Brains On! Science Podcast For Kids

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, d

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 o

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 byIndeed (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)Litt

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) BrainsOnSaltySeaShanty Our Salty Sea Shanty complete with sea creature drawings sent in by our listeners! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/booksThis 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 cod

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 byInsectlore.comShopify.ca/brainson – for a free 14 day trial and full access to Shopify’s entire suite of featuresGalileo-camps.com – use code FUNSUMMER2022 for $100 off campPINNA.FM/BRAINSON and use promo code BRAINSON for 50% off your first payment when you sign up for Pinna full accessYou 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/fanclubSee 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

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.orgIf you’re in Los Angeles or the Twin Cities and want to see us live, you can get tickets here: brainson.org/eventsToday’s episode was sponsored by:Indeed (indeed.com/BRAINSON) – to claim $75 dollar sponsored job credit before April 30thLittle 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

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.