Be Smart
How Scorpions Became Earth’s Ultimate Survivors
Scorpions are a frightening and deadly group of animals. But their venom is one of nature's most unique chemical cocktails. Here’s how scientists are using it for inspiration to design new medicines and pain killers.
SciShow
You Do Not Need 10,000 Steps a Day
If you have ambitions to start exercising or get the most out of your exercise routine, there are a lot of flashy tricks promising to help you. But not all of them are supported by science. Do ice baths help? Stretching? Heat? This video...
SciShow
A Better Treatment for Overdose Is Coming
Naloxone, better known as Narcan, is today's gold standard to treat opioid overdose. But sometimes it comes up short against more potent opioids like fentanyl. So future treatments might take advantage of opioid receptor...
SciShow
Does Microdosing Actually Work?
There's a growing trend out there among users of hallucinogenic drugs - microdosing. The idea is to take a tiny dose of these drugs to get certain brain benefits without going all Sergeant Pepper. But does it work? Let's get into what we...
SciShow
We Don't Know What Causes the World's Worst Pain
Settle in and grab a painkiller, because these are some of the most painful diseases out there. From trigeminal neuralgia to thunderclap headaches and even jackhammer esophagus, these conditions crank the pain scale to an eleven. Hosted...
SciShow
Do Redheads Feel Less Pain?
You may have heard that redheads need less pain medicine, or that they need more anesthesia in surgeries. And both of those things are true! Which is weird. Let's talk about some of the stuff we know about what the heck hair color has to...
PBS
The steps an Ohio county took to reduce infant mortality rates
When it comes to infant mortality, the United States ranks 54th in the world. That's about three times that of Japan, Singapore or Slovenia. Within the U.S., Ohio is in the bottom 25 percent of all states. Hamilton County was even worse...
PBS
Why the red state of Utah is going green and embracing electric vehicles
This past week, President Trump suspended a program to expand the country’s network of electric vehicle chargers. It’s the latest in his series of efforts to undo Biden-era policies encouraging EV adoption. But in some parts of the...
TED Talks
TED: A meditation on Rumi and the power of poetry | Leili Anvar
In an ode to the Persian language, author Leili Anvar unfurls the work of 13th-century mystic poet Rumi and reflects on how poetry gives meaning to our lives.
SciShow
Keep Calm And Recover From Surgery Faster
Can keeping calm before a surgery reduce negative outcomes? More than one study says "Yes."
SciShow
The Implant That Literally Freezes Away Pain
It's no secret that cold can help treat a source of pain, like a sprained ankle or even a burn. But new technology might be able to take that principle and apply it /directly/ onto your nerves!
TED Talks
TED: The Encyclopedia of Invisibility — a home for lost stories | Tavares Strachan
Conceptual artist Tavares Strachan creates the kinds of projects that make you stop in your tracks, like a 4.5-ton block of Arctic ice he brought back to his birthplace in the Bahamas or a gold, Egyptian-inspired sculpture he launched...
TED Talks
TED: My quest to end the horror of gun violence in the US | Lucy McBath
US Congresswoman Lucy McBath has made it her mission to seek bipartisan solutions for gun safety, leading the way in sponsoring so-called "red flag" laws that prevent gun violence and mass shootings. In a searing and timely talk, she...
TED Talks
TED: 3 practices for a life of wisdom | Krista Tippett
Journalist and podcast host Krista Tippett has spent a career interviewing some of the world's most brilliant people. All these conversations have left her with wisdom on the art of living and what it means to be human right now. Listen...
SciShow
Does Tylenol Actually Do Anything?
The pain reliever known as acetaminophen or paracetamol, marketed under brand names like Tylenol, Calpol or Panadol, has an excellent reputation. But the quality of evidence that it actually works is shockingly poor. So, do doctors and...
PBS
How Chilis Got Spicy (and Why We Love the Burn)
Today, chilis are the most widely cultivated spice crop in the world - grown everywhere from their native home in the Americas to Europe, Africa, and Asia. But how and why did chilis evolve this weird, fiery trick in the first place? And...
TED Talks
TED: How to hack your brain when you're in pain | Amy Baxter
Have we misunderstood pain? Researcher and physician Amy Baxter unravels the symphony of connections that send pain from your body to your brain, explaining practical neuroscience hacks to quickly block those signals. Her groundbreaking...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The science of falling in love | Shannon Odell
Love is often described as heartwarming, heart-wrenching, or even heartbreaking— and your brain is responsible for all these feelings. The journey from first spark to the last tear is guided by a symphony of neurochemicals and brain...
SciShow
Fentanyl is Very Deadly… Here's Why
Fentanyl has become a primary cause of the opioid overdose epidemic in the past decade. But what is it about this drug that's so dangerous? There's more to the story than meets the eye. If you’re ever in the position where you think...
MinuteEarth
Why Do Heart Attacks Cause *Arm* Pain?
When the brain receives pain from an internal organ, it often projects the pain in the wrong place because of the way sensory nerve paths converge
SciShow
The Problem with Bee Venom Therapy
Does bee venom therapy work? Stings cause pain, itching, or even death in some people, so how might potential benefits outweigh the risks?
SciShow
Placebos & Nocebos: How Your Brain Heals and Hurts You
You've probably heard how some drugs and treatments make people feel better, even when they turn out to be fake. That's the placebo effect, but how does it work? And could the same effect backfire, causing your brain to make you feel...
SciShow
Can Gargling Salt Water Cure a Sore Throat?
Gargling with warm saltwater for a sore throat is a remedy commonly known and loved by doctors, and there is some evidence to back it up, but it’s not a cure.
SciShow
7 Unbelievably Hardcore Ants
The ant world is an incredible, dangerous, and downright bizarre place. Some ants, though, are a lot cooler and more resourceful than you might give them credit for.