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BrainStuff

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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 Do Cats and Dogs Perceive Time?

Cats and dogs know their humans' schedules, but do they really have a sense of time similar to ours? Learn about how non-human animals perceive time in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 05, 20208 min

When Is Paranoia Normal, and When Is It a Problem?

Many people experience paranoid feelings sometimes, but more rarely, those feelings can seem to take over a person's life. Learn about what paranoia is and how it's treated in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 04, 20208 min

Why Does the U.S. Hold Elections on Tuesdays?

The United States holds elections the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November because that was deemed most convenient for the citizen farmers of the 1800s, when election dates were written into law. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 03, 20206 min

How Will the PROTEUS Underwater Station Work?

Fabien Cousteau, one of Jacques Cousteau's grandsons and himself an aquanaut, is helping plan the largest, most advanced underwater research station yet. Learn how the PROTEUS station will work in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 02, 20205 min

BrainStuff Classics: Was George Washington Almost King of the United States?

Did the generals of the Revolutionary War really try to hand George Washington a monarchy? Learn the truth behind this slightly tall tale in today's classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 01, 20206 min

BrainStuff Classics: Why Do We Carve Pumpkins Around Halloween?

The tradition of carving jack-o'-lanterns around Halloween goes back centuries to a folktale about a stingy man who outwits the devil. Learn the tale (and why pumpkins weren't the original carving vegetables) in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 31, 20204 min

How Does Samhain Work?

Samhain is a pagan holiday celebrated between the fall equinox and winter solstice that helped form modern, secular Halloween celebrations. Learn about Samhain in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 30, 20206 min

How Do You Sense Your Own Body -- And How Can That Go Wrong?

There's a sixth sense that we're not often aware of -- the sense of controlling and owning our own bodies. Learn how proprioception works -- and what happens to people when it doesn't work -- in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 29, 20207 min

Who Pressed Records onto Human X-Ray Vinyl?

The USSR banned lots of music after WWII, but young Soviet culture hounds called stilyagi bootlegged black market records onto discarded X-ray sheets. Learn about these bone records in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 28, 20203 min

Is There a Real Legend About Nosferatu?

There are vampire legends all over the world, but 'nosferatu' isn't a word from any of them. Learn where Bram Stoker may have gotten it, and how 'Dracula' popularized it, in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 27, 20208 min

Why Was Speed Surgery a Thing, and How Fast Could It Get?

Before modern anesthesiology, sterilization, and other medical technology, the quicker a surgery was the better your odds for survival. Learn about Robert Liston, an infamously fast surgeon, in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 26, 20205 min

BrainStuff Classics: 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. Learn how in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 25, 20203 min

BrainStuff Classics: Is There a Better Alternative to Cash Bail?

Cash bail punishes the poor by setting a high price on freedom -- literally. But are there any better alternatives that won't break local governments' budgets? We explore in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 24, 20208 min

Could Hand Sanitizer Help Preserve Insects for Science?

Hand sanitizer is a good alternative to hand washing when running water isn't available, but as it turns out, it's also great at preserving the DNA in insect samples. Learn how this may help citizen science in today's episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 23, 20205 min

How Can We Detect Tornadoes Earlier?

We often receive very little warning about impending tornadoes, making these storms all the more dangerous. Learn how researchers are figuring out how to use infrasound to detect tornadoes long before they form in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 22, 20204 min

What Are Some of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Harshest Dissents?

During her time as a Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg didn't always agree with the majority opinion of the Court. Learn about a few of her dissents in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 21, 202010 min

How Do Sea Snakes Work?

The most venomous snakes in the world live in the oceans, but they still breathe air, drink fresh water, and some can even crawl on land. Learn about sea snakes in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 20, 20207 min

Is the Nebra Sky Disk the Oldest Star Chart?

A bronze disk found near Nebra, Germany may be the oldest know scientific depiction of the night sky -- or it may be a thousand years younger than that. Learn the story of this mysterious disk in today's episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 19, 20205 min

BrainStuff Classics: What Is (and Isn't) Terrorism?

When is -- and isn't -- a crime considered terrorism? The legal, political and moral definitions are often at odds. We explore why in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 18, 20206 min

BrainStuff Classics: Why Are Leaf Blowers So Annoying?

If the sound of leaf blowers makes you angry, you're not alone -- and there's science behind why. Learn about it in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 17, 20205 min

Are Cats Actually Good at Catching Rats?

There's an assumption that cats can help control pesky rodent populations, but it turns out that they're pretty bad at catching rats. Learn why, and why cats can make a rat infestation appear lesser, in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 16, 20204 min

How Does Anhedonia Work?

Anhedonia is a disorder in which a person doesn't experience pleasure from usually pleasurable things, like music or friendship or the sense of taste. Learn what researchers know (and don't know) about anhedonia in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 15, 20204 min

How Has Knitting Been Used for Subterfuge?

During the two World Wars, knitting became an important way to encode and send messages in secret. Learn about the history of wartime knitting in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 14, 20207 min

How Can the Dutch Reach Save Cyclists' Lives?

When cyclists collide with a carelessly opened car door, the results can be deadly. Learn how the simple Dutch Reach can save lives in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 13, 20205 min

What Foods Should Be Kept Out of the Fridge?

The refrigerator is perfect for keeping some foods fresh and tasty -- but it'll do other foods more harm than good. Learn what foods are best kept out of the fridge in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 12, 20205 min

BrainStuff Classics: How Do Glow Stick Work?

Glow sticks use a chemical reaction to create that soft, colorful glow. Learn how it works -- and how to make your glow sticks last longer -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 11, 20204 min

BrainStuff Classics: How Can a Black Hole Help Prove General Relativity?

Astronomers detected hints of Einstein's theory of general relativity in the Milky Way's supermassive black hole. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 10, 20205 min

How Does Mortgage Forbearance Work?

Mortgage forbearance can help keep a homeowner in their home, but it's not a permanent free pass on mortgage payments. Learn why it's good for both borrowers and banks -- and how to get one if you need it -- in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 09, 20207 min

Is Betelgeuse About to Go Supernova?

Betelguese is one of the brightest stars in the night sky, but in 2019 it dimmed -- a lot. Learn what researchers think caused this and what it could mean in today's episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 08, 20206 min

What's the Difference Between Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx?

The official U.S. government definitions of 'Hispanic' and 'Latino' differ from how people often refer to themselves in real life -- and new terms like 'Latinx' are gaining popularity, too. Learn what these terms mean and how language is evolving in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Oct 07, 20208 min
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