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

Who Were the Wild West's 'Petticoat Rulers'?

July 15, 2020 • 7m

In 1920, before many women in the U.S. could even vote, a frontier town in Wyoming elected an all-women ticket into office. Learn about the Petticoat Rulers in today's episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How Do Betta Fish Work?

July 15, 2020 • 6m

Betta fish are popular aquarium pets, but there are a few common misconceptions about these beautiful critters. Learn how these 'fighting fish' can be peaceful and more in today's episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Can You Start Your Own Bank?

March 25, 2020 • 7m

The U.S. is the only industrialized nation in the world where anyone with the funds, plan, and motivation can start their own bank. Learn how the process works in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How does a chicken's egg get its shell?

July 10, 2013 • 3m

Which came first -- the chicken or the egg? Listen in as Marshall Brain gives the technical answer -- and takes a look at the science behind eggshell formation -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How do space mirrors work?

June 01, 2012 • 3m

Mirrors placed in space could deflect excessive sunlight and combat global warming trends. Find out more about space mirrors in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How Did Gregor MacGregor Swindle People into Moving to a Country that Didn't Exist?

April 13, 2020 • 6m

In the early 1800s, one swindler tricked hundreds of people into investing in a nonexistent country -- and even into moving there. Learn about Gregor MacGregor's invented kingdom of Poyais in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Could Your Next Car Say 'No' to Drunk Driving?

January 14, 2020 • 8m

The technology already exists to put Breathalyzers in cars to prevent drunk driving, and some lawmakers are working towards mandating it. Learn how it might work in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How the Nobel Prize Works

November 22, 2013

Nobel Prizes are highly prestigious, valuable awards that have been given out to visionaries and pioneers in select fields since 1901. Tune in to find out more about the Nobel Prize in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

BrainStuff Classics: What Is American Cheese Really Made Of?

July 21, 2018

Process cheese, often called American cheese, is super inexpensive, consistent, shelf-stable, and orange. Learn how this science cheese is made in this classic episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Can We Make Roads Out of Recycled Plastic?

August 06, 2018 • 7m

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 episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Does Milk Really Make Mucus Worse?

October 01, 2018

There's a millennia-old idea that milk causes mucus production, and therefore that you should avoid milk if you're sick. Learn whether there's any truth to this snotty tale in today's episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How do self-winding watches work?

December 21, 2015 • 3m

Self-winding watches keep the time with the help of a piece of metal, gravity and the natural movement of your arm. Tune in to learn more about self-winding watches in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What Is Pi?

March 14, 2020 • 6m

Today is Pi Day -- a celebration of the number pi (and pies, and mathematics in general). Learn what pi is and how this holiday came about in today's episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What Are Vampire Squid?

July 17, 2018

Despite their name and their somewhat scary appearance, 'Vampyroteuthis infernalis' squid aren't blood-suckers. Learn why they're pretty cool anyway in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Where's the best place to sit in a movie theater?

August 22, 2011

When it comes to where you should sit in a movie theater to get the best experience, it's mostly a matter of preference. Except when it comes to sound. Find out why -- and where you should sit -- in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Is the sound on vinyl records better than on CDs?

December 30, 2015 • 4m

The sound quality of vinyl records is sometimes better than that of CDs and DVDs -- and sometimes worse. Learn more about the difference between the sound quality of records, CDs and DVDs in this episode. 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

What Happens When I Have A Hangover?

August 17, 2016 • 8m

If you've ever had a few too many beers at a party, then you've probably encountered the symptoms of a hangover -- the pulsing headache, dry mouth, nausea and more. But what's actually happening to you? And what is it about alcohol that can turn a wonderful Saturday night into an agonizing Sunday morning? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Why Is Declawing Cats Controversial?

September 12, 2019 • 7m

New York state recently banned cat declawing. Learn what the process entails and why veterinary groups recommend against it in this episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers