Do you have an itch for knowledge? Well, you’re in luck! Brains On is here to help you scratch it. Molly and co-host Sam look into why poison ivy makes us itchy. Plus, Sanden ushers us into the rhyme zone to come up with some nifty mnemonics to spot poison ivy. We’ll also take a look at remedies and dig into how poison ivy is helpful - really! All that and a brand new Mystery Sound stumper. 

Click ⁠here⁠ to read a transcript of this episode.

Brains On is a completely independent podcast, and we rely on your contributions to help make all of our shows. You can do that by joining Smarty Pass. As a member you get ad-free versions of all the Brains On Universe shows, bonus episodes, online hangouts with the Brains On crew, discounts on merch and more. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠smartypass.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more and sign up.

Want to see Brains On or Smash Boom Best live? We're about to head out on our fall tour. For links to tickets go to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠brainson.org/events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

12/6 Evanston, IL (two shows)

1/31 Princeton, NJ

Get ready for a Smash Boom Best bird bonanza. Tommy Siegel and Billy Libby have gone bananas for birds in the last few years. They’re real-life friends and musicians, who host the podcast Extremely Accurate Bird Songs. Today, however, friends become foes as they each rep a different bird. It’s Mourning Dove vs American Robin. Judging today’s debate is cat-lover, harpist and gymnast, Iva from New Haven, CT. Whose song will Iva choose? Listen and find out, then cast your own vote!

Special thanks to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library for birdsound used in this episode.

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Smash Boom Best is a completely independent podcast, and we rely on your contributions to help make all of our shows. You can do that by joining Smarty Pass. As a member you get ad-free versions of all the Brains On Universe shows, bonus episodes, online hangouts with the Smash Boom Best crew, discounts on merch and more. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠smartypass.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more and sign up.

This week Brains On is giving you an extra helping of Mystery Sounds… with a twist! Listen as our pals at Forever Ago try to stump you with history Mystery Sounds!

Joy Dolo and co-host Gabi are having a history sound extravaganza! Join them as they listen to mystery sounds from the past and learn a little about the history behind them. Plus, a special musical First Things First to transport you back in time. 

Click ⁠here⁠ to read a transcript of this episode.

Brains On is a completely independent podcast, and we rely on your contributions to help make all of our shows. You can do that by joining Smarty Pass. As a member you get ad-free versions of all the Brains On Universe shows, bonus episodes, online hangouts with the Brains On crew, discounts on merch and more. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠smartypass.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more and sign up.

Want to see Brains On or Smash Boom Best live? We're about to head out on our fall tour. For links to tickets go to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠brainson.org/events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

11/7 Norfolk, VA

12/6 Evanston, IL (two shows)

1/31 Princeton, NJ

Molly Bloom as a debater? It’s true! This is a sneak peek at a bonus episode we just shared in our Smarty Pass feed. Molly debates Sanden in a Smash Boom Best showdown between Cheetahs and Sloths. To hear the full, ad-free episode, join Smarty Pass. You also get access to all the other Brains On Universe shows, online hangs with the crew, discounts on merch and fun surprises. Thanks for the support!

Spooky stuff may make you cover your eyes in fright, but many of us find ourselves peeking through our fingers to get another glimpse. Why are we drawn to things that make us jump? In this episode, we'll find out how fear can actually be fun. We visit a scientist who helps design haunted houses for ultimate scares, chat with an author who writes ghost stories about how he crafts the creepy crawlies, and play a rousing game of Name That Phobia! Plus we help Gungador get rid of his hiccups and answer the Moment of Um question: "Why do raspberries have little hairs?"

Spoiler alert! ⁠To learn more about the mystery sound, click here.

Brains On is a completely independent podcast, and we rely on your contributions to help make all of our shows. You can do that by joining Smarty Pass. As a member you get ad-free versions of all the Brains On Universe shows, bonus episodes, online hangouts with the Brains On crew, discounts on merch and more. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠smartypass.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more and sign up.

