Stuff To Blow Your Mind

We Are Stardust

26 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The atoms in your heart once burned in the fires of a dead star. Does this constitute an almost-spiritual connection to the cosmos or is it mere chemi...

Hug it Out

24 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Just what sort of hugger are you? Do you squeeze random strangers? Do you grapple your pals in a bear hug or go for the side-hug? In this episode, Jul...

The Science of Arguing

19 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we argue? How much bickering is ego sparring and to what extent our evolutionary heritage involved? Join Julie and Robert as they dive into the...

The Magic Eight Ball of Your Existence

17 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The Magic Eight Ball of Your Existence: Imagine a computer model of the entire world, one on which world leaders can test their decisions and gauge th...

Would You Rather: Bug Diet vs. Bacteria Diet

12 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

So which would you choose: an exclusive diet of bugs for the rest of your life, or an endless string of fermented feasts? In this "Would You Rather?" ...

Black Blizzards of the Dust Bowl

10 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Just what was the Dust Bowl? In this episode, Robert and Julie travel back to the ruined farms and black blizzards of the Great Depression. How did we...

Cheating in the Name of

05 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever cheated on a test? You're not alone. But what goes on in a student's mind when they reach for the cheat sheet and how does it play out i...

The Way of the Sword

03 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

From samurai blades to claymores, the sword is one of humanity's most iconic inventions, and they've cut a bloody swath across history. In this episod...

Anatomy of a Hangover

29 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Anatomy of a Hangover: Before your next New Year's hangover, let's explore what creates that splitting headache and the realization that you're wearin...

Newton: The Chuck Norris of Science

27 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

You are unprepared for the awesomeness of Sir Isaac Newton. Sure, he contributed to science, but a deeper look into his life shows just how Chuck Norr...

Sunken Dangers

22 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

What mysteries rest at the bottom of the sea? Which embody nature's diversity? Which tell the tale of humanity's darker side? In this episode, Robert ...

Spontaneous Human Combustion

20 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Do people really just go up in flames? Do grannies really flare up like roman candles in their rockers and is there anything in science that explains ...

The Santa Claus Machine

15 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Santa Claus Machine: How does Santa Claus make so many gifts? Clearly his elves have harnessed the power of nanomanufacturing. But what does this ...

Give the Gift of a Mystery Box

13 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Give the Gift of a Mystery Box: Why are mystery packages so appealing? How do they improve our mental faculties and fuel our creativity? In this episo...

Nanohealthcare: The Tiny Doctors Inside Me

08 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine a future in which replacement organs grow in magnetic fields and smart pills work for months. Thanks to advances in nanotechnology, this age o...

Pyromania: What's Your Relationship with Fire?

06 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

When does an appreciation for fire turn into an obsession with the flickering, golden god? Who are firebugs, and what drives them to burn? In this epi...

The Hashtag Heard Round the World

01 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Waves of protest continue across the globe, but modern protesters benefit from social media technology. In this episode, Julie and Robert discuss hist...

Why do we protest?

29 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Humans rarely seem to agree, but when we do the results can be staggering. How does the phenomenon called protesting actually work? In this episode, R...

The Future of Stink

24 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Will smell-o-vision make a comeback? Will our zombie movies smell like rotten flesh and our video games reek of voided bowels and fear? In this episod...

Living with Robots: Can we build a better bot?

22 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Our cohabitation with robotic servants is pretty much guaranteed. So what are we doing today to make sure these are the sort of robot we can tolerate?...

Smells to Blow Your Mind

17 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that smell is the only one of your senses with a direct connection to your brain? Or that fancy cheese and David Beckham's foot odor shar...

Living With Robots: Worst Roomates Ever

15 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The robot invasion of our homes has begun, and the future is bright with robotic caregivers. But how to we plan to keep this cohabitation from feeling...

Martyrdom: Transcendence on the Rack

10 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We've all seen images of saints and martyrs rising above their torments, but is it really possible to find transcendence on the rack? In this episode,...

This is Your Brain on Art

08 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Julie and Robert examine the neurological side of your trip to the museum. What happens when we lose ourselves in Mona Lisa's smile or the nightmare w...

The Science of Sports Fandom

03 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Why do humans devote so much time to organized sports? As it turns out, the roots of sports run deep. In this episode, Julie and Robert explore the ev...

Humanity's Love Affair with an Apocalypse

01 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Apocalyptic Love Affair: Human beings are in love with the end. Ruined cities fill our dreams, and fears steers our thoughts through landscapes of bon...

The Science of Frankenstein's Monster

27 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Frankenstein's Monster: What are the ramifications of mad science? Frankenstein's tortured creation has become an avatar for scientific horror. Join R...

What's in a witches brew?

25 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Gather round the cauldron with Julie and Robert as they ladle out hefty servings of magical thinking, medieval psychedelics, feminist history and the ...

The Candy Corn Menace

20 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Whether scarfing down gummy worms or pouring an endless cascade of sugar into their breakfast cereal, children's appetite for sweets seems insatiable....

The Creepy Cool World of Imaginary Friends

18 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Why do kids chat with invisible friends? Those creepy encounters are just part of how the human brain works. Even the average adult brain engages in s...

Hulking Out With Hysterical Strength

13 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Can a grieving mother summon the strength of 12 Hulk Hogans and lift a full-sized automobile up off the ground to save her son? In this episode, Rober...

The Bystander Effect and You

06 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The next time your car breaks down, count the number of vehicles that pass you by. That's the bystander effect in action. But why do people in crowds ...

The Science of Lucky Pants

04 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

What do psychologists think about your lucky rabbit's foot? In this episode, Robert and Julie break down the science of good luck rituals and charms. ...

Splendid Isolation

29 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever want to live alone in the desert, or does an afternoon alone give you the chills? Either way, isolation can have a profound influence on o...

Science of Pet Peeves

27 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Can science explain why other people's phone calls are so annoying? Or why Julie hates fake lavender scents and Robert flies into a rage over turn sig...

Interview: Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson

22 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Robert and Julie interview astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. What does the planet's leading science communicator have to say about ...

Misophonia: Why Your Brain Hates the Sound of Gum Chewing

20 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Does the sound of someone smacking gum drive you crazy? It's possible you're just a cranky jerk, but science presents another possibility: misophonia....

Is free will an illusion?

15 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Your life is filled with choices and first steps down - or is it? According to many neuroscientists, free will is a sham. In this episode, Julie and R...

What if Earth was a cube?

13 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine life on a cubed Earth. How would this alter our experience of gravity? How would it affect global climate? In this episode, Robert and Julie s...

Decision Fatigue: Death by 1,000 Choices

08 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Could fretting over insignificant choices decrease your decision making effectiveness later in the day? Join Robert and Julie as they look at the caus...

The Procrastinating Brain

06 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we procrastinate? Why do we put off dreaded tasks and long-held ambitions for short-term pleasures? In this episode, Robert and Julie break dow...

The Science of False Memories

01 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We're the recorded information of all the experiences that came before the present moment. So how do we deal with the knowledge that some of the memor...

Don't Eat The Panda

30 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Humans have a complex relationship with other animals. Some are friends, and some are delicious. So why do we feel closer to some animals, while other...

The Big Sting: Wasps vs. Bees

25 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Bees and wasps share a long history, and they've evolved into distinct forms. One hunts while the other farms. But which group would win in a war? Joi...

Can my nightmares kill me?

23 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Can nightmares scare us to death? Join Robert and Julie as they discuss the CDC's investigation of sleep deaths - deaths that inspired Wes Craven to c...

The Science of Brain Wiping

18 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine if you could choose to erase a particularly agonizing or embarrassing memory with a quick injection or a handy pill. Sounds nifty, but could t...

Brood 13: Emergence of the Cicadas

16 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It might sound like the title of a horror movie, but make no mistake: Brood 13 is real. In this episode, Robert and Julie explore the bizarre life of ...

Extreme Sleep: Parasomnia

11 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Parasomnia: Most of us take sleep for granted, but there's a world of bizarre slumbers out there that only parasomniacs understand. Enter the world of...

The Lying Game

09 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Is a lie mere deception, an occasional un-truth or something deeper? Join Robert and Julie as they plunge into the cognitive depths of lies to examine...

Into the Dyson Sphere

04 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

When it's not showing up in episodes of "Star Trek" or imprisoning Necron Star Gods, Dyson spheres are the brainchild of physicist Freeman Dyson. But ...

