Brainstuff

Frankincense and myrrh play a part not only in the story of Christmas, but in lots of other religious traditions as well -- and a few practical ones, too. Learn more about these aromatic substances in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this episode: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/question283.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you love it, hate it, or hurl it with a trebuchet, fruitcake holds a dense place in holiday traditions. Learn how it came to be (and where to win prizes for throwing it) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/fruitcake.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Oaxaca, Mexico, a pre-Christmas tradition has hundreds of artists carving radishes into fun and festive figures every Dec. 23. Learn about La Noche de Rábanos in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-christmas/mexicos-night-of-radishes.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Evergreens' needles are their leaves, so why don't they change color and drop in the fall? Learn how evergreen leaves work in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/evergreen-trees-dont-shed.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reptiles and amphibians have all sorts of adaptations for surviving cold weather, even in places where temperatures dip below freezing. Learn how they manage the cold in this classic episode of BrainStuff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement in the 1800s that has had lasting effects in American society. Learn how it worked in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/transcendentalism.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suidice is a serious public health issue in the U.S., but there are lots of things we can do about it. Learn how communities and individuals can help in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/mental-disorders/us-needs-to-have-ongoing-conversation-about-suicide.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the non-avian dinosaurs died out, a lot of other animals went with them -- but some sturdy species survived. Learn how they evolved and thrived in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/dinosaur-contemporary.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ancient armies set traps of hallucinogenic honey and mead to incapacitate their enemies. Learn how mad honey works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/history-hallucinogenic-mad-honey-warfare.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supernovae are the spectacular deaths of giant stars -- and they create the elements that make up our universe. Learn how they work and what we learn from them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/supernova.htm/printableSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poison ivy isn't poisonous -- it causes an allergic reaction that can take days to appear. Learn about poison ivy and how to avoid it in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/poison-ivy.htm/printableSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frozen meals have become a near-daily part of many people's lives in less than a century. Learn how refrigeration, food science, and television came together to make frozen foods a thing in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/history-tv-dinner.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's relatively common for cars and trains to pass through underwater tunnels, but these structures are marvels of modern engineering. Learn how they're blasted, bored, and built from prefab pieces in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/build-underwater-tunnel.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This creature's amazing amalgam of traits includes fur like a mammal, webbed feet like a bird, eggs like a reptile, electroreception like a shark, and venom that may teach us how to build better painkillers. Learn more about the platypus in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/platypus-poison.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost every type of living creature relies on mucus to help keep itself healthy. Learn what snot can teach us in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/respiratory/mucus.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can buy all kinds of fancy meat thermometers, but many turkeys are packaged with a simple pop-up timer that tells you when the bird is done. Learn how they work (and why Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving in the first place) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/pop-up-timer.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Denver's Mile High Stadium sits a full mile above sea level -- is that distance really enough to make a difference in the air compared with other stadiums, and thus in how footballs fly there? Learn about football physics in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/physics-and-football-denvers-altitude-affect-field-goals.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What we sometimes call the dark side of the moon isn't always dark, but it is somewhat mysterious. Learn why we only see one side of the moon from Earth (and why it's sometimes in shadow) in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/dark-side-of-moon.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cream of tartar is a kitchen ingredient most commonly used in baking, but it can help with everything from candy making to whipping eggs to cleaning up afterwards. It's also a byproduct of the wine industry. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-science/cream-of-tartar.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to influenza, what you don't know can hurt you. Learn some of the most common misconceptions about the flu (and flu vaccines), plus the truth behind them, in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/10-flu-misconceptions.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.