Skip to main content

Up Next

Back to Show
It's Okay to Be Smart

7 Scientific Urban Legends Debunked!

Season 7 Episode 20

How can you prepare yourself to not be fooled by other scientific urban legends? I look at a few of the most famous incorrect factoids in science, and give a few suggestions for how to make our common knowledge more correct.

Sign up now for inspiring and thought-provoking media delivered straight to your inbox.
Support Provided By
Season
What Could We See with a Planet-Sized Telescope?
16:00
Just how big would a telescope need to be to actually see an alien world in detail?
The Argument for De-Extinction: Explained
26:19
Dire wolves are back—sort of.
Will Earth Run Out of Oxygen
16:53
The key enzyme behind photosynthesis isn’t actually all that great at its job.
What’s Inside the Oldest Rocks in the World?
16:40
The oldest rocks on Earth are more than just ancient—they’re time machines!
Why Your Grandma Is an Evolutionary Mystery
17:11
This is one of the weirdest mysteries of human evolution: Why do we have grandmas?
What Synesthesia Feels Like
12:28
Why do some people taste music or hear colors? Let’s talk about synesthesia.
Why Useless Knowledge Can Be So Useful
14:35
How a chemical in lizard spit inspired one of the most important medical advancements.
How Scientists Cracked the Secret To Making Diamonds
12:15
These diamond makers create one of the most amazing materials on Earth — from dead people.
Camouflage Isn't What It Appears To Be
11:20
Learn nature’s ultimate game of hide-and-seek, and the way to win this game is all in the brain.
Why Don’t Humans Hibernate?
11:17
Nature has had to come up with some crazy ways to survive winter. None are weirder than hibernation.
The Paradox of Voting
12:40
Political scientist Don Green joins Joe to figure out the complex psychological and social factors t
Why Do We Hate Certain Sounds
16:27
Why do certain sounds make some of us so upset?!
Active loading indicator