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

10:00
Why do the same, self-repeating patterns appear in trees, rivers, lightning, and even our bodies?

12:54
Can new technologies make death prediction even more accurate?

21:33
AI may help us talk to whales soon. But should we?!

10:40
The cosmic distance ladder is the world’s longest ruler, built to measure the universe.

15:17
On April 8, North America is getting a total solar eclipse. Here’s what you need to know.

12:09
Learn about the space junk problem and the giant space claw named ClearSpace-1 that might

14:28
These tiny pieces of an ancient asteroid could hold the secret to the origin of life.

10:28
What do scientists think are the best ways of reaching out to aliens?

9:40
How bad is climate change in 2023? Can we do anything about it?

13:38
A cosmic soup hadn’t existed in 13.8 billion years. Now, scientists cook it up in a lab.

12:56
After a century of industrial pollution and superstorms, New York's waterways needs help!

37:33
Crashing a car is usually a terrible accident. But sometimes, it’s a way to save lives.