Brainstuff
BrainStuff
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What does it mean when a car has dual overhead cams?
A camshaft plays an integral role in the functioning of ...
A camshaft plays an integral role in the functioning of an engine. And dual overhead cams ramp up a machine's performance even more. Find out how dual overhead camshafts work in this episode.
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How do self-cleaning ovens work?
What does it take for an oven to clean itself? ...
What does it take for an oven to clean itself? A whole lot of heat! Marshall Brain explains how these special ovens use intense temperatures to burn off baking spills and debris in this episode.
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Why can you hear the ocean in a seashell?
There are various theories about why you can hear ocean-like ...
There are various theories about why you can hear ocean-like sounds when you hold a seashell up to your ear. Marshall Brain explains what you're probably hearing in that seashell -- and why you don't need a shell to hear it -- in this episode.
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How do flies breathe?
Insects like flies have a very different respiratory system than ...
Insects like flies have a very different respiratory system than we do. Learn more about how flies and insects breathe in this episode.
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How can water cut through steel?
Waterjets are tools that use highly pressurized, focused streams of ...
Waterjets are tools that use highly pressurized, focused streams of water to cut through metal and other solid materials. Learn more about waterjets in this episode.
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What makes your arms, legs and feet fall asleep?
When you put prolonged pressure on your feet, arms or ...
When you put prolonged pressure on your feet, arms or legs, you temporarily cut off or scramble communications between your brain and your body parts. Marshall explains exactly what happens when body parts "fall sleep" in this episode.
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Where does cork come from?
Most cork comes from special trees that grow in places ...
Most cork comes from special trees that grow in places near the Mediterranean Sea. Learn more about cork oak trees, cork properties, cork products and cork processing in this episode.
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What happens when pregnant women smoke cigarettes?
When pregnant women smoke, they expose their developing babies to ...
When pregnant women smoke, they expose their developing babies to a host of addictive, harmful chemicals. In this episode, Marshall Brain explains how nicotine and other compounds found in cigarettes affect developing fetuses.
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What is an IP address?
Every computer that's connected to the Internet has its own ...
Every computer that's connected to the Internet has its own unique "address." Tune in as Marshall explains how IP addresses work -- and how many of them exist -- in this episode.
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Why is cotton more absorbent than nylon?
When water comes in contact with the complex molecules that ...
When water comes in contact with the complex molecules that make up cotton and nylon, it causes a different action in each material -- but why? Listen in as Marshall Brain breaks down the science behind water absorption in this podcast.
