BrainStuff

3.8 (68)
NATURAL SCIENCES
UPDATED TWICE WEEKLY

Whether the topic is popcorn or particle physics, you can count on BrainStuff to explore -- and explain -- the everyday science in the world around us.

5 HR AGO

BrainStuff Classics: Why Do We Drop a Ball on New Year's Eve?

The tradition of dropping a ball in Times Square to mark the beginning of a new year only goes back about a century. Learn about the history -- plus four weird things that other cities drop instead -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5 min
16 HR AGO

Can You Really Die of Boredom?

No, you can't literally die of boredom -- but it can lead to some high-risk behaviors. Learn more about boredom, ennui, and how to shake them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/bored-to-death.htm; https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/ennui See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 min
5 DAYS AGO

BrainStuff Classics: Why Does Cashmere Cost So Much?

Cashmere can be more expensive than other wools because producing it is such an intensive process -- for the goats that grow it and the humans who care for them. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/why-is-cashmere-so-expensive.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 min
6 DAYS AGO

Why Is There a Pooping Figurine in Some Nativity Scenes?

In Catalonia, there's a two-hundred-year-old tradition of including a figurine of a man pooping in the shadows of Nativity scenes. Learn about el caganer in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-christmas/pooping-man-catalan-nativity-scene.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 min
24 DEC

How Do Rice Cookers Work?

These small appliances help home cooks achieve excellent rice via two categories of technology: ingeniously simple physics, or incredibly complex algorithms. Learn about heat-sensitive switches and fuzzy logic in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/rice-cooker.htm/printable For more about the history of rice cookers, check out this episode of Lauren's other podcast, Savor: The Warm and Fuzzy Rice Cooker Episode See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 min
23 DEC

How Can Mudlarking Turn Trash Into Treasure?

Mudlarking means sifting through riverbank muck in hopes of finding lost or discarded historical artefacts. Learn how it works, especially in the River Thames, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/archaeology/mudlarking.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 min
22 DEC

How Do Walruses Work?

These arctic animals have complex social structures and may eat 6,000 clams in a single meal. Learn more walruses in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/walrus.htm/printable See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 min
9 DEC

What Happens When Your Immune System Turns on You?

Your adaptive immune system remembers specific germs and fights them really effectively -- but it can sometimes make mistakes and attack your own healthy cells. Learn how the adaptive immune system works (and how it can go wrong) in this episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 min

See All (2K)

Lauren Vogelbaum

Host

3.8

out of 5

68 Ratings

Fantastic

22/05/2018

Emalor1

Great in length and context and, as someone who listens to a lot of fact podcasts, I'm happy to say that it is not repetitive
Keep your skip function handy

24/06/2024

kurtUSUKGRE

Keep your skip function handy.
4 mins long with 2 mins of ads

03/09/2023

VictoriaShanghai

It’s a good show and nice, but when it’s half ads it’s not for me
Ads Ads Ads

07/02/2022

RG 777

Mostly good content but over half the episode is ads!

Whether the topic is popcorn or particle physics, you can count on BrainStuff to explore -- and explain -- the everyday science in the world around us.

Channel

iHeartPodcasts
Creator

iHeartPodcasts
Years Active

2007 - 2025
Episodes

2K
Rating

Clean
Copyright

2025 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
Show Website

BrainStuff
Provider

iHeartMedia + Entertainment, Inc