BrainStuff

Latest Episodes:

Why Can't I Taste My Tongue? Apr 25, 2018

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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 episode of BrainStuff.

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What Was the First Killer Robot? Apr 24, 2018

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Science fiction buzzes with evil robots and AI, but real-life machines are much less sinister -- if not less potentially deadly. Learn the real concerns (and possible solutions) about killer robots in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Is Our Tipping System Gratuitous? Apr 23, 2018

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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 episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Were Fruit Flies the First Animal in Space? Apr 20, 2018

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In 1947, U.S. military scientists launched the very first Earth animals into space: fruit flies. But why these diminutive bugs in particular? Learn about their trip to the final fronteir in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Did an 19th-Century Man Predict Your Death? Apr 19, 2018

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In the 1820s, an insurance actuary by the name of Benjamin Gompertz wrote an equation that reliably predicts when people are going to die. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Is the Human Brain Hardwired for Poetry? Apr 18, 2018

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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 this may be in today's episode of BrainStuff.

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What Happens to Wine Grape Waste? Apr 17, 2018

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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 episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Are So Many People Nearsighted? Apr 16, 2018

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By 2050, half the world will be nearsighted. Researchers tracking the spread of this eye condition (also called myopia) have a few hypotheses about why it's happening. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Can a Plant Outsource Photosynthesis? Apr 13, 2018

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Plants use photosynthesis to survive, but some plants outsource that job to other living things, like fungus. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Much Electricity Can Urine Provide? Apr 12, 2018

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Researchers have created pee-powered fuel cells that can light outdoor portable bathrooms. Learn how (and why) in this episode of BrainStuff.

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