Stuff You Should Know

How Rewilding Works

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A big new push toward nature conservation (and saving the planet) is based on a simple premise: remove humans from the equation and let nature take it...

Short Stuff: Nose Breathing

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nose breathing > mouth breathing for many reasons. Listen and learn!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Operation Northwoods: The False Flag Op That Never Was

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There is presumably some very dark, very depressing stuff in the annals of America’s secret history. But perhaps the darkest classified document...

Selects: A Brief Overview of Punk Rock

12 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Punk rock really needs about 10 episodes to do it justice, but we'll try and tackle anyway. Learn all about this movement right now in this classic ep...

Aleister Crowley: Blowhard Narcissist?

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Aleister Crowley was known as the "wickedest man in the world." But was he really just a blowhard narcissist? You decide! Learn more about your ad-ch...

Short Stuff: Great Smog of London

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In 1952 London was gripped by a acrid smog that settled throughout the city so thickly residents couldn’t see their own feet on the sidewalk. Learn...

Behold, National Parks!

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The National Park system is one of America's great achievements. We'll take you on a journey, from sea to shining sea, in today's episode.  Learn mo...

Selects: How Tabloids Work

05 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Having started as an egalitarian answer to 19th-century newspapers, tabloids came to peddle shock and sleaze. They've cleaned up a bit, but they remai...

How Effective Altruism Works

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A branch of philanthropy led by philosophers is dedicated to finding the most impactful ways to help humans survive and thrive. Anyone can find that a...

Short Stuff: Friends of Dorothy

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The gay community had to use code not too many years ago and one way they identified was as “Friends of Dorothy.” So who was Dorothy? Learn more ...

What's the deal with phantom pain?

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Phantom pain is when you sense pain from a lost limb. We don't entirely know how why, but we have some ideas. Listen in to find out.  Learn more abo...

Selects: Is the Pied Piper About a Real Historic Tragedy?

26 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the German town of Hameln a tragedy that took place on a specific date in 1284 and befell specifically 130 children is commemorated every year. Asi...

How Mindfulness Works

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What has become a buzz word for corporate retreats and a way to get a discount on your health insurance is, at its core, a powerful, centuries-old Bud...

Short Stuff: Commensalism

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What's commensalism? Sort of nature's way of sponging off something, but that something doesn't mind. If that doesn't make sense, take 12 minutes to l...

The Improbable Story of Martin Guerre

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Like most 16th-century French peasants, Martin Guerre’s life seemed likely to be lost to history. But a strange series of events took place that wou...

Selects: How Moss Works

19 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Think you have moss figured out? You probably don't. Join Josh and Chuck in this classic episode as they explore some of the surprising aspects of the...

The Ins and Outs of Albinism

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into the science behind the genetic condition albinism, which is not pronounced how you think it is.  Learn more about your ad-choices...

Short Stuff: Cassowary

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Australia is home to a kind of bird that is the second largest in the world and can kill a human being, making it the closest living version of a velo...

Leeches: Oh Hell No!

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Leeches are pretty creepy. They feed on blood, they stick to you body. We get it. But they're also pretty fascinating and worthy of discussion.  Lea...

Selects: The Ins and Outs of Beekeeping

12 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who wants fresh honey? We do! Learn all about the ancient art of beekeeping today in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...

Littering: Not Cool

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The history of litter is in lock step with the history of disposable packaging. Learn all about this nasty habit today. Learn more about your ad-choi...

Short Stuff: Schmidt Stinging Pain Index

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to know how the pain from that yellowjacket sting on your arm compares to stings from other insects, you need look no further than the bod...

The Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The largest ever kidnapping case in the United States went down in the small town of Chowchilla, CA. Learn all about it today.  Learn more about you...

Selects: What's the Deal With Staring?

05 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Gazing too long upon another person is almost universally viewed as anywhere from impolite to hostile, which is odd considering science isn't fully ce...

How the Nobel Peace Prize Works

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Nobel Peace Prize is perhaps the most prestigious award in the world, yet there are plenty of other similar awards. What is it about this one that...

