BrainStuff

How Do Bidets Work? May 17, 2022

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

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What's the Tallest Mountain in the Solar System? May 16, 2022

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

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BrainStuff Classics: Are Chimps Cleaner Than Us? May 15, 2022

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

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If You Can Be Disgruntled, Can You Be Gruntled? May 14, 2022

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

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How Do Snakes Mate? May 13, 2022

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

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How Did Manifest Destiny Shape America? May 06, 2022

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

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How Do Coconut Crabs Work? May 05, 2022

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

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Why Is May 4th a Star Wars Holiday? May 04, 2022

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

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Who Built Ohio's Serpent Mound? May 03, 2022

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

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How Does Anhedonia Work? Apr 29, 2022

Anhedonia is a mental health condition where normally pleasurable things, from music to food to conversation to touch, don't feel good anymore. Learn what we're still learning about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/mental-disorders/anhedonia.htm

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If Birds Can Perch, Why Can't Drones? Apr 28, 2022

Designing drones that can land and perch anywhere would be really useful, but it's harder than it may sound. Learn how researchers have pulled it off in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/perchiing-drones-news.htm

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Is It Dangerous to Bathe During a Thunderstorm? Apr 27, 2022

Myths about lightning abound, but this one is true: It's safest to avoid running the taps during a thunderstorm. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/dangerous-to-bathe-during-thunderstorm.htm

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Is Bugs Bunny a Rabbit or a Hare? Apr 26, 2022

Bunnies and hares have a number of distinct traits -- as does Bugs himself. Learn whether he leans rabbit or hare in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/bugs-bunny-rabbit-or-hare.htm

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Should the U.S. Switch to Permanent Daylight Savings Time? Apr 25, 2022

Switching to Daylight Savings Time gives us an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings during Spring and Summer months -- but is it helpful or hazardous? Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/permanent-daylight-saving-time-news.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Does Playing with Toy Guns Lead to Violent Behavior? Apr 24, 2022

Some parents and advocacy groups recommend against allowing children to play with toys that resemble weapons. But is there any science to back that up? Learn about play, parenting, and aggression in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/behavior/playing-with-toy-guns-lead-to-actual-gun-violence.htm

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Holly Frey In Conversation With Seneca Women to Hear Winner: Naibe Reynoso Apr 23, 2022

Holly Frey, host of Stuff You Missed in History Cass, sits down with Naibe Reynoso, one of the ten winners of Seneca Women to Hear: Search for the Next Great Female Podcasters

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BrainStuff Classics: What's the History of Lemonade? Apr 23, 2022

Who were the first people to drink lemonade? How did it turn pink? Learn the folklore behind lemonade in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/what-is-history-lemonade.htm

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Where Did the Phonetic Alphabet Come From? Apr 22, 2022

As audio technology developed during the 1900s, people realized that they needed a clearer way to communicate terms than spelling them out in the normal alphabet. Learn how the NATO phonetic alphabet (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, etc.) came to be in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/phonetic-alphabet.htm

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How Does Baker's Yeast Work? Apr 21, 2022

The magic microbe that makes bread rise and beer alcoholic is yeast -- often, the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Learn how it works in this episode of BrianStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tools-and-techniques/yeast.htm

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How Did Bessie Coleman Work? Apr 20, 2022

In 1921, Bessie Coleman became the first Black American woman to earn a pilot's license. Learn about her life and legacy in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/classic/bessie-coleman.htm

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Are Humans Really Worse at Smelling than Dogs? Apr 18, 2022

The idea that humans have a worse sense of smell than other animals is a pervasive myth. Learn the reality in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nose-throat/human-sense-smell-good-as-dog.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Should You Really Take Fish Oil Pills? Apr 17, 2022

Conventional wisdom has long said fish oil pills are a great nutritional boost, but recent research shows they don't have the cardiovascular benefits we once thought. Learn who should still consider taking them in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Can Squid 'Speak' With Their Skin? Apr 16, 2022

Squid can communicate via patterns they flash on their skin, and the way they create those patterns is stranger than anyone thought. Learn what researchers are learning about it in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What's the Most Americans Have Paid for Gasoline? Apr 15, 2022

Gas prices have been high recently in the U.S., but the national average has gone higher (once you account for inflation). Learn how gas pricing works in the U.S. and around the world in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-consumption/highest-gas-payment.htm

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How Does Earth's Pulse Work? Apr 15, 2022

Yes, Earth has a pulse: peaks of geologic activity that occur every 27.5 million years, and herald mass extinctions. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/earths-pulse.htm

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Why Didn't Russia Sell Alaska to Canada? Apr 14, 2022

In 1867, Russia sold the territory of Alaska to the United States -- a perhaps confusing move, given that Canada was right next door. Learn how it happened in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/why-didnt-russia-sell-alaska-to-canada.htm

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How Can Hay Fever Cause Food Allergies? Apr 12, 2022

It turns out that compounds in some raw fruits and vegetables mimic the compounds that cause seasonal allergies, and thus make you itchy when you eat them. Learn more about oral allergy syndrome in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/allergies/food-allergy/information/hay-fever-allergic-fruits.htm

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How Does Dolores Huerta Work? Apr 11, 2022

In the 1960s, Dolores Huerta worked alongside Cesar Chavez to create the United Farm Workers union and organize for farmworkers' rights across America. Learn more about her legacy and continuing work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/dolores-huerta.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Bad Is It to Run Your Car on Empty? Apr 10, 2022

Your car's empty-tank light can sneak up on you, and it's easy to put off filling up for another day. But are you damaging your car when you do? Learn why it's not good to run your car on empty in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-economy/is-it-bad-to-drive-car-with-nearly-empty-gas-tank.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Do Doctors' Biases Affect Health Care? Apr 09, 2022

Implicit biases change the way we act without us even realizing it, and doctors aren't immune. Learn how we can identify and change our unconscious biases in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/healthcare/doctors-biases-health-care.htm

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How Does Plutonium Work? Apr 09, 2022

Plutonium may be as misunderstood as it is useful -- and potentially dangerous. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/plutonium.htm

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Can the U.S. Cut Dependence on Foreign Oil? Apr 08, 2022

The United States produces a lot of oil, but we also import (and use) a lot. Learn why oil independence isn't on the horizon yet in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/cut-dependence-foreign-oil.htm

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How Old Are Grocery Store Apples? Apr 06, 2022

The apples you find in your chain grocery store may have been picked a year ago -- but that's OK. Learn about apple storage technology in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/grocery-store-apple-one-year-old.htm

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How Did One Woman Change the FDA's Drug Approval Process? Apr 05, 2022

When FDA employee Frances Kelsey called for caution regarding the drug thalidomide in the 1960s, she wound up saving babies and changing FDA guidelines as we know them. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/frances-kelsey-thalidomide.htm

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How Does the Museum of Failure Work? Apr 04, 2022

From Google Glass to Crystal Pepsi, the Museum of Failure celebrates the spirit of innovation behind flops and failures. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/destinations/landmarks/museums-tours/museum-failure.htm

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Are Wolves Smarter Than Dogs? Mar 21, 2022

Intelligence is tricky to define, but research has shown that wolves understand cause and effect where dogs don't. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/wolves-are-smarter-than-dogs.htm

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Why Do Books Smell So Good? Mar 20, 2022

Researchers have set out to catalog the scent compounds that make books and libraries smell so welcoming. Learn how in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/odor-wheel-smell-old-books.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Is Hangry a Real Emotion? Mar 19, 2022

If you've ever had to apologize for what you said when you were hungry, you may be comforted to know that hanger is real. Learn what causes is -- and how you can stop or even prevent it -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/is-hanger-real-emotion.htm

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What Is the Longest Worm in the World? Mar 17, 2022

The bootlace worm, Lineus longissimus, is as thin as a pencil but can grow as long as a blue whale. Learn about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/bootlace-worm.htm

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How Does Liquid Smoke Work? Mar 16, 2022

Liquid smoke, a flavoring used by food manufacturers and home cooks alike, is made from real, purified wood smoke. Learn how it's made in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/liquid-smoke.htm

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How Do Dollar Stores Make Money? Mar 14, 2022

Dollar stores actually have high profit margins for charging so little per item. Learn how they work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/budgeting/dollar-store.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Yes, Your Dog Wants to Help When You're Upset Mar 13, 2022

Confirming what dog owners already know, new research shows that dogs really do want to help us when we're sad or upset. Learn how the experiments worked in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/your-dog-really-wants-to-help-when-youre-upset.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Happens When Hurricanes Hit Volcanoes? Mar 12, 2022

In a phrase: big bada-boom. Learn how hurricanes and volcanoes intensify each other in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/battle-epic-hurricane-vs-volcano.htm

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Why Do We Have Favorite Colors? Mar 11, 2022

It's obvious that we all have color preferences, but recent research may have discovered why. Learn how the experiments worked in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/favorite-colors.htm

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Do the North and South Poles Have Time Zones? Mar 10, 2022

Time zones are based on longitudinal lines that all intersect at the poles -- so what time is it at the North or South Pole? Learn how this tricky situation is handled in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/north-south-poles-time-zones.htm

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Do Rabbits Really Go Crazy in March? Mar 09, 2022

Rabbits and hares have a long literary reputation for going mad in March -- which happens to be the beginning of their breeding season. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/do-rabbits-really-go-crazy-in-march.htm

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How Did Curse Tablets Work? Mar 08, 2022

In ancient Greece and Rome, cursing foes via written tablets was sometimes wildly popular. Learn how curse tablets worked in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/cultural-traditions/curse-tablets.htm

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How Do Sanctions Work? Mar 07, 2022

To punish foreign governments without using weaponry, the U.S. often turns to sanctions. Learn more, plus a bit about sanctions against Russia, is this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/sanctions.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Do Nutrients Get into the World's Oceans? Mar 06, 2022

Phytoplankton are responsible for a lot of the oxygen we breathe, and their wellbeing is made possible by... deserts. Yes. Learn how the Sahara Desert and other dusty debris feeds our oceans in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/saharan-dust-good-bad-and-gritty.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Can You Train a Bee? Mar 05, 2022

Spoiler alert: Totally. Bees and other insects can learn, and thus be trained, using scents. Learn how they could sniff out everything from bombs to cancer in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/bees-can-be-trained.htm

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How Did Anne Bonny, Female Pirate, Work? Mar 04, 2022

Unfortunately, the answer is that no one is entirely sure -- myths about pirates outnumber confirmed details. Learn what we do know about Anne Bonny and Mary Read in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/anne-bonny.htm

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Why Does the Sun Get Colder Closer to Its Surface? Mar 03, 2022

The outer layers of the sun's atmosphere are hotter than its surface, and researchers think it might have to do with magnetohydrodynamics. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/why-sun-atmosphere-hotter-than-surface.htm

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How Did the Black Codes Work? Mar 02, 2022

After the American Civil War, Southern governments created laws to keep freed Black people working without pay or legal recourse. Learn how the Black Codes shaped history in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-civil-war/black-codes.htm

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How Do Kodiak Bears Work? Mar 01, 2022

This type of brown bear lives only on an Alaskan archipelago and has evolved to be one of the biggest bears in the world. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/kodiak-bear.htm

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How Can Wastewater Help Us Track Coronavirus? Feb 28, 2022

Our poop is filled with useful information about us, including viruses like the one that causes COVID-19. Learn how researchers are using wastewater to warn communities about potential outbreaks in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/tracking-coronavirus-wastewater.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Did Our Ancestors Really Eat? Feb 27, 2022

Figuring out what foods were on ancient menus can be tricky, but a mummy called Ötzi the Iceman was preserved with his last meal still intact. Learn what scientists found out about his eating habits in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/biology-fields/otzi-iceman-ate-high-fat-last-meal.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Who Does the Real Magic: Magicians, or Assistants? Feb 26, 2022

The gender roles of traditional stage magicians and 'lovely assistants' can seem outdated, but behind the scenes, the work has always been pretty equal. Learn how being a magician's assistant works in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/circus-arts/is-lovely-assistant-real-magician.htm

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What Is a Cosmic Cow? Feb 25, 2022

A particularly bright light in the sky, affectionately nicknamed a 'cosmic cow', seems to be a baby black hole or neutron star. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/cosmic-cow-news.htm

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How Did a Civil Rights Photographer Become an FBI Informant? Feb 24, 2022

Photographer Ernest Withers took iconic photos that helped the Civil Rights movement -- and also informed on its inner workings to the FBI. Learn more about this mystery in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/ernest-withers-civil-rights-documentary-or-informant.htm

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Why Didn't We Evolve to Smell Water? Feb 23, 2022

OK, water is scentless, but lots of non-human animals track down sources of it with their noses. Learn why humans aren't so good at that in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/evolution/humans-smell-fresh-water-evolution.htm

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Why Does Preening Help Keep Flamingos Pink? Feb 22, 2022

Flamingos work hard to keep their feathers brightly colored, inside and out. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/flamingos-pink-plumage-news.htm

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How Much Animal DNA Is in the Air? Feb 21, 2022

We think of DNA being a mostly internal thing, but researchers have collected a surprising amount of animal DNA from thin air. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/edna-suck-thin-air-news.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Is Head Scratching a Gesture of Thought? Feb 20, 2022

Some gesticulations come naturally -- scratching your head when you're thinking is so common that it's basically a cliche. But why? Learn what researchers have to say in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-do-scratch-heads-when-were-thinking.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Can We Make Roads Out of Recycled Plastic? Feb 19, 2022

Plastics clog our ecosystems and our roads need maintenance -- could fixing one problem help solve the other? Learn how researchers are recycling plastics into useful materials in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/recycled-plastic-waste-creates-roads.htm

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Can Winter Athletes Tell Real Snow from Fake Snow? Feb 18, 2022

The 2022 Winter Olympics are the first to use primarily artificial snow in outdoor games like skiing and snowboarding. Learn how athletes compensate for the difference in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/snow-sports/difference-between-fake-snow-real.htm

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Why Do We Fall in Love? Feb 17, 2022

The set of emotions we call 'love' is both a psychological phenomenon and a societal construct. Learn more about how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/relationships/love/why-do-we-fall-in-love.htm

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How Did Bass Reeves Work? Feb 16, 2022

