Jul 8

Why Is North Sentinel Island Totally Off-Limits?

This small island in the Bay of Bengal is home to one of the last uncontacted peoples on the planet -- and they seem to want to keep it that way. Learn how North Sentinel Island has remained independent in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuf ... Show More

9m 41s

Jul 7

How Have Obituaries Changed?

Public death notices about common people are a fairly recent development, and they've changed a lot since their inception. Learn how obituaries went from dry statements to tributes to truth in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/cul ... Show More

8m 20s

Jul 6

BrainStuff Classics: What Is the Mandela Effect?

When many people share a false memory, that's the Mandela Effect in action -- but how does it happen? Learn how our individual brains misremember stuff and how false memories can spread in this classic episode of BrainStuff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6m 35s

Aug 2009

How Airplane Technology Works

Airplanes are full of cool technology, from sensors to satellite TV. Join the TechStuff guys as they give a basic overview of airplane technology in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/lis ... Show More

30m 48s

Jun 2019

How Planes Work

What are the physics behind flight? We demystify the concept of lift and explain how many sources get the explanation wrong. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

50m 14s

Oct 2020

Wind Tunnels: More Important Than You Realize

Without wind tunnels we may not have airplanes right now. Early aviationists built them to puzzle out how to get and stay airborne. But wind tunnels are used for so much more than flight – from microchips to wind turbines. Enjoy this breezy episode. Learn more about your ad-choic ... Show More

44m 51s

Jul 2012

TechStuff Rides the Vacuum Train

What is a vacuum train? How fast could a vacuum train travel? What are the challenges of building a vacuum train system? Hop aboard as Chris and Jonathan give you a nuts-and-bolts look at vacuum trains in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcast ... Show More

38m 10s

Apr 2023

What does flying do to my body?

Compared to the entirety of human existence, our history of flying in aeroplanes is very short indeed. So what does this fast form of travel do to bodies that have evolved for land-based living? That's what listener Sofia wants to know after working as a flight attendant for over ... Show More

37m 54s

Nov 2018

The Boring Podcast

How do tunneling machines work? We look at the science and tech behind burrowing under the Earth. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

37m 51s

Nov 2019

The Trials and Tribulations of the 737 MAX

What happened with Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft and why did the CEO of the company appear before the US Congress? We learn about the flight control system that led to tragedy and the controversy surrounding it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com ... Show More

45m 47s

Mar 2024

How Today’s Aircraft Accidents Could Make Future Planes Safer

In recent months, an Alaska Airlines jet lost a door plug mid-flight, and a Japan Airlines plane collided with another aircraft at an airport in Tokyo. Accidents like these are uncommon, but they could help engineers design safer airplanes. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as ... Show More

13m 19s

Aug 2011

Air Conditioners

Air conditioners are a nifty -- and sometime life-saving -- invention, but how does an air conditioner make air cooler? What does a compressor do? What’s a swamp cooler? Tune in for answers to these questions and more in this episode of TechStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices ... Show More

40m 19s

Sep 2023

Selects: Social Security Numbers: Less Boring Than You'd Think

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 boys examine some of the lesser-known details of the Social Security system in the U.S ... Show More

39m 3s

How Are Airplane Cabins Pressurized?