Brains On! Science podcast for kids

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 into. We hope your ears are w

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 and what would happen if we did

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 dancing when we hear certain rhyth

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. AND THEY ARE SUPER COOL! In thi

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 – except for vitamin D! We can ge

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 into all sorts of cool history

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 of Pokemon. This time, Marc an

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 and co-host Zsa Zsa as they lea

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 make us giggle and why you can’t

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. Even though we have cell phones

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 recorded something strange outsi

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 we might bang our skulls. Why

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? Dive in as Molly and co-host K

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 scratching them a good idea?

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 science. Molly and co-host Maya wil

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 that makes crystals special, a

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 these two playthings on a table

Why do we like the number 100?

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 Bat

Growth Spurts!

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

Skin, sweat and hair!

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