Why is yawning contagious? - Claudia Aguirre
AdultsHumanSciencePsychologyBiologyNeuroscience*Yaaawwwwwn* Did just reading the word make you feel like yawning yourself? Known as contagious yawning, the reasons behind this phenomenon have been attributed to both the physiological and psychological. It's been observed in children as young as four and even in dogs! Claudia Aguirre visits the many intriguing theories that might explain contagious yawning.
Why are my ears ringing?
AdultsHealthScienceNeuroscienceHumanA weekly show where we endeavor to answer one of your big questions. This week, Emma R. asks, "Why do I get that weird ringing noise in my ears?"
Do your organs grow with you?
AdultsHealthHumanBiologyNeuroscienceThis week, Jen Alexander asks, "Do your organs grow with you?"
The science of stage fright (and how to overcome it)
AdultsBiologyPsychologyNeuroscienceHumanHeart racing, palms sweating, labored breathing? No, you're not having a heart attack -- it's stage fright! If speaking in public makes you feel like you're fighting for your life, you're not alone. But the better you understand your body's reaction, the more likely you are to overcome it. Mikael Cho advises how to trick your brain and steal the show.
How a wound heals itself
AdultsBiologyHealthHumanWellnessScienceOur skin is the largest organ in our bodies, with a surface area of about 20 square feet in adults. When we are cut or wounded, our skin begins to repair itself through a complex, well-coordinated process. Sarthak Sinha takes us past the epidermis and into the dermis to investigate this regenerative response.
Why Your Brain Is In Your Head
AdultsBiologyHumanNeuroscienceScienceHave you ever wondered why the brain is located where it is?
Why Music Moves Us
AdultsHumanMusicNeurosciencePsychologyEvolutionWhy does music make us feel happy or sad? Or angry or romantic? How can simple sound waves cause so much emotion? I went from my comfy chair to the streets of Austin to investigate how it might be written into our neuroscience and evolution. Modern neuroscience says our brains may be wired to pick certain emotions out of music because they remind us of how people move!
Life by the Numbers
AdultsAnimalsBiologyNatureScienceHumanThere are now more than 7 billion human beings on Earth, and that got me wondering: How successful are we compared to other species? I take a look at out how our numbers stack up to some other domains of life. It turns out that biomass, or what things weigh, can be more important than how many of something there are. Find out how our numbers stack up against everything from bugs to bacteria, and get ready for some mind-blowing numbers!
Why Are Some People Left-Handed?
AdultsData ScienceScienceSocietyPsychologyBiologyHumanWe've got two perfectly good hands attached to two perfectly good arms, so why do most people prefer to use one over the other for common tasks?
Can You Erase Bad Memories?
AdultsBiologyHumanNeurosciencePsychologyMental HealthWhat if you could delete specific memories?
A brief history of melancholy
AdultsHistoryPsychologyMental HealthHumanIf you are a living, breathing human being, chances are you have felt sad at least a few times in your life. But what exactly is melancholy, and what (if anything) should we do about it? Courtney Stephens details our still-evolving understanding of sadness -- and even makes a case for its usefulness.
3 Questions That Could Change The World from Kid President
AdultsInternet CultureSocietyHumanDo you dare to do something awesome?
Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story
AdultsEqualitySocietyCultureHumanOur lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.
Rita Pierson: Every kid needs a champion
AdultsEducationPhilosophyHumanRita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, "They don't pay me to like the kids." Her response: "Kids don't learn from people they don't like.'" A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.
This Girl Befriends A Dangerous Moray Eel
AdultsAnimalsHumanRelationshipsFriendshipWildlifeThis unlikely friendship is really amazing.