Podcasts by Stuff You Should Know

Short Stuff: Pickles from 2023-12-13T10:00

Josh loves pickles but hates cucumbers. Chuck loves cucumbers but hates pickles. WHO WILL WIN?

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The Matewan Massacre from 2023-12-12T10:00

The Matewan Massacre was a pivotal moment for the US mining industry and the labor movement as a whole. Learn about what happened in this sleepy West Virginia town today.

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Selects: What were the Freedom Schools? from 2023-12-09T10:00

Freedom Schools were set up in Mississippi in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, with the aim of giving young black school children agency and a future. They remain one of the more inspirin...

The Murder of John Lennon from 2023-12-07T10:00

On December 8th, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his apartment building in New York City, by Mark David Chapman. Music history was altered forever. Listen in to this tragic story.<...

Short Stuff: Boba Tea from 2023-12-06T14:19:34

Boba tea is bubble tea. But what are the bubbles? Tapioca pearls! Listen in today to learn about the disputed history of this trendy beverage.

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The Life and Works of J.D. Salinger from 2023-12-05T10:00

J.D. Salinger was a complicated and problematic human who stopped publishing soon after creating one of the great works of literature. Listen in today to learn the good, bad and ugly sides of th...

Selects: Beavers: Tail Slapping Fun from 2023-12-02T10:00

Beavers are in fact, very busy. They're builders and solid family members, husbands and wives. Learn all about N America's largest rodent in this classic episode.

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You Down With OED? from 2023-11-30T11:00

The story of the Oxford English Dictionary is really something. From its origin to its crowd-sourced literary quotations. Dive in today to learn all about the best dictionary. 

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Short Stuff: The Zipper Merge from 2023-11-29T10:00

When you switch lanes on the highway after noticing that the lane you’re in is ending up ahead, you are literally ruining the world.

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Plate Tectonics Are What Makes Earth Inhabitable from 2023-11-28T11:00

It’s time to get jazzed about Earth science again. It’s only been 60 or so years since we’ve known the continents move around and we’re still figuring out exactly how they do. But one thing is f...

Selects: NYC Water: An Engineering Marvel from 2023-11-25T10:00

Getting the rain and melted snow from upstate NY into the taps of every NYC resident and business is one of the great feats of engineering. Does it taste great and make perfect bagels and pizza ...

The Wreck of the Costa Concordia from 2023-11-23T14:01:52

It’s astounding that with the exceptional navigational equipment aboard a cruise ship can run aground in the 21st century, and 32 passengers and crew can lose their lives within a thousand feet ...

Short Stuff: Magnetic Pole Switcheroo from 2023-11-22T10:00

Everyone once in a while, say a few hundred thousand years or so, the north and south poles of Earth’s magnetic field switch places. The result: Dogs and cats living together.

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Legs! Legs! Legs! (The Periodic Table) from 2023-11-21T12:01:42

If you’ve ever wanted to listen to two totally untrained, non-chemists who are fully unqualified to explain how the periodic table works nervously explain how the periodic table works, then this...

Selects: E.T.: Is It Really the Worst Video Game of All Time? from 2023-11-18T10:00

If you play video games you probably have an easy answer to worst game of all time: ET. But it turns out there are no easy answers, especially when you’re talking about a game so terrible it’s b...

Diners: The Most American Establishment? from 2023-11-16T10:00

Diners may just be the most American establishment there is. They were born in the USA, thanks to European immigrants, and they only exist in the USA, unless it's a kitschy homage. So break open...

Short Stuff: Liberty Bell from 2023-11-15T10:00

The story of the Liberty Bell is far more confusing than we imagined.

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The Tragic Death of Natalie Wood from 2023-11-14T09:00

Natalie Wood was Hollywood royalty who tragically drowned after a long night of partying with her husband, Robert Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken. Over the last 40 plus years, stories have ...

Selects: Who were the Buffalo Soldiers? from 2023-11-11T10:00

Josh and Chuck dive into history in this classic episode to tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers.

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How Scuba Works from 2023-11-09T10:00

It’s a good, old fashioned how it works episode where we break down all of the nuts and bolts and threats to safety that make scuba diving such a unique and thrilling hobby. Dive in feet first w...

Short Stuff: Petrified Wood from 2023-11-08T10:00

Petrified wood isn't just hard wood. Listen in today to learn all about this unique process. 

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Things We Believed Before the Scientific Method from 2023-11-07T10:00

It’s easy to think of people in the distant past as kinda dumb for believing things like that mice could spontaneously generate from old grain. But if you look a little deeper, you’ll find there...

Selects: Are Election Laws Designed to Suppress Voting? from 2023-11-04T09:00

Are laws that are meant to protect the sanctity of the polling place in reality designed to make it harder for groups that traditionally vote Democrat to cast their ballots? Find out in this cla...

The Harlem Globetrotters: American Treasures from 2023-11-02T09:00

The Harlem Globetrotters are an American entertainment institution. Their story may not be quite what you think either. Hint, they didn't originate in Harlem. Tune in now to learn their fun, fas...

Short Stuff: White Dog Poop from 2023-11-01T09:00

If you grew up from the 70s to the 90s you know white dog poop. It’s the old, crusty – yes, white – phase that dog poop goes through as it ages on a lawn. Or it used to. Where has all the white ...

The 14th Annual Halloween Spooktacular! from 2023-10-31T09:00

As per tradition, today Josh and Chuck perform a spooky Halloween story reading to delight, amuse and FRIGHTEN YOU TO YOUR CORE. Will Meagle show up? Tune in to find out! Thanks to guest produce...

Selects: How Mummies Work from 2023-10-28T09:00

A mummy is a human being whose soft tissue has been preserved after death, and there are mummies around the world -- including natural mummies, as well as corpses that have been intentionally em...

Naked Mole Rats: A Face Only a Mother Could Love from 2023-10-26T13:34:08

Naked mole rats are funny looking to be sure, but neither moles nor rats. So what are they? You'll have to tune in to find out.

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Short Stuff: Bed Sheet Ghosts from 2023-10-25T09:00

The simple bed sheet has provided countless kids and adults with an easy go-to Halloween costume. But why do we associate white sheets with ghosts anyway?

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The Compton Cafeteria Riot from 2023-10-24T09:00

Three years before the riots at Stonewall, the LGBTQ community of San Francisco's Tenderloin rose up. And the story was almost lost to time.  Learn how and why today. 

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Selects: Where Did Trick-Or-Treating Come From? from 2023-10-21T09:00

We aren’t exactly sure who invented trick-or-treating – kids who realized they could extort adults for candy, or adults who bought off kids in exchange for laying off pranks? The bigger question...

Kindness: Do It from 2023-10-19T09:00

In the tradition of our episodes on forgiveness and revenge, comes the third installment in the Emotional Roller Coaster trilogy. Kindness, it turns out, really does make the world go round.

Short Stuff: Candy Corn from 2023-10-18T09:00

Is it vile? Is it delicious? It seems to be both! Hear all about the history of candy corn, how it’s made, and who likes it in this pre-Halloween episode!

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The Criminal Father of Criminology from 2023-10-17T09:00

Eugene Francois Vidocq is without a doubt one of the most interesting figures in modern history. He’s a former criminal turned undercover informant who went on to found the French national polic...

Selects: Pain Scales: Yeeeow! from 2023-10-14T09:00

Pain is subjective; it is whatever the person experiencing it says it is. But to effectively treat pain, it helps to quantify it, which is why medicine came up with pain scales. Learn all about ...

How Intellectual Property Works from 2023-10-12T09:00

Intellectual property sounds as dry as can be, but it’s actually very interesting. It’s at the heart of the global economy and the center of a dispute over what should belong to the people who c...

Short Stuff: Longyou Caves from 2023-10-11T12:03:43

What’s better than discovering a mysterious cavern? Discovering five!

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Parasocial Relationships: That Podcaster is Your Friend! from 2023-10-10T13:23:15

Parasocial relationships are fascinating and it turns out Chuck knows what it's like from both sides. Listen in today to your old friends. 

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Selects: How Motion Sickness Works from 2023-10-07T09:00

Motion sickness is the worst and hits about 25 to 40 percent of humans when they ride in cars, boats, or simply watch the wrong 3-D movie. Join us as we break down the science behind this nausea...

How Andy Warhol Worked from 2023-10-05T12:55:49

You know Andy Warhol from his quip on being famous for 15 minutes and paintings of soup cans, but even as far as artists go he was an eccentric and misunderstood person. 

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Short Stuff: Rhodium from 2023-10-04T09:00

Rhodium is one of the most valuable precious metals on Earth, though it has dropped in value by about 80% in the last year. Learn why by clicking play.

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Night of the Grizzlies from 2023-10-03T09:00

Grizzly bears had never killed a person in Glacier National Park until the night of August 12, 1967. That's when everything changed for National Parks moving forward.

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Selects: Social Security Numbers: Less Boring Than You'd Think from 2023-09-30T09:00

Do you know that up until July 2011 an ambitious hacker with a good software program could deduce your social security number based on your date and place of birth? In this classic episode, the ...

Revenge: Bitter, Not Sweet from 2023-09-28T09:00

Someone cuts you off in traffic or makes fun of your friend and all you can think of is how to get back at them and then some. But wait! Research has found that taking revenge actually makes you...

Short Stuff: The Dakota from 2023-09-27T09:00

The Dakota is one of New York City's great buildings. And its backstory is pretty great to boot. 

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The Amazing Life of Christine Granville from 2023-09-26T13:36:45

Christine Granville was about as James Bond as it gets. Stories of her life as a spy during World War II are legendary. Today we'll tell her story. 

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Selects: Cockney Rhyming Slang: Beautiful Gibberish from 2023-09-23T09:00

What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? It's complicated and its origins are unclear. Learn everything we know about it today in this classic episode.

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Kombucha: Fizzy Goodness from 2023-09-21T09:00

Kombucha is pretty popular right now. But what is it exactly and where did it come from? The answers await you!

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Short Stuff: Origin of Math Signs from 2023-09-20T09:00

Have you ever stopped mid-pencil mark and realized to your astonishment where the plus sign came from? Then this one’s for you.

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10ish Worst Business Decisions Ever from 2023-09-19T09:00

It’s easy (and kind of fun) to laugh at the misfortune of CEOs and other high up business types when they bring it on themselves – so let’s do that now. Herein lies some of the worst business de...

Selects: How Floods Work from 2023-09-16T09:00

Floods happen when more water is introduced to an area than can be quickly removed. That's about it, but there's more to floods, what causes them and the havoc they can wreak. Join Josh and Chuc...

The Hyatt Regency Skywalk Disaster from 2023-09-14T09:00

In 1981 America suffered the worst accidental structural collapse in its history. Listen in today to the tragic story of the fast-tracked building disaster that stills haunts Kansas City. 

Short Stuff: Why Spilling Salt is Unlucky from 2023-09-13T09:00

Face it, when you spill salt your life goes totally off the rails, maybe even forever. Fortunately, we humans stumbled upon the one reliable way to counteract that bad luck by tossing some over ...

Axolotls: The Smiling Salamander from Mexico from 2023-09-12T12:58:33

It’s a listener request! Axolotls are one of the more amazing animals roaming the planet right now – they can regenerate parts of their brains, can fight off tumors, are found in the wild only i...

Selects: How Space Stations Work from 2023-09-09T21:49:33

It seems like we largely take it for granted these days, but the fact that we have humans living in space is the realization of a scientific dream a century old. Visit the space stations orbitin...

Native American Reservations from 2023-09-07T13:09:46

Today we dive into the history and current state of Native American reservations. This serves as a nice follow-up to the Trail of Tears double-ep from 2017. 

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Short Stuff: History of OK from 2023-09-06T09:00

Is OK the best word? It's certainly one of the most versatile. Check the interesting history of this weird contraction.

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The Made-up Disease of Syndrome K from 2023-09-05T11:20:49

In WWII, Italy went through its own Jewish Holocaust, terrible at first then horrific as the Nazis took over the country. In Rome, a group of doctors hid Jewish refugees in plain sight in their ...

Selects: Body Odor: You Stink from 2023-09-02T09:00

Chuck and Josh end up making reduxes of past episodes on things like sweating and deodorant in this all-new episode on the science beneath what makes people smell. Learn all about your odor in t...

Laurens Hammond: The Non-Musical Genius Who Changed Popular Music from 2023-08-31T12:58:43

Laurens Hammond invented the Hammond organ and in the process changed music history. But he was much more than that. 

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Short Stuff: Evil Eye from 2023-08-30T09:00

You've seen the evil eye. Many Middle Eastern cultures have a long history with it. Learn how to thwart this curse today. 

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Fordlandia: Brazil Isn't Michigan from 2023-08-29T09:00

Henry Ford tried to build a Midwestern American town in the Amazon rainforest in the 1920s. It's true. And yes, Chuck will say this should be a movie. 

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Selects: How Toy Testing Works from 2023-08-26T09:00

It's every kid's dream - a job playing with toys that pays in toys. It's a real thing and has been around for a long time. Then there's the other side of the testing process, companies who ensur...

Plant Migration from 2023-08-24T11:00

Climate change is having sweeping effects on our climate and this is changing the world, not just for humans and other animals, but plants too. Will the Earth’s flora manage to find safe refuge ...

Short Stuff: Saturn's Rings from 2023-08-23T09:00

Friends, treasure Saturn’s rings while they are young. They won’t be around forever.

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Farmer's Almanac: Literature to Poop To from 2023-08-22T09:00

The Farmer's Almanac has a long rich history that is more than just moon phases and long-term weather patterns. Tune in to learn all about it. 

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Selects: How Music Sampling Works from 2023-08-19T09:00

Today music sampling is a common practice, especially in electronic or hip-hop music. But how does it work? After all, other artists made the original music, and most of t...

The Mysterious Disappearance of the Franklin Expedition from 2023-08-17T14:01:12

One of the great Arctic mysteries was the disappearance of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition in search of a northwest passage between the Atlantic and Pacific. Not one man survived the trip, and...

Short Stuff: Edward Mordake from 2023-08-16T12:20:24

In the 19th century news spread of an unfortunate man who was born with an evil second face on the back of his head that spoke to him. The real story is that people keep falling for it.

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How We’re Learning to Talk to Animals from 2023-08-15T13:23:33

If we could talk with the animals, grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals, what would we say? We’d better start thinking of something good because researchers are learning to speak sperm w...

Selects: How Magnets Work from 2023-08-12T09:00

You can stick them to the fridge or use them to transpose sound to tape, whatever they are used for magnets are surprisingly interesting. And knowing just exactly how and why magnets work will m...

Xenobiotics from 2023-08-10T14:03:11

Science is just realizing the extent of the tiny pollutants that have entered ecosystems across Earth and inside all humans. We call them xenobiotics – substances foreign to our bodies – and wha...

Short Stuff: History of English from 2023-08-09T09:00

Who spoke English first and what was it like? Nothing like it is today. Listen in to learn all about it. 

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Dear Diary... from 2023-08-08T12:40:07

Diaries have been around for a long time. There are many famous ones, and tens of millions that will never see the light of day. Learn about the history and benefits of journaling today.

S...

Selects: Rainbows: Delighting humanity since forever from 2023-08-05T09:00

Rainbows seem to defy nature, but they're really pretty simple when it comes down to it. Turns out it's just light reacting to water droplets in the air. But they sure do look cool. Learn all ab...

The Last Meal Ritual from 2023-08-03T09:00

The last meal of the executed is a longstanding tradition. Listen in today to learn about the dark history and modern practice of this culinary curiosity. 

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Short Stuff: NATO Alphabet from 2023-08-02T09:00

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie. This is the NATO alphabet. But where did it come from?

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BPD: The Worst Disorder or Not a Disorder at All? from 2023-08-01T09:00

Borderline Personality Disorder has been described as emotional “third degree burns over ninety percent of your body.” It’s as close to a curse as a personality disorder can be: deep fear of bei...

Selects: What's the deal with Stradivarius violins? from 2023-07-29T09:00

The Strad violin is noted for its tonal qualities and superior craftsmanship. And for its price tag. There are many theories why the Strad sounds so great, from the wood to the lacquer, to the s...

MAD Magazine: A Tribute from 2023-07-27T09:00

Chuck and Josh grew up on MAD Magazine and we hope you did too. What started out as a comic book that spoofed comic books grew into the foundation of American satire and cultivated a healthy ske...

Short Stuff: Blue Highway Signs from 2023-07-26T09:00

In the US those ubiquitous blue highway signs that tell you which direction you’ll find a Burger King have an interesting backstory. 

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Learning a Foreign Language from 2023-07-25T11:41:27

Today, Chuck and Josh dive into the ins and outs of language learning. 

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Selects: Nirvana: Not The Band from 2023-07-22T09:00

Hinduism and Buddhism are closely related in a number of ways, including their vision of what comes after we exit this mortal coil. Learn about the religions' interesting interpretation of the s...

Magic Eye Illusions from 2023-07-20T09:00

What became the Magic Eye illusion fad of the 1990s was born by way of the stereogram of the 1950s (and even before that). It's a winding story that you'll love!

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Short Stuff: Pie-In-The-Face Gag from 2023-07-19T09:00

Throwing a pie in someone’s face was groundbreaking comedy once upon a time.

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Insomnia: Why you can't sleep from 2023-07-18T09:00

Insomnia is rough stuff. Listen in and learn all about why you can't fall asleep and what you can do about that.

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Selects: How Police Lineups Work from 2023-07-15T09:00

Police lineups are something most people have never had any firsthand experience with. What you see on TV and in movies isn't so far off though. Learn about how these tropes work for real in thi...

How PCP Works from 2023-07-13T15:05:23

There is probably no drug more mythologized than PCP. It drives users insane and has the unfortunate side effect of bestowing superhuman strength thus sending them on a rampage. But does it thou...

Short Stuff: Père-Lachaise Cemetery from 2023-07-12T09:00

The most famous cemetery in Paris has some of the most famous people in the world buried there. And it's quite lovely.

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Birth Order: So nice, we did it twice from 2023-07-11T14:05:44

This is a very special episode, the first one we've ever fully recorded a second time and decided to release. Why? Because it's good and a little different and we thought you'd enjoy this unhear...

Selects: How Bats Work from 2023-07-08T09:00

They are creepy, sure, but they are also useful, cute and in great danger of extinction. Get a new lease on life from a new view of bats in this classic episode.

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James Beard: Food Legend from 2023-07-06T09:00

James Beard is well-known now for the annual awards named in his honor. But he used to be the most famous chef in America, and set the standard for what makes a celebrity chef.

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Short Stuff: Hollywood Sign from 2023-07-05T09:00

The Hollywood sign is an iconic landmark that started out as a real estate billboard. Can you believe it?

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How Trucking Works from 2023-07-04T13:05:27

If truckers suddenly vanished the global economy would come to a grinding halt in a couple days. But as important as they are these highway heroes (mostly) are, they’re systematically mistreated...

Selects: What Makes Lead So Poisonous? from 2023-07-01T09:00

The people of Flint, MI were horrified to find their drinking water was poisoned with lead. As we learn more about lead's effects and realize how persistent it is, the more worrying it becomes. ...

Butterflies: Caterpillars with Wings! from 2023-06-29T09:00

If you thought caterpillars were awesome, just wait until you see them with colorful, iridescent wings!

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Short Stuff: Fahrenheit or Celsius from 2023-06-28T09:00

Fahrenheit or Celsius? Why not both? If they can agree - exactly at -40 degrees  - then it seems like we should all be able to agree they're both great as well.

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Caterpillars: Nature's Magicians from 2023-06-27T09:00

Caterpillars are simply the best. Don't think so? Well listen in and you'll soon agree

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Selects: How Ocean Currents Work from 2023-06-24T09:00

It's easy to overlook the importance of ocean currents - they move along out at sea, while we stay mostly on land. But we are globally affected by them every day. Currents form the base of the f...

How Afrofuturism Works from 2023-06-22T13:05:37

Black sci-fi writers were shut out of their genre in the 20th century so they created their own vision of the future. That sentiment spread to music and film and today it’s so engrained in pop c...

Short Stuff: Chia Pet from 2023-06-21T09:00

It has arrived, the most important podcast episode in the history of the world. 

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Large Language Models and You from 2023-06-20T11:36:46

There is a good chance that in March of 2023, humans crossed a threshold into a transformative new era when a new, smarter type of AI was let loose in the wild and an AI arms race began.  

Selects: SYSK Live: Back When Ford Pintos Were Flaming Deathtraps from 2023-06-17T09:00

For this special live benefit episode recorded in Atlanta, Josh and Chuck go back to the 70s and look at the decidedly ungroovy course of events that led to Ford recalling its Pinto after people...

How Alumin(i)um Works from 2023-06-15T09:00

Humans made it through the Bronze Age and Iron Age, then we dabbled in steel, and now we are living in the Aluminum Age. The metal is so ubiquitous it seems like it’s been around forever, but we...

Short Stuff: Suicide Forest from 2023-06-14T09:00

The suicide forest in Japan is a beautiful place with a checkered reputation. Trigger Warning: This episode features a discussion of suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, please call 98...

The Stinky History of Human Hygiene from 2023-06-13T16:14:50

Ever wondered when and why people started caring about body odors and cleanliness? Well look no further than today's episode. 

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Selects: How Audience Testing Works from 2023-06-10T09:00

Did you know some of our most beloved movies originally had different, sometimes better, endings? That is until they were tested in front of focus groups. Learn all about ...

Is Reality Real? from 2023-06-08T12:53:51

Philosophers have been wondering whether we experience reality as it is for millennia now. They’ve pretty much settled on no, no we don’t. Now science has taken up the investigation and it’s pro...

Short Stuff: DNA Data Storage from 2023-06-07T09:00

One of the more futuristic things around right now on Earth is research into encoding data into strings of genetic code.

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Why Manners? from 2023-06-06T14:08:46

Keeping your elbows off the table, keeping your fingers out of the gravy boat – at some point these became very important rules of etiquette. But what purpose do manners serve? It turns out they...

Selects: Pterosaurs: Not Flying Dinosaurs from 2023-06-03T09:00

Almost everything you know about pterosaurs is wrong. They weren't birds, they weren't flying dinosaurs and they weren't all pterodactyls. Which makes this classic episode a great one for you to...

What's the deal with intermittent fasting? from 2023-06-01T09:00

Could eating at only certain times of the day lead to weight loss? Possibly! 

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Short Stuff: Rube Goldberg from 2023-05-31T09:00

Everyone knows what a Rube Goldberg machine is, but what do you know about the cartoonist who they're named after?

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The Saga of Milli Vanilli from 2023-05-30T09:00

For a moment Milli Vanilli was the hottest musical act in the world. Then came the news that it was just that, an act, and the fall came swiftly and humiliatingly. Now, 30 years on, a look back ...

Selects: How Color Works from 2023-05-27T09:00

Science doesn't have a good explanation for why we sense color, yet it is everywhere and affecting us all the time. But why should minutely different wavelengths of light have such an impact on ...

The Semi-Recent History of Exercise from 2023-05-25T13:31

Humans exercising for better health has not been around that long. Today we dive into this fun history as we cover why and when we started this now commonplace pastime. 

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Short Stuff: Pollen Count from 2023-05-24T09:00

If you watch the news and hear the pollen count is high for some particular type of plant then it’s high time you learned how they do that.

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What is the Bechdel Test? from 2023-05-23T09:00

The Bechdel Test is a is a measure of the representation of women in film. You'd be surprised how many movies fail. 

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Selects: How Dog Shows Work from 2023-05-20T21:49:44

You know those shows where people wearing sensible shoes jog dogs around in circles? They actually represent the pinnacle of a long and complex path to glory for dogs and their owners. Join Chuc...

How Juries Work from 2023-05-18T09:00

It’s totally bonkers that in the US and other countries, the job of determining the guilt or innocence of an accused criminal – whose life may be at stake – is left not to experts in law but to ...

Short Stuff: Mood Rings from 2023-05-17T09:00

Mood Rings were all the rage in the 1970s. Then they went away, and fast. What's your color today?

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The Inflammation Theory of Disease from 2023-05-16T09:00

Not too long ago we thought that germs were the cause of most diseases, leading to germ theory. But when we look at maladies from heart disease to Alzheimer’s one commonality stands out: inflamm...

Selects: How Slinky Works from 2023-05-13T09:00

It has been called a "glorified spring", but Slinky is one of the best selling toys of all time. From accidental origins to an unlikely resurrection, Slinky has a pretty great back story. Learn ...

How TV Weathercasters Work from 2023-05-11T09:00

TV weather people can seem corny and maybe a little nerdy, but beneath that toothsome exterior lies the heart of a lonely warrior of science, one who is often overlooked as the hardest working m...

Short Stuff: Frances Kelsey: Hero of the FDA from 2023-05-10T09:00

Who is Frances Kelsey? Well, she's a semi-unsung hero of the FDA whose work helped save a lot of kids from congenital disorders and even death. Listen and learn!

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The Colosseum from 2023-05-09T09:00

It's funny how similar The Colosseum in Rome is to modern day arenas. They really had it figured out. Tune in today to learn all about this early entertainment venue. 

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Selects: Does the body replace itself? from 2023-05-06T09:00

Does the human body really replace itself every few years? The answer is yes, but different parts of the body do so at different rates. Learn all about which parts of your body are the speediest...

Introducing Smell-O-Vision! from 2023-05-04T09:00

Smell-O-Vision was a post-war movie theater gimmick that delivered well-timed scents to the noses of audiences to align with the movie. Did it work? Sort of. Did it ultimately fail? Yes. Does th...

Short Stuff: Dunbar's Number from 2023-05-03T09:00

There’s a theory that all of us have a maximum number of friendships that we can maintain – 150, to be exact. Suspiciously exact, really, if you think about it.

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Nerf! from 2023-05-02T09:00

Another classic toys edition is at your collective feet. Today, we dive into the soft, padded world of NERF!

See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Selects: How Manhunts Work from 2023-04-29T09:00

When a suspect or prisoner goes on the lam there are plenty of ways to hide: in plain sight, in the mountains, in another country. There are as many types of ways law enforcement uses to track w...

Carbon Monoxide: Please Just Listen Anyway from 2023-04-27T15:28:36

It might not be the sexiest topic we’ve ever covered (and by “might”, we mean “definitely”), but there are some things you just need to learn about and this deadly and undetectable gas that’s pa...

Short Stuff: Botox Brain from 2023-04-26T09:00

Botox can chase away the lines on your face, apparently it can chase away your depression, borderline personality disorder, and anxiety too.

See o...

Why does everyone love Dolly Parton? from 2023-04-25T09:00

Today we dive in to celebrate the international treasure that is Dolly Parton. Why is she nearly universally loved? Listen in to find out. 

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Selects: Was There A Real Robin Hood? from 2023-04-22T09:00

Is it true that Robin Hood hung out in Sherwood Forest and stole from the rich to give to the poor? No. No, it’s not. Find out the real story in this classic episode.

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METI: Existential Threat? Probably Yes from 2023-04-20T09:00

We've wanted to contact extraterrestrials for as long as we've suspected they're out there. But as we get better and locating potentially inhabited planets, beaming messages their way is suddenl...

Short Stuff: Routines from 2023-04-19T09:00

Routines are a key part of a successful life. Ask anybody about theirs and they'll be happy to share!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...

Should Rich Countries Cancel Poor Countries’ Debt? from 2023-04-18T13:27:46

It sounds controversial, but there are persuasive arguments for the wealthy Global North to write off the debts lower-income nations have accrued. Some say the US and Europe actually owe it to t...

Selects: How Coffins Work from 2023-04-15T09:00

Sure, you've probably laid in one at the store or a funeral home, but how much do you know about receptacles used to bury the dead? We'll bet you'll learn plenty - like the difference between a ...

John Brinkley: The Quackiest Quack in History? from 2023-04-13T09:00

John Brinkley was perhaps the biggest quack who ever claimed to be practicing medicine. Learn all about this not so good guy today!

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Short Stuff: Red Snow from 2023-04-12T09:00

Thanks to green algae, there's such a thing as red snow. And we've recently found it can accelerate global warming. Look out!

See omnystudio.com/l...

How Skydiving Works from 2023-04-11T09:00

At 13,000 feet the ground is nothing but far-away squares of land, and you can even see some clouds below you. All of a sudden you find yourself plummeting downward. There are very few thrills l...

Selects: Some Nutso Fan Theories from 2023-04-08T09:00

It turns out that the characters in your favorite TV shows and the like are actually dead, dreaming, dying or don't exist. Explore some strange fan theories with Josh and Chuck in this classic e...

Playing Cards? You Got That Right! from 2023-04-06T09:00

If you've ever wanted to learn more about playing cards, now is your big chance. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: Beethoven’s DNA from 2023-04-05T09:00

It's been all over the news, Beethoven's DNA has revealed some interesting things about his health.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

What Caused the Late Bronze Age Collapse? from 2023-04-04T09:00

Humans’ first attempt at civilization went pretty well for the first thousand years. Important stuff like the wheel, writing, math, art, and diplomacy came out of it. But then, in the blink of a...

Selects: How Jet Lag Works from 2023-04-01T09:00

It was only since 1958 that the Jet Age began, and jet lag became a real condition. Also known as desynchronosis, jet lag can lead to all manner of ailments, from sleeplessness to irritability t...

What's the deal with dowsing? from 2023-03-30T09:00

Dowsing, aka water-witching has been around a long time. And you might be surprised that's still a thing. We get into all the nitty gritty of this pseudo-science today. 

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Short Stuff: Theme Park Cremations from 2023-03-29T09:00

There’s a little-discussed trend you might run into at your favorite theme park – people scattering the ashes of a loved one on rides. Here's hoping you don't literally run into it.

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The First Road Trip from 2023-03-28T11:02:12

Back when cars were a brand new thing, before people even knew they'd stick around, two men and a dog drove from San Francisco to New York. This is their story. 

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Selects: Is The Uncanny Valley Real? from 2023-03-25T09:00

In 1970, roboticist Masahiro Mori wrote an essay that said the closer robots come to lifelike, the more they unsettle humans. His theory became the Uncanny Valley, and science has been evaluatin...

An Interesting, Vastly Incomplete Look at Baseball Cards from 2023-03-23T09:00

One of the all-stars of the hobby world is collecting baseball cards. Over time it’s gone from a kids’ hobby to a major investment vehicle, complete with its own bubble that recently burst. But ...

Short Stuff: Semantic Satiation from 2023-03-22T09:00

You know when you read a word over and over it starts to lose its meaning? There’s a term for that and why it happens is fascinating.

See omnystud...

The Tragic Tale of Floyd Collins from 2023-03-21T09:00

Floyd Collins was a natural-born caver who met a terrible fate, becoming stuck underground where no one could get him loose. His unlucky, slowly unfolding plight also turned out to be one of the...

Selects: Do People Really Run Off to Join the French Foreign Legion? from 2023-03-18T09:00

Anyone who knows anything about Jean-Claude Van Damme knows he played a French legionnaire in the movies. He was just one of many actors to star in films that romanticized this mercenary force. ...

Arcades: Nostalgia Abounds from 2023-03-16T13:41:30

Chuck and Josh were around during the Golden Age of the arcade. And look how they turned out! Join them on a trip down memory lane. 

See omnystudi...

Short Stuff: John Cage's 639 Year Concert from 2023-03-15T09:00

John Cage was a unique artist to say the least. Learn all about this avant-garde composer today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

That's Amaro! from 2023-03-14T16:16:48

Amaro is a delicious traditional liqueur, usually from Italy, that has delighted diners and drinkers for centuries. Tune in to learn all about this wonderful digestif. 

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Selects: The Time Nazis Invaded Florida from 2023-03-11T10:00

During World War II, Nazis invaded the United States with saboteurs bent on fomenting chaos. Three times. Learn all about it in this classic episode.

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Woodstock: The Festival for Stardust, Golden Hippies from 2023-03-09T15:34:14

You may have heard your parents or – gasp – grandparents prattle on about how amazing the original 1969 Woodstock Festival was. It turns out that, as much as people who lived through the 60s lik...

Short Stuff: Paprika from 2023-03-08T10:00

Paprika is more than a smoky Hungarian spice. Actually, that's not true, that's exactly what it is. But it sure is delicious!

See omnystudio.com/l...

Noncompete Agreements, Come On from 2023-03-07T10:00

A noncompete agreement, a pledge not to work for a competitor for a set amount of time, makes sense – when the worker is well compensated and privy to company secrets. But that doesn’t describe ...

Selects: Live From San Francisco: How Malls Work from 2023-03-04T10:00

In this classic show recorded live on January 5, 2017 at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre, Josh and Chuck delve into the history and the heyday of the church of consumerism and what it means for l...

Crosswords episode, perhaps? from 2023-03-02T10:00

Crossword puzzles have an interesting history and are a lot of fun to do. Dive in today to learn about Chuck's latest obsession.

See omnystudio.co...

Short Stuff: La Pascualita from 2023-03-01T10:00

In a bridal shop in Chihuahua, Mexico a mannequin has been standing in the window since the 1930s that’s so lifelike some say it’s actually a corpse.

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The Awe-Inspiring, Absolutely Crucial Amazon from 2023-02-28T10:00

If you’ve ever thought, “What’s the Amazon rainforest ever done for me? Nothin, that’s what,” then you’re dead wrong, friend. It covers 1 percent of the Earth’s surface but houses perhaps 30 per...

Selects: Who Committed the 1912 Villisca Ax Murders? from 2023-02-25T10:00

In a small town in Iowa in 1912 eight people were murdered in the grisliest of ways while they slept. Local reputations were ruined when accusations flew, but could a drifting serial killer work...

Naps: Chuck's Secret Talent from 2023-02-23T10:00

Naps are great if you can manage to find the space to take them. The trick is to do it for the right amount of time. We get into all in the ins and outs of Chuck's favorite time of day. 

