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BrainStuff

iHeartPodcastswww.iheart.com
Whether the topic is popcorn or particle physics, you can count on BrainStuff to explore -- and explain -- the everyday science in the world around us.
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Episodes

How Baking Powder Works

Baking powder is made of three components -- an acid, a base, and a filler. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about baking powder. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 02, 20153 min

How Atomic Clocks Work

Unlike more conventional timepieces, atomic clocks use the resonant frequency of atoms to measure the passage of time. Learn more about atomic clocks in this Brainstuff podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 30, 20153 min

How Air Force One Works

Air Force One is gigantic, but how does it work? This is one of our editors' favorite episodes, and it's no surprise why: Listen in for a brief, detailed look at the interior of Air Force One. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 28, 20152 min

What causes the smell after rain?

The smell of rain is often linked with spring, and it's been alluded to in poems, songs and stories for centuries. But what exactly causes this distinctive smell? Tune in and find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 11, 20154 min

How do Pop Rocks candy work?

Hard candy (like a lollypop or a Jolly Rancher) is made from sugar, corn syrup, water and flavoring. Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn how conventional candy is combined with carbon dioxide to produce Pop Rocks. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 09, 20152 min

Can I see the stuff astronauts left on the moon?

Using a telescope to view the moon is fascinating -- but could we see the leftovers of NASA's lunar expeditions? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about lunar landings and telescopes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 07, 20152 min

How Golf Ball Dimples Work

If you've ever looked at a golf ball, you've probably noticed it has dimples. But why is that? Learn the story behind dimpled golf balls in this Brainstuff podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 04, 20152 min

How the Dow Jones Industrial Average Works

The Dow Jones Industrial Average tracks a variety of stocks to assist investors. Learn how the Dow Jones keeps tabs on the stock market. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 02, 20152 min

How does the snow dragon eat and digest snow?

For cities plagued by yearly snowstorms, a fleet of snow plows and salt often aren't enough to get rid of excess drifts. Luckily, there's another option: Snow dragons. These machines can melt snow on the spot -- but how do they work? Tune in to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 28, 20155 min

Can nasal sprays be addictive?

Some people have become so dependent on their nasal sprays and products that they might worry they're addicted. Marshall Brain explains why you can't really be addicted to nasal products in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 26, 20154 min

What is Schadenfreude?

Schadenfreude is a German word that means taking pleasure in someone else's pain. But it's not the same as sadism, as Marshall Brain explains in this episode. Tune in to learn more about this particularly German sensation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 24, 20154 min

How many balloons would it take to life someone off the ground?

Balloons are often filled with helium, which has a lifting force of one gram per meter. It's possible to assemble enough balloons to lift yourself from the ground -- but how many balloons does it take? Tune into this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 21, 20152 min

What's the difference between LPG or natural gas?

Since liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas have very different properties, it's always important to specify which substance you will use when buying an appliance. Check out this podcast from HowStuffWorks to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 19, 20152 min

How can you figure out how far away lightning struck?

Check out this podcast from HowStuffWorks to learn how to gauge the distance of a lightning strike with a simple equation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 17, 20152 min

How do bake and broil settings differ?

Kitchen ovens typically have two settings: bake and broil. What's the difference between the two? Explore the science behind baking and broiling in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 14, 20153 min

How do astronauts function in their spacesuits?

Astronauts wear special suits while they're working in space, and these spacewalks can last for hours. In this episode, Marshall Brain explains how astronauts take care of their basic needs while wearing spacesuits. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 12, 20152 min

How do a zebra's stripes act as camouflage?

A zebra's stripes offer protection from predators in the form of camouflage -- and a way to identify individual members within the larger group. Learn more about zebra stripes in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 10, 20154 min

To maximize happiness, what should you spend money on?

They say that money can't buy happiness, but it can definitely contribute to your well-being. So what exactly should you spend your money on to maximize your happiness? Stuff? Experiences? Marshall Brain investigates in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 07, 20155 min

What is a vactrain?

Vactrains may be the next big thing in the evolution of high-speed transportation. In this episode, Marshall explains how vactrain systems will work, how close they are to becoming reality and the potential they have to impact global transportation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 05, 20155 min

How does asphalt work, and where does it come from?

Asphalt is an extremely common, oil-derived material that's used to pave a majority of roads in the United States. Tune in to learn more about asphalt. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 03, 20155 min

How does red eye in photographs work?

The flash of a camera is bright enough to cause a reflection off the human retina -- the red we see in these photos comes from the blood vessels in the eye. Learn more about red eyes and cameras in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 31, 20152 min

How Do Submarines Work?

Submarines use oxygen generators to create oxygen from water. Learn more about oxygen in submarines in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 29, 20151 min

How Starting A Car in Cold Weather Works

Cars are hard to start during cold weather for three reasons: gasoline evaporates less in cold temperatures, oil gets thicker in the cold, and the chemical reactions in cold batteries are slower than normal. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 27, 20152 min

How hair length works

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.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 24, 20152 min

How are old black and white movies colorized?

Adding color to black and white movies is incredibly tedious. To speed up the process, the coloring is done on a computer, using a digital version of the film. Learn more about colorization in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 22, 20152 min

Why doesn't paper money disintegrate in the washing machine?

Normal paper is made of cellulose from trees, but paper money is made from cotton and linen fibers. Learn how this makes paper money more water-resistant in this podcast from HowStuffWorks. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 20, 20152 min

What would happen on a carousel moving at the speed of light?

If you could spin a carousel fast enough, would time stand still for the people on the carousel? Theoretically, it's a reasonable assumption. Join Marshall Brain as he breaks down the speed of light and time in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 17, 20153 min

How can I make artificial snow in my backyard?

If you live in a cold enough climate, you can make fake snow just like they do for ski resorts. In this episode, Marshall shares two techniques for creating artificial snow in your own backyard -- and what to do if you live in a warm climate. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 15, 20153 min

How is wire measured?

In the United States, wires are measured by diameter using a standard called AWG, or American Wire Gauge. Discover how the AWG system works -- and where it came from -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 13, 20152 min

Can water go bad?

Many people store water for emergencies -- but is it true that water sitting for too long will go bad? Listen in as Marshall Brain breaks down the science of water purification in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 10, 20152 min
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