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Brains On Universe

Brains On!® is a science podcast for curious kids and adults from Brains On Universe. 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 sounds for you to guess, songs for you to dance to, and lots of facts -- all checked by experts.

Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Fidget toys are everywhere. There are ones you can squeeze, or click, or spin. Others are puzzles or have cool textures to touch. Some classrooms even have fidget toys for students, but do they help kids concentrate or are they just a distraction? Molly and co-host Penelope team up with an unconventional band to learn why we fidget in the first place.

Plus, neuroscientist Dr. Julie Schweitzer, from the UC Davis MIND Institute, answers questions about the science of fidget toys.
 
All that plus a brand new Mystery Sound and peek into what's happening at the brand new Brains On Headquarters!
 
Want to support the show? Head to smartypass.org to subscribe or donate!
 
Click here for a transcript of this episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do fidget toys really help people focus?

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 episodes of Brains On coming later this month and new Smash Boom and Forever Ago after that. If you want to support the show or drop us a line, head to brainson.org. The best way to keep us going is to join Smarty Pass or donate here: https://brainson.supercast.com. Thank you!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re back! Brains On Universe has a new headquarters

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, our new home is going to be bigger and better and the absolute BEST. We can't wait until it's ready for you to visit.

In the meantime, we still have some live shows planned this fall. Brains On Live will be in Dallas, TX on September 13. And Smash Boom Best will bring the debate heat to Princeton, NJ on October 26. Head over to brainson.org/events to get tickets. We can't wait to high five you all in person!

And, if you want to be the first to hear about our shiny, new home, sign up for our newsletter. There will be six more bathrooms, 10 more water slides and, we're finally going to fix the doorbell! Also, if you have any questions or want to reach out to us, you can still head to brainson.org/contact to get in touch.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big update about the Brains On Universe

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 Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources

Living in space would be super cool. You could float around with no gravity and see the Earth from really, really far away. But it would also be very strange. 

When there’s no gravity, which way is up? How do you use a toilet? And what happens if you fart in space? 

In this episode, Molly and co-host Vincent learn all about spaceship airlocks, space cuisine and even interview a real NASA astronaut. Plus, a new Mystery Sound comes into orbit. 

Fun episode launching in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…

Featured Guests:
Kayla Barron is a NASA astronaut who spent 177 days on the International Space Station 

This episode was sponsored by:

 • Disney's Elio, only in theaters June 20. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources

You can’t see into the future, but with weather reports you can get a pretty good idea of what weather is coming your way. But how do forecasters make those predictions? In this episode, Molly and co-host Pedro learn about weather stations, special buildings where meteorologists use all kinds of tools to track rain, snow, sun and everything in between. We learn about weather balloons, radars, satellites and ocean buoys. Plus, forecast calls for a brand new Mystery Sound.

This episode was sponsored by:

 • Disney's Elio, only in theaters June 20. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.
 • Gabb Wireless - 
Gabb.com/brainson • - Gabb can protect your kids while keeping them connected socially, safely. Terms and conditions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources

It’s a Body Bonanza and this time we’re answering your questions about injuries. Bruises are rarely something to sing about, but we’re doing it anyway! Get ready for Bruisical the Musical! Marc is writing a show all about these colorful injuries. Plus, Molly and co-host Nova learn what makes a scar and how Band-Aids help heal boo boos. Oh, and don’t stub your toe on the Mystery Sound!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Body Bonanza: Bruises, scars and Band-Aids

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 game with Molly Bloom. Grab your Smarty Pass to hear how a change of verb can leave things poopiful.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Life is Poopiful

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 Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources

When you think of dinosaurs, you might picture giant, scaly creatures that roamed earth millions of years ago. And when you think of birds, you probably picture our fluffy, feathered, chirpy friends. But did you know that birds are actually dinosaurs?

Molly and cohost Siddharth dig into how some modern birds like chickens, evolved from dinosaurs like the T-Rex. They’ll chat with paleontologist Jingmai O’Connor about what it’s like to study dinosaurs and hear about an exciting new fossil discovery. Siddharth quizzes Molly on her animal knowledge, plus, there's a new mystery sound to be uncovered.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are birds dinosaurs?

Wow, wow wow have we got some big news! Brains On!, Smash Boom Best and Forever Ago are coming together for the Big Dig - an archeological, paleontological extravaganza that you can participate in through YouTube. 

The show has it all: Megaladons vs Giant Sloths, dinosaurs covered in cake AND lemonade being slurped through a straw! 

Go to brainson.org/fieldtrips to secure your space and check out the other events we have planned this fall. Plus, Smarty Pass members can take 20% off!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us at the Big Dig!

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 Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources

Collecting Pokémon cards. Trading friendship bracelets. Painting your nails black. All these things have been trendy at some point, somewhere. But how did they become cool? And who made them popular?

Join Molly and co-host Harlynn as they explore the fussy and fabulous world of trends. Sanden will reveal how trends start and spread throughout a population—and why beige wallpaper it out and mocha mousse brown is IN! They’ll also learn about trends in animal populations like orca whales and chimpanzees. To top things off, Marc will start a fad by accident: fruit pants! (Yes, they’re literally pants with dried fruit stuck to them.) Plus, a super cool mystery sound.

Today’s episode is sponsored by: 

 • Indeed.com/brainson - Receive a $75 sponsored job credit
 • Experience Disney's Snow White, only in theaters March 21. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trends: How do they start?

Monarch butterflies are unique — they’re the only butterfly to travel thousands of miles when the seasons change. They travel from as far north as Canada all the way down to a few very specific mountaintops in central Mexico.

They don’t have a car, or an airplane ticket. They just have their two little wings. So we’re asking: How do they do it? How do they migrate thousands of miles? And why?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do monarch butterflies travel so far?

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