Short Stuff: Firewalking

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s pretty amazing to see a human walk over a bed of hot coals – until you learn the physics beneath it. Then it’s just fairly impressive. Lea...

How Tacos Work

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s Taco Tuesday! If you like eating tacos, you’re going to love learning all about them in this delectable episode. You’ll realize how much yo...

Selects: How Sloths Work

29 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone knows sloths are super slow, but do you know they’re slow because their bodies produce an astoundingly small amount of energy? And did you ...

How Forgiveness Works

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For most of history, forgiveness fell under the domain of religion. But in the 1980s science started investigating it and found that forgiving someone...

Short Stuff: Arctic Fox

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Arctic Fox is one of the cutest critters on the planet. It also has an amazing ability to survive the coldest temps on Earth. Dive into the snow a...

Tug of War

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tug of War is a simple display of strength, but is there more to it than that? Listen in to find out.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://w...

Selects: How SETI Works

22 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

SETI stands for 'search for extraterrestrial intelligence,' and the term is used to describe both the SETI institute and the search for alien life in ...

How Classified Information Works

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The government loves to mark just about any information as secret, which wouldn’t be a big deal if it wasn’t so contrary to running a healthy demo...

Short Stuff: Jaywalking

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jaywalking is a crime. Sort of. But why? Learn all about this weird law today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...

Rock Paper Scissors: Decider of Things

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rock Paper Scissors is a child's game. But it's more than that if you can believe it, and it has a pretty cool history as well.  Learn more about yo...

Selects: Project Azorian: The CIA's Super 70s Mission To Steal A Sunken Soviet Sub

15 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In 1974 the CIA undertook one of its most brazen operations – secretly raising a sunken Soviet submarine lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean rig...

What were the black codes?

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The black codes were proposed laws that basically tried to keep a form of slavery alive and well after the end of the Civil War. It didn't last long b...

Short Stuff: Fortune Cookies

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Everything you thought you knew about fortune cookies is wrong. Learn all the right stuff in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...

The Circleville Poison Pen Letters Mystery

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For 20 years, a tiny town in Ohio was held enrapt by the prolific author of a series of unhinged letters. By the time they abruptly stopped, the lette...

Selects: Carl Sagan: American Hero

08 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carl Sagan was the world's first mainstream media super scientist, capapble of breaking down complex ideas for the common folk. But what made him tick...

Ants! Part 2!

06 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The exciting conclusion of Ants Part 2! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Short Stuff: The Casket Racket

05 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

And you thought we were done with talking about funeral homes. Well guess again! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork...

Ants! Part 1!

04 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ants are pretty much amazing. So we're gonna spend two episodes talking all about them. Please enjoy! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www...

Selects: Horoscopes: Written in the Stars?

01 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of people read their daily horoscopes, but does anyone really take stock in them? Turns out the answer is yes, even though there is no evidence ...

Cookies! Cookies! Cookies!

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

No, we didn’t find another international distress signal we forgot to mention in our Mayday! Short Stuff, we’re just that jazzed about our episode...

Short Stuff: Traffic Signals

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The history of traffic signals is way more interesting than you might think. Trust us.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcas...

Unsung Heroes of the Court

28 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Attorneys and judges get all the press. What about bailiffs, court reporters and sketch artists? Yeah, let's give them their due.  Learn more about ...

Selects: How Tipping Works

25 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tipping is commonly expected in some places, such as U.S. restaurants. Yet this practice varies across cultures. Join trivia gurus (and former waiters...

SYSK’s 2021 Glad Tidings Bonanza Holiday Special

23 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Josh and Chuck’s holiday mojo has returned and they’re back in the saddle to rustle up some holiday cheer. So put on your comfiest sweater, ugly o...

Short Stuff: Christmas Cards

22 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You ever thought about where those cards you send out during the holidays came from? Prepare to do just that! Learn more about your ad-choices at htt...

