Stuff You Should Know

The Murder of John Lennon

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On December 8th, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his apartment building in New York City, by Mark David Chapman. Music history was alter...

Short Stuff: Boba Tea

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Boba tea is bubble tea. But what are the bubbles? Tapioca pearls! Listen in today to learn about the disputed history of this trendy beverage.See omny...

The Life and Works of J.D. Salinger

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

J.D. Salinger was a complicated and problematic human who stopped publishing soon after creating one of the great works of literature. Listen in today...

Selects: Beavers: Tail Slapping Fun

02 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Beavers are in fact, very busy. They're builders and solid family members, husbands and wives. Learn all about N America's largest rodent in this clas...

You Down With OED?

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The story of the Oxford English Dictionary is really something. From its origin to its crowd-sourced literary quotations. Dive in today to learn all a...

Short Stuff: The Zipper Merge

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you switch lanes on the highway after noticing that the lane you’re in is ending up ahead, you are literally ruining the world.See omnystudio.c...

Plate Tectonics Are What Makes Earth Inhabitable

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to get jazzed about Earth science again. It’s only been 60 or so years since we’ve known the continents move around and we’re still ...

Selects: NYC Water: An Engineering Marvel

25 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Getting the rain and melted snow from upstate NY into the taps of every NYC resident and business is one of the great feats of engineering. Does it ta...

The Wreck of the Costa Concordia

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s astounding that with the exceptional navigational equipment aboard a cruise ship can run aground in the 21st century, and 32 passengers and cre...

Short Stuff: Magnetic Pole Switcheroo

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone once in a while, say a few hundred thousand years or so, the north and south poles of Earth’s magnetic field switch places. The result: Dog...

Legs! Legs! Legs! (The Periodic Table)

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever wanted to listen to two totally untrained, non-chemists who are fully unqualified to explain how the periodic table works nervously e...

Selects: E.T.: Is It Really the Worst Video Game of All Time?

18 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you play video games you probably have an easy answer to worst game of all time: ET. But it turns out there are no easy answers, especially when yo...

Diners: The Most American Establishment?

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Diners may just be the most American establishment there is. They were born in the USA, thanks to European immigrants, and they only exist in the USA,...

Short Stuff: Liberty Bell

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The story of the Liberty Bell is far more confusing than we imagined.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tragic Death of Natalie Wood

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Wood was Hollywood royalty who tragically drowned after a long night of partying with her husband, Robert Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken...

Selects: Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?

11 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Josh and Chuck dive into history in this classic episode to tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

How Scuba Works

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a good, old fashioned how it works episode where we break down all of the nuts and bolts and threats to safety that make scuba diving such a un...

Short Stuff: Petrified Wood

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Petrified wood isn't just hard wood. Listen in today to learn all about this unique process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Things We Believed Before the Scientific Method

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s easy to think of people in the distant past as kinda dumb for believing things like that mice could spontaneously generate from old grain. But ...

Selects: Are Election Laws Designed to Suppress Voting?

04 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are laws that are meant to protect the sanctity of the polling place in reality designed to make it harder for groups that traditionally vote Democrat...

The Harlem Globetrotters: American Treasures

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Harlem Globetrotters are an American entertainment institution. Their story may not be quite what you think either. Hint, they didn't originate in...

Short Stuff: White Dog Poop

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you grew up from the 70s to the 90s you know white dog poop. It’s the old, crusty – yes, white – phase that dog poop goes through as it ages ...

The 14th Annual Halloween Spooktacular!

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As per tradition, today Josh and Chuck perform a spooky Halloween story reading to delight, amuse and FRIGHTEN YOU TO YOUR CORE. Will Meagle show up? ...

Selects: How Mummies Work

28 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A mummy is a human being whose soft tissue has been preserved after death, and there are mummies around the world -- including natural mummies, as wel...