S...

Short Stuff: Sleeping On It from 2023-02-22T10:00

It’s pretty well known that if you wait to make a big decision until after you get some sleep, you’re likelier to make a good one. But why should that be? Why, we’ll explain if only you’d listen...

The Mystery of the Lost Amber Room from 2023-02-21T10:00

Chuck and Josh turn into the Hardy Boys for one of the great unsolved mysteries of WWII, a work of art worth a king’s ransom that went missing in 1945.

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Selects: The Max Headroom Affair from 2023-02-18T10:00

In 1987, a very strange broadcast intrusion occurred in the city of Chicago. For just a couple of minutes, the odd TV character Max Headroom appeared onscreen in the middle of an episode of Dr. ...

The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire from 2023-02-16T10:00

The fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club was not in Los Angeles, but Kentucky. Which happened to be Las Vegas before Vegas was Vegas. Confused? Listen in and all will be clear.

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Short Stuff: Beulah Mae Donald from 2023-02-15T10:00

In 1981 a Mobile mother of six was forced into the role of civil rights activist when the Klan murdered her son and she was moved to fight back.

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The Glorious Flamingo from 2023-02-14T10:00

Flamingos are much more than just pretty pink birds. They are in fact, quite remarkable! Listen and learn…

See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Selects: Cave Diving: Totally Nuts from 2023-02-11T10:00

There are extreme sports and then there is cave diving, the most extreme activity a person can engage in without leaving Earth. Cave divers stay underwater swimming miles into – that’s right – c...

How (O)possums Work from 2023-02-09T14:22:05

Josh and Chuck take a listener’s suggestion – many, many suggestions – and learn that possums are pretty great and very much misunderstood. By the end of this episode you will too!

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Short Stuff: No Shirt, No Shoes, WTF from 2023-02-08T10:00

You can thank your parents and grandparents for the longstanding ban against dining shirtless and shoeless. While the concept was around, it mushroomed when hippies came along.

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Honey: Nature's Wonder Sugar from 2023-02-07T10:00

Honey is an amazing thing. Just ask any bee. They make a ton of it. So much that humans get what bees can't use and that's a lot of honey.

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Selects: How Easy Bake Ovens Work from 2023-02-04T10:00

Easy Bake Ovens are as iconic as a toy can get, as American as apple pie or baseball. Learn all about these light bulb cooking, working ovens that endanger children to this day, in this classic ...

The Largely Equine History of Veterinary Medicine from 2023-02-02T17:09:13

Vets have been around for a long time, but mainly to care for horses. When horse travel went away, guess who saved the profession? Dogs!

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Short Stuff: Bird Migration from 2023-02-01T10:00

Where are all those birds flying anyway? How do they decide? When do they do it? All of these questions, and more, are answered in this week's ep.

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Must We Suffer Emotional Pain? from 2023-01-31T16:06:55

It’s part of the human condition, to feel the pain of sorrow, loss, embarrassment. But isn’t it kind of weird that an overwhelming emotion can cause you physical discomfort or even pain? Turns o...

Selects: Elephants: The Best Animals? from 2023-01-28T10:00

Elephants are pretty much the best. Why? Josh and Chuck will let you know in great detail in this classic episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener...

How Attachment Theory Works from 2023-01-26T16:12:32

A theory in the field of psychology has become so pervasive, it’s generally taken on faith that it’s true. It says that how your parents respond to you during a short window in your infancy has ...

Short Stuff: Adam's Apples and Throat Lumps from 2023-01-25T10:00

This week's short stuff is all about throat lumps and Adam's apples.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's Talk About John DeLorean from 2023-01-24T10:00

John DeLorean: visionary, car maker extraordinaire, buyer of large amounts of cocaine, provider of time machine chassis. There is a lot to understand about John DeLorean so let’s get busy.

Selects: How Game Shows Work from 2023-01-21T10:00

Join Josh and Chuck and a whole bunch of great people at the Gothic Theatre in Denver for this live show on game shows and their place in cultures around the world, recorded on June 28, 2018. Yo...

Toast: As in browned bread from 2023-01-19T15:11:26

Toast is bread that has been browned by heat. It's delicious. This is our ode to toast.

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Short Stuff: Women Pirates from 2023-01-18T10:00

The Golden Age of Pirates didn’t have just men floating on the high seas. Some women became very successful pirates and today you’ll learn about two of them.

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The Louisiana Purchase: Not a Purchase from 2023-01-17T10:00

Turns out the Louisiana Purchase was not so much a purchase, but the right to (steal) purchase it from indigenous peoples. But it did transform the United States as we know it. Listen and learn!...

Selects: How Therapeutic Hypothermia Works from 2023-01-14T10:00

Physicians noticed centuries ago that people exposed to cold temperatures often have amazing recoveries from serious medical emergencies. Now medicine is learning how to purposefully induce hypo...

How Tarot Works? from 2023-01-12T10:00

This is not a hit piece! Tarot helps plenty of people navigate their lives and reflect on their feelings – plus the art is unbelievable. We cover the backstory, real and imagined, and lure the i...

Short Stuff: Forest Lawn Memorial Park from 2023-01-11T10:00

Forest Lawn is no ordinary cemetery. Why? Listen in and find out.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Enron Fooled the World from 2023-01-10T10:00

Until the 2007, the largest single corporate bankruptcy was Enron, a $67 billion energy trading company. Its decline was breathtaking, and while it’s a fascinating story of corporate malfeasance...

Selects: How Perfume Works from 2023-01-07T10:00

Women consistently rate scent as the most important factor in a man's attractiveness and men have been manipulating that for centuries with scents of all sorts. Learn about the fascinating histo...

When Mount St. Helens Blew Its Top from 2023-01-05T10:00

Mount St. Helen's is a lovely sight to behold, but was a pretty scary thing to be around in the Spring of 1980. Listen in to the harrowing story today!

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Short Stuff: Dangers of Nose Picking from 2023-01-04T10:00

You don’t have to lie - everybody picks their nose. But did you know it can be life-threatening? It’s true and you can learn how in this episode.

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The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (not the song) from 2023-01-03T10:00

Today Josh and Chuck delve into the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Not the song, but the maritime accident. Though the song makes an appearance.

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Selects: Could There Be A Loch Ness Monster? from 2022-12-31T10:00

People have believed something strange lives in Loch Ness for at least 3500 years. Thousands of people have sighted the Loch Ness Monster and dozens of expeditions have been launched. But does t...

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Podcast Episode from 2022-12-29T10:00

This one goes out to the SYSK Army as a special request. Let's do the time warp again!

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Short Stuff: Mesas: Flat from 2022-12-28T10:00

Mesas, buttes and plateaus are all very similar. We'll break down the differences in each one just to be sure.

See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Juicy: The Fried Chicken Story from 2022-12-27T10:00

Fried chicken is Chuck’s favorite food, and Josh sure doesn’t dislike it. It is with this appreciation that SYSK plunges into the hot grease of fried chicken history – and there’s a lot to it! Listen

Short Stuff: Salute the Grilled Cheese from 2022-04-20T09:00

Today we pay tribute to the comfiest of comfort food, the grilled cheese sandwich. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Christine Collins Story from 2022-04-19T12:40:50

When Christine Collins' son disappeared in 1928, she thought that was the worst that could happen.  What followed was more upsetting than any parent could imagine.  See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Selects: What happens to abandoned mines? from 2022-04-16T09:00

Did you know there are as many as 500,000 abandoned mines in the US, but the federal government knows where only 30,000 of them are? Learn about how these places go from money pit to death trap whe...

How Mensa Works from 2022-04-14T13:21:37

Most of us know Mensa’s a smart people club. And that Geena Davis is a member. But did you know it was originally intended as a rolodex when the government needed the UK’s most intelligent minds? A...

Short Stuff: Animal Politicians from 2022-04-13T09:00

Small towns around the world have a longstanding tradition of nominating – and voting for – animals in elected positions like mayor and some animals have made it to being nominated for president. ...

Introducing: White Eagle from 2022-04-12T20:46:33

Hi, Stuff You Should Know fans! iHeartPodcasts and host M. William Phelps are excited to announce White Eagle. A brand new series that takes place in West Hartford, Connecticut. Home to a warehouse...

The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles from 2022-04-12T09:00

If you've ever been to Philadelphia then you've probably walked right by a Toynbee Tile embedded in the street. But what's the meaning on these mysterious installations, and who is doing it? Listen...

Selects: A Partial History of Action Figures from 2022-04-09T09:00

Action figures have a long and glorious history. From GI Joes to Star Wars figures, these offshoots of dolls came along at just the right time to capture the hearts and minds of children everywhere...

The Delightful History of Pubs from 2022-04-07T12:49:14

In today's episode, Chuck and Josh dive into the wonderful history of the public house. So pull up a stool, grab a pint and have a listen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: The Church Choir That Didn't Explode from 2022-04-06T09:00

Perhaps the most amazing coincidence ever documented took place when a church in a tiny town in Nebraska exploded in 1950. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watermelons: Nature's Gift to the World from 2022-04-05T13:35:58

Turns out most people love watermelons. Why? Because they're delicious. And they also have a pretty interesting history. Check it out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selects: How No-fly Zones Work from 2022-04-02T09:00

They have become such a ubiquitous tool used by the UN and NATO to intervene in international crises, that it seems like no-fly zones have been around forever. But it was only the 1990s that the fi...

What’s NATO All About? from 2022-03-31T07:01

NATO formed at a time when Russia threatened Europe as a potential invader. Then the Soviet Union broke up and NATO lost its way for a bit. Now Russia’s back to business as usual and NATO has found...

Short Stuff: Greenbrier Bunker from 2022-03-30T09:00

The Greenbrier Bunker was a secret nuclear hideout for Congress, until it wasn't. Once it was exposed as a thing, it ceased to be a thing. Listen in to a fascinating short stuff today! See omnystu...

How Light Pollution Works from 2022-03-29T09:00

Artificial light at night, aka light pollution, affects almost everyone on Earth. And not just people – trees, plants, animals, insects, and marine life are affected by our propensity to light up e...

Selects: The Tylenol Murders, Part II from 2022-03-26T10:00

The panic that began in Chicago spreads and begins to change the world. The investigation into the murders turns up leads and suspects, but still no one has ever been charged with the murders. It r...

Selects: The Tylenol Murders, Part I from 2022-03-26T09:00

On one terrible day in Chicago in 1982, seven people died suddenly and mysteriously. In just a matter of hours, it becomes clear, someone has poisoned bottles of Extra-Strength Tylenol, one of the ...

The Truth Behind Cage-Free and Free-Range from 2022-03-25T13:07

You’d think terms like cage-free and free-range means the chickens we eat are frolicking happily in the fresh air under the shining sun, but you’d be so, so wrong. Cage-free is a huge improvement b...

Short Stuff: Magnet Fishing from 2022-03-23T09:00

Magnet fishing has nothing to do with fish. It's more like metal detecting in waterways. Please enjoy our take! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why was Titicut Follies banned? from 2022-03-22T09:00

Titicut Follies is a documentary made famous by its banning. But why was it banned? And what was it even about? Listen in to learn all you need to know about this infamous doc.  See omnystudio.com...

Selects: How Hate Works from 2022-03-19T09:00

Hate is generally defined as an extreme hostility to something or someone, usually stemming from fear, anger or a sense of injury. But how does it work? Join Josh and Chuck in this classic episode ...

How Rewilding Works from 2022-03-17T13:48:49

A big new push toward nature conservation (and saving the planet) is based on a simple premise: remove humans from the equation and let nature take its own course. See omnystudio.com/listener for ...

Short Stuff: Nose Breathing from 2022-03-16T09:00

Nose breathing>mouth breathing for many reasons. Listen and learn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Operation Northwoods: The False Flag Op That Never Was from 2022-03-15T14:49:34

There is presumably some very dark, very depressing stuff in the annals of America’s secret history. But perhaps the darkest classified document to see the light of day was the memo that called for...

Selects: A Brief Overview of Punk Rock from 2022-03-12T10:00

Punk rock really needs about 10 episodes to do it justice, but we'll try and tackle anyway. Learn all about this movement right now in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at ht...

Aleister Crowley: Blowhard Narcissist? from 2022-03-10T10:00

Aleister Crowley was known as the "wickedest man in the world." But was he really just a blowhard narcissist? You decide! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comS...

Short Stuff: Great Smog of London from 2022-03-09T10:00

In 1952 London was gripped by a acrid smog that settled throughout the city so thickly residents couldn’t see their own feet on the sidewalk. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihear...

Behold, National Parks! from 2022-03-08T13:15:25

The National Park system is one of America's great achievements. We'll take you on a journey, from sea to shining sea, in today's episode.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartp...

Selects: How Tabloids Work from 2022-03-05T10:00

Having started as an egalitarian answer to 19th-century newspapers, tabloids cameto peddle shock and sleaze. They've cleaned up a bit, but they remain the world's guilty pleasure. Learn more about ...

How Effective Altruism Works from 2022-03-03T13:51:03

A branch of philanthropy led by philosophers is dedicated to finding the most impactful ways to help humans survive and thrive. Anyone can find that agreeable, but it can be tough to hear it also m...

Short Stuff: Friends of Dorothy from 2022-03-02T10:00

The gay community had to use code not too many years ago and one way they identified was as “Friends of Dorothy.” So who was Dorothy? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcast...

What's the deal with phantom pain? from 2022-03-01T14:33:46

Phantom pain is when you sense pain from a lost limb. We don't entirely know how why, but we have some ideas. Listen in to find out.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcast...

Selects: Is the Pied Piper About a Real Historic Tragedy? from 2022-02-26T10:00

In the German town of Hameln a tragedy that took place on a specific date in 1284 and befell specifically 130 children is commemorated every year. Aside from those two details, the event is cloaked...

How Mindfulness Works from 2022-02-24T14:49:30

What has become a buzz word for corporate retreats and a way to get a discount on your health insurance is, at its core, a powerful, centuries-old Buddhist method of moving through life and dealing...

Short Stuff: Commensalism from 2022-02-23T10:00

What's commensalism? Sort of nature's way of sponging off something, but that something doesn't mind. If that doesn't make sense, take 12 minutes to listen and find out for yourself. Learn more a...

The Improbable Story of Martin Guerre from 2022-02-22T14:39:09

Like most 16th-century French peasants, Martin Guerre’s life seemed likely to be lost to history. But a strange series of events took place that would so cement the legend surrounding him that we’r...

Selects: How Moss Works from 2022-02-19T10:00

Think you have moss figured out? You probably don't. Join Josh and Chuck in this classic episode as they explore some of the surprising aspects of these most ancient and important plants on the pla...

The Ins and Outs of Albinism from 2022-02-17T10:00

Today we dive into the science behind the genetic condition albinism, which is not pronounced how you think it is.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omn...

Short Stuff: Cassowary from 2022-02-16T10:00

Australia is home to a kind of bird that is the second largest in the world and can kill a human being, making it the closest living version of a velociraptor? Of course it is! Learn more about y...

Leeches: Oh Hell No! from 2022-02-15T16:46:32

Leeches are pretty creepy. They feed on blood, they stick to you body. We get it. But they're also pretty fascinating and worthy of discussion.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ih...

Selects: The Ins and Outs of Beekeeping from 2022-02-12T10:00

Who wants fresh honey? We do! Learn all about the ancient art of beekeeping today in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.c...

Littering: Not Cool from 2022-02-10T10:00

The history of litter is in lock step with the history of disposable packaging. Learn all about this nasty habit today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee...

Short Stuff: Schmidt Stinging Pain Index from 2022-02-09T10:00

If you want to know how the pain from that yellowjacket sting on your arm compares to stings from other insects, you need look no further than the body of work of entomologist Justin O. Schmidt. ...

The Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping from 2022-02-08T14:27:47

The largest ever kidnapping case in the United States went down in the small town of Chowchilla, CA. Learn all about it today.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor...

Selects: What's the Deal With Staring? from 2022-02-05T10:00

Gazing too long upon another person is almost universally viewed as anywhere from impolite to hostile, which is odd considering science isn't fully certain why we stare - and why we're so good at k...

How the Nobel Peace Prize Works from 2022-02-03T14:28:26

The Nobel Peace Prize is perhaps the most prestigious award in the world, yet there are plenty of other similar awards. What is it about this one that makes it so honored? And how did the guy who i...

Short Stuff: Firewalking from 2022-02-02T10:00

It’s pretty amazing to see a human walk over a bed of hot coals – until you learn the physics beneath it. Then it’s just fairly impressive. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartp...

Introducing: Lethal Lit S2 from 2022-02-02T05:00

In Hollow Falls, the past never stays buried... Einhorn’s Epic Productions and iHeartRadio present Lethal Lit: A Tig Torres Mystery Season 2! Tig tracks down the new killer stalking her hometown in...

How Tacos Work from 2022-02-01T10:00

It’s Taco Tuesday! If you like eating tacos, you’re going to love learning all about them in this delectable episode. You’ll realize how much you’ve taken tacos for granted and just what a debt we ...

Selects: How Sloths Work from 2022-01-29T10:00

Everyone knows sloths are super slow, but do you know they’re slow because their bodies produce an astoundingly small amount of energy? And did you know that might be an adaptation that protects th...

How Forgiveness Works from 2022-01-27T10:00

For most of history, forgiveness fell under the domain of religion. But in the 1980s science started investigating it and found that forgiving someone is really, really good for you. Learn how anyb...

Short Stuff: Arctic Fox from 2022-01-26T10:00

The Arctic Fox is one of the cutest critters on the planet. It also has an amazing ability to survive the coldest temps on Earth. Dive into the snow and listen today! Learn more about your ad-cho...

Tug of War from 2022-01-25T10:00

Tug of War is a simple display of strength, but is there more to it than that? Listen in to find out.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/l...

Selects: How SETI Works from 2022-01-22T10:00

SETI stands for 'search for extraterrestrial intelligence,' and the term is used to describe both the SETI institute and the search for alien life in general. In this classic spaced-out episode, Jo...

How Classified Information Works from 2022-01-20T10:00

The government loves to mark just about any information as secret, which wouldn’t be a big deal if it wasn’t so contrary to running a healthy democracy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...

Short Stuff: Jaywalking from 2022-01-19T12:44:26

Jaywalking is a crime. Sort of. But why? Learn all about this weird law today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Rock Paper Scissors: Decider of Things from 2022-01-18T14:48:19

Rock Paper Scissors is a child's game. But it's more than that if you can believe it, and it has a pretty cool history as well.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo...

Selects: Project Azorian: The CIA's Super 70s Mission To Steal A Sunken Soviet Sub from 2022-01-15T10:00

In 1974 the CIA undertook one of its most brazen operations – secretly raising a sunken Soviet submarine lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean right under the noses of the Russian Navy. With the ...

What were the black codes? from 2022-01-13T10:00

The black codes were proposed laws that basically tried to keep a form of slavery alive and well after the end of the Civil War. It didn't last long but the shadow of those codes still exist today....

Short Stuff: Fortune Cookies from 2022-01-12T10:00

Everything you thought you knew about fortune cookies is wrong. Learn all the right stuff in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.c...

The Circleville Poison Pen Letters Mystery from 2022-01-11T10:00

For 20 years, a tiny town in Ohio was held enrapt by the prolific author of a series of unhinged letters. By the time they abruptly stopped, the letters – which revealed terrible secrets – had clai...

Selects: Carl Sagan: American Hero from 2022-01-08T10:00

Carl Sagan was the world's first mainstream media super scientist, capapble of breaking down complex ideas for the common folk. But what made him tick? Billions and billions of great ideas. Explore...

Ants! Part 2! from 2022-01-06T10:00

The exciting conclusion of Ants Part 2! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Short Stuff: The Casket Racket from 2022-01-05T10:00

And you thought we were done with talking about funeral homes. Well guess again! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Ants! Part 1! from 2022-01-04T14:10

Ants are pretty much amazing. So we're gonna spend two episodes talking all about them. Please enjoy! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/li...

Selects: Horoscopes: Written in the Stars? from 2022-01-01T10:00

A lot of people read their daily horoscopes, but does anyone really take stock in them? Turns out the answer is yes, even though there is no evidence of their accuracy. Learn all about horoscopes t...

Cookies! Cookies! Cookies! from 2021-12-30T10:00

No, we didn’t find another international distress signal we forgot to mention in our Mayday! Short Stuff, we’re just that jazzed about our episode on cookies. Are they even better than cakes? It’s ...

Short Stuff: Traffic Signals from 2021-12-29T10:00

The history of traffic signals is way more interesting than you might think. Trust us.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Unsung Heroes of the Court from 2021-12-28T10:00

Attorneys and judges get all the press. What about bailiffs, court reporters and sketch artists? Yeah, let's give them their due.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnet...

Selects: How Tipping Works from 2021-12-25T10:00

Tipping is commonly expected in some places, such as U.S. restaurants. Yet this practice varies across cultures. Join trivia gurus (and former waiters) Josh and Chuck in this classic episode as the...

SYSK’s 2021 Glad Tidings Bonanza Holiday Special from 2021-12-23T10:00

Josh and Chuck’s holiday mojo has returned and they’re back in the saddle to rustle up some holiday cheer. So put on your comfiest sweater, ugly or otherwise, grab a mug of whatever makes you happy...

Short Stuff: Christmas Cards from 2021-12-22T10:00

You ever thought about where those cards you send out during the holidays came from? Prepare to do just that!Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio...

How Snowmen (And Snowwomen) Work from 2021-12-21T05:00

The details may vary but building snowmen is pretty much universal where there’s snow. Humans have probably been making them for tens of thousands of years. But it wasn’t until the last century or ...

Selects: Star Wars Holiday Spectacular from 2021-12-18T10:00

Long ago, in a galaxy not so far away, George Lucas allowed the Star Wars Holiday Special to be made. What happened on the night of November 17, 1978 can never be fully explained, but we make our b...

Kidney Stones: No! Please, NO! from 2021-12-16T10:00

Kidney stones are widely considered the most painful affliction a person can endure, even worse than labor. And in rare cases they can even kill. Learn all about how these things you really, really...

Short Stuff: Charity Tips from 2021-12-15T10:00

It's the end of the year so we thought we might give you some advice on how to better pick out a charity, Short Stuff style. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...

Palm Trees: Technically, Giant Plants from 2021-12-14T10:00

Palm trees. You see them all over the world and for good reason. There are more than 2,500 varieties. Learn all about these giant plants today.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ih...

Selects: How the Terracotta Army Works from 2021-12-11T10:00

In 1974, Chinese farmers discovered the first of what would number 7,000 terracotta soldiers meant to protect China's first emperor in the afterlife. Learn all about them in this classic episode. ...

What's the deal with blue people? from 2021-12-09T10:00

The famous blue people of Kentucky are no longer blue. But why were they like that in the first place?  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/...

Short Stuff: Funny Bone from 2021-12-08T10:00

Hitting your funny bone doesn’t just hurt, it feels really weird too. That’s because you’re not hitting a bone at all, but instead the most vulnerable nerve in your body. Learn more about your ad...

Why Do Great Flood Myths Seem To Be Universal? from 2021-12-07T10:00

If look into the mythology of just about any culture in the world, you will find a myth about a great flood that destroyed humanity and submerged the Earth in the distant past. Does this mean that ...

Selects: What Is Collective Hysteria? from 2021-12-04T10:00

Throughout the history of the world, there have been many cases of what is known as collective hysteria - groups of people, usually young women, who all exhibit the same physical symptoms of non-ex...

Your Gut Is Also A Brain from 2021-12-02T13:19:08

Your gut – not your spare tire, but your digestive tract – is deceptively smart. Not only does it handle processing food and nutrients, but the hundreds of trillions of bacteria that live in your g...

Short Stuff: SINA from 2021-12-01T10:00

In the 1950s a group dedicated to clothing animals out of a sense or morality gained momentum. “A nude horse is a rude horse!” was their battle cry. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://ww...

The Twisted History of Dentistry from 2021-11-30T10:00

If you think going to the dentist now is not fun, just wait until you hear about what they did in the Middle Ages.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omn...

Selects: Why Do Lefties Exist? from 2021-11-27T10:00

For at least the last 200,000 years, between 10-15% of the human population are left-handed and this fact has utterly left science baffled. In searching to explain handedness, all sorts of contradi...

Python-a-palooza! from 2021-11-25T10:00

Pythons are big snakes. Really big. But there's more to them than their size. Learn all about these big daddies in today's episode.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn...

Short Stuff: Mayday! from 2021-11-24T10:00

Say it three times and help may arrive. But where did "Mayday!" come from? Listen in to find out.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/liste...

The Apache Wars from 2021-11-23T10:00

America’s longest-running war was between the US government and the loosely-confederated groups we know as the Apache. As their lands were encroached upon, the Apache pushed back with disastrous co...

Selects: How Hoarding Works from 2021-11-20T10:00

You may be familiar with compulsive hoarding from TV, but something that’s often missing from those shows and the news is the deep and overwhelming shame that this disorder creates in its victims w...

Why Is DC Not A State? from 2021-11-18T10:00

The residents of Washington, D.C., the capital of the oldest democracy in the world, are not allowed to pass their own laws without the federal government agreeing with them first. That’s because D...

Short Stuff: The Paper Dress Fad from 2021-11-17T10:00

There was a brief period when it was highly on trend to wear a super short dress made out of paper. Learn why right now! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSe...

Hot Dog!(s) from 2021-11-16T10:00

No, there aren’t snouts and anuses in your hot dogs, so go ahead and chow down. There are, however, plenty of other things that may give you pause so listen to this episode where we dissect the bel...

Selects: How Feng Shui Works from 2021-11-13T10:00

Feng Shui is an Asian concept that strives to unlock your chi by how your home or office is arranged. Or at least that's the simplified "Western" version. It's a little more complicated than that i...

The Flannan Isles Mystery from 2021-11-11T14:41:48

In December 1900 three lighthouse keepers vanished without a trace from a deserted island in Scotland. To this day no one knows exactly what happened to them. Learn more about your ad-choices at ...

Short Stuff: Your Dirty Bed from 2021-11-10T10:00

Is your bed dirty? You bet it is. Are chimpanzee beds dirty? Not as dirty as yours! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

What are blue laws? from 2021-11-09T15:22:24

Blue laws are laws that restrict certain activities on certain days. Are they antiquated? Yes! Are they still around? In some places, yes! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpo...

Selects: The Stories Behind A Few Food Fads from 2021-11-06T09:00

America loves to go nuts over new food trends and it turns out that the 20th century was a boon time for them. Revisit them with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-c...

The Rock Ampersand Roll Hall of Fame from 2021-11-04T09:00

Cleveland rocks! So said the city of Cleveland when they lobbied for the "Rock Hall" way back in 1985. Since then the museum has grown and evolved amidst great support and controversy.  Learn mor...

Short Stuff: Friendly Floatees from 2021-11-03T09:00

In 1992 more than 28,000 rubber ducks got loose in the ocean and began a decades-long experiment in oceanography. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnys...

How mRNA Vaccines Work from 2021-11-02T13:39

The two mRNA Covid vaccines are the first vaccines to come out of a new field of immunology and represent such an amazing leap forward that they are taking us into a new era of medicine. Learn all ...

Selects: What is folklore? from 2021-10-30T09:00

What is folklore? Turns out it's just about anything you can think of that's shared by more than two people. Art, literature, stories, dance, music, traditions, even those family heirlooms qualify....

2021 Halloween Spooktacular! from 2021-10-28T13:59:47

Dim the lights and join Josh and Chuck for their annual spooky Halloween story reading.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Short Stuff: Most Haunted House in England from 2021-10-27T09:00

In the 1930s paranormal investigator declared Borley Rectory the “most haunted house in England” – and with good cause! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee...

Salem Witchcraft Trials: More Bonkers Than You Know from 2021-10-26T12:26:29

Looking back 300 years on, it’s easy to overgeneralize why the Salem Villagers decided to persecute (and execute) their neighbors. But as much as this story has become an American history chestnut,...

Selects: Will We Find Evidence of Aliens by Their Engineering Projects? from 2021-10-23T09:00

In 1960 physicist Freeman Dyson suggested that in the hunt for alien life, we should search for evidence of massive engineering projects that encapsulate stars with solar arrays to harness their en...

Harry Houdini: More than Magic from 2021-10-21T14:20

Harry Houdini was a master magician. He was also a movie star. And an inventor. And an aviator. Listen and learn all about the late great illusionist. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...

Short Stuff: Bloody Mary from 2021-10-20T09:00

In this edition of Short Stuff we may accidentally conjure a deadly spirt, so look out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Heat Waves! from 2021-10-19T13:12:17

Heat waves are one of the easiest natural disasters to overlook yet they kill more people in the US than any other natural disaster (and maybe all others combined). And if climate predictions prove...

Selects: Why is Venice so wet? from 2021-10-16T09:00

Venice, Italy has a problem. It's sinking, and the water around it is rising. Thankfully, some engineers are working hard on the MOSE project - huge gates that keep high tide from happening. Learn ...

Noise Pollution: Arrrgh! from 2021-10-14T09:00

If you’ve ever found your blood pressure rising because some guy down the street doesn’t know how to keep the trigger on a leaf blower pulled all the way, then you’ve experienced noise pollution. N...

Short Stuff: Jack O'Lanterns and Sleepy Hollow from 2021-10-13T15:44:21

We launch our spooky October episodes with a little bit on Jack O' Lanterns and Sleepy Hollow. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener ...

Venus Flytraps: Plant or Monster? from 2021-10-12T09:00

After looking into the Venus Flytrap, we quickly moved it to the top of our favorite plant list. Part plant, part monster? What's not to love? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...

Selects: How X-Rays Work from 2021-10-09T09:00

Like many huge discoveries, X-rays were accidentally stumbled upon. That serendipity led to a medical breakthrough still in use today. Learn about how X-rays are created and why they make such deli...

The Tale of the Church of the SubGenius from 2021-10-07T09:00

The Church of the SubGenius is a religion, but really a parody of religion. Learn all about this group of weirdo outsiders in today's episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...

Short Stuff: Dingoes! from 2021-10-06T09:00

Are dingoes dogs? Not really? Then what are they? Listen in to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research Bias: Sort It Out, Science from 2021-10-05T09:00

There’s a sticky issue scientists have to deal with – science is carried out by humans. We humans have flaws (and how) and they can end up in our work. Fortunately, science is waking up to research...

Selects: How Empathy Works from 2021-10-02T09:00

Empathy can often be confused with sympathy and regular old compassion. But it's not exactly either one of those. Some say a lack of empathy can indicate sociopathic tendencies, but that's not alwa...

All About Alligators from 2021-09-30T12:09:38

Here at SYSK, we love alligators? Why? Because they're basically living dinosaurs. Dive in (metaphorically) and swim with these beasts today! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihear...

Short Stuff: Exploring Irish Monk from 2021-09-29T09:00

There’s a long-standing legend that an Irish monk was the first European to sail to America - in 500 CE! Is there any evidence? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor...

How Numerology Works from 2021-09-28T09:00

The premise of numerology - that numbers are responsible for our destinies and personalities - is plainly nuts, but the history and thinking behind it is too interesting to skip.  Learn more abou...

Selects: Planned Obsolescence: Engine of the Consumer Economy from 2021-09-25T09:00

If you’ve ever heard an old timer gripe that things aren’t built like they used to be, that old timer was right! In this classic episode, learn about the nefarious, possibly mythical, mechanism tha...

The Statue of Liberty from 2021-09-23T09:00

You've seen her there in NY Harbor, standing tall. But do you know the story of how she came to be? Learn all about the Statue of Liberty today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ih...

Short Stuff: Lake Erie's Rights from 2021-09-22T09:00

The good people of Toledo, OH are leading the environmental pack by giving legal rights to Lake Erie to fight off polluters. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...

How Mail Order Marriages Work from 2021-09-21T09:00

Everybody knows mail order marriages are at best a last resort for jerks looking to boss a foreign spouse around or, at worst, a front for human trafficking. Or are they? Yes and no. Mail order mar...

Selects: How Free Speech Works from 2021-09-18T09:00

Freedom of speech and the press are values vital to American democracy. But the First Amendment doesn't really define free speech, and plenty of expressions are restricted. Learn all about the ins ...

What's the deal with crash testing? from 2021-09-16T14:55:57

Crash testing has been around since the 1930s, but only got serious in the 1970s. Today we dive in and learn all about why companies and the U.S. government purposefully wreck cars.  Learn more a...

Short Stuff: The Javelina from 2021-09-15T09:00

Pigs, hogs, boars and javelinas. What's the difference? Tune in to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

How Embalming Works from 2021-09-14T09:00

The Death Suite continues! In this installment, Josh and Chuck go over what it takes to preserve a human body using chemicals and whether that’s such a good thing to do as far as the environment is...

Selects: Southerners Aren't Lazy and Dumb, They Just Had Hookworm from 2021-09-11T09:00

There was a time when the lower classes of the American South were considered lazy and dimwitted, a stereotype that still somewhat survives today. But this stereotype was rooted in fact. Hookworms,...

How the Magna Carta Worked from 2021-09-09T09:00

In 1215 at Runnymede (doo dah, doo dah) the nobles and the king agreed to end a rebellion against the power of the English throne. While the treaty that emerged contained all sorts of arcane Mediev...

Short Stuff: Chameleons from 2021-09-08T09:00

In today's short stuff, we bust a few myths about cute little chameleons. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Creepy Legacy of the Hotel Cecil from 2021-09-07T09:00

The Hotel Cecil in downtown Los Angeles has had no less than 16 unnatural deaths, from suicides to murders and everything in between. Listen in to the history of this decidedly creepy hotel.  Lea...

