Be Smart.

Be Smart.

By Joe HansonScienceEducationNatural Sciences
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Be Smart. episodes

  • %$?# Allergies!

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate

    Uploaded 30-03-15

    It's the season for sneezin'!
    Subscribe: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Twitter: @okaytobesmart
    ↓ More info and sources below ↓

    Springtime means the arrival of green grass, bright flowers, and buzzing bees. But for many of us, it's also about sneezing, watery red eyes, and a runny nose, thanks to allergies. In this week's video, you'll learn why we get allergies, how our immune system turns against us to attack pollen and pets, and why allergies seem to be on the rise in developed nations.

    Hygiene hypothesis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene_hypothesis

    Spread of allergies in developed nations: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v479/n7374_supp/full/479S2a.html

    TGF-beta and allergies: http://bit.ly/1HXjm05

    Microbiome and allergies: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-28934415

    Gut microbes and peanut allergy in mice: http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014/08/gut-microbe-stops-food-allergies

    Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below!
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    -----------------
    It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe
    Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart
    Google+ https://plus.google.com/+itsokaytobesmart
    For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com
    Produced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios

    Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer
    Joe Nicolosi - Director
    Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer
    Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics/Animation
    Katie Graham - Director of Photography
    John Knudsen - Gaffer
    Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern

    Theme music:
    "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod

    Other music via APM

    Stock images from Shutterstock, stock footage from Videoblocks

    -----------------

    Last week's video:
    How Many Stars Are There? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh8-ZUIX_1o

    More videos:
    Why Does February Have 28 Days? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgKaHTh-_Gs
    Why Vaccines Work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aNhzLUL2ys
    Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA
    Where Does the Smell of Rain Come From? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGcE5x8s0B8

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    7 min
  • The Mystery of Earth's Disappearing Giants | IN OUR NATURE

    “In Our Nature” is a NEW special limited series on It’s Okay To Be Smart!
    We’re on PATREON! Join the community ►► https://www.patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart
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    Uploaded 16-09-21

    Seemingly distant ecosystems, even half a world apart, are connected in surprising ways. In this special limited series, Emily Graslie and Trace Dominguez join me as we explore the universal rules of life that tie together Earth’s living systems. In episode 6, we investigate a mystery. Millennia ago, while much of the Earth was covered in ice, enormous animals lived on every continent except Antarctica. Species like ground sloths, mammoths, gomphotheres, sabertooth cats, even wombats the size of cars! Today, Africa is the only continent where these megafaunas still exist. Why? What happened to the rest of Earth’s giants?

    In Our Nature is a special miniseries produced by It’s Okay To Be Smart for PBS. Stay tuned for more episodes coming this summer, here on our YouTube channel!

    Original Production Funding provided by: Anne Ray Foundation, a Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropy

    -----------

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    26 min
  • Swarm of the Zombie Parasites!
    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate
    Did someone say BRAAAAAINS…?
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    ↓ More info and sources below ↓
    Shows like The Walking Dead are full of hungry, mindless, surprisingly fleet-footed armies of brain-eating zombies. Could they actually exist? Are zombies real? Well, maybe if you're talking about zom-bees! This week I introduce you to some of nature's strangest mind-controlling parasites, who make zombies of the natural world. This one will make your brain tingle. That's just the awesome science, though… not a parasite. Promise!
    Watch the full video clips used in this episode:
    KQED zom-bees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdZ3M8C6yhs
    BBC cordyceps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8
    Jewel wasp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl_9kghmChw
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWAV1zj5TXQ
    Cricket horsehair worm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df_iGe_JSzI
    Red berry ants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4Rj89-wuDo
    NatGeo zombie snails: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go_LIz7kTok
    LEARN MORE:
    Ed Yong's TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/ed_yong_suicidal_wasps_zombie_roaches_and_other_tales_of_parasites
    Biochemistry of parasitic zombies: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/science/parasites-use-sophisticated-biochemistry-to-take-over-their-hosts.html?_r=1&
    An entire issue of the Journal of Experimental Biology dedicated to parasitic control of hosts: http://jeb.biologists.org/content/216/1.toc
    Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below!
    Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart
    http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe
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    -----------------
    It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe
    Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart
    Google+ https://plus.google.com/+itsokaytobesmart
    For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com
    Produced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios
    Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer
    Joe Nicolosi - Director
    Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer
    Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics/Animation
    Katie Graham - Director of Photography
    John Knudsen - Gaffer
    Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern
    Theme music:
    "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod
    Other music via APM
    Stock images from Shutterstock
    -----------------
    Last week's video: Why Does February Have 28 Days? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgKaHTh-_Gs
    More videos:
    Why Vaccines Work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aNhzLUL2ys
    Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA
    Where Does the Smell of Rain Come From? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGcE5x8s0B8
    Why Did We Blow on NES Games? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gf9mtXnJfM
    The Science of Game of Thrones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utu-LpJn3Is
    There Was No First Human - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWLhXi24Mo​