The Cognitive Dissonance of Exorcisms

02 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Priests in horror flicks drive demons out of innocent victims. But what's really happening in these apparent showdowns between good and evil? Join Rob...

Sharks in Space

28 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Although there's no such thing as a shark in space (yet), sharks have provided invaluable information to NASA. In this episode, Robert and Julie take ...

Bugs, Twinkies and Ancient Foods

21 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

You are what you eat, which poses an interesting conundrum for omnivores. In this episode, Robert and Julie take a fascinating look at humanity's earl...

The Pooping Duck: When Robots Digest

19 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Jacques de Vaucanson's fabulous digesting duck was a clockwork miracle capable of reproducing the processes of ingestion, digestion and defecation. Jo...

Walt Disney the Futurist

14 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

When you hear Walt Disney's name, chances are you think of cartoons and theme parks. But do you know about Walt Disney the futurist? Join Robert and J...

Microdrone Soup

12 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

What's that buzzing around the room? A bird? A plane? Nope, it's just a robotic insect sent by some shadow government. Join Robert and Julie as they c...

Funny or Die

07 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We all know "funny" when we encounter it, but what's going on inside the human mind when we feel amused? Join Robert and Julie as they discuss long-st...

Gimme That Old Time Space Religion

05 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Space Religion: Will humans leave religion behind when they become an interplanetary species? Not hardly. Join Robert and Julie as they discuss how be...

Math, Music and Mayhem

30 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Whether it's Art Garfunkel's mathematics degree or the structure of the chromatic scale, it's easy to correlate music and math. But why are so many mu...

Poking Einstein's Brain

28 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

How did Albert Einstein's brain wind up on a road trip to hang with the author of "Naked Lunch?" In this episode, Robert and Julie give Einstein's hea...

Welcome to the Memory Palace

23 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Stroll into the memory palace, an imagined location that just might expand your brain power. In this podcast, Robert and Julie discuss the Method of L...

Do-it-yourself Organs

21 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We'd all like to replace our failing organs with spare guts, but when will it be possible? Join Robert and Julie as they explain why the day is fast a...

Fathers of the Wild: The Good, Bad and the Ugly

16 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a dog a lousy father and a wolf a stellar patriarch? Join Robert and Julie as they anthropomorphize the animal kingdom in an effort to find...

Are you ready for a neo-evolution?

14 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Humans have spent ages evolving into the charming specimens we are today. But what if we could accelerate the pace of evolution, giving our future pro...

Invasion of the iPod People

09 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when we plug into our gadgets and tune out the rest of the world? In this episode, Robert and Julie discuss the so-called Walkman Effect ...

The Brilliant and Terrifying Future of Toilets

07 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Although the subject makes some people very uncomfortable, sanitation is enormously important. But what kind of technology will we find in the toilets...

Night of the Platypus

02 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

With a duck's head and a beaver's body, the duck-billed platypus is often the butt of jokes. Yet this oddity helps us understand how creatures evolve....

Technology of the Ancients

31 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The notion of Vedic nuclear weapons is a more than a bit far-fetched. Yet from the Antikythera mechanism to Archimedes' death ray, people are fascinat...

Day of the Dolphin

26 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Day of the Dolphin: In 1973, moviegoers watched dolphins carry out assassination plots in "The Day of the Dolphin," part of the dolphin fever stirred ...

This is Your Brain on Meditation

24 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

People around the world practice meditation, but what exactly is it, and how does it affect our brains? Join Robert and Julie as they look at the scie...

Machines, Morality and Sexbots

19 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Can robots be programmed to behave ethically? It's possible that future robots may possess emotions like empathy or guilt. Join Robert and Julie as th...

Is math a human invention or a human discovery?

17 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Robert and Julie take a sweeping look at math, addressing several important questions. For example: What is math? Where does math com...

999 Birthday Candles

12 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Hayflick limit posits that we can live for 120 years. But recent research suggests we could live to for 1,000 years. Enter maverick biogerontologi...

Atomic Bomb Parties and Nuclear Fallout

10 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In the 1950s, residents of Las Vegas partied hard, and their booze-fueled parties sometimes included a special treat -- the observation of nuclear tes...

Crimes of Paleontology

05 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It's no secret that the history of paleontology is replete with hoaxes and incorrect conclusions -- but how many can be chalked up to honest mistakes,...

