Your weekly dose of some of the world’s latest and greatest science news, technological advancements, absurd curiosities, and groundbreaking research in everything from ancient history to the future of astrophysics. Join Lauren Vogelbaum and the HowStuffWorks team as they explore humanity’s newest discoveries in HowStuffWorks NOW.
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Why We're Not Sex Zombies, Wednesday's Pronunciation, and British Lawyers' Wigs
May 31, 2017
Since sexual contact can transmit disease, why don't any diseases increase our sex drive? Why is Wednesday pronounced differently than it's spelled? Why do British lawyers and judges still wear…
Reheated Coffee, More Comfortable Mammograms, and the Chemist Who Created Home Ec
May 23, 2017
There's science behind why reheated coffee is terrible. In the incredible future, we may have better ways to mammogram. Plus, the woman who founded home economics was all kinds of amazing.
Missing Limbs, Naked Mole Rats, and a Blood-Red Waterfall
May 16, 2017
Research into missing limbs indicates that our brains control function differently than we thought. Underground mole rats can live without oxygen. Plus, the mysteries of Blood Falls have been solved.
Gender Bias in the Supreme Court, Stair Climbing vs. Caffeine, and Teens Are OK, Really
May 09, 2017
Female Supreme Court justices get interrupted three times as often as male justices. Climbing stairs may be as effective as caffeine at perking you up. Plus, today's teens are doing pretty OK. Really.
Cannibalism Nutrition, a Border Wall Hyperloop, and the FBI's Facial Recognition
May 01, 2017
Are humans nutritous enough to make cannibalism feasible? Could Trump's proposed border wall be improved with a Hyperloop?. Plus: Should the FBI be able to use everyone's photos in their…
Thought Experiment: Transhumanism and Space Exploration
Apr 25, 2017
Humans are ill-suited to the rigors of space, but augmenting ourselves with technology may create opportunities to explore and colonize worlds beyond our own. In this episode, we experiment in such a…
A U.S. Space Force, Why the Weather's Getting Stuck, and Maple Syrup Medicine
Apr 18, 2017
Is it time for the United States to have a military Space Force? Weather patterns are getting stuck in place - climate change is to blame. Plus, research shows that a substance in maple syrup has…
Scattering Ashes, Circular Airport Runways, and the TSA's Power Over Electronics
Apr 10, 2017
Is scattering ashes technically littering? Will circular runways be the future of airports? Can the TSA search the data in your electronic devices? In this episode, these questions are answered and…
Bird Poop Politics, Double Pregnancies, and How 'Citizens' Became 'Consumers'
Apr 03, 2017
Bird excrement was once so valuable to farmers that the U.S. government tried to claim all of it. It's possible to get pregnant a second time when you're already pregnant. Plus: When did we start…
The Psychology of Picky Eating, the Secret Service's Services, and a Self-Driving Car Kit
Mar 27, 2017
Researchers are working to improve the lives of adult picky eaters. We break down who the Secret Service protects, and at what costs to taxpayers. Plus, there's a $700 kit that turns certain cars…
What Happens When You Swallow a Leech?
Mar 20, 2017
Although cases are rare, a non-zero number of patients have gone to doctors with a leech stuck in their throat over the years. In this special episode, we explore this gross but fascinating…
Stealing Sand, Communicating via Poop, and Clinical Trial Participation
Mar 13, 2017
and is in such high demand that tons of it are being stolen from beaches. White rhinos use middens as a complex communal message board. Plus, clinical trials need more volunteers -- we explain why.
Hallucinogenic Honey, Squid Brains, and Why Hot Food Is So Satisfying
Mar 06, 2017
Ancient armies sometimes used hallucinogenic honey as a bioweapon. New research shows how different squid brains are from human brains. Plus, we break down why hot food seems more satisfying than…
Face Punching Legality, Misophonia, and Ties Between Honesty and Profanity
Feb 28, 2017
Morality aside, is it ever legal to punch someone in the face? Unrelated: Researchers have identified the brain bits responsible for finding certain sounds incredibly annoying. Plus, highly profane…
The Danger Episode: Solar Flares, Cosmic Rays, and App Terms of Service
Feb 21, 2017
Solar flares may be responsible for deadly whale beachings. New research clarifies cosmic radiation exposure for frequent fliers. Plus, purposefully complex terms of service let apps harvest our…
Virgin Shark Births, Weighted Anxiety Blankets, and a Border Wall's Impact on Wildlife
Feb 14, 2017
A zebra shark has given birth to viable babies without a mate. Weighted blankets may help people battle anxiety and insomnia. Plus: How much damage would a U.S. boarder wall do to local wildlife?
