BrainStuff

In ancient Greece and Rome, cursing foes via written tablets was sometimes wildly popular. Learn how curse tablets worked in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/cultural-traditions/curse-tablets.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To punish foreign governments without using weaponry, the U.S. often turns to sanctions. Learn more, plus a bit about sanctions against Russia, is this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/sanctions.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phytoplankton are responsible for a lot of the oxygen we breathe, and their wellbeing is made possible by... deserts. Yes. Learn how the Sahara Desert and other dusty debris feeds our oceans in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/saharan-dust-good-bad-and-gritty.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc...

Spoiler alert: Totally. Bees and other insects can learn, and thus be trained, using scents. Learn how they could sniff out everything from bombs to cancer in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/bees-can-be-trained.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

Unfortunately, the answer is that no one is entirely sure -- myths about pirates outnumber confirmed details. Learn what we do know about Anne Bonny and Mary Read in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/anne-bonny.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

The outer layers of the sun's atmosphere are hotter than its surface, and researchers think it might have to do with magnetohydrodynamics. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/why-sun-atmosphere-hotter-than-surface.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

After the American Civil War, Southern governments created laws to keep freed Black people working without pay or legal recourse. Learn how the Black Codes shaped history in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-civil-war/black-codes.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

This type of brown bear lives only on an Alaskan archipelago and has evolved to be one of the biggest bears in the world. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/kodiak-bear.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our poop is filled with useful information about us, including viruses like the one that causes COVID-19. Learn how researchers are using wastewater to warn communities about potential outbreaks in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/tracking-coronavirus-wastewater.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartp...

Figuring out what foods were on ancient menus can be tricky, but a mummy called Ötzi the Iceman was preserved with his last meal still intact. Learn what scientists found out about his eating habits in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/biology-fields/otzi-iceman-ate-high-fat-last-meal.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://ww...

The gender roles of traditional stage magicians and 'lovely assistants' can seem outdated, but behind the scenes, the work has always been pretty equal. Learn how being a magician's assistant works in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/circus-arts/is-lovely-assistant-real-magician.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://w...

A particularly bright light in the sky, affectionately nicknamed a 'cosmic cow', seems to be a baby black hole or neutron star. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/cosmic-cow-news.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Photographer Ernest Withers took iconic photos that helped the Civil Rights movement -- and also informed on its inner workings to the FBI. Learn more about this mystery in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/ernest-withers-civil-rights-documentary-or-informant.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastne...

OK, water is scentless, but lots of non-human animals track down sources of it with their noses. Learn why humans aren't so good at that in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/evolution/humans-smell-fresh-water-evolution.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Flamingos work hard to keep their feathers brightly colored, inside and out. Learn how in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/flamingos-pink-plumage-news.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We think of DNA being a mostly internal thing, but researchers have collected a surprising amount of animal DNA from thin air. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/edna-suck-thin-air-news.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some gesticulations come naturally -- scratching your head when you're thinking is so common that it's basically a cliche. But why? Learn what researchers have to say in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-do-scratch-heads-when-were-thinking.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/li...

Plastics clog our ecosystems and our roads need maintenance -- could fixing one problem help solve the other? Learn how researchers are recycling plastics into useful materials in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/recycled-plastic-waste-creates-roads.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudi...

The 2022 Winter Olympics are the first to use primarily artificial snow in outdoor games like skiing and snowboarding. Learn how athletes compensate for the difference in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/snow-sports/difference-between-fake-snow-real.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com...

The set of emotions we call 'love' is both a psychological phenomenon and a societal construct. Learn more about how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/relationships/love/why-do-we-fall-in-love.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bass Reeves was one of the first Black deputy marshals in the Old West, and one of the most successful. Learn more about him in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/bass-reeves.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three of the most popular to-go breakfast foods in the U.S. don't necessarily serve as the best nutritional start to your day. Learn which may keep you going the longest in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/bagel-muffin-doughnut.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio...

Humans lose muscle when we don't use it, but squirrels can gain muscle during winter hibernation -- thanks to their gut bacteria. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/squirrels-get-jacked-during-hibernation-news.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Birds and other animals can learn to "talk" to one another, and even work together to spread warnings about predators nearby. Learn how it works in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/can-bird-species-talk-with-each-other.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Toothpaste actually predates the toothbrush in dental hygiene's history. Learn the long history behind this everyday item in today's classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/products/history-toothpaste.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.