EPISODE · Jun 29, 2026 · 5 MIN
Bizarre Involuntary Behaviors Explained!
from Be Smart. · host Joe Hanson
Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Why we yawn, why we hiccup, twitchy eyes (and more)! Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe Our bodies do a lot of weird things, and many of them are completely involuntary. Why do we often jerk our bodies awake right before falling asleep? Why do we yawn? Why do we hiccup? Why do some people sneeze when they look at the sun? And why does your eye twitch? This week we'll look at the science behind these crazy involuntary behaviors! MY T-SHIRT: http://www.cognitive-surplus.com/product/science-is-magic-that-works-shirt-organic/ Read more: Aristotle's "Book of Problems" free online: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12699/12699-h/12699-h.htm#BOOK_OF_PROBLEMS (it was probably not written by Aristotle, but instead collected after his death) Yawns: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140811-warning-this-may-make-you-yawn Eye twitches: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1603/what-causes-my-eyelid-to-twitch Sun sneezes: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2821404/ Hiccups: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140127-do-hiccup-remedies-work Sleep twitches: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120522-suffer-from-sleep-shudders http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120522-suffer-from-sleep-shudders Post-micturition convulsion syndrome: http://io9.com/5810102/the-science-of-pee-shivers Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below! ----------------- It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Google+ https://plus.google.com/+itsokaytobesmart For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Produced for PBS Digital Studios Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics Katie Graham - Director of Photography John Knudsen - Gaffer Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Other music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock ----------------- Last week's video: There's no such thing as cold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akd7MMRKDwc More videos: Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA Why Did We Blow on NES Games? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gf9mtXnJfM The Science of Game of Thrones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utu-LpJn3Is There Was No First Human - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWLhXi24Mo How The Elements Got Their Names - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtg9p6A6xnY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Why we yawn, why we hiccup, twitchy eyes (and more)! Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoe Follow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe Our bodies do a lot of weird things, and many of them are completely involuntary. Why do we often jerk our bodies awake right before falling asleep? Why do we yawn? Why do we hiccup? Why do some people sneeze when they look at the sun? And why does your eye twitch? This week we'll look at the science behind these crazy involuntary behaviors! MY T-SHIRT: http://www.cognitive-surplus.com/product/science-is-magic-that-works-shirt-organic/ Read more: Aristotle's "Book of Problems" free online: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12699/12699-h/12699-h.htm#BOOK_OF_PROBLEMS (it was probably not written by Aristotle, but instead collected after his death) Yawns: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140811-warning-this-may-make-you-yawn Eye twitches: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1603/what-causes-my-eyelid-to-twitch Sun sneezes: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2821404/ Hiccups: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140127-do-hiccup-remedies-work Sleep twitches: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120522-suffer-from-sleep-shudders http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120522-suffer-from-sleep-shudders Post-micturition convulsion syndrome: http://io9.com/5810102/the-science-of-pee-shivers Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below! ----------------- It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart Google+ https://plus.google.com/+itsokaytobesmart For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Produced for PBS Digital Studios Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics Katie Graham - Director of Photography John Knudsen - Gaffer Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern Theme music: "Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod Other music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock ----------------- Last week's video: There's no such thing as cold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akd7MMRKDwc More videos: Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA Why Did We Blow on NES Games? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gf9mtXnJfM The Science of Game of Thrones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utu-LpJn3Is There Was No First Human - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWLhXi24Mo How The Elements Got Their Names - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtg9p6A6xnY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Bizarre Involuntary Behaviors Explained!
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