|
Listen now
|
Interpol: World Police
Interpol is an international police agency that helps other law-enforcement agencies track criminals who operate across national borders -- but how does it work, exactly? Join the guys as they delve into the world of global law enforcement.
Tuesday, 15-May-12 19:22 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
What is a shotgun house?
Shotgun houses are iconic pieces of American architecture: they're long, narrow, and filled with artistic flourishes. But where did they come from? In this episode, Chuck and Josh explore the mysterious origins of shotgun houses.
Thursday, 10-May-12 17:49 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
Did the Dutch trade Manhattan for nutmeg?
Today nutmeg is commonplace, but this wasn't always the case. In the 17th century, the Dutch and the British fought a trade war over nutmeg. Join Chuck and Josh as they travel across continents and centuries to trace the story of nutmeg and Manhattan.
Tuesday, 08-May-12 17:08 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
How Bullfighting Works
When the Visigoths ruled Spain, they introduced the idea of battling bulls at festivals. Today matadors get paid $100,000 and perform in front of 50,000 fans. But is bullfighting an antiquated, abusive relic or a cultural tradition above reproach?
Thursday, 03-May-12 15:15 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
How did language evolve?
" Sure animals talk in their own way, with chirps and grunts and the like, but only humans can form words. It is this, some evolutionary psychologists contend, that is what truly separates us from the rest of the species on the planet. But why us?"
Tuesday, 01-May-12 16:31 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
How Medical Marijuana Works
Some quarters of the medical establishment endorse it, others abhor it. The DEA is cracking down on it, but the Veterans’ Administration supports it as a treatment for soldiers. Medical marijuana is indeed a contentious issue. Learn all about it here.
Thursday, 26-Apr-12 15:21 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
How Air Traffic Control Works
You know how when you fly in an airline you usually don’t die? You can thank the battalion of air traffic control professionals who studiously track every moment of your flight to ensure its safety. Learn all about this unsung field with Chuck and Josh.
Tuesday, 24-Apr-12 16:33 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
Social Security Numbers: Less Boring Than You’d Think
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 place of birth? In this episode, the boys examine some of the lesser-known details of the Social...
Thursday, 19-Apr-12 15:46 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
How Whaling Works
Despite its embattled status as brutal and illegal, commercial whaling is a tradition that dates back 1,000 years and served as the economic engine of the Industrial Revolution. Join Josh and Chuck as they explore the whaling life then and now.
Tuesday, 17-Apr-12 14:39 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
Body Odor: You Stink
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 people smell. Learn all about your odor in this episode of Stuff You Should Know.
Wednesday, 11-Apr-12 20:39 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
Was Atlantis a real place?
While the search for Atlantis has been pushed to the fringes since the 19th century, archaeologists have quietly pursued cities that may have inspired Plato to fabricate the mythical city. It looks like a team in Greece has found it.
Tuesday, 10-Apr-12 14:14 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
How Beer Works
At long last, Josh and Chuck take on perhaps their most important topic ever. Learn about the history of beer, how it’s made -- the whole shebang, basically -- in this watershed episode of Stuff You Should Know.
Thursday, 05-Apr-12 19:26 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
How Diamonds Work
There's no denying that diamonds are pretty -- but where do they come from, and why are they so expensive? Join Chuck and Josh as they explore everything about diamonds, from their formation to the mining process and the history of the DeBeers cartel.
Tuesday, 03-Apr-12 15:38 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
How Music Sampling Works
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 music, and most of them would presumably like to be paid. Tune in to learn more about music sampling.
Thursday, 29-Mar-12 17:13 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
10 Big Cases of Revenge
Who doesn't love a good story about comeuppance? Whether served cold or piping hot, revenge is an ancient idea -- and history is filled with acts of vengeance. Join Josh and Chuck as they trace the concept of revenge from the bygone days of Hammurabi...
Tuesday, 27-Mar-12 17:01 BST
|
|
Listen now
|
How Tipping Works
Tipping is commonly expected in some places, such as U.S. restaurants. Yet this practice varies across cultures. Join trivia gurus (and former waiters) Josh and Chuck as they take a closer look at the history, practice and controversy surrounding tipping.
Thursday, 22-Mar-12 16:22 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Comic Books: Live from SXSW 2012
Although you might not be a fan of comic books, there's no denying that they have a fascinating place in American history. And -- as if that wasn't interesting enough -- Josh and Chuck decided to break down the story of comic books live at SXSW.
Tuesday, 20-Mar-12 17:28 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How the Donner Party Worked
Did they or didn’t they? There is plenty of written evidence that the ill-fated Donner Party resorted to cannibalism – except there are no bones. Learn the details of one of the worst disasters of the early West in this episode of Stuff You Should...
