Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Ever look closely at a raspberry and notice it could use a shave? Those tiny hairs are actually super important. And thankfully totally edible. Join Molly and co-host Zoe-Samarah as they learn all about this fantastic little fruit, and why some raspberry flavored foods are actually colored blue. All that and a Mystery Sound that’ll feel like a snack for the ears! Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate! Want to see Brains On live?!? We are probably coming to a city near you. For a complete list of shows and links to tickets head to our events page. More shows announced soon! April 11 - Walker Theater, Chattanooga, TN April 12 - Carolina Theater, Durham, NC April 25 - Marines Memorial, San Francisco, CA (2nd show added!) April 26 - Newmark Theater, Portland, OR May 30 - Electric City, Buffalo, NY May 31 - Royal Theatre, Toronto, ON (2nd show added!) Click here for an episode transcriptSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investigators dig into the Bermuda Triangle myth and the famous Flight 19 disappearance. They compare spooky theories like aliens and lost cities with mundane explanations like weather and navigational errors. A mystery sound game and listener fan art add playful moments.

Dr Kelsey Byers, an evolutionary chemical ecologist at the John Innes Centre, explains why flowers make scents and how scent molecules work. Short sentences explore how smells attract specific pollinators. Listen about roses’ complex chemical bouquets. Hear why some flowers switch scents after pollination and how stinky plants like the corpse flower lure flies.

Eleven bite-sized mystery sounds from around the world keep listeners guessing. Clips include clattering knives on a magnetic strip, sizzling butter, hula-hoop beads, dry ice scooping in a lab, and a garage door closing. Playful back-and-forth guessing and surprising real-world sources make the segment lively and fun.

They explore why clocks change and what "spring forward, fall back" actually does. A playful segment explains seasons using a tilted-Earth analogy. History of daylight saving time from ancient hours to World War I gets covered. There’s a mystery sound game and a look at how clock changes affect sleep, health, and daily routines.

Exciting new tour stops across many cities are announced. The live shows will feature singing, dancing, magic tricks, games, mystery sounds, and playful science demonstrations. Information on tickets and meet-and-greet passes with Q&A, photos, and close-up magic is shared. Dates and cities are highlighted for spring travel.

A voice assistant update makes everything about bananas and nothing else. Scientists explain how bananas share genes with us and why they make other fruit ripen. Learn why grocery bananas lack seeds and how farmers clone them. Hear the history of the classic banana-peel slip gag and a bunch of silly banana jokes from listeners.

They explain what social generations are and how 15-year birth cohorts get their names. The show traces Baby Boomers through Generation X, Millennials, Gen Z and Alpha, highlighting cultural moments that shaped each group. Researchers discuss how tech and surveys reveal differences between cohorts. Kids pitch fun renaming ideas and a comic character invents a silly new generation name.

They explore why powerful stomach acid does not burn a hole through us. Listeners hear about the stomach’s protective mucus, bicarbonate, and rapid lining renewal. The show dives into wild animal digestion strategies and how early medical research revealed stomach secrets. A mystery sound and listener mail add playful segments.

Dr. Paula Cushing, senior curator and 30-year spider researcher, explains spider and wasp interactions. She describes how spiders trap, venomize, and externally digest wasps. The show also covers wasps that hunt and paralyze spiders, like tarantula hawks. Short segments highlight specialized hunters and surprising spider strategies.