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    10 min
  • How An Igloo Protects You From Cold
    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate
    Building a perfect igloo takes cool science!
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    ↓ More info and sources below ↓
    If you ever find yourself stranded in the snowy Arctic (or bored in Minecraft), you’re gonna need to know how to build an igloo. But how can building a house made of ice keep you warm? The science behind building an igloo is the same reason that otters and reindeer don't freeze to death!
    LEARN MORE:
    There really ARE 50 Eskimo words for snow: http://wapo.st/2iwThf3
    PBS Idea Channel - An Infinite Number of Words for Snow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX6i2M4AoZw
    Why there’s no such thing as cold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akd7MMRKDwc
    How early humans settled the Arctic: https://uaf.edu/files/olli/Denbigh-Slides_lowres.pdf
    How to build a scientifically perfect igloo: http://www.popsci.com/how-to-build-an-igloo
    It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart
    Twitter: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson
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    Instagram: @DrJoeHanson
    Produced by PBS Digital Studios
    Music via APM
    Stock images from Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com

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    7 min
  • Why I'm Uneasy Around Spiders
    The science of-- OH GOD IS THAT A SPIDER?!
    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate
    Subscribe to It's Okay To Be Smart: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub
    I'm scared of spiders. I'm not afraid to admit it. I love them in a scientific sense, or from a "let me look at you from way over here" sense, but that's as close as I get.
    Here's a look at the science of why some of us are afraid of spiders, snakes, roaches, and other creepy crawlies. Did I evolve to be this way, or did I learn to be afraid of them? It seems to be an open question…
    How dangerous ARE spiders? http://burkemuseum.blogspot.com/2010/09/q-how-dangerous-are-spiders-to-humans.html#.VECZZNR4pj5
    Humans may have evolved to pick out spiders and snakes from environment: http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2001/09/snakes.aspx
    The overlapping worlds of fear conditioning from innate fear: http://instruct.uwo.ca/psychology/371g/Ohman2001.pdf
    Doctor Who study suggests that spider fear may not be innate: http://www.wired.com/2014/01/doctor-who-and-spider-phobia/
    Most common phobias: http://psychology.about.com/od/phobias/p/commonphobias.htm
    Adults and kids pick out creepy animals quicker than non-creepy animals: http://www.livescience.com/2348-fear-snakes.html
    Children report spiders as a top fear: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796797000508
    List of clips featured in this episode: http://bit.ly/1xFhdO9
    Produced for PBS Digital Studios
    Joe Hanson - Host and writer
    Joe Nicolosi - Director
    Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer
    Katie Graham - Director of Photography
    Stephen Bohls - Editing/Motion Graphics
    John Knudsen - Gaffer
    Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod
    Thumbnail photo: specnaz/Shutterstock
    Stock images via Shutterstock
    Music: "Two Boys and a Girl" - Podington Bear
    -----------
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    6 min
  • Your Salad Is Attempting To Murder You
    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate
    The dose makes the poison…
    Subscribe: http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Twitter: @jtotheizzoe @okaytobesmart
    ↓ More info and sources below ↓
    CORRECTION: @2:14 we showed the wrong Paul Ehrlich (guy on the left). Instead of Paul Ehrlich the German doctor, we meant to show Paul Ehrlich the biologist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_R._Ehrlich
    Plants are the most important source of nutrients for pretty much all of Earth's animals, and many of the planet's bacteria and fungi too. Humans like them so much that we line them up in salad bars so we can feast upon their crunchy cronch by the plate full.
    But plants don't always want to be eaten, ya know? Here's a look at some of our favorite plant flavors and how they are actually a form of chemical warfare
    We owe caterpillars for spicy mustard:
    http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/06/17/1503926112.abstract
    http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2015/0622-genetic-study-of-co-evolution-could-provide-clues-to-better-food-production/
    Overview of plant chemical defenses and what we use them for in the kitchen: http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intropp/topics/Pages/OverviewOfPlantDiseases.aspx
    Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below!
    Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart
    http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe
    Follow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com
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    -----------------
    It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe
    Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart
    Google+ https://plus.google.com/+itsokaytobesmart
    For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com
    Produced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios
    Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer
    Joe Nicolosi - Director
    Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Producer
    Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics/Animation
    Katie Graham - Camera
    John Knudsen - Gaffer
    Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod
    Other music via APM
    Stock images from Shutterstock, stock footage from Videoblocks
    -----------------
    More videos:
    Why Does February Have 28 Days? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgKaHTh-_Gs
    Why Vaccines Work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aNhzLUL2ys
    Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA
    Where Does the Smell of Rain Come From? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGcE5x8s0B8