Thursday, 15-Mar-12 13:54 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
Should chimps be used for medical testing?
If you’ve got half a heart it’s an easy question to answer. But if you’re happy living without polio and hepatitis B you may want to question further. Learn about what makes chimps special and the history of medical testing in this episode.
Tuesday, 13-Mar-12 16:58 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Noah's Ark Worked
Stories of a great flood and a man who managed to stay afloat while the world drowned abound in ancient traditions. Join Josh and Chuck as they explore the possible evidence of the Great Flood and whether Noah really existed.
Thursday, 08-Mar-12 16:10 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
Duels: A guide to throwing down the gauntlet
Pretty much everything you know about duels is true – it’s a challenge to violence to defend honor. But did you know the U.S. Navy used to publish detailed guidelines in its midshipmen’s handbook? Learn all there is to know about dueling in this...
Tuesday, 06-Mar-12 16:39 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How SETI Works
SETI stands for 'search for extraterrestrial intelligence,' and the term is used to describe both the SETI institute and the search for alien life in general. In this spaced-out episode, Josh and Chuck explore the origin, aims and challenges facing SETI.
Thursday, 01-Mar-12 16:24 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Crying Works
You probably did it around 70 times last year, yet you probably don’t understand the psychological and physiological processes at work when you cried. Don’t feel bad – no one does. Join Chuck and Josh as they poke around your tear ducts in this...
Tuesday, 28-Feb-12 17:46 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
Fasting: deadly or what?
Avoiding food for religious or health reasons has been around for millennia. But while God may appreciate the sacrifice, how does it affect the body? Join Josh and Chuck to find if fasting actually can be healthy or if it’s as bad an idea as it sounds.
Thursday, 23-Feb-12 16:39 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Spies Work
Psst. You want to know how governments and corporations get the drop on one another? The frontline of intelligence is populated by spies. Learn about how spies get and transfer information (and why they do it) in this episode of Stuff You Should Know.
Tuesday, 21-Feb-12 18:53 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Autopsies Work
In the 400th episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck take a trip through the morgue and look over the shoulders of the often controversial coroners and medical examiners that open cadavers to determine how someone died.
Thursday, 16-Feb-12 16:42 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Zero Works
Few numbers have as storied a past as zero. Even fewer have had as great an impact on our ability to understand our universe. Yet zero is a relatively recent arrival in math. Find out all about this surprisingly fascinating number with Chuck and Josh.
Tuesday, 14-Feb-12 16:21 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Coral Reefs Work
Coral reefs are the largest organic structures on Earth, yet they're created through a symbiotic relationship between creatures about 3 millimeters long. Learn more about the the world’s coral reefs (and how to protect them) in this episode.
Thursday, 09-Feb-12 13:52 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
Pickpockets: Artists or Crooks?
There aren’t many criminal pursuits that are as storied as pickpocketing, and some people fondly reminisce over its heyday. Learn why some consider pickpocketing an art form, how to protect yourself from this art and more in this episode.
Tuesday, 07-Feb-12 17:53 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
What’s the 10,000 Year Clock?
In a desert in Texas a 200-feet-tall clock is being constructed deep inside a mountain. Once completed, it will keep time for the next 10,000 years, even if there are no humans around to use it. Tune in as Chuck and Josh get to the bottom of the Long Now.
Thursday, 02-Feb-12 15:45 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Magic Mushrooms Work
For thousands of years, humans have used hallucinogenic mushrooms for spiritual reasons. Today, however, having them can get you thrown in prison. How do magic mushrooms do what they do? Can they help the mentally ill? Find out in this far out episode.
Tuesday, 31-Jan-12 14:45 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Floods Work
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 havoc they can wreak. Join Josh and Chuck in this super-saturated episode of Stuff You Should Know.
Thursday, 26-Jan-12 17:18 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Human Trafficking Works
Despite worldwide prohibitions, slavery still exists. Slaves are forced or coerced into prostitution or made to work in deplorable factory conditions. Yet there’s still debate over how widespread the problem is. Learn about modern slavery in this...
Tuesday, 24-Jan-12 15:41 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Mexican Wrestling Works
Perhaps it’s the colorful masks or the high-flying, rapid-fire acrobatic moves. Whatever it is, there’s something uniquely and particularly entrancing about Mexican wrestling, called lucha libre. Learn more about lucha libre in this episode of SYSK.
Thursday, 19-Jan-12 15:12 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
Are contrails actually chemtrails?
You know those trails that jets leave in the sky? While science has explained why they happen, plenty of conspiracy theorists believe there’s more to it. Join Josh and Chuck as they channel the guys from Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know in this...
