Learn how a mere weekend of camping might help you reset in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Is Florida's Red Tide?
You may have heard about a red tide menacing ocean beaches, but what causes it -- and can it be stopped? Learn about the algae that cause Florida's red tide in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Doesn't My Sushi Come with Real Wasabi?
Outside of Japan and the fanciest restaurants, most "wasabi" served with sushi is an imitation of the real thing. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Wasn't 'Groom of the Stool' a Crappy Job?
First, yes, there was once a job in royal courts called Groom of the Stool, and yes, it involved dealing with the king's poop. Learn why it was actually a covetable position in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: Are Pop Rocks Dangerous?
Did Pop Rocks really blow the door off of a delivery van? Has anyone ever died from eating this unique (and uniquely loud) candy? Learn the truth behind the rumors surrounding Pop Rocks in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: Are Humans Still Evolving?
We may not have mutant powers like the X-Men, but natural selection is still changing humanity… for the better. Learn about some of humanity's most useful modern mutations in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When Is Moldy Food Safe to Eat?
Spoiler alert: Sometimes! Not all molds are harmful, and some are even helpful -- but it's not always OK to cut away spots of mold and eat the food it was growing on. Learn when it is in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Does Ancient Roman Concrete Outlast Our Own?
Modern concrete crumbles when exposed to the elements, but ancient Roman concrete only gets stronger over time. Learn how this is possible -- and why we're not using their recipe -- in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Do People Still Use Fax Machines?
We live in the incredible future of scanners, internet connectivity, and digital signatures -- so why do people still use fax machines? Learn why faxing perseveres in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Did a Comma Decide a Court Case?
There's no call to be pedantic, but sometimes a tiny punctuation mark can make a huge difference in meaning. Learn how the Oxford comma changed a judge's decision in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Do Noises Other People Make Seem Louder Than Our Own?
Humans and other animals tend to tune out the noises they themselves make. Learn how and why this happens in today's episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: How Long Would It Take To Walk Around The World?
This is a more complicated question than it seems because oceans definitely get in the way, but there are a few ways to attempt to walk around the entire globe -- and a few people who have tried. Learn about them in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: Does the Human Body Really Replace Itself Every 7 Years?
Short answer: Nope! Learn how long it really takes, plus how nuclear weapons helped scientists find the answer, in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Are Macadamia Nuts So Expensive?
Macadamias are delicious and nutritious in small servings, but they're also the most expensive nuts in the world. Learn what they are and how they're grown in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Do Bees Beard?
Honeybees can heat and cool their hives to keep the temperature comfortable. Learn about one method -- bearding -- in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Can a Sea Slug Use Solar Power?
Researchers have found a sea slug that incorporates pieces of algae cells into its body to live off of photosynthesis. Learn more about it in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Will There Always Be a North Star?
The star Polaris, when viewed in the Northern Hemisphere, points you almost due north. Learn how it's aided navigators for centuries, but why it won't always do so, in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Did a Mad King Design Disney's Castle?
Walt Disney based Sleeping Beauty's castle -- the centerpiece of Disneyland and the Disney logo -- on a real castle in the Bavarian Alps of Germany. Learn about Neuschwanstein Castle's strange and tragic history in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do You Or Your Dishwasher Get Dishes Cleaner?
OK, this one is no contest: Your dishwasher can get dishes cleaner, but that doesn't necessarily mean that using one is healthier. Learn about the science behind the suds in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Does Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Work?
Thousands of participants and millions of viewers turn out every year for the spectacle that is the Macy's Parade. Learn its history and what goes into running it in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Would Turkey Be So Popular Without Thanksgiving?
Americans eat a LOT of turkey around the winter holidays, but why? Learn about turkey's festive history and when we eat the most of it in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: How Dirty Is Soap?
It’s good hygiene to wash your hands after touching shared bathroom surfaces. But bars of soap are also a shared surface. Learn why soap is pretty clean in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do Dogs Have Belly Buttons?
Spoiler alert: Yep, all placental mammals have belly buttons, but dogs' and cats' look a little different than ours. Learn how belly buttons work in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: Are Plants Conscious?
Researchers have found evidence that plants have senses, memories, and can even communicate with each other. But does this mean they're conscious? Learn what science has to say in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Did Turducken Become a Thing?
A chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey. Yep. Learn the history of the turducken and what it takes to prepare one in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Can Your Brain Get Tired Like Your Muscles Do?
