Stuff To Blow Your Mind

What has five fingers and is an absolute beast? A disembodied crawling hand, of course! In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1946 horror film “The Beast With Five Fingers” starring Peter Lorre.

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What is thirst? In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind series, Robert and Joe dive into the biological, cultural and mythological answers to this broad question.

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In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses one of the most famous Russian fairy tale characters of all time…

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What is thirst? In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind series, Robert and Joe dive into the biological, cultural and mythological answers to this broad question.

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During the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, Pharaoh Ahmose I erected a stele detailing a great storm that destroyed tombs, temples and other structures. Does this artifact describe a real atmospheric disturbance? Or is it propaganda? In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the mystery. (originally published 1/28/2021)

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What happens when a solar conjunction allows all ant species to unite against their enemies? Find out as Rob and Joe discuss the delightfully weird 1974 film “Phase IV.”

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What is the character in the film looking at? How does the object of their vision color how we interpret their countenance? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the Kuleshov effect from film theory and what studies in experimental psychology and neuroscience reveal.

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In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses connections between rotting wood and the supernatural…

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What is the character in the film looking at? How does the object of their vision color how we interpret their countenance? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the Kuleshov effect from film theory and what studies in experimental psychology and neuroscience reveal.

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Spanning centuries of human history, the iconic bonsai tree is a widely recognized example of Japanese mastery. Each miniature tree speaks to the beauty of cultivated nature and the immutability of all things. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the history of bonsai, its cultural meaning and the underlying science. (originally published 1/26/2021)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe contend with the glittering, cosmic glory of Luigi Cozzi’s 1983 film “Hercules,” starring Lou Ferrigno as the mighty hero, William Berger as science-loving King Minos and Sybil Danning as his daughter Adriana.

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The trap is insidious. But of course it is. It was designed and executed… by ants? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, the ant wars continue as Robert and Joe explore some of the possibility that a few formidable Formicidae species actually lay traps.

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In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the oft-forgotten Kulons of the planet Arrakis…

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If an advanced civilization existed on earth several million years ago, would we actually be able to detect that they were here? It may sound like conspiracy theorist bait, but a serious and balanced look at the question reveals a lot about geology, climate and the search for alien life. In this episode of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, Robert and Joe discuss the silurian hypothesis.

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How do insects factor into our traditions of death -- and how do insects handle their own burials? Find out in this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind as Robert and Joe discuss ants, termites, Virgil, ancient civilizations, bees and more. (originally published 1/21/2021)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe take a ride in Dutch filmmaker Dick Maas’ 1983 killer elevator movie “The Lift.”

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In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe explore the world of tumbleweeds. While it’s easy to dismiss these amazing plants as overused symbols of the American west, these detachable diaspores are more than meets the eyes.

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In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the legendary Manticore…

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In this Stuff to Blow Your Mind two-parter, Robert and Joe explore the world of tumbleweeds. While it’s easy to dismiss these amazing plants as overused symbols of the American west, these detachable diaspores are more than meets the eyes.

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Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...

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The lock and key are such a central part of modern life, both technologically and metaphorically, but when and how did this technological advancement take place? In this Invention-themed episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe dive into the ancient history of security technology. (originally published 1/12/2021)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe explore Marcell Jankovics’ hallucinogenic animated masterpiece of Hungarian mythology: Fehérlófia, known to English-speaking audiences as “Son of the White Mare.”

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In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the science and history of sinkholes. How have these impressive geographic features impacted our world, and what can they reveal about the past? (originally published 1/19/2021)

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In this episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Robert discusses money you can eat or drink...

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In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the science and history of sinkholes. How have these impressive geographic features impacted our world, and what can they reveal about the past? (originally published 1/14/2021)

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Robert and Joe are still on break, but here's an update on what you'll hear this week.

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Nope, “Heavy Water” isn’t the new bottled beverage for headbangers. It’s actually an alternate form of water called deuterium oxide that plays a key role in nuclear power plants and the creation of nuclear weapons. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe get to know heavy water. Can you drink it? Why did the Nazis want it? Find out… (originally published 12/17/2020)

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What if the nations of the Earth solved all their problems with giant robot gladiatorial battles? That’s the concept behind 1990’s “Robot Jox,” directed by horror wizard Stuart Gordon and written by military sci-fi author Joe Haldeman. Join Rob and Joe for a discussion of mech politics in this Christmas Day episode of Weirdhouse Cinema. (originally published 12/25/2020)

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It’s obvious that our preferences guide our choices, but do our choices also determine our preferences? In this classic episode, join Robert and Joe as they explore this question with the help of a half-century of psychological research and reminiscences concerning Sonic the Hedgehog and Metallica. (originally published 12/24/2020)

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In this classic episode of STBYM’s The Artifact, Joe talks about mind-boggling prehistoric mineral formations. (originally published 2/10/2021)

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For many of us, toy guns were part of our childhood, but how are we to think about them today? In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe look at some of the current thinking on the use of toy weapons in childhood play. (originally published 12/22/2020)

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Stuff to Blow Your Mind is off for the week, but Robert and Joe take a few minutes to discuss the classic episodes that will be showcased in the feed.

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Once more, Stuff to Blow Your Mind leans into the holidays -- this time for an invention-minded episode about some of the technologies that bring the winter holidays to life. Join Robert and Joe as they discuss electric Christmas tree lights, tinsel and angelic tree toppers. (originally published 12/15/2020)

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The Star Wars franchise is home to many cinematic entries some consider to be unnatural. In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the 1985 made-for-TV film “Ewoks: The Battle For Endor,” starring Wilford Brimley and various forest monsters. (originally published 12/4/2020)

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The 1983 holiday film “A Christmas Story” warned us of the dangers associated with BB guns, bar soap and frozen flag poles – but it also introduced us to the Old Man’s prized leg lamp. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe dive into the deep, ancient and occult history of lamps and other objects shaped in the likeness of a human leg or foot.

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In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses a surprise holiday monster...

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Today, time travel fiction is everywhere – and we understand the cosmos enough to even speculate what is and isn’t possible. But how old is the notion of travel through time? What sorts of attitudes and ideas concerning the nature of time were seemingly necessary before humans first imagined firing up a time machine?

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You might consider spinning around in a circle either great fun or a one-way ticket to barf town, but spinning and whirling are also tied to childhood development, artistic expression and the pursuit of meditative states. Join Robert and Joe as they explore the spin on this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind. (originally published 12/10/2020)

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This week on Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss the classic 1960s Russian fairy tale spectacular “Morozko,” better known to many fans as “Jack Frost.” It’s a tale of love, evil stepmothers, mushroom wizards, animal transformations, Baba Yaga and of course the Russian personification of winter, Morozko or Ded Moroz.

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We all know music can influence our moods, but can it actually boost our memory? How do musical memories emerge at the borders of identity, experience and culture? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore these questions and discuss the curious ways we remember music and sounds.

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Global supply chains have made headlines this year, with businesses in every industry and consumers all experiencing unprecedented volatility. How can companies stabilize this boundless bullwhip? In this episode of Smart Talks, Malcolm talks to Jonathan Wright, Global Managing Partner for Supply Chain Consulting at IBM, about demand forecasting and other technologies that manufacturers and vendors are using to make their supply chains more resilient. This is a paid advertisement from IBM.

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Today, time travel fiction is everywhere – and we understand the cosmos enough to even speculate what is and isn’t possible. But how old is the notion of travel through time? What sorts of attitudes and ideas concerning the nature of time were seemingly necessary before humans first imagined firing up a time machine?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...

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You might consider spinning around in a circle either great fun or a one-way ticket to barf town, but spinning and whirling are also tied to childhood development, artistic expression and the pursuit of meditative states. Join Robert and Joe as they explore the spin on this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind. (originally published 12/8/2020)

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe consider their first holiday horror film selection: 1983’s “Bloodbeat.” Filmed in Wisconsin, the film explores the complexity of holiday family time, while also wondering what might happen if mom had to battle a Samurai ghost with her psychic powers. Plus, Rob and Joe will discuss holiday horror films in general.

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe welcome back Daniel Whiteson, particle physicist and co-host of Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe. Tune in for a discussion of time travel, wormholes and more that will actually transport you roughly an hour into the future. Plus Daniel will discuss the new book "Frequently Asked Questions About the Universe."

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