Be Smart.

Joe Hanson

We give you deep answers to simple questions about science and the rest of the universe. And also dad jokes. Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, PhD. He's a molecular biologist and an award-winning science communicator and journalist

  1. A Slice of Pizza Knowledge!

    55m ago

    A Slice of Pizza Knowledge!

    How does math keep a folded slice from drooping? And what does pizza have to do with the speed of light? Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate How a 19th Century Math Genius Taught Us the Best Way to Hold a Pizza Slice: http://www.wired.com/2014/09/curvature-and-strength-empzeal/ Planet Money pizza price comparison: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/02/26/282132576/74-476-reasons-you-should-always-get-the-bigger-pizza Measure the speed of light with your microwave: http://io9.com/5526055/use-your-microwave-to-measure-the-speed-of-light Produced for PBS Digital Studios Joe Hanson - Host, writer, editing, graphics Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen Inc Kate Eads - Associate Producer John Knudsen - Gaffer, Camera Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Stock images via Shutterstock ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    5 min
  2. Plants Are Smarter Than You'd Expect

    55m ago

    Plants Are Smarter Than You'd Expect

    Plants can do some amazing things. But how do they respond to their environment with no brain? ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Learn more/references: “What a Plant Knows” by Daniel Chamovitz http://amzn.to/2bfvdOg “The Secret Life of Plants” by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird http://amzn.to/2bczCTf (this book is full of bad science mumbo jumbo, but it’s where the Cleve Backster story comes from) Galil, J. "An ancient technique for ripening sycomore fruit in east-mediterranean countries." Economic Botany 22.2 (1968): 178-190. Kost, C., & Heil, M. (2008). The Defensive Role of Volatile Emission and Extrafloral Nectar Secretion for Lima Bean in Nature. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 34(1), 2–13. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-007-9404-0 Gerbode, Sharon J., et al. "How the cucumber tendril coils and overwinds."Science 337.6098 (2012): 1087-1091. Darwin’s writings on vines and climbing plants: http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=F836&viewtype=text&pageseq=1 Darwin’s writings on plant movement: http://darwin-online.org.uk/EditorialIntroductions/Freeman_ThePowerofMovementinPlants.html ---------------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below! Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe Snapchat: YoDrJoe Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Stock images from SciencePhoto http://www.sciencephoto.com/ and Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    6 min
  3. The Science Behind Kissing

    1h ago

    The Science Behind Kissing

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Pucker up. I'm gonna lay some science on you! When you really think about it, kissing is an odd human behavior. You know, all the rubbing of our faces all over each other. So there must be a good reason why we do it, right? From motherly comforts to testing the genetic compatibility of your "mate", the science of kissing is pretty awesome. Learn more about "The Science of Kissing" by Sheril Kirshenbaum at http://amzn.to/Nuy0TE Sheril's book has an extensive bibliography if you'd like to look more closely at any of these studies, but here's a couple that I mentioned: Study of facial features and attractiveness ("men prefer fuller, redder lips"): http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/68/2/261/ Claus Wedekind's famous "t-shirt" study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7630893 "Why do mothers cradle their babies on the left?" by Sieratzki and Woll, 1996 http://www.researchgate.net/publication/14543476_Why_do_mothers_cradle_babies_on_their_left/file/60b7d51558c9d65700.pdf Want to know more about the famous Austin mural where we shot this? http://www.austin360.com/news/entertainment/share-your-i-love-you-so-much-photos/nTzPW/ Did you catch the cameo from Julia Wilde? http://www.youtube.com/user/wildescience Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Andrew Matthews - Editor and motion graphics John Knudsen - Gaffer Isaac Hammons - Sound Produced for PBS Digital Studios ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min
  4. The Science of Snow Geometry

    1h ago

    The Science of Snow Geometry

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ You are a beautiful and curious snowflake. SUBSCRIBE, it's FREE! http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Snowflakes are infinitely beautiful, but are they infinitely unique? Here's all the science behind Earth's favorite cold crystal. More reading: Wilson Bentley, The Snowflake Man of Vermont http://publicdomainreview.org/2011/02/14/the-snowflake-man-of-vermont/ Kenneth Libbrecht's SnowCrystals website (the definitive snow science page on the internet): http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/ The true shape of snowflakes: http://news.sciencemag.org/environment/2013/04/scienceshot-true-shape-snowflakes?rss=1 Timeline of snowflake research: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_snowflake_research Interactive water crystal packing (Firefox is best) http://www.edinformatics.com/interactive_molecules/ice.htm The case of two identical snowflakes: http://www.livescience.com/1239-scientist-snowflakes-alike.html Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Andrew Matthews - Editor and motion graphics Produced for PBS Digital Studios ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min
  5. Are We All Family?

    2h ago

    Are We All Family?

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate This is part 3 of our special series on Human Ancestry! Watch the entire series here ►► http://bit.ly/OKTBSHuman ↓↓↓More info and sources below ↓↓↓ In part 3 of our special series on human ancestry, we investigate how closely related we all really are. Basic math tells us that all humans share ancestors. But you’ll be amazed at how recently those shared ancestors lived. Thanks to genetic data in the 21st century, we’re even discovering that we really are all descended from one mother. ----------- REFERENCES: Chang, Joseph T. "Recent common ancestors of all present-day individuals." Advances in Applied Probability 31.04 (1999): 1002-1026. Jorde, Lynn B. "Genetic variation and human evolution." (2003). Rohde, Douglas LT. "On the common ancestors of all living humans." (2003) Rohde, Douglas LT, Steve Olson, and Joseph T. Chang. "Modelling the recent common ancestry of all living humans." Nature 431.7008 (2004): 562-566. Stringer, Chris. “Lone survivors: How we came to be the only humans on earth.” Macmillan, 2012. http://amzn.to/2oIFg3q (Library: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/855581724) Tattersall, Ian. “Masters of the planet: the search for our human origins.” Macmillan, 2012. http://amzn.to/2pOZrKS (Library: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/733231407) ----------- FOLLOW US: Merch: https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Instagram: @DrJoeHanson Snapchat: YoDrJoe ----------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Director: Joe Nicolosi Writer: Joe Hanson Producer/editor/animator: Andrew Matthews Producer: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox Produced by PBS Digital Studios Music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min
  6. Ask Joe Matters #2

    3h ago

    Ask Joe Matters #2

    PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ You have questions, I have answers! Richard Feynman - Fun To Imagine (playlist): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3pYRn5j7oI&list=PL2D30B1DEFFDA0310 Mapping a zombie apocalypse to model disease outbreaks: https://medium.com/the-physics-arxiv-blog/61661d6ae9c People can't tell the difference between smell of Parmesan and vomit: http://www.rachelherz.com/uploads/Odor_Illusions.pdf Check out Ask Joe #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkSpmTvCRJA Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Andrew Matthews - Editor and motion graphics Produced for PBS Digital Studios ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    5 min
  7. The Science of GOAT!

    3h ago

    The Science of GOAT!

    Yep. Goats! ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Who are those people in the intro? Say hi to Joe Nicolosi (director) and Katie Graham (camera)! Goat field of vision: http://blogs.lifeandscience.org/keepers/tag/pupil/ Goat pupil shape: http://www.journalofvision.org/content/13/9/607.short Radiolab story about a goat on a cow: http://www.radiolab.org/story/224292-behind-goat/ "Fainting goat" syndrome: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myotonia_congenita Goats have "accents": http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2012/02/16/study-goats-have-accents.html Goat tastebuds: http://bit.ly/1zFxhiY Goat diet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goat#Diet How goats climb so well: http://www.asknature.org/strategy/719058a39eea5af7f763bacda7c64ab4#.U_KPLbxdWm8 Billy Whiskers: http://www.childrensbooksonline.org/Billy_Whiskers/pages/001_Billy_Whiskers.htm In case you're curious, the star cluster in the thumbnail is Messier 30, which is in the Capricorn constellation, because goats. Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Camera Editing/Motion Graphics - Andrew Matthews Gaffer - John Knudsen/Philip Sheldon Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Stock images via Shutterstock Produced for PBS Digital Studios ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    5 min
  8. This Was the Most Critical Moment in the History of Life

    4h ago

    This Was the Most Critical Moment in the History of Life

    Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Get your #ididascience shirt here! http://dftba.com/besmart Tweet this ⇒ http://bit.ly/OKTBSpwr Share on FB ⇒ http://bit.ly/OKTBSpwrFB ↓ More info and sources below ↓ If you want to read more (MUCH more) about this, check out “The Vital Question” by Nick Lane: http://amzn.to/1SntUdG And I really enjoyed this recent episode of Radiolab about this same story: http://www.radiolab.org/story/cellmates/ ---- Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below! Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Snapchat: YoDrJoe ----------------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Follow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe Produced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios Music via APM Stock images from SciencePhoto http://www.sciencephoto.com/ and Shutterstock http://www.shutterstock.com Stock footage from Videoblocks (unless otherwise noted) http://www.videoblocks.com​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min
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About

We give you deep answers to simple questions about science and the rest of the universe. And also dad jokes. Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, PhD. He's a molecular biologist and an award-winning science communicator and journalist

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  • Creator
    Joe Hanson
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    220

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