Tuesday, 17-Jan-12 18:30 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
What’s the deal with the Bermuda Triangle?
There’s roughly 500,000 squares miles encompassed in a triangle with points in Miami, Bermuda and San Juan. There shouldn’t be anything different about this area, but some people believe it’s a hotbed of supernatural activity. Tune in to learn why.
Thursday, 12-Jan-12 17:17 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
Can you vacation in Antarctica?
The answer is yes, but there’s a lot more to traveling to the southernmost continent. Learn why emperor penguins don’t make eye contact with humans, which country has the best research station and why the chances of your ship sinking are...
Tuesday, 10-Jan-12 18:20 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
Was there a curse on King Tut’s tomb?
When Howard Carter opened Tutankhamen's tomb, some believe he unleashed a curse on everyone associated with his expedition. But there’s no such thing as a curse, right? Learn the scientific basis beneath King Tut's curse as Chuck and Josh Meet the...
Thursday, 05-Jan-12 17:05 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Yo-Yos Work
You may have played with a yo-yo before -- perhaps you’ve even walked the dog -- but do you know about the physics behind what makes a yo-yo sleep and wake up? Learn all about inertia, angular momentum and the history of the yo-yo in this episode of...
Tuesday, 03-Jan-12 17:09 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
Coffee: The World’s Drug of Choice
There’s a 98 percent chance you’re drinking coffee right now. Maybe not, sure, but coffee is ubiquitous – about 80 percent of Americans consume coffee and Brazil alone has 3 billion coffee plants. Learn all about the great black brew in this...
Thursday, 29-Dec-11 18:19 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
What happens in the brain during an orgasm?
Chuck and Josh test the limits of their decorum as they explore the physiology of an orgasm. Learn all about this inexplicably taboo subject (including how even women who are paralyzed can experience orgasms) in this episode of Stuff You Should Know.
Tuesday, 27-Dec-11 18:58 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
Josh and Chuck’s Christmas Extravaganza
Have you ever wondered why the poinsettia is the official plant of Christmas or why we hang stockings by the chimney with care? Join Chuck and Josh for this very special Christmas episode. Who knows, maybe even St. Nick will make an appearance (he...
Thursday, 22-Dec-11 13:39 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Pepper Spray Works
Lt. John Pike of the Davis, Calif., police department brought the wrath of the Internet on himself when he casually doused peaceful protestors with pepper spray. Find out what was in the can in this eye-watering episode of Stuff You Should Know.
Tuesday, 20-Dec-11 17:52 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Earthworms Work
Earthworms come in a wide range of sizes: The average U.S. earthworm is 6 to 11 inches long, and the giant worms of Australia and South America can grow to a length of 11 feet. Join Josh and Chuck as they burrow into the weird world of earthworms.
Thursday, 15-Dec-11 17:52 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How McCarthyism Works
If you're accusing someone of disloyalty or subversion without decent evidence, then you may be guilty of McCarthyism. In this episode, Josh and Chuck explore the origin of the term, starting with the infamous Communist-hunting Senator Joseph McCarthy.
Tuesday, 13-Dec-11 16:43 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How the Digestive System Works
The digestive system uses mechanical and chemical processes to absorb and transport all the nutrients your body needs to survive -- but how does it work? In this episode, Josh and Chuck take you through all 30 feet of the average digestive system.
Thursday, 08-Dec-11 16:13 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Daylight Saving Time Works
Benjamin Franklin first came up with daylight saving time in 1748, and people still practice it today. But how does it work? What are the pros and cons? Join Josh and Chuck as they turn back the clock to explore the origins of daylight saving time.
Tuesday, 06-Dec-11 20:03 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
What made the donkey and the elephant political?
Sure we take it for granted the elephant represents the Republican party and the donkey Democrats, but have you ever wondered why? Josh and Chuck explore the foundation of these bizarre political symbols in this old-timey episode of Stuff You Should Know.
Thursday, 01-Dec-11 15:48 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
Cash Debit or Credit: Which is best?
Chuck and Josh take a stab at answering the age old question of whether cash or plastic is the best choice for paying your way through life. Join them as they look at shopping, theft, security and the heartbreak of overdraft fees in this episode.
Tuesday, 29-Nov-11 16:35 GMT
|
|
Listen now
|
How Thoroughbred Horses Work
It’s been just 300 years since the Thoroughbred breed has been around, but it has produced some of the most storied animals humans have ever loved. Chuck and Josh dive into what makes these horses special and the controversy around racing them.
Thursday, 24-Nov-11 19:16 GMT
|
