Brains On! Science podcast for kids
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. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
Episodes
June 16, 2026 • 35 mins
This episode shines a light on crystals, and they’re sparkling right back at us! We’ll zoom way in on a diamond to understand the structure that makes crystals special, and hear about some unexpected crystals, too (hint: chocolate chip cookies contain a few different crystals!). Then, we take a look at how crystals form and get their cool colors. Plus, Marc and Sanden hunt down a hoax about Mesoamerican crystal skulls.
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June 9, 2026 • 40 mins
We will be back next week with a new episode! This week we have an episode from our sister show Smash Boom Best: Slime vs Slinkies!Set out these two playthings on a table and see which one your kid grabs first. Is it the gooey, squishy, surprising slime? Or the springy, wiggly, wonderous slinky? Both are fun, one will triumph! Smooshing the competition for Team Slime, it’s RadioLab host Latif Nasser. And stretching toward vic...
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June 2, 2026 • 42 mins
As Brains On fast approaches 400 episodes, we wanted to re-visit this one. Not only is it our milestone episode 100, but our pal Gungador goes from Most Epic Fighting Battle Realm to a much more challenging setting: high school. We ask why people seem to love the number 100 so much. We also learn some amazing tricks involving the number 100 and fan favorite. There's a super-cool Mystery Sound too, so keep those ears open!
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May 26, 2026 • 21 mins
Today we’re sharing with you part of an episode from our new special series, Brains On Universe Presents: Puberty! (the podcast). You can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
This is an excerpt covering stuff that any one of any age might be interested in. Last week, we looked at skin, sweat and hair.
Want to learn more about growing? Check out this Brains On episode: Why do our bodies take so long to grow?
In the P...
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May 19, 2026 • 20 mins
Today we’re sharing with you part of an episode from our new special series, Brains On Universe Presents: Puberty! (the podcast). You can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
This is an excerpt covering stuff that any one of any age might be interested in. Last week, we answered: what’s puberty anyway?
In the Puberty podcast feed, we’ll dive deeper into each topic. And answer your questions, with help fro...
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May 12, 2026 • 21 mins
We’re making a special eight episode show called Brains On Universe Presents Puberty (The Podcast). You can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Over the next few weeks we’re going to play some excerpts from the series for you here.
These samples cover stuff like how hormones help us grow, how they change our skin - think zits – and how they affect our moods. We picked topics that should be appropriate for...
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May 5, 2026 • 31 mins
If you were on a merry-go-round that was spinning super fast, you’d feel it. But the Earth is always spinning and we don’t feel a thing. Why is that? Join Molly and Reean as they explore the science of spin. Plus we find out how liquid sloshing around in our ears can make us feel dizzy. And speaking of ears, get yours ready for an all new Mystery Sound.
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May 4, 2026 • 1 min
We're making a new limited series to tackle a topic that lots of our listeners are curious about. Puberty!
It’s a lot. There are the awkward conversations and the questions we’re too nervous to ask and the sometimes uncomfortable experience of living in a body that’s changing fast (and publicly!).
This podcast is here to help. Hosted by Molly Bloom, of the award-winning science podcast Brains On, and co-hosted ...
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April 28, 2026 • 34 mins
We wash our hands all the time, but do you ever wonder why? It turns out that soap is super good at attaching to dirt and germs and carrying that gunk off skin. Join Molly and co-hosts Hope and Heaven as they zoom in on soap to see how this sudsy stuff cleans so well. Plus we’ll learn how soap was likely invented and meet some pioneers who helped prove that washing hands keeps us healthy. Oh, and everyone’s favorite vir...
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April 21, 2026 • 32 mins
Humans have visited the moon but we’ve never lived there. Could we build a home on our lunar neighbor? Join Molly and co-host Ira as they find out why the moon can be a dangerous place, and what it would take to live there. We’ll imagine a visit to a lunar hotel, hear about all the stuff humans have left up there and even hear a song sung by the Moon herself!
Featured Expert: Phil Plait, astronomer, journalist and auth...
