BrainStuff

How Did a Wisconsin Woman Lead a German Resistance to Nazis?

Wed, 20 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Mildred Harnack was an American literature professor living in Berlin when the Third Reich took control. Learn how she and her husband led a resistance ring that enraged Hitler in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/mildred-harnack.htm Find the book 'All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days' here: https://www.rebeccadonner.com/

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Are Lobsters Functionally Immortal?

Tue, 19 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

It's true that lobsters don't age, but that doesn't quite make them immortal, and it's far from the only fabulously weird thing about them. Learn about lobsters -- including why they're biologically immortal, and how that might help human health in the future -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/400-pound-lobster.htm; https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/10-weird-facts-lobsters.htm

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Is It 'Jerry-Rigged' or 'Jury-Rigged'?

Mon, 18 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Both of these terms are actually valid, though they have slightly different meanings, and only one of them is based in sailors' slang. Learn the history of 'jury-rigged' and 'jerry-rigged' -- and how to use them correctly -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/jury-rigged-vs-jerry-rigged.htm

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How Did Beer Help Sell the Myth of Custer's Last Stand?

Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The idea of General George Custer's deadly military blunder being a heroic last stand was constructed over decades to encourage U.S. colonization of the West. Learn how Anheuser-Busch helped in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/custers-last-stand.htm

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How Does Bioluminescence Work?

Mon, 11 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

When organisms like fireflies, fungi, and fish glow with cold light, there's chemistry at work. Learn what we know (and don't know!) about bioluminescence -- including how humans are harnessing it -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/bioluminescence.htm/printable

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How Is Maillardet's Automaton Still Wowing Us After 200 Years?

Fri, 08 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Around the year 1800, Swiss clockmaker Henri Maillardet created a mechanical doll that moves like a person as it produces drawings and poems with a pen on paper -- it's programmed for seven in total, without having any electrical parts. Learn how it and other automata work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/maillardets-automaton.htm

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How Do Tiny Capers Pack Such a Big Flavor Punch?

Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Capers are the flower buds of a spiny shrub, and though they have a lot of flavor on their own, they're often amped up by being pickled or packed in salt. Learn more about capers and how to cook with them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/capers.htm

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What Do A.M., P.M., and SOS Stand For?

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:00 +0000

OK, this is a trick question -- 'SOS' doesn't stand for anything at all. Learn the history of these three terms, including what astronomy and telegraphy have to do with it, in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/am-pm.htm; https://people.howstuffworks.com/what-does-sos-mean.htm

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How Do Fainting Goats Work?

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Fainting goats don't really faint -- their muscles just lock up for a few extra seconds when they startle or get excited. Learn how myotonia works and why it can actually be a useful trait in goats in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/fainting-goat.htm

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Does Smog Make Sunsets More Beautiful?

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Although a little air pollution can bring out brilliant colors in sunsets, most of it just causes a washed-out haze. Learn how both sunsets and smog work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/smog-sunset.htm

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Why Does Albania Have Hundreds of Thousands of Bunkers?

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

When Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha started building concrete bunkers during the Cold War, it was part paranoia and part propaganda. Learn more about these mysterious bunkers and how they're being repurposed today in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/european-history/albania-bunkers.htm

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What Pranks Have Astronauts Pulled?

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Since the early days of space exploration, some of NASA's greatest have pulled some great pranks. Learn about our favorites, from a smuggled sandwich to a space gorilla, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/ridiculous-history-5-nasa-greatest-pranks.htm

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How Can Your Body Learn to Tolerate Cold?

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

When you shiver, your fingers and toes go numb, or you get goosebumps in the cold, that's actually your body trying to keep you warm. Learn how it works -- and how you habituate to chilly temperatures over time -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nervous-system/body-learn-frigid-temperatures.htm

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How Did the War of 1812 Settle the American Revolution?

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The War of 1812 between the U.S. and the British Empire ended in a stalemate, but it established the U.S. as an independent nation and economic power -- and allowed Americans to colonize the West. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/war-1812.htm

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How Do Geoducks Work?

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Geoducks are large clams that can live for over a century, are eaten as delicacies, and look incredibly NSFW. Learn more about these amazing mollusks in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/geoducks.htm

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How Did One Woman Make Vincent van Gogh Famous?

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Van Gogh didn't find fame or financial success during his life. But after he died, his widowed sister-in-law, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, worked for decades to bring his life and work to the spotlight. Learn more about her in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/johanna-van-gogh-bonger.htm

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How Does Building Muscle Work?

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Building muscle isn't just about getting ripped -- it's a way all of us can be healthier. Learn about the facts and fictions behind building muscle (aka mucle hypertrophy) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/exercise/hypertrophy.htm

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Deinonychus: The Dinosaur That Sparked a Renaissance

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The discovery of Deinonychus, an agile theropod that may have hunted in packs, changed the way we think about dinosaurs -- and inspired 'Jurassic Park' to boot. Learn about Deinonychus and the real (smaller) Velociraptor in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/dinosaurs/deinonychus.htm

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How Do Scales Measure Weight?

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Scales range from simple machines that weigh your produce to precision instruments that measure anything from molecules to massive cargo -- but they all work on related principles. Learn how different types of scales work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/fitness/digital-scale.htm

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How Did the Penn Center Become a Civil Rights Sanctuary?

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

In South Carolina, the first school for formerly enslaved people during the Civil War shifted to become a center for social activism during the Civil Rights movement, and stands today as a landmark of African American culture and history. Learn more about the Penn Center in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-civil-war/penn-center-strategic-secret-pivotal-to-civil-rights-movement.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Is Cramming the Worst Way to Study?

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Cramming for a test or other deadline may give you decent short-term results, but research shows it sacrifices long-term comprehension and memory. Learn why study methods like spacing and interleaving are better in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-cramming-is-worst-way-to-study.htm

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How Can We Separate Ninja Fact from Ninja Fiction?

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Over a few hundred years, real stories about secretive agents developed into the legend of the ninja. Learn how this myth captured the world's imagination -- and about the work being done at the world's first International Ninja Research Center -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/first-ninja-research-center-out-to-solve-myth-behind-legend.htm

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How Did 'Bourgeois' Become a Bad Word?

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The French word 'bourgeois' originally just meant a middle-class town dweller, but it's taken on a lot of different (and often derogatory) connotations over the centuries, including in the English slang term 'bougie'. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/bourgeoisie.htm

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How Did the Jane Collective Work?

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

When abortion was illegal throughout the U.S., it was still perfomed -- just dangerously or expensively. Learn about the Jane Collective -- an underground network that helped people access safe, affordable, illegal abortions -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/jane-collective.htm

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How Do Ducks Float?

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:56:53 +0000

Ducks can hold extra air in their feathers and bodies, making it easy for them to float -- and to squeeze out the air and dive when they want to. Learn more about ducks and bouyancy in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/duck-float.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Was the Emu War?

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Following World War II, Austrialia became embroiled in another war -- with a population of emu. Learn how the Emu War unfolded in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/ridiculous-history-emu-war.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Do Truly Unselfish Acts Really Exist?

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Neurologists and philosophers alike may argue that altruism doesn't exist because no act is ever completely unselfish. Learn why -- and why humans may have evolved this way -- in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/evolution/unselfish-act.htm

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How Is Forest Lawn Memorial Park the 'Disneyland of Cemeteries'?

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Just outside Los Angeles, Forest Lawn Memorial Park is the resting place of many celebrities -- and also home to art, architecture, and celebrations of life. Learn about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/funerals/forest-lawn-memorial-park.htm

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What Colors Can Blood Be Other Than Red?

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Not all animals have red blood -- it can also come in green, blue, clear, and even dichroic varieties. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/5-animals-whose-blood-isnt-red.htm

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What Caused the Laughter Epidemic of 1962?

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

At a girls' boarding school in what's now Tanzania, a fit of giggles expanded into a months-long epidemic of stressed-out laughter affecting hundreds of people. Learn what we know (and still don't know) about this mass psychogenic illness in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/behavior/1962-tanganyika-laughter-epidemic.htm

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Welcome to Beyond the Script from CVS Pharmacy

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Ever freeze when the pharmacist asks, “Any questions?” Beyond the Script is here to help.

Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast answers the health questions you meant to ask—and the ones you didn’t know you should.

Each episode features CVS pharmacists sharing trusted advice, busting myths, and unpacking the trends shaping your health. No white coats. No lectures. Just real talk, real answers, and a few unexpected laughs.

Follow Beyond the Script now—coming soon from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia’s Ruby Studio.

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What's the History of Remote Controls?

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Today, we use remote controls for everything from televisions to car doors to Mars rovers. Learn about the history and technologies behind them (including radio-frequency, ultrasonic, and infrared remotes) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/repurposed-inventions/history-of-remote-control.htm; https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/remote-control.htm

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How Did One Portuguese Diplomat Save Thousands of Holocaust Refugees?

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:39:54 +0000

During WWII, a diplomat by the name of Aristides de Sousa Mendes disobeyed his government in order to provide safe passage to thousands of people fleeing fascist violence in Europe. Learn how his descendents are working together with descendents of those he saved to tell his story in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/aristides-de-sousa-mendes.htm

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How Do Search-And-Rescue Dogs Work?

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

When every minute counts, search-and-rescue dogs can help locate disaster victims far faster than humans alone. Learn about how they're trained in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/sar-dog.htm/printable

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Do We Drop a Ball on New Year's Eve?

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The tradition of dropping a ball in Times Square to mark the beginning of a new year only goes back about a century. Learn about the history -- plus four weird things that other cities drop instead -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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Can You Really Die of Boredom?

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 22:55:12 +0000

No, you can't literally die of boredom -- but it can lead to some high-risk behaviors. Learn more about boredom, ennui, and how to shake them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/bored-to-death.htm; https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/ennui

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Does Cashmere Cost So Much?

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Cashmere can be more expensive than other wools because producing it is such an intensive process -- for the goats that grow it and the humans who care for them. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/why-is-cashmere-so-expensive.htm

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Why Is There a Pooping Figurine in Some Nativity Scenes?

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In Catalonia, there's a two-hundred-year-old tradition of including a figurine of a man pooping in the shadows of Nativity scenes. Learn about el caganer in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-christmas/pooping-man-catalan-nativity-scene.htm

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How Do Rice Cookers Work?

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

These small appliances help home cooks achieve excellent rice via two categories of technology: ingeniously simple physics, or incredibly complex algorithms. Learn about heat-sensitive switches and fuzzy logic in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/rice-cooker.htm/printable For more about the history of rice cookers, check out this episode of Lauren's other podcast, Savor: The Warm and Fuzzy Rice Cooker Episode

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How Can Mudlarking Turn Trash Into Treasure?

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Mudlarking means sifting through riverbank muck in hopes of finding lost or discarded historical artefacts. Learn how it works, especially in the River Thames, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/archaeology/mudlarking.htm

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How Do Walruses Work?

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

These arctic animals have complex social structures and may eat 6,000 clams in a single meal. Learn more walruses in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/walrus.htm/printable

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What Happens When Your Immune System Turns on You?

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Your adaptive immune system remembers specific germs and fights them really effectively -- but it can sometimes make mistakes and attack your own healthy cells. Learn how the adaptive immune system works (and how it can go wrong) in this episode of BrainStuff.

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How Can Slime Mold Think Without a Brain?

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Slime molds are collectives of single-celled organisms that don't have neurons, much less brains, but they can move, solve mazes, and remember where food is located. Learn what we know (and don't know!) about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/biology-fields/slime-mold-facts.htm

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What's the Difference Between Cougars, Pumas, and Mountain Lions?

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Although there can be small differences, all of these are local names for the same species of cat, Puma concolor. Learn about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/cougar-vs-mountain-lion.htm

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Who Named the Americas?

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 23:21:09 +0000

In the early 1500s, a sailor by the name of Amerigo Vespucci published lurid pamphlets about his travels to a distant continent. Learn how a pair of mapmakers regretted naming that continent after him in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/amerigo-vespucci.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Would Turkey Be So Popular Without Thanksgiving?

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Americans eat a LOT of turkey around the winter holidays, but why? Learn about turkey's festive history and when we eat the most of it in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/turkey-popularity.htm

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Could a Solar Flare Wipe Out Earth's Electronics?

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Powerful events on the surface of the sun, like solar flares and coronal mass ejections, produce radiation and magnetic waves that could indeed affect electrical and communications systems here on Earth -- though they'd have to be massive. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/solar-flare-electronics.htm

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How Can Dolphins Detect Sea Mines?

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 20:40:26 +0000

The U.S. Navy has been training bottlenose dolphins for operations like detecting undersea mines and guarding vessels since the 1960s. Learn about the Marine Mammal Program in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/dolphin-disarm-sea-mine.htm

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How Does the Skin Barrier Work?

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Our skin is our first line of defense as we move through the world, providing both a physical barrier and an immune barrier against microbes and other dangers that could make us sick. Learn how the skin barrier works in this episode of BrainStuff.

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What's the History of Skid Row?

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In downtown Los Angeles, the 50-block neighborhood called Skid Row is home to thousands of low-income people who live in tents, run-down hotels, and other temporary shelters on a permanent basis. Learn how Skid Row came about (and has persisted) in such a wealthy place in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/skid-row.htm

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How Do You Make Hoshigaki?

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Hoshigaki are a type of dried fruit made by massaging a persimmon every day for weeks. Learn more about this traditional Japanese treat in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tools-and-techniques/hoshigaki.htm

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How Does Psoriasis Work?

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Psoriasis is a condition where an overactive immune system causes discomfort and discoloration of the skin. Learn what we know (and don't know!) about how psoriasis works in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Could 'Y'all' Fill a Gap in Modern English?

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Unlike other languages, modern English doesn't have a second-person plural pronoun. Learn how 'y'all' is stepping up in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/yall.htm

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Introducing: Health Stuff

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Hi, BrainStuff listeners! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek at iHeartPodcasts' latest release, Health Stuff!

Health Stuff: On Health Stuff, hosts Dr. Priyanka Wali and comedian Hari Kondabolu tackle all the health questions that keep you up at night with hilarity and humanity. Together, they demystify the flashy trends, and keep you informed on the latest research. You can rely on Health Stuff to bring you real, uninhibited, and thoughtful health talk of the highest caliber, and a healthy dose of humor.

Listen to Health Stuff on the iHeartRadio App or wherever you get your podcasts!

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BrainStuff Classics: How Do Paleoartists Create Dinosaur Drawings?

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Short answer: Very carefully. Learn about the history and modern practices of paleoart in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Is the Winchester House Built So Strangely?

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

We can't prove whether the Winchester Mystery House is really haunted, but it was definitely built for ghosts. Learn the story of how its strange construction was one woman's unending quest in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/afterlife/winchester-mystery-house.htm

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Is the 'Number of the Beast' an Ancient Riddle?

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

The number 666 has been adopted by modern horror media as a demonic symbol, but what (or whom) does this number really refer to? Learn about the Book of Revelation and ancient wordplay via numbers in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/666.htm

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Could Piranhas Really Eat a Cow in Under a Minute?

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Piranhas are very efficient eaters, but their frothing feeding frenzy seen in horror movies is mostly based on a myth started by Theodore Roosevelt. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/piranha-eat-cows.htm

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Göbekli Tepe: How Does Humanity's Most Ancient Monument Work?

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In Turkey, a set of prehistoric columns rivals Stonehenge -- but they're 6,000 years older. Learn what we know (and don't know) about the hunter-gatherers who built Göbekli Tepe in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/european-history/gobekli-tepe.htm

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Why Are There Sriracha Shortages?

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000

This blockbuster style of hot sauce started with the Huy Fong brand, but that original 'rooster sauce' is often out of stock. Learn how a combo of weather and legal drama are at the root in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/sriracha.htm

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How Do Levees Protect Us?

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 18:42:50 +0000

Levee systems make it possible for us to live alongside bodies of water with less danger of flooding. Learn how engineers design them -- and why levees sometimes fail -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/levee.htm

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What's the Difference Between Socialism and Communism?

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Socialism and communism are often mentioned in the same breath, and they do share a common history, but socialists aren't necessarily communists -- and vice versa. Learn more about both concepts and how they've been put into practice in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/socialism-vs-communism.htm

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How Do Vaccines Prevent Diseases?

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Our bodies can often prevent us from catching the same illness twice, and vaccines use that bodily system to prevent us from getting sick in the first place. Learn how the immune response works, what goes into vaccines, and why vaccines are safe for kids in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/preventive-care/vaccine.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: How Did Sealab Work?

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In the 1960s, advances in technology allowed brave aquanauts to explore deeper into the ocean than ever before, but the project was shut down. Learn how Sealab worked -- and how that technology is still used today -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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How Do Slow Lorises Work?

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

The slow loris is the world's only venomous primate, but it looks like a cuddly plush toy. Learn why you shouldn't go in for a snuggle in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/slow-loris.htm

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How Do Venus Flytraps Work?

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Venus flytraps can photosynthesize like most other plants, but they supplement their diet by catching insects and arachnids. Learn what we know (and don't know!) about how they accomplish this feat in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/venus-flytrap.htm

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How Did Jerry Lawson Change the Course of Video Gaming?