Selects: How Temper Tantrums Work from 2021-09-04T09:00

When your kid boils over in the grocery store, it can be tough to stay calm and ignore it, but that's precisely what experts prescribe parents do to deal with temper tantrums. Learn about the anato...

Criminal Records: No Thanks! from 2021-09-02T13:09:04

And you thought our crime and punishment suite was finished. Not yet it isn't! Not before we cover criminal records. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee om...

Short Stuff: Handwashing vs Dishwashers from 2021-09-01T09:00

Josh and Chuck finally put to rest the age old debate over which is better – and learn a little about themselves along the way. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor...

How Trepanation Worked from 2021-08-31T09:00

One of the oldest medical procedures in human history is also one of the riskiest. For thousands of years humans carried a type of proto brain surgery where a hole would be cut into the skull. And ...

Selects: Composting: Nature's Most Interesting Process from 2021-08-28T09:00

You may think composting is just a bunch of old banana peels rotting away into dirt but, friend, you're not looking closely enough. Inside that compost pile is a microcosmic universe doing some mag...

Les Paul&Leo Fender Part II from 2021-08-26T09:00

Today we continue the story of Les Paul and Leo Fender, inventors, innovators and rivals. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Short Stuff: Jackalope from 2021-08-25T09:00

Jackalopes aren’t real, right? Wouldn’t you like to know, city slicker. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Les Paul&Leo Fender Part I from 2021-08-24T09:00

The story of Les Paul and Leo Fender defines rock and roll music. Listen in to part one of the tale of these two musical rivals.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetw...

Selects: How Pet Psychics Work from 2021-08-21T09:00

In the early 21st century a trend of people who claim to be able to telepathically and clairvoyantly communicate with animals has grown. Today, the concept of visiting a pet psychic to find a lost ...

Y2K: Much Ado About Something from 2021-08-19T14:32:43

Y2K was a special time when we all thought nothing bad would really happen at the stroke of midnight, but secretly worried the world would end. Turns out the mitigation efforts worked and we hardly...

Short Stuff: 5 Lazarus Species from 2021-08-18T09:00

Lazarus species were thought to be gone, but had something else in mind. Today we talk about 5 of them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/...

How MRI Works from 2021-08-17T14:00

At long last Chuck and Josh dive into the nuts and bolts of what makes the Wonder Machine so wondrous and find it actually lives up to the years-long hype they’ve given it. Learn more about your ...

Selects: How Animal Domestication Works from 2021-08-14T09:00

It's strange to hear, but the transition from hunting-gathering to agriculture, including the domestication of wild animals, is the single biggest thing to ever happen to humanity. You can thank it...

How Fireflies and Lightning Bugs Work from 2021-08-12T09:00

Whether called fireflies, lightning bugs, or glow worms, the tiny, bioluminescent bugs that light up the evening are universally beloved. Which makes their sudden and swift decline very distressing...

Short Stuff: Humpty Dumpty from 2021-08-11T09:00

Humpty Dumpty is not a good nursery rhyme. And what was Humpty anyway? Listen in to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener f...

Child Labor: Not Funny from 2021-08-10T09:00

Child labor is no laughing matter. Even though we've taken care of it in the USA (mostly), it's still an issue around the globe. Listen and learn! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www....

Selects: How Landslides Work from 2021-08-07T09:00

Landslides are a form of mass movement of the Earth, and with the amount of death and destruction they wreak on the people and towns they cover, their toll can be massive. Learn all about landslide...

How Transcendentalism Works from 2021-08-05T14:42:34

Every teenager in America knows the transcendentalists were a handful of goofy 19th century philosophers who were into walking in the woods, but they were also so much more. Anyone who focuses on t...

Short Stuff: Calamity Jane from 2021-08-04T09:00

Calamity Jane is group with the legends of the Wild West. Who was she really? A tough woman who made her way in a tough world from the age of 12. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...

The Three Christs of Ypsilanti Experiment from 2021-08-03T09:00

In the early 1960s, one of the most unethical experiments in psychology’s history was quietly conducted in a state hospital in Michigan. It sought to upend the delusions of the three patients invol...

Selects: How Police Interrogation Works from 2021-07-31T09:00

Every year, police across the U.S. get thousands of criminals to confess to their crimes. The trouble is, the procedure that almost all departments use is grounded in bad science and can produce fa...

How Sarcasm Works from 2021-07-29T09:00

In this episode, we get to the bottom of why people sometimes talk like jerks some and how sarcasm isn’t all bad. Stand back everybody, this one is just soooo great.  Learn more about your ad-cho...

Short Stuff: Space Hurricanes from 2021-07-28T09:00

Space hurricanes are officially a thing. What does that mean for us here on Earth? Probably not much. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/li...

Conservatorships: #freebritney from 2021-07-27T12:58:46

Britney Spears has made a lot of noise lately in her bid to nullify her conservatorship. But what are they even? Listen in to find out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...

Selects: How Mars Works from 2021-07-24T09:00

Sure today Mars would kill you with its thin, toxic atmosphere and cold desert temperature swings of 100 degrees,but early on it and Earth were practically twins. Find out how the two planets diver...

The Origins of Some Everyday Superstitions from 2021-07-22T09:00

Why exactly do we avoid walking under a ladder? Why is stepping on a crack in the sidewalk such a big deal? What kind of monster carries a rabbit’s foot in their pocket? The answers to these questi...

Short Stuff: RICO Act from 2021-07-21T09:00

If you’re even passingly interested in mobsters you’ve heard of the RICO Act, but most people don’t know how it actually works. Make your Goodfellas fandom more well-rounded with this explainer epi...

Stranger Danger! from 2021-07-20T09:00

If you grew up in the 1980s, you thought you had a 50% chance of getting kidnapped every time you left your house. But like with the Satanic Panic and other 80s hysteria, it was much ado about (alm...

Selects: How Ketchup Works from 2021-07-17T09:00

Little-known fact: Ketchup, possibly the most all-American of condiments, evolved from fermented fish sauce people in Southeast Asia have been making for more than a thousand years. Learn more in t...

How Reverse Osmosis Will Save the World from 2021-07-15T11:49:12

Can we save the future of the human race with some thin membranes riddled with ultra-tiny holes? Science says yes! Thanks to reverse osmosis filtration, we can turn saltwater to fresh and finally s...

Short Stuff: Hanged, Drawn and Quartered from 2021-07-14T09:00

The words "hanged, drawn and quartered" are an accurate description of the grizzly execution process. They're just not in the right order. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpo...

The Radium Girls from 2021-07-13T09:00

The Radium Girls painted watched with glow-in-the-dark radium in the 1920s and '30s. Most got sick, many died. This is their story.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn...

Selects: How Historic Districts Work from 2021-07-10T09:00

A fascinating thing about Americans is that we can disagree on anything. Such is the case with historic districts – areas of historic importance protected by local laws. Seems innocuous, but are th...

SYSK Live: Koko, the Gorilla Who Talked from 2021-07-08T09:00

Recorded live before the pandemic in January 2020 at the Castro Theatre for San Francisco Sketchfest, Josh and Chuck explore the 70s movement that attempted to teach apes human language and the Ape...

Short Stuff: Sulfanilamide Disaster from 2021-07-07T09:00

In the 1920s, before the era of consumer protection, a poison entered the medicine supply and killed more than 100 people before the pubic health disaster could be stopped. Learn more about your ...

The Sad Story of William James Sidis from 2021-07-06T09:00

Are geniuses made or born? Listen in today to the story of child prodigy William James Sidis. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener f...

Selects: Are good samaritan laws effective? from 2021-07-03T09:00

Good samaritan laws have been around for many years, helping to provide legal protections for people who try to help other people. But do they work? Listen to this classic episode and decide for yo...

The Grand Ole Opry Cast from 2021-07-01T19:08:51

Josh and Chuck take a virtual walk through country music's legendary music venue.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...

Short Stuff: Beast of Gevaudan from 2021-06-30T13:08:30

The first truly international news story covered a beast that terrorized the French countryside, eviscerating dozens of villagers for three years in the 1760s. How about that? Learn more about yo...

Poison Control Centers: A Good Thing from 2021-06-29T09:00

Poison control centers are one of those things you don’t think about until you need it. With all the poisons in our homes you very well may someday. When you do there is a cadre of toxicological sp...

Selects: How Royalty Works from 2021-06-26T09:00

In some nations royals are so ingrained in the national fabric they are considered part of the country. In this classic episode, Josh and Chuck take a look backward in time at the ancient tradition...

How Faraday Cages Work from 2021-06-24T09:00

Faraday cages are one of those peculiar miracles of nature that we can actually explain – not to mention, they save us from potentially fatal electrocutions and electronic eavesdropping which are b...

Short Stuff: Chastity Belts from 2021-06-23T09:00

Were chastity belts real? Sort of. But not in the way you might think. Tune in to hear the real story. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/l...

The Mystery of Damascus Steel from 2021-06-22T12:06:19

Damascus steel and the recipe behind it remained a mystery for many years. But it turns out the key was a bygone ingredient. Listen in to this medieval mystery to learn all about it.  Learn more ...

Selects: Operation Mincemeat: How A Corpse Fooled the Nazis from 2021-06-19T09:00

In World War II, a secret department of British ‘corkscrew thinkers’ hatched a plan to use the cadaver of an unclaimed homeless man to turn the tide of the war in the Allies’ favor. It worked. Lear...

How Venus Works from 2021-06-17T09:00

Venus is so hot lead would melt on the planet’s surface. It spins backwards. Its year is shorter than its day. Venus is amazingly awesome.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartp...

Short Stuff: Mojave Megaphone from 2021-06-16T09:00

What is the Mojave Megaphone? Well, nobody really knows. Listen in today to learn about this desert mystery. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio...

Seven - No, Wait, Five - Mysteries of the Art World from 2021-06-15T10:48:46

When you get a bunch of artistic types together into a community – aka, the art world – some intrigue and mystery are bound to arise. Listen in as Chuck and Josh cover strangeness around Van Gogh, ...

Selects: How Sea Monsters Work from 2021-06-12T09:00

Legends of sea monsters are as old as humanity, and some ancient cultures even credited them with creating the universe. Learn more about humanity's attachment to seeing monsters in the deep in thi...

POGs: The 90s in a Bottle Cap from 2021-06-10T09:00

Today, Chuck and Josh go down a 90s rabbit hole with another in their classic toy series. This time, they tackle the odd sensation that was POGs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...

Short Stuff: Chinatowns from 2021-06-09T09:00

If you live in a major city in the USA, you probably have a Chinatown. Listen in and learn all about these unique cultural staples today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpo...

Slime Mold: 0% Mold, 100% Amazing from 2021-06-08T09:00

If you’ve ever wandered past what looked like a pile of dog barf on a log during a hike in the woods, you’d just seen slime mold - one of the most perplexing organisms on Earth.  Learn more about...

Selects: Who was America's first murderer? from 2021-06-05T09:00

John Billington didn't just sign the Mayflower Compact -- he was also the colony's first criminal, and had the dubious honor of being the first European to be convicted of murder in this new place....

John Muir: Outdoor Enthusiast from 2021-06-03T09:00

John Muir loved being outside. So much so that he dedicated his life to helping preserve it, but not without some controversy. Listen in to this decidedly nature-centric episode today! Learn more...

Short Stuff: Runner's High from 2021-06-02T10:51:55

Listen in to today's short stuff to learn if a runner's high is really a thing.Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

What Causes Inflation? from 2021-06-01T09:00

Inflation seems super boring, but if you know how it works (important point: no one really does) you can exist as a functioning human being in a modern economy.  Learn more about your ad-choices ...

Selects: How Nitrous Oxide Works from 2021-05-29T09:00

For about 175 years people have been huffing nitrous oxide for everything from vision quests to anesthetic to get plain old high. And after all that time we are only now beginning to understand how...

Night Trap: The Video Game Failure that Changed the Industry from 2021-05-27T09:00

In the early 90s a video game was released that changed the industry, despite poor sales and bad game play. That game was Night Trap. This is that story. Learn more about your ad-choices at https...

Short Stuff: Parachute Emergency! from 2021-05-26T09:00

Your parachute won’t open – now what?! Listen up to Josh and Chuck and you may make it out of this in one piece. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnyst...

How Cleft Lips and Palates Work from 2021-05-25T09:00

Cleft lips and palates are common birth defects, but for the kids who have them (and their parents), its no small matter: Years of surgeries, therapy, and possibly lifelong health issues, not to me...

Selects: How Hot Wheels Work from 2021-05-22T09:00

If you're an American who had a childhood, you probably have some nostalgia for Hot Wheels. Get your engines revved for this trip down memory lane as we discuss these fun and iconic toys in this cl...

Girl Scouts: More than cookie sellers from 2021-05-20T11:36:13

We put our research to the test and it turns out the Girl Scouts is a great organization. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Short Stuff: Speed Reading from 2021-05-19T09:00

Back in the 60s and 70s, a speed reading craze broke out. Tough luck that speed reading is bunk. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listene...

The Cleveland Torso Murders from 2021-05-18T13:17:23

During the depths of the Great Depression, Cleveland’s most vulnerable and destitute residents were prey for one of history’s most horrific serial killers. The killer’s identity remains a mystery t...

Selects: How Limousines Work from 2021-05-15T09:00

The first limousines weren’t even cars! Learn all about the history of limousines, how they’re made and some of the most creative and expensive amenities you can find inside them in this classic ep...

How Monster Trucks Work from 2021-05-13T12:15:29

If you’ve never seen a huge truck with gigantic tires do backflips or roll backward perched only on its two front tires, you haven’t lived yet. Chuck and Josh are here to ignite your interest. Le...

Short Stuff: Garter Snakes from 2021-05-12T12:16:40

Garter snakes aren’t scary, they’re pretty great! Learn all the reasons why in this episode! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener fo...

The Ivy League from 2021-05-11T15:49:17

The Ivy League is technically a sports conference, but it's much more than that. Enjoy this special 3D episode with your earbuds on and learn all about these revered, elite universities. Learn mo...

Introducing: Ephemeral Season 2 from 2021-05-10T09:00

Hey, SYSK fans!
We know you already love great podcasts, so here's another we think you'll enjoy - Ephemeral season 2. Check out the trailer and see for yourself.
About Ephemeral: The bes...

Selects: How Snake Handlers Work from 2021-05-08T09:00

Snake handling ranges from professional snake milkers for antivenin to religious handlers who tend to get bitten and sometimes die from it. Either way, it can be a dangerous business. Learn all abo...

How Uranium Mining Works from 2021-05-06T12:05:25

Mining uranium is dangerous work. Not only does it involve mining, which is dangerous itself, uranium is also found alongside some very radioactive stuff. Learn the ins and outs of this thrilling e...

Short Stuff: Squarer Than Wombat Poop from 2021-05-05T09:00

One of the cutest animals on the planet is also the only one that squeezes out cube-shaped poop. Find out why today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee om...

The Appendix: No Respect from 2021-05-04T09:00

The poor appendix. Despite findings that it serves a purpose, many people still cast it off as a second rate organ and the Rodney Dangerfield of organs. We aim to correct that notion. Learn more ...

Selects: How Cave Dwellers Work from 2021-05-01T09:00

You know the cavemen, a race of human cousins who lived exclusively in caves? They didn’t exist. Sure prehistoric hominids used caves sometimes but they lived in other places too. Luckily the time ...

How Corporate Taxes Work from 2021-04-29T09:00

There are lots of reasons to tax corporations: as a check on their power, to help pay for infrastructure, as a wealth tax. But the biggest reason economists cite for why they've stuck around is tha...

Short Stuff: Ivar The Boneless from 2021-04-28T09:00

Was Ivar the Boneless a real Viking warrior? Probably. Did he really have no bones? Probably not. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listen...

Truffles: Underground Treasures from 2021-04-27T09:00

Truffles are rare, expensive and apparently delicious. Learn all about these earthy fungi today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listene...

Selects: How Profiling Works from 2021-04-24T09:00

At its base, criminal profiling is a legitimate investigatory tool. The Supreme Court has drawn a clear line that bans profiling when it includes race. So why do we still do it? Take a closer look ...

How Stamp Collecting Works from 2021-04-22T09:00

Over the last two centuries philatelists – stamp collectors – have learned just about everything there is to know about every stamp ever printed. You won’t by the end of this episode, but you might...

Short Stuff: Madam C.J. Walker from 2021-04-21T09:00

Join us today as we dive into the story of the first female self-made millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/li...

Mechanical Bulls! from 2021-04-20T09:00

Mechanical bulls are kind of weird, but they have certainly made a place in American pop culture over the years. Largely due to one movie, Urban Cowboy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...

Selects: How Tupperware Works from 2021-04-17T09:00

Tupperware won immediate design acclaim when it was released in 1947, but it took a pioneering female executive to make a line of plastic food storage into an icon of the American postwar boom. Lea...

Hair Loss: The Pits from 2021-04-15T09:00

Losing your hair is a situation that seems to be universally considered to absolutely stink. Unsurprisingly, humans have been trying all sorts of weird stuff to combat hair loss for millennia, but ...

