The volcano that sits under the surface of Yellowstone National Park could do massive damage, but it isn't likely to erupt anytime soon. Learn more about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/what-if/what-if-yellowstone-supervolcano-erupted.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 08, 2022•4 min
The Supreme Court's ruling in Roe v Wade in 1973 guaranteed national rights to some types of abortions. Learn how the case was decided and how it was overturned in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://money.howstuffworks.com/10-overturned-supreme-court-cases.htm; https://people.howstuffworks.com/famous-supreme-court-cases.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 07, 2022•8 min
Beyond the U.S. gun control debate, another question deserves examination: Why are schools so frequently the sites of mass gun violence in America? We explore the psychology and potential solutions in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-do-school-shootings-keep-happening-in-us.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 02, 2022•7 min
At the age of 67, Emma Gatewood became the first woman to hike the Appalachian Trail alone in a single season. Learn her story in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/grandma-gatewood.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 01, 2022•6 min
Turning your AC's temperature setting up a few degrees can save a lot of money, but turning the unit off isn't usually necessary. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/green-living/should-turn-ac-up.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 30, 2022•6 min
Infant formula mimicking breastmilk was only invented in the past 150 years, but babies have been hungry forever. Learn what caregivers used to do when breastmilk was unavailable in this episode of BrainStuff: https://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/baby-health/infant-health/infant-formula-history.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 29, 2022•8 min
Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is a technical masterpiece, but the portrait wasn't famous until centuries after its creation. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/mona-lisa.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 28, 2022•6 min
Magpies, though sometimes maligned, are fascinating birds that can recognize themselves in mirrors and have funerary practices. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/magpie.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 28, 2022•6 min
People are drinking more wine than they used to. Could the ever-increasing size of wine glasses be behind this trend? Learn how today's average serving stacks up against history's in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/much-does-favorite-wine-glass-hold.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 25, 2022•4 min
If your cat licks you, you may have wondered: Are they trying to groom you? Are they being affectionate? Do you has a flavor?? Learn about cats' licking behavior in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/why-does-cat-lick-me.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 24, 2022•6 min
Cities around the world are appointing Heat Officers to identify dangers and help protect citizens from rising temperatures. Learn how these officials work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/chief-heat-officers-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 23, 2022•6 min
The symbols for the dollar ($), euro (€), rupee (₹), and pound (£) are everywhere, but how did they come to be? Learn the history behind these symbols in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/currency-symbols.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 22, 2022•7 min
If rehab helps patients recover after a surgery, prehab helps patients get ready for that recovery beforehand. Learn how prehabilitation works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/surgeries-procedures/prehab-before-surgery.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 21, 2022•6 min
The U.S. House has passed legislation that would mandate more background checks during gun sales, but these bills (H.R. 8, H.R. 1446, and the Protecting Our Kids Act) are stuck in the Senate. Learn more about how they would change the law in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/hr8-gun-background-checks-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 20, 2022•9 min
Dogs are pretty much guaranteed to find the smelliest stuff to roll in -- but why? Learn what may be behind this gross instinct in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/dogs-love-rolling-in-stinky-stuff.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 11, 2022•4 min
The Santa Anas are winds that sweep hot air over Southern California, both clearing the air and exacerbating wildfires. Learn how they work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/santa-ana-winds.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 10, 2022•7 min
It turns out that as a species, alligators have remained unchanged for millions of years longer than anyone knew. Learn how researchers discovered this in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/reptiles/alligator-species-8-million-years-old.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 09, 2022•4 min
Cabin pressure systems haven't changed much over the decades, but the controls for them have gotten safer and more sensitive. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/airplane-cabin-pressure.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 08, 2022•6 min
When you freckle or tan, your skin is trying to protect you from damage. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 22, 2022•5 min
Echidnas are spiny, toothless, egg-laying mammals -- and they only get weirder from there. Learn more about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/echidna.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 21, 2022•6 min
When a shortage of baby formula strikes, health-care providers and a number of organizations can help. Learn who to contact, and what switches in formula are safe for babies, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/family/parenting/babies/baby-formula-shortage-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 20, 2022•7 min
The most popular modern bidet was invented in the U.S., so why hasn't this technology caught on here? Learn the history of the bidet in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/bidet.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 17, 2022•7 min
Even though Earth is the largest rocky body in our solar system, we don't have the largest mountain -- not by a long shot. Learn how Mars took the title in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/tallest-mountain-in-solar-system.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 16, 2022•4 min
A study investigating the microbes and bugs in chimpanzee beds versus human beds showed that chimps are cleaner than we are. Learn about the study's results in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/bed-has-more-poop-than-chimps.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 15, 2022•4 min
Some words like 'disgruntled' and 'ineffable' -- informally called lonely negatives -- don't have a positive counterpart in English. Learn how a few of them came to be in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/lonely-negative.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 14, 2022•8 min
Snakes have several fascinating reproductive tricks up their sleeves (scales?). Learn about the wild world of dual penises, delayed fertilization, egg incubation, and mating balls in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/snakes/how-do-snakes-mate.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 13, 2022•7 min
Manifest Destiny was the idea that European colonists in the early U.S. had a God-given duty to expand across the continent. Learn how it worked then and continues today in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/manifest-destiny-america.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 06, 2022•9 min
The coconut crab is the world's largest land-dwelling arthropod -- they grow longer than your average dog and can open coconuts with their claws. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/coconut-crabs.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 05, 2022•7 min
The first instance of "May the Fourth be with you" was a celebration of politics, not fandom. Learn more about this history of Star Wars holidays in May in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/why-exactly-is-may-4th-a-star-wars-holiday.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 04, 2022•5 min
The Serpent Mound, a vast effigy built on a meteorite crater's edge in what's now Ohio, may be 900 years old -- or much older. Learn what we know and don't know in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/archaeology/ohio-serpent-mound.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 03, 2022•4 min