Naked Mole Rats: A Face Only a Mother Could Love

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Naked mole rats are funny looking to be sure, but neither moles nor rats. So what are they? You'll have to tune in to find out.See omnystudio.com/list...

Short Stuff: Bed Sheet Ghosts

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The simple bed sheet has provided countless kids and adults with an easy go-to Halloween costume. But why do we associate white sheets with ghosts any...

The Compton Cafeteria Riot

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Three years before the riots at Stonewall, the LGBTQ community of San Francisco's Tenderloin rose up. And the story was almost lost to time.  Learn h...

Selects: Where Did Trick-Or-Treating Come From?

21 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We aren’t exactly sure who invented trick-or-treating – kids who realized they could extort adults for candy, or adults who bought off kids in exc...

Kindness: Do It

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the tradition of our episodes on forgiveness and revenge, comes the third installment in the Emotional Roller Coaster trilogy. Kindness, it turns o...

Short Stuff: Candy Corn

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is it vile? Is it delicious? It seems to be both! Hear all about the history of candy corn, how it’s made, and who likes it in this pre-Halloween ep...

The Criminal Father of Criminology

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Eugene Francois Vidocq is without a doubt one of the most interesting figures in modern history. He’s a former criminal turned undercover informant ...

Selects: Pain Scales: Yeeeow!

14 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Pain is subjective; it is whatever the person experiencing it says it is. But to effectively treat pain, it helps to quantify it, which is why medicin...

How Intellectual Property Works

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Intellectual property sounds as dry as can be, but it’s actually very interesting. It’s at the heart of the global economy and the center of a dis...

Short Stuff: Longyou Caves

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What’s better than discovering a mysterious cavern? Discovering five!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parasocial Relationships: That Podcaster is Your Friend!

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Parasocial relationships are fascinating and it turns out Chuck knows what it's like from both sides. Listen in today to your old friends. See omnyst...

Selects: How Motion Sickness Works

07 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Motion sickness is the worst and hits about 25 to 40 percent of humans when they ride in cars, boats, or simply watch the wrong 3-D movie. Join us as ...

How Andy Warhol Worked

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You know Andy Warhol from his quip on being famous for 15 minutes and paintings of soup cans, but even as far as artists go he was an eccentric and mi...

Short Stuff: Rhodium

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rhodium is one of the most valuable precious metals on Earth, though it has dropped in value by about 80% in the last year. Learn why by clicking play...

Night of the Grizzlies

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Grizzly bears had never killed a person in Glacier National Park until the night of August 12, 1967. That's when everything changed for National Parks...

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

30 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 p...

Revenge: Bitter, Not Sweet

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Someone cuts you off in traffic or makes fun of your friend and all you can think of is how to get back at them and then some. But wait! Research has ...

Short Stuff: The Dakota

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Dakota is one of New York City's great buildings. And its backstory is pretty great to boot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Amazing Life of Christine Granville

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Christine Granville was about as James Bond as it gets. Stories of her life as a spy during World War II are legendary. Today we'll tell her story. S...

Selects: Cockney Rhyming Slang: Beautiful Gibberish

23 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? It's complicated and its origins are unclear. Learn everything we know about it today in this classic episode.See omnys...

Kombucha: Fizzy Goodness

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kombucha is pretty popular right now. But what is it exactly and where did it come from? The answers await you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Short Stuff: Origin of Math Signs

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever stopped mid-pencil mark and realized to your astonishment where the plus sign came from? Then this one’s for you.See omnystudio.com/li...

10ish Worst Business Decisions Ever

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s easy (and kind of fun) to laugh at the misfortune of CEOs and other high up business types when they bring it on themselves – so let’s do t...

Selects: How Floods Work

16 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Floods happen when more water is introduced to an area than can be quickly removed. That's about it, but there's more to floods, what causes them and ...

The Hyatt Regency Skywalk Disaster

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In 1981 America suffered the worst accidental structural collapse in its history. Listen in today to the tragic story of the fast-tracked building dis...

