Have you ever taken a big bite of ice cream or a frozen drink and suddenly felt that sharp pain shoot through your forehead? In this episode of Why Stuff Happens, we explore the surprising science behind brain freeze.

Also known as an ice cream headache, brain freeze happens when something very cold touches the roof of your mouth and triggers a quick reaction involving nerves and blood vessels. The result is that sudden, uncomfortable head pain many people know all too well.

This episode breaks down why it happens, why it feels so intense, and what you can do to make it go away faster. It is a short, fun, and easy-to-understand explanation of one of the most common cold-food mysteries.