Could the Bird Flu Cause a Human Pandemic?

Since the early 2000s, the H5N1 bird flu has sickened wild and domestic birds around the world -- and sometimes humans and other mammals, too. Learn how this strain of avian influenza works (and why it seems unlikey to cause a pandemic, but researchers are still watching it closely) in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/bird-flu.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans started domesticating edible gourds thousands of years ago, but one of today's most popular varieties has been around for less than a century. Learn about the history and science behind butternut squash (plus how big the heaviest on record was) in today's episode of BrainStuff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In London in the summer of 1858, a Great Stink settled over the city. The sewage from its growing population was baking in the streets -- and infiltrating the city's water supply. Learn how this smelly situation led to some incredible sewer engineering still in use today (plus a change in the understanding of how infection works) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/ridiculous-history-the-great-stink-london.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a good question. The blue whale is the largest known animal to ever grace the planet (they may be twice as big as Megalodon was! Their tongues are as heavy as elephants!), but they're still mysterious. Learn what science knows (and doesn't know) about blue whales in today's classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/blue-whale.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every U.S. election cycle, political campaigns bombard American televisions with advertisements for candidate X versus Y. But can these ads really make a difference, especially with shifts in the way we watch TV? Learn when they actually work in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/do-campaign-tv-ads-change-voters-minds.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when your immune system attacks the point of communication between your nerves and muscles? That's an autoimmune condition called myasthenia gravis, and it leads to muscle weakness that starts around the eyes and can progress to the face, neck, and limbs. Learn about its symptoms, what causes them, and how different treatments can help relieve them in today's episode of BrainStuff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter is made up of sparse, tiny bodies of rock, ice, and metal that give us a window into our solar system's early days. Learn how Jupiter helped form the astroid belt and how asteroids might've given Earth its water (and life!) in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/asteroid-belt.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Light and tender fried fish plated with crisp fried potatoes is a classic English comfort meal, but it's only a little over a century old. Learn the history of fish and chips in today's classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/cultural-traditions/fish-and-chips.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lemmings are small, fierce rodents that make their home in Arctic environments -- and (spoiler alert) the idea that they kill themselves by following each other off cliffs is a myth. Learn what Disney had to do with it (and what lemmings are really like) in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/lemmings.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our bodies need salt and our bodies need water, so why is drinking saltwater not good for you? Learn what salt does in our bodies and why seawater will actually dehydrate you in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/what-if/what-if-you-drink-saltwater.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.