Moment Of Um

If you’ve ever had a ball tossed at your face, you probably flinched, tried to knock it away from your face, or jumped out of the way, right? That’s called a reflex, and most humans have them including tiny babies. We asked physical therapist Karen Litzy why that is.Got a question for us? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help find the answer! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People all over the world have little brown dots called freckles on their skin. You might notice that you get new freckles if you spend time out in the sun. So what are the deets on these dots? We asked dermatologist Kristen Kelley to help us find the answer.Got a question about something and you need help connecting the dots?  Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help spot the answer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Owls are amazing. Most are nocturnal and hunt at night. They have incredible eyesight. And a group of them is called a parliament! One of our listeners was wondering how far they can turn their heads around. We asked Lauren Smith from the Owl Research Institute to help us find the answer.Got a Moment of Um question that’s turning you upside down? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help get it all sorted out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who doesn’t love a dog nose? They’re cute, often very wet and way better at smelling the world than our puny human noses. Dog noses are one of the few places dogs don’t have hair. But what about inside? Do they have nose hair like we do? We asked dog researcher Alexandra Horowitz to help us find the answer.Got a question that’s giving you a ruff time? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll bark up the right tree for an answer!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Earth is made up of giant masses of land called continents. There are seven continents, but which one came first? Where did it come from? We asked geologist Annie Bauer to help us find the answer.Got a groundbreaking question? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll dig into it!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Physicist Dr. Desiré Whitmore, aka the Laser Chick, explains why black absorbs heat better than lighter colors. They discuss the concept of colors and light interaction, with insights from a staff scientist breaking down the scientific principles behind this phenomenon.

Lots of people talk in their sleep, especially kids!  Have you ever heard anyone babbling away in the middle of the night?  Or maybe someone has told you that you do it?  Sleep talking is totally normal, but why do we do it?  We asked sleep specialist Chris Winter to help us find the answer.Got a question that you’ve been dreaming about? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll search through the night for the answer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bryon Robinson from YKK, the largest zipper manufacturer, explains how zippers work, delving into the mechanics and functionality of zippers. Topics include textile tape, slider alignment, and the widespread use of zippers in America. The episode wraps up with a humorous idea of zipper undergarments.

A nosebleed is just what it sounds like: it’s when blood comes out of your nose. Lots of people get nosebleeds, but what causes them? We asked pediatrician Emma Gerstenzang to help us find the answer.Got a scent-sational question? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact and we promise we won’t turn our noses up at it!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mechanical engineer Jacy Bird explains why stirring tea rapidly can create a mini tornado in the cup. She delves into the physics behind this phenomenon, emphasizing the need for gentle stirring to avoid vortex formation.