BrainStuff

Beyond the U.S. gun control debate, another question deserves examination: Why are schools so frequently the sites of mass gun violence in America? We explore the psychology and potential solutions in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-do-school-shootings-keep-happening-in-us.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the age of 67, Emma Gatewood became the first woman to hike the Appalachian Trail alone in a single season. Learn her story in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/grandma-gatewood.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turning your AC's temperature setting up a few degrees can save a lot of money, but turning the unit off isn't usually necessary. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/green-living/should-turn-ac-up.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infant formula mimicking breastmilk was only invented in the past 150 years, but babies have been hungry forever. Learn what caregivers used to do when breastmilk was unavailable in this episode of BrainStuff: https://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/baby-health/infant-health/infant-formula-history.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is a technical masterpiece, but the portrait wasn't famous until centuries after its creation. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/mona-lisa.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Magpies, though sometimes maligned, are fascinating birds that can recognize themselves in mirrors and have funerary practices. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/magpie.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People are drinking more wine than they used to. Could the ever-increasing size of wine glasses be behind this trend? Learn how today's average serving stacks up against history's in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/much-does-favorite-wine-glass-hold.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If your cat licks you, you may have wondered: Are they trying to groom you? Are they being affectionate? Do you has a flavor?? Learn about cats' licking behavior in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/why-does-cat-lick-me.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cities around the world are appointing Heat Officers to identify dangers and help protect citizens from rising temperatures. Learn how these officials work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/chief-heat-officers-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The symbols for the dollar ($), euro (€), rupee (₹), and pound (£) are everywhere, but how did they come to be? Learn the history behind these symbols in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/currency-symbols.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If rehab helps patients recover after a surgery, prehab helps patients get ready for that recovery beforehand. Learn how prehabilitation works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/surgeries-procedures/prehab-before-surgery.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. House has passed legislation that would mandate more background checks during gun sales, but these bills (H.R. 8, H.R. 1446, and the Protecting Our Kids Act) are stuck in the Senate. Learn more about how they would change the law in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/hr8-gun-background-checks-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Dogs are pretty much guaranteed to find the smelliest stuff to roll in -- but why? Learn what may be behind this gross instinct in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/dogs-love-rolling-in-stinky-stuff.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Santa Anas are winds that sweep hot air over Southern California, both clearing the air and exacerbating wildfires. Learn how they work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/santa-ana-winds.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It turns out that as a species, alligators have remained unchanged for millions of years longer than anyone knew. Learn how researchers discovered this in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/reptiles/alligator-species-8-million-years-old.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cabin pressure systems haven't changed much over the decades, but the controls for them have gotten safer and more sensitive. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/airplane-cabin-pressure.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you freckle or tan, your skin is trying to protect you from damage. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Echidnas are spiny, toothless, egg-laying mammals -- and they only get weirder from there. Learn more about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/echidna.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a shortage of baby formula strikes, health-care providers and a number of organizations can help. Learn who to contact, and what switches in formula are safe for babies, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/family/parenting/babies/baby-formula-shortage-news.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most popular modern bidet was invented in the U.S., so why hasn't this technology caught on here? Learn the history of the bidet in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/bidet.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even though Earth is the largest rocky body in our solar system, we don't have the largest mountain -- not by a long shot. Learn how Mars took the title in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/tallest-mountain-in-solar-system.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A study investigating the microbes and bugs in chimpanzee beds versus human beds showed that chimps are cleaner than we are. Learn about the study's results in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/bed-has-more-poop-than-chimps.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some words like 'disgruntled' and 'ineffable' -- informally called lonely negatives -- don't have a positive counterpart in English. Learn how a few of them came to be in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/lonely-negative.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Snakes have several fascinating reproductive tricks up their sleeves (scales?). Learn about the wild world of dual penises, delayed fertilization, egg incubation, and mating balls in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/snakes/how-do-snakes-mate.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manifest Destiny was the idea that European colonists in the early U.S. had a God-given duty to expand across the continent. Learn how it worked then and continues today in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/manifest-destiny-america.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.