Skip to main content

Up Next

Why You See Faces in Things

Why You See Faces in Things

Season 12 Episode 10
10:23
Why Do We Hate Certain Sounds

Why Do We Hate Certain Sounds

Season 12 Episode 12
16:27
The Paradox of Voting

The Paradox of Voting

Season 12 Episode 13
12:40
Why Don’t Humans Hibernate?

Why Don’t Humans Hibernate?

Season 12 Episode 14
11:17
Camouflage Isn't What It Appears To Be

Camouflage Isn't What It Appears To Be

Season 12 Episode 15
11:20
Why Useless Knowledge Can Be So Useful

Why Useless Knowledge Can Be So Useful

Season 12 Episode 17
14:35
What Synesthesia Feels Like

What Synesthesia Feels Like

Season 12 Episode 18
12:28
Back to Show
It's Okay to Be Smart

The Real (Weird) Way We See Numbers

Season 12 Episode 8

Would it surprise you to learn that fish and birds count in pretty much the same way that we do? And that infants can do math? Our animal brains deal with quantities in very specific ways, from quick counts of a few dots to how we perceive larger numbers. This "number sense" impacts our psychology, history, and behavior in the most fascinating ways.

Sign up now for inspiring and thought-provoking media delivered straight to your inbox.
Support Provided By
Season
How to be Crushed by the Atmosphere!
6:56
Air. I bet you never even notice that it’s there.
Why Are So Many People Allergic To Food?
10:47
Why Are So Many People Allergic To Food?
Where On Earth Do You Weigh The Least?
7:13
This video is all about the difference between mass and weight.
Are You Afraid of Holes?
5:51
Are You Afraid of Holes?
The Impossible Hugeness of Deep Time
9:05
Humans have a hard time with really big numbers, especially when it comes to DEEP TIME.
Is There Life on Earth?
9:44
If we lived light years from Earth, how would we know there’s life here?
Why Do We Itch (ASL)
4:59
We explore how and why itching help!
Do Fish Pee?
4:53
You know you’ve wondered. Do fish actually pee?
Does Someone Else Have Your Face?
12:42
They say everyone has a doppelgänger, but is that really true?
The Raisin Bran Effect
5:19
Where do you see the Brazil Nut Effect around you?
Can We Get Older Without Aging?
8:53
What do other life forms have to teach us about staying alive as we get old?
There Might Be a Dinosaur On Your Dinner Table
10:16
Eating turkey this holiday season? You’re eating a dinosaur!
Active loading indicator