PBS_Braincraft

Is multitasking really a productive strategy? Is it even possible?

Our senses of taste and smell are crucial when enjoying food... But is there more to it?

Studies show that the joy we feel from immediate cash rewards might not be long-lasting.

The hosts from Vsauce join Vanessa for a few fascinating mental challenges.

How do scientists - and doctors - measure the value of a life?

Delivering drugs to the brain has been a longtime obstacle for doctors.

The weird and wonderful science of goose bumps. Hope you didn't get the chills. It is amazing how evolution has given the human body some odd parting gifts. The human body has been a work in progress for about the last six million years, so it’s understandable if over that time we have outgrown some of our components. Did you know that your appendix used to help digest plants. Since our diet isn’t that plant-heavy anymore, it only causes problems like appendicitis. Given, the early humans moved their ears for peripheral hearing, some of us can still wiggle our ears just for fun. It is curious that one bit of the corner of your eye was once bigger and served to protect and moisturize the eyeball. Now, this same feature only keeps dirt out off your eyes. It doesn’t come as a surprise that our ancestors had an extra muscle to help them hang from trees. Touch your pinky to your thumb and if you don’t see it, you are among the 10% of humans who lost it. Even our ancestors never made use of male nipples. They most likely form in the embryonic stage when we are essentially sexless. Knowing that your tiny tailbone is a relic of the mammalian tail is somewhat astonishing. Humans are believed to have lost their tails when they started walking upright. Our ancestors needed strong molars to chew through raw meat. When we learned to cook, our jaws shrunk and left no room for what we call wisdom teeth. Body hair kept our ancestors from freezing. Now, we no longer need <a href="https://rumble.com/v37srv-10-benefits-of-baking-soda-for-hair-skin-and-body.html" target="_blank">body hair</a> to do all of our temperature regulation. Also, goosebumps fluffed up our hair to keep us warm. Now that we wear sweaters and coats, there’s no need for goosebumps anymore. The human brain has been getting smaller in size over time. We are not getting dumber, our brain just works faster while taking up less space. If you happen to be interesting as to why or how <a href="https://rumble.com/v3rb8j-prepare-for-goosebumps.html" target="_blank">goosebumps</a> play their role onto our body, this video will come in hand and prove to be very useful and educational. Enjoy!

It's my 100th episode of BrainCraft! Thank you so much for watching!

Check out how venus flytraps - and other carnivorous plants - act just like our brains!

Is it time to allow performance enhancing drugs in professional sports? A look at the science and ethics of doping in the lead up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The neuroscience of boredom is slightly interesting.

Can blind people see? How LEGO can bring the world to those with visual impairments.

Check your irrational fears: Over 3 million people worldwide STILL die every year from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The science behind procrastination.

What do we mean by "normal"? Cognitive scientists have found that your notion of normality is shaped by the average (like statistical norms and hard data we have about things) and your ideals (the beliefs you hold). So our sense of normal is all a little different – knowing this can help us understand other views and how our perceptions can change.

In conversation with Dr. Carin Bondar on her new book subject: Wild Sex.

Many think eating carbs makes you gain weight, but carbohydrates are your body’s main fuel source. This is what happens in your body when you eat carbs. To maintain a healthy diet; the key is to eat carbs, protein, and fat in moderation, focusing on giving your body, and brain, the fuel it needs, without going overboard. I *love* pasta – but go for a regular serving size... and not all-you-can eat

Why do you get a brain freeze? Sometimes, after ice-cream or a cold drink, it can feel like your skull is squeezing in our your brain – it can even be pretty painful. The cold temperatures are picked up by pain receptors near your palate, so while a brain freeze feels like a headache, it's actually just referred pain from your mouth. Keep watching for a few ways to get rid of a brain freeze... as

Can You Solve This Riddle? This riddle first appeared in Grossman, Howard (1945). Scripta Mathematica XI TedED have a similar riddle that's beautifully animated: https://youtu.be/tE2dZLDJSjA

Generally we move our bodies pretty automatically and quickly, thanks to myelin, insulation which coats some of our nerve cells. Though one autoimmune disease – Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – attacks this insulation, impacting patients’ motor and sensory functions. Researching brain development and the disease itself can help develop better treatments for MS patients in the future.

I sit down with StarTalk Radio hosts Neil deGrasse Tyson and Eugene Mirman to chat about what it would be like for our brain and body in space. We have a model of gravity built into our brains that allows us to catch balls and function normally on Earth: what happens if gravity was higher? Or lower? How do aliens move? What do aliens from higher gravity planets look like? Should we ever stop askin

Can we subconsciously "catch" emotions from other people?

We all know concussions are bad, but where does the damage really happen?

I sit down with The Art Assignment host Sarah Urist Green to chat about science, art and evolution. The evolutionary pathway that led us to be the apex predator on this planet also resulted in some pretty cool skills.

The honest truth about keeping secrets.