Brains On! Science podcast for kids

We use plastic for all kinds of things, from shampoo bottles to glitter. It’s useful but also a danger, because a lot of plastic is ending up in our oceans, where it’s sucked into swirly twirly whirlpools of garbage. The biggest of these is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Hop into the ExPLORERR with Molly and cohost Ana-Victoria to learn more about this plasticy problem and find out what you can do to help solve it! Plus a brand new mystery sound!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Liquid I.V. (LiquidIV.com - Use code BRAINS at checkout to receive 20% off anything you order when you order.)
• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Buy A Toyota (BuyAToyota.com - Explore Toyota SUVs.)

*****
Do you have your Smarty Pass yet?? Get yours today for just $4/month (or $36/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Insects can live almost anywhere: backyards, mountaintops, scorching hot deserts, underwater, even on Antarctica! There are more than a million different species out there, from speedy dragonflies that zip through the air as fast as a car to rainbow-colored beetles living in tropical rainforests. Plus, scientists are discovering new ones all the time! But why does the world need bugs? And why do they make us feel a little icky sometimes? In this super buggy episode, Molly and co-host Lorna meet bug scientist Meredith Cenzer and learn more about what we can do to protect our tiny friends.

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)

*****
Do you have your Smarty Pass yet?? Get yours today for just $4/month (or $36/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you heard the expression “dogs are people’s best friend”? Where did it come from? And why are dogs and humans such great pals? Molly and co-host Kha-ai jump back in time to learn how dogs became humans’ best friends, and answer the question why do dogs wag their tails? Plus, we’ll also explore how dogs help humans and even other animals like cheetahs. And keep your ears perked for a brand new Mystery Sound!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)

*****

Do you have your Smarty Pass yet?? Get yours today for just $4/month (or $36/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friendship rules! Friends help us work through problems, keep us company and bring joy to our lives. Making friends might have also helped our prehistoric ancestors survive and thrive! Still, friendship can be tough sometimes. In this episode, we’ll answer your friendship questions with Eileen Kennedy-Moore (a.k.a Dr. Friendtastic!) and hear some advice from a filmmaker with autism about making friends. Plus an all-new Mystery Sound!

This episode was sponsored by:

Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)

*****
Do you have your Smarty Pass yet?? Get yours today for just $4/month (or $36/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans need sleep to survive, but do plants doze off too? In this episode, we’ll look into how plants rest. Turns out humans and plants aren’t all that different! We’ll hear about how we share a common ancestor, way, way back in history. We’ll also learn how plants and people have little built-in clocks that tell us when it’s day and night! Oh, and Sanden parties with his plant pals and we guess an all-new Mystery Sound.

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)

*****
Do you have your Smarty Pass yet?? Get yours today for just $4/month (or $36/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our big, beautiful sky stretches all the way from the ground beneath our feet to about sixty miles above the Earth. It’s made up of countless air molecules, pinging around like tiny, invisible pinballs. And even though we can’t feel the weight of each individual air molecule, all together they weigh a lot! But how much does the sky actually weigh? (spoiler alert: it involves lots and lots of farting cats…) Molly and co-host Felix learn more by talking with a band of singing walruses and a pretty wacky weatherwoman. And don’t miss this week’s extra mysterious Mystery Sound!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Thrive Market(Thrivemarket.com/brains - Click for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift.)

*****
Do you have your Smarty Pass yet?? Get yours today for just $4/month (or $36/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lots of creatures are able to glow, like fish, mushrooms, fireflies and even some bacteria! This special ability is called bioluminescence and it looks like magic, but it’s actually chemistry. In this episode, we’ll travel to the bottom of the ocean in the ExPLORERR to meet some super spectacular, bioluminescent friends and find out why so many animals make their own light. And we’ll hear from a scientist who uses bioluminescence in cancer research. Plus a brand new mystery sound!