The Placebo Effect: Brain Over Pain

03 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

A placebo is a fake medicine included in drug trials to show, through contrast, the benefits of the real medicine. Yet sometimes the patients taking t...

Change Your Mind the Hard Way

28 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

When an iron rod shot through Phineas Gage's head, it destroyed the majority of his left frontal lobe. He survived, but his personality and behavior c...

Tyrannosaurus Sex

26 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Although scientists still aren't sure exactly how dinosaurs reproduced, fascinating (and surprising) conjectures abound. Join Robert and Julie as they...

The Quest for Cyberimmortality

21 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Is it possible that human evolution is on the verge of transcending its organic roots? And, if it is possible, how could it actually occur? Join Rober...

Is privacy an illusion?

19 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Are computers approaching singularity? Join Robert and Julie as they discuss the quest for cyberimmortality. Learn more about your ad-choices at http...

Five-fingered Evolutionary Discount

14 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Mickey Mouse gets along just fine with four digits on each hand, so why do humans have five of these digits? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Min...

Neuromyths: What You Think You Know About Your Brain

12 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We all know the myth that we use only 10% of our brains, but how we know it's a myth in the first place? In this episode, Robert and Julie interview n...

Does your dog really love you?

07 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It's often said that dogs are man's best friend -- but does science support this claim? In this episode, Robert and Julie examine the science behind h...

Lying Robots and the Lies They Tell

05 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Will robots of the future eventually surpass the intellectual plane of humanity? This event (which, as far as we know, hasn't happened yet) is known a...

Why Your Brain Likes Conspiracy

31 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The human brain strives to organize and classify sensory information. But what happens when new information conflicts with pre-existing data? Tune in ...

Pope on a Cosmic Rope

29 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Should extraterrestrials be converted to Catholicism, or are they somehow free from sin? In this episode, Julie and Robert contemplate the Vatican's c...

Germ-free Dirty Hippies

24 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It's been said that cleanliness is close to godliness, but is it possible for a person to be too clean? In this episode, Julie and Robert analyze the ...

Symbiosis: My So-Called Parasitic Life

22 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In the process known as symbiosis, two organisms of different species exist in close physical contact to the benefit of both organisms. But how does t...

To Terraform or Not to Terraform?

17 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Think of terraforming as a planet-wide renovation project: By creating a more Earth-like atmosphere on Mars, some scientists hope to make more space f...

(Kick)Astrobiology

15 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Astrobiology is a lot more than sitting around wondering what aliens look like -- instead, this discipline draws on multiple fields to study the basic...

Woolly Mammoths For Sale

10 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

You haven't misread the title; rest assured that woolly mammoths are still extinct. However, there are several scientists trying revive mammoths -- an...

Musical Hallucinations Gone Wild

08 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever had a musical hallucination? Not a song stuck in your head - but a genuine hallucination, real enough to completely fool your senses? Jo...

Attack of the Creative Brain

03 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Creativity is one of humanity's most crucial skills, and it is also one of the least-understood. In this episode, Robert and Julian explore the scienc...

Eat Popcorn. Eat Popcorn. Eat Popcorn.

01 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Subliminal messaging dates back to 1957, when James Vicary slipped images of popcorn and soda into films at a New Jersey theater. It spooks some consu...

Planet Neanderthal

24 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

For 200,000 years Neanderthals roamed Eurasia, yet over time the population dwindled and disappeared. In this podcast, Julie and Robert explore the st...

Defeat Your Doppelgangers

22 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Most people are familiar with the idea of a doppelganger -- some mysterious copy or clone of another human being -- but what's the science behind this...

Are you smarter than an ant swarm?

17 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

A single ant might not be Mensa material, but a colony of ants can produce some amazingly clever decisions. Tune in as Robert and Julie explore the st...

Children of Tomorrow, Raised by Machines

15 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Will tomorrow's school systems be dominated by infallible robotic instructors? Tune in as Julie and Robert explore the bounds of education, artificial...

Love, Hate and Robots

10 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Will the hopeless romantics of the future fall in love with robots? In this episode, Robert and Julie explore the line between love and hate -- and wh...

Scientists in Love

08 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Regardless of how brilliant they may be in the lab, scientists are still only human. With Valentine's Day on the horizon, Robert and Julie recount the...