Bass Reeves was one of the first Black deputy marshals in the Old West, and one of the most successful. Learn more about him in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/bass-reeves.htm

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Muffin, Bagel, Doughnut: What's the Best Choice? Feb 15, 2022

Three of the most popular to-go breakfast foods in the U.S. don't necessarily serve as the best nutritional start to your day. Learn which may keep you going the longest in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/bagel-muffin-doughnut.htm

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How Do Some Squirrels Gain Muscle During Hibernation? Feb 14, 2022

Humans lose muscle when we don't use it, but squirrels can gain muscle during winter hibernation -- thanks to their gut bacteria. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/squirrels-get-jacked-during-hibernation-news.htm

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Can Different Species of Birds Understand Each Other? Feb 13, 2022

Birds and other animals can learn to "talk" to one another, and even work together to spread warnings about predators nearby. Learn how it works in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/can-bird-species-talk-with-each-other.htm

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What's the History of Toothpaste? Feb 12, 2022

Toothpaste actually predates the toothbrush in dental hygiene's history. Learn the long history behind this everyday item in today's classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/products/history-toothpaste.htm

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Who Was the First Self-Made Woman Millionaire? Feb 11, 2022

Madam C. J. Walker was a Black entrepreneur who built a beauty empire from scratch over a century ago, and her legacy of philanthropy and community support lives on. Learn about Madam Walker in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/madam-cj-walker.htm

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Why Are Some Scents Soothing? Feb 10, 2022

The way our brains process scent is definitely tied to memory and emotion -- but do some scent compounds work like anti-anxiety medicine? Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/what-makes-scent-soothing.htm

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Why Is Point Nemo the World's Spacecraft Graveyard? Feb 09, 2022

When spacecraft in orbit stop working, it's ideal to bring them safely back to Earth. Learn about Point Nemo, the remote crash zone for old spacecraft, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/south-pacific-graveyard-where-spacecraft-go-to-die.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Are Vampire Squid? Feb 06, 2022

Despite their name and their somewhat scary appearance, 'Vampyroteuthis infernalis' aren't infernal blood-suckers. Learn why they're pretty cool anyway in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/vampire-squid-dont-actually-suck-blood.htm

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Why Do Babies' Eyes Sometimes Change Color? Feb 04, 2022

Our eyes are as individual as our fingerprints, but their shade can change over time. Learn why this is common in babies during the first couple years of their life in this episode of BrainStuff: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/eye/babies-eyes-change-color.htm

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How Could NASA's DART Mission Change the Cosmos? Feb 03, 2022

NASA's DART mission aims to subtly alter the orbit of one small asteroid around another -- and thus change the trajectory of objects outside Earth for the first time. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff: https://science.howstuffworks.com/dart-nasas-asteroid-redirecting-mission-news.htm

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Could Earth Gain a New Ocean? Feb 02, 2022

Some researchers think that eventually, a rift that's forming in West Africa could become a whole new ocean. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/earth-get-new-ocean.htm

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Who Profits from Food Delivery Apps? Feb 01, 2022

Consumers are spending billions via food delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, but no one -- not the drivers, the restaurants, or the apps themselves -- are seeing much profit. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/food-delivery-make-money-news.htm

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Is Uranium Glass Radioactive? Jan 31, 2022

Uranium gives glass products an unearthly glow -- and luckily for collectors, the stuff is basically safe to handle. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/uranium-glass.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Makes Stars Twinkle? Jan 30, 2022

On a clear night, the stars seem to wink and twinkle in the sky. Learn why in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/why-do-stars-twinkle.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Should You Really Eat Activated Charcoal? Jan 29, 2022

Celebrities and Instagrammers have been singing the praises of activated charcoal as a health supplement, but can it really help make you healthier? Learn the real science in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/why-are-people-eating-activated-charcoal.htm

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How Were COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Released So Quickly? Jan 28, 2022

Scientists were able to release the mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 (from Pfizer and Moderna) quickly because of decades of prior research -- and how adaptable mRNA treatments are. Learn the history and what the incredible future may hold in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/modern-technology/mrna-technology-news.htm

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How Did the Little Free Library Movement Start? Jan 27, 2022

What started as a simple remembrance of a mother and schoolteacher has become a worldwide movement dedicated to reading and sharing books. Learn how Todd Bol started LFL in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/literature/todd-bol-and-little-free-library-movement.htm

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Do Other Animals Practice Social Distancing? Jan 26, 2022

Practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of disease isn't just solid science -- it's an instinct in other mammals, like bats. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/social-distance-vampire-bats.htm

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Are Different Types of Salt Really That Different? Jan 25, 2022

Table salt, Kosher salt, sea salt, pink salt -- it may all be sodium chloride, but you can't always directly substitute one kind of salt for another in recipes. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/difference-between-kosher-salt-table-salt.htm, https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/all-salt-is-not-same.htm

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How Can You Get Paid to Break Into Stuff? Jan 24, 2022

Crime doesn't pay -- but penetration testing does. Learn why companies pay hackers to break into their networks and offices in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://computer.howstuffworks.com/hack-networks-security-news.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Do Hounds Have Floppy Ears? Jan 23, 2022

Sure, scent hounds' noses are powerful tools -- but their ears may be the secret to their success. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/why-do-scent-hounds-have-long-floppy-ears.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Did Victorians Think Green Tea Causes Hallucinations? Jan 22, 2022

We attribute lots of potential health effects to green tea, but the Victorians had a strange one: they thought it caused hallucinations. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/herbal-remedies/does-green-tea-cause-hallucinations.htm

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How Does Iambic Pentameter Work? Jan 21, 2022

Poets like Shakespeare have written extensively in a particular type of verse called iambic pentameter. Learn what it is and how to write in it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/literature/iambic-pentameter.htm

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How Powerful Are Magnetars? Jan 20, 2022

When some massive stars go supernova, they then collapse into magnetars -- the most powerful magnetic objects in the known universe. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/magnetars.htm

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Can the Endangered Vaquita Porpoise Be Saved? Jan 19, 2022

Around ten of the world's smallest porpoise, the vaquita, are alive today -- but researchers think they can be brought back from the brink of extinction. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/vaquita.htm

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Can Carrots Really Turn Your Skin Orange? Jan 18, 2022

It would take a LOT of carrots (or other veg pigmented with carotenoids), but yes, the color from carrots can build up in your skin. Learn how carotenemia works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/carotenosis.htm

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Why Do Fishing Superstitions Prohibit Bananas and Suitcases? Jan 17, 2022

Most people identify as being at least a little superstitious, mariners included. Learn why bananas and suitcases, of all things, are often turned away from fishing boats in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/fishing-superstition.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Is the Museum of Broken Relationships? Jan 16, 2022

Museums collect all kinds of art and artifacts -- this one collects pieces of broken hearts. Learn about some of the items and stories held in the Museum of Broken Relationships in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/museum-broken-relationships-houses-heartache.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Close Are We to Recycling Carbon Dioxide Emissions? Jan 15, 2022

Carbon dioxide is a waste product of gasoline- and coal-burning engines, and it's a serious pollutant. But what if we could capture that carbon and recycle it into usable fuel? Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/carbon-capture-to-fuel-is-almost-here.htm

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Should You Pop Blisters? Jan 14, 2022

Blisters can be unsightly and painful -- luckily, it's usually OK to pop them. Learn when and how to do so safely in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/problems/treating/pop-blisters.htm

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What Created the Carolina Bays? Jan 13, 2022

Hundreds of similar-shaped ponds called the Carolina Bays pock the Eastern United States. Learn more about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/carolina-bays.htm

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Did Doctors Really Prescribe Alcohol During Prohibition? Jan 12, 2022

Doctors prescribed alcohol for centuries before modern medicine taught us its dangers, but this practice was really profitible during Prohibition. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/ridiculous-history-when-doctors-prescribed-alcohol-during-prohibition.htm

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How Do Anacondas Work? Jan 11, 2022

The amphibious anaconda is arguably the biggest snake in the world. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/snakes/anaconda.htm

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How Does Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater Work? Dec 06, 2021

Originally constructed as a family's weekend home, Fallingwater is now considered architect Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece. Learn about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/architecture/fallingwater.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Who Was the First Fashion Designer? Dec 04, 2021

Fashion designers and their work are everywhere these days, from our closets to the runways. But one man started it all: Charles Frederick Worth. Learn who he was and how he created haute couture in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/who-started-haute-couture.htm

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Why Does Eating Meat Consume More Resources Than Eating Plants? Dec 03, 2021

It takes a lot more resources to grow an animal for food than it does to grow plants. Learn how much more -- and what that means for the conscientious omnivore -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/meat-eaters-consume-more-plants-vegetarians.htm

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What's the Difference Between Dusk and Twilight? Dec 02, 2021

We often use the terms 'dusk' and 'twilight' interchangeably, but they have distinct astronomical meanings. Learn the real definitions of twilight, dusk, and dawn in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/twilight-dusk.htm

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How Does Pancreatic Cancer Work? Dec 01, 2021

For such a small organ, the pancreas has a big job -- and it's a difficult to detect the cancers that develop there. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/cancer/facts/pancreas-cancer.htm

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How Could CRISPR Improve Agriculture? Nov 30, 2021

Researchers are using CRISPR technology to make everything from coffee that grows decaffeinated to bulls without hazardous horns. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/crispr-innovations-news.htm

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Do Hand Dryers Really Spread Germs? Nov 29, 2021

Some studies warn against using those air-blasting hand dryers in public bathrooms, but the results are complicated. Learn more (including why a good wash is most important) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/infectious/jet-hand-dryers-blast-viruses-germs.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Is Red Snow? Nov 27, 2021

Snow usually appears white, but it can come in a few other colors -- and in the case of red snow, that vibrant color may be a warning from Mother Nature. Learn why in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/amazing-and-alarming-science-behind-red-snow.htm

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Have We Found the First Planet Outside the Milky Way? Nov 26, 2021

Planets are small and difficult to spot out in the vast reaches of space, but researchers think they've identified one in another galaxy for the first time. Learn more about M51-ULS-1b in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/first-planet-outside-milky-way-news.htm

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Where Do Baby Vegetables Come From? Nov 25, 2021

From snack-sized carrots to miniature artichokes, we love li'l veggies -- and have a number of ways to produce them. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/where-do-baby-veggies-come-from.htm

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What Is the Mojave Megaphone? Nov 24, 2021

Deep in the Mojave Desert, a set of large metal cones are permanently embedded in the rocky terrain. Learn what we do (and don't) know about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/mojave-desert-megaphone.htm

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Can Solar Panels Power Cars? Nov 23, 2021

Enthusiasts and automakers alike add solar panels to help power vehicles. Learn the history and potential future in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/vehicles/solar-cars.htm

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Is Going Sockless Unhealthy? Nov 22, 2021

Any fashion concerns aside, going sockless in closed shoes can be hazardous to the health of your feet. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/hygiene-tips/sockless-bad-for-feet.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Can Robots Help Catch Poachers? Nov 21, 2021

Robotic animals can help law enforcement agents catch poachers in the act -- but only if the robots are convincing enough. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/robotic-animals-are-helping-catch-poachers.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Could the Waterbed Make a Comeback? Nov 20, 2021

Waterbeds were a mainstay of opulent '80s culture, but why did they fall out of fashion? How have they evolved since then? Could they climb back from the pits of public disfavor? Explore in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-decor/bedroom/could-waterbeds-ever-make-comeback.htm

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How Do Mink Work? Nov 19, 2021

Mink are amazing animals -- but in our culture, they're often better known as a fur product than a creature. Learn how humans have made a mess of mink in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/mink.htm

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Should You Ditch Your Backup Plans? Nov 18, 2021

In some situations, having a backup plan is common sense -- but research shows that in other cases it can keep you from achieving your primary goal. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/behavior/got-a-backup-plan-think-ditching-it.htm

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How Do Fungal Pesticides Work? Nov 17, 2021

Biopesticides made from fungi may be the key to safe, effective pest control in the future. Learn how they work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/fungus-based-pesticides-might-be-green-solution-future.htm

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How Does Crowd Control Work? Nov 16, 2021

A well-prepared safety team should be able to prevent Injuries and deaths due to crowding at entertainment venues. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/astroworld-crowd-control-news.htm

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How Do Anglerfish Work? Nov 15, 2021

Fearsome-looking female anglerfish lure in prey with glowing light in the inky black depths of the ocean and are literally bonded to their mates. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/fish/anglerfish.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Can Beaches Be Saved by Adding Sand? Nov 14, 2021

Beaches are eroding faster than we've ever seen. Some efforts to save them involve adding more sand from offshore -- but can that really work? Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-tech/remediation/adding-sand-not-enough-to-save-beaches.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Do We Feel Hungry When We're Not? Nov 13, 2021

Feeling hungry doesn't just happen when our bodies need calories, and there's no one way that we feel hunger to begin with. Learn why in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/why-feel-hungry-even-when-not.htm

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Why Are Death Cap Mushrooms Invading America? Nov 12, 2021

Death cap mushrooms have been popping up around the U.S. -- often accompanied by spates of mushroom poisoning. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/biology-fields/poisonous-death-cap-mushroom.htm

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Can You Really Shatter Glass with a High Note? Nov 11, 2021

Yes, a human singer really could sing high and loud enough to break glass. Learn about acoustics, resonance, and intensity in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/shatter-glass-with-high-note.htm

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Could Thorium Revamp Nuclear Energy? Nov 10, 2021

Thorium itself isn't a nuclear fuel, but in combination with other materials, it might power the nuclear reactors of the future. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/thorium.htm

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Why Do Flamingos Stand on One Leg? Nov 09, 2021

Spoiler alert: No one knows for sure! Learn a bit about how flamingos work, plus science's best hypotheses for why they often balance on one leg, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/flamingos-stand-on-one-leg.htm

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Why Are Some Foods 'Breakfast Foods'? Nov 08, 2021

In North America and parts of Europe, food and drinks like bacon, eggs, cereal, coffee, and orange juice https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/breakfast-foods.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Do Sea Spiders Breathe Through Their Legs? Nov 07, 2021

Sea spiders have way more leg than body, and scientists have never been able to pinpoint how they breathe -- until now. Learn what they found in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/sea-spiders-breathe-through-pores-in-their-legs.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: When Will Arlington Cemetery Run Out of Space? Nov 06, 2021

The U.S.'s most honored national cemetery is vast, but it only has so much space -- and it's running out. Learn some of the proposed solutions in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/national-traditions/arlington-national-cemetery-is-running-out-space.htm

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How Does the Cerebellum Work? Nov 05, 2021

This small structure of the brain plays a huge role in coordinating our movements, speech, and maybe even emotion. Learn about the cerebellum in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nervous-system/cerebellum.htm

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Who's Been Sending NASA Flowers for Thirty Years? Nov 04, 2021

When NASA returned to crewed missions following the Challenger disaster, one family decided to send a simple thank-you: flowers. Learn how this gesture became a 30-year tradition in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/shelton-family-flowers-to-nasa.htm

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How Does the Invasive Joro Spider Work? Nov 03, 2021

Residents of the American South may have noticed a new spider on the, er, web -- the beautiful, fascinating Joro spider. Learn about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/arachnids/joro-spider.htm

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How Much Starlight Has Been Emitted Since the Beginning of Time? Nov 02, 2021

Measuring something as ubiquitous as starlight is no small task, but a group of researchers think they've found an answer. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/much-starlight-has-been-emitted-since-beginning-time.htm

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Would We Have Pumpkin Pie If Mastodons Had Survived? Nov 01, 2021

Pumpkins as we know them only evolved after North American megafauna like woolly mammoths and mastodons died off. Learn the connection in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/extinct-animals/megafauna-died-for-pumpkin-spice-latte.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Is Music's 'Word' for Death? Oct 31, 2021

Composers use musical references to help create mood -- and as a wink at other music lovers. Learn how 'Dies Irae', or 'The Day of Wrath', is often used in film soundtracks in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/why-soundtracks-love-day-wrath.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Can Copper Create Mummies? Oct 30, 2021

After anthropologists discovered a child's mummified hand, they discovered that a copper coin might be responsible for the preservation. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/archaeology/anthropologists-discover-mummified-green-baby-hand.htm

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Devil's Den: Is Gettysburg Haunted? Oct 29, 2021

The Battle of Gettysburg was the Civil War's bloodiest, and ghosts have been reported in one area in particular: Devil's Den. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-civil-war/devils-den.htm

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How Did Benjamin Franklin Help Create the Jersey Devil? Oct 28, 2021

The Jersey Devil is an all-American cryptid -- born partially of a publishing rivalry in the 1700s involving Ben Franklin. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/jersey-devil.htm

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Were Witches Really Burned at the Stake in Salem? Oct 27, 2021

People were executed as witches in Salem in the 1690s, but no one was burned at the stake. Learn what really happened in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/witches-burned-at-stake-in-salem.htm

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How Do Fruit Bats Work? Oct 26, 2021

Bats are a part of spooky Halloween imagery, but fruit bats are a wide category of helpful (and even cute!) pollinators and seed dispersers. Learn how they work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/fruit-bats.htm

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Do You Have to Tell Buyers Your House Is Haunted? Oct 25, 2021

The law requires a homeowner to disclose anything that might affect the property's value to a potential buyer -- and in some cases, yes, that can include purported ghosts. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/real-estate/selling-home/haunted-house-for-sale.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Do Dogs Use Facial Expressions to Communicate with Us? Oct 24, 2021

It seems that dogs make more expressive faces when humans are watching. Are they trying to communicate? Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/dogs-make-more-expressive-faces-when-we-watch.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Can the Fashion Industry Better Serve People with Disabilities? Oct 23, 2021

Finding something to wear can be especially challenging for people with limited dexterity or mobility, but some fashion designers are starting to change that. Learn how in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/style/fashion/body-type/clothing-industrys-narrow-focus-sidelines-people-disabilities.htm

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How Did Stegosaurus Work? Oct 22, 2021

The Stegosaurus was a huge herbivore in a time of giants -- and it had some impressive defenses. Learn more about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/dinosaurs/stegosaurus.htm

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Why Is Rudeness So Contagious? Oct 21, 2021

Just witnessing an act of rudeness can make us more likely to be rude ourselves. Learn why -- and what you can do about it -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-rudeness-contagious.htm

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Do Our Brains Have Fingerprints Too? Oct 20, 2021

Researchers working with MRI have found that human brains produce recognizable 'fingerprints' in just a couple of minutes. Learn about connectomes in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/brains-fingerprints-news.htm

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What Really Happened at the O.K. Corral? Oct 19, 2021

The gunfight in Tombstone in 1881 between some tough-nosed lawmen and hard-headed outlaws went down in history -- thanks to Hollywood. Learn the story behind it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/gunfight-ok-corral.htm

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How Do Blue-Ringed Octopuses Work? Oct 18, 2021

The tiny, strikingly beautiful blue-ringed octopus is also the ocean's deadliest. Learn how they work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/blue-ringed-octopus.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Is Type 2 Diabetes Reversible? Oct 17, 2021

Doctors used to think Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition, but research shows that it can be reversed -- and that with work to maintain weight loss, former patients can live without medication. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/diabetes/turns-out-type-2-diabetes-is-reversible-after-all.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Does Microwaved Coffee Taste So Bad? Oct 16, 2021

Once a cup of coffee goes cold, it'll never taste the same -- but why? Learn the science behind the weird flavors of microwaved coffee in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-science/why-microwaved-coffee-tastes-bad.htm

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Why Are Airplane Windows Round? Oct 15, 2021

The windows in our homes and cars tend to be rectangular(ish) -- so why are airplane windows always round? Learn the science in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/airplane-windows-round.htm

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How Do Sea Otters Work? Oct 14, 2021

Sea otter populations, once endangered because of their super-cozy fur -- are doing a lot better these days. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/sea-otter.htm

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How Does Long COVID Work? Oct 13, 2021

Spoiler alert: No one's really sure, but researchers are working on it. Learn what long-term COVID symptoms can look like and what's being done about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/infectious/long-covid-news.htm

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Could a Spaceship Ignite an Alien Atmosphere? Oct 12, 2021

Our rockets use combustion for power. Some planets have atmospheres made of flammable stuff like hydrogen and methane. Learn why we probably wouldn't cause a planetary fire in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/rockets-accidentally-ignite-alien-world-atmosphere.htm

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How Did Nigersaurus Work? Oct 11, 2021

Nigersaurus was a dinosaur with over 500 teeth that's been described as a Mesozoic cow with a face like a vacuum cleaner. Learn more about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/dinosaurs/nigersaurus.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Is Life on Earth of Alien Origin? Oct 10, 2021

The idea that life on Earth was seeded from outer space is called Panspermia, and some researchers are looking into how (and when) it could've happened. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/evolution/did-alien-seeds-cause-explosion-life-earth.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Are We Moving Closer to 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'? Oct 09, 2021

We build memories through our experiences. But what if we could transfer memories to other people? It's happening -- in snails. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/eternal-sunshine-snail-mind.htm

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What Did the 2020 Census Reveal? Oct 08, 2021

The initial results of the 2020 United States census are in. Learn a bit about how America has changed in the past decade in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/2020-census-news.htm

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How Do Starfish Work? Oct 07, 2021

Starfish, more properly called sea stars, have some amazing (and amazingly weird) abilities. Learn about them in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/starfish.htm

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What Is Bubblegum Flavor Anyway? Oct 06, 2021

Many foods have natural or artificial flavorings added -- but what does 'bubblegum' represent? Learn about scent, taste, and the flavor industry in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/does-bubblegum-flavor-represent-something-the-natural-world.htm

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Can Horses Help Humans Heal? Oct 05, 2021

Some mental health professionals have integrated interaction with horses into practice. Learn how equine therapy works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/coping/horse-therapy.htm

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What Gets Featured on Blue Highway Signs? Oct 04, 2021

The rules vary from state to state, but there are specific guidelines for what services can and can't get a mention on U.S. highway signs. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/tech-transport/who-featured-blue-highway-exit-signs.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Can You Really Catch Up on Sleep? Oct 03, 2021

Good news, fellow weekend sleep-in-ers: recent research shows that 'catching up' on sleep on your off days can help you stay healthy. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/sleep/basics/yes-you-can-catch-up-on-sleep.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Did Rube Goldberg Work? Oct 02, 2021

Who was Rube Goldberg, and how did he come up with his famously weird contraptions? Learn the history behind this American cartoonist in today's classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/famous-inventors/who-was-rube-goldberg-and-what-are-his-contraptions.htm

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How Does the Mars Solar Conjunction Affect NASA? Oct 01, 2021

When the Sun passes between Earth and Mars, NASA pauses communications to its equipment on the Red Planet. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/mars-solar-conjunction-news.htm

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How Does Ambulance Diversion Work? Sep 30, 2021

In many areas of the United States, hospitals overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients are enacting ambulance diversion. Learn what this means in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/hospital-diversion-news.htm

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Why Do Bats Land Upside Down? Sep 29, 2021

Bats take off and land from an upside-down position -- and researchers have figured out how (and why) they accomplish this. Learn more in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/how-bats-land-upside-down.htm

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Why Shouldn't You Share Antibiotics? Sep 28, 2021

It's generally a bad idea to share prescription medications, but sharing antibiotics is particularly hazardous. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/medication/sharing-leftover-antibiotics-is-really-bad-practice.htm

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How Did a Cat Make Aviation History? Sep 27, 2021

The first attempt at a transatlantic flight didn't go as planned -- perhaps especially for its feline crew member. Learn the story of Kiddo the cat in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/kiddo-the-cat.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Did One Blood Donor Save 2 Million Babies? Sep 26, 2021

A man with a rare antibody in his blood spent 63 years donating, and has touched millions of lives. Learn how in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/circulatory/man-whose-blood-saved-more-than-2-million-babies.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Does Spicy Food Burn Your Tastebuds? Sep 25, 2021

Hot chili peppers can make you feel like your mouth is on fire, but are they actually doing any damage? Learn about the science of spice in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-science/can-spicy-food-burn-out-taste-buds.htm

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What's Next for Roe v. Wade? Sep 24, 2021

The Supreme Court's decisions in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey set precedents for abortion law in the U.S., but they're being challenged. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/roe-v-wade-news.htm

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How Do Gila Monsters Work? Sep 23, 2021

Gila monsters are venomous, but they don't strike like a snake -- they chew. Learn more about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/gila-monster.htm?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=feed

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How Did an Amateur Design the U.S. Capitol? Sep 22, 2021

To design the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the fledgling American government held an open competition -- and an amateur won. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/revolutionary-war/us-capitol-design-competition.htm

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How Does CRISPR Work? Sep 21, 2021

CRISPR is a gene editing technology based on how bacteria protect themselves from viruses. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/crispr-gene-editing.htm

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Why Are Siberia's Wildfires So Intense This Year? Sep 20, 2021

In 2021, wildfires in Siberia dwarfed all other wildfires in the world combined. Learn why, and what experts say could be done to help, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/siberia-2021-wildfires-news.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Happens to Red Carpet Dresses? Sep 19, 2021

After celebrities wear a gown to a glitzy award show or festival, it's often archived, but sometimes sold, reproduced, or even stolen. Learn the life story of red carpet fashion in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/style/fashion/celebrity/red-carpet-dresses-celebrities-wear-them.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Do Turtles Have Shells? Sep 18, 2021

It seems obvious that turtles' shells would have evolved to protect them from predators, but researchers have found that they probably first evolved to help turtles dig. Learn what that's all about in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/reptiles/real-reason-turtles-have-shells-hint-its-not-protection.htm

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How Does the Venus de Milo Work? Sep 17, 2021

Although she's one of the most famous figures in European art, a lot is still mysterious about the Venus de Milo. Learn what we do and don't know about her in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/venus-de-milo.htm

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Why Are There Diamonds in the Ocean? Sep 16, 2021

The diamond industry pulls stones from the ocean floor in addition to their mining operations. Learn how diamonds form and travel in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/ocean-diamonds.htm

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How Do Toucans Work? Sep 15, 2021

These brightly colored birds use their big beaks to communicate with each other and keep cool in hot weather. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/toucan.htm

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Are Stick Shifts Going Extinct? Sep 14, 2021

These days, it's increasingly rare to find new cars outfitted with manual transmissions -- even in markets that have traditionally preferred them. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/stick-shift-news.htm

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How Can We Help Prevent Suicide? Sep 13, 2021

Suicide is a pressing but preventable problem in the United States. Learn what experts are doing to help -- and how you can help too -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/mental-disorders/us-needs-to-have-ongoing-conversation-about-suicide.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Could a Plastic-Eating Enzyme Help Save the Planet? Sep 12, 2021

We humans produce a LOT of plastics that wind up as harmful waste, but researchers have isolated an enzyme that may help reduce the problem. Learn how in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/plastic-eating-enzyme-planets-new-hope.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Can't You Name Your Baby? Sep 11, 2021

The possibilities for a baby's name aren't quite as endless as they seem -- some national and local governments restrict what you can legally name your baby. Learn what some of those restrictions are (and why they exist) in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/you-cant-name-your-baby-that.htm

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What Kind of Animal Is Godzilla? Sep 10, 2021

If Godzilla were real, what kind of animal would it be -- and could it even survive with such an impressive body mass? Learn what researchers think in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/godzilla.htm

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How Does the Stratosphere Work? Sep 09, 2021

The stratosphere is where planes fly, bacteria thrive, and our protective ozone layer forms. Learn more about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/stratosphere.htm

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Why Should School Buses Go Electric? Sep 08, 2021

The current infrastructure bill would allot a chunk of funds to electrifying America's fleet of public school buses. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/vehicles/electric-school-bus-news.htm

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Why Do Birds Fly Into Windows? Sep 07, 2021

Because windows look like open air to birds, collisions are unfortunately common. Learn why -- and how you can help prevent them -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/why-birbs-fly-into-windows.htm

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Can You Get a Flu Shot If You Have an Egg Allergy? Sep 06, 2021

Most influenza vaccines contain a tiny bit of egg protein because of the way they're manufactured, but experts still recommend getting vaccinated. Learn why, and how people with allergies can keep themselves safe, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/allergies/food-allergy/dairy-eggs-meat/people-with-egg-allergies-flu-shot.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Does Earth's Crust Have Its Own Tides? Sep 05, 2021

