Videos
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You Asked: Is a dog’s mouth cleaner than a human’s? — Cathy, Irvine, Calif. Marshall Brain Answers: There are two reasons why dogs might seem to have cleaner mouths than people do. First, dogs use their mouths to clean their wounds, and this seems to work. Second, dogs don’t get very many cavities compared to [...]
Invention – Making Airplanes Far More Efficient by imitating nature
by Marshall Brain | December 28, 2009
The Boeing 787 took flight last week and promises a 20% increase in fuel economy because of its design and its lightweight carbon structure: The amazing Boeing 787 Dreamliner should have its first flight today What else could be done to make airplanes even more efficient? Scientists have two ideas that they hope to borrow [...]
Random Snowflakes: Lies, Solar Power, Slashers and Distractions
by Robert Lamb | December 28, 2009
Snowflakes are elegant examples of fleeting beauty, each a unique work on the verge of disappearance. But you already knew that, so let’s do this white Christmas right and discuss snowflake-related Flash-based eye candy, fractals, serial killers, comic books, fantasy epics, solar cells, satellites, holiday cards and my parent’s house. So grab a shovel (don’t actually grab a shovel) and venture into this post for a handful of snowflake-related links, tidbits, news articles and distractions.
Complete instructions for using Twitter: Exploring the darker side of tweets and Twitter See also: Twitter Explained [[[Jump to previous Funny...]]]
This is a very nice explanation of how mechanical traffic light systems work. It also shows how mechanical traffic light controllers can be connected into computerized systems and turned into remote-control units for a city-wide signaling (in this case, the city is Toronto): According to this page, a typical intersection costs about $150,000, including the [...]
A New Theory of Human Evolution: Come and Get It
by Josh Clark | December 28, 2009
Who exactly was the first person to realize that one could pluck an unfertilized egg from beneath a hen, crack it and spill its contents into a hot pan and eat it? What was the context where the event took place? It wouldn’t appear to be starvation, as one might imagine the person would have just eaten the chicken, unless of course it was a starving person with such tremendous foresight as to first test his curiosity before proceeding with the chicken slaughter.
GBSI (Global Building Systems, Inc.) has created a new way to frame a house makde of thick foam walls reinfornced with steel members. The process is so lightweight that panels can be carried around by two workers. Then, once set in place, the interior walls can be covered in sheetrock and the exterior walls can [...]
World Record #122 – The world’s largest model rocket is 36 feet tall
by Marshall Brain | December 28, 2009
Some quick facts about this rocket before you watch the launch: – 36 feet tall – weighs 1,600 pounds with the motors installed – Produces 8,000 pounds of thrust for five seconds Here is the launch (definitely deserves full screen in HD…): Another view of the launch: Steve Eve’s Record Setting Saturn V Launch According [...]
Almost all cell phones have a capacity for caller ID, which identifies the phone number at the other end of a telephone connection — but how does it work? Listen in as Marshall Brain breaks down the basics of this surprisingly simple technology.
In this episode, Cristen and Molly speak with the director for Program Impact at CARE USA. Over the course of numerous humanitarian efforts, CARE has found that improving the lives of women is a crucial part of alleviating poverty. Tune in to learn more.
Recent Postings by Category
BrainStuff
- Thank You and Best Wishes to Marshall Brain
- Contest – Design a $300 house and win $25,000
- How the Philtrum works – the place under your nose where your face comes together
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
- Vacation Deprivation: Who’s got it?
- Have a Coke and a Smile
- The Latest in Frugal Lodging: Camping in Somebody Else’s Backyard
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?
- What happens to our sun once it runs out of fuel?
- How do we know the age of the universe?
Stuff Mom Never Told You
- Who invented the Christmas card?
- How the Kinsey Report Fueled Whiskey Sales
- How to Get Your Wedding Announcement into The New York Times
Stuff to Blow Your Mind
- Space Music: DJ Food and ‘The Search Engine’
- Stuff to Blow Your Mind: Hug it Out
- Space Music: Jay-Z and Beyoncé to Film Music Video in Orbit
Stuff You Should Know
- The Southern Death Cult, the Maya and Georgia
- Deformed Baby Spider Brains
- Amazing Medical Conditions: Maple Syrup Urine Disorder
The Stuff of Genius
CarStuff
- Why is NASA studying car safety?
- Tips for in-car Navigation Systems
- Tips for Using Bluetooth in the Car
How-to Stuff
- How to Swim with Dolphins (When Deep Water Terrifies You)
- How to Cure a Homemade Cookie Craving Without Turning on the Oven
- How to Know When It’s Time for a New Pet
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
- Bill Gates Makes For A Pretty Decent Cartoon
Stuff You Missed in History Class
- Butch Cassidy: Should we read between the lines?
- Are we rooting for D.B. Cooper?
- Party Time: A Look at Unconventional Politics