Short Stuff: Palindromes from 2021-04-14T09:00

Chuck loves palindromes. So much that his very name is one. Oh wait... Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How the Electrical Grid Works from 2021-04-13T09:00

The electrical grid that provides power to the US is one of those things you don’t give a second thought to until it stops working – then it’s tough to think about anything else. Learn why this eng...

Selects: The Unsolved Mystery Disappearance of the Sodder Children from 2021-04-10T09:00

In 1945 a house fire took the lives of five children - except that their bodies were never found. In this classic episode, dive into the longstanding mystery of the odd circumstances surrounding th...

Muzak: Easy Listening Goodness from 2021-04-08T19:38:35

Muzak got a bad reputation as bland garbage music. We aim to set the record straight. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Short Stuff: Venus de Milo from 2021-04-07T21:59:47

Step into today's short stuff to learn all about the armless wonder! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Havana Syndrome: ¿Qué Diablos? from 2021-04-06T09:00

In 2016, diplomats at the American embassy in Cuba began suffering weird neurological symptoms after hearing strange noises. Some say it was a sonic attack using a secret weapon, but the Havana Syn...

Selects: How Circus Families Work from 2021-04-03T09:00

Don't be confused - this one is about actual circus acts made of family members, not the controversial comic strip. Step right up to this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at http...

How the Titanic Worked: Part Two from 2021-04-01T09:00

After the Titanic sank recriminations and blame followed, sometimes ruining careers unjustifiably. As the decades wore on and she was found almost 2.5 miles down, history rehabilitated some people....

Short Stuff: What's the oldest book? from 2021-03-31T11:18:51

In order to figure out what the oldest book is, one has to define what a book actually is. Listen in as we discuss this debatable topic. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc...

How the Titanic Worked: Part One from 2021-03-30T09:00

When the Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage in April 1912, the world was divided into two types of people: those who considered her unsinkable and those who weren’t so sure about that. Both type...

Selects: What was the Philadelphia Experiment? from 2021-03-27T09:00

The Philadelphia Experiment is a bad movie from the 1980s, and also the conpiracy theory that refuses to die, despite virtually zero evidence of its occurance. Learn all about this strange non-even...

Space Junk, Ahoy! from 2021-03-25T09:00

The orbits hundreds to thousands of miles above Earth are littered with garbage. Space garbage, sure, but it’s still garbage. Littering in space is bad enough but it poses practical problems too – ...

Short Stuff: Cellphones on Airplanes from 2021-03-24T09:00

Are we finally at the place where we can make cell phone calls on airplanes? PLEASE NO! Listen in to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystud...

What is biophilic design? from 2021-03-23T09:00

Biophilic design is all about bringing the outside in. But it's also much more than that. Open your windows and have a listen! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork...

Selects: How Lighthouses Work from 2021-03-20T09:00

People have been burning fires on cliffs as long as other people have used boats, but after the Age of Exploration, lighthouses took their unmistakable form and the great stories of the people who ...

The Texas City Disaster of 1947 from 2021-03-18T09:00

In 1947 the port town of Texas City, Texas became the site of the largest industrial disaster in American history. An enormous explosion blew ships out of the water, created a tidal wave that flood...

Short Stuff: Brazilian Jars from 2021-03-17T09:00

In the 1970s big news was made when some underwater artifacts were found in a bay by Rio de Janeiro that would have rewritten history. Then it just kind of petered out. Learn more about your ad-c...

The Parrot Episode from 2021-03-16T14:11:15

If you think parrots are simply mimics that fly, you're wrong. Tune in and learn about these colorful friends today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee om...

Selects: Please Listen to How Plasma Waste Convertors Work from 2021-03-13T10:00

There is a way to not only sustainably get rid of our household waste, but also produce enough energy from it to power the process and even create electricity for the grid. The future is here. Lear...

Karaoke: Tuesday Night Fever from 2021-03-11T10:00

Listen in and learn all about the fascinating history of everybody's favorite pastime... karaoke!Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listene...

Short Stuff: Tooth Fairy: Not Real from 2021-03-10T10:00

Today we break down the history of everyone's favorite home invader, the tooth fairy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Dragons: As Real as Mermaids from 2021-03-09T10:00

Dragons are like mermaids in that they're not real. And that's about where the comparison ends. Learn all about dragons today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork...

Selects: Mermaids: Not a real thing from 2021-03-06T10:00

Mermaids aren't real. That much we know. But the history and lore of these magical and sometimes menacing creatures of the sea is pretty interesting stuff. Learn all about these half women/half fis...

Why is the Equal Rights Amendment still not ratified? from 2021-03-04T14:36:42

The United States is one of only 28 countries in the world that doesn’t have equal protection for women under the law enshrined in its constitution. There was a moment in the 70s where it came very...

Short Stuff: Dog Suicide Bridge from 2021-03-03T10:00

A bridge at the town of Dumbarton in Scotland has a terrible reputation as a site where dogs inexplicably leap to their death on the rocks 50 feet below. There is no shortage of theories why, but n...

Is the Free Radical Theory of Aging Wrong? from 2021-03-02T10:00

In the 1990s we thought we’d identified the root cause of aging: nasty molecules called free radicals that wreaked havoc on our cells. Even better, we’d figured out how to counteract them with load...

Selects: Bridges: Nature Abhors Them from 2021-02-27T10:00

From prehistoric logs across streams to the 102-mile Kunshan Grand Bridge, nature works ceaselessly to take down spans. In this classic episode, learn about the fascinating ins and outs of bridge d...

How Bruce Lee Worked from 2021-02-25T10:00

Bruce Lee may have introduced more Westerners to Asian culture than any person in history. And, because he died young just as he became an international superstar, he’s become a legend. Josh and Ch...

Short Stuff: The Body in the Cylinder from 2021-02-24T10:00

In 1945, residents of a Liverpool neighborhood found a desiccated body in a long cylinder they’d been using for years using as a bench. It launched a mystery that’s still alive today. Learn more ...

What Will Farming 4.0 Look Like? from 2021-02-23T10:00

The human population is expected to increase by a couple billion people in the next 30 years and those who are paying attention are wondering exactly how we’ll feed all those extra mouths. Will goi...

Selects: How Chili Peppers Work from 2021-02-20T10:00

Born and raised in South America, chilis were the earliest crop domesticated in the continent and among the first items brought back to Europe by Columbus. Today people are really, really into them...

How Blue Holes Work from 2021-02-18T10:00

Geologists and biologists have recently realized that the planet’s oceans and coasts are littered with a unique type of ecosystem called blue holes, submerged sinkholes that were once dry caves. Th...

Short Stuff: Freedom House Ambulance Services from 2021-02-17T10:00

As part of Black History Month, we wanted to share the little known story of the Freedom House Ambulance Service. Listen in to learn all about this seminal group of EMTs. Learn more about your ad...

The Disappearance of Lars Mittank from 2021-02-16T10:00

In 2014, a young German man walked into an airport in Bulgaria with a flight booked, then suddenly ran out leaving all his posessions behind, never to be heard from again. This is the story of Lars...

Selects: Why Are So Many Disembodied Feet Washing Ashore In British Columbia? from 2021-02-13T10:00

Between 2007 and 2016, 17 disembodied feet - still wearing shoes - have washed ashore between Washington and British Columbia. What's behind the sudden influx of Vancouver's mystery feet? Find out ...

How Housing Discrimination Works from 2021-02-11T10:00

Owning a home in the US is a way to pass wealth down from one generation to the next and lift families into a comfortable life down the road. But there have been barriers to buying homes that Black...

Short Stuff: How California Got Its Name from 2021-02-10T10:00

California is a pretty cool name. And the story about where it came from is even cooler. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Sacagawea: Impressive Teen from 2021-02-09T10:00

Sacagawea was only 16 when she joined the Corps of Discovery. That is one seriously impressive teenager. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com...

Selects: Earwax: Live With It from 2021-02-06T10:00

Despite tons of people using cotton swabs each day to clean the earwax from their ears, cerumen (as earwax is clinically known) is actually quite beneficial to the health of your ears - and even ki...

The NAACP from 2021-02-04T13:59:52

The NAACP has long been one of the most robust and effective non-profits in the USA. And while it has faded a bit from its glory days, it still remains a vital cog in the battle for equality. Lea...

Short Stuff: Balloonfest from 2021-02-03T10:00

In 1986 Cleveland released more than a million helium balloons at once! It didn’t go at all according to plan! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystud...

How Groundhog Day Works from 2021-02-02T10:00

You know Groundhog Day – the holiday on February 2 when you wake up and have to go through the same day over and over again. It turns out the holiday has deep roots in a pagan past, and has survive...

How Environmental Psychology Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In the 60s, psychology expanded from exploring inside the mind to exploring the inside of buildings. Environmental psychology looks at how our spaces affect us – from how a busy mall can create a p...

How The Pill Changed the World from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When the birth control pill hit the market in 1960 it landed like a social bomb. Almost overnight, women gained the ability to separate sex from pregnancy and everything from feminism to patients’ ...

The Delightful History of Steam Technology from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

One of the coolest things humans have ever figured out is how to use steam as power. It made the Industrial Revolution possible and even today, 88% of America's electricty comes from steam turbines...

How Skateboarding Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Skateboarding started out as something bored surfers did when the waves weren't breaking, but after a few improvements to the design, it took off like a rocket to become its own cultural phenomenon...

Does smiling make you happy? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

You smile because you're happy, yet happiness research suggests the opposite can also hold true. Smiling may actually improve your mood. Open interpretation make for the best SYSKs, so prepare for...

What are urban explorers? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Urban explorers investigate abandoned structures such as hospitals, grocery stores, warehouses and underground systems. Tune into this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about the rules, legality ...

SYSK Selects: How Pez Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

PEZ began in Vienna as a mint meant to help people quit smoking. But once American kids got ahold of it, the candy took off and a symbol of childhood - and healthy secondary market among collectors...

SYSK Selects: How Bullfighting Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When the Visigoths ruled Spain, they introduced the idea of battling bulls at festivals. Today matadors get paid $100,000 and perform in front of 50,000 fans. But is bullfighting an antiquated, abu...

How Woolly Mammoths Worked from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It was only 11000 years ago that the last true woolly mammoths died out, close enough to the modern age that humans lived alongside them. But were humans the cause of mammoths' sudden extinction or...

How Online Dating Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

No longer weird, possibly still desperate and approaching normal, online dating's been around almost as long as the Internet itself. So what exactly is the best way to find love online if one were ...

Stuff You Should Know July 4th Extravaganza, Part 2: Baseball and Apple Pie from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

What makes America unique? In the second segment of this special two-part episode, Josh and Chuck join up with guests from The Daily Show and The Onion to take a closer look at the Stuff You Should...

How Body Armor Works: A Special Request from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Body armor has used by bodyguards, celebrities and soldiers for thousands of years. Tune into this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn how the constant innovation in weaponry has led to a similar evolut...

What were the Freedom Schools? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Freedom Schools were set up in Mississippi in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, with the aim of giving young black school children agency and a future. They remain one of the more inspiring a...

Skyscrapers: 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Skyscrapers are much more than tall buildings. They're world wonders as far as we're concerned. From design to construction, these babies are beautifully simplistic in all the best ways. Listen in ...

Evel Knievel Part II from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In today's episode, we cover part two of our Evel Knievel suite. The man, the myth, the legend. Check in and listen to the latter stages of Evel's career as the world's most legendary daredevil. L...

How the Spanish Inquisition Worked from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The idea of pious monks imbued with unbridled power and with a penchant for dealing torture and death is a scary one indeed, and one both Spain and the Catholic Church have tried to reconcile since...

Stuff You Should Know July 4th Extravaganza, Part 1: Mom from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

What makes America unique? In the first segment of this special two-part episode, Josh and Chuck join up with guests from The Daily Show and The Onion to take a closer look at the Stuff You Should ...

How Exorcism Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Is the idea of possession a misunderstanding of physiological and psychological conditions, or has science failed to account for unknown, legitimate factors? Learn whether exorcism and psychology a...

Short Stuff: Fish n' Chips from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How did these two wonderful strangers meet up and become best friends? The answers lie within today's short stuff.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How Tsunamis Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Tsunamis are amazingly devastating natural disasters. They're miles tall and wide, travel as fast as a commercial airliner and can wipe out entire coastal towns. And if the last couple decades are ...

Evel Knievel Part I from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Evel Knievel was perhaps the world's most legendary daredevil. He came along at a time when the world ate up this kind of entertainment, partially in hopes that he crashed. And crash he did. A lot....

What happened at Kent State? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

On May 4, 1970, four days of anti-war protests at Kent State University in Ohio culminated in the unthinkable when Ohio guardsmen opened fire on protesters, killing four students. How could this tr...

How Human Cannonballs Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There's no question that human cannonballs are daredevils. They pack themselves into the confines of huge cannons, which shoot them into the air. But how does it work? Join Josh and Chuck to learn ...

How Midnight Regulations Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After the election in November, outgoing Presidents have an opportunity to pass last-minute (often unpopular and unpublicized) legislation as 'midnight regulations.' Learn more about midnight regul...

Guardian Angels: Behind the Red Beret from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

If you grew up in the 1980s, then you know who the Guardian Angels are. If you don't then you're in for quite a story. Listen in!  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podca...

SYSK Selects: How The Hum Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There is a mysterious droning sound often described as like a diesel engine idling that is severely impacting the quality of life of 2 percent of people in places around the world. The thing is, no...

Mermaids: Not a real thing from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Mermaids aren't real. That much we know. But the history and lore of these magical and sometimes menacing creatures of the sea is pretty interesting stuff. Learn all about these half women/half fis...

Termites: They Bore But They Aren't Boring from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Their soft white bodies look creepy and, to be sure, they are, but termites are pretty amazing bugs. They build ventilation systems into their mounds, poop on their enemies and grow mushrooms. Lear...

How Hate Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Hate is generally defined as an extreme hostility to something or someone, usually stemming from fear, anger or a sense of injury. But how does it work? Join Josh and Chuck as they dig into the nat...

How Habeas Corpus Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Habeas Corpus is a Latin term meaning "you have the body," and -- in theory -- guarantees an incarcerated person the right to have a court determine whether he or she is imprisoned lawfully. Listen...

SYSK Selects: What Happened at Kent State? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

On May 4, 1970, four days of anti-war protests at Kent State University in Ohio culminated in the unthinkable when Ohio guardsmen opened fire on protesters, killing four students. How could this tr...

Frida Kahlo: Painter, Icon, Genius from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Frida Kahlo was a painter who transcended her own work to became an icon. Learn all about her fascinating and inspiring life and work in today’s episode.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https...

How Night Terrors Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Night terrors, an uncommon sleep disorder, happen when the brain doesn't transition correctly to deep sleep. The result is terrifying, with the sufferer genuinely terrified, swatting at invisible a...

How Amputation Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Amputation is one of the oldest surgeries and an even older punishment for crime, but it wasn't until the American Civil War and its 50,000 amputations that the procedure began to hit its stride. L...

Who was America's first murderer? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

John Billington didn't just sign the Mayflower Compact -- he was also the colony's first criminal, and had the dubious honor of being the first European to be convicted of murder in this new place....

How to Survive a Plane Crash from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Although you're much more likely to die in an auto accident, odds are you're more afraid of flying -- but why? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at...

What are paraphilias? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Josh and Chuck dive into the world of paraphilias so you can get the skinny in 45 minutes or less.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

The Max Headroom Incident from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In 1987, a very strange broadcast intrusion occurred in the city of Chicago. For just a couple of minutes, the odd TV character Max Headroom appeared onscreen in the middle of an episode of Dr. Who...

What is exploding head syndrome? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Exploding head syndrome isn't nearly as weird as it sounds, and there are no brain parts being damaged. But if you suffer from it, you will definitely be freaked out. The good news is, despite its ...

How Salt Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A Roman senator once said, "Mankind can live without gold, but not without salt." Right he was. The human body needs salt so much we have developed a taste for it specifically. But too much salt ca...

How Asteroid Mining Could Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There may be trillions of dollars' worth of resources in asteroids, and some scientists believe we could mine nearby asteroids. Join Josh and Chuck as they explore how asteroid mining might work (a...

How Flirting Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Flirting is an ancient -- and, at times, unconscious -- form of communication used to indicate interest in and receptivity to another person. Learn about the science of flirting and find out how to...

Short Stuff: Dare Stones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

What happened to the Lost Colonists who disappeared from Roanoke Island in the 1580s remains a mystery to this day. But it’s possible a carved stone a man vacationing in North Carolina found in the...

SYSK Selects: Was there a real King Arthur? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The legend of King Arthur is very old and very established. By the time the king who saved Britain and united it was first written about, his story was already hundreds of years old. And while many...

How Triage Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Triage is a system that provides immediate attention and categorization for medical emergencies that hopefully will never be a big part of your life. Unless you work in an ER. Learn all about the i...

How Cave Dwellers Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

You know the cavemen, a race of human cousins who lived exclusively in caves? They didn't exist. Sure prehistoric hominids used caves sometimes but they lived in other places too. Luckily the time ...

