Brains On! Science podcast for kids

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 and see which one your kid grabs first. Is it the gooey, squishy, surprising slime? Or the springy, wiggly, wonderous slinky? Both are fun, one will triumph! Smooshing the competition for Team Slime, it’s RadioLab host Latif Nasser. And stretching toward victory for Team Slinky, it’s podcast producer Hans Buetow. Listen to see which terrific toy takes the top prize. And don’t forget to vote for your favorite at smashboom.org. Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

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 podcasts. This is an excerpt covering stuff that any one of any age might be interested in. Last week, we looked at skin, sweat and hair. Want to learn more about growing? Check out this Brains On episode: Why do our bodies take so long to grow? In the Puberty podcast feed, we’ll dive deeper into each topic. And answer your questions, with help from super smart experts. 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! May 30 - Electric City, Buffalo, NY May 31 - Royal Theatre, Toronto, ON (2nd show added!) June 6 - Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI June 20 - Southern Theater, Columbus, OH June 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI Click ⁠here⁠ for a transcript of this episode.

We’re making a special eight episode show called Brains On Universe Presents Puberty (The Podcast). You can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Over the next few weeks we’re going to play some excerpts from the series for you here. These samples cover stuff like how hormones help us grow, how they change our skin - think zits – and how they affect our moods. We picked topics that should be appropriate for everyone interested in how bodies grow. In the Puberty podcast feed, we’ll dive deeper into each topic. And answer your questions, with help from super smart experts. 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! May 30 - Electric City, Buffalo, NY May 31 - Royal Theatre, Toronto, ON (2nd show added!) June 6 - Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI June 20 - Southern Theater, Columbus, OH June 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI Click ⁠here for a transcript of this episode.

We’re all part of a generation, that’s a large group of people born around the same time as us. These generations have names too, like Gen X, Baby Boomers or Gen Alpha. Who came up with these generations and why do we have them? We’ll speak to experts and learn what makes each generation unique. Plus, what if you could rename your generation? Plus, Mr. Bonejangles can’t remember his birthday so he has no idea what generation he’s part of! All this and a timeless mystery sound. Enjoy! Guests:Dr Jean Twenge: Professor of psychology at San Diego State University, and author of iGen, Generations, and 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World. Kim Parker: Director of social trends research at Pew Research Center. Corey Seemiller: Professor of leadership studies in education and organizations at Wright State University, and author of Generation Z. Want to support Brains On and all of the shows in the Brains On Universe? Sign up for Smarty Pass. You'll get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus content, virtual hangouts, discounts on merch and more! 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! Feb 21 - Just for Laughs Festival, Vancouver, BC Feb 22 - The Neptune, Seattle, WA March 7 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI March 8 - Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, MN March 28 - Center Stage, Atlanta, GA March 29 - Amaturo Theater, Fort Lauderdale, FL Click here for a transcript of this episode See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re stepping into the ring for a battle of the insect world. Molly and co-host Kiaan try to find out if a spider can eat a wasp. They speak with Dr. Paula Cushing. She has been researching spiders for over three decades. Plus, we flip the script and ask if a wasp can eat a spider. Then, Molly goes full game show mode and puts Kiaan in the contestant chair to play Spidey Sense. We also have a brand new Mystery Sound and a big mailbag reveal. Want to support Brains On and all of the shows in the Brains On Universe? Sign up for Smarty Pass. You'll get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus content, virtual hangouts, discounts on merch and more! 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! Feb 21 - Just for Laughs Festival, Vancouver, BC Feb 22 - The Neptune, Seattle, WA March 7 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI March 8 - Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, MN March 28 - Center Stage, Atlanta, GA March 29 - Amaturo Theater, Fort Lauderdale, FL Click here for a transcript of this episode See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s more to sloths than slowness. They’re great at saving energy, hanging upside down, and swimming! In this episode, Sloth Appreciation Society founder Lucy Cooke stops by to tell us all about these amazing animals. We also get into a sloth mystery: The Case of the Perilous Poop Journey. Luckily, there’s a sloth sleuth on the case. And sloths aren’t the only animals who aren’t in a hurry — a few others show off their slowest skills. There’s also a Mystery Sound for you to guess. Stay sloooooooooow! Guests Lucy Cooke, zoologist and founder of the Sloth Appreciation Society Jonathan Pauli, UW-Madison Forest and Wildlife Ecology Dr. Sushma Reddy, Breckenridge Chair of Ornithology, Bell Museum Want to support Brains On and all of the shows in the Brains On Universe? Sign up for Smarty Pass. You'll get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus content, virtual hangouts, discounts on merch and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skunks can stink, no doubt about it. But that stink is actually a superpower! Join Molly and co-host Diya as they find out how these critters use their smell to scare away enemies, what the smell is made of, and how to make your own de-skunking potion. Plus, Wombat Pete drops by to promote his new music festival, we speak to some skunk experts, and we try our best to guess a new Mystery Sound. Don't forget the de-skunking potion mnemonic: 4 Cats Had Problems Queen Coughed Beside Suzie's Tenth Lasagna, Don't Sneeze Translation: 4 Cups hydrogen peroxide Quarter Cup baking soda Teaspoon Liquid Dish Soap Guest: Marie Tosa, Research Scientist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Guest: Ted Stankowich, Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and CSU Long Beach. Want to support Brains On and all of the shows in the Brains On Universe? Sign up for Smarty Pass. You'll get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus content, virtual hangouts, discounts on merch and more! Click here for a transcript of this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.