Deep in the mountains of Greece, the country's most-wanted man has been on the run for over a decade.

He's a bank robber, a kid napper, but to many Greeks, he's a hero.

His name is Vasili Spaliokostas, and we're on the trail of the man behind the men, a modern-day Robin Hood

who steals from the rich and gives to the poor.

I'm Miles Gray, listen to the Good Thief on the iHeartRadio app Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to Brain Stuff, a production of iHeartRadio.

Hey, Brain Stuff, I'm Lauren Volkobom, and this is a classic episode of the podcast.

In this one, we take a look at the fictional phenomenon of psychic powers causing nosebleeds.

It's a common trope in visual media, like TV and comics.

Then, as far as we know, psychic powers don't really exist.

But if they did, would there be any physiological basis behind it?

Hey, Brain Stuff, I'm Lauren Volkobom, and you've seen the trope.

A mental battle rages between a heroic character and her nemesis.

As the struggle wears on, we see the first signs of the toll it must be taking.

A trickle of blood, ruby red appears at one nostril.

The strain of invisible psychic abilities is admittedly difficult to illustrate in a visual medium.

Perhaps that's why so many authors of comic books, television shows, and movies turn to this

tried and true trope. The psychic nose bleed.

When blood comes from a character's nose, it signifies that the character is exerting

themselves. After all, blood vessels can rupture thanks to physical exertion, as many

await lifter nose. So perhaps psychic powers could cause some sort of cranial pressure buildup.

It's concise and visceral in a way that a mere facial twitch drop of sweat or vein

...