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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

What Is a Swedish Death Clean?

We humans tend to accumulate a lot of stuff -- to the point that it's a burden on our mental health. Learn about a method for lightening your life (and removing a future burden on your loved ones) in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 13, 20196 min

What Is an Oligarchy (and Are We One)?

An oligarchy is a society ruled by a few wealthy, powerful people – the media has applied the term to countries from Saudi Arabia to Brazil to the United States. Learn about oligarchies and whether the U.S. has become one in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 12, 20197 min

What Are Honey Badgers Really Like?

The honey badger is internet famous, but it’s actually a fairly mysterious creature. Learn what we know (and don’t know) about honey badgers in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 11, 20196 min

How Does NASA Schedule Space Launches?

To launch a spacecraft successfully, the stars (and moon, and planets) must literally align. Learn about all the factors that are taken into account to schedule a space launch in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 10, 20196 min

Why Should You Bring Ear Plugs to Music Festivals?

Of all the accessories you might think of bringing to a music festival, ear plugs might not be high on your list. Learn why they should be -- and how else you can prevent hearing damage -- in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 07, 20195 min

Could the Great Depression Happen Again?

There were many factors that led to the depth and length of the Great Depression, but some of these mistakes are being repeated today. Learn what historians and economists are saying we should watch out for in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 06, 20199 min

How Did Clickers Save Lives on D-Day?

Tiny, handheld boxes that make a sharp clicking noise saved countless American lives during the confusion of D-Day in WWII. Learn how they were used and what to do if you have one in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 05, 20194 min

Do Dogs Experience Puberty Like We Do?

Dogs do indeed go through emotional changes and gain independence during puberty -- it just happens within the first couple years of their life. Learn how you can help your 'teen' pup grow up in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 04, 20194 min

Could Earthly Lava Structures Help Us Colonize Space?

Tunnels made from lava flows in Hawaii and Iceland are being studied by researchers in fields from geology to astrobiology. Learn how these lava tubes could help us explore space and even find extraterrestrial life in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 04, 20196 min

How Bad Is Prison Food?

Serving inmates low-quality food is cheap in the short term, but it can lead all kinds of health problems that prisons (and taxpayers) pay for in the long run. Learn how cheap American prison food is and why that's a problem in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 31, 20196 min

Why Did Victorians Collect Hair?

In the mid-1800s, many people saved loved ones' hair -- but the collection of Peter A. Browne went much, much further than that. Learn why he thought it had scientific merit -- and why it actually does today -- in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 30, 20196 min

Should You Be Afraid of Wolf Spiders?

Short answer: Nope! Although wolf spiders may sound (and look) fearsome, they're excellent helpers around your house, getting rid of more bothersome pests. Learn about wolf spiders in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 29, 20195 min

How Did Jane Goodall Get Her Start(s)?

In July of 1960, 26-year-old Jane Goodall began setting up her field station at Gombe, which would become the site of the longest-running wildlife research project in history. Learn more about Jane Goodall's life and legacy in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 29, 20197 min

Are There Winners and Losers in a Trade War?

On May 10, 2019, the Trump administration increased tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese exports from 10 percent to 25 percent. But what does that mean for the global economy? Learn about trade wars in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 28, 20197 min

How Many Legs Do Millipedes Have?

Millipedes don't literally have a thousand legs, but how many do they really have? Learn about these fascinating arthropods in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 24, 20195 min

How Hazardous Is Peeing in the Pool?

Urinating in chlorinated swimming pools isn't just sorta gross -- it's actually a health hazard. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 23, 20193 min

Can Galaxies Exist Without Dark Matter?

We previously thought that all galaxies form with the help of dark matter, but researchers just found a galaxy that doesn't seem to contain any. Learn why that's so weird and what it might mean in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 22, 20195 min

Why and How Are Documents Redacted?

Court and other government documents are often presented with redactions -- that is, with some text blacked out or otherwise made unreadable. Learn how this is done -- and why -- in today's episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 21, 20196 min

Why Does Measles Reset Your Immune System?

After the measles vaccine spread, researchers noticed that the death toll from many other diseases dropped. Learn how the measles destroys your immunity to other diseases, and why the vaccine is safe for most people, in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 20, 20197 min

What Is Relative Humidity?

Relative humidity can make pleasant temperatures unbearable (and vice versa). Learn why -- and what the dew point has to do with it -- in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 17, 20195 min

Could Transplanted Organs Be Reused?

People who receive organ transplants often die with that organ working perfectly, but today, those organs are rarely retransplanted. Learn why -- and how some researchers are hoping to change that -- in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 16, 20195 min

What Is Agnosticism?

Some people think that there are no effective differences between religious agnosticism and atheism, but the two standpoints are distinct. Learn how both work in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 15, 20197 min

How Does Henry Ford's Feud with the Dodge Brothers Affect Businesses Today?

The legal feud between carmakers Henry Ford and the Dodge brothers wasn't just deeply personal -- it changed the way Americans do business. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 14, 20195 min

Has Anyone Been Buried on the Moon?

Spoiler alert: Yes. But just one person. Learn who Eugene Shoemaker was and how his friends and family got him interred on the moon in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 13, 20194 min

What Happened at America's Secret Atomic City?

When the U.S. was building atomic bombs during World War II, it set up a secret city -- Oak Ridge, Tennessee -- to produce the uranium-235 it needed. Learn how this city worked and what it's used for today in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 10, 20199 min

Why Do Some People Eat Dirt?

The craving for and practice of eating earth is more widespread than you might think. Learn why researchers think people engage in pica (a.k.a geophagy) in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 09, 20197 min

Why Is the Blobfish Blobby?

The blobfish has been voted the World's Ugliest Animal based on above-water photos, but its gelatinous features make it perfectly adapted for life deep in the ocean. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 08, 20194 min

What Does the Word 'Caucasian' Really Mean?

Caucasian' is sometimes used to mean 'white', but the word comes from an old, incorrect scientific hypothesis and has been used to perpetuate prejudice. Learn why it would be better left in the past in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 07, 20196 min

What Can Marsquakes Teach Us?

Seismic activity has been recorded on Mars, and researchers hope to use the data to learn lots about the history and current state of the red planet. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 06, 20193 min

Why Are Grocery Store Tomatoes So Meh?

Many tomatoes found in large grocery stores are mealy and lack flavor. Learn why -- and what researchers are doing about it -- in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 03, 20196 min
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