We've all felt it: the dreaded brain drain after a long or taxing day. Learn why this occurs -- and what you can do to help prevent burnout -- in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: Why is Bird Poop White?
Bird poop: It’s the bane of cars, statues, and occasional hapless pedestrians across the world. But what is this stuff anyway? Learn about birds' amazingly efficient waste systems (and why their waste is white) in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: Will Soda Really Ruin My Teeth?
Soda may not dissolve teeth in 12 hours flat, but it can cause damage to your pearly whites. Learn how -- and how to avoid it without giving up your favorite drink -- in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Did the Ancient Land Blob Called Gondwana Become Today's Southern Continents?
Just looking at a world map makes it clear that today's continents were once a single mass, but scientists are still researching how they came together and apart. Learn about the history of the Southern Hemisphere's continents in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: How Does Sleepwalking Work?
Researchers don't entirely understand why we humans sometimes walk around (or doing any number of other things) in our sleep, but there are a few myths that they can dispell. Learn more about sleepwalking, aka somnambulism, in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Don't Evergreen Trees Lose Their Needles?
Evergreens' needles are their leaves, so why don't they change color and drop in the fall? Learn how evergreen leaves work in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do Humans and Bananas Really Share Half Their DNA?
You may have heard that people share about 50 percent of their DNA with bananas, and while there's a seed of truth to that, it's not quite right. Learn about our genetic similarity to fruit and other life forms in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: Why Do Dogs Yawn?
Dogs communicate by yawning, and it's complex to figure out what they might mean. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classic: What Creates the Northern Lights?
There are lots of misconceptions out there about what causes the stunning Aurora Borealis. Learn what's really up with the Northern Lights in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Do You Deep Fry a Turkey?
Deep frying anything is a science -- but perhaps especially a whole turkey. Learn how to do it (and why it works) in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: Why Do I Need a Passport to Travel?
The vast (vast!) majority of humans need a passport in order to travel internationally. Learn why -- and who doesn't -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Can 'Hypoallergenic' Dogs Still Trigger Allergies?
Spoiler alert: Yes, breeds of dogs said to be hypoallergenic can still set off your allergies -- but they may be better for you than other breeds. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: Are Less Experienced People More Confident?
You may have heard about the supposed inverse relationship between confidence and knowledge -- but is it true? Learn more about the Dunning-Kruger effect in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Could We Recycle Excess Subway Heat?
Heating homes and other human hangouts requires a huge carbon footprint -- but meanwhile, we're wasting heat every day (and sweating) in systems like subways. Learn how one project hopes to use that excess heat for the greater good in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BrainStuff Classics: Why Is Bacon Considered a Breakfast Food?
Bacon and eggs are a traditional breakfast -- but that tradition only goes back about a century. Learn how Sigmund Freud's nephew invented public relations and changed the way we eat breakfast in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Can We Win the War on Cockroaches?
Cockroaches are, if nothing else, admirably persistent -- they can spring back from a 90% population loss just a couple generations. Learn how hardy they are in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Do Wolverines Work?
Wolverines may not have adamantium-reinforced skeletons, but this species of weasel boasts a few superpowers of its own. Learn more about wolverines in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Should You Stop Raking Fall Leaves?
Something has to be done with all those fall leaves, but the best option for the environment (and your lawn) isn't raking, it's mulching. Learn why, and how to get started, in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What's the Difference Between Hornets and Wasps?
We often use the terms 'wasp' and 'hornet' interchangeably, but that's not quite right, and knowing the difference can save you a sting. Learn about these insects in today's episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Can a Hen Turn into a Rooster?
In cases of spontaneous sex reversal, an animal born male can become female, or vice versa, due to genetic or hormonal changes. Learn the story of how one hen became a rooster in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Could Artificial Glaciers Hydrate the Himalayas?
Farmers in the Himalayas depend on yearly snow melts to water their crops, but climate change means they're not getting enough snowfall to replenish natural glaciers. Learn how artificial glaciers are helping in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What's the Science Behind Applause?
The way that applause starts and moves through a large crowd is scientifically predictable. Learn what the research shows about the influence of sound and psychology in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Could Science Create a Better Blood Supply?
Millions of lives are saved by blood transfusions every year, but sometimes donations are in short supply. Learn how researchers are hoping to make more blood universally transferable in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.