Beavers are in fact, very busy. They're builders and solid family members, husbands and wives. Learn all about N America's... more

The story of the Oxford English Dictionary is really something. From its origin to its crowd-sourced literary quotations. Dive in... more

When you switch lanes on the highway after noticing that the lane you’re in is ending up ahead, you are... more

It’s time to get jazzed about Earth science again. It’s only been 60 or so years since we’ve known the... more

Getting the rain and melted snow from upstate NY into the taps of every NYC resident and business is one... more

It’s astounding that with the exceptional navigational equipment aboard a cruise ship can run aground in the 21st century, and... more

Everyone once in a while, say a few hundred thousand years or so, the north and south poles of Earth’s... more

If you’ve ever wanted to listen to two totally untrained, non-chemists who are fully unqualified to explain how the periodic... more

If you play video games you probably have an easy answer to worst game of all time: ET. But it... more

Diners may just be the most American establishment there is. They were born in the USA, thanks to European immigrants,... more

The story of the Liberty Bell is far more confusing than we imagined.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Natalie Wood was Hollywood royalty who tragically drowned after a long night of partying with her husband, Robert Wagner, and... more

Josh and Chuck dive into history in this classic episode to tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers.See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

It’s a good, old fashioned how it works episode where we break down all of the nuts and bolts and... more

Petrified wood isn't just hard wood. Listen in today to learn all about this unique process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s easy to think of people in the distant past as kinda dumb for believing things like that mice could... more

Are laws that are meant to protect the sanctity of the polling place in reality designed to make it harder... more

The Harlem Globetrotters are an American entertainment institution. Their story may not be quite what you think either. Hint, they... more

If you grew up from the 70s to the 90s you know white dog poop. It’s the old, crusty –... more

As per tradition, today Josh and Chuck perform a spooky Halloween story reading to delight, amuse and FRIGHTEN YOU TO... more

A mummy is a human being whose soft tissue has been preserved after death, and there are mummies around the... more

Naked mole rats are funny looking to be sure, but neither moles nor rats. So what are they? You'll have... more

The simple bed sheet has provided countless kids and adults with an easy go-to Halloween costume. But why do we... more

Three years before the riots at Stonewall, the LGBTQ community of San Francisco's Tenderloin rose up. And the story was... more

We aren’t exactly sure who invented trick-or-treating – kids who realized they could extort adults for candy, or adults who... more

In the tradition of our episodes on forgiveness and revenge, comes the third installment in the Emotional Roller Coaster trilogy.... more

Is it vile? Is it delicious? It seems to be both! Hear all about the history of candy corn, how... more

Eugene Francois Vidocq is without a doubt one of the most interesting figures in modern history. He’s a former criminal... more

Pain is subjective; it is whatever the person experiencing it says it is. But to effectively treat pain, it helps... more

Intellectual property sounds as dry as can be, but it’s actually very interesting. It’s at the heart of the global... more

What’s better than discovering a mysterious cavern? Discovering five!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parasocial relationships are fascinating and it turns out Chuck knows what it's like from both sides. Listen in today to... more

Motion sickness is the worst and hits about 25 to 40 percent of humans when they ride in cars, boats,... more

You know Andy Warhol from his quip on being famous for 15 minutes and paintings of soup cans, but even... more

Rhodium is one of the most valuable precious metals on Earth, though it has dropped in value by about 80%... more

Grizzly bears had never killed a person in Glacier National Park until the night of August 12, 1967. That's when... more

Do you know that up until July 2011 an ambitious hacker with a good software program could deduce your social... more

Someone cuts you off in traffic or makes fun of your friend and all you can think of is how... more

The Dakota is one of New York City's great buildings. And its backstory is pretty great to boot. See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

Christine Granville was about as James Bond as it gets. Stories of her life as a spy during World War... more

What is Cockney Rhyming Slang? It's complicated and its origins are unclear. Learn everything we know about it today in... more

Kombucha is pretty popular right now. But what is it exactly and where did it come from? The answers await... more

Have you ever stopped mid-pencil mark and realized to your astonishment where the plus sign came from? Then this one’s... more

It’s easy (and kind of fun) to laugh at the misfortune of CEOs and other high up business types when... more

Floods happen when more water is introduced to an area than can be quickly removed. That's about it, but there's... more

In 1981 America suffered the worst accidental structural collapse in its history. Listen in today to the tragic story of... more

Face it, when you spill salt your life goes totally off the rails, maybe even forever. Fortunately, we humans stumbled... more

It’s a listener request! Axolotls are one of the more amazing animals roaming the planet right now – they can... more

It seems like we largely take it for granted these days, but the fact that we have humans living in... more

Today we dive into the history and current state of Native American reservations. This serves as a nice follow-up to... more

Is OK the best word? It's certainly one of the most versatile. Check the interesting history of this weird contraction.See... more

In WWII, Italy went through its own Jewish Holocaust, terrible at first then horrific as the Nazis took over the... more

Chuck and Josh end up making reduxes of past episodes on things like sweating and deodorant in this all-new episode... more

Laurens Hammond invented the Hammond organ and in the process changed music history. But he was much more than that. See... more

You've seen the evil eye. Many Middle Eastern cultures have a long history with it. Learn how to thwart this... more

Henry Ford tried to build a Midwestern American town in the Amazon rainforest in the 1920s. It's true. And yes,... more

It's every kid's dream - a job playing with toys that pays in toys. It's a real thing and has... more

Climate change is having sweeping effects on our climate and this is changing the world, not just for humans and... more

Friends, treasure Saturn’s rings while they are young. They won’t be around forever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Farmer's Almanac has a long rich history that is more than just moon phases and long-term weather patterns. Tune... more

Today music sampling is a common practice, especially in electronic or hip-hop music. But how does it work? After all,... more

One of the great Arctic mysteries was the disappearance of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition in search of a northwest passage... more

In the 19th century news spread of an unfortunate man who was born with an evil second face on the... more

If we could talk with the animals, grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals, what would we say? We’d... more

You can stick them to the fridge or use them to transpose sound to tape, whatever they are used for... more

Science is just realizing the extent of the tiny pollutants that have entered ecosystems across Earth and inside all humans.... more

Who spoke English first and what was it like? Nothing like it is today. Listen in to learn all about... more

Diaries have been around for a long time. There are many famous ones, and tens of millions that will never... more

Rainbows seem to defy nature, but they're really pretty simple when it comes down to it. Turns out it's just... more

The last meal of the executed is a longstanding tradition. Listen in today to learn about the dark history and... more

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie. This is the NATO alphabet. But where did it come from?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Borderline Personality Disorder has been described as emotional “third degree burns over ninety percent of your body.” It’s as close... more

The Strad violin is noted for its tonal qualities and superior craftsmanship. And for its price tag. There are many... more

Chuck and Josh grew up on MAD Magazine and we hope you did too. What started out as a comic... more

In the US those ubiquitous blue highway signs that tell you which direction you’ll find a Burger King have an... more

Today, Chuck and Josh dive into the ins and outs of language learning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hinduism and Buddhism are closely related in a number of ways, including their vision of what comes after we exit... more

What became the Magic Eye illusion fad of the 1990s was born by way of the stereogram of the 1950s... more

Throwing a pie in someone’s face was groundbreaking comedy once upon a time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Insomnia is rough stuff. Listen in and learn all about why you can't fall asleep and what you can do... more

Police lineups are something most people have never had any firsthand experience with. What you see on TV and in... more

There is probably no drug more mythologized than PCP. It drives users insane and has the unfortunate side effect of... more

The most famous cemetery in Paris has some of the most famous people in the world buried there. And it's... more

This is a very special episode, the first one we've ever fully recorded a second time and decided to release.... more

They are creepy, sure, but they are also useful, cute and in great danger of extinction. Get a new lease... more

James Beard is well-known now for the annual awards named in his honor. But he used to be the most... more

The Hollywood sign is an iconic landmark that started out as a real estate billboard. Can you believe it?See omnystudio.com/listener... more

If truckers suddenly vanished the global economy would come to a grinding halt in a couple days. But as important... more

The people of Flint, MI were horrified to find their drinking water was poisoned with lead. As we learn more... more

If you thought caterpillars were awesome, just wait until you see them with colorful, iridescent wings!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fahrenheit or Celsius? Why not both? If they can agree - exactly at -40 degrees  - then it seems like... more

Caterpillars are simply the best. Don't think so? Well listen in and you'll soon agreeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's easy to overlook the importance of ocean currents - they move along out at sea, while we stay mostly... more

Black sci-fi writers were shut out of their genre in the 20th century so they created their own vision of... more

It has arrived, the most important podcast episode in the history of the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a good chance that in March of 2023, humans crossed a threshold into a transformative new era when... more

For this special live benefit episode recorded in Atlanta, Josh and Chuck go back to the 70s and look at... more

Humans made it through the Bronze Age and Iron Age, then we dabbled in steel, and now we are living... more

The suicide forest in Japan is a beautiful place with a checkered reputation. Trigger Warning: This episode features a discussion... more

Ever wondered when and why people started caring about body odors and cleanliness? Well look no further than today's episode. See... more

Did you know some of our most beloved movies originally had different, sometimes better, endings? That is until they were... more

Philosophers have been wondering whether we experience reality as it is for millennia now. They’ve pretty much settled on no,... more

One of the more futuristic things around right now on Earth is research into encoding data into strings of genetic... more

Keeping your elbows off the table, keeping your fingers out of the gravy boat – at some point these became... more

Almost everything you know about pterosaurs is wrong. They weren't birds, they weren't flying dinosaurs and they weren't all pterodactyls.... more

Could eating at only certain times of the day lead to weight loss? Possibly! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone knows what a Rube Goldberg machine is, but what do you know about the cartoonist who they're named after?See... more

For a moment Milli Vanilli was the hottest musical act in the world. Then came the news that it was... more

Science doesn't have a good explanation for why we sense color, yet it is everywhere and affecting us all the... more

Humans exercising for better health has not been around that long. Today we dive into this fun history as we... more

If you watch the news and hear the pollen count is high for some particular type of plant then it’s... more

The Bechdel Test is a is a measure of the representation of women in film. You'd be surprised how many... more

You know those shows where people wearing sensible shoes jog dogs around in circles? They actually represent the pinnacle of... more

It’s totally bonkers that in the US and other countries, the job of determining the guilt or innocence of an... more

Mood Rings were all the rage in the 1970s. Then they went away, and fast. What's your color today?See omnystudio.com/listener... more

Not too long ago we thought that germs were the cause of most diseases, leading to germ theory. But when... more

It has been called a "glorified spring", but Slinky is one of the best selling toys of all time. From... more

TV weather people can seem corny and maybe a little nerdy, but beneath that toothsome exterior lies the heart of... more

Who is Frances Kelsey? Well, she's a semi-unsung hero of the FDA whose work helped save a lot of kids... more

It's funny how similar The Colosseum in Rome is to modern day arenas. They really had it figured out. Tune... more

Does the human body really replace itself every few years? The answer is yes, but different parts of the body... more

Smell-O-Vision was a post-war movie theater gimmick that delivered well-timed scents to the noses of audiences to align with the... more

There’s a theory that all of us have a maximum number of friendships that we can maintain – 150, to... more

Another classic toys edition is at your collective feet. Today, we dive into the soft, padded world of NERF!See omnystudio.com/listener... more

When a suspect or prisoner goes on the lam there are plenty of ways to hide: in plain sight, in... more

It might not be the sexiest topic we’ve ever covered (and by “might”, we mean “definitely”), but there are some... more

Botox can chase away the lines on your face, apparently it can chase away your depression, borderline personality disorder, and... more

Today we dive in to celebrate the international treasure that is Dolly Parton. Why is she nearly universally loved? Listen... more

Is it true that Robin Hood hung out in Sherwood Forest and stole from the rich to give to the... more

We've wanted to contact extraterrestrials for as long as we've suspected they're out there. But as we get better and... more

Routines are a key part of a successful life. Ask anybody about theirs and they'll be happy to share!See omnystudio.com/listener... more

It sounds controversial, but there are persuasive arguments for the wealthy Global North to write off the debts lower-income nations... more

Sure, you've probably laid in one at the store or a funeral home, but how much do you know about... more

John Brinkley was perhaps the biggest quack who ever claimed to be practicing medicine. Learn all about this not so... more

Thanks to green algae, there's such a thing as red snow. And we've recently found it can accelerate global warming.... more

At 13,000 feet the ground is nothing but far-away squares of land, and you can even see some clouds below... more

It turns out that the characters in your favorite TV shows and the like are actually dead, dreaming, dying or... more

If you've ever wanted to learn more about playing cards, now is your big chance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been all over the news, Beethoven's DNA has revealed some interesting things about his health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans’ first attempt at civilization went pretty well for the first thousand years. Important stuff like the wheel, writing, math,... more

It was only since 1958 that the Jet Age began, and jet lag became a real condition. Also known as... more

Dowsing, aka water-witching has been around a long time. And you might be surprised that's still a thing. We get... more

There’s a little-discussed trend you might run into at your favorite theme park – people scattering the ashes of a... more

Back when cars were a brand new thing, before people even knew they'd stick around, two men and a dog... more

In 1970, roboticist Masahiro Mori wrote an essay that said the closer robots come to lifelike, the more they unsettle... more

One of the all-stars of the hobby world is collecting baseball cards. Over time it’s gone from a kids’ hobby... more

You know when you read a word over and over it starts to lose its meaning? There’s a term for... more

Floyd Collins was a natural-born caver who met a terrible fate, becoming stuck underground where no one could get him... more

Anyone who knows anything about Jean-Claude Van Damme knows he played a French legionnaire in the movies. He was just... more

Chuck and Josh were around during the Golden Age of the arcade. And look how they turned out! Join them... more

John Cage was a unique artist to say the least. Learn all about this avant-garde composer today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy... more

Amaro is a delicious traditional liqueur, usually from Italy, that has delighted diners and drinkers for centuries. Tune in to... more

During World War II, Nazis invaded the United States with saboteurs bent on fomenting chaos. Three times. Learn all about... more

You may have heard your parents or – gasp – grandparents prattle on about how amazing the original 1969 Woodstock... more

Paprika is more than a smoky Hungarian spice. Actually, that's not true, that's exactly what it is. But it sure... more

A noncompete agreement, a pledge not to work for a competitor for a set amount of time, makes sense –... more

In this classic show recorded live on January 5, 2017 at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre, Josh and Chuck delve into... more

Crossword puzzles have an interesting history and are a lot of fun to do. Dive in today to learn about... more

In a bridal shop in Chihuahua, Mexico a mannequin has been standing in the window since the 1930s that’s so... more

If you’ve ever thought, “What’s the Amazon rainforest ever done for me? Nothin, that’s what,” then you’re dead wrong, friend.... more

In a small town in Iowa in 1912 eight people were murdered in the grisliest of ways while they slept.... more

Naps are great if you can manage to find the space to take them. The trick is to do it... more

It’s pretty well known that if you wait to make a big decision until after you get some sleep, you’re... more

Chuck and Josh turn into the Hardy Boys for one of the great unsolved mysteries of WWII, a work of... more

In 1987, a very strange broadcast intrusion occurred in the city of Chicago. For just a couple of minutes, the... more

The fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club was not in Los Angeles, but Kentucky. Which happened to be Las... more

In 1981 a Mobile mother of six was forced into the role of civil rights activist when the Klan murdered... more

Flamingos are much more than just pretty pink birds. They are in fact, quite remarkable! Listen and learn…See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

There are extreme sports and then there is cave diving, the most extreme activity a person can engage in without... more

Josh and Chuck take a listener’s suggestion – many, many suggestions – and learn that possums are pretty great and... more

You can thank your parents and grandparents for the longstanding ban against dining shirtless and shoeless. While the concept was... more

Honey is an amazing thing. Just ask any bee. They make a ton of it. So much that humans get... more

Easy Bake Ovens are as iconic as a toy can get, as American as apple pie or baseball. Learn all... more

Vets have been around for a long time, but mainly to care for horses. When horse travel went away, guess... more

Where are all those birds flying anyway? How do they decide? When do they do it? All of these questions,... more

It’s part of the human condition, to feel the pain of sorrow, loss, embarrassment. But isn’t it kind of weird... more

Elephants are pretty much the best. Why? Josh and Chuck will let you know in great detail in this classic... more

A theory in the field of psychology has become so pervasive, it’s generally taken on faith that it’s true. It... more

This week's short stuff is all about throat lumps and Adam's apples.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John DeLorean: visionary, car maker extraordinaire, buyer of large amounts of cocaine, provider of time machine chassis. There is a... more

Join Josh and Chuck and a whole bunch of great people at the Gothic Theatre in Denver for this live... more

Toast is bread that has been browned by heat. It's delicious. This is our ode to toast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy... more

The Golden Age of Pirates didn’t have just men floating on the high seas. Some women became very successful pirates... more

Turns out the Louisiana Purchase was not so much a purchase, but the right to (steal) purchase it from indigenous... more

Physicians noticed centuries ago that people exposed to cold temperatures often have amazing recoveries from serious medical emergencies. Now medicine... more

This is not a hit piece! Tarot helps plenty of people navigate their lives and reflect on their feelings –... more

Forest Lawn is no ordinary cemetery. Why? Listen in and find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Until the 2007, the largest single corporate bankruptcy was Enron, a $67 billion energy trading company. Its decline was breathtaking,... more

Women consistently rate scent as the most important factor in a man's attractiveness and men have been manipulating that for... more

Mount St. Helen's is a lovely sight to behold, but was a pretty scary thing to be around in the... more

You don’t have to lie - everybody picks their nose. But did you know it can be life-threatening? It’s true... more

Today Josh and Chuck delve into the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Not the song, but the maritime accident. Though... more

People have believed something strange lives in Loch Ness for at least 3500 years. Thousands of people have sighted the... more

This one goes out to the SYSK Army as a special request. Let's do the time warp again!See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

Mesas, buttes and plateaus are all very similar. We'll break down the differences in each one just to be sure.See... more

Fried chicken is Chuck’s favorite food, and Josh sure doesn’t dislike it. It is with this appreciation that SYSK plunges... more

Long ago, in a galaxy not so far away, George Lucas allowed the Star Wars Holiday Special to be made.... more

Another year comes to a close here at SYSK, which means our annual Holiday Spectacular is at hand. So light... more

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was known for her quick wit and sharp tongue. But she was also a poet, screenwriter and activist. Tune... more

Nostradamus delighted us all in grade school, but it turns out the real guy wasn't quite as prescient as we... more

We don’t think about the words and phrases we use all the time - until Josh and Chuck look into... more

One of the very first union strikes in US history was mounted by a group of African American women in... more

For the holidays in 1986 (and ’87) (and ’88) the most stupendous, most wanted, most amazing thing any kid could... more

Polar bears are more than just lovable creatures that roam the ice in search of food. They're one of the... more

After the murder of a cop in southwest Germany in 2007 a massive hunt was launched across Europe. The suspect... more

The Birthday Paradox involves math, so you know this one will go perfectly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s not that the person who can never remember meeting you is snobby or even absent-minded; they may have a... more

Rubik's Cubes. Ronald Reagan. Jerry Falwell. Just Say No. One of these things was awesome. Take a guess and hop... more

People with Down syndrome lead rich, complex lives like any other human, but it’s only been in the last few... more

