319 episodes

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 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 Brains On! Universe

    • Kids & Family
    • 4.5 • 12.1K Ratings

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 sounds for you to guess, songs for you to dance to, and lots of facts -- all checked by experts.

    Why do we laugh?

    Why do we laugh?

    Laughter is like a language and humans are really good at understanding it.

    In this episode, Molly and co-host Milla decode different kinds of laughs, from uncontrollable goofy laughter to chuckles that make others feel good.

    They’ll meet laugh experts Sophie Scott and Adrienne Wood and test their knowledge in three rounds of the game show: Laugh Attack!

    Plus, a new mystery sound for you to guess!

    Come see Brains On live in Washington, DC, Princeton, NJ, and Brooklyn, NY! Get tickets here: brainson.org/events

    Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free feeds, bonus episodes, and ticket discounts!

    Today’s episode is sponsored by:Sitkaseafoodmarket.com - Use promo code Molly35 to receive $35 off your first order.Indeed.com/brainson - Receive a $75 sponsored job credit with code brainson

    • 34 min
    How do satellites work?

    How do satellites work?

    Satellites are like robots in the sky: they monitor the weather, make GPS possible, and take stunning pictures of outer space! But how exactly do they work? When a satellite named Meep Moop gets delivered to Brains On HQ by mistake, Molly and co-hosts Tessa and Fallyn learn all about satellite solar panels, thrusters, and radio waves! Then, they chat with Dr. Moriba Jah about satellite space junk and the importance of keeping space pristine. Plus, a stumper of a mystery sound!

    Featured expert:Dr. Moriba Jah, space environmentalist and professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin. Find him on Instagram at @moribajah and Facebook @Moriba Kemessia Jah

    Special thanks to:Dr. David “Goldy” Goldstein, principal engineer, SpaceX; Colonel., U.S. Air Force, Ret.

    Resources:If you want to hear more about GPS, check out the Brains On episode How does GPS know where you are?

    And if you’re curious to learn more about space junk, check out Satellite uses giant net to practice capturing space junk and the video Tracking space junk, both written and hosted by Loren Grush and produced by The Verge.

    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!

    ____________

    This episode was sponsored by:

    Sitka Seafood Market - Use promo code Molly35 to receive $35 off your first order. 

    Indeed - Use promo code brainson to receive a $75 sponsored job credit

    • 24 min
    Tooth or Dare: A Smarty Pass Sneak Peek

    Tooth or Dare: A Smarty Pass Sneak Peek

    What’s that alluring flute music and what does it have to do with Molly Bloom’s biting new game? Well, there’s only one way to find out. Grab your Smarty Pass to hear Anna and Rosie play Molly’s latest game: Tooth or Dare!

    • 1 min
    How does a match make fire?

    How does a match make fire?

    Have you ever seen someone strike a match? The match rubs against a scratchy strip and a split second later – poof! It makes fire! But how does a match work, anyway?

    Join Molly and co-host Maxwell as they get all fired up about matches! They’ll explore the three things a fire needs to ignite and learn how lighting a match is just a super fast chemical reaction that sometimes smells like farts. Plus, we’ll hear your hot new names for matches and of course, a new mystery sound!

    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!

    ____________

    This episode was sponsored by:

    Sitka Seafood Market - Use promo code Molly35 to receive $35 off your first order. 

    Indeed - Use promo code brainson to receive a $75 sponsored job credit

    • 26 min
    How deep does the sand go on the beach?

    How deep does the sand go on the beach?

    Sand! We use it to make all kinds of things, from spectacular sandcastles to roads and bridges. But where does it come from? And why is the sand on so many beaches disappearing?

    In this episode, Molly and co-host Leon head to the beach to explore the secrets of sand. They run into the ultimate sand STAN Sanden Totten and discover what it's made of. Then, they chat with producer Nico Gonzalez Wisler about why beaches are running out of sand. All that, plus a stumper of a new mystery sound!

    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!

    ____________

    This episode was sponsored by:

    Sitka Seafood Market - Use promo code Molly35 to receive $35 off your first order. 

    Indeed - Use promo code brainson to receive a $75 sponsored job credit

    • 25 min
    Is hypnosis real?

    Is hypnosis real?

    Hypnosis. You’ve seen it in movies, cartoons, and maybe even on stage! But is it real? And if so, what is it?

    Join Molly and co-host Jasmine as they uncover the truth about hypnosis and its power to heal. They’ll hear from pediatrician and hypnosis expert, Dr. Daniel Kohen, about what it is and isn’t. (Spoiler alert – it isn’t mind control!) They’ll also chat with 13-year-old Joshua who uses hypnosis to overcome anxiety! Plus, a special appearance from the ghost of Franz Mesmer, a famous practitioner and the man behind the word mesmerizing. Entranced? Stick around for a new and puzzling mystery sound!

    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!

    ____________

    This episode was sponsored by

    Sitka Seafood Market - Use promo code Molly35 to receive $35 off your first order. 

    Indeed - Use promo code brainson to receive a $75 sponsored job credit

    • 30 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
12.1K Ratings

12.1K Ratings

Bp123fun ,

I love your podcast it is the best podcast ever made in the history of the world

Here is a spot the difference😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😉😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🍎❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥🥲😥😥😥😥😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈👿😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈

Talkerd ,

I cant

To Trisha animals do have all three of those things they have the sense to defend themselves .i have science to support this statement. LOOK UP ANIMAL RELATIONSHIPS. Don’t mean to be rude but we are animals wether you like it or not we may or may not have evolved but you can’t just claim animals don’t have feelings or imagination.we are animals and if you say we have no imagination we would be gone.As for theirs it is limited but they wouldn't have survied without it either.Now about the show I really like it but stop hating on it what ever has it done to you. thank you

corbin jame bobbitt ,

Love 💗

L
O
V
E

I
T
You are the #1 best . How do you do it 😇😇😇😇😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😇😇😇😇😇😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗and how do
We blush

Top Podcasts In Kids & Family

Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids
Good Inside with Dr. Becky
Dr. Becky Kennedy
Circle Round
WBUR
Wow in the World
Tinkercast | Wondery
Story Pirates
Story Pirates
Raising Good Humans
Dear Media, Aliza Pressman

You Might Also Like

Forever Ago
American Public Media
Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family
American Public Media
Moment of Um
American Public Media
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
Vermont Public
Tumble Science Podcast for Kids
Tumble Media
Million Bazillion
Marketplace

More by American Public Media

Marketplace
Marketplace
In The Dark
The New Yorker
Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family
American Public Media
Make Me Smart
Marketplace
This Is Uncomfortable
Marketplace
Marketplace All-in-One
Marketplace