HowStuffWorks_Culture

Why do some people sneeze when confronted by direct sunlight? Josh fills you in on the science behind this strange phenomenon in this episode of Don't Be Dumb.

Do you know the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon? Turns out it's pretty arbitrary. Learn the distinction in this episode and impress your meteorologically inclined friends. Plus, Chuck discusses Typhoon Tip, the largest typhoon in history

Have you heard that the "door close" button on an elevator doesn't work? Well, in some amazing twist of a twist, it turns out that is probably an urban legend. Or is it? We'll find out here. Or will we?

April 9, 2013 is National Equal Pay Day, but it should really fall on December 31st. Why is that? It's not a holiday, it's a day to raise awareness of an important issue. Tune in and let Josh and Chuck fill you in on the rest!

Stuff You Should Know: Don't Be Dumb: Wine Corks

Shark Week has arrived and with it comes a special edition of Trapped in a Meeting! Josh patiently tries to school Chuck on the magnificent and terrifying creature known as the megalodon, but Chuck can't seem to get past how cool the name sounds.

Jeremy Bentham founded the University College of London and sat in on all its board meetings - even those occurring after his death! This Week on Trapped in a Meeting, learn about Bentham's bizarre request and how it was granted by the board.

On October 22, 1926, Harry Houdini gave what turned out to be the final performance of his life. Insisting that he could withstand any physical blows to his abdomen, he allowed a student to strike him four times. He died nine days later.

Move over, meerkats. Chuck has a new favorite animal: the octopus. Listen in as he explains why the octopus has captured his heart.

April 16, 2013 is National Eggs Benedict Day, a day to celebrate the wonderful breakfast concoction. But where did Dggs Benedict originate? Theories differ. Plus, have the tables turned on Josh and Chuck in their ongoing spying effort?

In the premiere episode of our new weekly series, Josh and Chuck discuss the ancient tradition of sin eating.

It might sound like something straight out of a science-fiction movie, but an inventor has figured out how to invent a genuine hoverboard. Listen in to learn how it works.

There's a radio transmission coming from somewhere in New Mexico, containing what sounds like an encrypted message, and no one knows who's sending it or what it means. Josh and Chuck discuss this eerie phenomenon on this week's Trapped in a Meeting.

On This Day in History, Josh and Chuck explore the release of the landmark record Nevermind, from the Seatle based grunge group Nirvana. Although it was far from the first grunge record, it defined a generation and musical sound.

The Doomsday Ark is a lunar vault planned by the European Space Agency to preserve humanity in the event of an earthly apocalypse. Josh and Chuck from Stuff You Should Know discuss.

It turns out that Chuck has been known to sleepwalk. But what exactly is it, and how does it work? Listen in as Josh and Chuck explore the strange world of sleepwaking.

In many films, hapless characters meet their untimely demise in a lethal pit of quicksand. It's a gruesome, undignified end -- but is it realistic? Josh and Chuck tackle the properties of quicksand (and how to escape it) in this exclusive video.

We've all heard the stories about George Washington, America's first president. Turns out most of them were wrong. This week on Trapped in a Meeting, Josh clears up these commonly-held misconceptions, disillusioning Chuck in the process.

Did you know there's a pretty good chance that Paul Revere never said, "The British are coming!"? Learn what he probably did say in this revelatory Revolutionary history video.

These days we take amazing medical procedures like open heart surgery for granted. On This Day in History, Josh and Chuck pay homage to the very first surgeon to try such a dangerous operation, way back in 1893.

There are some records in sports history that are destined to remain unbroken, and Joe Diamggio's hitting streak is one them. Josh and Chuck cover this amazing sports streak on This Day in History.

Howard Hughes lived a fascinating life with accomplishments in fields as diverse as aviation and Hollywood filmmaking. Then things got weird. This week on Trapped in a Meeting, Chuck recounts the four years Hughes spent holed up inside a hotel room.

You know how trains get into train wrecks? Makes you wonder if there's a safest place to sit on a train, doesn't it? Hang out with Josh Clark as he gets weird and explores the pros and cons of seat selection on trains in this video.

In this week's episode, Josh relates an unusual theory that connects warfare (or lack thereof) with the presence of a certain fast food establishment. But does the theory hold up?

October 15, 1582 marked the beginning of the Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar. On today's This Day in History, find out how and why the change was made to give us the calendar that we all know and use today.