This episode is sponsored by:

• Disney Plus Originals (Disneyplusoriginals.disney.com - Disney Plus Originals' Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur)
• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Thrive Market (Thrivemarket.com/brains - For 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift.)

*****

Do you have your Smarty Pass yet?? Get yours today for just $4/month (or $36/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Xuan June’s hearing aids have kept her company for pretty much her entire life. They go with her to school, tag along for a ride while she skateboards and sit snugly while she draws and dreams up goth-cute fashion designs.

In this episode, Xuan June is getting fitted for a new pair of hearing aids — and she’s invited Molly to come with her! Together they learn all about how these cool superpowered devices work. Plus, we find out how sound travels and get a chance to guess TWO mystery sounds.

This episode was sponsored by:

• Disney Plus Originals (Disneyplusoriginals.disney.com - Disney Plus Originals' Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur)
• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Thrive Market (Thrivemarket.com/brains - For 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift.)

*****

Do you have your Smarty Pass yet?? Get yours today for just $4/month (or $36/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's just a normal day at Brains On headquarters, until Molly and co-host Aaliyah find Forever Ago host Joy Dolo in the midst of a full-blown stress attack. She has a lot on her agenda: it's her birthday month and Black History Month, she's producing a one-woman show, she's got episodes to host, parades to plan and a self-portrait made entirely out of found objects due for her art class! Joy isn't sure which way is up, if tacos are sandwiches and if she should re-think her entire life. Luckily, there are all sorts of amazing scientists who just happen to be hanging out at Brains On HQ happy to help. Chemist Joya Cooley, urban ecologist Jasmin Green, roboticist Randi Williams, entomologist Jessica Ware and space suit technician Sharon McDougle are on the case, ready to share their wisdom and superpowers with Joy.

This episode is sponsored by Disney Channel and Disney+. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur premieres Friday, February 10 at 8p on Disney Channel and available on Disney+ Wednesday, February 15. Visit disneyplusoriginals.disney.com for more info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine an exact copy of you, someone with the same hair, eyes and DNA. That’s a clone. Scientists have been able to make clones of some animals. In this episode, we’ll hear the story of Dolly the sheep, the most famous clone ever! We’ll also talk about why people think it would be ethically wrong to clone humans. But natural human clones DO exist! They’re called identical twins and even though they share the same DNA, they can be quite different. We’ll meet two identical twins to talk about their differences, plus an all new Mystery Sound for your ears!

This episode was sponsored by;

• Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com - Contact Mathnasium for a free in-center or online consultation.)
• Thrive Market (Thrive.com/brains - Join Thrive Market today and get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift.)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concrete is so much more than just a sidewalk. We use it to build playgrounds and skateparks and even musical instruments! But how does it go from a powder to a sludge to the strong building material that we use all over the world? And can we come up with new recipes that are better for the environment?

To celebrate this superlative substance, Molly and cohost Mark are joined by special guest Concreature, a being from the concrete dimension! Tune in for a dose of history, some magnificent moss, and some hot, hot science.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ancient Egyptians did lots of amazing things, from building pyramids to inventing a form of writing called hieroglyphics. They also mummified important people after they died. In this episode, we’ll explain how that process was done and why. We’ll also meet a museum curator who thinks it might be time to rethink how we study mummified people.

Plus, we’ll find out why so many things from ancient Egypt are still around, meet a biker club that loves respecting other cultures and hear an all new Mystery Sound.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do insects see the world in slow motion? Do animals see the same rainbow we do? How do eagles see so far away?

Our listeners have a lot of questions about the way animals see the world, and this episode tackles lots of them. We'll visit a lab where scientists are observing predatory insects to find out how their brains work, we'll drop in on the Eyes Open Wider support group for animals, and give you a catchy melody that will help you remember the electromagnetic spectrum -- that's all the light that's both visible and invisible to us.

