ScienceStuff

What Makes Traffic So Bad?

Thu, 07 May 2026 03:30:00 +0000

Stuck in traffic? There's someone to blame, but it's not who you think it is. Jorge cruises to an answer with two traffic science experts.

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Can We Talk to Dolphins?

Sat, 02 May 2026 00:11:00 +0000

They're some of the smartest animals on Earth. Could we ever have a conversation with them? Jorge takes the plunge with two dolphin experts to find out.

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Can A.I. Be Funny?

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Can computers crack jokes? Are comedians in trouble? Jorge talks to an AI expert to find the punchline.

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What Makes Someone Left-Handed?

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:01:00 +0000

Is it genetic or random? And why do we have a preferred hand anyway? Jorge gets the right answers from some left-handed experts.

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Is Math Ruining Sports?

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:15:00 +0000

Math is a key player in every major sport these days. Is it helping teams win, or is it making games boring to watch? Jorge talks to a "Moneyball" expert to find out.

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Why Are We Going Back to the Moon?

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Jorge talks to three scientists involved in the Artemis Moon Program to find out why we're going back there after 50 years.

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Should We Mine the Asteroid Belt? (feat. Phil Plait)

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:03:00 +0000

Do asteroids have precious metals we can mine? Or is one of them going to hit us and make us go extinct first?

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BONUS: The Bob Ross Effect

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Can watching someone paint make you feel better? Scientists have proof that watching Bob Ross can significantly improve your mood.

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What Did People Eat 3000 Years Ago?

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:10:00 +0000

3000 years is a long time. How do we know what was on the menu? And would we eat it today? Jorge talks to an archaeologist about ancient foods.

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Why Do Our Knuckles Crack?

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Why do our joints snap, crackle and pop? And why can't we stop doing it? Jorge investigates the evolution, psychology and physics of this annoying habit.

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Why Do People Forget Memories?

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:03:00 +0000

What happens to the things we remember when we can't remember them anymore? Jorge talks to two psychologists about the science of forgetting and the fascinating world of amnesia.

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What Is Super Memory (And How Do You Get It)?

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Some people can remember 100,000 digits of pi, or everything that's ever happened to them. How do they do it? And can anyone learn this skill? Jorge goes down memory lane to find out.

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Do Animals Have a Sense of Humor?

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:03:00 +0000

Do chihuahuas chuckle? Or jaguars joke? Jorge kids around with animal experts to find out if animals can be funny (on purpose).

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Why Is the Moon So Big?

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:01:00 +0000

NASA is sending astronauts back to the moon. But why? What deep mysteries still hide on the far side of the moon? Jorge jumps over the moon to find out.

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What Is AI Slop Doing to Us?

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:03:00 +0000

AI is everywhere these days. What happened to make it so powerful all of a sudden? And what is all this AI content doing to our brains? Jorge talks to three experts to find the answers.

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BONUS: How to Stop Procrastinating

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:03:00 +0000

Is there hope for the eternal procrastinator? Jorge gets some tips for living with procrastination from three expert psychologists.

Learn more about our experts' work:

procrastinus.com (Dr. Piers Steel)
fuschiasirois.com (Dr. Fuschia Sirois)

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Why Do We Procrastinate?

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:30:00 +0000

We finally got around to it: an episode about procrastination. Why do we do it? Is it really bad? And is there such as a thing as productive procrastination? Jorge talks to three psychologists about the science of putting things off.

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Why Do We Go Bald?

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:03:00 +0000

What's the skinny on why we lose our hair? Is it genetic or avoidable? Or do we need to comb over society's stigma about it? Jorge gets to the hairy truth.

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Do Supersenses Exist?

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:56:00 +0000

Can we hear echoes like bats, or see x-rays like Superman? Believe it or not, scientists think the answer is yes. Jorge talks to three experts involved in extending human senses.

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The Science of Imagination

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 08:03:00 +0000

What's happening in your brain when you're being imaginative? And can it affect your mental health? Jorge talks to two neuroscientists to imagine the possibilities.

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ScienceStuff Classic: What is a Quantum Computer?

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 08:03:00 +0000

What is this mysterious technology, and how is it going to affect our lives? Jorge talks to a Quantum scientist and visits their lab to see and hear these machines in action.

This episode originally aired March 17, 2025.

We will be back with a new episode next week!

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Why Does the Year Have 365 Days in It?

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 08:03:00 +0000

Happy New Year! To celebrate, we're digging into the science of the year: Why is it 365 days, is it changing, and will we always celebrate New Year's the same way? Plus, we recap our favorite episodes of the year.

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Why Is the North Pole Moving?

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:03:00 +0000

Santa better pack his bags because the North Pole is on the move. Jorge talks to planetary scientist Matt Siegler to find out what's causing this magnetic shift.

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BONUS: Can a Dog Talk to a Cat?

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:03:00 +0000

Jorge catches up with science fiction author Mary Robinette Kowal to learn what her cat and dog have to say.

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Can We Communicate with Animals?

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 08:03:00 +0000

Can you chat with your cat? Or dialogue with your dog? Jorge talks to Christina Hunger and Federico Rossano about the global movement to teach pets to talk.

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The Nobel Winning Trick Behind All Your Devices

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:03:00 +0000

It won the Nobel Prize in 2025, but what is it and what can you do with it? Jorge talks to one of the Nobel Prize winners to get the inside scoop.

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Is Love an Addiction?

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:03:00 +0000

Why are we so hooked on love? Jorge and neuroscientist Dwayne Godwin take a deep dive into the loving brain.

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Is It Safe to Edit Your DNA?

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 08:03:00 +0000

Want to upgrade yourself and be taller, fitter or smarter? You could do it by editing your genes. But is it safe, or ethical? Jorge talks with two gene experts to get the answers.

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How to Build a Real Lightsaber

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:03:00 +0000

Wrrraaohhh! Is it possible to make a REAL lightsaber that can glow, cut, and feel solid? Jorge duels with four physicists (or is it physi-Siths?) to find out.

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Do Animals Have Consciousness?

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:03:00 +0000

Is your dog self-aware? Do bees have feelings? Can octopuses dream? Jorge dives into the minds of animals with two sentience experts to figure it out.

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Can You Hibernate a Human?

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 07:03:00 +0000

Bears, squirrels and birds (oh my!) can do it, but can humans? Jorge explores how this technology could be a game changer for medicine and space travel.

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BONUS: What if we find aliens?

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In this follow-up mini-episode, Jorge talks to an anthropologist about how humans would react if we ever discover alien life.

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Where Are All the Aliens?

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Is there life out there in the cosmos? Jorge talks to scientists about whether we are truly alone in the Universe.

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How Smart is an Octopus?

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

They are clever and flexible thinkers, but what's the limit of their intelligence? Jorge wraps his arms around this mystery with three cephalopod experts.

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Can We Upload Our Brains to a Computer?

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:03:00 +0000

Would you be the same person inside a chip? Jorge gets his head in the cloud with two scientists and a philosopher to discuss this possibility.

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Why Does the Week Have 7 Days?

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

And why does the day have 24 hours? Jorge explores the science behind the time units we use in our everyday lives.

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Do Animals Appreciate Music?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:03:00 +0000

What's an animal's favorite song? And can music make them feel better? Jorge talks to three experts who play music to animals.

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Did Dinosaurs Really Have Feathers?

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:30:00 +0000

When exactly did feathers evolve? And for what purpose? Jorge digs in with two dinosaur paleontologists to find out.

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Happiness, Part 2: Does Money Make You Happy?

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What other factors affect your happiness? And does more money mean more problems? Jorge continues his quest to find a formula for happiness.

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Happiness, Part 1: What Really Makes Us Happy?

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 14:37:00 +0000

Some say the pursuit of it defines our existence. But is there science behind it? Jorge talks to some happy experts about what really makes you happy.

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Can You Stop a Hurricane?

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

They're huge, they're deadly, but are they unstoppable? Three experts take us inside a hurricane and reveal whether we could ever stop one.

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Why Does the Universe Have a Speed Limit? (feat. Sean Carroll)

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Can we go faster than light? Jorge goes into overdrive with two physicists to see if we can ever catch up to the fastest thing in the Universe.

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Do Eggs Need to Be Refrigerated?

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Eggcellent question! Jorge goes beyond the shell to find out why there's no consensus on whether to keep eggs cool or not.

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Can We Predict Earthquakes?

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Can animals, A.I. or signals in the sky tell us when the ground is going to tremble? Jorge shakes things up at an earthquake research center and experiences an earthquake in the process.

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Why Do We Have Five Fingers?

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:05:00 +0000

Is five a magic number? Why don't we have 3 fingers, or 7? Jorge gets the digits on this mystery with two evolution experts.

