Archive for November, 2009

At its height, the city of Angkor was larger than Rhode Island. Replete with ornate architecture, the metropolis also served as a religious center. Yet by the time Europeans discovered the site, it was ruined. What happened? Listen in and learn more.

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Kids have been playing with the Hot Wheels loop for decades. Here’s an example of kids at play: What if you tried to do a loop like this in real life with a real car? Would it work? It has actually been tried, and here is the video: See also: How Roller Coasters Work [[[Jump [...]

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Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen, so why aren’t we able to breathe underwater? Find out in this episode of BrainStuff.

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Tikal is a popular archeological site that was once a powerful, thriving city-state in the Mayan empire. Learn more about Guatemala’s most famous attraction, and some fun facts about the ancient Mayas, in this episode of The Coolest Stuff on the Planet.

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As an audiophile, James Russell loved his record collection despite the scratching and warping of vinyl. As an inventor, he knew there had to be a better way to play music. Learn more about his Stuff of Genius in this episode.

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Serial killers typically work alone. However, some serial killers have claimed to be part of a nationwide cult — and some people believe them. Why? After all, this theory relies on the statements of the criminally insane. Learn more in this episode.

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In honor of Thanksgiving, here are 5 fun, surprising facts about turkeys: Who would have thought that turkeys were capable of parthenogenesis? Turkey facts – Among other things: “45 million turkeys are cooked and eaten in the U.S. at Thanksgiving.” More info: Different ways to cook a turkey See also Turkey Trivia: And: Wrong Turkey [...]

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You Asked: When a weapon impacts a target, does it carry a measurable kinetic energy? — Jason, Home, Wash. Marshall Brain Answers: When a gun shoots a bullet, the only thing the bullet has going for it is kinetic energy. The kinetic energy is what allows the bullet to penetrate and damage the target. The [...]

You Asked: Why are insects attracted to light sources? — Ravi, Nagpur, India Marshall Brain Answers: On a warm summer night, scenes like this are not uncommon: Thousands of insects (mostly moths in this case) are attracted to the light. But why are the moths attracted? The funny thing is, no one really knows why. [...]

As excitement builds over evolving hybrid technology, Scott and Ben revisit the subject in a two-part “pros and cons” podcast. Tune in and learn about the pros of buying a hybrid, but don’t head to the dealership yet — the next episode is yet to come.

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