Best BrainStuff episodes upvoted by the community

How Does the U.S. Presidential Motorcade Work?

June 21, 2019 • 8m

The American president's motorcade includes multiple armored vehicles driving in a virtual ballet to ensure its passengers' safety. Learn what goes into creating the presidential motorcade in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Do the humps on camels hold water?

August 25, 2008

The camel's hump is a giant deposit of fat that lets the camel survive up to 2 weeks without food. Learn more about camels in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Why Do You Stop Noticing Scents After a While?

September 05, 2018

Smells seem to disappear after a while because our brains lie to us. Not maliciously -- they think they're helping. Learn about olfactory adaptation in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What are electrolytes?

April 20, 2012 • 4m

What are electrolytes, and why do athletes and sick kids need them? Marshall Brain explains how ions and electrolytes work in your body in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Why do 3D movies cause headaches?

October 12, 2015 • 5m

Although 3-dimensional movies have become increasingly popular, numerous viewers have complained of headaches while watching these films. Why? Tune in as HowStuffWorks.com founder Marshall Brain breaks down the science behind 3D films. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How Close Are We to Recycling Carbon Dioxide Emissions?

July 16, 2018 • 5m

Carbon dioxide is a waste product of gasoline- and coal-burning engines, and it's a serious pollutant. But what if we could capture that carbon and recycle it into usable fuel? Learn why researchers say we're getting close in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What Do Those Tabs On Rearview Mirrors Actually Do?

April 26, 2016

Sure, rearview mirrors are cool -- but how do they actually work? How can the same piece of glass have two different amounts of reflection? Join Christian as he explains the science behind these handy devices. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

BrainStuff Classics: How Dirty Is Soap?

November 26, 2019 • 6m

It’s good hygiene to wash your hands after touching shared bathroom surfaces. But bars of soap are also a shared surface. Learn why soap is pretty clean in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Should Amazon Be Considered a Monopoly?

December 29, 2017 • 6m

Although it doesn’t fall into our traditional definition of a monopoly, some researchers argue that Amazon’s scope calls for a new definition. Learn why in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

BrainStuff Classics: What Are Eye Boogers?

September 02, 2018 • 6m

The gunk that builds up at the inner corners of our eyes is residue of our eyeballs' protective coatings. Learn what it’s made of and why it turns to sand overnight in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How Do Bed Bugs Work?

September 07, 2016

These insects live in your bedroom, drink your blood and stain your sheets. How do you get rid of them? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What's the most efficient way to mow your yard?

June 13, 2012 • 3m

There's more than one way to mow a yard, but which is the most efficient? Tune in to this episode of BrainStuff to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

There Was a Brutal Prehistoric "Hell Ant"

October 31, 2017

Instead of a mouth, the hell ant had blades and a metal horn. Learn more about this prehistoric creature on BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How does an EPIRB distress radio work?

January 25, 2016 • 4m

An EPIRB, or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, helps rescuers find people -- mostly boaters -- in emergency situations. Tune in to find out how EPIRB radios work in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Is Chocolate Poisonous To Dogs?

August 21, 2017

Under the right conditions, chocolate can indeed be deadly for dogs. Tune in to learn more about the compound in chocolate that makes it dangerous for dogs (and how much is too much) in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What Can an Image of a Black Hole Teach Us?

April 22, 2019 • 5m

Researchers have rendered the first-ever image of a black hole. Learn how they did it and how it helps prove Einstein right in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Did Lyme Disease Start as a Bioweapon?

September 23, 2019 • 9m

There’s been a call for investigation into the history of Lyme disease, and whether it might’ve been an accidentally released bioweapon. Learn both sides of the debate in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How does a CB radio antenna work?

January 03, 2014

A citizens band (CB) radio is often used by truck drivers to communicate while on the road, but how does it work? Marshall Brain gives a detailed explanation of how a CB radio's antenna works in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What's the total amount of gold in the world?

July 06, 2015

Have you ever wondered how much gold the world has produced over time? How about platinum? Get the grand totals in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How do astronauts function in their spacesuits?

August 12, 2015

Astronauts wear special suits while they're working in space, and these spacewalks can last for hours. In this episode, Marshall Brain explains how astronauts take care of their basic needs while wearing spacesuits. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers