Back to Show
Reactions
What Do Electrolytes Actually Do?
Season 4
Episode 11
Sports drink commercials love talking about them, but what are electrolytes, why do we need them, and what happens if we don’t have enough? Electrolytes are salts that, once in our bodies, help our cells move water around. They also enable the nerve impulses that keep our hearts beating, our lungs breathing and our brains learning. But we can also lose them — for example, by sweating.
Support Provided By
11:28
We investigate how a lake could explode and shoot out a gigantic wave of deadly CO2.
11:39
We dive into the science behind this somewhat terrifying, sometimes glowing phenomenon.
14:37
We explain the science behind this tragic, avoidable accident.
2:33
Scientists are considering some less-conventional approaches to tackle COVID-19.
8:24
Learn how these tests work and why a test that’s 96% accurate is actually bad.
5:26
The COVID-19 pandemic has scientists considering a few less-conventional options.