Short Stuff: Why Spilling Salt is Unlucky

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Face it, when you spill salt your life goes totally off the rails, maybe even forever. Fortunately, we humans stumbled upon the one reliable way to co...

Axolotls: The Smiling Salamander from Mexico

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a listener request! Axolotls are one of the more amazing animals roaming the planet right now – they can regenerate parts of their brains, ca...

Selects: How Space Stations Work

09 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It seems like we largely take it for granted these days, but the fact that we have humans living in space is the realization of a scientific dream a c...

Native American Reservations

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we dive into the history and current state of Native American reservations. This serves as a nice follow-up to the Trail of Tears double-ep from...

Short Stuff: History of OK

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is OK the best word? It's certainly one of the most versatile. Check the interesting history of this weird contraction.See omnystudio.com/listener for...

The Made-up Disease of Syndrome K

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In WWII, Italy went through its own Jewish Holocaust, terrible at first then horrific as the Nazis took over the country. In Rome, a group of doctors ...

Selects: Body Odor: You Stink

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chuck and Josh end up making reduxes of past episodes on things like sweating and deodorant in this all-new episode on the science beneath what makes ...

Laurens Hammond: The Non-Musical Genius Who Changed Popular Music

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Laurens Hammond invented the Hammond organ and in the process changed music history. But he was much more than that. See omnystudio.com/listener for ...

Short Stuff: Evil Eye

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You've seen the evil eye. Many Middle Eastern cultures have a long history with it. Learn how to thwart this curse today. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Fordlandia: Brazil Isn't Michigan

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Henry Ford tried to build a Midwestern American town in the Amazon rainforest in the 1920s. It's true. And yes, Chuck will say this should be a movie....

Selects: How Toy Testing Works

26 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's every kid's dream - a job playing with toys that pays in toys. It's a real thing and has been around for a long time. Then there's the other side...

Plant Migration

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Climate change is having sweeping effects on our climate and this is changing the world, not just for humans and other animals, but plants too. Will t...

Short Stuff: Saturn's Rings

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Friends, treasure Saturn’s rings while they are young. They won’t be around forever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmer's Almanac: Literature to Poop To

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Farmer's Almanac has a long rich history that is more than just moon phases and long-term weather patterns. Tune in to learn all about it. See om...

Selects: How Music Sampling Works

19 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today music sampling is a common practice, especially in electronic or hip-hop music. But how does it work? After all, other artists made the original...

The Mysterious Disappearance of the Franklin Expedition

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the great Arctic mysteries was the disappearance of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition in search of a northwest passage between the Atlantic and...

Short Stuff: Edward Mordake

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the 19th century news spread of an unfortunate man who was born with an evil second face on the back of his head that spoke to him. The real story ...

How We’re Learning to Talk to Animals

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If we could talk with the animals, grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals, what would we say? We’d better start thinking of something good bec...

Selects: How Magnets Work

12 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You can stick them to the fridge or use them to transpose sound to tape, whatever they are used for magnets are surprisingly interesting. And knowing ...

Xenobiotics

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Science is just realizing the extent of the tiny pollutants that have entered ecosystems across Earth and inside all humans. We call them xenobiotics ...

Short Stuff: History of English

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Who spoke English first and what was it like? Nothing like it is today. Listen in to learn all about it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Dear Diary...

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Diaries have been around for a long time. There are many famous ones, and tens of millions that will never see the light of day. Learn about the histo...

Selects: Rainbows: Delighting humanity since forever

05 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rainbows seem to defy nature, but they're really pretty simple when it comes down to it. Turns out it's just light reacting to water droplets in the a...

The Last Meal Ritual

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The last meal of the executed is a longstanding tradition. Listen in today to learn about the dark history and modern practice of this culinary curios...

Short Stuff: NATO Alphabet

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie. This is the NATO alphabet. But where did it come from?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BPD: The Worst Disorder or Not a Disorder at All?

