Right Now in BrainStuff
Do Crosswalk and "Close Door" Buttons Really Do Anything?
Are the buttons we push to cross streets, close elevator doors, and nudge the office thermostat really connected to anything? Some aren’t! Learn how these placebo buttons (don’t) work. See more »
When you need someone to exam a corpse to determine a cause of death, how do they conduct the autopsy? See more »
BrainStuff: What is 'New Car Smell?'
Ben explains just what it is you're smelling when you get inside a new car. See more »
Why Do Helicopter Blades Look Weird On Video?
Helicopter blades and other fast spinning objects often produce strange effects on camera. Christian explains why. See more »
BrainStuff: What Is The Drake Equation?
Josh explains Frank Drake's famous formula for determining whether intelligent alien life exists. See more »
What Is American Cheese Really Made Of?
Processed American cheese is super cheap, consistent, shelf-stable, and orange. Christian explains how this science cheese is made. See more »
Is this adorable behavior rooted in sensory necessity or purposeful gesticulation? We explore what may be the cutest research ever. See more »
Why Do So Many Price Tags End in .99?
It’s very common to see the number 9 at the right end of a price tag. Why is this? Christian explains the psychology of prices and nines in this episode of BrainStuff. See more »
Why Do Movie Theaters Sell Popcorn?
For millions of moviegoers, the idea of visiting the local theater automatically conjures memories of popcorn. But this wasn’t always the case – so why, out of all snacks, did popcorn become the #1 snack for film? See more »
Science has proven that we can be aware of our dreams while we’re in them. But can we control our dreams? Christian breaks it to you gently. See more »
Just the term satanism is controversial. But what's actually going on with this counter-culture religion that values individualism and nonconformity? See more »
Virtually everyone has experienced an itch at one time or another – but what is an itch exactly? What causes it, and why can having one be such a maddening experience? See more »
BrainStuff: The Way We Think About Sugar Is Going To Change
The FDA recently changed their Nutrition Facts label to include added sugars. But why? See more »
They’re convenient, ubiquitous and easy to use. But how do these things work, exactly? What do people mean when they say a microwave cooks food inside out? See more »
Dogs communicate by yawning, and it's complex to figure out what they might mean. See more »
You've probably heard that wireless internet (WiFi) is dangerous. But is it true? Christian breaks it down. See more »
What's the ideal temperature for your refrigerator?
In this episode, Christian explains how bacteria spoils food and what temperature your refrigerator should be to slow their progress. See more »
Why do some noises drive me crazy?
Do you want to strangle people for chewing gum? Does the crinkle of plastic fill you with inarticulate, homicidal fury? If so, you may suffer from the little-understood condition called 'misophonia'. See more »
BrainStuff: How Does Aspirin Work?
How does aspirin target your pain? The plants that aspirin were derived from have been used as medicine for about 6000 years, we finally discovered how it works in 1971, and Lauren explains it to you now. See more »
How can a single piece of glass look like a mirror from one side but a window from the other? It's not magic, it's materials technology. See more »
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