You've probably seen ocean tides making the seas rise and fall, but solid land has tides, too. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/rising-rock-earths-crust-has-its-own-tides.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Can You Microwave a Steak to Perfection? Sep 04, 2021

While it may not be our first choice in cooking methods, yes, you can microwave a steak to a perfect medium-rare. Learn how, plus how microwaves work, in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tools-and-techniques/can-microwave-steak-to-perfect-medium-rare.htm

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How Do Red Squirrels Work? Sep 03, 2021

American red squirrels are smaller than their local grey counterparts, but they pack a lot of attitude. Learn about these cute but aggressive animals in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/red-squirrel.htm

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How Do You Sleep When Sailing 4,000 Miles Solo? Sep 02, 2021

Mini Transat sailors race small yachts alone across the Atlantic -- surviving three to four weeks sleeping only 20 minutes at a time. Learn what sleep researchers learned about this feat in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/sleep/disorders/sleep-when-sailing-solo-4000-miles.htm

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How Does Steganography Work? Sep 01, 2021

Steganography involves not just encrypting messages, but hiding the fact that there's a message being sent at all. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/future-tech/steganography.htm

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What's at the Bottom of the Fosse Dionne Spring? Aug 31, 2021

France's beautiful Fosse Dionne spring has been keeping its secrets close for centuries -- no one has ever found its source. Learn the myths and history surrounding it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/fosse-dionne-spring.htm

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Who Investigates Deaths in Antarctica? Aug 30, 2021

Antarctica belongs to no one nation -- so who has jurisdiction when someone dies under mysterious or criminal circumstances? Learn why it's messy in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/whos-charge-investigating-deaths-antarctica.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Will the Paper of the Future Be Made from Poop? Aug 29, 2021

It might sound gross, but it's eco-friendly: Paper is made from plant pulp. Animals that eat plants excrete plant pulp. Learn why some researchers have high hopes for poo-pyrus in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/poo-pyrus-eco-friendly-paper-made-from-poop.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Can You Be Your Own Twin? Aug 28, 2021

In a genetic condition called chimerism, DNA from someone else (an unborn twin, an organ donor, or even your own baby) is at work in your body. Learn how it works in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/chimerism-be-own-twin.htm

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What's the Difference Between Lox, Gravlax, and Nova Salmon? Aug 27, 2021

Preservation techniques like curing and smoking create tasty, longer-lasting dishes like lox, gravlax, and nova. Learn the difference between these salmon preparations in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tools-and-techniques/lox-gravlax-nova-whats-difference.htm

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Why Are Noncompete Agreements So Common? Aug 26, 2021

Businesses say noncompete agreements protect their interests -- but when they apply to everyone from VPs to janitors, are they overkill? Learn how noncompetes work in this episode of BrainStuff: https://money.howstuffworks.com/noncompete-agreements-news.htm

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How Do Space Hurricanes Work? Aug 24, 2021

We're all too familiar with hurricanes here on Earth, but scientists have discovered storms with similar patterns right near the edge of space. Learn about space hurricanes in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/space-hurricane.htm

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How Did the Battle for the 19th Amendment Work? Aug 23, 2021

Originally, the only Americans granted the right to vote were white male landowners. Learn how white women gained suffrage in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/19th-amendment.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Is Coffee Good or Bad for You? Aug 22, 2021

Will coffee really stunt your growth? Or give you heart problems? What about your teeth? Learn the truth behind common myths about that cuppa joe in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/coffee-stunt-growth.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Do Snails Grow Their Shells? Aug 21, 2021

A snail's shell is its permanent home -- but how do these wee, soft, slimy creatures grow hard, beautiful shells? Learn how it works in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/do-snails-get-shells.htm

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How Did Chopsticks Become Such a Popular Eating Utensil? Aug 20, 2021

Whole swaths of the world's population use chopsticks for their daily meals. Learn where they originated and how they evolved in this episode of BrainStuff: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/chopsticks.htm

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How Do Breakthrough Infections Work? Aug 19, 2021

Breakthrough infections happen when, like with the flu or COVID-19, a vaccinated person still gets infected. Learn why this is normal -- and why breakthrough infections are much less deadly -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/infectious/breakthrough-infections-COVID-19-news.htm

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What Trees Have Been to the Moon and Back? Aug 18, 2021

There are trees all over the U.S. (and the world) grown from seeds that orbited the Moon. Learn about NASA's moon trees in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nasa-moon-trees.htm

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How Did Bonnie and Clyde Die? Aug 17, 2021

Bonnie and Clyde, the infamous power couple of Depression-era crime, had their luck run out eventually. Learn how it happened in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/bonnie-and-clyde.htm

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Why Is South Florida Overrun with Green Iguanas? Aug 16, 2021

Green iguanas can really thrive in ecosystems where they don't belong -- and that can be a real problem. Learn more about these large reptiles in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/iguana.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Does Uranus Stink? Aug 15, 2021

It's not a joke: Scientists have confirmed that Uranus stinks. Learn how they found out -- and why it's actually really cool -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/scientists-confirm-uranus-stinks.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Is Popping Zits So Satisfying? Aug 14, 2021

Humans love popping zits so much precisely because it's gross. Learn about all the reasons why we find pimples so fascinating in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/problems/treating/why-do-love-to-pop-zits.htm

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How Can Rivers Actually Protect Fossils? Aug 13, 2021

Some startling fossils are being found in the world's rivers, but it takes dangerous diving teams to extract them. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/underwater-fossil-hunting.htm?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=feed

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What Exactly Is a Blue Moon? Aug 12, 2021

The term 'blue moon' was figurative a long time before astronomers assigned various definitions. Learn why blue moons aren't blue and what they can mean in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/is-blue-moon-really-blue.htm

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How Do Broken Bones Heal? Aug 11, 2021

When you break a bone, it's best to go to a doctor -- though your body begins the healing process before you even get there. Learn how broken bones heal (with medical help) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/musculoskeletal/heal-broken-bones.htm

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What Are the Predictions for Hurricane Season 2021? Aug 10, 2021

The Atlantic Ocean's 2021 hurricane season started strong and is expected to end the same way. Learn how the predictions are made and what they're saying in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/2021-atlantic-hurricane-season-news.htm

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How Did Two Tortoises Beat Apollo to the Moon? Aug 09, 2021

The Apollo space mission brought the first humans to the Moon -- but two tortoises from Russia were the first vertebrates to orbit Earth's satellite. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/space-tortoises.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Was Stephen Hawking's Final Project? Aug 08, 2021

Days before his death, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking finished what would be his final research paper. Learn about his last take on the multiverse in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/famous-scientists/physicists/stephen-hawkings-last-paper-takes-on-multiverse.htm

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What Is an Abscessed Tooth? Aug 06, 2021

Some toothaches are caused by an abscess -- an infection that can spread beyond the mouth. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/problems/absecessed-tooth.htm

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How Does Racketeering Work? Aug 05, 2021

Racketeering is a type of crime that can be difficult to prosecute because the people at the top don't get their hands dirty. Learn how rackets and RICO work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/racketeering.htm

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How Can an Animal Breathe Without Oxygen? Aug 04, 2021

Animals need oxygen in order to live -- or so we thought. Learn about a tiny parasite that evolved to do without it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/animal-doesnt-need-oxygen.htm

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Why Are Airbnb, VRBO Fees Skyrocketing? Aug 03, 2021

If you've tried to rent a vacation spot through services like Airbnb in the past year, you may have felt blindsided by the final fee tally. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/airbnb-vrbo-prices-skyrocketed-news.htm

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How Do Box Jellyfish Work? Aug 02, 2021

Box jellyfish may look ethereal (or a little goofy), but they're some of the most dangerous animals in the world. Learn more about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/box-jellyfish.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Are the Most-Believed Myths About Our Brains? Aug 01, 2021

Over-simplifications about how our brains work abound. Learn what these myths are, and why it's important to fight them, in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/even-educators-believe-common-myths-about-learning-study-shows.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Do City Birds Benefit from Cigarette Butts? Jul 31, 2021

Birds everywhere add insect-repelling plants to their nests, but urban birds have to get a little creative. Learn how cigarette butts help city birds stay healthy in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/urban-birds-oust-bugs-with-butts.htm

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How Has the U.S. Prevented Citizens from Voting? Jul 30, 2021

Both throughout American history and today, governments and other groups have made it more difficult for particular people to vote. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/10-ways-us-has-kept-citizens-from-voting.htm

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How Do Astronauts Sleep in Space? Jul 29, 2021

Sleep can be elusive here on Earth, so how do astronauts manage it in space? Learn what it takes in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/sleep-in-space.htm/printable

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What Is the World's Largest Bee? Jul 28, 2021

Wallace's giant bee is rarely sighted, but is five times the size of the honeybees we're familiar with. Learn more about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/wallaces-giant-bee-worlds-largest-rediscovered.htm

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How Does Ransomware Work? Jul 27, 2021

Ransomeware attacks have been targeting larger organizations with more to lose if they don't pay up. Learn how these attacks work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://computer.howstuffworks.com/ransomware-attacks-news.htm

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Why Are Pistachios Sold in Their Shells? Jul 26, 2021

Unlike many other nuts, pistachios are often sold roasted and seasoned in their shells. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/why-pistachios-are-sold-in-their-shells.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Will Ants Rescue Wounded Comrades? Jul 25, 2021

Spoiler alert: Yep! Well, sometimes. Learn how one African ant species nurses its wounded soldiers, yielding a surprising survival rate, in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/ants-rescue-treat-wounded-comrades.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Does Chinese Five Spice Work? Jul 24, 2021

Chinese 5-spice powder can contain a lot of things (including more than five spices), but it's all rooted in ancient medicine and philosophy. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/chinese-five-spice-powder-tasty-and-not-necessarily-five-spices.htm

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How Far Can a Plane Glide Without Engines? Jul 23, 2021

It's rare that all of a plane's engines fail, but when they do, a pilot can still glide the aircraft to a safe landing. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/how-far-can-plane-go-no-engines.htm

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Why Are We So Obsessed with Owls? Jul 22, 2021

These nocturnal feathered predators have been capturing our imaginations for millennia. Learn about how owls work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/owls.htm

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Why Is There a Semiconductor Shortage? Jul 21, 2021

A shortage of microchips is driving up the cost of everything from consumer electronics to used cars. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/semiconductor-shortage-news.htm

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How Did Earth Gain a New Ocean? Jul 20, 2021

After much debate, the world officially has a fifth ocean: the Southern Ocean, surrounding Antarctica. Learn about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/southern-ocean-news.htm

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How Bad Is America's Infrastructure? Jul 19, 2021

Infrastructure -- all the pipes, roads, rails, and everything else that makes civilization work -- must be maintained and replaced as it ages. Learn how the U.S. ranks in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/civil/americas-infrastructure-news.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Did Nuclear Weapons Testing Create New Minerals? Jul 18, 2021

The heat of nuclear weapons is enough to melt sand into glass. Learn the story of trinitite, the glass from the first atomic test site, in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/trinitite-first-nuclear-bomb-turned-sand-to-glass.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Can Talking About Yourself in the Third Person Make You Feel Better? Jul 17, 2021

It turns out that people who talk about themselves in the third person may be giving themselves a mental boost. ("You're nailing this episode description, Lauren!") Learn why in today's classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/benefits-talking-like-egomaniac.htm

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Are Bug Zappers a Bad Idea? Jul 16, 2021

It turns out that bug zappers are too effective -- they kill a lot of helpful insects along with the pests they target. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/conservation/issues/bug-zappers-are-bad-news.htm

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Will Sharks Die If They Stop Moving? Jul 15, 2021

It's true that some sharks breathe most easily when they're swimming, but that doesn't mean they can't find ways to rest. Learn about buccal pumping, ram ventilation, and more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/fish/sharks/shark-drown.htm

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How Does Bastille Day Work? Jul 14, 2021

This French national holiday celebrates a lot more than the Storming of the Bastille. Learn about le Quatorze Juillet (July 14th) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-other/bastille-day.htm

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What Animals Are the Deadliest in the Wild? Jul 13, 2021

The animals that kill the most people every year aren't the ones featured in scary movies or sensational documentaries. Learn about the world's most dangerous animals in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/dangerous-animals.htm

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Is Paul Bunyan Based on a Real Person? Jul 12, 2021

Tall tales about the logger Paul Bunyan and his big blue ox, Babe, are American classics. Learn about the real people they're based on and how they got so popular in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/real-paul-bunyan.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Do Happy Cows Really Make Better Milk? Jul 11, 2021

OK, 'happy' is a stretch, but researchers are looking into how cows given positive interactions (like back scritches) grow and produce milk versus less-content cows. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Can Your Birth Season Determine Your Allergies? Jul 10, 2021

The season you were born in helps determine whether you'll have allergies, but science has never understood why. Learn what a team of researchers discovered in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Much Money Is There in the World? Jul 09, 2021

With all the different types of currency in the world, it's nigh impossible to count it all -- but there are estimates. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/how-much-money-is-in-the-world.htm

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What's the Difference Between Brown and Black Bears? Jul 08, 2021

Black and brown bears are two different species, and they're easy to tell apart -- from a safe distance, even. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/brown-bear.htm

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How Do Coronavirus Variants Work? Jul 07, 2021

Mutations of the virus that causes COVID-19, called variants, can be even more dangerous than the original. Learn about delta and other SARS-CoV-2 variants in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/infectious/delta-variant-coronavirus-news.htm

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Why Is Pink the World's Oldest Color? Jul 06, 2021

Before the oceans were blue, they were pink. Learn about the cyanobacteria that caused this coloration in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/earths-oldest-color-was-pink.htm

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Is Drought the New Normal for the Western U.S.? Jul 05, 2021

Drought has no singular definition, but it seems that the standard for rainfall is changing in some places. Learn what that means in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/western-us-drought-news.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Shouldn't Compressed Air Canisters Be Shaken? Jul 04, 2021

Many spray canisters call for being shaken, but not compressed air. Learn how both types work (and the dangers of shaking the wrong type) in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Can't I Taste My Tongue? Jul 03, 2021

