BrainStuff

The U.S. Federal Reserve is responsible for keeping the country's economy running smoothly. Learn why interest rate changes are one of the Fed's tools in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/fed-change-interest-rate.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Birds can migrate thousands of miles and back home again with no prior knowledge or assistance thanks to their superpowered vision. Learn about magnetoreception in this classic episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a tipping point at which even lottery skeptics buy tickets for a big jackpot -- and lottery companies bank on it. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/behavior/powerball-tipping-point-what-size-jackpot-makes-you-play.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public health organizations around the world are trying to control this year's outbreaks of monkeypox with vaccination programs. Learn about monkeypox and its vaccines in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/respiratory/monkeypox.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1960s, the U.S. Central Intellience Agency tried to turn a cat into a cyborg secret agent with implanted audio equipment. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/acoustic-kitty.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of baseball's minor leagues are already using tech called the automated ball-strike system to help human umpires call pitches more accurately. Learn about these so-called robo-umpires in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/robot-umpires-baseball-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Snails the size of your fist are invading central Florida. Learn how this invasive species works in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/giant-african-land-snails-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research shows that artists' brains don't respond to monetary motivation the way that other people's do. Learn why this might be -- and whether it means we creative types are doomed to poverty -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/perception/are-artists-hardwired-for-poverty.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Most hydrogen peroxide sold to consumers comes in opaque brown bottles. Learn why in today's classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/why-does-hydrogen-peroxide-come-in-brown-bottle.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most scientific inquiry into birdsong has studied male birds because they're sometimes chattier. Learn what studying female birds might teach us in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/know-why-female-bird-sings.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The American Constitution was a hard-fought compromise between states with large and small populations. Learn about the New Jersey Plan vs. the Virgina Plan in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/virginia-plan-vs-new-jersey-plan.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if we haven't made alien contact because they're keeping Earth like a zoo? It may be unlikely, but learn about the zoo hypothesis in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/space/aliens-ufos/zoo-hypothesis.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some clothing and bedding is advertised as 'cooling,' but what does that mean? Do they really work? Learn about how some fabrics can cool you down in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/cooling-fabrics.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lyme disease, which is caused by bacteria spread by ticks, is very treatable when caught early. Learn the symptoms and how to prevent it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/infectious/lyme-disease.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anxiety can cause sweaty palms and armpits -- but why? And how can you combat it? Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/men/sweating-odor/anxiety-cause-underarm-sweat.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Astronauts report that our little corner of space has a particular scent. Learn what might cause this in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/space-smell.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans have been using urine to test for pregnancy for thousands of years -- with the help of wheat, barley, rabbits, and frogs. Learn how reliable home tests became available in 1978 thanks to immunoassay technology in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/pregnancy/conception/rabbit-pregnancy.htm See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Dogs have eyes that are primed to see motion better than color, but they're not colorblind. Learn more about dogs' vision in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/are-dogs-colorblind.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if traffic lights could adjust for the actual flow of traffic happening at any given moment? Learn how smart, networked technology could help drivers (and pedestrians) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/civil/smart-traffic-lights-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, you can get a watermelon to burst by squeezing it with rubber bands, but sometimes this fruit explodes all on its own. Learn how microbes and genetics are responsible in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/exploding-watermelon.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Insect populations are in trouble, but creating shelters for them could help. Learn the basics of building an insect hotel in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/insect-hotel.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research shows that parts of a person's face grow cooler depending on their mood and stress level. Could this be used to help people in stressful jobs, like pilots? Learn more in this classic BrainStuff episode, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nervous-system/concentration-makes-face-grow-cooler.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a cellular level, a lot goes on from ovulation through the first stages of pregnancy. Learn about the biology of fertilization and implantation in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/pregnancy/conception/conception-process.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The volcano that sits under the surface of Yellowstone National Park could do massive damage, but it isn't likely to erupt anytime soon. Learn more about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/what-if/what-if-yellowstone-supervolcano-erupted.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Supreme Court's ruling in Roe v Wade in 1973 guaranteed national rights to some types of abortions. Learn how the case was decided and how it was overturned in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://money.howstuffworks.com/10-overturned-supreme-court-cases.htm; https://people.howstuffworks.com/famous-supreme-court-cases.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...