Brainstuff
BrainStuff
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Why do feet stink?
What causes stinky, smelly feet? Sweat and bacteria. Find out ...
What causes stinky, smelly feet? Sweat and bacteria. Find out exactly how bacteria turn sweat into malodorous feet in this episode.
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What does "not guilty by reason of insanity" mean?
Claiming the "insanity defense" in fictional courts of law is ...
Claiming the "insanity defense" in fictional courts of law is common and seems pretty straightforward; in real life, it's much more rare and complex. Discover the legal definition of "insanity" -- and how it relates to mental illness -- in this episode.
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Why shouldn't you go swimming right after a meal?
As children, many of us have been admonished not to ...
As children, many of us have been admonished not to go swimming for at least an hour after eating. But, as it turns out, there's biology behind this commonplace advice. Tune in to this episode to find out why you shouldn't swim right after you eat.
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What's the best way to get Twitter or Facebook followers?
In this episode, Marshall Brain launches the first of a ...
In this episode, Marshall Brain launches the first of a series of experiments with social media. Tune in to learn more about the new BrainStuff Twitter and Facebook accounts and Marshall's social media experiments.
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How does safety glass work?
Laminated safety glass has been around since the 1920s. Find ...
Laminated safety glass has been around since the 1920s. Find out how safety glass is made, how it works and what it's used for in this episode of BrainStuff.
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How do thirty pounds of air in your tires hold up two tons of car?
Cars are heavy machines, so how can a few small, ...
Cars are heavy machines, so how can a few small, pressurized tires support their weight? Marshall Brain explains how tire pressure and contact patches work in this episode.
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Why do Wint-O-Green Life Savers spark in the dark?
If you've ever bitten into a Wint-O-Green Life Saver candy ...
If you've ever bitten into a Wint-O-Green Life Saver candy in the dark, you've probably noticed an accompanying spark of light. Marshall Brain explains the chemistry behind this phenomenon, called triboluminescence, in this episode.
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How does a credit card's magnetic stripe work?
The magnetic stripe on the back of the card plays ...
The magnetic stripe on the back of the card plays a key role in transactions made by credit card. Learn more about how these "mag stripes" work in this episode of BrainStuff.
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When I pay for groceries by check, where does that check go?
When you write a check to purchase goods and services, ...
When you write a check to purchase goods and services, it passes through the hands of several banks before the process is complete. Marshall explains how checks are processed through intermediary banks in this episode.
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What is a blowout preventer?
The massive oil spill currently flooding the Gulf of Mexico ...
The massive oil spill currently flooding the Gulf of Mexico should have been prevented by a fail-safe device called a Blowout Preventer, or BOP. Find out how this safety mechanism is supposed to work -- and why it didn't -- in this episode.
