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

Dec 09, 20132 min

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

Nov 27, 20135 min

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

Nov 22, 20132 min

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

Nov 20, 20136 min

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

Nov 13, 20132 min

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

Nov 06, 20132 min

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

Oct 28, 20132 min

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

Oct 25, 20134 min

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

Oct 23, 20133 min

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

Oct 21, 20132 min

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

Oct 18, 20133 min

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

Oct 11, 20132 min

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

Oct 04, 20133 min

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

Sep 30, 20133 min

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

Sep 27, 20132 min

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

Sep 25, 20133 min

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

Sep 23, 20135 min

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

Sep 18, 20132 min

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

Sep 13, 20132 min

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

Sep 06, 20132 min

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

Sep 04, 20133 min

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

Sep 02, 20132 min

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

Aug 30, 20133 min

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

Aug 28, 20132 min

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

Aug 26, 20132 min

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

Aug 16, 20133 min

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

Aug 09, 20132 min

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

Aug 05, 20133 min

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

Aug 02, 20133 min

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

Jul 31, 20132 min
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