BrainStuff

Latest Episodes:

Would Cannibalism Have Been Calorically Worthwhile? Oct 28, 2018

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Our paleolithic ancestors ate people sometimes. But did they partake because they were really that hungry, or for some other, cultural reason? Learn what researchers think in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Is the Winchester House Built So Strangely? Oct 27, 2018

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We can't prove whether the Winchester Mystery House is really haunted, but it was definitely built for ghosts. Lean the story of how its strange construction was one woman's unending quest in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Do We Carve Pumpkins Around Halloween? Oct 26, 2018

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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 episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Do We Make Our Monsters Cute? Oct 25, 2018

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Pop culture loves making horrific figures adorable, from Cthulhu plushies to 'cute' Freddy Krueger costumes. But why? Learn what researchers think about the spectrum of cute to monstrous in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Would Psychic Powers Really Cause Nosebleeds? Oct 24, 2018

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You've seen the trope: a character strains their psychic powers and gets a nosebleed to show for it. But would this actually happen if psychic powers were real? Learn the hypothetical science in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Were Unicorns Always Sweet? Oct 23, 2018

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The modern image of the elegant, gentle unicorn is a relatively recent invention. Learn about the history of unicorn myths and legends in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Do Boomers and Gen-Xers Really Work Harder Than Millennials? Oct 22, 2018

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Millennials approach their jobs differently than previous generations, but research shows it's not how they were raised -- it's a mark of their youth. Learn how age and generational differences intersect in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Why Did People Once Rob Graves for Science? Oct 21, 2018

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In the United Kingdom in the 1800s, anatomists wanted to study real bodies, but laws and cultural stigma made bodies hard to come by. Learn how the shocking Burke & Hare murder trials changed that in this episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Does Déjà vu Work? Oct 20, 2018

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If you've ver gotten the strange feeling that you’re repeating an experience, researchers have about 40 theories for what was going on in your brain. Learn how déjà vu might work in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Animals Survive Big Storms? Oct 19, 2018

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Sadly, not all animals make it through major storms like hurricanes, but some have impressive survival skills. Learn how they manage in this episode of BrainStuff.

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