Brains On! Science podcast for kids
American Public Media
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 2, 2017 • 27min
How do volcanoes erupt?
There are all kinds of volcanoes all over the world, but how are they formed? And how do they erupt? To find out, we’ll travel to the center of the Earth, and we’ll meet a NASA robot that’s going on a very special volcano mission.
Sep 19, 2017 • 11min
Curio: Quindar tones and talking in space
You know those beeps in old NASA recordings? They’re called Quindar tones. This episode explains them and talks to a couple musicians who incorporate archival, NASA recordings into their songs.
Sep 12, 2017 • 30min
Mars: Our next home planet?
In this episode we learn about Mars’ ancient past, meet an architect hoping to build cities there and we hear from Mars itself, thanks to the planet’s video blog, of course.
Sep 4, 2017 • 17min
Thunder, lightning and tornadoes: Where do they come from?
There are some basic ingredients to make thunderstorms and tornadoes. We’ll find out what they are – and how to observe these powerful and amazing storms safely.
Aug 29, 2017 • 34min
Animal farts: A mighty wind
Most animals fart. And some animals put those farts to work.
Aug 15, 2017 • 23min
Sunburns: The why behind the ouch (and how to avoid them)
To help us understand sunburns, we’re going deep into the skin to look at cells, molecules and electrons.
Aug 1, 2017 • 27min
Everything you need to know before the solar eclipse
On Monday, August 21, a total solar eclipse will be visible on a path that crosses the U.S., from Oregon on the west coast to South Carolina on the east coast. In this episode, we cover all your eclipse essentials: What causes an eclipse? What happens during an eclipse? How do you safely view it? Spoiler alert: Don’t stare at the sun without special eyewear.
Jul 18, 2017 • 58min
Deep Sea vs. Outer Space
It’s time for the next Brains On debate! This intense matchup brings us to the depths of darkness, under the water and beyond our earth’s atmosphere. Who will prevail?
Jul 4, 2017 • 29min
Fart Smarts: Understanding the gas we pass
Is farting good for us? Where do farts come from? Why do only some make sounds? And what’s up with the smell? We tackle your questions about the gas we all pass in this episode.
Jun 30, 2017 • 22min
Riding in the car: Motion sickness and optical illusions (Road trip pt. 5)
Hosts Molly and Gabriella are locked out. No worries: Sanden and Bob to the rescue. While the duo drives a spare set of keys to our beloved hosts, they pass the time discussing science you might see (or feel) in a car.
