The hows and whys of hair
The hair on our heads is on our minds. We have fun with follicles and learn about how they make hair. Our experts help us decipher what make...
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Brains On! Science podcast for kids
Brains On!® is a science podcast for curious kids and adults from American Public Media. Co-hosted each week by kid scientists and reporters from public radio, we ask questions ranging from...
Episodes
20 of 432 episodesSneak peek: The history of pineapple on pizza
This is a sneak peak of a bonus episode available to Smarty Pass members. It’s a follow up to our Forever Ago episode on the history of pizz...
Hoax Hunters: Why do crystals feel so special?
Marc and Sanden are back as the Hoax Hunters. This time they’re looking at the myths surrounding crystals. For hundreds of years, people hav...
Mystery Sound Extravaganza fall 2026
Oh boy, oh boy! Are you ready to do some guessing?!? We have doozies to detect. There are clues to calculate. And so, so many goodies to get...
Why do we need pinky toes?
Pinky toes may seem small, but they’re kind of a big deal. Join Molly and co-host Luna Mae as they learn about why we have these tiny toes a...
Why does music make us dance?
When you hear a good beat, it can be hard not to tap your toe or bob your head. Why is this? It turns out, we may be hardwired to start danc...
Black holes, wormholes and donut holes!
Black holes happen when you have a super huge, mega-giant amount of stuff --- crammed into a super-tiny, infinitely-small amount of space. A...
How do we get Vitamin D from the sun?
There’s a bunch of vitamins and minerals our bodies need to do their body thing. Our bodies don’t make them, so we get them through food – e...
Forever Ago: Who invented Pokemon?
We are super-excited to let you know that our pals at Forever Ago just started a brand new season. Host of Forever Ago, Joy Dolo, will dive...
Sneak peek: Hoax Hunters explain the Pokemon Shock
This is a sneak peek of a bonus episode available to Smarty Pass subscribers. It’s a follow up to the Forever Ago episode about the history...
Do plants fart?
Plants are pretty chill things, maybe because they are farting all the time! In this episode we explore the world of plant gas. Join Molly a...
Joy Overload! The science of tickles and cuteness
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 mak...
How do walkie talkies work?
Walkie talkies are cool tech with a cool name. In today's episode we find out how can one little box let you talk to somebody miles away. Ev...
Hoax Hunters take on the Fresno Nightcrawler
Marc and Sanden are back as the Hoax Hunters! This time they look at the case of the Fresno Nightcrawler. In 2007 a man’s security camera re...
Why are brains so squishy?
Our brains are amazing machines, but they are also very delicate. We have to wear helmets when we bike, skate, or do other activities where...
How do oysters make pearls?
Pearls are shiny little things that look great on a bracelet or necklace. They’re made by shell-dwelling creatures called oysters, but how?...
Why do mosquitoes bite?
In this episode, we're tackling all the mosquito questions that have been bugging our listeners. Why do they bite? Why do the bites itch? Is...
How do lightbulbs work?
We use lightbulbs everyday, but how often do we stop to think about how they work? These genius little inventions are packed with cool scien...
Crystals: More than just shiny rocks
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...
Brains On Presents: Smash Boom Best - Slime vs Slinkies
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 t...