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Borderline Personality Disorder has been described as emotional “third degree burns over ninety percent of your body.” It’s as close to a curse ...

Selects: What's the deal with Stradivarius violins?

29 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Strad violin is noted for its tonal qualities and superior craftsmanship. And for its price tag. There are many theories why the Strad sounds so g...

MAD Magazine: A Tribute

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chuck and Josh grew up on MAD Magazine and we hope you did too. What started out as a comic book that spoofed comic books grew into the foundation of ...

Short Stuff: Blue Highway Signs

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the US those ubiquitous blue highway signs that tell you which direction you’ll find a Burger King have an interesting backstory. See omnystudio...

Learning a Foreign Language

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Chuck and Josh dive into the ins and outs of language learning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selects: Nirvana: Not The Band

22 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hinduism and Buddhism are closely related in a number of ways, including their vision of what comes after we exit this mortal coil. Learn about the re...

Magic Eye Illusions

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What became the Magic Eye illusion fad of the 1990s was born by way of the stereogram of the 1950s (and even before that). It's a winding story that y...

Short Stuff: Pie-In-The-Face Gag

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Throwing a pie in someone’s face was groundbreaking comedy once upon a time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Insomnia: Why you can't sleep

18 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Insomnia is rough stuff. Listen in and learn all about why you can't fall asleep and what you can do about that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Selects: How Police Lineups Work

15 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Police lineups are something most people have never had any firsthand experience with. What you see on TV and in movies isn't so far off though. Learn...

How PCP Works

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There is probably no drug more mythologized than PCP. It drives users insane and has the unfortunate side effect of bestowing superhuman strength thus...

Short Stuff: Père-Lachaise Cemetery

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The most famous cemetery in Paris has some of the most famous people in the world buried there. And it's quite lovely.See omnystudio.com/listener for ...

Birth Order: So nice, we did it twice

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is a very special episode, the first one we've ever fully recorded a second time and decided to release. Why? Because it's good and a little diff...

Selects: How Bats Work

08 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

They are creepy, sure, but they are also useful, cute and in great danger of extinction. Get a new lease on life from a new view of bats in this class...

James Beard: Food Legend

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

James Beard is well-known now for the annual awards named in his honor. But he used to be the most famous chef in America, and set the standard for wh...

Short Stuff: Hollywood Sign

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Hollywood sign is an iconic landmark that started out as a real estate billboard. Can you believe it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

How Trucking Works

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If truckers suddenly vanished the global economy would come to a grinding halt in a couple days. But as important as they are these highway heroes (mo...

Selects: What Makes Lead So Poisonous?

01 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The people of Flint, MI were horrified to find their drinking water was poisoned with lead. As we learn more about lead's effects and realize how pers...

Butterflies: Caterpillars with Wings!

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you thought caterpillars were awesome, just wait until you see them with colorful, iridescent wings!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Short Stuff: Fahrenheit or Celsius

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Fahrenheit or Celsius? Why not both? If they can agree - exactly at -40 degrees  - then it seems like we should all be able to agree they're both gre...

Caterpillars: Nature's Magicians

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Caterpillars are simply the best. Don't think so? Well listen in and you'll soon agreeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selects: How Ocean Currents Work

24 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's easy to overlook the importance of ocean currents - they move along out at sea, while we stay mostly on land. But we are globally affected by the...

How Afrofuturism Works

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Black sci-fi writers were shut out of their genre in the 20th century so they created their own vision of the future. That sentiment spread to music a...

Short Stuff: Chia Pet

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It has arrived, the most important podcast episode in the history of the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Large Language Models and You

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There is a good chance that in March of 2023, humans crossed a threshold into a transformative new era when a new, smarter type of AI was let loose in...

Selects: SYSK Live: Back When Ford Pintos Were Flaming Deathtraps

17 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For this special live benefit episode recorded in Atlanta, Josh and Chuck go back to the 70s and look at the decidedly ungroovy course of events that ...