BrainStuff

By iHeartPodcasts

Technology Natural Sciences

What's BrainStuff about?

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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LAST EPISODE

BrainStuff Classics: What's...

02.05.2023

When concepts are as intertwined as weather and climate, it can be easy to mix them up. Learn the difference, and why it matters so much in discussions about the environment, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: ...

BrainStuff episodes:

02.05.2023 BrainStuff Classics: What's the Difference Between Weather and Climate? When concepts are as intertwined as weather and climate, it can be easy to mix them up. Learn the difference, and why it matters so much in discussions about the environment, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: ...
02.03.2023 How Do Cassowaries Work? These flightless birds are the second heaviest birds in the world -- they can grow as large as an adult human. Learn about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/cassowary.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02.02.2023 What Causes the Pain of Kidney Stones? Kidney stones are urinary tract blockages known for causing a lot of pain, but it's the blockage itself (not the sharpness of the stones) that does it. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/kidney-urinary/kidney-stone-pain.htm See ...
02.01.2023 How Deep Is the Ocean? The global ocean covers some 70 percent of our planet, and its depths are still unexplored. Learn about its deepest trenches in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/how-deep-is-ocean.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.23.2023 How Does Shrinkflation Work? Shrinkflation is when brands downsize their products while keeping their prices the same -- thus passing inflating costs on to you. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/shrinkflation-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.22.2023 BrainStuff Classics: How Do Southern Biscuits Work? Fluffy biscuits are a cornerstone of Southern cusisine, but they're a relatively recent invention. Learn the history behind this baked good in today's classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/history-light-and-fluffy-biscuits.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.21.2023 What Are the Differences Between Mold and Mildew? Mildew is an early stage of mold that grows on surfaces before digging deeper. Learn how both work and how to stop them from growing in your home in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/difference-between-mold-mildew.htm See omnystudio.com/listener ...
01.20.2023 Is January the Biggest Month for Divorce? Legal inqueries into divorce go way up in January, but March and August also see spikes in filings. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/divorce-rates-january-new-year.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.19.2023 How Do Disposable Hand Warmers Work? These tiny packets are able to give off a lot of heat for a few hours thanks to the same process that causes rust to form -- just sped way up. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on ...
01.18.2023 Do Fish Sleep? Fish do rest, but their versions of sleep doesn't look the same as ours. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/fish/do-fish-sleep.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.27.2022 BrainStuff Classics: Does Milk Really Make Mucus Worse? There's a millennia-old idea that milk causes mucus production, and therefore that you should avoid milk if you're sick. Learn the truth in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/respiratory/milk-and-mucus-myth-busted.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.26.2022 BrainStuff Classics: How Does Kwanzaa Work? Kwanzaa is a relatively new holiday celebrating Pan-African culture, and the unity, creativity, and determination of its peoples. Learn the basics about Kwanzaa in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-other/kwanzaa.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.25.2022 How Did the Eggnog Riot Work? On Christmas Eve of 1826, dozens of West Point cadets had a bit too much (prohibited) alcoholic eggnog -- luckily, only reputations and barracks were hurt. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/ridiculous-history-heres-why-west-point-cadets-rioted-eggnog-1826.htm See omnystudio.com/listener ...
12.24.2022 What Does It Cost to Run Santa's Workshop? Holidays can be expensive when you're only distributing a few gifts, not a few billion. Learn what Santa's yearly workshop budget must be in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-christmas/santa-claus-workshop-budget-will-blow-mind.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.23.2022 Why Are Different Injections Given in Your Arm, Rear, or Elsewhere? Medical professionals give us shots in different body parts based on how much medicine we need and what the medicine needs to do. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/medication/shots-in-arm-bum.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.22.2022 Why Do Small Dogs Live Longer Than Large Dogs? On average, tiny dogs live almost twice as long as really big ones -- and science isn't entirely sure why. Learn what we know (and don't know) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/longest-living-dog-breeds-tiny.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
12.22.2022 How Do Latkes Work? Latkes (that is, fried potato pancakes) are nearly synonymous with Hanukkah today -- but they've only been around for a couple centuries. Learn how they developed in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/latkes.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
12.18.2022 BrainStuff Classics: Could Recycled Urine Make Sustainable Fertilizer? Sports stadiums have a lot of grass that needs to be fertilized, and a lot of urine to dispose of. Learn how researchers are working to solve both problems at once in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this ...
12.17.2022 Will Cats Sit In Imaginary Boxes? It is known that housecats will sit in any box available, large or small -- but science set out to determine whether cats can perceive (and will sit in) illusory boxes as well. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, ...
12.16.2022 How Does Mistletoe Work? The tradition of kissing under mistletoe around Christmas is fairly new, but the traditions it's based on go way back. Learn about the hemi-parasitic roots of mistletoe in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-christmas/mistletoe.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
12.15.2022 How Do Ticks Cause Meat Allergies? You can contract an allergy to red meat from a tick bite thanks to a compound called alpha-gal. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/allergies/food-allergy/dairy-eggs-meat/meat-allergy-lone-star-tick.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.15.2022 Why Do Scientists Want You to Say 'UAPs', not 'UFOs'? Researchers who are currently looking into inexplicable lights and objects in the sky are calling them unexplained aerial phenomena (UAPs), not unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/space/aliens-ufos/uaps.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
12.11.2022 BrainStuff Classics: Why Do We Get Hiccups? What's happening when you get hiccups, and how can you stop them? Learn what science knows -- and doesn't know -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.10.2022 Is Every Snowflake Really Unique? Snowflakes fall by the trillions during every snowstorm, so how could each one be unique? Learn about the incredible crystal physics behind snowflake development in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/is-every-snowflake-actually-unique.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12.09.2022 Why Does Rudolph's Nose Glow Red? We may never know exactly why Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer's nose glows -- but we have a few scientific suspicions. Learn about bioluminescence and atavisims in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/bioluminescence.htm; https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-christmas/rudolph-red-nose-reindeer.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
