With the return of television's The X-Files, it's never been a better time to look at the science behind the show. Join Joe and Christian as they examine the possibilities of classic Monsters of the Week, including otherworldly parasites, killer mutants,
Today
From the Vault: Cynicism, Part 2
In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the topic of modern psychological cynicism, as well as its roots in the philosophy of the ancient Cynics. (part 2 of 4) (originally published 4/17/2025)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
56m 39s
Dec 2021
The building blocks of the universe
Most of the matter in the universe is dark matter, an invisible, untouchable, mysterious substance. Scientists don’t know what exactly dark matter is, despite decades of searching. But recently, they got a new clue in the form of an extremely tiny dancer.
This episode is a remix ... Show More
53m 54s
Dec 2021
Christmas Music Psychology, Most Influential Films, Mistletoe Science
Learn about why Christmas music sounds like Christmas; the most influential films ever; and the truth behind mistletoe.The stories in this episode originally aired on these dates:December 21, 2018: "Scientists Have Determined the Most Influential Film of All Time" and "Mistletoe ... Show More
23m 14s
Oct 2021
Research Bias: Sort It Out, Science
<p>There’s a sticky issue scientists have to deal with – science is carried out by humans. We humans have flaws (and how) and they can end up in our work. Fortunately, science is waking up to research bias. In the meantime, here’s what to look out for.</p><p> </p> Learn more abou ... Show More
53m 2s
Mar 2022
Making Sense: No one nose
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
29m 15s