How Snowmen (And Snowwomen) Work

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The details may vary but building snowmen is pretty much universal where there’s snow. Humans have probably been making them for tens of thousands o...

Selects: Star Wars Holiday Spectacular

18 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Long ago, in a galaxy not so far away, George Lucas allowed the Star Wars Holiday Special to be made. What happened on the night of November 17, 1978 ...

Kidney Stones: No! Please, NO!

16 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kidney stones are widely considered the most painful affliction a person can endure, even worse than labor. And in rare cases they can even kill. Lear...

Short Stuff: Charity Tips

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's the end of the year so we thought we might give you some advice on how to better pick out a charity, Short Stuff style. Learn more about your ad...

Palm Trees: Technically, Giant Plants

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Palm trees. You see them all over the world and for good reason. There are more than 2,500 varieties. Learn all about these giant plants today.  Lea...

Selects: How the Terracotta Army Works

11 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 1974, Chinese farmers discovered the first of what would number 7,000 terracotta soldiers meant to protect China's first emperor in the afterlife. ...

What's the deal with blue people?

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The famous blue people of Kentucky are no longer blue. But why were they like that in the first place?  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...

Short Stuff: Funny Bone

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hitting your funny bone doesn’t just hurt, it feels really weird too. That’s because you’re not hitting a bone at all, but instead the most vuln...

Why Do Great Flood Myths Seem To Be Universal?

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If look into the mythology of just about any culture in the world, you will find a myth about a great flood that destroyed humanity and submerged the ...

Selects: What Is Collective Hysteria?

04 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout the history of the world, there have been many cases of what is known as collective hysteria - groups of people, usually young women, who a...

Your Gut Is Also A Brain

02 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Your gut – not your spare tire, but your digestive tract – is deceptively smart. Not only does it handle processing food and nutrients, but the hu...

Short Stuff: SINA

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the 1950s a group dedicated to clothing animals out of a sense or morality gained momentum. “A nude horse is a rude horse!” was their battle cr...

The Twisted History of Dentistry

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you think going to the dentist now is not fun, just wait until you hear about what they did in the Middle Ages.  Learn more about your ad-choices...

Selects: Why Do Lefties Exist?

27 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For at least the last 200,000 years, between 10-15% of the human population are left-handed and this fact has utterly left science baffled. In searchi...

Python-a-palooza!

25 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Pythons are big snakes. Really big. But there's more to them than their size. Learn all about these big daddies in today's episode.  Learn more abou...

Short Stuff: Mayday!

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Say it three times and help may arrive. But where did "Mayday!" come from? Listen in to find out.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...

The Apache Wars

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

America’s longest-running war was between the US government and the loosely-confederated groups we know as the Apache. As their lands were encroache...

Selects: How Hoarding Works

20 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You may be familiar with compulsive hoarding from TV, but something that’s often missing from those shows and the news is the deep and overwhelming ...

Why Is DC Not A State?

18 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The residents of Washington, D.C., the capital of the oldest democracy in the world, are not allowed to pass their own laws without the federal govern...

Short Stuff: The Paper Dress Fad

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There was a brief period when it was highly on trend to wear a super short dress made out of paper. Learn why right now! Learn more about your ad-cho...

Hot Dog!(s)

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

No, there aren’t snouts and anuses in your hot dogs, so go ahead and chow down. There are, however, plenty of other things that may give you pause s...

Selects: How Feng Shui Works

13 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Feng Shui is an Asian concept that strives to unlock your chi by how your home or office is arranged. Or at least that's the simplified "Western" vers...

The Flannan Isles Mystery

11 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In December 1900 three lighthouse keepers vanished without a trace from a deserted island in Scotland. To this day no one knows exactly what happened ...

Short Stuff: Your Dirty Bed

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is your bed dirty? You bet it is. Are chimpanzee beds dirty? Not as dirty as yours! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetw...

What are blue laws?

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Blue laws are laws that restrict certain activities on certain days. Are they antiquated? Yes! Are they still around? In some places, yes! Learn more...

Selects: The Stories Behind A Few Food Fads

06 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

America loves to go nuts over new food trends and it turns out that the 20th century was a boon time for them. Revisit them with Josh and Chuck in thi...

The Rock Ampersand Roll Hall of Fame

04 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Cleveland rocks! So said the city of Cleveland when they lobbied for the "Rock Hall" way back in 1985. Since then the museum has grown and evolved ami...

Short Stuff: Friendly Floatees

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 1992 more than 28,000 rubber ducks got loose in the ocean and began a decades-long experiment in oceanography. Learn more about your ad-choices at...

How mRNA Vaccines Work

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The two mRNA Covid vaccines are the first vaccines to come out of a new field of immunology and represent such an amazing leap forward that they are t...

Selects: What is folklore?

30 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What is folklore? Turns out it's just about anything you can think of that's shared by more than two people. Art, literature, stories, dance, music, t...

2021 Halloween Spooktacular!

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dim the lights and join Josh and Chuck for their annual spooky Halloween story reading.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...

Short Stuff: Most Haunted House in England

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the 1930s paranormal investigator declared Borley Rectory the “most haunted house in England” – and with good cause! Learn more about your a...

Salem Witchcraft Trials: More Bonkers Than You Know

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Looking back 300 years on, it’s easy to overgeneralize why the Salem Villagers decided to persecute (and execute) their neighbors. But as much as th...

Selects: Will We Find Evidence of Aliens by Their Engineering Projects?

23 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 1960 physicist Freeman Dyson suggested that in the hunt for alien life, we should search for evidence of massive engineering projects that encapsul...

Harry Houdini: More than Magic

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Harry Houdini was a master magician. He was also a movie star. And an inventor. And an aviator. Listen and learn all about the late great illusionist....

Short Stuff: Bloody Mary

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this edition of Short Stuff we may accidentally conjure a deadly spirt, so look out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcast...

Heat Waves!

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Heat waves are one of the easiest natural disasters to overlook yet they kill more people in the US than any other natural disaster (and maybe all oth...

Selects: Why is Venice so wet?

16 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Venice, Italy has a problem. It's sinking, and the water around it is rising. Thankfully, some engineers are working hard on the MOSE project - huge g...

Noise Pollution: Arrrgh!

14 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever found your blood pressure rising because some guy down the street doesn’t know how to keep the trigger on a leaf blower pulled all ...

Short Stuff: Jack O'Lanterns and Sleepy Hollow

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We launch our spooky October episodes with a little bit on Jack O' Lanterns and Sleepy Hollow. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart...

Venus Flytraps: Plant or Monster?

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After looking into the Venus Flytrap, we quickly moved it to the top of our favorite plant list. Part plant, part monster? What's not to love? Learn ...

Selects: How X-Rays Work

09 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Like many huge discoveries, X-rays were accidentally stumbled upon. That serendipity led to a medical breakthrough still in use today. Learn about how...

The Tale of the Church of the SubGenius

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Church of the SubGenius is a religion, but really a parody of religion. Learn all about this group of weirdo outsiders in today's episode. Learn ...

Short Stuff: Dingoes!

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are dingoes dogs? Not really? Then what are they? Listen in to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee ...

Research Bias: Sort It Out, Science

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Selects: How Empathy Works

02 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Empathy can often be confused with sympathy and regular old compassion. But it's not exactly either one of those. Some say a lack of empathy can indic...

All About Alligators

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here at SYSK, we love alligators? Why? Because they're basically living dinosaurs. Dive in (metaphorically) and swim with these beasts today! Learn m...

Short Stuff: Exploring Irish Monk

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a long-standing legend that an Irish monk was the first European to sail to America - in 500 CE! Is there any evidence? Learn more about yo...

How Numerology Works

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The premise of numerology - that numbers are responsible for our destinies and personalities - is plainly nuts, but the history and thinking behind it...

Selects: Planned Obsolescence: Engine of the Consumer Economy

25 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever heard an old timer gripe that things aren’t built like they used to be, that old timer was right! In this classic episode, learn ab...