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So here’s the scoop…Volkswagen is currently running an ad on television that touts some pretty impressive mile-per-gallon stats. The commercial features a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel and if you’re not paying careful attention you just may get the impression that it gets 58 miles per gallon. That’s pretty remarkable, right? But is Volkswagen being deceptive?
I spent the past weekend boating, floating and jet skiing around a lake in picturesque Kentucky. And while it was highly relaxing, a constant question nagged at me as I lolled about in the warm, waterfont sun. Had I applied enough waterproof SPF 45 sunscreen to ward off those vicious UV rays? Was I a sitting duck in water, just asking for a blistering burn?
Not wishing to ruin my getaway weekend by scorching my skin in the sun, I reapplied lotion like a maniac. And while I managed to dodge any significant sunburn, the experience made me wonder just how often you’re supposed to reapply.
In many parts of the world, leeches are surprisingly common. You can find them in Amazon jungles, but you can also find them in the local lake. They can be found in swimming in water or crawling on land. For example, if you jump to the 40-second point of this video, Neil deGrasse Tyson shows [...]
You asked: How does the body produce salty sweat? — Joshua, Cebu, Philippines Marshall Brain Answered: You have millions of sweat glands covering your body. Each of them is able to produce tiny drops of moisture on your skin when your body overheats. Where does the moisture come from? From blood plasma. Plasma is the [...]
Google Voice is apparently about to launch, judging by the amount of chatter going on in the tech world right now. This morning I saw an article in PC World by Michael Scalisi that discusses the phone service, and the author seems to think that Google Voice could be a real game-changer.
Good Question – Why does a train REALLY stay on the track?
by Marshall Brain | June 29, 2009
Why does a train REALLY stay on the track? No, it is not the flanges on the wheels. Richard Feynman provides the real answer: [[[Jump to previous question - After you push a car out of a plane, what happens to the car?]]]
My hat is off and held humbly in my hands for the subculture of drivers who hypermile. I am something of what you might call an aggressive driver. The fast lane is meant as a pipeline for cars to shoot down at 90 mph past slower drivers who apparently have less to do or fish a lot. Those who don’t observe fast lane rules get a good shot of me in their rear-view mirror, vomiting profanity, my front fender mere inches from their rear bumpers.
This kind of driving calls for a lot of accelerating and decelerating, so I consume gas like I used to mash troves of Slim Jims I’d find hidden behind the good silver into my piehole back when I was a fat kid. Hypermilers are pretty much the exact opposite of me.
You asked: What does the spleen do? — Matt, Melbourne, Australia Marshall Brain Answered: The spleen gets no respect. Most people know that the heart pumps blood and the stomach digests food, but what does the spleen do? And why is it always rupturing? The only time we hear about the spleen seems to be [...]
Lowriders are vehicles that ride very low to the ground and are often equipped with hydraulics systems that allow the cars to “hop.” Learn more in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
Women shopping for clothes often find that sizes are less than standard. Why the confusing system? Learn more about the history — and future — of women’s clothing sizes in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
Recent Postings by Category
BrainStuff
- Thank You and Best Wishes to Marshall Brain
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The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
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Keep Asking
- Why can a 5 foot 8 inch man dunk a basketball on a 10 foot rim while some people of taller stature can’t?
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Stuff Mom Never Told You
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Stuff to Blow Your Mind
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Stuff You Should Know
- The Southern Death Cult, the Maya and Georgia
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The Stuff of Genius
CarStuff
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How-to Stuff
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PopStuff
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 36: Now Available in 3-D
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 35: Let’s do brunch!
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 34: Play it again, Sam
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Stuff to Change the World
- Who will own the Arctic?
- Obesity: The New Global Crisis
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Stuff You Missed in History Class
- Butch Cassidy: Should we read between the lines?
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- Party Time: A Look at Unconventional Politics