Goosebumps are a pretty cool evolutionary holdover from our earlier days as furry beasts. Don't believe us? Listen in. See omnystudio.com/listener... more

The space around you that you can reach with your arms is a very special place. It’s where we interact... more

For millennia humans have recognized four tastes, but in the 1980s a fifth taste first isolated in Japan gained worldwide... more

The Victorians were the first to go bonkers for roller skating and since then the pastime has had bursts of... more

Correction fluid goes by many names, but the OG was Liquid Paper. And it has a pretty cool origin story. See... more

Chuck loves typewriters because he loves mechanical brilliance. Dive into the cool history of these amazing machines today. See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

Since the Supreme Court ruled in 2010 in the Citizens United case that political contributions are speech and should be... more

The question of Shakespeare's authorship has been around since at least the mid-1800s. Is there anything to it? We'll dig... more

Is there anything – anything – worse than a yawn you can’t finish? It’s hard to think of anything else... more

When it comes to pre-wedding festivities, bachelor and bachelorette parties take the penis-shaped cake. Learn all about these sordid affairs... more

You know that heartbreak of the schoolyard – finders keepers, losers weepers? That’s actual law in a great many grown... more

It’s time for another great animal episode and in this one we swoop into the world of owls – nature’s... more

It’s not everyday that a message from the 16th century appears on a computer from the 1980s, so when that... more

Legal precedent is an odd thing. It matters, but it isn't codified. There are advantages and disadvantages. Let's all dive... more

Invasive species can mean a lot of things, from fungus to feral pigs and European starlings to kudzu vines. Basically,... more

In today's episode, you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about vaudeville, whether you like it or not. See... more

It’s unjust but true – if you are an adoptee in the US you may not have the same right... more

In August of 1980 a bomb containing 1,000 pounds of dynamite was quietly delivered to Harvey’s, a casino and resort... more

Out of obligation, Chuck and Josh mention Twilight, but it is the longstanding vampire lore that gets the most attention... more

It's hard to believe, but this is our 13th edition of the Halloween Spooktacular! So pour up a creepy brew... more

Robert the Doll is decidedly creepy. So is his story. Listen in to this spooky tale right now!See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

Long before we knew what serial killers were, a family in remote Kansas was disposing of victims at their family... more

Some guys have all the luck, some guys have all the pain. So said Rod Stewart. And if this list... more

Fundamentalism is usually thought of as a problem religions have to deal with, but not all fundamentalists are religious. And... more

Water towers are so ubiquitous you can look right past them, despite them being giant balls of water thrust triumphantly... more

There have been a lot of fake towns built throughout history for a lot of different reasons. Tune in to... more

What must be one of the most famous natural disasters in history took place when Mt Vesuvius buried Pompeii in... more

There’s a lot that can go wrong when your identity is at question. Charged with abandoning a baby? Check. Years... more

Did you know you have stripes? It’s true, you just can’t see them. Learn all about these little-known lines today!See... more

Seeing your near twin is probably pretty weird. But could there be a genetic commonality as well? You bet  there... more

Once in a while a movie comes along that's so forward-thinking it changes the way that horror is done. A... more

The first tags were required just a few years after the firs cars debuted, as a way to catch jerks... more

Listen in today as we salute turntablism, aka, record scratching.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite reading all about how vinyl records are recorded and made, it's still a bit like black magic to us.... more

Jesters of some sort have been around since ancient Egypt and China. Our modern clown was invented around 1800 and... more

In 1973 a study was published in Science where psychologist David Rosenhan revealed he had duped hundreds of psychiatric workers... more

Curse tablets are exactly what you think - tablets with curses inscribed on them. But what were they used for,... more

You can uncross your legs you big babies. Getting a vasectomy isn’t bad at all – recovery time is a... more

In 1943 Swiss chemist Albert Hofman discovered he'd created what may be the most potent hallucinogen known to humankind. Then... more

Listen in now for part II of our homage to sitcoms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.