How Suicide Bombers Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It 1981 the first modern suicide bomber blew himself up. But this was by no means the first suicide bombing. Israeli psychologists evaluated the motivations of suicide bombers and found a number of...

What can be done with a dead body? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

From transforming into a gem to being shot into space, modern technology has created a multitude of possible destinations for the bodies of the deceased. Go beyond the traditional funeral in this p...

We Are Running Out of Sand and That Actually Matters from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Sand, we’re beginning to realize, is a non-renewable resource - and we are consuming it at a voracious pace. We use it in every construction project around the world and to create new land. And we’...

Is the Pied Piper About a Real Historic Tragedy? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In the German town of Hameln a tragedy that took place on a specific date in 1284 and befell specifically 130 children is commemorated every year. Aside from those two details, the event is cloaked...

How the Moonwalk Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When Michael Jackson debuted the moonwalk in 1983 the world was enrapt. The dance goes back farther, to the 1930s, and pops up again in the 50s, before reappearing via mimes and West Coast poppers ...

Do objects or experiences make us happier? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Since Sartre classified things that make us happy into the categories of having and doing, science took up the investigation into materialism and experientialism. The results have been in for a whi...

How Curiosity Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Alternately hailed a crucial part of the human condition or accused of killing cats, curiosity remains a subject of debate among researchers. Where does it come from? How does it work? Join Chuck a...

Where's the best place on your body to get shot? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Although no one wakes up in the morning hoping for a gunfight, we all know life can be unpredictable. So check out this HowStuffWorks podcast and learn the best place to take a bullet if you get sh...

SYSK Selects: Could You Live Without a Refrigerator? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Do you know that hulking refrigerator in your kitchen emits CO2 thanks to the electricity it uses each year? It's a comparatively small amount, in truth, but enough that some people have foresworn ...

How Drug Courts Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

If you aren't in the know, you may think drug courts are set up to quickly prosecute drug users and get them into prison in short order. Turns out it's just the opposite - they're empathetic courts...

How Chaos Theory Changed the Universe from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Since the age of Descartes, science has put all of its eggs in the basket of determinism, the idea that with accurate enough measurements any aspect of the universe could be predicted. But the univ...

How Sign Language Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It wasn't until the was developed and despite its co-existence alongside English, a user would be hard-pressed to sign with a British person. Find out about the independent evolution of sign langu...

How Military Snipers Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Military snipers always work in pairs, and they're called force multipliers because of the profound effect a two-man team can have on a rival military. But how do they work? Join Josh and Chuck to ...

Extended Product Warranties: To Buy or Not to Buy? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Statistically speaking, extended product warranties aren't generally worth the money, but there are some purchases that warrant extra insurance. Find out when it's smart to buy -- and when you sho...

How the US Interstate System Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Wait! This is actually a good episode! It turns out that America’s 48,000 miles of superhighways – possibly the largest civil works project in the history of humanity – may have also ruined what ma...

SYSK Selects: How Pinball Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Pinball was actually illegal until the 1970s in NY and other cities, hidden in the backs of pornography shops. The game was finally legalized, thanks to a Babe Ruth-style shot by the best player in...

The Gettysburg Address: Short and Sweet from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches in political history, despite only being a few hundred words long. What was so special about this commemoration? We'll give you the skinny ...

Will computers replace doctors? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With savvy and health-conscious people taking control of their wellbeing through apps and sites, technology is meeting the desire for individuals' responsibility for their health. But is the day co...

Was Malthus right about carrying capacity? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Thomas Malthus concluded that humanity is bound to outgrow Earth's carrying capacity. The prediction was based on humanity's exponential growth and the linear growth of the food supply -- but was h...

How the Five Day Weekend Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

What if Congress passed a law mandating a two-day week work? The Friends of the Five Day Weekend want Congress to do just that -- sort of. Check out this podcast to find out if their proposal is fe...

Short Stuff: Scurvy from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Scurvy seems like a terrible way to go: Your gums swell so you can’t eat, your teeth fall out and your brain and/or heart hemorrhages. Fortunately, all you need is an orange to cure you. Or some – ...

How Occam's Razor Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

You know the rule that says the simplest explanation is probably the correct one? That’s called a razor and it’s meant to guide logic. But over time it’s become a broadsword used to disprove opposi...

How Radiation Sickness Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Fortunately, science has very few instances where humans have been exposed to acute radiation poisoning to study for clues to treating radiation sickness. They have found, though, that those few in...

What are crystal skulls? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Back in the early 20th-century mysterious skulls made from polished crystals began to enter the collections of private enthusiasts of the occult. Discovered by adventurers raiding sacred areas of t...

How the Underground Railroad Worked from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As early as 1786, groups assembled to help slaves escape lives of bondage. And, as the 19th century progressed, the emergent Underground Railroad grew more sophisticated in aiding escaped slaves. B...

How Guerrilla Gardening Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

You've heard of guerrilla fighting tactics, but how much do you know about guerrilla gardening? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about this "revolutionary" gardening trend. Learn...

The Skinny on Lyme Disease from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

If you live in the Northeastern U.S. then you may know someone who has had Lyme disease. But it's spreading all over the country and parts of the world. Learn all about this tick-borne disease toda...

A List Of Games You Would Surely Lose to a Computer from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We live in a time where computers can beat the best humans in the world at chess, checkers, poker and video games. But these games are really just demonstrations of how intelligent our machines are...

What's with this "Internet of Things"? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

You may have heard about the Internet of Things and not known what the term meant. It's basically a collection of object conected to your life and the internet. We're talking everything from your s...

What's the deal with the debt ceiling? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Lately it's been common news fodder that Congress uses its ability to raise the debt ceiling to hold the executive branch hostage to its demands, but exactly how does that work, and what does the d...

How Fear Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Fear results from your brain's reaction to a stressful stimulus, and -- though it may be unpleasant -- it plays a crucial role in the life of every human being. But how does it work (and why)? Join...

How OCD Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about the effects of and treatmen...

SYSK Selects: How Wills Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Whether it's oral, scrawled in blood or signed on a deathbed everyone should have a will. But how do they actually work? Join Chuck and Josh as they explain that "of sound mind" thing in this class...

SYSK Selects: Is brain size related to intelligence? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The idea that the larger the brain, the higher the intelligence is an old one, but it's pretty much utterly false. Modern investigation into how the brain works suggests there's a lot more to take ...

Research tips from SYSK from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

People often ask us how we do our research. We're not going to disclose all of our secrets, but we'll give you some tips on how to root out the bad studies from the good ones. Learn all about shady...

How the Deep Web Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Perhaps you didn't realize that when you search the web you're only skimming the surface. In fact, the types of web pages that turn up in your search engine results represent only a mere fraction o...

How Nicotine Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Sure, nicotine doesn't cause cancer, but it does rearrange the brain's reward system. Humans have been ingesting this plant for more than 6,000 years, but we generally understood little of it. Join...

How Thanksgiving Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Thanksgiving is an unusual holiday in America -- there's no religious connotation, and the only traditions are a good meal and a sense of appreciation for the good things in life. Check out this Ho...

Special Effects: A Short History from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Special effects have been around since the first movies. In fact, the techniques the earliest filmmakers created are still around today, we just use computers to do them faster and cheaper. Put on ...

The Collar Bomb Heist from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The collar bomb heist is the crime caper that keeps on giving. Every time the story seemed like it was figured out, another layer appeared. Tune in today to hear Josh and Chuck detail this very odd...

How Lighthouses Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

People have been burning fires on cliffs as long as other people have used boats, but after the Age of Exploration, lighthouses took their unmistakable form and the great stories of the people who ...

Chuck and Josh Bust a Few Everyday Myths from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There are lots of common "facts" that everyone knows, but it turns out a lot of them are actually false. Join Josh and Chuck as they put on their berets and suspenders and take the hot air out of s...

How do I start my own country? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Whether through revolution, colonization or other means, every country has its start somewhere. But how does the process work? Join Josh and Chuck as they explain how countries get created -- and w...

How Albert Einstein's Brain Worked from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Albert Einstein is one of the world's most recognizable geniuses. But was his brain any different from that of an average person? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about Thomas Har...

Short Stuff: Papasan Chairs from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Oh, the papasan. What a chair! But where did it come from? And what does the name mean? The answers lie within. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What's a quinceañera anyway? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A quinceañera is the celebration of a girl of Hispanic heritage becoming a young woman on her 15th birthday. It involves family, friends, music and a lot of great food. Join Josh and Chuck as they ...

How Underground Mining Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

People used to use deer antlers to beat the minerals out of rock hidden in the earth. Luckily, they got better at it, and now modern mining is a mind-boggling process for efficiently removing stuff...

How Pet Psychics Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In the early 21st century a trend of people who claim to be able to telepathically and clairvoyantly communicate with animals has grown. Today, the concept of visiting a pet psychic to find a lost ...

What is terror management theory? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Terror management theory isn't about mid-level bureaucrats in Al-Qaeda -- so what exactly is it, and what does it say about human culture and our perception of mortality? Join Chuck and Josh as the...

How Corporate Personhood Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Corporate personhood is an ancient legal custom tracing back to Roman law, whereby a corporation is legally considered a person. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast...

How Government Shutdowns Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Every year Congress decides how the federal government will spend money. Simple enough, but in practice politics tend to mess it up. Sometimes it gets so messy the budget doesn’t get passed and par...

SYSK Selects: How Cremation Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Cremation is a burial process practiced around the world, but how exactly does it work? Josh and Chuckers take a detailed look at cremation's history, practices and controversies in this episode. ...

What's the misery index? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Economists love their data because somewhere in the numbers lies the answer to the ills of the country. They also love to frame data in a way people can relate to. Such is the case with the famous ...

Was there a real King Arthur? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The legend of King Arthur is very old and very established. By the time the king who saved Britain and united it was first written about, his story was already hundreds of years old. And while many...

What is parallel evolution? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In the process of parallel evolution, two seemingly unrelated species living in isolation can evolve surprisingly similar traits -- but how does it work, and why does it happen? Join Chuck and Josh...

How Eco-anxiety Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Eco-anxiety -- a chronic fear of environmental doom -- is a recent, specialized type of anxiety disorder gripping an estimated 40 million people in the United States. Check out this HowStuffWorks p...

SYSK Selects: How Ouija Boards Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Although most people who've used Ouija boards don't think they're communicating with the beyond, there is something mysterious about how it works. Learn the ins and outs of the popular parlor game ...

How Drowning Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Hundreds of thousands of people drown around the world every year, and yet it can be easily prevented and is widely misunderstood – like how you can officially drown but live to tell the tale, or h...

How Space Stations Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It seems like we largely take it for granted these days, but the fact that we have humans living in space is the realization of a scientific dream a century old. Visit the space stations orbiting E...

Your limb is torn off - now what? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Were you to be the unfortunate victim of a limb removal of any sort, you could take hope. Here in the 21st century, doctors have gotten pretty handy at reattaching arms and legs, replacing thumbs w...

Can the sun kill you? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Could the sun, typically known for providing light and warmth, kill us? The Apollo 17 mission almost resulted in tragedy due to a mega-flare -- and astronauts aren't the only ones at risk. Join Jos...

Why doesn't the FDA regulate herbal supplements? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

For thousands of years, societies across the globe have used herbs as medicine. While this practice continues today, the FDA does not regulate these potent substances. Find out why the FDA can't re...

What's the deal with MSG? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

MSG got a bad rap in the 70s and 80s. But what is it exactly and how bad is it for you? The answers to those questions lie within.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podc...

PT Barnum: More Complicated Than You've Heard from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When your life is as outsized as the World’s Greatest Showman PT Barnum it’s pretty easy to - you know - gloss over the grimmer aspects when you turn it into an uplifting musical movie. But the way...

How Steadicams Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There have been many inventions that have advanced filmmaking, but maybe none as important as the steadicam. Invented in the mid-70s, it literally changed the way movie making happened, and made th...

Could you live without a refrigerator? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Do you know that hulking refrigerator in your kitchen emits CO2 thanks to the electricity it uses each year? It's a comparatively small amount, in truth, but enough that some people have foresworn ...

How Con Artists Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

They say you can't con an honest man, and that's key to thwarting cons; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Learn how to avoid everything from small-time scams to the Nigerian money t...

Did the CIA test LSD on unsuspecting Americans? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As more and more time passes, the Freedom of Information Act provides increasingly disturbing stories of illegal CIA operations. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about MKULTRA and...

Short Stuff: Barbed Wire from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Barbed wire changed the Western US as much as the railroad and the six-shooter. Before barbed wire arrived, the West was free and open; after, the West became concentrated in the hands of a few big...

SYSK Selects: Are there undiscovered people? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this classic episode, Josh and Chuck discuss whether there are any truly "undiscovered" groups of people left on the planet, the definition of undiscovered -- and why groups might want to avoid ...

Why Are So Many Disembodied Feet Washing Ashore In British Columbia? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Between 2007 and 2016, 17 disembodied feet - still wearing shoes - have washed ashore between Washington and British Columbia. What's behind the sudden influx of Vancouver's mystery feet? Learn mo...

Will solar sails take us to the stars? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We have within our grasp here on Earth the technology that could make interstellar travel a reality within as little as a few decades and it doesn't require any exotic fuel. In fact, it only requir...

What is mountaintop removal mining? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Mountaintop removal mining is (to say the least) a controversial practice. But what exactly is it, how does it work and -- most importantly -- why should you care? Listen in to learn more about the...

How Mortgage-backed Securities Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The 2008 US financial crisis has been blamed on the excessive use of mortgage-backed securities. But what exactly is a mortgage-backed security? Learn more about these securities and how they contr...

Ed Gein: The Serial Killer's Serial Killer from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Any movie featuring a deranged killer who’s perversely devoted to his mother and makes things out of human skin has a real-life person named Ed Gein to thank for inspiration. He was Buffalo Bill, N...

North Korea: What's the Deal? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

For almost 70 years, North Korea has been the bane of South Korea, Japan and the US or has stood as the sole defenders of the Korean homeland from the American hordes, depending on who you ask.  L...

What's the deal with controlled burns? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Starting a fire to prevent fire seems counterintuitive, but it makes a lot of sense once you understand it. But controlled burns aren't just to help prevent forest fires. They're also a vital part ...

How Fire Breathing Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As part of their strange, ongoing suite on circus arts, Chuck and Josh discuss one of the more dangerous crowd favorites, aspirating extremely flammable chemicals from one's mouth onto a flame, cre...

A Podcast to Remember (How Memory Works) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How does memory work? How is internet access changing the function of the human brain? In this podcast, Josh and Chuck take a closer look at the science behind memory -- and how modern technology m...

How Prayer Healing Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Studies have shown that prayer has a positive effect on individuals, but can your prayer heal someone else? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to find out how science weighs in on the power of in...

SYSK Selects: How Icebergs Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Icebergs: floating chunks of ice. True, but whoa there. Scientists are learning that there's a lot more to icebergs. Appropriately enough, we've only come to understand the tip of the iceberg and r...

Nepotism: When Hiring the Best Just Won't Do from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Nepotism is something that is very hard to avoid, and very hard to resist, even if you know it may be the wrong thing to do. We all love helping out families get ahead, but you're also costing some...

How Motion Sickness Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion sickness is the worst and hits about 25 to 40 percent of humans when they ride in cars, boats, or simply watch the wrong 3-D movie. Join us as we break down the science behind this nausea-in...

Josh and Chuck's Warm and Cozy Christmas Extravaganza 2013 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It's finally here, the best episode of the year! It's time to settle in by a nice fire, wrap up in a blanket, heat up a toddy and gather your loved ones around the mp3 player to hear Chuck and Josh...

How Parkour Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The art of parkour is an astonishing combination of agility and physical strength pursued across the world -- but how does it work? Join Josh and Chuck as they explore the philosophy, history and p...

Is a free market "free" if it's regulated? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Prices in a free market are determined by the law of supply and demand, yet the US government has recently given billions of dollars to rescue large corporations. Check out this HowStuffWorks podca...

The Rubik's Cube Episode from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Rubik's Cubes. Ronald Reagan. Jerry Falwell. Just Say No. One of these things was awesome. Take a guess and hop on board the 80s train.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com...

SYSK Selects: Who killed JFK? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

For the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Josh and Chuck delve into the killing, the investigations and the conspiracy theories to get to the bottom of a...

How Gene Editing Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the discovery of a surprising immune response in E coli bacteria, we are facing a new era of freedom from genetic mutations that lead to disease by simply and precisely editing our genes. But ...

Is lethal injection humane? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Since the Supreme Court's ban on capital punishment was reversed, states have sought a humane method of killing sentenced criminals. They settled on lethal injection, but is this quasi-medical mean...

How Rollercoasters Work, Minus the Fun from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Whether you're a rollercoaster fan or avoid them like the plague, there's no denying that these contraptions are striking examples of physics at work. So how do they actually work? Join Josh and Ch...

How do Tibetans avoid altitude sickness? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Due to the region's elevation, the average traveler to Tibet often experiences altitude sickness -- a condition caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to lear...

