Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Society & Culture
251
Short Stuff: Ig-pay Atin-lay (Sorry)
Turns out we have little kids from the 19th century, the Three Stooges, and an odd musical composer named Arthur Fields to thank for pig latin.
12 min
252
Theremins: World's First Electronic Music
In 1919 a brilliant Russian scientist accidentally stumbled onto the first electronic musical instrument in history – the theremin – which you play not by strings, keys, or even percussion, but by moving your hand in the air around it. Prepare to science!
50 min
253
SYSK Selects: Sugar: It Powers the Earth
Since sugar spread from Polynesia a few thousand years ago, the world has been crazy for it. Insanely high prices, wars and even slavery couldn't undo world's need for a sugar fix. Today that fix is responsible for the obesity epidemic facing the West. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
44 min
254
The SYSK 2020 Holly Jolly Extravaganza!
It's here again! Our annual ad-free holiday spectacular. So pour up a hot toddy, throw a log on the fire and listen with the whole family!
42 min
255
Short Stuff: Chinese Food on Christmas
What started out as a tradition among Jewish people on the Lower East Side at the turn of the last century has become a full-blown American holiday custom.
12 min
256
How Buffets Work
Buffets are every kid’s dream – until they grow up enough to realize how gross communal spreads of food shared with strangers actually are. Then the dream is dashed, for most of us at least. Learn about the golden age of buffets and more right here!
57 min
257
SYSK Selects: The Star Wars Holiday Special of ...
Long ago, in a galaxy not so far away, George Lucas allowed the Star Wars Holiday Special to be made. What happened on the night of November 17, 1978 can never be fully explained, but we make our best effort in our annual special edition of SYSK. May the force be with us all.
54 min
258
Aspirin: The Wonder Drug
Humans have been using a form of aspirin for pain relief since at least the Sumerians. But in recent years we’ve come to learn the wonder drug is indeed awe-inspiring, from preventing heart attacks to possibly protecting humans from cancer.
47 min
259
Short Stuff: Modern Funerals
The way we deal with our dead has changed a lot over the past 50 years. Learn all about it in 12-15 minutes right here.
12 min
260
Joseph Merrick, aka "The Elephant Man"
Joseph Merrick was known as The Elephant Man because of his suffering from what we now know was Proteus Synrome. Learn all about this brave man in today's episode. 
43 min
261
SYSK Selects: What is a hangover, really?
After a night of heavy boozing, many partygoers find themselves the victim of a hangover. But what exactly is a hangover, and what causes it? Join Chuck and Josh as they break down the science behind hangovers -- and how to avoid them, in this classic episode.
33 min
262
The Taliesin Massacre
Everyone knows who Frank Lloyd Wright is, but did you know there was a grisly massacre at his home in 1914?
42 min
263
Short Stuff: Cramming
Cramming is no way to study. Learn why in today's short stuff.
13 min
264
How Class Action Lawsuits Work
Class action lawsuits seem a little odd – a bunch of people get together for a sue-fest against somebody – but in the legal world they’re a practical way of handing huge wrongs. And! They keep justice just in their way. Learn all about them today.
49 min
265
SYSK Selects: How Chaos Theory Changed the Univ...
Since the age of Descartes, science has put all of its eggs in the basket of determinism, the idea that with accurate enough measurements any aspect of the universe could be predicted. But the universe, it turns out, is not so tidy. Explore the final frontier with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.
55 min
266
John Lennon and the FBI
Did you know that Richard Nixon had a FBI case file open on Beatle John Lennon? Well he did! Why? Listen in to find out.
42 min
267
Short Stuff: Pimento Cheese!
Pimento cheese was originally nothing like it is now: It was mass produced, it was made from cream cheese and it was conceived in New York. Today it’s something much better, thanks to the South!
14 min
268
Cabbage Patch Kids: Must-Have Toy of the Century
51 min
269
SYSK Selects: How Tea Works
Legend has it that tea was discovered by a curious Chinese emperor after leaves blew into his boiled water. Now tea is the second only to water in popularity worldwide. And despite the varieties of tea, they all come from a single species of plant. Learn all about it in this classic episode.
51 min
270
Gobble Gobble: Turkeys!
Turkeys are a very interesting bird as it turns out. Which may be why many people are leaving it off their Thanksgiving table this year. Learn all about them right now!
46 min
271
Short Stuff: How Eyes In a Painting Follow You
Ever noticed how eyes in a painting sometimes follow you around the room? It’s weird! But it’s also fully explainable and Josh and Chuck do just that here.
11 min
272
Patty Hearst: Brainwashed or Bandit?
Patty Hearst was a young heiress living a quiet life studying art history at college when one Monday evening her home was invaded, she was kidnapped, and her life took a totally unforeseen turn that she would have trouble explaining for years to come.
55 min
273
SYSK Selects: Whatever happened to acid rain?
Along with the hole in the ozone layer, acid rain was one of the first international environmental threats. It's fallen to the wayside in the face of climate change, but we have yet to lick it. Join Chuck and Josh as they revive the 80s drumbeat in this classic episode.
29 min
274
The Great War of the Worlds Panic Myth
On Halloween 1938 young radio star Orson Welles scared the pants off of America with a fictional news bulletin claiming Martians had landed and were destroying the country. People across the nation ran wild with panic in the streets – or did they?
45 min
275
Short Stuff: Squirrel Nuts
We know squirrels hide nuts. But it's actually more complex a system than you think.
11 min