Moment of Um

4.4 (1.3K)
EDUCATION FOR KIDS
UPDATED DAILY

Moment of Um is your daily answer to those questions that pop up out of nowhere and make you go… ummmmmmm. Brought to you by your friends at Brains On at APM Studios.

6 HR. AGO

Why don’t mountain lions have manes?

When you picture a lion, what do you see? If you thought of a big fluffy mane, you’re not alone! But how come mountain lions don’t have manes? We asked conservation biologist Imogen Cancellare to help us find the answer. Got a question that’s really hairy? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll make finding the answer our mane focus.

5 min
1 DAY AGO

Do birds cough or sneeze?

Birds have a lot going on. They fly, chirp, sing, make nests, lay eggs. But can they cough or sneeze? We asked biologist Imogene Cancellare to help us find the answer. Got a question that’s flying around in your brain? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help quack the case.

4 min
2 DAYS AGO

How do bears make their dens?

Most bear species spend at least part of the winter season snoozing – a.k.a. hibernating! To prepare for that extended nap sesh, bears snuggle up in cozy dens where they can stay safe and hidden. But how does a bear make a den? We asked biologist Imogene Cancellare to help us find the answer. Got a question that’s making you feel a bit grizzled? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help i-DEN-tify the answer!

5 min
5 DAYS AGO

Why do we have friends?

Friends rule! The best ones are those that are always there to help you out, embark on a strange adventure, make you laugh so hard you cry and appreciate all the weird and wonderful things that make you… you! We love our friends! But do we humans need them as a species? We talked to psychologist/biologist Lauren Brent to find the answer. Do you and your BFF have a question? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll be a friend and help find the answer!

6 min
6 DAYS AGO

What is the strongest glue?

Most of us have used a glue stick or Elmer’s, but what about the strongest glue in the WORLD? We got a fantastic question from a couple of listeners who wanted to know what the strongest glue is, so we reached out to biomedical engineer Danna Sheridan to help us find the answer. Got a question that’s sticking in your mind? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help unglue the answer!

8 min
NOV 20

Do penguins sit down?

Did you know there are 18 species of penguin in the world? Each species has its own differences and quirks, but one thing all penguins have in common is that it can be tricky to tell if they’re standing up or sitting down. One curious listener wondered if they even sit down at all. We asked Dr. Michelle LaRue from the University of Canterbury to help us find the answer. Got a question that’s knocked you off your feet? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll stand up and find the answer.

4 min
NOV 19

What causes solar flares?

Listener Graham wanted to know what solar flares are and what causes them, so we reached out to NASA Heliophysicist Nicola Fox to help us figure out why these bright flashes on the sun’s surface occur. Got a question that’s been flaring up in your mind? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help make you brighter!

4 min
NOV 18

How do trumpets make that bbbbrrrrrrr sound?

Did you know that trumpets are the oldest brass instruments? Orchestras rely on them to play the highest notes in the brass section! But how do they make that bbbbrrrrrrr sound? We asked trumpet player and teacher Jim Boyle to help us find the answer. Got a question you’ve been wanting to brass-k? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll find an answer that’s music to your ears.

7 min

See All (100)

4.4

out of 5

1,290 Ratings

Quick and fun

Nov 2

Pickles4President

Everybody is complaining about the short episodes, if you want longer than go listen to brains on. Anyways my review: I love how short and informative these episodes are. They answer all the weird questions that just pop into your head. And there’s a new one every day which is awesome. I do feel like the ads take up a lot of the episode so maybe just cut down on the amount of ads a bit (especially on such a short podcast.)
Excellent

Nov 19

Flashtinkler

Could be longer though
Suggestion

Nov 13

hfdudfsgirdht

Why do we fart? Why do we burp? And, why do we get stomach aches when we’re really hungry? Thanks, Annie.
The only reason I like chess

Nov 8

qopirtggy

Glug

Moment of Um is your daily answer to those questions that pop up out of nowhere and make you go… ummmmmmm. Brought to you by your friends at Brains On at APM Studios.