This episode was sponsored by:

• Elfster (Elfster.com/podcast - Set up a free Secret Santa gift exchange.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - Sign up for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features.)
• Storyworth (Storyworth.com/brains - Save $10 on your first purchase.)
• WOW in the World podcast by Wondery

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you like games? Do you like space? Then this is the episode for you! We’ve got five space-inspired games for you: Cosmic Couplets, Infini-Trivia, First Things First, Stars in Space or Pasta Shapes and, of course, Mystery Sounds! Plus we’ll hear some of the super catchy, dance-your-pants-off space jingles you’ve been sending to us! Get your astronaut gear on, gaze up at the cosmos and get ready to play along!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Elfster (Elfster.com/podcast - Set up a free Secret Santa gift exchange.)
• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - For a $100 sponsored job credit Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - Click for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features.)
• Storyworthy (Storyworth.com/brains - Save $10 on your first purchase.)
• WOW in the World podcast by Wondery

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every time you flush, your poo and pee start an epic journey. From the toilet, to the sewers, to a treatment plant, our waste travels quite a distance only to end up cleaner by the end. We'll hear from a "PooTube" star about her experience with "the flush." We'll also hear about ancient sewers, a "fatberg" under London and a toilet that cleans waste on site. Plus, our Moment of Um answers why you can feel your heart beating in your neck of all places.

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - For a $100 sponsored job credit Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - For a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features.)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When most bodies get hot, sweat starts pouring out. Why? In this episode, we'll hop in the Amazing Truck of Minimization (ATOM) to see how sweat glands work from the inside out, take a peek back in time to figure out how we evolved to be so sweaty, and we'll find out if there are any other animals as sweaty as we are. All that plus a brand new mystery sound!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - For a $100 sponsored job credit Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Become a Smarty Pass subscriber today to access bonus episodes and ad-free episodes of Brains On!, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago -- all right here in your favorite podcast player.

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Don't worry: This feed will stay free and we’ll be posting new episodes just like we always have.

Whether you choose to subscribe, or keep listening in our free feeds, we so appreciate you listening to our shows and being a part of the Brains On universe.

Thank you so much for your support!

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The full moon is bright, beautiful, and reappears in the sky like clockwork. Many cultures use the full moon to mark the passing of time and organize calendars around the moon’s cycle. So why does the full moon also have a reputation for causing mischief and mayhem? In this episode, we’ll learn where some of these beliefs come from and investigate whether the full moon actually does affect humans and our behavior. We’ll also hear about folklore tied to the full moon and examine how the moon’s phases work. All that plus a brand new mystery sound!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - For a $100 sponsored job credit Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We listen to music with our ears – and that amazing electric meatball between our ears: our brain! But why do our brains find some music scary?

We’re born with some fears baked into our brains, because our ancestors thought they were scary too! That’s why sudden loud noises startle us sometimes. But there’s another reason certain sounds freak us out – we’ve been taught to find them scary.

We’ll hear how composer Heather McIntosh uses these fears to write scary film scores, and we’ll explore some of the ways scary sounds make their way into music with pianist and musical magician, Jae Kyo Han. Plus an extra mysterious mystery sound!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com - Contact Mathnasium for a free in-center or online consultation)
• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - For a $100 sponsored job credit Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - For a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - Save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - Get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode was sponsored by:

• Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com - contact Mathnasium for a free in-center or online consultation)
• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - For a $100 sponsored job credit Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode is all about one of the most dynamite dinosaurs, the Brontosaurus! This long-necked icon has been featured in books, cartoons, movies, and even logos. But did the Brontosaurus really exist in the first place? We’ll dig into that question and uncover the history of Brontosaurus with science writer and bronto-enthusiast Riley Black. We’ll also learn about taxonomy from a ghost and catch up with Mr. Bone Jangles. Plus, a new mystery sound to discover!

Don’t forget to check out Forever Ago, where we have a companion episode to this Brontosaurus tale. It’s called The Bone Wars: A dino-discovery duel, and it’s all about two competing paleontologists, who get a little carried away.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com - contact Mathnasium for a free in-center or online consultation)
• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - For a $100 sponsored job credit Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we check out three different zoos after visitors leave and the gates are locked. We’ll hear about some adventurous penguins, learn how chimps tuck themselves in and find out why it’s important to smell a gorilla first thing in the morning. Oh, and did you know sometimes zoo animals need a ride from the airport? All this and a brand new mystery sound!

