BrainStuff
2,648 episodes — Page 39 of 53
What Happens to Mardi Gras Beads?
Festive beads are key to New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebration, but they're also causing a major headache to the city's sanitation department. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Can People Be Allergic to Water?
OK, it's not technically an allergy, but yes: People can have extreme skin reactions to water. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Much of the Internet Is Underwater?
Undersea internet cables connect continents and transmit virtual tons of data. Amidst concerns that these cables could be sabotaged, digital industry experts weigh in on this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Are We in an Insect Armageddon?
A recent study found that bug biomass has been steadily decreasing -- in some areas, we may only have 25% of the insects that we had 30 years ago. But what's to blame, and what could this mean for the future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What on Earth Are Skyquakes?
There are plenty of potential reasons for a boom to rumble through the air, but skyquakes don't seem to be attached to any of the usual suspects. Learn more about these mysterious phenomena on BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do Vegetarians' Farts Smell Worse?
Not all flatulence is created equal -- your diet has a huge impact on the gas you pass. So whose farts are smellier: vegetarians or omnivores? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Are Wine Glasses Getting Bigger?
People are drinking more wine than they used to. Could the ever-increasing size of wine glasses be behind this trend? Learn how today's average serving stacks up against history's in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Should You Give Cats Milk?
Pop culture often shows cats happily sipping saucers of milk, but giving a cat milk isn't actually the best treat for it -- or you. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Which States Get the Most Money from the Federal Government?
Due to states' differing taxes and needs, some give the U.S. federal government far more money than they receive, and some receive far more than they pay. Interestingly, this tends to fall along party lines. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Do Astronauts React to Lunar Landing Conspiracy Theories?
Fringe theorists sometimes question whether the 1969 moon landing actually happened. In this episode of BrainStuff, we explore how astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin have reacted when asked whether it's all a conspiracy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Could Drones Replace News Helicopters?
Flying robotic drones equipped with cameras are a lot cheaper than helicopters for catching events as they happen. But they do have downsides. Could they really replace news choppers? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do Some Fabrics Make Body Odor Worse?
Body odor happens when bacteria thrive in our sweat, so the ways your clothes deal with sweat can make a difference. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Is the 25th Amendment?
With some reports questioning the American president's mental stability, some pundits have asked whether the 25th Amendment might be enacted to remove him. But what does this Amendment say, and what can it really do? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Did a Parisian Lemonade Craze Fight the Plague?
While the black plague ravaged the rest of France, Paris remained relatively untouched -- and they may have had their fondness for lemonade to thank. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Could Colonists Dig Up Ice on Mars?
Spoiler Alert: Yes. Researchers have found nearly pure water ice just below the surface of Mars, in regions easy to reach by human explorers or colonists. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Can the Speed of Video Make Us Look More Innocent or Guilty?
Slow-motion video is often used to show jurors how a possibly criminal event took place, but is this practice fair to the accused? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Animal Has the Best Echolocation Abilities?
Bats, dolphins, and other animals all use sonar to navigate, but the narwhal has them all beat, and it's thanks to narwhals' distinctive horns. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Does Anxiety Cause Underarm Sweat?
Anxiety can cause sweaty palms and armpits -- but why? And how can you combat it? Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Do (and Don't) We Know About the Pentagon's UFO Program?
Over the years, the U.S. government has funded several programs that investigate alleged UFO sightings. How much does the public know about what they found? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Green Is Your Favorite Superhero?
To draw attention to the average citizen's carbon footprint, a team of researchers calculated the eco-rating of a number of superheroes. Learn how they rank 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 Airline Food Taste Good?
If you've ever noticed that airplane food is a little lackluster, the recipe isn't necessarily to blame. Learn how a plane's altitude and even engine noise can affect flavors in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Does Self-Defense Insurance Protect Gun Owners Against?
Several organizations now offer insurance policies to gun owners who may fire in self-defense, to help with legal decisions and fees. But how does this affect the gun control debate? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Could You Legally Bury Someone in Your Backyard?
Home burials are largely a thing of the past, but they're perfectly legal in most states -- once you check a few boxes. Learn how home burials work in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Can Bats Jam Each Other's Sonar?
Bats use sonar to find food in the dark -- but they've got a lot of competition from other bats. Learn about echolocation and how bats go on the offensive in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Tech Will Replace the Smartphone?
