BrainStuff

Whether the topic is popcorn or particle physics, you can count on BrainStuff to explore -- and explain -- the everyday science in the world around us.

Science
Natural Sciences
Technology
2076
How the Corvette ZR1 Works
The 2009 Corvette ZR1 combines several technical innovations to produce a turbo-charged, eight-cylinder engine. Learn more about the Corvette ZR1 in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
1 min
2077
How gas pumps work
Next time you're filling up your tank at a gas station, ask yourself this: how does the nozzle know when the tank is full? Learn more about gas pumps in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
1 min
2078
Why the Sky is Blue?
As sunlight passes through the atmosphere, particles in the air scatter blue light more efficiently than any other color in the light spectrum, creating a blue sky. Learn more about the sky and light in this Brainstuff podcast.
2 min
2079
How Radiation Works
Although most people are frightened by radiation, the truth is we are irradiated every day, both from cosmic rays in the sky, and radioactive elements in the ground. Learn more about radiation in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
1 min
2080
What is the Difference Between a Carat and a Ka...
Carats are used for diamonds, while karats are used for gold. Learn more about the difference between carats and karats in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
2 min
2081
How Perceiving Earth as a Sphere Works
Is there any way that people could know the world is sphere while standing on the earth? Learn more about perceiving earth as a sphere in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
1 min
2082
How Flatulance Works
Learn about the causes of gas (flatulence) in this podcast from Marshall Brain.
2 min
2083
How Leap Years Work
A normal calendar years is 365 days long, but the earth actually takes 365.2422 days to completely orbit the sun. Learn more about leap years in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
2 min
2084
How Red Eyes in Photographs Work
The flash of a camera is bright enough to cause a reflection off the human retina -- the red we see in these photos comes from the blood vessels in the eye. Learn more about red eyes and cameras in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
2 min
2085
What is the Fastest Computer in the World?
Although the speed of computers is growing exponentially, the human brain may handle roughly ten quadrillion instructions per second. Learn more about the world's fastest computer in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
2 min
2086
How Do Vitamins Work?
A vitamin is a small molecule the body needs but cannot manufacture on its own. Learn more about vitamins in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
1 min
2087
How Nanosolar Works
A company named Nanosolar is shaking up the alternative energy industry by offering solar technology at the lowest prices in history -- even cheaper than energy derived from coal. Learn more about Nanosolar in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
1 min
2088
How Ultra Hi-Def Works
A standard HD screen has roughly 2 million pixels per frame -- but an ultra HD has four times that resolution. Learn more about ultra hi-definition in this HowStuffWorks podcast.
1 min
2089
How Stealth Technology Work
Shaping an airplane a certain way -- or using materials that absorb radar waves -- causes a stealth aircraft to have the signature of a small bird, rather than an airplane.
2 min