BrainStuff

Latest Episodes:

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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