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It's Okay to Be Smart
Why Useless Knowledge Can Be So Useful
Season 12
Episode 17
Our lizard friend the Gila monster probably has no idea that a chemical in its spit inspired one of the most important medical advancements of the 21st century. But this story is really about something bigger. Something deeper, beneath the surface. About why we do science in the first place. And about what kind of questions are the best ones for scientists to ask.
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14:51
Seedless fruits are delicious, convenient… and completely unnatural.
21:13
What does randomness really mean? And why your digital life depend on it?
16:20
Why do we have different blood types? And why do we have blood at all?
16:18
How did dinosaurs become birds—and what good is half a wing?
16:00
Just how big would a telescope need to be to actually see an alien world in detail?
26:19
Dire wolves are back—sort of.
16:53
The key enzyme behind photosynthesis isn’t actually all that great at its job.
16:40
The oldest rocks on Earth are more than just ancient—they’re time machines!
17:11
This is one of the weirdest mysteries of human evolution: Why do we have grandmas?
12:28
Why do some people taste music or hear colors? Let’s talk about synesthesia.
12:15
These diamond makers create one of the most amazing materials on Earth — from dead people.
11:20
Learn nature’s ultimate game of hide-and-seek, and the way to win this game is all in the brain.