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What is a Space Elevator?

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Going up! Can an elevator take you all the way to space (and beyond)? Jorge talks to two scientists trying to make this happen.

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Why Do Frogs Taste Like Chicken?

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:03:00 +0000

It's an old joke that lots of meats taste like chicken. But why is that? Jorge takes a bite out of this meaty topic.

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Is There Anything Harder Than Diamonds?

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 07:03:00 +0000

What makes diamonds so hard? And could anything beat it? (The answer is yes.) Jorge gets the hard answers from physicist Jodie Bradby.

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Can We Terraform Mars?

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:03:00 +0000

Is it humanity's destiny to colonize Mars? Jorge talks to Martian experts to learn whether we can ever move to our sister planet.

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What Makes Something Beautiful?

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? Not according to science! Jorge takes on a beauty of a topic.

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Can We Regrow Body Parts?

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 10:03:00 +0000

Is the ability to regrow missing limbs hidden in our genes? Jorge talks to animal regeneration experts to find out what's been cut off.

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Do Animals Like Getting Drunk?

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Which animals like to booze it up? Jorge takes a swig of science with animal expert Katie Goldin to find out.

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What Is the Worst Place to Live in the Galaxy? (feat. Randall Munroe of XKCD)

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:14:00 +0000

Sure, there's a lot of space out there, but not all of it is prime real estate. Jorge answers questions about exoplanets for popular cartoonist Randall Munroe (XKCD).

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Why Can't Dogs Eat Chocolate?

Wed, 28 May 2025 11:22:00 +0000

Why do canines go cuckoo from cocoa? Jorge talks with veterinary toxicologists to find the real reason behind this animal health hazard.

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What's Inside a Black Hole?

Wed, 21 May 2025 07:03:00 +0000

What's hidden inside the most mysterious object in the Universe? Jorge gets sucked in with three astrophysicists to learn the truth.

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Are We Living in a Simulation? (feat. Nick Bostrom)

Wed, 14 May 2025 13:32:00 +0000

Is your reality a lie? Jorge talks to a philosopher and a quantum scientist to learn if we're real or not.

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What Is It Like to Live (and Poop) in Space? (feat. Emily Calandrelli)

Wed, 07 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

How does going to space change you? Jorge talks to several people who've been to space to find out.

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Is Food Coloring Really Bad for You?

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:03:00 +0000

Should artificial food dyes be banned? What does science say about this colorful topic? Jorge drinks the kool-aid with food and health scientists to learn the answer.

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Is Hypnotism Real?

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Look closer. You are getting sleepier and sleepier. But is it real science? Jorge interviews and gets mesmerized by two hypno-experts.

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Do Animals Understand Death?

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:03:00 +0000

What do chimpanzees, whales, and dogs understand about the concept of dying? Do possums ponder their passing? Jorge talks to two animal mind experts to find out.

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What If You Dig a Hole to the Center of the Earth?

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 07:03:00 +0000

What's the deepest hole we can dig? And what would we find there? Jorge digs deep with drilling engineers to get to the bottom of things.

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Are Near-Death Experiences Real?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:03:00 +0000

A light at the end of a tunnel, your life flashes before your eyes, an angel speaks to you. Are these signs of an afterlife, or can science explain them?

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Can You Survive Being Cryogenically Frozen?

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 07:03:00 +0000

Want to travel to a distant star? Or fast-forward to the future? Jorge chills with scientists to figure out if freezing your body (or just your brain) is the answer.

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What is a Quantum Computer?

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

What is this mysterious technology, and how is it going to affect our lives? Jorge talks to a Quantum scientist and visits their lab to see and hear these machines in action.

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Do You Have to Wait 30 Minutes After Eating Before You Can Go Swimming?

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:03:00 +0000

It's a rule that has frustrated kids everywhere. But is it a myth, or is there real science behind it? Jorge finds out if it passes the float test.

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Do Our Pets Lie to Us?

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Is your feline friend fibbing? Is your dog duplicitous? Jorge dives into the world of animal lying and finds out if they have the same tells as humans. Special guest: science fiction author Mary Robinette Kowal.

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Introducing: ScienceStuff

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:32:36 +0000

Ever wonder if your pet is lying to you, what's inside a black hole, or whether you'd survive being cryogenically frozen? With infectious curiosity, cartoonist and former roboticist Jorge Cham makes science fun and accessible as he answers your biggest questions on the ScienceStuff podcast.

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