BrainStuff
2,727 episodes — Page 51 of 55
When you have an itch, what's happening under your skin?
Skin covers our bodies, so it's very easy for this delicate organ to get irritated. In this episode, Marshall explains why our bodies respond to irritants with an itching sensation -- and why we're programmed to scratch. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is a digital signature?
A digital signature is a way to authenticate electronic documents. Find out what 'authentic' means in this context -- and how encryption is involved in the authentication process -- in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why do some engines use a dry sump oil system?
Most car engines use a wet sump oil system, but some rely on a dry sump system. Find out how a dry sump system works -- and why it's advantageous -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What are carbide tips?
Many cutting tools are made of materials like steel but have carbide tips, which stay sharper longer. Learn more about carbide tips in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is it possible to use a leaf blower as a supercharger?
Leaf blowers are convenient, but are they living up to their potential? In this podcast, Marshall examines superchargers, explaining how a leaf blower can (theoretically) perform the same duties. Tune in and learn more about hacking leaf blowers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How does a QWERTY keyboard work?
The QWERTY keyboard is the standard for most computers today, but why are the letters arranged in such a peculiar way? Learn more about the QWERTY keyboard's unusual layout -- and how it compares to the Dvorak design -- in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How does a fiber optic cable work?
Fiber optic cables make long-distance telephone communication and Internet access much more affordable and accessible. Get Marshall's explanation of fiber optic cables in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Does airing out mattresses outside do any good?
Airing out rugs and mattresses outdoors is a great way to disinfect them, thanks to a little thing called ultraviolet light. Find out how UV light can disinfect everything from rugs to water in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Lava Lamps Work
Liquid motion lamps -- or lava lamps -- use heat to create slight differences in the density of two liquids. Learn more about lava lamps and density in this Brainstuff podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Dry Cleaning Works
Dry cleaning is not actually clean -- instead, it uses a petroleum solvent in place of water. Learn more about dry cleaning in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Dehumidifiers Work
Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air -- but how does this actually work? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about dehumidifiers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Does Yawning Work?
Just hearing about yawning can make you yawn, and no one is sure why. Learn more about yawns and yawning in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How the Nobel Prize Works
Nobel Prizes are highly prestigious, valuable awards that have been given out to visionaries and pioneers in select fields since 1901. Tune in to find out more about the Nobel Prize in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What constitutes a person's IQ?
Your IQ, or intelligence quotient, is a reflection of how well you perform on a specific test that measures cognitive abilities. Learn more about IQ tests in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What type of gas do racecars use?
Different types of racing vehicles require different types of fuel. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about the advantages and drawbacks of each fuel type. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do you make clear ice cubes?
What makes some ice cloudy and some perfectly clear? Discover the answer and learn how to make your own batch of clear cubes in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is the ideal temperature for a refrigerator?
The purpose of a refrigerator is to slow the growth of bacteria -- since some foods don't freeze well, they can't be placed in a freezer. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn the ideal temperature for your refrigerator. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Does adding RAM make a computer faster?
Adding random access memory -- or RAM -- to your computer can, to a degree, make the machine faster. Check out this podcast from HowStuffWorks to learn how RAM affects your computer. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What does 'octane' mean?
The octane rating of gasoline indicates how much a fuel can be compressed before it ignites. When gas ignites due to compression, knocking occurs within the engine. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about octane and engines. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Case Hardening Works
Steel is an amazing metal. Many different varieties of steel exist, and some types of steel are better for certain tasks. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn how case hardening allows manufactures to get the best of multiple types of steel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why do batteries die but then come back to life?
Batteries -- particularly car batteries -- seem to go dead and then come back to life after a resting period. How does this self-recharging feature of batteries work? Find out in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How the Horizon Works
When you stand at the water's edge and look out toward the horizon, how far away can you actually see? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about the horizon and the curvature of Earth. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do V-chips work?
As of 1999, all TV sets sold in the Untied States are required to contain a viewer-control chip, also known as a v-chip. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about v-chips and television ratings. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How does hair length work?
As hair cells form in follicles, they push other cells out of the follicle. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about your hair's growth and rest phases. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do vacuums work?
If a balloon was filled by a vacuum -- rather than helium or air -- would it float? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn the science behind balloons and vacuum. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How does gravity assist with interplanetary satellites?