Short Stuff: Dead Bodies and Airline Codes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Did you know there are airline codes for pilots and flight attendants? And some of them have to do with dead bodies on board? Learn all about it today! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...

Does Pyromania Actually Exist? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A fascination with fire is part of every kid’s childhood, but it’s meant to be passing. For some people, fire becomes the central focus of life, and the urge to set a fire becomes an irresistible i...

How SuperBalls Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

You can thank Wham-O's SuperBall for inspiring the name of the NFL's Big Game (buh) and you can thank the fear and the Soviet launch of Sputnik aroused in America for the invention of SuperBall! Le...

How Manhunts Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When a suspect or prisoner goes on the lam there are plenty of ways to hide: in plain sight, in the mountains, in another country. There are as many types of ways law enforcement uses to track want...

How Wills Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Whether it's oral, scrawled in blood or signed on a deathbed everyone should have a will. But how do they actually work? Join Chuck and Josh as they explain that "of sound mind" thing in this episo...

How the Bailout Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The economy imploded as US banks reaped the consequences of subprime mortgage trades. Controversially, Congress has provided emergency funding for the banks. Learn more about the agreement between ...

A Brief Overview of Punk Rock from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Punk rock really needs about 10 episodes to do it justice, but we'll try and tackle anyway. Learn all about this movement right now.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/po...

Emojis: A New Language? Nah. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Believe it or not, there's a lot more to Emojis than meets the eye. Turns out their history is pretty interesting stuff. Join Josh and Chuck today as they tell the tale of the little faces that we ...

How Crumple Zones Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

If you've ever been in a bad accident in a newer car, you probably have crumple zones to thank for your life. Much more interesting than you think, these zones are designed to break apart and absor...

How Underwater Tunnels Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It's a pretty amazing feat to dig a tunnel beneath a body of water that's big enough (and safe enough) to drive a train through. While humans have been digging underwater tunnels for thousands of y...

Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Flies: They're disgusting, disease-spreading flying machines. They're also really fascinating. Flies taste with their feet, smell with their antennae and use a pair of eyes as a compass oriented t...

How Living Off the Grid Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

If you're tired of paying utility bills or relying on fossil fuels, it might be time to consider living off the grid. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about the techniques and str...

SYSK Selects: How Sleepwalking Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Sleep behaviors are pretty fascinating. Some people snore, some grind their teeth -- and some take a little stroll, or perhaps a drive. In this classic episode, Josh and Chuck investigate how sleep...

SYSK Selects: How Mirrors Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Whether using polished metal surfaces or clear glass, human beings have enjoyed admiring their reflections for centuries. In this episode, Josh and Chuck reflect on the types, mind-melting physics,...

Chiggers: The Phantom Menace from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chiggers are tiny little mites capable of making your life miserable. Worse than mosquitoes? Maybe. But they aren't insects - mites are actually part of the arachnid family and behave a little like...

How Maglev Trains Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Thanks to the amazing properties of magnets, clever engineers have figured out how to make entire trains levitate above their tracks, letting them move frictionlessly and allowing them to reach inc...

How Molecular Gastronomy Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After botching a particularly tricky dish, molecular chemist Herve This decided to figure out why his recipe didn't work. He ended up creating a new field of cuisine: Molecular gastronomy. Join Jos...

Will we soon be extinct? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Is Earth due for a mass extinction? Population ecologists think so. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more mass extinctions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com...

How Ventriloquism Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Ventriloquism – where a skilled performer “throws” their voice, making it seem like a dummy on their knee is talking – has taken a long, circuitous road from early prophets, to witches, then finall...

Two Times In the 70s When People Buried Ferraris from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Not once, but twice in the 1970s people buried amazingly valuable Ferraris, arguably the greatest sports cars ever built. One was dug up after being secretly buried; the other was put in the ground...

The Unsolved Mystery Disappearance of the Sodder Children from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In 1945 a house fire took the lives of five children - except that no trace of their bodies was ever found. Dive into the longstanding mystery of the odd circumstances surrounding the disappearance...

How Castration Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this episode, Josh and Chuck teach you everything you ever wanted to know but were too freaked out to ask about castration. Learn about the history of removing male genitalia, why some parents h...

Does oil speculation increase gas prices? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In an uncertain economy, investors often flock to commodities like oil, trading oil futures in a derivative market. Some believe this creates an artificially high price. Join Josh and Chuck and lea...

How Cannibalism Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Cannibalism is one of humanity's near-universal taboos, but it has been practiced in widely varying circumstances throughout history. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn the difference be...

Short Stuff: Horseshoe Crab Blood from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Perhaps the most expensive liquid on the planet is the blue blood that comes from horseshoe crabs. Researchers realized that horseshoe crab blood could indicate the presence of pathogens and the ma...

The Unabomber: Misguided to say the least from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Unabomber was one of the most notorious and longest lasting cases in the history of the FBI. Just because the manifesto reads like he was a fortune teller doesn't make his actions any less depl...

How Bonsai Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

For thousands of years people have been taking normal trees and forcing them into miniature. Learn all about the history and art of this strangely engrossing pastime. Learn more about your ad-choi...

How Black Friday Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

On the day after Thanksgiving, Americans go kind of crazy for the deep discount sales that kick off the holiday shopping season in stores. So crazy, in fact, at least four people have lost their li...

Sherpas: Warm, Friendly Living from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Pop quiz: What word denotes a nation of people, a last name and an occupation? If you guessed 'Sherpa,' then congratulations: You're correct. But what exactly is a Sherpa? Tune in and learn more as...

How Entomophagy Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Entomophagy -- the practice of eating insects -- is common outside of Europe and North America. Despite cultural taboos, you've probably eaten insects without knowing it. Check out our HowStuffWork...

Nuclear Semiotics: How to Talk to Future Humans from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The nuclear waste we produce will be dangerous for a very long time. We’ve figured out how to safely store it in the earth until it’s no longer a biohazard. Now we just have to figure out how to wa...

SYSK Selects: What happens in the brain during an orgasm? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this classic episode, Chuck and Josh test the limits of their decorum as they explore the physiology of an orgasm. Learn all about this inexplicably taboo subject (including how even women who a...

True stories of survival cannibalism! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Cannibalism is the macabre practice of eating other humans. But sometimes, people have no choice if they want to survive. It's called survival cannibalism and it tastes like chicken. Learn more ab...

Is there a scientific formula for funny? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Recorded live at the Los Angeles PodFest, this episode of SYSK delves into the longstanding attempt to break down what humans find funny into a scientifically reproducible formula. Join Josh and Ch...

SYSK Live from SXSW: How UFOs Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this episode, Josh and Chuck ditch the studio and head west -- south by southwest, in fact -- to record a live podcast in Austin, Texas. Tune in and learn more Stuff You Should Know about SXSW a...

How China's Pollution Sniffers Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In China's Guangdong province, twelve volunteers have been trained to detect harmful pollution by using their sense of smell. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about China's pollut...

SYSK Selects: Are We in a Cyberwar? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There's a secret war going on around us, and it's happening on a daily basis. The Air Force has a unit specifically designed to carry out and defend against cyberwar. Go deep into this alarming typ...

How Paramedics Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Paramedics are not EMTs. Or fire fighters. Or cops. But they do ride around in ambulances (and drive) to help to save lives. It's a stressful job and we're here to shine a light on this noble profe...

How Snake Handlers Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Snake handling ranges from professional snake milkers for antivenin to religious handlers who tend to get bitten and sometimes die from it. Either way, it can be a dangerous business. Learn all abo...

Who killed JFK? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

For the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Josh and Chuck delve into the killing, the investigations and the conspiracy theories to get to the bottom of a...

How Igloos Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Igloos were traditionally used by Inuit Indians as temporary shelter while on hunting and fishing trips. In this episode, Josh and Chuck look at the design of igloos, from their impressive heat-cat...

How Delta Force Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the world's best weaponry, a shadowy legal status, and almost no oversight, Delta Force is the stuff of military legend. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn why Delta Force was creat...

How Peyote Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Josh and Chuck have tackled a lot of drugs on the show, but peyote has loomed like a bad Jim Morrison poem. Learn all about this plant today.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.ihea...

Why Landmines Are The Deadliest Legacy Of War from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

One of the worst legacies of war are the millions of landmines left behind. They hide for decades after a conflict is over, exploding beneath unsuspecting civilians and children. To many, removing ...

How LSD Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In 1943 Swiss chemist Albert Hofman discovered he'd created what may be the most potent hallucinogen known to humankind. Then he took a bike ride. Learn about the chemistry, neurology, history and ...

How Chocolate Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

People have been consuming chocolate for at least a couple thousand years, but it's only been in the last hundred that humanity has arrived at its crowning achievement: the smooth, creamy milk choc...

That Dang-old Goat Fell Over from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Due to a condition known as Thomsen's disease, the muscles of fainting goats tense up whenever the animal is startled. In this episode, Josh and Chuck break down the science behind this bizarre con...

How Graceland Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Graceland attracts millions of visitors every year. Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about Elvis and Graceland, which Elvis bought when he was only 22 years old. Learn more about...

Short Stuff: Petrichor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

You know that amazing smell when it rains? Kind of clean, kind of earthy, one of a kind? It turns out that a miracle of nature produces it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart....

SYSK Selects: Sherpas: Warm, Friendly Living from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Pop quiz: What word denotes a nation of people, a last name and an occupation? If you guessed 'Sherpa,' then congratulations: You're correct. But what exactly is a Sherpa? Tune in and learn more as...

How Megalodon Worked from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Between 2 to 20 million years ago, the biggest shark with perhaps the most devastating bite of any animal ever ruled the oceans with an iron jaw. Despite its fierceness, megalodon went extinct whil...

How Werewolves Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

If you've ever been bitten by a wolf, you're probably familiar with the anxiety of waiting for the next full moon to see if you become a werewolf. Learn all about the lore, mental illness and rules...

How a Nuclear Meltdown Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The recent disaster in Japan has caused massive damage and killed thousands -- but that's not all: The Fukushima nuclear plant may possibly be on the verge of a meltdown. Tune in to learn how meltd...

Is quitting smoking contagious? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Everyone knows it's tough to quit smoking -- but did you know quitting can be contagious? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about smoking. Learn more about your ad-choices at http...

Solar Power: The Future or What? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We’ve been promised solar energy for a while now – where is it? Turns out, it’s been quietly and steadily growing across the world. And with a few breakthroughs, we just may be able to say goodbye ...

Project Azorian: The CIA's Super 70s Mission To Steal A Sunken Soviet Sub from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In 1974 the CIA undertook one of its most brazen operations – secretly raising a sunken Soviet submarine lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean right under the noses of the Russian Navy. With the ...

What was Operation Plowshare? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

America had already used two nuclear bombs to devastating effect when researchers thought "maybe we can use these bombs to dig big holes instead." That's right, atom bombs to replace bulldozers. An...

Some Interesting Things You Didn't Know About Stephen Hawking from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Everybody knows that cosmologist Stephen Hawking has an enormous brain, but did you also know he has an equal wit? Learn about some of the lesser-known details about the celebrated physicist in thi...

Why's that dude in that dumpster? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Freegans prefer scavenging, volunteering and squatting to the more mainstream consumer practices of buying, working and renting a home. But how does this actually work, and why are these people som...

How Can I Erase My Identity and Start Over? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Everyone dreams of snagging a fresh start at life. Whether you've thought of changing your dull given name, or just disappearing entirely, this HowStuffWorks podcast will tell you what it takes to ...

SYSK Selects: What Is a Shotgun House? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Shotgun houses are iconic pieces of American architecture: they're long, narrow, and filled with artistic flourishes. But where did they come from? Join Chuck and Josh and explore the mysterious or...

When Words Take on New Meanings from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Historical words often morph and change to take on new meanings. Today on the podcast, Josh and Chuck sit down and talk about a handful of them, their original meanings, and how they changed over t...

Myths and Truths About Tornadoes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Tornadoes can make mincemeat out of houses, people, cars, you name it. So do you know what to do - and what not to do - when there's one headed your way? Learn more about your ad-choices at https...

How Lewis and Clark Worked from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

They may be the most famous explorers in U.S. history, but there are plenty of interesting details to the Lewis and Clark expedition that history has allowed to fade. Learn about the origin and the...

How Mummies Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A mummy is a human being whose soft tissue has been preserved after death, and there are mummies around the world -- including natural mummies, as well as corpses that have been intentionally embal...

What's the ultimatum game? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The ultimatum game is an economics experiment that provides insight into the human psyche. Check out our HowStuffWorks podcast to learn about the rules to the ultimatum game. Learn more about your...

Iran-Contra Affair: Shady in the 80s, Part 2 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the operation expands it also begins to unravel. Word starts to leak out of the illegal stuff the Reagan administration was up to, Congress and the press investigate and people start to point fi...

SYSK Selects: How Guide Dogs Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

You know how when you see a guide dog leading a blind person to their destination and you think, "There goes a truly great dog?" It turns out you are absolutely correct. Guide dogs are about as spe...

Does Kin Selection Explain Altruism? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There's a curious puzzle unanswered by the theory of evolution: why do some animals give up their chance to reproduce to help others reproduce instead? For decades biologists have suggested family ...

How Chess Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Despite its knights, bishops and castles, the game of chess has been around a lot longer since the Medieval Age. And it wasn't even invented in Europe - chess comes from 2nd-century India, when som...

Is it legal to sterilize addicts? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It's a controversial idea, to say the least: If evidence shows that addicts tend to be irresponsible, abusive parents, then why should they have children at all? In this podcast, Josh and Chuck exp...

Why don't we live underground? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Humanity has adapted to life on the surface. We like sunlight and fresh air -- but do we need it to survive? Check out this HowStuffWorks podcast to learn more about living underground. Learn more...

Short Stuff: Time Zones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Time zones are a pain. Let's get rid of them! Can we? Sure! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What are false positives? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When getting a medical diagnosis, it's important to understand the terms. Negative is good, positive is bad, false positive is great in a way, but false negative is the worst. Learn all about false...

What Makes Lead So Poisonous? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The people of Flint, MI were horrified to find their drinking water was poisoned with lead. As we learn more about lead's effects and realize how persistent it is, the more worrying it becomes. Wha...

What's with the Winchester Mystery House? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After her daughter and husband died, heiress Sarah Winchester became obsessed with the idea that spirits haunted her and to appease them she had to have a house continuously built for them. So she ...

Cults: Who is this "The Leader?" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Cults are conventionally understood to be unestablished, non-mainstream religious groups that follow a single leader. So what does it take to be the leader? Tune in as Josh and Chuck take a closer ...

Is sleep that important? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Sleep is one of those funny things about being a human being -- you just have to do it. Have you ever wondered why? Check out our HowStuffWorks article to learn more about the importance of sleep. ...

Iran-Contra Affair: Shady in the 80s, Part 1 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When Ronald Reagan was president, America got involved in some deeply shady stuff, not the least of which was the Iran-Contra scandal – a convoluted operation that managed to combine an illegal cov...

How Meals on Wheels Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Meals on Wheels is one of the great charitable organizations in the world, providing much-needed nutrition for elderly people in need. It also has a pretty interesting backstory, starting in multip...

How Big Bang Theory Works, with Neil deGrasse Tyson from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There are a number of theories for how the universe evolved but none are more widely accepted than the Big Bang theory. Learn about the mind-boggling details of the early universe and hear Dr. Neil...

The Empty House from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It's Halloween, and Josh and Chuck are ready to creep you out with this year's spooky story, Algernon Blackwood's scary short story, The Empty House. Tune in, turn down the lights and prepare for c...

How Fossils Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A fossil is a piece of once-living organic material that has undergone a transition from an organic state to an inorganic state. But what exactly is fossilization? Listen in as Josh and Chuck break...

What's the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The function of antiperspirant and deodorant is to prevent sweat or to mask the scent of body odor. Learn about the function of antiperspirant and deodorant in this HowStuffWorks podcast. Learn mo...

SYSK Selects: How the Black Death Worked from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Black Death was gruesome: Symptoms included tumors, purple splotches, fevers and vomiting. But how did this disease manage to spread from the Gobi desert and kill approximately one-third of the...

SYSK Selects: Subways: HUH! What are they good for? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As ubiquitous as they've become, it's easy to overlook the marvels of engineering that are subways. Chuck and Josh go boring as they explore these systems of tubes that must circumnavigate rock, ri...

How the Gender Pay Gap Works from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The gender pay gap is the amount of time into the next year a woman must work to earn as much as a man did the previous year. And it's narrowing at a snail's pace. Learn more about your ad-choices...

How Ouija Boards Work from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Although most people who've used Ouija boards don't think they're communicating with the beyond, there is something mysterious about how it works. Learn the ins and outs of the popular parlor game ...

Were U.S. citizens in Japanese internment camps? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

During World War II, the U.S. interned more than 100,000 Japanese and Japanese-American citizens. In this episode, Chuck and Josh recount the events that led to these internments, along with the lo...

Is there a worst way to die? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

But there's no consensus among professionals about which method of death is the least desirable. A person's fears may factor into his own personal worst way to die. Check out our HowStuffWorks arti...

What Were the BONE WARS? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393