Brains On! Science podcast for kids
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Brains On! Science podcast for kids
Brains On!® is a science podcast for curious kids and adults from American Public Media. Each week, a different kid co-host joins Molly Bloom to find answers to fascinating questions about the world sent in by listeners. Like, do dogs know they’re dogs? Or, why do feet stink? Plus, we have mystery s...
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We’re back! Brains On Universe has a new headquarters
We’re back! We’ve officially moved into our new headquarters! Come unpack with us and get a tour while we fill you in on some big news. Plus, new epis...

A big update about the Brains On Universe
We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. But...
The life of a NASA astronaut
Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:
Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe...
How do weather stations predict the weather?
Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:
Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe...
Tree, Myself and I: All about our leafy green friends
Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:
Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe...
Body Bonanza: Bruises, scars and Band-Aids
Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:
Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Life is Poopiful
Oh no! An awful spell has put Ruby, Rosie, and Anna in a poopiful situation at Brains On HQ! It looks like the only way to save them is with a quick g...
Are birds dinosaurs?
Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:
Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe...
Trends: How do they start?
Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:
Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Molly’s Inconceivable Preposterous Skateboard
Oh no! Molly’s been bequeathed her great-great grandfather’s skateboard, which unfortunately contains the spirit of dictionary editor Rutherford Willi...
How does solar power work?
Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:
Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Sma...
What is asthma?
Asthma is a disease that can make it hard to breathe. And it’s common! One in twelve people in the United States have it, including host Molly Bloom....
How does coral communicate?
Coral is one of the coolest creatures in the ocean. It comes in all shapes, sizes and colors, from bright yellow stars to big round brains. Sometimes,...
Why do we have crushes?
When you've got a crush on someone, it can feel a bit overwhelming. All of a sudden, you might have butterflies in your stomach! And maybe you find yo...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Smarty Pass Deli
Have you heard of Molly Bloom’s fantastic deli at Brains On HQ? It’s got the tastiest food in town! The only problem is that the delivery person, Rosi...
Why does salt make food taste so good?
Salt is made up of tiny crystals! Under a microscope, some salt crystals look like pyramids, staircases, or even snowflakes. But why do these salty li...
Why is Jupiter called Earth’s bodyguard?
Jupiter is the oldest planet in the solar system. It’s also the biggest. Some call it “Earth’s bodyguard” because it keeps asteroids and comets from h...
What is Down syndrome?
You may have heard of Down syndrome, but what is it exactly? In this episode, we'll break down the science of chromosomes and how having an extra one...
Understanding big fires and big feelings
Wildfires in Los Angeles County have burned homes, businesses, and schools. Many people have had to evacuate and there’s smoke and ash in the air. We...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Myth Busting Extravaganza
Anna Goldfield is full of facts! She knows the capital of New Hampshire is Concord and that the Greek God of the Sea is Poseidon! But does she know en...
How is paper made?
Paper is all around us. There’s toilet paper and pizza boxes, wrapping paper, and receipts. Most of the paper in the U.S. is made from trees, but it c...
Whirr. Zoom! Plink plink. It’s a Mystery Sound extravaganza
Bzzz. Shloop! Bang Bang. Wooooosh! It’s time for another Mystery Sound Extravaganza.
Join Molly and co-host Violet as they figure out wha...
Is it true? Vikings, dogs, and twins edition
Listeners send us LOTS of questions. Like hundreds a month! We read every single one — and we love all of them! Every now and then, we get a special k...
Are whales communicating with their clicks and songs?
Baleen whales sing. Toothed whales click. But how and why do they make these musical sounds?
Join Molly and co-host Tyler as they dive in...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Bones On Mystery Sounds!
It’s almost midnight and Mr Bone Jangles has snuck into the studio to debut his new show -- Bones On! His plans are foiled when Molly pops in and asks...
We're back December 17!
Brains On will be back with new episodes starting December 17! We’ve got a gaggle of mystery sounds, so many great questions to answer and surprises i...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Mystery Animal Poetry Slam
Molly’s got a case of poetry fever, and she’s ready to rhyme! She’s testing out her newest stash of stanzas on her pals, Marc and Sanden. They’ll have...

Smarty Pass Presents: Noun Noun
Usually, bonus episodes like this are exclusively for Smarty Pass subscribers but this month we’re sharing them with all our listeners. If you like th...

The real vampires of the animal world
According to legend, vampires are creatures with pale skin and sharp teeth who drink blood. These creepy ghouls are not real, but in this episode, we'...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Game Show Molly
Molly has her sparkly special suit on which means it’s time for GAME SHOW MOLLY! Game show Molly is just like regular Molly but with an awesome new ga...
Achoo! How fast does a sneeze travel?
Every sneeze is like a snowflake. Unique, beautiful, wet! Sneezes help our noses get rid of stuff that’s not supposed to be there, like dust, dirt, or...
Navigating the world with White Canes
People who are blind or have low vision use different tools to navigate the world. One of the most common is called a white cane. White canes are long...
How do animals pick their leaders?
Here in the U.S., we’re gearing up for the 2024 election! We’re about to vote to pick a new president and choose other leaders too. Maybe you’ve seen...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Eye-Eye, Captain!
Ahoy, avast, and welcome aboard the good ship Iris, captained by the host with the most in all of the Seven Seas, Molly Bloom! Molly’s brought produce...
How does the internet work?
The internet can feel like magic. You send a video of a squirrel eating an acorn to your friends and BOOM! A few seconds later, they can watch it! But...
Why do some of us have food allergies?
About 1 out of 13 kids has a food allergy. Some are allergic to peanuts, others can’t eat dairy or shellfish or – you name it! So, why do some of us h...
Why do some people need glasses?
Eyes are incredible. But sometimes they need a little help to see clearly. Enter: glasses! In this episode, we'll hear how eyes take in light and pain...
How do we name things in space? The quest to name a quasi-moon!
Have you ever wondered how things in space get their names? Us, too! In this week’s episode, Molly and co-host Cassie hear the story of a funky little...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: SPORTSBALL Impression Sound
Smash Boom Best producers Rosie duPont and Aron Woldeslassie are a little early for the BIG game. Looking to kill some time they decide to play Impres...
Phones: The fun, the annoying and the confusing
Ping! Another episode of Brains On just dropped! And it’s all about phones: how they help us, why they’re so hard to put down – and how to have a bala...