BrainStuff

In the U.S. Coast Guard, a special group called aviation survival technicians train to rescue civilians from harrowing situations by jumping out of helicopters. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/rescue-swimmers.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Antidepressants of all kinds help save and improve lives, but many SSRIs carry warnings that they may increase suicidal thoughts, especially in young patients. Learn why it's worth the risk and the conversation in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/modern-treatments/antidepressants-warnings-suicidal-thoughts.htm See omnystudio.com/listener...

Besides weird. Or, including weird? Learn some of the strangest features of sea cucumbers in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/sea-cucumber-animal-or-vegetable See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've teamed up with the podcast On the Job to bring you a preview of episode 5: Rob Litttle, Cruise Ship Comedian - Key West, FL Rob Little has a very enviable work calendar. As a cruise ship comedian with over 200 outings to his credit, Rob has seen places and ports most of us only dream of. But life aboard the ship isn't all laughter and sunshine. Find out more about his set here (http://www.ro...

Fungus gets a bad rap sometimes, but the fungi amongi do incredibly important work breaking down dead stuff. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/fungi.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The famous Hollywood sign that overlooks Los Angeles is turning 100 this year -- but its longevity wasn't always assured. Learn its history in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/hollywood-sign-birthday.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Low- and no-alcohol beers are now just as tasty as the alcoholic versions thanks to a few advances in brewing technology. Learn the basics of how brewers do it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-science/brew-non-alcoholic-beer.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

E-commerce retailers like Amazon are able to offer next-day or even same-day shipping thanks to highly organized, centralized, data-driven systems of warehousing and transportation. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/amazon-fast-delivery.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not your imagination: Some seasons and dates have more birthdays than others. Learn the most and least popular birthdates (and how they're changing) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/genealogy/most-popular-birthdays.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Science fiction tells us our future depends on giant, humanoid robots protecting us and punching monsters. But could we really build those machines? Learn how close we are in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/could-build-own-gundams.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Prohibition came to an end, Al Capone's mobsters set their sights on the Chicago milk market. Learn about the Milk Wars in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/chicago-milk-wars.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the past hundred years, paleoartists have depicted T. rex with a mouth like a crocodile's -- toothy and lipless. But new research suggests these dinos may have had lizard-like lips. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/dinosaurs/t-rex-lips.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Terms like 'alpha wolf' are misleading -- in the wild, wolf packs are ruled by the wolves' parents, not through a pecking order. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/wolf-pack-mentality.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Einsteinium is a heavy, radioactive element that only exists on Earth when humans create it. Learn how it was first discovered and what we're still learning about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/einsteinium.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bulletproof vests have certainly saved lives, but exactly how bulletproof are they? Learn what they're made of and how they can fail to protect wearers in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/how-bulletproof-are-bulletproof-vests.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've teamed up with the podcast On the Job to bring you a preview of episode 4: If You Build A Pizza Oven, They Will Come. Jake Wright is a self-described rambling pizza rover. After a failed attempt at a career in music production, Jake decided to combine the two things in life that most excite him: pizza and welding. Now, he tows his mobile pizza oven around Texas, making pizzas at music festiv...

Before the U.S. Civil War, American mercenaries called 'filibusters' attempted to claim territory in Mexico and Central America for themselves. Learn about the well-deserved fate of one William Walker in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/william-walker.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The etymology of the term 'piggyback' goes back to the 1500s, when it had nothing to do with pigs. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/piggyback-ride.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the United Kingdom in the 1800s, anatomists wanted to study real bodies, but laws and cultural stigma made bodies hard to come by. Learn how the shocking Burke & Hare murder trials changed that in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/burke-and-hare-murderers-for-moneyand-science.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've teamed up with the podcast On the Job to bring you a preview of episode 3: Four Decades and Counting. Meet Terri Weldon, who has been working for Express Employment Professionals for over 40 years. She shares her secrets to long-term professional happiness -- ones that can apply to any workplace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Utahraptor was the largest known raptor -- up to 800 pounds, about the size of a large black bear or small grizzly. Learn how salt helped preserve their fossils in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/dinosaurs/utahraptor.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artists and sculptors have adorned their work with foliate heads for over a thousand years, but the myth of the Green Man only goes back a century. Learn how this motif became an icon in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/green-man.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of our ideas about Cleopatra are based in contemporary propaganda and later pop culture, from Shakespeare to cinema. Learn the truth behind some of these myths in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/cleopatra.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've teamed up with the podcast On the Job to bring you a preview of episode 2: A Mother to the Rescue. As a thrill seeker and born caretaker, Aysia Bly found her dream job as a pediatric flight nurse — where she performs her duties while soaring above Philly in a helicopter. But the job is inherently dangerous, and as a mom to a young son, Aysia must contend with that risk every day. See omnystu...

Brightly colored fruit stands out against green leaves, but why is some red or pink, while others skew yellow or purple? And why are some fruits smellier than others? Learn what new research says about fruits' evolution in this episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.