The idea behind a gravity assist is to use a planet's motion to accelerate a satellite. Check out our article on HowStuffWorks to learn more about the effects of gravity on satellites. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How does large-scale power storage work?
Wind farms and solar power plants are promising sources of renewable energy, but they're not as reliable as conventional power sources. In this episode, Marshall explains how large-scale storage technologies could make solar and wind power more viable. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How can I gain pounds during the day and lose them at night?
Water is a very heavy substance -- just one gallon weighs 8 pounds. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about how the passage of water affects your weight. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket?
The electric company bills its customer by the kilowatt-hour. The number of watts a device uses times the number of hours you leave it on tells you number of watt-hours it consumes, and divided by 1,000 will convert the measurement to kilowatt-hours. Listen to find out more in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why do hurricanes follow such peculiar tracks?
Hurricanes are enormously destructive, and sometimes seem to have a mind of their own. Tune in to this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about hurricanes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do Heart Bypass operations work?
Since the heart is a muscle, it relies on the oxygen and nutrients contained in blood. This blood is supplied by arteries on the exterior of the heart -- when these arteries are blocked, a heart attack results. Listen to find out in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Inkjet Printers Work
Inkjet printers shoot extremely small droplets of ink -- thirty dots per millimeter or more -- onto paper to produce a picture. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about inkjet printers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What does the VTEC system do?
Every gasoline engine has valves that work with the camshaft to let air into and out of the engine. Learn how VTEC -- Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control -- allows engines to adapt their camshafts in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How quickly does hair grow?
On average, human hair grows a small amount each day. Listen in as Marshall Brain explains hair growth in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do gun silencers work?
The sound of gunfire is incredibly loud, and it is amazing that anything is able to silence a firearm. However, the principle behind a gun silencer is surprisingly simple. Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn more about silencers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do exhaust headers work to improve an engine's performance?
The goal of headers is to make it easier for an engine to push out exhaust gasses. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn how exhaust headers channel exhaust gasses and improve engine efficiency. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What causes high tide and low tide?
The moon's gravitational pull is strong enough to affect the oceans on Earth, resulting in low and high tides. Discover exactly how high and low tides work in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why doesn't the space shuttle burn up upon re-entry?
Meteors burn up once they hit Earth's atmosphere, and the space shuttle would do the same if it wasn't protected. Learn more about meteors and the technologies that keep the space shuttle from burning up in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is fertilizer, and why do plants need it?
In order for a plant to grow and thrive, it needs a number of different chemical elements. Check out this podcast from HowStuffWorks to learn more about fertilizer. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do the engines breathe in diesel submarines?
Diesel submarines are actually hybrid vehicles. Find out why -- and exactly how they work -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is a tank engine?
You've probably heard of the beloved character Thomas the Tank Engine, but have you ever wondered what makes him a tank engine? Discover what sets Thomas apart from his locomotive pals in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What exactly is a blueprint?
Blueprinting, which has been around since 1842, is a common way to reproduce an architectural drawing. Tune in to learn more about the complex chemical processes that make blueprints blue -- and white -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How does a chicken's egg get its shell?
Which came first -- the chicken or the egg? Listen in as Marshall Brain gives the technical answer -- and takes a look at the science behind eggshell formation -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Where do bullets go when guns are fired into the air?
When people fire guns into the air in a celebratory manner, those bullets have to go somewhere. Find out how high fired bullets can go -- and why they can be dangerous -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How does pressure-treated lumber work?
organisms. Find out why pressure-treated lumber holds up better -- and how it works -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do Mexican jumping beans work?
Although Mexican jumping beans don't actually jump, they're definitely more active than your average bean. Find out how a moth makes them move in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How does a hybrid car work?
Hybrid cars combine electric motors and smaller gasoline engines in an attempt to increase efficiency. Find out exactly how they work in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How does an Indiglo watch work?
An Indiglo watch works a lot like a neon sign, getting its signature "glow" from electroluminescence. Tune in to hear Marshall Brain explain the finer points of Indiglo watch technology in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What makes NASCAR engines different from other engines?
NASCAR engines are built for maximum efficiency, and they're much more powerful than regular engines. Marshall Brain discusses five ways in which NASCAR engines differ from regular ones in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do torpedo engines work if they're underwater?
Torpedo engines rely on special methods of propulsion to operate underwater. Find out what they are in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.