Your tongue is an amazing sensory instrument -- so why can't it taste itself? Many philosophers have pondered the same thing. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Are Gasoline Prices Higher in the Summer? Jul 02, 2021

U.S. drivers pay more at the pump during the summer because of supply and demand, but also because the blends of gasoline sold change with the seasons. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-consumption/summer-fuel.htm/printable

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How Do Muons Work? Jul 01, 2021

The muon is a type of subatomic particle that researchers are still learning about -- and what they're learning may change our concept of physics as we know it. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/muon.htm

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Why Don't Ground Bees Sting? Jun 30, 2021

Honey bees are the type of bee most of us are familiar with, but most of the world's bees don't live and behave in the same ways. Learn about ground bees in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/ground-nesting-bees.htm

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How Did Fannie Lou Hamer Work? Jun 29, 2021

Fannie Lou Hamer was an iconic Civil Rights and voting rights activist who still inspires us today. Learn about her life and her work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/fannie-lou-hamer.htm

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How Did Pride Parades Get Their Start? Jun 28, 2021

Heat stroke is a serious medical issue, and as temperatures reach record highs this summer, heat safety could save lives. Learn how to keep cool and what to watch for in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/5-tips-for-heat-wave-safety.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Is Our Tipping System Gratuitous? Jun 27, 2021

The way we tip and pay servers in North American restaurants fosters unfair and unequal paychecks for the whole staff. But it's so entrenched -- how can we fix it? Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/when-will-reach-tipping-point-for-tipping.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Happens to Wine Grape Waste? Jun 26, 2021

After winemakers extract grapes' juice, they're left with a lot of fruit skins and pulp. Learn what happens to all that goo in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-tech/sustainable/what-do-winemakers-do-with-grape-waste.htm

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What Is a Coup D'Etat, and Could It Happen In America? Jun 25, 2021

A number of factors can contribute to a military taking over its government. Learn about them, and why it's unlikely to happen in the U.S., in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/coup.htm

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How Could Lab-Grown Meat Change the Pet Food World? Jun 24, 2021

Our dogs' and cats' diets aren't very environmentally friendly, but lab-grown meat could change that. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/lab-grown-meat-pet-food-world.htm

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What's the Deadliest Spider in the World? Jun 23, 2021

Most spiders are completely harmless to humans, but a few can do damage. Learn which ones are the most potentially dangerous in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/arachnids/deadliest-spider.htm

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Why Did England and Spain Go to War Over an Ear? Jun 22, 2021

In the 1700s, a war was (technically) started over a lost ear. Learn about the War of Jenkins' Ear in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/jenkins-ear.htm

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How Does the Summer Solstice Work? Jun 21, 2021

In the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day of daylight in the year happens every June. Learn what causes this and how it works in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/5-things-didnt-know-about-summer-solstice.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Were Fruit Flies the First Animal in Space? Jun 20, 2021

In 1947, U.S. military scientists launched the very first Earth animals into space: fruit flies. Learn about their trip to the final frontier in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/why-fruit-flies-were-first-animals-in-space.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Did Juneteenth Get Started? Jun 19, 2021

Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating Black American independence and commemorating the ongoing struggle for equality. Learn the history of Juneteenth in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-civil-war/juneteeth.htm

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Is Vaccine Hesitancy a New Phenomenon? Jun 18, 2021

Vaccine hesitancy has existed for as long as vaccines have. Learn why it's normal and how to help people calm their concerns in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/preventive-care/vaccine-hesitancy-not-new-news.htm

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What Happens to Whales When They Die? Jun 17, 2021

When whales die, they can either wash up on the shore (and explode!) or sink to the bottom of the ocean and feed entire ecosystems. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/beached-whales-explode.htm and https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/whale-death.htm

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Why Does the Monthly Jobs Report Matter? Jun 16, 2021

On the first Friday of every month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its Employment Situation Summary for the previous month. Learn what the jobs report contains and why it's important in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/monthly-jobs-report-news.htm

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How Do Lyres Work? Jun 15, 2021

These stringed instruments had their heyday thousands of years ago and are still played today. Learn about the history and mythology behind the lyre in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/lyre.htm

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What Was the Tulsa Massacre? Jun 14, 2021

In 1921, white citizens of Tulsa stormed the prosperous Black district of the city, destroying homes and businesses and murdering a number of people still unknown today. Learn what's being done to recover and reintroduce this history in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/tulsa-race-massacre.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Is the Human Brain Hardwired for Poetry? Jun 13, 2021

Poems activate different parts of the human brain than other types of literature do, and our brains seem hardwired to enjoy the patterns in poetry. Learn why in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/how-poetry-affects-human-brain.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Much Electricity Can Urine Provide? Jun 12, 2021

Researchers have created pee-powered fuel cells that can light outdoor portable bathrooms. Learn how (and why) in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/public-toilet-electricity-light-urine-chemical-reaction.htm

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How Can You Stop an Opioid Overdose? Jun 11, 2021

Opioid drugs (like fentanyl) can cause death due to overdose -- but there is an antidote to opioid overdose, and it's easy and safe to administer. Learn how naloxone (including brands Narcan and Evzio) works in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Plate Tectonics Work? Jun 10, 2021

Plate tectonics are responsible not just for the shape of Earth's continents, but for life as we know it. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/plate-tectonics.htm

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Are Pentagon-Confirmed UFOs a Threat to National Security? Jun 09, 2021

The U.S. military has been collecting reports of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) for years. Learn what the public knows about them so far in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/space/aliens-ufos/ufos-news.htm

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Why Do Seabirds Eat Plastic? Jun 08, 2021

One of the problems with plastic trash ending up in our oceans is that some seabirds will eat it. But why? Learn what researchers have found in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/theres-a-stinky-reason-seabirds-eat-plastic.htm

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Have the Olympic Games Ever Been Canceled? Jun 07, 2021

The 2020 Olympic games were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but as of yet they haven't been canceled. Learn when the Olympics were canceled in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/olympics-skipped.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Are So Many People Nearsighted? Jun 06, 2021

By 2050, half the world will be nearsighted. Researchers tracking this eye condition (also called myopia) have a few hypotheses about why it's happening. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/eye/half-the-world-will-be-nearsighted-2050.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Could Platypus Milk Fight Antibiotic-Resistant Disease? Jun 05, 2021

For everything that's weird and wondrous about the platypus, we probably shouldn't be surprised that its milk may help save countless lives, but here we are. Learn how in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/platypus-milk-best-hope-against-post-antibiotic-future.htm

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What Can Modern Hearing Aids Do? Jun 04, 2021

Today's hearing aids incorporate all kinds of smart technology to help the deaf and hard of hearing community. Learn about the tech in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/ear/modern-hearing-aids.htm

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How Does the Westminster Dog Show Work? Jun 03, 2021

The Westminster Dog Show has been educating and enchanting the public for 145 years. Learn how it's going to be different this year in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/westminster-dog-show.htm

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How Did Pride Parades Get Their Start? Jun 02, 2021

The LGBTQ+ Pride parades that happen throughout the U.S. every June are joyful celebrations today, but got their start as riots and protests against persecution. Learn the history of Pride in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/cultural-traditions/pride-parades.htm

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How Do Macaws Work? Jun 01, 2021

Macaws are beautiful birds that can talk (yes, including bad words) and can make excellent pets for the right person. Learn about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/macaw.htm

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Should You Wear White Clothes to Stay Cool? May 31, 2021

Common sense dictates that since light-colored clothing is more reflective than dark, it'll help keep you cooler in hot weather. Learn why this myth doesn't hold water in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/light-colored-clothes-in-hot-weather.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Can Diabetes Lead to Disordered Eating? May 30, 2021

People with Type 1 diabetes are more likely to experience eating disorders, and the consequences can be serious. Learn why, and what can be done to help, in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/diabetes/why-diabulimia-is-so-dangerous.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Can a Plant Outsource Photosynthesis? May 29, 2021

Plants use photosynthesis to survive, but some plants outsource that job to other living things, like fungus. Learn how it works in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/underground-plant-outsources-photosynthesis-fungus.htm

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How Do Jackalopes Work? May 28, 2021

Jackalopes are mythical creatures with the body of a jackrabbit and the horns of a deer or pronghorn. Learn how tales about them got started in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/jackalope.htm

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Does Your Diet Really Affect Your Dreams? May 27, 2021

You might blame scary or surreal dreams on your bedtime snacks, but is there any scientific evidence to back that up? Learn about research into diet and dreams in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/pizza-nightmares-diet-determine-dreams.htm

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Why Is There a Chlorine Shortage? May 26, 2021

A perfect storm of events in 2020 led to a chlorine shortage across America that has continued into 2021. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/us-chlorine-shortage-news.htm

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How Did Allosaurus Work? May 25, 2021

This massive Jurassic-era predator may have grazed on flesh the way we pick at cheese plates. Learn about the allosaurus in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/dinosaurs/allosaurus.htm

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Can You Make Weedkillers at Home? May 24, 2021

If you struggle with weeds in your home garden or landscaping, you don't have to turn to hazardous commercial herbicides. Learn how to make safer weedkillers at home in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/green-living/natural-weed-killers.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Makes Durian Fruit Smell So Bad? May 23, 2021

Durian fruit is prized as a delicacy and staple -- and it smells like rotting. Learn how researchers mapped its genome to get to the bottom of this stench (and hopefully find something medicinally useful) in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/durian-smell-origin-genome.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Is There a Gene for Infidelity? May 22, 2021

Some animals mate for life -- and others decidedly don't. Learn what researchers have discovered about cheating by studying voles and humans alike in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/good-excuse-or-is-there-actually-cheating-gene.htm

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How Do Humpback Whales Work? May 21, 2021

Humpback whales are back from the brink of extinction thanks to conservation efforts. Learn about their songs, acrobatics, and life cycle in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/humpback-whale.htm

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How Does Hematite Work? May 20, 2021

Hematite is a mineral that we've been using for pigments, as a source of iron, and in other applications for pretty much ever. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/hematite.htm

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Do We Really Swallow Spiders in Our Sleep? May 19, 2021

You may have heard that we swallow eight spiders a year in our sleep, but is that really true? We debunk this myth in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/arachnids/do-we-swallow-spiders-in-sleep.htm

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How Can Cryptocurrency Clean Up Its Act? May 18, 2021

Cryptocurrency has many benefits, but currently comes at a high energy cost -- and a huge, negative environmental impact. Learn what the industry is doing about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/conservation/issues/cryptocurrency-climate-change-news.htm

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How Have Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Helped Shape Civil and Workers' Rights? May 17, 2021

Though they were denied the ability to even apply for citizenship for decades, Asians and Pacific Islanders helped shape civil rights and workers' rights in America. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/cultural-traditions/asian-american-history.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Is New Laser Technology Discovering Ancient Ruins? May 16, 2021

Ancient ruins, long grown over by massive forests, can be found painlessly -- thanks to lasers. Learn how LiDAR is preserving forests and uncovering lost Mayan infrastructure in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/future-tech/scientists-use-lidar-to-discover-massive-lost-mayan-city.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Much Salt Is Too Much? May 15, 2021

You've probably heard you should cut back on salt, but we need it to survive -- we're hardwired to crave it. Learn how to reduce sodium and why in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/salt-breaking-up-is-hard-to-do.htm

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How Did Edgar Allan Poe Work? May 14, 2021

Poe was a writer known for his eerie and mysterious stories, but his own life ended just as strangely. Learn about him in this special episode of BrainStuff, with a reading of his poem 'The Raven' in iHeart 3D, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/edgar-allan-poe.htm

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Will Some Port Cities Start Banning Cruise Ships? May 13, 2021

Tourism has taken a serious hit during COVID-19, but some port cities are glad for the loss of the crowding and pollution that the cruise industry brings. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/cruise-ships-bans.htm

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Was a Whaling Captain Once Buried in Rum? May 12, 2021

The story goes that one Captain Sluman Gray died during a voyage in the 1860s, and was laid to rest in a barrel of rum then shipped back home for burial -- barrel and all. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/ballad-pickled-whaling-captain-from-connecticut.htm

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How Could the World's Whitest Paint Fight Climate Change? May 11, 2021

Researchers are developing a paint that can reflect over 98 percent of sunlight, which could help keep buildings cool during hot summers. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-tech/sustainable/ultra-white-paint.htm

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Can Some Animals Be Half Male and Half Female? May 10, 2021

Rare animals called bilateral gynandromorphs can exhibit male traits on one side of their bodies and female traits on the other. Learn more about chimeras in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/yes-half-male-and-half-female-animals-do-exist.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Did Botox Come from Bad Sausages? May 09, 2021

Botox wrinkle therapy contains a tiny dose of a deadly bacterial toxin originally found in spoiled sausages. Learn the history of botulinum toxin, plus how it's used in non-cosmetic medicine, in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/digestive/rotten-sausages-botox-botulism.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Is Prozac Endangering Crabs' Survival? May 08, 2021

When we take medications, we sometimes excrete chemicals that get flushed into our oceans. Learn how fluoxetine (Prozac) is chilling crabs out -- which isn't great -- in this classic BrainStuff episode, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/prozac-water-ocean-crab-behavior.htm

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How Did Early Facial Prostheses Work? May 07, 2021

Before modern surgical techniques and materials, artists sometimes created realistic face masks for veterans and other patients. Learn about the work of Anna Coleman Ladd in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/anna-coleman-ladd-helped-disfigured-soldiers-live-better-lives.htm

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Who Were Oscar, Tony and Emmy? May 06, 2021

The American film, television, and music industries host award galas every year -- but how did these awards get their names? Learn the history in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/oscar-tony-emmy-award-names.htm

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Do the Beale Ciphers Contain Directions to Hidden Treasure? May 05, 2021

In the 1850s, a newspaper published anonymous details about a mysterious set of encoded papers that supposedly point to buried treasure -- but they've never been cracked. Learn about the Beale Ciphers in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/beale-ciphers.htm

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How Does Paprika Work? May 04, 2021

Paprika is a lot more than a just pretty topping. Learn how paprika is made and where it comes from in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/paprika.htm

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Why Do Elephants Seldom Get Cancer? May 03, 2021

Elephants get cancer so rarely that researchers went looking for a genetic reason, and they found one. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/zombie-gene-protects-elephants-from-cancer.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What's the Difference Between Eggs of Different Colors? May 02, 2021

