BrainStuff

Latest Episodes:

How Has Honey Been Used in Warfare? Dec 15, 2024

Show notes

Ancient armies set traps of hallucinogenic honey and mead to incapacitate their enemies. Learn how mad honey works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/history-hallucinogenic-mad-honey-warfare.htm

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Happens During a Supernova? Dec 14, 2024

Show notes

Supernovae are the spectacular deaths of giant stars -- and they create the elements that make up our universe. Learn how they work and what we learn from them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/supernova.htm/printable

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Does Poison Ivy Cause a Rash? Dec 08, 2024

Show notes

Poison ivy isn't poisonous -- it causes an allergic reaction that can take days to appear. Learn about poison ivy and how to avoid it in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/poison-ivy.htm/printable

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the History of Frozen Dinners? Dec 07, 2024

Show notes

Frozen meals have become a near-daily part of many people's lives in less than a century. Learn how refrigeration, food science, and television came together to make frozen foods a thing in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/history-tv-dinner.htm

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Do We Build Tunnels Underwater? Dec 06, 2024

Show notes

It's relatively common for cars and trains to pass through underwater tunnels, but these structures are marvels of modern engineering. Learn how they're blasted, bored, and built from prefab pieces in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/build-underwater-tunnel.htm

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Do Platypuses Work? Nov 30, 2024

Show notes

This creature's amazing amalgam of traits includes fur like a mammal, webbed feet like a bird, eggs like a reptile, electroreception like a shark, and venom that may teach us how to build better painkillers. Learn more about the platypus in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/platypus-poison.htm

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Do We All Have Snot? Nov 29, 2024

Show notes

Almost every type of living creature relies on mucus to help keep itself healthy. Learn what snot can teach us in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/respiratory/mucus.htm

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Do Pop-Up Turkey Timers Work? Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

You can buy all kinds of fancy meat thermometers, but many turkeys are packaged with a simple pop-up timer that tells you when the bird is done. Learn how they work (and why Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving in the first place) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/pop-up-timer.htm

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BrainStuff Classics: Do Footballs Fly Farther in Denver? Nov 24, 2024

Show notes

Denver's Mile High Stadium sits a full mile above sea level -- is that distance really enough to make a difference in the air compared with other stadiums, and thus in how footballs fly there? Learn about football physics in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/physics-and-football-denvers-altitude-affect-field-goals.htm

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is There a Dark Side of the Moon? Nov 23, 2024

Show notes

What we sometimes call the dark side of the moon isn't always dark, but it is somewhat mysterious. Learn why we only see one side of the moon from Earth (and why it's sometimes in shadow) in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/dark-side-of-moon.htm

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected