Brainstuff

The United States produces a lot of oil, but we also import (and use) a lot. Learn why oil independence isn't on the horizon yet in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/cut-dependence-foreign-oil.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The apples you find in your chain grocery store may have been picked a year ago -- but that's OK. Learn about apple storage technology in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/grocery-store-apple-one-year-old.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When FDA employee Frances Kelsey called for caution regarding the drug thalidomide in the 1960s, she wound up saving babies and changing FDA guidelines as we know them. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/frances-kelsey-thalidomide.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Google Glass to Crystal Pepsi, the Museum of Failure celebrates the spirit of innovation behind flops and failures. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/destinations/landmarks/museums-tours/museum-failure.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Intelligence is tricky to define, but research has shown that wolves understand cause and effect where dogs don't. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/wolves-are-smarter-than-dogs.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Researchers have set out to catalog the scent compounds that make books and libraries smell so welcoming. Learn how in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/odor-wheel-smell-old-books.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've ever had to apologize for what you said when you were hungry, you may be comforted to know that hanger is real. Learn what causes is -- and how you can stop or even prevent it -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/is-hanger-real-emotion.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The bootlace worm, Lineus longissimus, is as thin as a pencil but can grow as long as a blue whale. Learn about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/bootlace-worm.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liquid smoke, a flavoring used by food manufacturers and home cooks alike, is made from real, purified wood smoke. Learn how it's made in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/liquid-smoke.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dollar stores actually have high profit margins for charging so little per item. Learn how they work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/budgeting/dollar-store.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confirming what dog owners already know, new research shows that dogs really do want to help us when we're sad or upset. Learn how the experiments worked in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/your-dog-really-wants-to-help-when-youre-upset.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a phrase: big bada-boom. Learn how hurricanes and volcanoes intensify each other in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/battle-epic-hurricane-vs-volcano.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's obvious that we all have color preferences, but recent research may have discovered why. Learn how the experiments worked in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/favorite-colors.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time zones are based on longitudinal lines that all intersect at the poles -- so what time is it at the North or South Pole? Learn how this tricky situation is handled in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/north-south-poles-time-zones.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabbits and hares have a long literary reputation for going mad in March -- which happens to be the beginning of their breeding season. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/do-rabbits-really-go-crazy-in-march.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.comSee 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.comSee 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.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.comSee 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.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.