Chicken eggs come in a spectrum of colors, but they all cook up the same. Learn how they're created in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/white-brown-green-chicken-eggs-whats-difference.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What's the Most Dangerous Air Pollution? May 01, 2021

The most hazardous air pollution may be particles too tiny to see, but it also may be easily avoided. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/when-it-comes-to-air-pollution-tiniest-particles-might-be-worst.htm

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Do Koalas Smell Like Cough Drops? Apr 30, 2021

Koalas eat nothing but eucalyptus, which is poisonous to many mammals in large amounts. Learn how they do it (and how they smell) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/koala-smell-like-cough-drop.htm

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How Do Astronauts Play Music in Space? Apr 29, 2021

Lots of astronauts have performed music in space, just for fun or for wider audiences. Learn what considerations it takes in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/astronauts-play-music-in-space.htm

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Why Do We Talk About the First 100 Days? Apr 28, 2021

Lots of attention is paid to an American president's first 100 days in office, but why? Learn the history (and why we have FDR to thank) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-do-we-care-the-first-100-days.htm

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How Do Whistled Languages Work? Apr 27, 2021

In some situations, whistling just makes more sense than talking. Learn about whistled languages in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/whistled-languages.htm

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How Does Mesa Verde National Park Work? Apr 26, 2021

Mesa Verde National Park, the only national park devoted primarily to a historic cultural site, is home to dwellings built impressively into steep cliffs. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/mesa-verde-national-park-ga.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What If Cockroaches Went Extinct? Apr 25, 2021

Being surprised by a roach in your kitchen (which is very clean, thank you) can be enough to wish the whole genus would just go away. Learn what the world would be like if it did in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/what-if/what-if-there-were-no-cockroaches.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Can Losing Sleep Make You Gain Weight? Apr 24, 2021

Research indicates that sleep is one of the many factors in how our bodies create, store, and burn fat. We explore in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/sleep-obesity.htm

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What Is 'Chutzpah'? Apr 23, 2021

The Yiddish word 'chutzpah' has come to mean that someone has a lot of nerve, but in a way you respect. Learn the word's history and usage in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/chutzpah.htm

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Could We Ever Find Noah's Ark? Apr 22, 2021

The hunt for Noah's Ark is ongoing, probably futile, and always intriguing. Learn how researchers have tried to unravel the real history of this biblical myth in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this episode: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/hunt-noahs-ark-podcast.htm

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How Does the U.S. Secret Service Work? Apr 21, 2021

The United States Secret Service does a lot more than protect the president and other political bigwigs. Learn about its origins with the Treasury and other work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/secrets-about-secret-service.htm

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What Causes the Smell After a Rain? Apr 20, 2021

Petrichor is the name for that fresh, sweet, earthy smell after it rains. Learn what causes petrichor in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/question479.htm

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How Do Garter Snakes Work? Apr 19, 2021

These small-to-medium snakes are everywhere in North America -- luckily they're mostly harmless, and even good for your garden. Learn more about garter snakes in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/snakes/garter-snakes.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Are the Oceans Salty? Apr 18, 2021

Seawater is salty because of several quirks in Earth's water cycle. Learn the reasons why in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/why-is-seawater-salty.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Could Technology Replace Animal Testing? Apr 17, 2021

Trying potential medical treatments on animals was once the best that science could do, but new technologies could make animal testing obsolete. Learn how in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/tech-transport/does-technology-make-us-drive-worse.htm

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Why Do Ordinary People Commit Espionage? Apr 16, 2021

It takes a particular kind of person to go from average citizen to amateur spy. Learn what history and psychology have taught us in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-do-ordinary-people-commit-acts-of-espionage.htm

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How Do Emus Work? Apr 15, 2021

These large, leggy birds can run fast and make friends faster. Learn more about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/emu.htm

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How Can Herd Immunity Help Keep a Population Safe? Apr 14, 2021

Herd immunity can help keep a population healthier, but achieving it can be difficult. Learn about vaccines and vaccination reluctance in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/herd-immunity.htm

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How Did Oregon Enforce a White-Only Population Until 1926? Apr 13, 2021

In the 1850s, Oregon voted to outlaw slavery in their state -- but also to outlaw free Black people from living there. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/racial-history-oregon-was-whites-only-until-1926.htm

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How Is Climate Changing the French Wine Industry? Apr 12, 2021

Climate change is affecting French wine-producing regions -- for the worse and for the better. Learn how grape growers and winemakers may have to adjust in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/climate-change-is-affecting-french-wines-good-bad.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Can We Learn from Fish about Walking? Apr 11, 2021

Some fish that strut the seafloor share a common ancestor with humans, so researchers are hoping that studying these fish could help us understand how we walk. Learn how in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/extinct-animals/ancient-fish-strutted-seafloor-before-land-animals.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Does Technology Make Us Worse Drivers? Apr 10, 2021

Any high-tech car feature that takes your attention away from the road is a distraction, but are even our automatic safety systems making driving more dangerous? We explore in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/tech-transport/does-technology-make-us-drive-worse.htm

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Did Lucille Ball Use Her Fillings to Spy? Apr 09, 2021

Rumor has it that Lucille Ball once picked up a spy's radio signal with her fillings -- but could it be true? Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/lucille-ball-fillings-spy.htm

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How Do Spider Webs Work? Apr 08, 2021

Different kinds of spiders build all sorts of different webs, from beautiful bug-catchers to protective egg sacs to clever trap doors. Learn about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/arachnids/spiders-spin-webs.htm

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Is It Better to Shower in the Morning or Evening? Apr 07, 2021

Showering first thing or last thing in your day is largely a personal preference, but a few factors might sway you one way or the other. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/daily/tips/morning-vs-evening-showers-discuss.htm

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Why Is Coal Ash Such a Problem? Apr 06, 2021

One of the results of burning coal to produce energy is the creation of coal ash, a toxic product that can wreak havoc when it spills into nearby ecosystems. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/deadly-problem-coal-ash.htm

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How Does Budget Reconciliation Work? Apr 05, 2021

Once a year, the U.S. government can use a process called reconciliation to fast-track big budget legislation through Congress. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/reconciliation.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Do Boogers Form? Apr 04, 2021

Snot is a crucial part of our immune system, and boogers are a byproduct of that system. Learn how they form (plus, why eating them might be advantageous) in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nose-throat/boogers-form-in-nose.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Are Some Sea Turtles Hatching Almost All Female? Apr 03, 2021

A sea turtle's sex is determined by the temperature where it hatches, and the Great Barrier Reef is warmer than ever before. Learn what this could mean in today's classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/sea-turtles-great-barrier-reef-turning-99-percent-female.htm

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Why Do Most People Have 46 Chromosomes? Apr 02, 2021

Chromosomes contain the DNA that codes our very existence, and most people have 23 pairs. Learn how they work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/23-pairs-chromosomes.htm

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What Was the Great Moon Hoax of 1835? Apr 01, 2021

In the early 1800s, a set of newspaper articles had people across America believing a civilization had been found on the moon. Learn how it happened in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/ridiculous-history-the-great-moon-hoax-1835.htm

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How Do Capybaras Work? Mar 31, 2021

This characteristically chill, friendly animal is the largest rodent in the world. Learn more about the capybara in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/capybara.htm

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How Does Tabasco Sauce Work? Mar 30, 2021

Tabasco brand hot sauce is the most popular in the U.S., and it's been made pretty much the same way for 150 years. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tabasco-sauce-red-stick.htm

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How Did Jean Macnamara Help Vanquish Polio? Mar 29, 2021

In the early 1900s, Australian doctor Jean Macnamara helped the world learn how polio works -- and helped patients rehabilitate. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/-jean-macnamara.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Is There a Better Alternative to Cash Bail? Mar 28, 2021

Cash bail punishes the poor by setting a high price on freedom -- literally. But are there any better alternatives? We explore in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/cash-bail-punishes-poor-but-whats-alternative.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Where Did Middle Names Come From? Mar 27, 2021

Having a first, middle, and last name is common in the West, but this wasn't always the case. Learn the history of middle names in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-do-have-middle-names.htm

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When Was a Battle Fought Over Eggs? Mar 26, 2021

During the Gold Rush, San Francisco's food supply chains couldn't keep up -- and enterprising hunters turned to the eggs of a seabird called the common murre. Learn about the resulting Egg War in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/history-1850s-farallones-san-francisco-egg-war.htm

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How Did Anna May Wong Fight Racism On- and Off-Screen? Mar 25, 2021

Anna May Wong was one of the film industry's first Chinese-American actresses, but her success was hard-won. Learn about Wong's life and work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/anna-may-wong.htm

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Why Do 17-Year Cicadas Appear Almost Every Year? Mar 24, 2021

Some groups of cicadas spend 13 or even 17 years underground in between massive, noisy emergences. Learn about their life cycle and how cicada broods work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/why-17-year-cicadas-come-more-than-17-years.htm/printable

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Why Was 1816 the Year With No Summer? Mar 23, 2021

In 1815, a massive volcanic eruption kicked off three years of climate chaos across the Northern hemisphere. Learn about some of the surprising effects in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/200-years-ago-we-had-a-year-a-summer.htm

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What Is the World's Oldest Book? Mar 22, 2021

Books are both fragile physical objects and conceptual works as eternal as storytelling itself. Learn about the quest to find the oldest book in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/literature/oldest-book-in-the-world.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Does Cuttlefish Camouflage Work? Mar 21, 2021

Researchers have found that cuttlefish's ability to change their color and texture at will is incredibly energy efficient. Learn why -- and how technology might copy this ability -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/fish/cuttlefish-masters-camouflage-have-newly-discovered-super-power.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Are Stars and Planets Nearly Spherical? Mar 20, 2021

Planets and stars are basically spheres, but why? We explore the science in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/why-are-planets-almost-spherical.htm

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How Do Belly Buttons Work? Mar 19, 2021

We're not just navel gazing -- belly buttons are seriously fascinating. Learn how they work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/parts/5-things-didnt-know-about-belly-button.htm

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The Firm vs. the Family: How Does the British Monarchy Work? Mar 18, 2021

The British monarchy is both a family and a sweeping institution with economic and political ties. Learn more about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/genealogy/firm-vs-royal-family.htm

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How Has COVID-19 Changed How We Mourn? Mar 17, 2021

Not being able to conduct the normal rituals of grieving during the COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way our society considers grief altogether. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/covid-19-mourn.htm

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What Reptiles Are Most Endangered? Mar 16, 2021

Cute, fuzzy mammals often get all the attention (and funding) when they land on endangered species lists, but now reptiles are getting an equal spotlight. Learn about the effort to identify and preserve these animals in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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Who Was Ada Lovelace, the Enchantress of Numbers? Mar 15, 2021

Ada Lovelace was the world's first computer programmer. Learn about her life and work with Charles Babbage on an analytical engine in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Do Female Praying Mantises Really Decapitate Mates? Mar 14, 2021

The female praying mantis: maneater or misaligned? Learn the science behind this popular semi-myth in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Could Humans Control Volcanic Eruptions? Mar 13, 2021

Spoiler alert: Not yet. But researchers are working on it. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Who Invented Macaroni and Cheese? Mar 12, 2021

People like pasta and people like cheese, so is there a single origin story for mac and cheese? Learn how this dish was developed in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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Can We Tell Whether a Dinosaur Was Male or Female? Mar 11, 2021

We can learn a lot from dinosaur fossils, but the sex of the animal in question is frequently a mystery. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Work? Mar 10, 2021

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine for COVID-19 is a one-dose viral vector vaccine that's about as effective as the mRNA vaccines available. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Did Germany Have to Sacrifice Sausages to Fly Zeppelins? Mar 09, 2021

During World War I, German forces flew menacing zeppelin airships into war zones -- but they had to give up a lot of sausages to do it. Learn why zeppelins and sausage were both made with cow intestines in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Who Was Sacagawea? Mar 08, 2021

At the age of 17 and toting her infant son, Sacagawea was instrumental to the success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 1800s. Learn more about her life in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Does Hot Yoga Need to Be So Hot? Mar 07, 2021

Do students of hot yoga, who practice at 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), reap more health benefits than room-temperature practitioners? Learn what the research says in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Do Humans Dream? Mar 06, 2021

The human brain is full of mysteries, and why we dream is a big one. Learn the leading theories about why we dream in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Badgers Work? Mar 05, 2021

The term 'badger' refers to a number of animals in the weasel family with some amazing skills. Learn more about badgers in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Did Women Really Burn Their Bras During Protests? Mar 04, 2021

If you picture a demonstration for the Women's Liberation movement of the 1960s and '70s, do you picture protestors burning their bras? Learn how this myth got started in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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What Happens When Plants Bloom Early? Mar 03, 2021

Warm winters and early springs can lead to trees and other flowering plants blooming earlier than expected. Learn why a subsequent frost is the real danger, and how to protect against it, in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does Breadfruit Work? Mar 02, 2021

Breadfruit is a starchy staple food in tropical areas where it grows, delicious in both savory and sweet dishes. Learn more about breadfruit in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Does It Take to Freeze a Waterfall? Mar 01, 2021

Even large waterfalls like Niagara can appear to ice over, but it takes prolonged, extremely cold weather to actually freeze a falls. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Can Autonomous Vehicles Break the Speed Limit? Feb 28, 2021

In the incredible future, robots may be able to drive your car -- but will they be able to speed? Today's self-driving cars can. Learn why in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Could an Ice Cream Not Melt? Feb 27, 2021

Researchers and chefs in Japan have invented an ice cream that doesn't melt on sunny days -- and it's all thanks to deformed strawberries. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Accurate Is 'Bridgerton'? Feb 26, 2021

The Netflix series 'Bridgerton' portrays life and love in Regency England. Learn what it got right about the era and what it took liberties with in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What If the Earth Stopped Spinning? Feb 25, 2021

Our planet would be a very different place if it didn't rotate. Learn why the Earth spins -- and what it might look like if it slowly stopped -- in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Is the Wilhelm Scream? Feb 24, 2021

Movies and other media often use stock sound effects to avoid the cost of recording new ones, but a particular scream has become a Hollywood in-joke. Learn where the Wilhelm scream comes from in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Smart Are Dolphins? Feb 23, 2021

