Brainstuff

Botox wrinkle therapy contains a tiny dose of a deadly bacterial toxin originally found in spoiled sausages. Learn the history of botulinum toxin, plus how it's used in non-cosmetic medicine, in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/digestive/rotten-sausages-botox-botulism.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we take medications, we sometimes excrete chemicals that get flushed into our oceans. Learn how fluoxetine (Prozac) is chilling crabs out -- which isn't great -- in this classic BrainStuff episode, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/prozac-water-ocean-crab-behavior.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before modern surgical techniques and materials, artists sometimes created realistic face masks for veterans and other patients. Learn about the work of Anna Coleman Ladd in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/anna-coleman-ladd-helped-disfigured-soldiers-live-better-lives.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The American film, television, and music industries host award galas every year -- but how did these awards get their names? Learn the history in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/oscar-tony-emmy-award-names.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1850s, a newspaper published anonymous details about a mysterious set of encoded papers that supposedly point to buried treasure -- but they've never been cracked. Learn about the Beale Ciphers in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/beale-ciphers.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paprika is a lot more than a just pretty topping. Learn how paprika is made and where it comes from in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/paprika.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elephants get cancer so rarely that researchers went looking for a genetic reason, and they found one. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/zombie-gene-protects-elephants-from-cancer.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chicken eggs come in a spectrum of colors, but they all cook up the same. Learn how they're created in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/white-brown-green-chicken-eggs-whats-difference.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most hazardous air pollution may be particles too tiny to see, but it also may be easily avoided. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/when-it-comes-to-air-pollution-tiniest-particles-might-be-worst.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Koalas eat nothing but eucalyptus, which is poisonous to many mammals in large amounts. Learn how they do it (and how they smell) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/koala-smell-like-cough-drop.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lots of astronauts have performed music in space, just for fun or for wider audiences. Learn what considerations it takes in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/astronauts-play-music-in-space.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lots of attention is paid to an American president's first 100 days in office, but why? Learn the history (and why we have FDR to thank) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/why-do-we-care-the-first-100-days.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In some situations, whistling just makes more sense than talking. Learn about whistled languages in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/whistled-languages.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mesa Verde National Park, the only national park devoted primarily to a historic cultural site, is home to dwellings built impressively into steep cliffs. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/mesa-verde-national-park-ga.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being surprised by a roach in your kitchen (which is very clean, thank you) can be enough to wish the whole genus would just go away. Learn what the world would be like if it did in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/what-if/what-if-there-were-no-cockroaches.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research indicates that sleep is one of the many factors in how our bodies create, store, and burn fat. We explore in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/sleep-obesity.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Yiddish word 'chutzpah' has come to mean that someone has a lot of nerve, but in a way you respect. Learn the word's history and usage in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/chutzpah.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hunt for Noah's Ark is ongoing, probably futile, and always intriguing. Learn how researchers have tried to unravel the real history of this biblical myth in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this episode: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/hunt-noahs-ark-podcast.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States Secret Service does a lot more than protect the president and other political bigwigs. Learn about its origins with the Treasury and other work in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/secrets-about-secret-service.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Petrichor is the name for that fresh, sweet, earthy smell after it rains. Learn what causes petrichor in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/question479.htm Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.