12.08.2022 How Could Temporary Tattoos Revolutionize Blood Pressure Monitoring? Research into a new wearable electronic patch made of graphene may make it possible to monitor blood pressure continuously and unobtrusively in the next few years. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/cardiovascular/blood-pressure/blood-pressure-tattoo-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener ...
12.07.2022 How Does the Artemis I Mission Work? The Artemis space program is an international effort to put people back on the Moon within the next several years. Learn how the first mission is going in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://science.howstuffworks.com/artemis-news.htm; https://science.howstuffworks.com/snoopy-artemis.htm See omnystudio.com/listener ...
11.27.2022 BrainStuff Classics: What Happens to Balloons When You Release Them? How high can helium balloons go before they burst? Do they always burst? Learn about the physics of escaped balloons in this classic episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.26.2022 BrainStuff Classics: Can Side Sleeping Help Prevent Snoring? Snoring can root from a number of causes, but sleeping on your side can usually help prevent it. Learn the science of snores in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/sleep/disorders/does-sleeping-on-side-stop-snoring.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.25.2022 How Does Checkout Charity Work? Asking customers for charitable donations at checkout can raise a lot of money -- and a lot of goodwill for the business. (And no, businesses can't write off your donations on their taxes.) Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, ...
11.24.2022 Why Do U.S. Presidents Pardon Turkeys for Thanksgiving? This odd tradition seems to stem from early in the history of Thanksgiving being a national holiday, and has only gotten more formal (and more silly) in recent years. Learn about turkeys in the White House in this episode of ...
11.23.2022 How Do Pop-Up Wetlands Work? In California, human development has taken away migrating shorebirds' habitats -- so conservationists are renting rice fields during the farmers' off season to act as temporary habitats. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: ...
11.22.2022 Reign of Terror: The Story of the Osage Murders From 1920 to 1930, after the indigenous Osage people struck it rich with oil on their land, grifters scammed them out of millions -- and murdered a number of them in the process. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, ...
11.21.2022 How Do Eels Reproduce? We know that eels spawn, like many marine mammals -- but spawning can take many forms. So how do eels do it? Learn what we know (and don't know) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/how-do-eels-reproduce.htm See ...
11.14.2022 What's the Oldest Tree in the World? The holder of this title is debated, but Earth's oldest tree is at least (at least!) 4,800 years old -- and may be much older. Learn about the contenders in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/oldest-tree-in-world.htm See ...
11.13.2022 BrainStuff Classics: How Do Homeless Americans Vote? Not having a permanent address or access to identifying documents can make voting in U.S. elections nearly impossible. Learn more about these challenges -- and what some organizations are doing to help -- in this episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener ...
11.12.2022 BrainStuff Classics: What Was The Great Pox? You've heard of smallpox, but what was the great pox? And did Shakespeare have it? Learn about the spread of (spoiler alert) syphilis in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/literature/pox-on-that-refers-to.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.11.2022 How Do Seahorses Work? animals, marine life, fish
11.10.2022 Can the President Control Gasoline Prices? There's very little that any U.S. president can do to affect gas prices in the short term. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/president-gas-prices.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.09.2022 Can You Get Pregnant During Your Period? Short answer: Yes, totally. Human bodies all work a little differently, so it's possible to have an egg ready to go while you're having your period. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/pregnancy/fertility/abnormal-menstrual-cycles-and-fertility.htm; https://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/pregnancy/fertility/pregnant-during-period.htm See ...
11.08.2022 Do Political TV Ads Really Change Voters' Minds? In hotly contested elections, campaigns flood television channels and streaming services with ads for or against the people running. Learn when they can make a difference in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/do-campaign-tv-ads-change-voters-minds.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
10.31.2022 Why Are Graveyards Scary? Cemeteries and other places where we inter or honor the dead are often at least a little unsettling. Learn about the psychology and philosophy behind this phenomenon in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/afterlife/scary-graveyard.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
10.30.2022 Why Does It Feel So Good To Be Scared? Plenty of things are scary these days, so why do people pay good money to see horror movies and go to 'haunted' houses? Learn why psychologists say these fearful experiences are helpful in today's classic episode of BrainStuff, based on ...
10.29.2022 How Does the Monstrous Lamia Work? Lamia is a character from Greek myth who, in various tellings, devours children or seduces men. Learn about her legends in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/lamia.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10.25.2022 Can You Sleep With Your Eyes Open? It's not necessarily fun (nor on purpose), but yes, some people sleep with one or both eyes partially open. Learn how nocturnal lagophthalmos works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/sleep/disorders/can-fall-asleep-with-eyes-open.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10.24.2022 How Did Prehistoric Animals Get So Big? Today's megafauna are tiny compared with history's largest dinosaurs. Learn a few theories about how these animals got so big in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/extinct-animals/why-were-prehistoric-animals-big.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10.23.2022 BrainStuff Classics: What Is Nuclear Pasta? No, it's not radioactive noodles -- nuclear pasta is the term for weird material produced in neutron stars. Learn why astrophysicists are so interested in how it works in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-pasta-is-super-macaroni-universe.htm See ...
10.22.2022 Why Are Caskets So Expensive? The rising price of caskets has outpaced even the rising rate of inflation -- but why? Learn what industry experts think in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/funerals/caskets-so-expensive-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10.21.2022 Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall? The brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows we see on trees in the fall are actually part of trees' defense mechanisms against the oncoming winter. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/leaves-turn-red.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
10.20.2022 What's the Difference Between Redistricting and Gerrymandering? Redrawing voting district lines in your favor is an accepted (and legal) political play -- in some cases. Learn the differences between redistricting and gerrymandering (and how minority voters figure in) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: ...

Older episodes

BrainStuff

What's BrainStuff about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

BrainStuff episodes:

BrainStuff Classics: What's the Difference Between Weather and Climate?

How Do Cassowaries Work?

What Causes the Pain of Kidney Stones?

How Deep Is the Ocean?

How Does Shrinkflation Work?

BrainStuff Classics: How Do Southern Biscuits Work?

What Are the Differences Between Mold and Mildew?

Is January the Biggest Month for Divorce?

How Do Disposable Hand Warmers Work?

Do Fish Sleep?

BrainStuff Classics: Does Milk Really Make Mucus Worse?

BrainStuff Classics: How Does Kwanzaa Work?

How Did the Eggnog Riot Work?

What Does It Cost to Run Santa's Workshop?

Why Are Different Injections Given in Your Arm, Rear, or Elsewhere?

Why Do Small Dogs Live Longer Than Large Dogs?

How Do Latkes Work?

BrainStuff Classics: Could Recycled Urine Make Sustainable Fertilizer?

Will Cats Sit In Imaginary Boxes?

How Does Mistletoe Work?

How Do Ticks Cause Meat Allergies?

Why Do Scientists Want You to Say 'UAPs', not 'UFOs'?

BrainStuff Classics: Why Do We Get Hiccups?

Is Every Snowflake Really Unique?

Why Does Rudolph's Nose Glow Red?

How Could Temporary Tattoos Revolutionize Blood Pressure Monitoring?

How Does the Artemis I Mission Work?

BrainStuff Classics: What Happens to Balloons When You Release Them?

BrainStuff Classics: Can Side Sleeping Help Prevent Snoring?

How Does Checkout Charity Work?

Why Do U.S. Presidents Pardon Turkeys for Thanksgiving?

How Do Pop-Up Wetlands Work?

Reign of Terror: The Story of the Osage Murders

How Do Eels Reproduce?

What's the Oldest Tree in the World?

BrainStuff Classics: How Do Homeless Americans Vote?

BrainStuff Classics: What Was The Great Pox?

How Do Seahorses Work?

Can the President Control Gasoline Prices?

Can You Get Pregnant During Your Period?

Do Political TV Ads Really Change Voters' Minds?

Why Are Graveyards Scary?

Why Does It Feel So Good To Be Scared?

How Does the Monstrous Lamia Work?

Can You Sleep With Your Eyes Open?

How Did Prehistoric Animals Get So Big?

BrainStuff Classics: What Is Nuclear Pasta?

Why Are Caskets So Expensive?

Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?

What's the Difference Between Redistricting and Gerrymandering?