Dolphins are incredibly intelligent -- in some ways, they can mentally outperform chimpanzees. Learn about some of their amazing capabilities in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Do Songs Get Stuck in Your Head? Feb 22, 2021

Ever had a song or commercial jingle on repeat in your head for days? Learn how earworms work in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Could Human Waste Feed Astronauts? Feb 21, 2021

It sounds gross, but stick with us: Researchers are working on recycling astronauts' waste into food for edible stuff. Learn how (and why) in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Can Magic Mushrooms Help Stop Depression? Feb 20, 2021

Although psychedelic drugs are largely recreational these days, scientists are looking into potential therapeutic uses -- especially in patients for whom nothing else works. Learn how psilocybin may fight depression in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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Can a Dripping Faucet Really Prevent Pipe Damage? Feb 19, 2021

Yes, keeping a faucet dripping can help prevent pipes from bursting during freezing weather. Learn why -- and how to best accomplish this -- in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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When Can You Claim Defamation? Feb 18, 2021

When something you write or say causes harm to someone else, that's defamation -- maybe. Learn about the legal considerations and qualifications involved in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Can Pit Vipers 'See' Heat? Feb 17, 2021

Pit vipers are a category of snakes that have specialized organs that can sense infrared radiation (heat!) from nearby animals. Learn more about these fascinating snakes in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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Where Does the Vice President Live? Feb 16, 2021

The White House famously houses the U.S. president, but the VP has a historical place to call home, too. Learn about Number One Observatory Drive in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Will a Second Bump to the Head Really Cure Amnesia? Feb 15, 2021

Spoiler alert: Nope. Learn where the pervasive myth about a blow to the skull causing and curing amnesia came from in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Can You Be Addicted to Love? Feb 14, 2021

Feelings of euphoria leading to obsessive behavior and potentially life-ruining decisions: Love can be as powerful as any drug. Learn how love affects the brain in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Did Velociraptors Really Hunt in Packs? Feb 13, 2021

Did real-life raptors work together they way they do in 'Jurassic Park' movies? Do we even have the right raptors? Learn the leading theories in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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Should We All Be Wearing Two Face Masks? Feb 12, 2021

There's now scientific proof that one good mask will help stop us from spreading and catching COVID-19. Two masks might be even better, but only if worn correctly. Learn more about mask-wearing and the coronavirus in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Does Closure Really Exist? Feb 11, 2021

In pop psychology, people often talk about wanting closure to a relationship that's ended -- but psychologists say closure doesn't (and shouldn't!) exist. Learn why, plus what's recommended instead, in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What's the Difference Between Dukes, Earls, and Other British Peers? Feb 10, 2021

The British peerage system gives formal ranks to people through one of five titles: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron. Learn about the differences and how these ranks are granted in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Axolotls Work? Feb 09, 2021

These amphibians spend their entire lives in the water and can regrow any part of their body. Learn more about the axolotl in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Who Were the Black Loyalists of the American Revolution? Feb 08, 2021

When American colonists rebelled against the British Empire, the British encouraged enslaved people to rise up and fight for the crown. Learn about the Black Loyalists in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Are We in an Insect Armageddon? Feb 07, 2021

A study found that bug biomass has been steadily -- and in some places, dramatically -- decreasing. Learn what may be to blame and what this could this mean for the future in today's classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Can People Be Allergic to Water? Feb 06, 2021

OK, it's not technically an allergy, but yes: People can have extreme skin reactions to water. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does Xanthan Gum Work? Feb 05, 2021

This substance helps provide thick, smooth textures in homemade foods and industrial products alike. Learn about how xanthan gum is used and how it's made in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Were Neanderthals Smarter Than We Think? Feb 04, 2021

Neanderthals have been portrayed as much less intelligent than humans, but they developed technologies and cultural practices similar to ours -- and sometimes much earlier. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Roadrunners Work? Feb 03, 2021

These birds are the subject of a lot of myths, ancient and modern. Learn what roadrunners are really like in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Did Human-Skin Shoes Feature in a Politician's Wardrobe? Feb 02, 2021

In the late 1800s, a doctor who autopsied a criminal had the man's skin made into human leather. Learn the macabre story in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Unrelated Species Develop Similar Traits? Feb 01, 2021

Some traits and abilities -- like flight, for example -- are so useful that completely different species evolved them independently over time. Learn about convergent evolution (and divergent evolution) in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: What on Earth Are Skyquakes? Jan 31, 2021

There are plenty of potential reasons for a boom to rumble through the air, but skyquakes don't seem to be attached to any of the usual suspects. Learn more about these mysterious phenomena on BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Do We Find Planets That Might Harbor Life? Jan 30, 2021

Ross 128 b is an Earth-sized planet only 11 light years away that might have the right conditions to sustain life as we know it. Learn how scientists are studying it in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Often Should You Wash Your Pillow? Jan 29, 2021

The pillows we sleep on can collect grime aplenty, but they can't all be washed the same way. Learn what the experts recommend in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What's the Difference Between Burrata and Mozzarella? Jan 28, 2021

These two cheeses look similar on the outside, but it's what inside that counts. Learn about the differences between buratta and mozzarella, and how to use them, in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Do We See Faces in Inanimate Objects? Jan 27, 2021

If you've ever seen a face in a cloud or thought your electrical outlet was looking at you funny, you've experienced pareidolia. But why does this happen so often? Learn more about how the eyes and brain work together in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Did 'The Green Book' Work? Jan 26, 2021

For decades, 'The Green Book' was a lifeline connecting Black travelers in the U.S. with businesses that were happy to serve them. Learn how it got started in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Astronauts Shower in Space? Jan 25, 2021

The two things that make showers on Earth delightful are hot water and gravity, but in space, both are in limited supply. Learn how astronauts have made do over the years in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Should You Give Cats Milk? Jan 24, 2021

Pop culture often shows cats happily sipping saucers of milk, but giving a cat milk isn't actually the best treat for it -- or you. Learn why in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Did a Parisian Lemonade Craze Fight the Plague? Jan 23, 2021

While the black plague ravaged the rest of France, Paris remained relatively untouched -- and they may have had their fondness for lemonade to thank. Learn why in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Presidential Pardons Work? Jan 22, 2021

U.S. presidents have the power to pardon anyone from punishment surrounding a federal crime, no questions asked. Learn how this clemency works in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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What Astronomy Events Are Happening in 2021? Jan 21, 2021

Whatever else happens, 2021 is going to be a year with some amazing astronomical events. Learn when they're happening and how to watch them in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Have Inaugurations Always Involved Celebrities? Jan 20, 2021

There have always been parties surrounding U.S. presidential inaugurations, but the events themselves didn't become star-studded until fairly recently. Learn about the history of performances surrounding inaugurations in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Can Nasal Breathing Help Keep You Healthier? Jan 19, 2021

Breathing through your nose instead of your mouth can help your heart, immune system, and even your anxiety levels. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Did Martin Luther King Influence 'Star Trek'? Jan 18, 2021

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy is profound -- his activism changed the course of history. Including, oddly enough, 'Star Trek'. Learn how he inspired Nichelle Nichols, the actress who played Uhura, in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Do Vegetarians' Farts Smell Worse? Jan 17, 2021

Not all flatulence is created equal -- your diet has a huge impact on the gas you pass. So whose farts are smellier: vegetarians or omnivores? Learn the answer in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Do Astronauts React to Lunar Landing Conspiracy Theories? Jan 16, 2021

Fringe theorists sometimes question whether the 1969 moon landing actually happened. In this classic episode of BrainStuff, we explore how astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin have reacted when asked whether it's all a conspiracy.

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How Might Universal Basic Income Work? Jan 15, 2021

Universal basic income is a form of monthly payments to citizens from their government with the idea that financial security makes people (and maybe even economies) healthier. Learn more about UBI and guaranteed income in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Does Dry January Lead to Binging in February? Jan 14, 2021

After abstaining from alcohol in January, research shows that drinkers consume less in the following months, too. Learn more about Dry January in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Is Populism? Jan 13, 2021

Populist leaders have been coming into power all over the world over the past few years. Learn what populism is -- and why it concerns political scientists -- in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Is Worcestershire Sauce? Jan 12, 2021

This savory sauce with a difficult name dates back to the early 1800s. Learn about its history and ingredients in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Who Was the First Person in Space? Jan 11, 2021

Yuri Gagarin was the Soviet cosmonaut who braved the first flight into space in 1961. Learn about his life (and tragic early death) in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: What Animal Has the Best Echolocation Abilities? Jan 10, 2021

Bats, dolphins, and other animals all use sonar to navigate, but the narwhal has them all beat, and it's thanks to narwhals' distinctive horns. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: What Is the 25th Amendment? Jan 09, 2021

People are again asking whether the 25th Amendment might be enacted to remove the current president. But what does this Amendment say, and what can it really do? Learn about it in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does Damascus Steel Work? Jan 08, 2021

If you've seen rippling patterns in the blades of knives or swords, that's Damascus steel. Learn its history and how it's made today in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Penguins Work? Jan 07, 2021

Flightless birds that live in brutal Antarctic temperatures and partner up for life -- penguins are cool (pun absolutely intended). Learn more about them in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Did the Arecibo Radio Telescope Help Us Learn? Jan 06, 2021

For decades, the Arecibo Radio Telescope has let us investigate parts of our universe near and far. Learn its history -- and why it had to be shut down -- in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Do 'I Voted' Stickers Do Anything? Jan 05, 2021

Many local governments pass out stickers to the voters who cast a ballot on election day. It might seem silly, but those stickers have a real effect. Learn about the psychology behind 'I Voted!' stickers in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Would the Creator of Graham Crackers Be Horrified by Them Today? Jan 04, 2021

Graham crackers are a sweetened, mass-produced baked good today, but they started out as a homemade, ascetic-diet food. Learn about Sylvester Graham and the history of his crackers in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Do Some Fabrics Make Body Odor Worse? Jan 03, 2021

Body odor happens when bacteria thrive in our sweat, so the ways your clothes deal with sweat can make a difference. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Green Is Your Favorite Superhero? Jan 02, 2021

To draw attention to the average citizen's carbon footprint, a team of researchers calculated the eco-rating of a number of superheroes. Learn how they rank in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Did a South Carolina Monkey Farm Help Defeat Polio? Jan 01, 2021

A farm in South Carolina ensured the health and welfare of the monkeys that were instrumental in the development of polio vaccines. Learn the history of Okatie Farms in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Does 'Auld Lang Syne' Mean? Dec 31, 2020

Auld Lang Syne' is the most popular New Year's Eve song in the English-speaking world, but not all of its lyrics (including that title) are in English. Learn about the history and meaning of this song in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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One of Our Favorite Podcasts of 2020 - The Ten News Dec 30, 2020

🤔 Is Dr. Anthony Fauci a cat or a dog person? 📰 What’s happening with the Covid vaccine? 👨‍⚕️ When will kids be able to get the vaccine? 🧪 And when does the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, think it might be ok to have sleepovers again? Plus, see if you can guess the answer to the Trivia Question of the Day: Way before he became a leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Fauci was a leader in school. Which teams was he captain of in high school?

👨‍⚕️ Uncover everything there is to know about Dr. Anthony Fauci!

🤔 Learn the best ways to protect yourself & others from COVID-19

👩🏾‍🔬 Brush up on your knowledge of the coronavirus and watch this informative video to learn more

✏️Get some helpful tips on how to talk about Covid with your kids

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How Do Lionfish Work? Dec 30, 2020

The lionfish is beautiful, fascinating, invasive, and venomous. Learn more about lionfish in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Is Snow White? Dec 29, 2020

Snow is made up of ice crystals, which are mostly clear -- so why does snow appear white? Learn how particle physics gives us those dazzling white snow drifts in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does Kwanzaa Work? Dec 28, 2020

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 episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Are Resolutions So Easy to Break? Dec 27, 2020

Most of us break our New Years resolutions — and researchers have found a few reasons why. Learn how to build a better resolution in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: What Tech Will Replace the Smartphone? Dec 26, 2020

Although it's an integral part of many people's lives today, the smartphone is bound to be replaced by the next big thing. We explore what (and when) that might be in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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When Did Christmas Become an American Holiday? Dec 25, 2020

When the Puritans began colonizing North America, they did not bring Christmas traditions with them. Learn why celebrating was not widespread and sometimes even illegal in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does Santa's Sleigh Work? Dec 24, 2020

Santa Claus is known for getting gifts to every child in the world on Christmas Eve, but how could such a quick, efficient sleigh work? With all due respect to the reindeer, we propose an antimatter engine in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Is There a Pooping Figure in Catalonian Nativity Sets? Dec 23, 2020

In a traditional Nativity scene in Catalonia, you're likely to find a figure of 'el caganer' -- a person squatting with a pile of poop. Learn how this sometimes cheeky tradition may have gotten started in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Obelisks Work? Dec 22, 2020

In many cities, the most ancient monuments are obelisks taken from Egypt. Learn more about why and how these architectural masterpieces were constructed (and moved) in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Was the Biggest Nuclear Weapon Ever Built? Dec 21, 2020

The Soviet Union's Tsar Bomba, tested in 1961, was thousands of times more powerful than even the large nuclear weapons of its time. Learn more about this bomb and why such large designs were abandoned in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: What Was the Christmas Truce? Dec 20, 2020

During one Christmas in WWI, enemy soldiers called an unofficial ceasefire and even shared holiday treats with each other. Learn the story behind this small miracle from the Great War in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Can Bats Jam Each Other's Sonar? Dec 19, 2020

Bats use sonar to find food in the dark -- but they've got a lot of competition from other bats. Learn about echolocation and how bats go on the offensive in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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What Is the Great Conjunction? Dec 18, 2020

Once every 20 years, Saturn and Jupiter appear very close together in the sky from Earth's point of view, but this year they're closer than they've been in 800 years. Learn more about this astonomical event in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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How Did Manischewitz Become the Biggest Name in Kosher Wine? Dec 17, 2020

The Manischewitz Company produces all kinds of kosher foods, but is most famous for its sweet, inexpensive wines. Learn how the company got started in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Did Galileo Become the First Superstar Scientist? Dec 16, 2020

