HowStuffWorks_Science

We hear the term "memes" get tossed around all over the internet. But what are they actually? Jonathan explains their importance to human evolution.

Josh explains the design process behind gun silencers and how they suppress lethal weapons.

Have you ever walked in your sleep? Somnambulism isn't as rare as you might think. Join Cristen as she explores the facts and fiction about sleepwalking, from its many possible causes to whether you can safely wake up a somnambulist mid-stroll.

Do you want to strangle people for chewing gum? Does the crinkle of plastic fill you with inarticulate, homicidal fury? If so, you may suffer from the little-understood condition called 'misophonia'. Join Ben Bowlin to learn more.

We all know what an ice cream headache feels like. Lauren's here to explain why they happen. It involves temperature (duh), nerves and lots of blood.

It takes 5 BrainStuff hosts to reveal how placing product ads in media works. Learn which one has the most integrity and which one would sell their grandmother for the right price!

For most men, losing your hair is an inevitable side effect of aging. Jonathan describes the growth cycle of hair, types of baldness that affect men and women, and how most ladies feel about bald dudes.

Josh explains the difference between common types of milk, looking at calories, fat and the rest of their composition.

How much fuel does a 747 need to complete an international flight? How efficient are these aircraft? Join Cristen as she asks how much fuel an international flight actually uses.

Ben, Jonathan and their evil twins explain identical and fraternal twins are fertilized, while debunking some twin myths.

Since 2006, honeybees have been disappearing at an alarming rate. Join Lauren as she explains the importance of Colony Collapse Disorder and investigates the causes of vanishing bees.

William Crookes' radiometer started as a toy and became a scientific debate. Josh explains what this gizmo is, how it was invented, and how it works.

Louie Reard wasn't the typical automobile engineer, and his Stuff of Genius has nothing to do with cars. Tune in and learn how an otherwise mild-mannered inventor created one of history's most iconic -- and controversial -- pieces of swimwear.

Today, doctors across the planet use the ECG -- also known as the EKG -- to detect and diagnose heart conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. But who gets the credit for making the first reliable ECG? Tune in to find out.

Frank Epperson wasn't the typical inventor -- in fact, he wasn't even old enough to drive when he invented the popsicle. Tune in and learn the story behind this Stuff of (Frozen) Genius.

Although he was blinded at the age of six, Ralph Teetor rose through the ranks of industry to become the president of his own manufacturing company -- and he didn't stop there. Tune in to learn how an uncomfortable auto ride inspired the Stuff of Genius.

During a time when women were treated like second-class citizens and African-Americans were relentlessly persecuted, Sarah Goode built her own business from the ground up. Tune in to learn more about Sarah Goode and the folding cabinet bed.

Ole Evinrude grew up loving machines, but he may never have stumbled across the Stuff of Genius if he hadn't had a grueling quest for ice cream. Tune in to learn more about outboard motors.

Today, blue jeans are one of the world's most iconic forms of clothing. But who came up with the idea? (Hint: It wasn't just Levi Strauss.) Tune in to learn more about blue jeans in this special episode featuring two inventors.

L.L. Zamenhof was fascinated by language from a young age. He also believed the majority of human conflict arose from miscommunication. Tune in to learn how Zamenhof used his Stuff of Genius to build a universal language.

When Willis Carrier set out to solve inking problems for a local printing press, he didn't set out to change the world. Luckily for us, he did. Tune in and learn the story behind the modern air conditioning unit in this podcast.

Frustrated by the cumbersome and uncomfortable whalebone corsets common in her time, Mary Phelps Jacob decided that something had to be done. Tune in and learn how her Stuff of Genius became one of the world's most popular undergarments.

Prosthetic limbs have been around for thousands of years, but they've usually been clumsy and expensive. Tune in and learn how Chaz Holder's Stuff of Genius made prosthetic limbs more affordable -- and more comfortable -- for people across the world.

Frustrated by a picky customer, cook George Crum fried up some paper-thin potato slices. Find out how George's revenge scheme went awry -- and how his potato chips became the Stuff of Genius -- in this episode.

Born in 1858, Rudolf Diesel was fascinated by engines from a young age. However, the engines of the time were incredibly inefficient -- at least, that is, until Rudolf's Stuff of Genius struck. Tune in and learn more in this podcast.