Earth and Space Science

Why do certain colors mean different things? We’re looking at green, red and yellow in today’s episode.

Like an onion, the Earth has layers. In this episode we’ll see if you can dig through those layers to get to the center of the planet. We’ll also hear about the Danish scientist who discovered more about Earth’s core by studying earthquakes. Children’s book author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers stops by to talk about the Earth’s top layer called the crust.

Get ready for some smiles! We’re looking at the science of two things that bring us joy: tickles and cuteness. We’ll explain why tickles make us giggle and why you can’t tickle yourself. Then we’ll talk about what makes cute things cute and why sometimes we want to eat or smoosh cute things. Plus, a super cute Mystery Sound and a Moment of Um answering the question: “Can a moon have a moon?”

Humans have been predicting weather for a long time - way before modern technology. So how did they do it? We’ll meet the man who invented the word “forecast” and brought weather reports to the newspaper.

We don’t usually think about dust unless we’re cleaning up, but it’s all around us all the time. There’s more to this stuff than just boring, old grey specks. Way more.

In the final episode of our series about myths and legends, we’re launching our imaginations into outer space! Monster expert Emily Zarka tells us about her favorite alien and why aliens fascinate so many people. In the Hoax Hunters season finale, Marc and Sanden bring us a UFO spoof. Plus, scientists give us the lowdown on the real quest for extraterrestrial life — we haven’t found any... yet.

What’s lurking in the depths of the ocean? Or your local loch? We’re diving deep into the world of water-dwelling mythical creatures in part three of our series on myths.

Was Atlantis a real city? If not, why have so many people gone looking for it? In part two of our series on modern myths and legends, we’re searching for lost cities.

What was the very first lifeform like? What was the first fish or mammal? Is it even possible to know?

Never explore the final frontier without your trusty, white, puffy space suit! But why is it puffy and white? And why do astronauts need them? Turns out space is super dangerous and these suits can save your life. We’ll give you a tour of all the features of NASA’s iconic EMU suit and explain why it looks like a squishy marshmallow. Plus, we’ll interview an engineer working on the next generation of space suits and hear a funky new space jam by singer Jamie Lidell. Add in a mystery sound, a Moment of Um looking at knuckle cracking and some rad ideas for super suits of the future and you’ve got an action packed episode of Brains On.

Elevators are like magic. You walk in, the door shuts and when it opens again, you are suddenly someplace new! Ta da! But it’s not magic that does this trick, it’s science and engineering.

Human-made plastics are super useful, but the fact that they last forever means we find ourselves with a plastic problem.

Producer Marc Sanchez shows us the wonders hidden underground at this national park in South Dakota and how tricky it can be to explore uncharted territory with only a headlamp to light the way.

Today we shout out our love for the ECHO! (echo echo) Discover how these curious callbacks happen and why we hear them in some places but not others. We'll also play you the longest echo in the world and take you to an echo-proof room.

Black holes happen when you have a super huge, mega-giant amount of stuff --- crammed into a super-tiny, infinitely-small amount of space. AND THEY ARE SUPER COOL! In this episode, we learn all about what black holes are and how we found out they were real. We talk to a black hole hunter who has discovered supermassive black holes. And we find out what a wormhole is and why it might really, be really, really hard to ever find one -- or travel through it. Plus: The Moment of Um answers the question: "Why do goat pupils look like slits?" This episode is sponsored by Panama City Beach (VisitPanamaCityBeach.com), Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: The Podcast, and Madison Reed (madison-reed.com and offer code BRAINSON). You can support the show at brainson.org/donate

Oxygen is quite the savvy traveler. We explore how this gas travels all around the world and ends up pretty much everywhere for us to breathe. Plus we'll look at how plants and others make the stuff. And we learn how oxygen ended up on Earth in the first place (hint: it involves super space explosions!). We'll make friends with some molecules, hear about a tiny fart that changed the world and guess an all new mystery sound. Oh, and this week's Moment of Um asks: "if a poisonous snake bit itself, would it die?" This episode is sponsored by Visit Panama City Beach (VisitPanamaCityBeach.com), KiwiCo (kiwico.com/brainson), Quip (getquip.com/brainson) and Calm (calm.com/brainson). You can support the show at brainson.org/donate

50 years ago NASA astronauts took a picture that changed the world. It was a full color photo of planet Earth as seen from space. This image inspired many to think differently about our home.

In this episode we'll tell the tale of that epic snapshot. Plus we'll explain how Earth and our solar system formed in the first place. We'll talk to astrophysicist Lindy Elkins-Tanton about whether there are other planets like Earth in the universe. Plus we have an all new Mystery Sound and a Moment of Um that answers the question “Why do dreams seem longer than they are?”

So say cheese and enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Pre (eatpre.com and offer code BRAINSON). You can support Brains On at brainson.org/donate

If your GPS suddenly stopped working, would you still be able to find your way?

In this episode we'll teach you tricks and tips to navigate on your own. We'll explain how compasses work and we'll tell you who helped move north to the top of the map. Plus, we'll meet a navigator who goes on long journeys using only traditional Hawaiian navigational techniques and we'll stop by a pitstop for some amazing animal migrators.

All that and a Moment of Um on why diamonds are so rare and so valuable.

Today’s episode is sponsored by KiwiCo (kiwico.com/brainson), Little Passports (littlepassports.com/brains), Bombas (bombas.com/brains), and Ozobot (ozobot.com/shop).