BrainStuff

In the early 1800s, one swindler tricked hundreds of people into investing in a nonexistent country -- and even into moving there. Learn about Gregor MacGregor's invented kingdom of Poyais in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Dressing up to feel powerful may have been a fashion fad of the 1970s and '80s, but do we really think and act differently if we wear formal clothes? Learn the psychology of power dressing in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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Clowns are usually goofy, raucous characters designed to be the life of any party. But they’re not universally adored. Learn why some people find clowns downright frightening in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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The American dollar has been the de facto world currency for decades. Learn why -- and what would need to happen for that to change -- in this episode of BrainStuff.

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The tiny South Pacific island nation of Niue is the first in the world to designated an International Dark Sky Place. Learn how it achieved this -- and why it's more than a title -- in this episode of BrainStuff.

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With the world changing so quickly, it may seem strange that Plato is still so often required reading in philosophy and education programs. Learn why his work has survived in this episode of BrainStuff.

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The reef manta rays of eastern Australia are normally black and white, but one specimen is a shocking bight pink. Learn about the manta ray nicknamed Inspector Clouseau in this episode of BrainStuff.

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COVID-19 is not a foodborne illness, but to be careful, you might want to disinfect food packaging and fresh produce using a doctor-approved modified sterile technique. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Fire extinguishers are nearly ubiquitous, and they can be invaluable, life-saving devices. Learn what’s inside those little red cylinders, and how they can stop a fire, in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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GDP, GNP – what does it all mean? Learn what economists are saying when they bring up these common economic indicators in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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