BrainStuff
Right Now in BrainStuff
Bird poop: It’s the bane of cars, statues, and occasional hapless pedestrians across the world. But what is this stuff anyway? Learn about birds' amazingly efficient waste systems (and why their waste is white) in this classic episode of BrainStuff.
Soda may not dissolve teeth in 12 hours flat, but it can cause damage to your pearly whites. Learn how -- and how to avoid it without giving up your favorite drink -- in this episode of BrainStuff.
Just looking at a world map makes it clear that today's continents were once a single mass, but scientists are still researching how they came together and apart. Learn about the history of the Southern Hemisphere's continents in this episode of BrainStuff.
Researchers don't entirely understand why we humans sometimes walk around (or doing any number of other things) in our sleep, but there are a few myths that they can dispell. Learn more about sleepwalking, aka somnambulism, in this classic episode of BrainStuff.
Evergreens' needles are their leaves, so why don't they change color and drop in the fall? Learn how evergreen leaves work in this episode of BrainStuff.
You may have heard that people share about 50 percent of their DNA with bananas, and while there's a seed of truth to that, it's not quite right. Learn about our genetic similarity to fruit and other life forms in this episode of BrainStuff.
Dogs communicate by yawning, and it's complex to figure out what they might mean.
There are lots of misconceptions out there about what causes the stunning Aurora Borealis. Learn what's really up with the Northern Lights in this classic episode of BrainStuff.
Deep frying anything is a science -- but perhaps especially a whole turkey. Learn how to do it (and why it works) in this episode of BrainStuff.
The vast (vast!) majority of humans need a passport in order to travel internationally. Learn why -- and who doesn't -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff.
Spoiler alert: Yes, breeds of dogs said to be hypoallergenic can still set off your allergies -- but they may be better for you than other breeds. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff.
You may have heard about the supposed inverse relationship between confidence and knowledge -- but is it true? Learn more about the Dunning-Kruger effect in this classic episode of BrainStuff.
Heating homes and other human hangouts requires a huge carbon footprint -- but meanwhile, we're wasting heat every day (and sweating) in systems like subways. Learn how one project hopes to use that excess heat for the greater good in this episode of BrainStuff.
Bacon and eggs are a traditional breakfast -- but that tradition only goes back about a century. Learn how Sigmund Freud's nephew invented public relations and changed the way we eat breakfast in this classic episode of BrainStuff.
Cockroaches are, if nothing else, admirably persistent -- they can spring back from a 90% population loss just a couple generations. Learn how hardy they are in this episode of BrainStuff.
Wolverines may not have adamantium-reinforced skeletons, but this species of weasel boasts a few superpowers of its own. Learn more about wolverines in this episode of BrainStuff.
Something has to be done with all those fall leaves, but the best option for the environment (and your lawn) isn't raking, it's mulching. Learn why, and how to get started, in this episode of BrainStuff.
We often use the terms 'wasp' and 'hornet' interchangeably, but that's not quite right, and knowing the difference can save you a sting. Learn about these insects in today's episode of BrainStuff.
In cases of spontaneous sex reversal, an animal born male can become female, or vice versa, due to genetic or hormonal changes. Learn the story of how one hen became a rooster in this episode of BrainStuff.
Farmers in the Himalayas depend on yearly snow melts to water their crops, but climate change means they're not getting enough snowfall to replenish natural glaciers. Learn how artificial glaciers are helping in this episode of BrainStuff.
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