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April 14, 2026 • 28 mins
Sports and science go hand in hand, especially when it comes to softball and baseball. Join Molly and co-host Caris as they answer more of your questions about these two ballgames. Like why are bats measured in ounces? Or why do some players wear black paint under their eyes? Plus, we’ll hear more of your chants and guess an all new Mystery Sound.
Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or do...
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April 7, 2026 • 29 mins
Baseball and softball are both a feat of physics, from the curve of a pitch to the swing of a bat. Today, we’re exploring the science of these popular pastimes. Join Molly and co-host Kian as they learn about curve balls and the stuff inside a ball. Plus, our listeners share their chants for Team Science! Oh, and what’s that noise? It’s a brand new mystery sound. Play ball!
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March 31, 2026 • 29 mins
Ever look closely at a raspberry and notice it could use a shave? Those tiny hairs are actually super important. And thankfully totally edible. Join Molly and co-host Zoe-Samarah as they learn all about this fantastic little fruit, and why some raspberry flavored foods are actually colored blue. All that and a Mystery Sound that’ll feel like a snack for the ears!
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March 24, 2026 • 29 mins
Have you heard of the Bermuda Triangle? It’s an area of the Atlantic Ocean that some people think can make ships and planes mysteriously disappear. In this episode, Marc and Sanden, aka the Hoax Hunters, investigate this weird and wild patch of water. Turns out the Triangle isn’t as unusual as it seems. Plus, Molly tries to stump the Hoax Hunters with a new mystery sound.
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March 17, 2026 • 27 mins
Flowers are famous for their smells. Most are sweet, but a few are downright stinky. Either way, the science of how and why they make these scents is fascinating. Join Molly and co-host Isla as they learn about pollinators, flower smells and the mighty corpse flower! Plus a smell for your ears: the Mystery Sound!
Guest: Dr Kelsey Byers, evolutionary chemical ecologist and group leader at the John Innes Center.
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March 10, 2026 • 36 mins
What's better than a mystery sound? How about 11 mystery sounds! We have mystery sounds from listeners all over the world to share with you, plus two from scientists. And our co-host Juniper will try to stump Molly with a mystery sound of her own!Click here to read a transcript of this episode.
Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
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March 3, 2026 • 26 mins
Every spring we set our clocks one hour forward. Every fall we move them one hour back. It’s a strange ritual when you think about it, so why do we do it? Join Molly and co-host Ava as they explore the seasons and why days are shorter in the winter and longer in the summer. We’ll hear about the history of Day Light Saving and play a game. And it’s always time for a Mystery Sound! So set an alarm so you don’t...
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February 27, 2026 • 1 min
Exciting news! We’ve announced a bunch of new tour stops for this spring! Learn more about the show and get tickets here!
Mar 7............MILWAUKEE
Mar 8..................ST PAUL
Mar 28..............ATLANTA
Mar 29.....FT LAUDERDALE
Apr 11......CHATTANOOGA
Apr 12.................DURHAM
Apr 25.....SAN FRANCISCO
Apr 26.............PORTLAND
May 30...............BUFFALO
May 31..............TORONTO
Jun 6.............ANN...
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February 24, 2026 • 36 mins
HARVEY, our omnipresent virtual voice assistant, gets a software update that makes him go bananas for bananas. And if we talk about anything except bananas, he turns the microphones off! We talk to geneticist Dr. Janina Jeff about how much DNA we share with a banana, find out why bananas make other fruits ripen, how bananas grow, and where that slipping on a banana peel joke came from. Speaking of jokes, we'll hear a bunch of banan...
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February 17, 2026 • 30 mins
We’re all part of a generation, that’s a large group of people born around the same time as us. These generations have names too, like Gen X, Baby Boomers or Gen Alpha. Who came up with these generations and why do we have them? We’ll speak to experts and learn what makes each generation unique. Plus, what if you could rename your generation? Plus, Mr. Bonejangles can’t remember his birthday so he has no ide...
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