This episode is sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picture this: a pickle with a cowboy hat. It has cute little arms and legs -- let’s make them orange. And this pickle is riding a horse on the beach as the sun sets. #PickleLife, am I right? Now think about this: you just imagined that whole scene in your head!

Imagination can engage every one of our senses. It sprouts from the things we’ve experienced in life, then collages itself into new thoughts… like a pickle on a horse. This episode goes into the far reaches of the brain and examines how imagination works and what role it plays in our lives. If you want a fun game to play with friends, try an Imagine Off. That’s when you take turns trying to come up with something that nobody else can imagine. We’ll also meet some of our listeners’ imaginary friends and learn why some people have these companions. U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón also stops by and tells us how she puts her imagination to use. Plus, there’s a brand new Mystery Sound to guess.

We always love hearing from you. Keep sending in your questions, drawings and Mystery Sounds. We’re currently looking for your best jingle about space. If you have an out-of-this-world tune about space, record it and send it to us at www.brainson.org/contact.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're looking at why there are so many different ways to pronounce the same words and where our accents come from. How did British and American accents become different? Why do some kids have different accents than their parents? We're going to answer these questions and find out how our accents tell the stories of our communities and our ancestors. Plus: A brand new mystery sound!

This episode is sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)
• Love Ur Self (LUSBrands.com - use promo code BRAINS to get 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever noticed that different people have different scents? Go on, sniff your friend, we’ll wait. Today’s episode dives nose-first into what makes up our personal scents. With the help of Candace, a one-of-a-kind candle maker interested in making podcast-scented candles, we get the lowdown on body odor. We’ll also hear about super-sniffing animals and some other creatures that thrive on stink. And there’s a new Mystery Sound -- this one is definitely not a stinker!

This episode is sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)
• Love Ur Self (LUSBrands.com - use promo code BRAINS to get 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more of their products for curly hair)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glass is a magic thing that is both solid as a wall and clear as the air. It starts out as sand and with tons of heat, and a few key ingredients, it becomes the super useful material we know and love. In this episode we look at how glass is made, why it's clear and how nature  makes glass too. Plus, hear about Sanden's latest invention and guess the all new Mystery Sound.

This episode is sponsored by

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - Get 20% off your first purchase.)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode has something for everyBODY. It's the Body Bonanza where we answer a ton of your questions about our human bodies! This time around, we’ll hear from some of our favorite body parts: the heart beats, the stomach rumbles, the appendix writes a poem. The ear brings us a new Mystery Sound, a foot gives us the lowdown on how it falls asleep, the tongue sings a song… and there’s even an appearance from the “anti-mouth.” Wow!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to receive a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job posting)

• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Shopify (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all had to deal with stress. It can feel bad and overwhelming, but it’s actually really important. In this episode, we'll hear why our bodies evolved to deal with danger in this way and how it still affects us today. We'll climb a metaphorical mountain to find out how stress can help us sometimes. Oh, and there are lots of monsters that suddenly showed up a Brains On headquarters and maybe they were released by an ancient artifact and no one can find the instruction manual and ohmigoodness the monsters have gotten into the kitchen and what is that smell and oh no what just crashed and why isn't anyone helping deal with these monsters????