Galileo Galilei is famous today for defying the Catholic Church in the 1600s with his (correct) astronomical hypotheses. Learn more about his work and how he became famous in his own time in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does the Larynx Work? Dec 15, 2020

The larynx contains the voice box or vocal cords, and it's one of the organs that helps humans speak. Learn more about it in this episode of BrainStuff

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What Are Wine Diamonds? Dec 14, 2020

If you've ever seen crystals at the bottom of a wine bottle, glass, or cork, don't worry -- they're considered a sign of quality. Learn what so-called wine diamonds are and how they form in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Did the Genes for Light Skin Colors Evolve in Europe? Dec 13, 2020

A widescale genetic survey has shown that despite common misconceptions, race really is only skin deep. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: What Can a Cache of Pterosaur Eggs Teach Us? Dec 12, 2020

A huge cache of ancient pterosaur eggs has been unearthed in China. Learn what this find can tell us about these flying contemporaries of dinosaurs in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Did the Truman Doctrine Change U.S. Foreign Policy? Dec 11, 2020

After World War II, what came to be known as the Truman Doctrine pulled the U.S. out of its previously isolationist stance and into global relationships that endure today. Learn more about it in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Deadly Are Black Widow Spiders? Dec 10, 2020

The venom of black widow spiders can indeed be deadly, but they almost always avoid attacking -- and they don't often eat each other, either. Learn more about these arachnids in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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How Did the Lazy Susan Get Its Name? Dec 09, 2020

This simple spinning device helps keep object at hand on tabletops and in tight cabinets -- but why is it called a lazy susan? Learn a few of the hypotheses in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Is the Immigrant Paradox? Dec 08, 2020

Immigrants to the United States tend to have better physical and mental health outcomes than people who were born here. Learn about assimilation, acculturation, and collectivism in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does Pimento Cheese Work? Dec 07, 2020

This cheese-and-sweet-pepper spread is a Southern staple, but it was actually developed in New York. Learn about the history and popularity of pimento cheese in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Could Some Microbes Live on Air Alone? Dec 06, 2020

Researchers have found Antarctic microbes that appear to get all the nutrients they need from thin air. Could this change our search for extraterrestrial life?

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Are Teens Cyberbullying Themselves? Dec 05, 2020

A new study indicates that some teens bully themselves online, posting hateful messages from fake or anonymous accounts. Researchers are looking into why, and how to help.

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How Could COVID-19 Vaccines Change the World? Dec 04, 2020

Obviously, vaccines for the coronavirus that's causing this pandemic would help life get back to normal -- but their development is also set to improve the way we make all vaccines. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Do Kangaroos Hop? Dec 03, 2020

Kangaroos put an enormous amount of power into every hop -- and conserve energy in the process. Learn how they do it in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Is the McRib Made Of? Dec 02, 2020

McDonald's McRib sandwich has a cult following -- but what's it actually made of? Learn about the history and composition of the McRib in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Is It So Hard to Remember What Day It Is? Dec 01, 2020

If you get the days of the week mixed up, you're not alone. Learn about the psychology of Tuesday in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What's the White Stuff in Soil Mixes? Nov 30, 2020

Potting soil often contains perlite, which is a type of volcanic rock that helps keep soil light and airy. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Could You Outrun a Volcano? Nov 29, 2020

Outrunning a volcanic eruption, like many things that look easy in movies or sound simple in theory, is more complicated in reality. Learn why you shouldn't attempt this feat in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Long Have We Been Keeping Dogs on Leashes? Nov 28, 2020

A new(ish) find of very old artwork depicts dogs wearing leashes. Learn more about our history with man’s best friend in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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Did the Native American Great Law of Peace Inspire the U.S. Constitution? Nov 27, 2020

The writers of the U.S. Constitution were, in part, influenced by the confederation of Native American nations called the Haudenosaunee (or the Iroquois). Learn about the Haudenosaunee Great Law in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Where Did Pumpkin Pie Come From? Nov 26, 2020

Sure it's tasty, but how exactly did spiced squash in a pie crust become part of American holiday celebrations? Learn about the history of pumpkin pie in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What's Really in the Flu Vaccine? Nov 25, 2020

There are lots of rumors about potentially harmful ingredients in vaccines, but once you understand what those ingredients are and how little are used in vaccines, it's easy to see why vaccines are safe. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does the Maillard Reaction Make Food Tastier? Nov 24, 2020

The Maillard reaction gives foods from toast to coffee to seared steak some of their flavors. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Who's the Only Woman to Receive a Medal of Honor? Nov 23, 2020

After the Civil War, surgeon Mary Edwards Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor for her service. Learn her story in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Is There Another Reason You Shouldn't Eat Raw Cookie Dough? Nov 22, 2020

Research has revealed another danger lurking in uncooked dough: Tenacious E. coli can survive in dry flour. Learn how scientists figured it out in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Do We Find Symmetry So Pleasing? Nov 21, 2020

What is it about the arrangement of petals on a flower or a perfectly symmetrical display of soup cans that catches our eye? Learn how our brains seem wired for it in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Has 'A Wrinkle in Time' Inspired Real Scientists? Nov 20, 2020

The story 'A Wrinkle in Time' by Madeline L'Engle has been inspiring young scientists for generations. We spoke with three for this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Is It So Difficult to Overturn a Guilty Verdict? Nov 19, 2020

Sometimes innocent people wind up in prison, and even if genetic evidence comes to light, it can still take years (and a lot of money) to secure their freedom. Learn how the Innocence Project helps in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Should We All Be in the Same Time Zone? Nov 18, 2020

Time zones sometimes seem to cause more confusion than they fix. Learn how they came about -- and why some researchers want to get rid of them -- in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Would We Need Artificial Gravity in Space? Nov 17, 2020

Long-term space missions would need to figure out a way to create artificial gravity for their astronauts. Learn why -- and how it may be possible -- in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Are the Differences Between COVID-19 and the Flu? Nov 16, 2020

Symptoms of influenza and the novel coronavirus are fairly similar, but there are a few key differences you should look for -- and each should be treated a little differently. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Is There a Real Witches' Curse in 'Macbeth'? Nov 15, 2020

You may have heard that Shakespeare's tragedy "Macbeth" is cursed. Learn how this superstition came about in today's classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Can't Some People Sleep Without a Fan? Nov 14, 2020

Some people find it impossible to sleep without background noise, like a fan whirring. Researchers have identified the possible culprit. Learn how it works in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Did Bootleggers Once Smuggle Margarine? Nov 13, 2020

Due in large part to pressure from the diary industry, margarine was once outlawed in Canada and parts of the United States. Learn more about the Oleo Wars in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Is the World's Longest-Living Vertebrate? Nov 12, 2020

Spoiler alert: There are Greenland sharks alive today that were likely born in the 1600s. Learn more about these fascinating sharks in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does the Nitrogen Cycle Work? Nov 11, 2020

Living things need nitrogen in order for our cells to function, and there's plenty in the air, but it's impossible for most of us to access. Learn how the nitrogen cycle brings it to us in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Big Was Giganatosaurus? Nov 10, 2020

Giganatosaurus is one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs that ever lived, rivaling the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex. Learn more about these dinos in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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What's the Difference Between Gold and Pyrite? Nov 09, 2020

Pyrite is often called fool's gold, but it's easy to tell the two apart if you know what to look for. Learn more about these two minerals in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Do We Need to Redefine the Four Seasons? Nov 08, 2020

As climate change affects the planet's weather patterns, some parts of the world will see the seasons bleed together. Tune in to learn how we define the seasons now, and how some researchers think that should change.

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BrainStuff Classics: Are Other Animals Superstitious? Nov 07, 2020

Humans have all kinds of superstitious beliefs -- so are other animals superstitious, too? Learn more about superstition works in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Is 1968's Poor People's Campaign Reviving Today? Nov 06, 2020

In the 1960s, civil rights leaders organized the Poor People's Campaign to bring awareness and change to economic injustices in the United States. Learn how it began and how it's being revived today in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Cats and Dogs Perceive Time? Nov 05, 2020

Cats and dogs know their humans' schedules, but do they really have a sense of time similar to ours? Learn about how non-human animals perceive time in this episode of BrainStuff.

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When Is Paranoia Normal, and When Is It a Problem? Nov 04, 2020

Many people experience paranoid feelings sometimes, but more rarely, those feelings can seem to take over a person's life. Learn about what paranoia is and how it's treated in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Does the U.S. Hold Elections on Tuesdays? Nov 03, 2020

The United States holds elections the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November because that was deemed most convenient for the citizen farmers of the 1800s, when election dates were written into law. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Will the PROTEUS Underwater Station Work? Nov 02, 2020

Fabien Cousteau, one of Jacques Cousteau's grandsons and himself an aquanaut, is helping plan the largest, most advanced underwater research station yet. Learn how the PROTEUS station will work in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Was George Washington Almost King of the United States? Nov 01, 2020

Did the generals of the Revolutionary War really try to hand George Washington a monarchy? Learn the truth behind this slightly tall tale in today's classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Do We Carve Pumpkins Around Halloween? Oct 31, 2020

The tradition of carving jack-o'-lanterns around Halloween goes back centuries to a folktale about a stingy man who outwits the devil. Learn the tale (and why pumpkins weren't the original carving vegetables) in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does Samhain Work? Oct 30, 2020

Samhain is a pagan holiday celebrated between the fall equinox and winter solstice that helped form modern, secular Halloween celebrations. Learn about Samhain in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do You Sense Your Own Body -- And How Can That Go Wrong? Oct 29, 2020

There's a sixth sense that we're not often aware of -- the sense of controlling and owning our own bodies. Learn how proprioception works -- and what happens to people when it doesn't work -- in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Who Pressed Records onto Human X-Ray Vinyl? Oct 28, 2020

The USSR banned lots of music after WWII, but young Soviet culture hounds called stilyagi bootlegged black market records onto discarded X-ray sheets. Learn about these bone records in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Is There a Real Legend About Nosferatu? Oct 27, 2020

There are vampire legends all over the world, but 'nosferatu' isn't a word from any of them. Learn where Bram Stoker may have gotten it, and how 'Dracula' popularized it, in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Was Speed Surgery a Thing, and How Fast Could It Get? Oct 26, 2020

Before modern anesthesiology, sterilization, and other medical technology, the quicker a surgery was the better your odds for survival. Learn about Robert Liston, an infamously fast surgeon, in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Does Salt Prevent Food Spoilage? Oct 25, 2020

Salt has kept entire civilizations alive thanks to its abilities to preserve food and protect it from harmful germs. Learn how in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Is There a Better Alternative to Cash Bail? Oct 24, 2020

Cash bail punishes the poor by setting a high price on freedom -- literally. But are there any better alternatives that won't break local governments' budgets? We explore in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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Could Hand Sanitizer Help Preserve Insects for Science? Oct 23, 2020

Hand sanitizer is a good alternative to hand washing when running water isn't available, but as it turns out, it's also great at preserving the DNA in insect samples. Learn how this may help citizen science in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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How Can We Detect Tornadoes Earlier? Oct 22, 2020

We often receive very little warning about impending tornadoes, making these storms all the more dangerous. Learn how researchers are figuring out how to use infrasound to detect tornadoes long before they form in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Are Some of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Harshest Dissents? Oct 21, 2020

During her time as a Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg didn't always agree with the majority opinion of the Court. Learn about a few of her dissents in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Sea Snakes Work? Oct 20, 2020

The most venomous snakes in the world live in the oceans, but they still breathe air, drink fresh water, and some can even crawl on land. Learn about sea snakes in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Is the Nebra Sky Disk the Oldest Star Chart? Oct 19, 2020

A bronze disk found near Nebra, Germany may be the oldest know scientific depiction of the night sky -- or it may be a thousand years younger than that. Learn the story of this mysterious disk in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: What Is (and Isn't) Terrorism? Oct 18, 2020

When is -- and isn't -- a crime considered terrorism? The legal, political and moral definitions are often at odds. We explore why in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Are Leaf Blowers So Annoying? Oct 17, 2020

If the sound of leaf blowers makes you angry, you're not alone -- and there's science behind why. Learn about it in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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Are Cats Actually Good at Catching Rats? Oct 16, 2020

There's an assumption that cats can help control pesky rodent populations, but it turns out that they're pretty bad at catching rats. Learn why, and why cats can make a rat infestation appear lesser, in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does Anhedonia Work? Oct 15, 2020

Anhedonia is a disorder in which a person doesn't experience pleasure from usually pleasurable things, like music or friendship or the sense of taste. Learn what researchers know (and don't know) about anhedonia in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Has Knitting Been Used for Subterfuge? Oct 14, 2020

During the two World Wars, knitting became an important way to encode and send messages in secret. Learn about the history of wartime knitting in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Can the Dutch Reach Save Cyclists' Lives? Oct 13, 2020

When cyclists collide with a carelessly opened car door, the results can be deadly. Learn how the simple Dutch Reach can save lives in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Foods Should Be Kept Out of the Fridge? Oct 12, 2020

The refrigerator is perfect for keeping some foods fresh and tasty -- but it'll do other foods more harm than good. Learn what foods are best kept out of the fridge in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Do Glow Stick Work? Oct 11, 2020

Glow sticks use a chemical reaction to create that soft, colorful glow. Learn how it works -- and how to make your glow sticks last longer -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Can a Black Hole Help Prove General Relativity? Oct 10, 2020

Astronomers detected hints of Einstein's theory of general relativity in the Milky Way's supermassive black hole. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does Mortgage Forbearance Work? Oct 09, 2020

Mortgage forbearance can help keep a homeowner in their home, but it's not a permanent free pass on mortgage payments. Learn why it's good for both borrowers and banks -- and how to get one if you need it -- in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Is Betelgeuse About to Go Supernova? Oct 08, 2020

Betelguese is one of the brightest stars in the night sky, but in 2019 it dimmed -- a lot. Learn what researchers think caused this and what it could mean in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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What's the Difference Between Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx? Oct 07, 2020

The official U.S. government definitions of 'Hispanic' and 'Latino' differ from how people often refer to themselves in real life -- and new terms like 'Latinx' are gaining popularity, too. Learn what these terms mean and how language is evolving in this episode of BrainStuff.

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