BrainStuff Classics: Why Do Hounds Have ...

You may know him as the villain in the film 'Gladiator', but the real-life Emperor Commodus is said to have been even more cruel and megalomaniacal. Learn about his unusual upbringing, how he made himself into a gladiator and an image of Hercules, and his eventual assassination i ... Show More

Planetary rings are gorgeous, temporary structures created when a planet's gravity captures and tears apart smaller objects. Learn why Earth doesn't have rings (right now!) and what other planets' rings are like in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://s ... Show More

Blushing is an involuntary reaction that can seem to draw more attention to yourself at exactly the worst moment. Learn why this embarrassing response to embarrassment can actually be useful in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.co ... Show More

Dogs are, above all, creatures of the nose. What can they sniff out, and what can we learn about smelling by following them? Alexandra Horowitz talks to a detection-dog handler and a food critic about olfaction, then puts some Freakonomics hosts' noses to the test. Hosted by Simp ... Show More

The verdict is in: female dogs actively evaluate human competence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes:You Probably Use Online Reviews WrongThese Are the Best Guard Dog Breeds, According to ScienceWhy Does It Hurt to Get Water Up Your Nos ... Show More

<p>Why do we have ear wax? Why does it build up and what can it tell us about ourselves? Enter the mysterious ear canal in this sticky new episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://ww ... Show More

<p>Humans aren't the only map masters on the planet. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Julie and Robert explore the amazing ways that animals turn space into place and navigate the world around them.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.i ... Show More

From dogs in old paintings that look like dope smokers to Aztec psychopomps, what’s with all these fire dogs? In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore… (originally published 8/31/2021)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

Dogs are good for you, science says Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Dogs can smell cancer, Covid-19, and many other health problems in humans. Now, scientists are trying to duplicate these powers in robotic sniffers. But there’s a big challenge here: Scientists don’t really understand how smell works. This is the third episode of our six-part ser ... Show More

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe consider the form and evolution of the horse hoof, as well as related adaptations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.