Be Smart

The Sun is NOT the Center of the Solar System

Despite what you may have heard or learned in school, the sun is NOT in fact the center of the solar system. And it won’t be until 2027… But this being a science channel, you might be thinking “What the heck is this guy talking about? Of course the sun is the center of the solar system. We’ve known that for more than 600 years.” Like most things in science, it’s not quite that simple.

The Sun is NOT the Center of the Solar System

11m 43s

  • Why Don’t Humans Hibernate?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Why Don’t Humans Hibernate?

    S12 E14 - 11m 17s

    Nature has had to come up with some crazy ways to survive harsh winters. But none are weirder than hibernation. Turns out there is more than one kind of hibernation, and studying all these ways that life slows down in the cold might help humans one day become an interplanetary species.

  • The Paradox of Voting: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Paradox of Voting

    S12 E13 - 12m 40s

    Political scientist Don Green joins Joe to figure out the complex psychological and social factors that motivate us to vote - or not to. They discuss how and why this decision making process may be in conflict with certain scientific principles of rational decision making. And why it is important to understand that. And why it’s important to vote!

  • Why Do We Hate Certain Sounds: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Why Do We Hate Certain Sounds

    S12 E12 - 16m 27s

    Ever wonder why certain sounds make us cringe or even feel sick? Join Joe as he reacts to some of the most hated sounds, from nails on a chalkboard to the infamous "moist," and explores the science of why these sounds are so unbearable to so many and how they can impact our lives.

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.