logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2021
5m 38s

Why Do Flamingos Stand on One Leg?

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Spoiler alert: No one knows for sure! Learn a bit about how flamingos work, plus science's best hypotheses for why they often balance on one leg, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/flamingos-stand-on-one-leg.htm

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Feb 23
How Did the Penn Center Become a Civil Rights Sanctuary?
In South Carolina, the first school for formerly enslaved people during the Civil War shifted to become a center for social activism during the Civil Rights movement, and stands today as a landmark of African American culture and history. Learn more about the Penn Center in this ... Show More
9m 53s
Feb 21
BrainStuff Classics: Why Is Cramming the Worst Way to Study?
Cramming for a test or other deadline may give you decent short-term results, but research shows it sacrifices long-term comprehension and memory. Learn why study methods like spacing and interleaving are better in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https: ... Show More
5m 55s
Feb 20
How Can We Separate Ninja Fact from Ninja Fiction?
Over a few hundred years, real stories about secretive agents developed into the legend of the ninja. Learn how this myth captured the world's imagination -- and about the work being done at the world's first International Ninja Research Center -- in this episode of BrainStuff, b ... Show More
7m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2014
Wind Beneath My Surgical Wings, Part 1
<p>Can science give us the wings we've always envied in birds? Can plastic surgery elevate us to a higher human form? In this episode, Robert and Julie discuss Joseph Rosen's posthuman philosophy and ponder what we'd have to do to transform arms into wings. Learn all about it in ... Show More
22m 55s
Jul 2021
Hot pink flying squirrels
An accidental discovery on a nighttime walk led one scientist and his team to wonder: How many mammals glow under ultraviolet light? The list keeps growing, but scientists still aren’t sure why these furry creatures glow. For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great ... Show More
29m 39s
May 2020
Hummingbirds: Ornery Helicopters of the Animal Kingdom
If you didn’t already know how amazing hummingbirds are, prepare to learn. Not only do they count among their numbers the smallest bird species, they are also lightning fast and have the endurance of a marathoner and a telethoner put together. Learn more about your ad-choices at ... Show More
46m 23s
Dec 2022
Basic instinct
How do animals know how to do things like spin a web or build a dam? A neuroscientist argues it's not “instinct.” Something bigger is going on. For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Als ... Show More
28m 32s
Aug 2015
Pigeons: Homing, Passenger, Carrier and Otherwise
<p>Pigeons can get a little confusing. Passengers, messengers, carriers, homing - the list goes on. But when it comes down to it, they're all variations of the same smart bird with a knack for getting home to roost. Learn about these clever creatures in today's episode.</p><p> </ ... Show More
48m 21s
Oct 2021
Honey, we shrunk the birds
A recent study of tens of thousands of birds has shown that birds are growing smaller over time. It could be due to climate change, and if so, we ought to consider: How else might humans be altering the literal shape of life on Earth — now and in the future? For more, go to http: ... Show More
27m 19s
Sep 2021
All About Alligators
<p>Here at SYSK, we love alligators? Why? Because they're basically living dinosaurs. Dive in (metaphorically) and swim with these beasts today!</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a> ... Show More
51m 22s
Mar 2021
The Parrot Episode
tail spinning
51m 16s
Nov 2020
Short Stuff: Fruit Flies, Why?
<p>Have you ever wondered why we do so much scientific testing on fruit flies? Turns out they make better models for humans than you’d think.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a><p> ... Show More
11m 51s
Jun 2021
How do animals know where to go?
As part of a massive new global tracking project, scientists are monitoring animals from a receiver on the International Space Station, mapping the incredible, previously unknown journeys that animals undertake. They’re beginning to tackle questions like how far do animals actual ... Show More
27m 56s