BrainStuff

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Oct 25, 2023 • 7min

Why Do Some People Hate Sounds Like Chewing?

Discover the puzzling condition of misophonia, where specific sounds can trigger intense anger and anxiety. Researchers study the impact of these trigger sounds on individuals and explore the brain's emotional processing. Learn about the physiological responses and unique body perceptions experienced by people with misophonia.
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Oct 24, 2023 • 9min

What Is Chernobyl's Elephant's Foot Made Of?

The Chernobyl nuclear accident caused a lava-like flow of radioactive fuel and other materials that hardened into a giant mass now known as the Elephant's Foot. Learn how corium like this forms in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/chernobyl-elephants-foot.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Oct 23, 2023 • 7min

How Do Alligator Gar Work?

These toothy fish are some of the largest in North America. Learn how they've lasted 100 million years in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/fish/alligator-gar-100-million-years-old-and-still-kicking.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Oct 3, 2023 • 7min

BrainStuff Classics: Could You Legally Bury Someone in Your Backyard?

Home burials are largely a thing of the past, but they're perfectly legal in most states -- once you check a few boxes. Learn how home burials work in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/afterlife/can-you-bury-someone-your-backyard.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Oct 2, 2023 • 4min

BrainStuff Classics: Why Doesn't Airline Food Taste Good?

If you've ever noticed that airplane food is a little lackluster, the recipe isn't necessarily to blame. Learn how a plane's altitude and even engine noise can affect flavors in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/mile-bleh-club-why-airline-food-doesnt-taste-good.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Oct 1, 2023 • 9min

Why Are American School Buses Yellow?

Learn how Frank Cyr helped revamp student transportation in the 1930s. Explore the origins of the iconic yellow color of American school buses and its standardization. Discover the history, reasoning, and safety features behind school bus yellow. Discuss the use of red color for fire trucks and the importance of visibility concerns. Delve into the significance of the yellow color in ensuring safe transportation for students.
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Sep 30, 2023 • 6min

How Do Megamasers Work?

Megamasers are astronomical phenomena that may mean galaxies have collided in the distant reaches of the universe. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/megamaser-news.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Sep 29, 2023 • 5min

How Long Could You Hang Upside Down Safely?

Although hanging upside down for too long would eventually kill you, don't worry -- brief inversions (and even longer inversions) are fine. Learn why, plus how inversions can actually be good for you, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/science-questions/hang-upside-down-how-long-safe-deadly.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Sep 28, 2023 • 5min

Who Was the Humboldt Current Named After?

Alexander von Humboldt was a scientist with the means and fame to change how Europe thought about nature. Learn why he's sometimes called the first ecologist in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/alexander-von-humboldt-and-humboldt-current.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Sep 27, 2023 • 8min

How Does the Portuguese Man-of-War Work?

These stinging sea creatures aren't jellyfish -- they're actually colonies of individual creatures working as one. Learn more about men-of-war and other siphonophores in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/portuguese-man-of-war.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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