BrainStuff

Latest Episodes:

Why Aren’t There Female CPR Mannequins? Aug 13, 2019

Show notes

Research shows that women are less likely to receive CPR when they need it, and fixing that might require introducing training mannequins with breasts. Learn about a project that’s trying to help in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Do Beaches Need Seashells? Aug 12, 2019

Show notes

Seashells are a pretty sight on beaches, but it turns out that they play an important role in seaside structures and ecosystems. Learn why -- and why shell poaching is a problem -- in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What's the History of Paternity Testing? Aug 09, 2019

Show notes

Humans have only very recently developed scientific ways of proving who a child's biological father is, but that didn't stop us from trying beforehand. Learn the weird history of paternity tests in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Blue Whales Work? Aug 08, 2019

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The blue whale is the largest known animal to ever grace the planet -- they may be twice as big as Megalodon was! Learn what science knows (and doesn't know) about blue whales in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Is Peyote? Aug 07, 2019

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In brief, peyote is a cactus with hallucinogenic properties that's been used in religious ceremonies for centuries. Learn how it works and why it's endangered in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Does America Use Fahrenheit Instead of Celsius? Aug 06, 2019

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Most of the rest of the world uses the Celsius scale to describe temperature, but the U.S. uses Fahrenheit. Learn the origins and histories of these two scales in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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How Are Ethnicity and Race Different? Aug 05, 2019

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The concepts of ethnicity and race are both human inventions with no basis in science, but these concepts have huge impacts on us and our world. Learn the difference between ethnicity and race in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What Is the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon? Aug 02, 2019

Show notes

Also called the frequency illusion or recency illusion, the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon occurs when you learn something new, then notice instances of it everywhere. Learn how it works and how it got its name in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Could Frozen Zoo DNA Stave Off Species' Extinction? Aug 01, 2019

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As human civilization encroaches on wild animals' habitats, some face extinction. Learn how researchers hope to someday use frozen DNA sample taken from zoo animals to replenish wild populations in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Does the Hippocampus Work? Jul 31, 2019

Show notes

Without the hippocampus, our brains have serious trouble recalling and recording certain types of long-term memories. Learn how this brain structure works in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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