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to receive a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job posting)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)
• Little Passports (Littlepassports.com/BRAINS – 20% off for new customers)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ocean is huge and full of wonders, so it's no surprise our listeners have lots of question about it. In this episode we'll travel to the bottom of the ocean to find out what the ocean floor is made of, and learn how geologist Marie Tharp helped us understand how amazing it is. We'll also delve into why the ocean is salty but lakes and rivers aren't, and sing along with the Salty Sea Shanty. Plus a brand new mystery sound!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (indeed.com/BRAINSON - to receive a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job posting)

• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)

  
  

  
  

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You've probably seen photos from your first birthday. Or maybe you heard about the time you got spaghetti sauce all over the walls when you were two. The grown ups around you remember these things, so why can't you? In this episode, we'll find out how our brains store memories and why we can't hang on to those early ones. Plus: a brand new mystery sound and a preview of everyone's favorite soap opera, The Young and the Toothless.

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - Receive a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job posting)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - Free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re thrilled to share an episode from our pals at Million Bazillion. Take a peek at the fascinating world of online video makers and the role money plays.

A listener wants to know how the creators of his favorite online videos get paid. It’s a surprisingly complicated question, and Ryan and Bridget have to go viral themselves to find out the answer. Accompanied by their new dog and a bunch of influencers, we’ll learn all about the wild economics of online videos. Put on your tap-dancing shoes, we’re making content!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raise a curtain. Cue the lights. It’s the most most-tacular night. It’s The Mosties! The Brains Brains On favorites, Bob, Gungador, Elevator and HARVEY have all made it out to celebrate superlatives.

The Mosties is an awards show of the extreme. Tonight’s categories include: Biggest Plant, Fastest Organism, Strongest Glue, Oldest Animal and Oldest Music. And don’t forget to stick around for a Mystery Mostie (aka Mystery Sound). And the winner is… ???

This is our last episode of this season but we’ll be back in August with more new episodes. Until then, Forever Ago is coming back June 1st and Smash Boom Best will be back July 7th. Remember, you can listen to Moment of Um every weekday too! Plus, the Brains On books are always around to keep you company -- you can buy them at brainson.org/books

This episode was sponsored by:

Outschool (Outschool.com/brains for $15 off your child’s first class)

Insect Lore (Insectlore.com)

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson for a 14 day free trial)

Galileo Camps (Galileo-camps.com promo code: FUNSUMMER2022 for $100 off camp)

Pinna (Pinna.fm/brainson promo code: BRAINSON for 50% off your first payment of full access)

Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com)

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We are so excited to share that our podcast, Forever Ago, is returning for a brand new season!

If you didn’t get a chance to hear the first season, Forever Ago is a history show for the whole family hosted by Joy Dolo - where every episode looks into the surprising and fascinating history of things we think are ordinary but they’re not - like ice cream flavors, video games, baths and umbrellas.

We think you’ll really like it and we have the trailer of the new season for you to check out! Make sure to subscribe to Forever Ago wherever you get your podcasts and listen to all the episodes from season 1 to get ready. New episodes come out on June 1st! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You dream every night, even if you don't remember them. But why? We'll hop on a wild ride to go inside the brain and see which parts help create these often fantastical images and storylines. We'll also learn how to take control of our dreams and how they make us more creative. Plus: a new mystery sound and a Moment of Um answers the question "How do octopuses make ink?"

Today’s episode is sponsored by

• Insectlore.com
• Shopify.ca/brainson – for a free 14 day trial and full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features
• Galileo-camps.com – use code FUNSUMMER2022 for $100 off camp
• PINNA.FM/BRAINSON and use promo code BRAINSON for 50% off your first payment when you sign up for Pinna full access

You can support the show at brainson.org/donate, check out our merch at brainson.org/shop or buy our books at brainson.org/books. You can also join our free fan club at brainson.org/fanclub

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it so hard to say sentences like: she sells sea shells at the sea shore? This episode cracks the code of tongue twisters. Check out the role mouth shapes and vocal folds play in tongue twisters. Stefanie Shattuck-Hufnagel will share her research into tongue twisters and how she came up with some of the hardest sentences for people to say. We also have a report on “the late eight,” a group of sounds that can be tough to say — and quite confounding when combined.

Also, be sure to check out our listener-submitted tongue twisters — some you may have heard before, others are brand new to the world! Stick around for a stumper of a Mystery Sound too!

This episode was sponsored by:

Insect Lore (insectlore.com)

Shopify (shopify.com/brainson for a free 14 day trial)

Galileo Camps (galileo-camps.com promo code: FUNSUMMER2022 for $100 off camp)

Pinna (pinna.fm/brainson promo code: BRAINSON for 50% off your first full-access payment)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caterpillars go through a striking transformation from a crawly, tube-like creature into a soaring, beautifully-winged butterfly. This process is called metamorphosis and it’s no wonder our listeners have lots of questions about it. We’ll find out exactly how a caterpillar transforms (spoiler alert: it doesn’t just grow a pair of wings), and we’ll go on a house-hunting journey with two caterpillars searching for their pupation stations. Plus, a pretty tricky mystery sound for you to guess!

This episode was sponsored by:

Insect Lore (insectlore.com)
Shopify (shopify.com/brainson for a 14 day trial)
Galileo Camps (Galileo-camps.com - promo code: FUNSUMMER2022 for $100 off camp)
Pinna (Pinna.fm/BrainsOn - promo code: BRAINSON for 50% off your first payment when you sign up for Pinna full access)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can find micro-animals just about everywhere. They’re on your face and in your hair. They’re in puddles and in soil. One of the most famous of these microscopic creatures is the tardigrade.

This episode zooms in on these adorable little animals, also known as moss piglets and water bears. The biggest tardigrade is about the size of the tip of a sharpened pencil, but most are smaller. More like the width of a hair. They’re kinda like a squishy pillow with eight legs, four on each side, with finger-like little claws at the end of each leg. And a round, snout-like opening on its face.

Jasmine Nirody tells us what she’s learned about these cuties through her research. She’s watched hundreds of hours of tardigrade videos. Way better than YouTube, right? We’ll also hear about where you can find tardigrades, how they live and why we’ve sent them to space.

Don’t forget to check out the brand new Mystery Sound too. If you’re near Los Angeles or St. Paul, you still have time to check out Brains On Live: Your Brain Is Magic. Molly, Marc and Sanden will wow you with magic, jokes and dancing. Ticket info is at brainson.org/events.

This episode was sponsored by:

Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON)

Novo (Novo.co/BRAINS)

Insect Lore (Insectlore.com)

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson)

Galileo Camps (Galileo-camps.com – promo code: FUNSUMMER2022 for $100 off camp)

Little Passports (Littlepassports.com/BRAINS – 20% off for new customers)

Pinna (Pinna.fm/BRAINSON - promo code BRAINSON)

Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do hurricanes form? This episode dives into the eye of the hurricane to track down that answer and so much more. We also talk to hurricane hunter Major Joyce Hirai, who flies airplanes into hurricanes as part of the Air Force’s Weather Reconnaissance team. Also, we learn how humans have figured out how to be resilient in the face of increasing hurricanes (and hear from our friend Manuel the Mangrove). And get your dancing shoes on, because we’ve got a catchy tune that explains how hurricanes are named. All that plus a new Mystery Sound to tickle your ears.

Don’t forget to record your favorite tongue twister for an upcoming episode. Upload it to our contact page by May 1, 2022 for a chance to be included in the episode.

Sponsors for this episode include:

Insect Lore (Insectlore.com)

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson)

Galileo Camps (Galileo-camps.com promo code: FUNSUMMER2022)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can people actually read minds? Can we move objects with our brains like in the movies? We're exploring the history of shady psychics, sketchy seances, and secret superpower studies. Plus, hear from a scientist who is helping people regain the ability to pick up and move objects through the combined power of their brains and a special computer!