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In the 1970s, Jerry Lawson was instrumental in creating the first cartridge-based video game console and the first digital joystick -- and he did it as one of the only Black engineers in Silicon Valley at that time. Learn about Lawson and the Fairchild Channel F in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/big-thinkers/jerry-lawson.htm

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Why Is Glass Transparent?

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Glass windows are as solid as the materials that surround them, yet they let light through. Learn the physics of why glass can be so transparent -- and why it took humans thousands of years to create totally clear glass -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/question404.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Should We Retest Licensed Drivers Periodically?

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Although some driving skills can deteriorate with age, experienced drivers tend to be the safest drivers. To an extent. Learn when and how experts think drivers should be retested in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/auto-safety-testing/should-licensed-drivers-be-tested-periodically.htm

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How Did President Jimmy Carter Work?

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

As a U.S. President, Jimmy Carter championed education and renewable energy as keystones of a healthy nation. Outside of office, he helped other nations grow democracy, built afforadable housing with his own hands, nearly eradicated guinea worm disease -- and still found time to teach Sunday school. Learn about Jimmy and Roselynn Carter in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/jimmy-carter.htm

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Why Are Truffles So Expensive?

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Truffles are fungi that grow underground, are almost exclusively foraged, and taste best extremely fresh. Learn about truffle biology, truffle flavoring, and truffle crime in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/truffles.htm

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How Do Alligator Snapping Turtles Work?

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:24:52 +0000

This positively prehistoric-looking freshwater turtle is the largest in North America -- and it catches fish by wiggling a worm-like lure. Learn more about alligator snappers in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/reptiles/alligator-snapping-turtle.htm

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Did Victorians Really Have a Language of Flowers?

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In floriography, flowers and other plants are associated with meanings or sentiments (like physical emoji) -- but could you really send a message with a bouquet? Learn about the fad of floriography in Victorian England in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/cultural-traditions/floriography.htm

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How Did the Cowboy Gallop into American History?

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Cowboy culture didn't start in the Wild West. Learn about the Spanish, Indigenous, and Black history of cowboys in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/cowboys.htm

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How Does Skin Tan and Burn?

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

When our skin deepens in color after sun exposure, it's trying to protect us from damage. Learn how it works -- plus why you should help it out with sunscreen, and why some people burn instead -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/sun-care/sunscreen.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Are Opossums Awesome?

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

They eat trash and they look a little freaky, but the North American opossum is a smart, clean, disease-fighting, and all-around fascinating creature. Learn why in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/opossums-so-darn-ugly-theyre-adorable.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Happens to Donated Blood?

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

After you donate blood, it goes through a complex system of testing, processing, and storage before it can be delivered to patients who need it. Learn how the system works in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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6 Historical Words That Don't Mean What You Think

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Originally, Hedonists believed in moderation and Luddites were just looking to protect their job security. Learn about these and other words that've changed their meaning in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/10-historical-words-that-dont-mean-what-you-think.htm

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How Do HeLa Cells Work?

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 21:50:00 +0000

Most of the human cells grown in labs that are used for scientific research come from samples taken from one woman in the 1950s. Learn about the amazing yet nonconsenting contribution of Henrietta Lacks in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/hela-cell.htm

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Why Is North Sentinel Island Totally Off-Limits?

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

This small island in the Bay of Bengal is home to one of the last uncontacted peoples on the planet -- and they seem to want to keep it that way. Learn how North Sentinel Island has remained independent in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/world-history/north-sentinel-island.htm

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How Have Obituaries Changed?

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Public death notices about common people are a fairly recent development, and they've changed a lot since their inception. Learn how obituaries went from dry statements to tributes to truth in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/funerals/obituary-history.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: What Is the Mandela Effect?

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

When many people share a false memory, that's the Mandela Effect in action -- but how does it happen? Learn how our individual brains misremember stuff and how false memories can spread in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: What's the History (and Future) of Toilets?

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

The 'modern' toilet was invented in the 1700s. So what was it like in the past, and how could we improve on it in the future? Learn more about waste technologies in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/toilets-past-future-flush.htm

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What Does Habeas Corpus Mean?

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Habeas corpus is a centuries-old legal concept that basically means that the government has to have a valid legal reason if it's going to detain you. Learn why habeas corpus is so important -- and when it's been suspended in the U.S. -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/habeas-corpus-important.htm

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Who Named the Planet Earth?