The Blood of the Young, Crustacean Bioweapons, and Our Oldest Ancestor
Feb 06, 2017
A proposed anti-aging treatment transfuses young people's plasma into old people's blood. A species of boxer crab clones and carries sea anemones as weapons. Plus, the oldest known ancestor of all…
Tornadoes Demystified, Global Medicine, and Why the President's First 100 Days Matter
Jan 31, 2017
Tornadoes' centers leave you cold and breathless; now we know how. Underuse and overuse of particular medical treatments is a global problem. Plus, the history and politics behind the importance of a…
Wonder Woman's Creator, School Suspensions' Effects, and Charging in Airplane Mode
Jan 23, 2017
Wonder Woman's iconic themes of truth, matriarchy, and bondage reflect on her fascinating creator. Schools are suspending more students than ever, with lasting effects. Plus: Do smartphones really…
Gun Violence Contagion, Pregnancy Brain, and Dirty Towels
Jan 17, 2017
Research indicates that gun violence is contagious like a disease. Pregnancy causes measurable changes in the brain. Plus, science tells us how frequently we should wash our bath towels.
Lunar Lava Caves, Letting Kids Lose, and Air-Seat Shrinkage
Jan 09, 2017
Future moon settlers could live in caves carved by ancient lunar lava flows. Letting kids lose games can actually help them in the long run. Plus, your fellow airplane passengers are closer to you…
Asparagus Pee Science, Tardigrades' Weird Mating Habits, and Criminal Software
Jan 02, 2017
You have some specific genes to thank if you can smell asparagus in urine. Tardigrades were finally observed mating and it's suitably strange. Plus, a software glitch is sending innocent people to…
The Bees of the Sea, Tasting Garlic Via Skin, and Probing Alpha Centauri
Dec 26, 2016
Tiny invertebrates pollinate underwater flowers like bees. Fun party trick: How to taste garlic through your feet. Plus, Stephen Hawking is helping send a probe the size of a cherry tomato to explore…
When Christmas Was Illegal, and Why 2016 Will Be One Second Longer
Dec 19, 2016
christmas, puritans, history, culture, holidays, celebration, 2016, leap second, timekeeping, new years eve, time
Space Poop, Contact Congress and Elf on the Shelf
Dec 12, 2016
How can we better deal with waste in space? Should we rise up against the panopticonic Elf on the Shelf? Plus: Is the internet actually an effective way to contact our elected officials?
Conversational Eye Contact, Presidential Housing, and Samoan Solar Energy
Dec 05, 2016
Researchers may have pinpointed why it's hard to maintain eye contact while we speak. If Trump declined to live in the White House, it would be unprecedented. Plus, a Samoan island is prepared to…
A Hot Tub of Despair, Fast Bats, and Teen Tech Creators
Nov 28, 2016
A warm, salty area deep in the Gulf of Mexico kills everything it touches. Bats can fly faster than anyone thought, beating out even the fastest birds. Plus, young women in South Africa plan to…
Whether California Could Secede, Spotify's Destructive Bug, and Ambient Music Therapy
Nov 21, 2016
Increasingly, Californians are considering a campaign to secede from the union. An error in Spotify's desktop app could damage your computer -- update it! Plus, thankfully, ambient music is a proven…
A Sweating Robot, the Best Way to Merge, and What Your Phone Battery Wants
Nov 14, 2016
A new humanoid robot keeps its components cool by sweating, just like you and me. Drivers who wait until the last second to merge are scientifically correct - and safer. Plus, we bust a few myths…
History’s Worst Coffee, Learning Without Concentrating, and Why America Votes on Tuesdays
Nov 07, 2016
Demand for coffee during the American Civil War lead to a noxious innovation. Haptic feedback may let you learn certain skills without concentrating. Plus, the history behind Super Tuesday – and…