Although it's an integral part of many people's lives today, the smartphone is bound to be replaced by the next big thing (and probably sooner than later). We explore what (and when) that might be. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Did the Genes for Light Skin Colors Evolve in Europe?
A widescale genetic survey has shown that despite common misconceptions, race really is only skin deep. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Much Can Ice Tell Us About Climate Change?
Ice cores from glaciers are like fossils of ancient Earth's weather patterns. Tune in to learn how one such sample from Tibet may hold an important history lesson. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Are Teens Cyberbullying Themselves?
A new study indicates that some teens bully themselves online, posting hateful messages from fake or anonymous accounts. Researchers are looking into why, and how to help. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Could Some Microbes Live on Air Alone?
Researchers have found Antarctic microbes that appear to get all the nutrients they need from thin air. Could this change our search for extraterrestrial life? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Similar Is the Opioid Epidemic to the Crack Epidemic?
The War on Drugs being waged against opioids is very different than the one that was fought against crack. Learn more about the politics of race and addiction in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Are Resolutions So Easy to Break?
Most of us break our New Years resolutions — and researchers have found a few reasons why. Learn how to build a better resolution with this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Should Amazon Be Considered a Monopoly?
Although it doesn’t fall into our traditional definition of a monopoly, some researchers argue that Amazon’s scope calls for a new definition. Learn why in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Could This Newly Discovered Planet Harbor Life?
An Earth-sized planet only 11 light years away might have the right conditions to sustain life as we know it, despite its star having some strange qualities. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Long Have We Been Keeping Dogs on Leashes?
A new find of very old artwork depicts dogs wearing leashes. Learn more about our history with man’s best friend in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Much Cardboard Does Online Shipping Use?
Online shipping is highly convenient, and it’s changing the way we use cardboard — but not necessarily for the worse. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Tale of the Christmas Truce
What was the Christmas Truce? Tune in to learn the story behind this small miracle from the Great War. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What Can a Cache of Pterosaur Eggs Teach Us?
A huge cache of ancient pterosaur eggs has been unearthed in China. Learn what this find can tell us about these flying contemporaries of dinosaurs in this epiosde of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Could You Outrun a Volcano?
Outrunning a volcanic eruption, like many things that look easy in movies or sound simple in theory, is more complicated in reality. Learn why you shouldn't attempt this feat in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Will Bitcoin Remain the Biggest Cryptocurrency?
Bitcoin's booming value has everyone excited, but some financial experts are putting their money on other cryptocurrencies. Learn about the potential future of Bitcoin in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is There a Real Witches' Curse in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'?
You may have heard that the Bard's tragedy "Macbeth" is cursed. Learn how this superstition came about in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There's Another Reason to Not Eat Raw Cookie Dough
Recent research has revealed another danger lurking in uncooked dough: tenacious E. coli can survive in dry flour. Learn how scientists figured it out in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Can't Some People Sleep Without a Fan?
Some people find it impossible to sleep without background noise, like a fan whirring. Researchers have identified the possible culprit. Learn how it works 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 Get Adult-Onset Food Allergies?
New research indicates that adult-onset food allergies are more common than previously thought. But why do they happen? Learn more on BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do We Need to Redefine the Four Seasons?
As climate change affects the planet's weather patterns, some parts of the world will see the seasons bleed together. Tune in to learn how we define the seasons now, and how some researchers think that should change. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Did Giant Crabs Eat Amelia Earhart?
No, really, it's a serious question. In this episode, learn why -- and how -- researchers have investigated giant land crabs' potential role in the famous pilot's ultimate demise. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Much Does Getting Stuck in Traffic Cost Us?
When you add up all the wasted time and gasoline, traffic hotspots cost drivers billions of dollars. Learn how researchers are using technology to measure the problem -- and hopefully make it better. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Fast Can We Take a Picture of the Entire Sky?
A new robotic camera is set to change what we know about outer space by capturing huge images of the night sky. Learn more on BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why Do We Find Symmetry So Pleasing?
What is it about the arrangement of petals on a flower or a perfectly symmetrical display of soup cans that catches our eye? Our brains seem wired for it, but why? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Does Salt Prevent Food Spoilage?
Salt has kept entire civilizations alive thanks to its abilities to preserve food and protect it from harmful germs. But how? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do Monkeys Have Superstitions?
We share a lot in common with monkeys, but are they just as superstitious? And could the belief in winning streaks carry an evolutionary advantage? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.