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    9 min
  • Traffic Lights Are So Much Weirder Than You Realize

    Thank you to Squarespace for supporting PBS. Go to https://www.squarespace.com/besmart for a free trial and use code BESMART to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
    ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓

    Uploaded 10-03-26

    Why are stop lights red? The common explanation about red light traveling farther through fog is actually wrong. The real story involves early railroads, deadly accidents, an exploding gas traffic light, forgotten inventors, and even the evolution of primate color vision. Here’s how history and biology accidentally created the nearly perfect traffic signal.

    ____________________________________

    Be Smart explores science questions you didn’t even know you wondered about. It is hosted and produced by Joe Hanson, PhD. We post new videos all the time, so please subscribe! If you enjoyed this video, hit the ‘like’ button, leave a comment, or watch another of our videos!

    CONNECT WITH ME
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    Stock video and images provided by Shutterstock, Artlist, and MotionArray
    Music provided by APM
    Written by Joe Hanson
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    Produced by Least Square Media and Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios



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    22 min
  • Why Salt & Pepper Became Fixtures On Every Table
    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate
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    “Salt: A World History” by Mark Kurlansky http://amzn.to/29vj9m4
    “Pepper: A History of the World’s Most Influential Spice” by Marjorie Shaffer http://amzn.to/29BORCW
    ----------------
    Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below!
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    It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.
    Follow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe
    Produced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios
    Music via APM
    Stock images from SciencePhoto http://www.sciencephoto.com/ and Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com
    Stock footage from Videoblocks (unless otherwise noted) http://www.videoblocks.com

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    8 min
  • Fixing Daylight Saving Time Is THIS Easy

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY
    ↓ More info and sources below ↓

    Uploaded 10-03-20

    We’re on PATREON now! Join the community ►► https://www.patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart
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    Every year, hundreds of millions of people voluntarily turn their lives upside down by setting their clocks forward one hour in the spring and back one hour in the autumn on a particular date mandated by the government wherever they happen to live. Daylight saving time is a perfect example of how a few people with the best of intentions can end up annoying millions of the rest of us for the better part of a century. And it’s time we take an honest look at how we got to this place where half the world comes unstuck in time twice a year, and ask if the supposed advantages for springing forward and falling back still hold up! #daylightsavingtime #DST

    References: https://sites.google.com/view/fixing-daylight-saving-time/home

    My video about the invention of metric system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3eHHwcMVcA

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    16 min
  • Where Did Life Come From? (feat. PBS Space Time and Eons!)

    Follow us to PBS Space Time: https://youtu.be/GcfLZSL7YGw
    And Eons: https://youtu.be/pk213XSSktQ
    ↓↓↓ More origin of life info and sources below ↓↓↓

    Uploaded 11-04-18

    The origin of life is one of the most important mysteries in all of science. When did life begin? How did life first evolve from chemistry? Where did life get started? In some primordial soup or somewhere else? Let’s journey back to the origin of life, as best as we know it, from the RNA world do the last universal common ancestor of everything alive today.

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    REFERENCES: http://bit.ly/2HtuPZr

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    It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.
    Director: Joe Nicolosi
    Writer: Joe Hanson, Ph.D.
    Creative Director: David Schulte
    Editor/animator: Karl Boettcher and Derek Borsheim
    Producer: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox

    Produced by PBS Digital Studios
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    17 min

About Be Smart.

From the publisher's feed

We give you deep answers to simple questions about science and the rest of the universe. And also dad jokes.