You can support our show by donating, buying our book or telling your friends about us! Head to brainson.org

If you’re in Los Angeles or the Twin Cities and want to see us live, you can get tickets here: brainson.org/events

Today’s episode was sponsored by:

Indeed (indeed.com/BRAINSON) – to claim $75 dollar sponsored job credit before April 30th

Little Passports (littlepassports.com/BRAINS)

Insect Lore (insectlore.com)

Shopify (shopify.com/brainson)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re headed off to an owl sanctuary to meet up with Nolan the know-it-owl for a special night owl Tour. We hear the sound of owl wings and check out some super-tubular owl eye facts. Find out how owls can swivel their heads 270 degrees and why their ears are at uneven spots on their heads. We’ll meet a poetry-loving barn owl named Olive, who fills us in on why owls are considered wise. Fun fact: owls are sometimes classified by their sounds -- bigger owls are hooters and smaller owls are tooters!

Special Thanks to the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for the owl sounds used in this episode:

Jian Diego Fernández / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML420855751)
Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML97928071)
Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML188805)
Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML100707)
Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML140258)
Thomas G. Sander / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML125346)
William R. Fish / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML22874)

This episode was sponsored by:

Insect Lore (Insectlore.com)

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forget those fancy awards shows. This episode of Brains On is exploding with the stars. Find out how each of us is related to these beautifully bright beacons. Plus, we’ll consider what happens when gravity weighs down on a star over millions, and even billions, of years. We’ll also meet a star detective, who was able to witness an exploding star (aka supernova). All that and a stellar, new Mystery Sound to tickle your ears. Now, let’s blast off!!!

This episode was sponsored by:

Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON)

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/brainson Promo code: SAVE10)

Staples (Staplesconnect.com/printbig)

Insect Lore (Insectlore.com)

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is a real stinker, but it had to happen. We go behind the scenes on what makes butts and poop so funny. Why does the mere mention of them make us laugh?

We all have butts and we all poop. Those are the facts. But human butts are different than almost any other animal. We look into the evolution of butts, and find out how our senses of humor develop when we're kids. And we hear from comic Tim Platt on why he thinks butts and poop will always be funny. Plus, we’ll check in with Channel 2’s Bowel Action News team for some fast feces facts. Don’t forget to tune up your ears with the Mystery Sound.

One more thing… who farted?

This episode is sponsored by:

Indeed (Indeed.com/ BRAINSON)

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/brainson promo code: SAVE10)

Staples (Staplesconnect.com/printbig)

Little Passports (Littlepassports.com/BRAINS)

Novo business banking (novo.co/brains)

Insect Lore (insectlore.com)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The immune system is so cool and so important but it largely goes about its business without us knowing it. In this episode you'll get a front row seat as our immune cells (aka friendly monsters) fight off bacteria and viruses (aka bad robots). We'll also find out how vaccines provide important training for our immune cells. Plus, co-host Colin quizzes Molly on immune system facts and there's a brand new mystery sound!

This episode was brought to you by

Indeed (indeed.com/BRAINSON)

Interlochen Center for the Arts (interlochen.org/brainson Code: SAVE10)

Staples Connect (staplesconnect.com/printbig)

Little Passports (littlepassports.com/BRAINS)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s up with worms? How do they sleep? Why are they slimy? How do they move? Here at Brains On, the only way to find out is to embark on an EPIC QUEST!

Join co-host Ezra and the worm adventurer extraordinaire Sir Wormus on a journey to find the Golden Worm, a magical artifact! On the way, they’ll learn all about the noble earthworm from the Tome of Worms, a magic book containing all the knowledge of worm expert Emma Sherlock from the Natural History Museum in London!

Will our heroes find the Golden Worm? Will they select a squirrel’s perfect snack? Will they solve the riddle of the Mystery Sound? There’s only one way to find out. Come on, friends, it’s time to go a-questing!

You can support our show by donating (brainson.org/donate), buying our books (brainson.org/books), or telling your friends about the show!

This episode was sponsored by:

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/BrainsOn Code: Save10)
Staples (Staples.com/printbig)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ExPLORERR was built to go everywhere. That’s why this vehicle’s full name is: the Extremely Practical Land and Ocean Rover Exploring Remote Realms. And guess what? It has a recording studio built on-board! Good thing, because this episode was recorded while traveling up, up, up a mountain!