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In most European languages, the planets are all named after Roman gods -- except for the planet you're hanging out on right now. Learn how Earth and the other planets got their names in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/who-named-planet-earth.htm

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Does the Bunyip Really Roam Austraila's Wetlands?

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A cryptid with a fearsome bellow, the bunyip is said to stalk the unwary who swim or walk alone at night in parts of Austraila and New Zealand. Learn about the potential real-life inspirations for the bunyip in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/australian-bunyip.htm

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How Does Foreign Accent Syndrome Work?

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Patients with Foreign Accent Syndrome seem to develop a whole new accent overnight. Learn how it can happen in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/neurological-conditions/foreign-accent-syndrome.htm

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How Did Tetris Go from Soviet Passtime to Smashing Success?

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

During the Cold War, a programmer in the USSR created Tetris as a fun break for his coworkers. Learn how it became one of the best-selling video games of all time in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/tetris.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Is Our Galaxy Warped?

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Our galaxy isn't a flat disk -- it's warped like melted vinyl record. Learn how researchers discovered this and why they think it happened in this classic episode of BrainStuff.

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BrainStuff Classics: How Long Can Animals Hold Their Breath?

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Humans tend to max out at a couple minutes of breath holding, but some air-breathing reptiles and even mammals have evolved to spend extreme lengths of time underwater. Learn how long (and how they manage it) in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/what-animal-can-hold-its-breath-longest.htm

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How Did the Dawes Act Steal 90 Million Acres of Land from Native Americans?

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:57:29 +0000

In the 1880s, an unlikely collaboration between land-hungry capitalists and social progressives ended in the sale of over 60 percent of Native American lands to non-Native people and corporations. Learn how it happened in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/dawes-act.htm

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How Do You Make Hummingbird Food Safely?

Thu, 22 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A hummingbird feeder can help out your local birds (and allow you some prime birdwatching), but it's important to keep one safely and responsibly. Learn how to make hummingbird food with sugar and water, and keep a feeder clean, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/hummingbird-food-recipe.htm

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How Do Ghana's Fabulous 'Fantasy' Coffins Work?

Wed, 21 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In parts of Ghana and Togo, it's common to send the deceased off in style with coffins carved and brightly painted to resemble anything from chili peppers to taxi cabs to brand-name shoes. Learn about abebu adekai, also known as fantasy coffins, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/funerals/ghana-fantasy-coffins.htm

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How Did Frances Perkins Create America's Social Safety Net?

Tue, 20 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

FDR's Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, pushed to create Social Security and expand workers' rights -- and she was the first woman to serve in a U.S. president's cabinet. Learn about her life and work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/frances-perkins.htm

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How Did POGs Become a '90s Phenomenon?

Mon, 19 May 2025 17:46:36 +0000

For a brief period in the 1990s, a simple game played with flashy paperboard discs ruled American playgrounds. Learn the history behind POGs in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/backyard-fun-games/pogs.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Can the Fear of Public Speaking Be Conquered?

Sun, 11 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

As many as 7 in every 10 Americans have a fear of public speaking. Learn how this type of social anxiety develops -- and what you can do to fight it -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/anxiety/conquering-fear-public-speaking.htm

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Are Sloths' Toilet Habits So Dangerous?

Sat, 10 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Sloths only defecate once a week or so, and more sloths die during the process than at any other time. Learn why in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/sloths-only-poop-once-week.htm

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How Did 'Uncle Tom' Go from Hero to Traitor?

Fri, 09 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

In the 1850s, the abolitionist novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' was America's first bestseller, and its enslaved character Uncle Tom was a heroic martyr. Learn how 'Uncle Tom' later became a biting insult in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/literature/uncle-toms-cabin.htm

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Could Orbital Chaos Make the Planets Collide?

Thu, 08 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Our solar system runs pretty smoothly, but even tiny changes to how the planets, moons, and asteroids move could potentially cause Earth to collide with Mars or Venus in the distant future. Learn more about how chaos theory applies to planetary orbits in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/earth-venus-mars-collide.htm

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How Did Woolly Mammoths Work?

Tue, 06 May 2025 09:00:00 +0000

These cold-adapted cousins of modern elephants coexisted with humans for thousands of years. Learn what we know (and don't know) about them -- and why we shouldn't bring them back -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/extinct-animals/woolly-mammoth.htm

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