Brains On! A podcast featuring science for kids and curious adults.
Brains On!

Brains On!

From MPR News

A podcast featuring science for kids and curious adults.

Most Recent Episodes

Why do we have friends?

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!

Do plants sleep?

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!

How heavy is the sky?

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!

Glow for it! How do creatures make light?

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!

How do hearing aids work?

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!

Do scientists have superpowers?

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.

Is it possible to clone yourself?

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.)

How is concrete made? And why does it matter?

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.

How were people mummified?

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.

Space: The ultimate intergalactic game show

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