We discover some wildlife that lives at great heights as well as a rhyming ice cream salesman. Our pal and atmospheric scientist, Dr. Deanna Hence checks in to answer a popular question: if hot air rises, why is it so cold in the mountains? BRRRR! We also hear from NASA’s Dr. Dalia Kirschbaum, who has mountains of information about how mountains form.

Of course, there’s a fun Mystery Sound for you’re ears to explore! And lastly, but not leastly, our two new books came out today. Head to our books page to find out more about Road Trip Earth and Earth Friend Forever.

This episode was sponsored by:

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/BrainsOn)

Staples (Staples.com)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many different types of snow. From the fluffy to the slushy, this slippery frozen stuff comes in all different shapes and sizes. 

From a distance, snowflakes may all look the same, but they are not. In fact, there are lots of different shapes of snowflakes — not just those classic shapes you might try to replicate with paper cut-outs.

In this episode, Dr. Ken Libbrecht answers all of our snowflake questions: How are snowflakes made? Why are they different shapes? How is it that they’re all unique? And how does a scientist who lives in southern California study snow? And, he also lets us in on his brush with a couple Arendelle princesses.

Plus our pal Ruby Guthrie pays her local ski slope to visit a snow-making machine called “Kevin.” And of course, there’s a new Mystery Sound to warm your ears.

If you’re looking for some fun snowflake activities to do at home, Ken’s provided this great list — and you don’t need to live in a cold climate for all of them: http://www.snowcrystals.com/activities/activities.html

This episode was sponsored by:

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson)

Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON)

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/brainson)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It might sound impossible, but you can walk around the world! Rosie Swale-Pope has done it, and we get a chance to hear about her adventures in this episode. She tells us how she survives, and remains upbeat, on the road. Guess how many shoes she went through on her trip? Listen and find out.

We also hear from D’Wayne Edwards, who helped design some of the most iconic shoes ever (Air Jordan anyone?). And see if you can guess the Mystery Sound. It’s a doozy! Plus, Molly, Marc and Sanden begin their own journey as they travel through the planet for their new book Road Trip Earth!

Pre-order the Brains On books at brainson.org/books

This episode was sponsored by:

Mathnasium (mathnasium.com)

Truebill (Truebill.com/BRAINSON)

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/BrainsOn)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marshmallows, lollipops, gummi bears -- we want them all! But we’ve all heard that eating a lot of sugar isn’t that healthy for us. So what’s the deal? Why do we like sugar so much in the first place? We’ll find out why our bodies evolved to seek out sweet things, and how clever humans invented a way to make food even sweeter. And we’ll get to the bottom of a confectionary conundrum from our co-host Zoe: are sugar rushes a real thing? Plus: Sanden cooks up some very sweet schemes and we have a new mystery sound for you to guess!

This episode is sponsored by:
Mathnasium (mathnasium.com)

Indeed (indeed.com/brainson)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get ready to learn the science behind the multiverse! That’s the idea that our universe isn’t the only universe out there. What if there were other, different universes existing alongside our own? Ones with different laws of physics, different planets and stars… or maybe even different versions of us!

In this episode we explain a few different theories behind this popular idea. Plus, we’ll learn some quantum mechanics, hear about string theory and meet many different versions of Sanden. All that and a brand new Mystery Sound!

Today’s episode is sponsored by Truebill (truebill.com/brainson) and Shopify (shopify.com/brainson). You can support the show by donating at brainson.org/donate or pre-order our books at brainson.org/books.

Tell us about the place you’d like to make sure you see during your trip around the world at brainson.org/contact

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wow, wow, wow! Our new Moment of Um podcast is finally here. Check out this sample episode, and subscribe to Moment of Um in your podcast player. There are already five episodes just waiting for you to listen, and there’s a new one every weekday.

Do you have a head-scratcher that you think would make a great Moment of Um episode? Head over to BrainsOn.org/contact to let us know about it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.