Stuff You Should Know

What Americans Ate When There Were No Food Laws

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There was a brief period in America’s history – after people left the farm to work in the city and before the government started regulating it –...

Selects: The Unabomber: Misguided to say the least

10 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Unabomber was one of the most notorious and longest lasting cases in the history of the FBI. Just because the manifesto reads like he was a fortun...

What's the Pygmalion Effect?

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do teachers and managers give special treatment to those who they're told have great academic or professional promise? Does this create a self-fulfill...

Short Stuff: School Bus Yellow

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why are all school buses the same color? Because one man made it so. This is that story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clue(do): Third Best Board Game Ever

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you know it as Clue or Cluedo, the whodunnit mystery board game is one of the best of all time. Learn all about the history behind the game’...

Selects: How Disgust Works

03 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Disgust is an odd thing. It makes sense that we would feel a sense of revulsion at the thought of putting rotten meat in our mouths – that’s pure ...

The History of Las Vegas

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How did the sleepy Nevada town of Las Vegas become LAS VEGAS? Well, we'll let you know over the course of about 45 minutes. See omnystudio.com/listen...

Short Stuff: Wainscoting: When Half a Wall is Enough

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wainscoting is a beloved and time-tested decorative way to spruce up your walls. But what is it anyway? Listen in to find out.See omnystudio.com/liste...

The Harrowing Story of the North Hollywood Shootout

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tune in today to listen to the story of when North Hollywood became a war zone after a brazen bank robbery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Selects: A List Of Games You Would Surely Lose to a Computer

27 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We live in a time where computers can beat the best humans in the world at chess, checkers, poker and video games. But these games are really just dem...

Esperanto: Tre Mojosa

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One thing you could do is create your own language. Some people do and for lots of different reasons. LL Zamenhof created Esperanto to try to bring ab...

Short Stuff: Hot Cold Plunge

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jumping into a cold pool after a long sauna or hot tub can be pretty great. Saunas have proven health benefits like lowering blood pressure; cold plun...

The Strange Unsolved Murder of Ken McElroy

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The murder of Ken McElroy comes off like a story from a cheap paperback book you’d get to read on a plane. But this is a true crime story, set in Mi...

Selects: Is yogurt a miracle food?

20 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Yogurt has been touted as a health food, but is it? Maybe. If you eat it every day. We get into the rich and creamy history of this supposed miracle f...

Jonestown

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We all know what happened at Jonestown, but who was Jim Jones before the tragedy at the People's Temple?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Short Stuff: Frozen Dead Guy

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Back in 1994, Nederland, Colorado found out it had a resident it hadn’t accounted for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dry Cleaning: Not Really Dry(!)

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dry cleaning is one of those things that we’re all familiar with but don’t actually know much about. That will hold true no more! Learn about all ...

Selects: History's Greatest Traitors

13 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The annals of history hold a special place for people who have carried out treachery and betrayed their own. Thousands of years later, their names are...

How Cranes Work

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve probably seen cranes moving elegantly in the sky, but did you know what an important role they play in their surroundings? Learn all about cr...

Short Stuff: NYT Bestseller List

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What kind of black magic goes into deciding who makes the NYT Bestseller List? Well you probably don't know the whole story unless you work there.See ...

Kenton Grua: Grand Canyon Legend

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tune in today to listen to the amazing story of Colorado River guide Kenton Grua's wild 277 mile record-breaking speed run down the center of the Gran...

Selects: Dr. Seuss: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

06 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Seuss is loose in this episode about legendary children's book author Ted Geisel. The funny thing is, he didn't ever want children of his own, and...

The 2000 Presidential Election: A Real Cluster

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When George W Bush and Al Gore ran against one another, most pundits predicted a tight race. Absolutely zero of them predicted the election would come...

Short Stuff: Blueprints

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The story of why blueprints were blue is more involved than you think. It involves a chemical process and the Prussian Army. Yeah you heard me right.S...

SYSK Live in Nashville: The Biosphere II Experiment

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hello, friends! Join us today for our annual live show release, recorded in beautiful Nashville. On the docket? The Biosphere II Experiment!See omnyst...

Selects: Nuclear Semiotics: How to Talk to Future Humans

30 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The nuclear waste we produce will be dangerous for a very long time. We’ve figured out how to safely store it in the earth until it’s no longer a ...

How Primitive Will Our Descendants Find Us?

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s all fun and games to think about how backwards and misguided some things people did in the past were until you realize we’ll be “the past”...

Short Stuff: Scheele's Green

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can you imagine a color so alluring that even though you know it’s toxic you’d still use it to your heart’s content? The Victorians certainly co...

How Snails Work

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

They seem gross and bothersome at first, but once you get down to ground level and get to know snails, we’ll bet you’ll grow quite fond of them. T...

Selects: How Fireplaces Work

23 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

They are dirty, harmful to your health, bad for the environment and utterly charming. Wood-burning fireplaces have been with us for centuries and, des...

The 2023 SYSK Ho-Ho-Holiday Spectacular!

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Holidays, friends! Tune in today to listen to our annual ad-free holiday extravaganza. There will be talk of merriment and joy!See omnystudio.co...

Short Stuff: Christmas Lights

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Just three years after the lightbulb was invented a compadre of Thomas Edison thought to use them to decorate his Christmas tree. It set off a sensati...

Beanie Babies: Reigning Toy Craze Champion

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The world has seen a lot of weird investment bubbles in its time, but few of them rival the fever that gripped the world in the 90s after Beanie Babie...

Selects: Star Wars Holiday Spectacular

16 Dec 2023

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 ...

Selects: How Dictators Work

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are many types of dictators, from so called "benevolent" ones to the kind who rule with an iron fist. There are also many ways they can come int...

What was the Skeleton Army?

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Skeleton Army was a rowdy group of folks in England who battled, sometimes violently, with the Salvation Army - largely against  their efforts to...

Short Stuff: Pickles

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Josh loves pickles but hates cucumbers. Chuck loves cucumbers but hates pickles. WHO WILL WIN?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Matewan Massacre

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Matewan Massacre was a pivotal moment for the US mining industry and the labor movement as a whole. Learn about what happened in this sleepy West ...

Selects: What were the Freedom Schools?

09 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Freedom Schools were set up in Mississippi in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, with the aim of giving young black school children agency and a ...

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...