Be Smart.
Science & Ideas
About
We give you deep answers to simple questions about science and the rest of the universe. And also dad jokes. Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, PhD. He's a molecular biologist and an award-winning science communicator and journalist
Episodes
- How The Toilet Changed History
The episode discusses how increased access to toilets and sanitation globally has led to significant public health improvements, including saving children's lives and enhancing women's access to healthcare and education.
- The Superb Owl!
This episode of "Be Smart" explores fascinating facts about owls, covering their silent flight, night vision, and exceptional hearing abilities that aid them in hunting. The episode also mentions research from The Witmer Lab at Ohio Univer…
- Your Microbiome: The Invisible Creatures That Keep You Alive!
This episode of Be Smart explores the human microbiome, focusing on the invisible creatures that play a vital role in our health and survival. It covers topics such as gut microbiome enrichment, immune defense, and related scientific resea…
- Why Is Sex a Thing?
This episode explores the evolutionary purpose of sex, discussing why it is considered a mystery in evolutionary biology. It examines the reasons behind its existence and its efficiency as a reproductive method.
- How Many Trees Are There?
This episode of Be Smart. explores the topic of how many trees exist on Earth. It references a scientific study on mapping tree density at a global scale.
- I Tried to Hit a MLB Fastball to Learn About Sports Neuroscience
This episode of "Be Smart" investigates the science and neuroscience involved in hitting a Major League Baseball fastball. It incorporates research and expert contributions to explain the complexities of this athletic feat.
- The Equinox Isn't What You Think It Is
This episode of Be Smart discusses the equinox, addressing the misconception that day and night are equal. It provides resources to calculate day length and simulate solar angles.
- Einstein Is (Almost) Always Right: Gravitational Waves Edition
This episode, titled "Einstein Is (Almost) Always Right: Gravitational Waves Edition," explores the concept of gravitational waves. The episode refers to Albert Einstein and provides links to additional resources on general and special rel…
- Why Going to Mars Would Totally Suck
This episode explores the reasons why a trip to Mars would be difficult. It discusses the scientific challenges and potential risks involved in human space exploration to Mars.
- How Do Squirrels Find Their Nuts?
This episode of Be Smart. investigates how squirrels locate their buried nuts. It delves into the scientific research on squirrel memory and food-caching strategies.
- Is Big Data Getting Too Big?
This episode of "Be Smart" discusses the topic of big data and its increasing size. It draws insights from various sources, including the book "Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think," and Stanford's "Raw D…
- 100,000,000 Years From Now
This episode of "Be Smart" discusses the long-term future of Earth, specifically 100,000,000 years from now. It covers the concept of the Anthropocene and the lasting legacy of human activity on the planet, citing relevant scientific liter…
- Why Seasons Make No Sense
This episode from the show "Be Smart" discusses the concept of seasons, explaining that not everyone experiences winter in the same way. It challenges common perceptions about seasons.
- This Is Not a Rainbow
This episode discusses atmospheric optics, including ice crystal physics and various sky phenomena such as sun dogs, parhelic circles, and parhelions. It provides resources for learning more about these natural occurrences.
- Who Shares Your Birthday?
This episode of Be Smart explores the math behind the Birthday Paradox and the related Facebook Birthday Problem. It also provides links to determine which celebrities share your birthday.
- Could Bigfoot REALLY Exist?
This episode of Be Smart explores the evidence and theories surrounding the potential existence of Bigfoot. It delves into related scientific discussions and case studies.
- The 12 Days of Evolution - Complete Series!
This is a compilation of all 12 episodes of "The 12 Days of Evolution" from the show "Be Smart." It brings together the complete series in one video.
- Could Planet Minecraft Actually Exist?
This episode discusses whether a planet like the one in Minecraft could exist. It delves into the science behind cubic planets, including their gravitational fields, and references historical claims and community discussions.
- How Baby Sea Turtles Find Their Way Home
This episode of Be Smart explores how baby sea turtles find their way home, focusing on geomagnetic imprinting and other homing mechanisms. It references research from scientists like Dr. Donna Shaver and Kenneth J. Lohmann.
- Can Coral Reefs Survive Climate Change?
This episode of Be Smart discusses whether coral reefs can survive climate change. It explores the challenges faced by coral reefs and their potential for adaptation in a changing climate.
- Spit: Everything You Never Wanted To Know
This episode of Be Smart explores the science of spit, discussing its components and properties. It draws on scientific references and further reading about saliva and the digestive system.
- How The Placebo Effect Tricks Your Brain
This episode of Be Smart explores the placebo effect, explaining how the brain can trick itself in response to medicine. It delves into the scientific understanding of this phenomenon.
- How Many Species Are There?
This episode discusses the fundamental question of how many species exist on Earth. It emphasizes the importance of knowing this information for environmental protection and explores the difficulties in determining global biodiversity.
- How Do Hot Air Balloons Stay Up?
This episode of Be Smart explains the scientific principles that allow hot air balloons to stay in the air. It focuses on the fundamental concepts behind their buoyancy and flight.
- Explaining Lunar Eclipses and the SUPER BLOOD MOON!
This episode explains lunar eclipses, including the "super blood moon." It is part of the Be Smart. series.
- Do Other Animals Mourn Their Dead? (ft. BrainCraft and Gross Science!)
This episode of Be Smart, featuring BrainCraft and Gross Science, investigates whether animals mourn their dead. It references sources like "How Animals Grieve" by Barbara J. King.
- Why Are Some Animals Venomous?
This episode of Be Smart explores why some animals are venomous. It delves into the evolution of venom systems in creatures like lizards and snakes, and discusses venom resistance in mammals and other animals.
- What Color Is The Moon?
This episode of Be Smart explores how our brains perceive the color of the moon and discusses visual illusions. It references scientific papers on lightness perception and color interaction.
- The Truth About Butterfly Metamorphosis (It's VERY WEIRD)
This episode of Be Smart explores the biological process of butterfly metamorphosis. It delves into the stages of this transformation and uncommon facts about how it occurs. The episode aims to provide a deeper understanding of the science…
- Why I'm Scared of Spiders
This episode of Be Smart explores the science of why people are afraid of spiders and other creepy creatures. It discusses whether these fears are evolved or learned responses.
- How Scorpions Became Earth’s Ultimate Survivors
This episode discusses scorpions, highlighting their long evolutionary history, venom, and potential for use in new life-saving medicines. It explores how these creatures became ultimate survivors.
- Lab-Grown Meat is Here… and I Taste-Tested It!
This episode features a taste test of lab-grown meat and a visit to a cultivated meat production facility. The discussion explores whether cultivated meat can meet its environmental promises.
- Are Jellyfish the Weirdest Animals In the Ocean?
This episode of Be Smart investigates whether jellyfish are the weirdest animals in the ocean. The host goes behind the scenes at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to learn about jellyfish.
- The Deadly Chemistry That Made Life Interesting
This episode of Be Smart discusses a deadly chemical element that played a crucial role in the development of complex life on Earth, transitioning from simple cellular life to more diverse forms over billions of years. It highlights the el…
- My Date With A Giant Pacific Octopus!
This episode of Be Smart features an encounter with a Giant Pacific Octopus at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The discussion focuses on the octopus's intelligence and curious nature.
- How the CIA Secretly Spied On Climate Change
This episode explores how Cold War spy satellite technology, initially used for espionage, was declassified and repurposed to study climate change. It details the unexpected alliance between former enemies in using this technology to addre…
- Cuttlefish: Disco Camouflage Chameleons of the Sea
This episode of Be Smart explores the advanced camouflage abilities of cuttlefish. It discusses how these cephalopods change their appearance to blend in with their environment.
- Why Y Is a Vowel According to Physics (and so is W)
This episode of Be Smart explores the physics behind human language, discussing how vocal tracts and resonance create sounds. It delves into linguistics and explains how vowels can be considered an acoustic illusion based on physical princ…
- Fact vs. Theory vs. Hypothesis vs. Law… EXPLAINED!
This episode of "Be Smart" clarifies the definitions of fact, theory, hypothesis, and law in a scientific context. It aims to correct misunderstandings often used in arguments against concepts like evolution and climate change.
- How Humans Ruined and Rescued an Ocean Paradise
This episode discusses how human activities, specifically sardine fishing, impacted Monterey Bay. It explores the environmental consequences and highlights how a scientist, aided by John Steinbeck, influenced ecological perspectives and co…
- Is Sugar a Drug?
This episode of Be Smart. investigates if sugar is a drug by examining scientific research and its effects on the human body, drawing from various studies on sugar intake and its impact on health.
- This Rainforest Caterpillar Looks Like Donald Trump
The It's Okay To Be Smart episode explores a Peruvian rainforest caterpillar that visually mimics Donald Trump, delving into the science of mimicry and camouflage in the natural world.
- What Is Fire?
This episode of Be Smart explores the science of fire, explaining the chemistry and physics behind flames and why they burn. It delves into the fascinating processes occurring within a flame.
- Is This A NEW SPECIES?!
The episode "Is This A NEW SPECIES?!" from Be Smart features the discovery of a "hermit crab caterpillar" in the Peruvian Amazon, which the hosts suspect is a new species. The video also delves into the scientific definition of a species a…
- What Has New Horizons Taught Us About Pluto?
The New Horizons mission has significantly advanced our understanding of Pluto and its moon Charon since its 2015 flyby. Key discoveries include the dwarf planet's icy composition, diverse geologic features, and hazy atmosphere.
- Why Do We Laugh?
This episode of Be Smart explores the universal human behavior of laughter. Host Joe Hanson explains that the reasons behind laughing may be less connected to humor than people typically assume, referencing scientific studies on the subjec…
- How These Ants Took Over the U.S. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
This episode of Be Smart discusses the invasion of fire ants in the United States and the methods being used to fight them. It highlights research from the University of Texas at Austin's fire ant research lab and mentions resources like
- Why Are Cicadas So Good At Math?
This episode of Be Smart explores the periodical cicadas' life cycle and explains their relationship with prime numbers. Host Joe Hanson discusses why these insects might be considered good at math.
- Your Salad Is Trying To Kill You
This episode of Be Smart explores the concept that plant flavors are a result of chemical warfare evolved for defense. It explains how humans use these plant defenses, like spicy mustard, in their diet.
- How Was the Grand Canyon Formed?
The Grand Canyon, a mile deep and several miles wide, was formed by the Colorado River. This episode of Be Smart discusses the geological history and formation process of this natural wonder.