Brains On Podcast

Like so many people in the world right now, we’re stuck in our homes. That means we’ve had to figure out how to make episodes without being in soundproof studios. This episode takes a look at how we’re doing that.

Pollination takes center stage in the second of our two-part bee episodes.

We’re going inside the beehive to find out why bees buzz, learn about their stingers and so much more.

Listen to hear how the origins of our solar system involve a kind of cosmic pancake. And, how the Milky Way plays an important role in cultures all over the world.

Fair warning: Today we’re gonna get gross! We’re talking sounds, smells, and tastes that some people might find repulsive. But we're asking: why? What's the purpose of disgust? Is it something we're born knowing or do we learn to dislike things? When will entomophagy (the eating of insects) catch on everywhere? Plus: A brand new Moment of Um answers the question "Why do worms come out when it rains?"

We know you have a lot of poo questions because you’ve sent many, many of them to us. So we’re finally bringing you the poo answers! It’s a poop party!

We’re thrilled to share a brand new show with you. It’s called Million Bazillion and it’s all about money -- how we earn it, how we save it and how we spend it.

In this episode, we find out why masks are an important tool in the fight against this new coronavirus. We’ll also talk about this unusual time we’re living through and how to deal with the uncertainty of it all. Plus: Kara and Gilly debut their first single. They’re hoping it’s a viral sensation (pun very much intended). And, of course, a new mystery sound and a Moment of Um that answers the question: Why do sharks have to keep moving to stay alive?

Robotics is a huge industry, but in this episode we focus on the smallest part: tiny robots!

It’s the showdown of showdowns: kids vs. adults. Who has more energy and why?

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

A lot of us are angry right now, with good reason. We’re seeing people treated unfairly because of racism -- that’s when people don’t like someone’s race or the color of their skin. In this episode we’ll talk about how anger can be a useful emotion and can be used to push for change. We’ll also revisit parts of our 2019 series on emotions, including an explanation of the hormones behind anger, why some of us are quicker to anger than others and what we can do when we feel overwhelmed by our feelings.

We're very excited to share an episode of a brand new podcast we've been working on called Julie's Library. It’s hosted by the legendary, the one and only, Julie Andrews. Every week, she and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton read from their favorite children’s books.

News and updates about this coronavirus can sometimes feel overwhelming. One way to counteract that is to help. Here are a few stories about people helping and how you can pitch in.

Ink is so much more than quills and caligraphy. We use it to write, to color, to print — there are even animals that use it.

From the depths of the ocean blue to the tops of the mountains true, Mystery Sounds abound. Take a listen, and try to guess!

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?”