Micro Wave: What Is 'Brain Freeze'?

Short Wave

NPR

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🗓️ 9 July 2021

⏱️ 9 minutes

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Summary

Summer's here. Time for a cool treat. So, you grab a popsicle from the freezer. Ahh ... that's better. Until, out of nowhere, a sharp sudden pain rushes to your forehead. You've got brain freeze!

We talk with neuroscientist Caroline Palavicino-Maggio about the science behind these short-lived cold-induced headaches. Plus, some listener mail.

What are your daily science curiosities? Email the show at shortwave@npr.org.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey nerds, Maddie Sify here with shortwave producer Britt Hansen who's got a fun summer
0:13.0	microwave for us.
0:14.2	Yes, I've been out on the summer reporting beat.
0:17.4	Okay.
0:18.4	By which I mean, sitting out on the back porch trying to keep cool.
0:23.6	With the help of my favorite summer treat, do you know what it is?
0:27.7	Actually, friendship points I do of vanilla malt.
0:30.3	Oh my god, it is.
0:31.3	Yes, what's yours?
0:32.8	Well, mine is absolutely same level of classiness.
0:36.4	A giant mountain dew slushy.
0:39.2	Oh, Maddie.
0:40.4	Listen, Britt, what's about it?
0:42.8	You're sitting there.
0:44.4	You got that frozen neon green liquid candy going straight into your bloodstream.
0:49.3	Magical.
0:49.8	Oh, you're right, you're right, you're right.
0:51.6	You're cooling off, slurping down your slushy.
0:54.6	There's nothing better.
0:56.0	Until bam, out of nowhere, a sharp, sudden pain rushes to your forehead.
1:02.1	Wait, are we talking about brain freezes today?
1:04.3	Yes, yes we are.
	...

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