Want to see Brains On or Smash Boom Best live? We're about to head out on our fall tour. For links to tickets go to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠brainson.org/events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

11/7 Norfolk, VA

12/6 Evanston, IL (two shows)

1/31 Princeton, NJ

Does it seem like your dog knows what you’re going to do before you do it? Do they know how you’re feeling? We’re going to answer these questions by talking to Dr. Alexandra Horowitz from the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College. We’ll take a look at dog body language and what we know about what they know. Tamas Farago from Eötvös Loránd University is going to help us decode all the sounds they make too, from barks to moans to whines to pants. Plus, Sanden tries to wrangle the Cat Advisory Council, to mixed results.

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Brains On is a completely independent podcast, and we rely on your contributions to help make all of our shows. You can do that by joining Smarty Pass. As a member you get ad-free versions of all the Brains On Universe shows, bonus episodes, online hangouts with the Brains On crew, discounts on merch and more. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠smartypass.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more and sign up.

Want to see Brains On live? We're about to head out on our fall tour. For links to tickets go to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠brainson.org/events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

10/17 Colorado Springs, CO (two shows)

11/7 Norfolk, VA

12/6 Evanston, IL (two shows)

1/31 Princeton, NJ

The hair on our heads is on our minds. We have fun with follicles and learn about how they make hair. Our experts help us decipher what makes hair black or brown, blonde or red, and even why it turns gray. From eye lashes to ear and nose hair, this episode has it all. Why do humans have hair and not fur? Why is there hair on the top of our heads? How does hair grow? How does hair become curly or straight?

Guests: Dr. Shani Francis, dermatologist and the director of the Hair Center of Excellence

Sandy Cook evolutionary biologist of hair at Penn State University

Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ for a transcript of this episode.

Brains On is a completely independent podcast, and we rely on your contributions to help make all of our shows. You can do that by joining Smarty Pass. As a member you get ad-free versions of all the Brains On Universe shows, bonus episodes, online hangouts with the Brains On crew, discounts on merch and more. Go to⁠⁠⁠ ⁠smartypass.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠to learn more and sign up.

Want to see Brains On or Smash Boom Best live? We're about to head out on our fall tour. For links to tickets go to⁠⁠⁠ ⁠brainson.org/events⁠⁠⁠⁠.

10/11 Dallas, TX*

10/17 Colorado Springs, CO (two shows)

11/7 Norfolk, VA

12/6 Evanston, IL (two shows)

1/31 Princeton, NJ

*Smash Boom Best show

This is a sneak peak of a bonus episode available to Smarty Pass members. It’s a follow up to our Forever Ago episode on the history of pizza. In this one, we look at the man who made pineapple on pizza a thing. Plus, we tell the story of how pineapple pizza created drama between two nations. To hear the whole, ad-free episode, sign up for Smarty Pass at smartypass.org.

Marc and Sanden are back as the Hoax Hunters. This time they’re looking at the myths surrounding crystals. For hundreds of years, people have believed that these rocks are special and have powers. But is there any proof? Join Marc, Sanden and Mystery Moose as they dig into the lore and science of crystals.

Guest:  Marisa Galvez, professor of French and Italian at Stanford University

Click ⁠here⁠ for a transcript of this episode.

Brains On is a completely independent podcast, and we rely on your contributions to help make all of our shows. You can do that by joining Smarty Pass. As a member you get ad-free versions of all the Brains On Universe shows, bonus episodes, online hangouts with the Brains On crew, discounts on merch and more. Go to⁠⁠ ⁠smartypass.org ⁠⁠⁠to learn more and sign up.

Want to see Brains On or Smash Boom Best live? We're about to head out on our fall tour. For links to tickets go to⁠⁠ ⁠brainson.org/events⁠⁠⁠.

10/3 Toronto, ON*

10/11 Dallas, TX*

10/17 Colorado Springs, CO (two shows)

11/7 Norfolk, VA

12/6 Evanston, IL (two shows)

1/31 Princeton, NJ

*Smash Boom Best show

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 warmed up, because it’s time for the… Mystery Sound Extravaganza!

Have a good Mystery Sound for us? Send it in! Go to brainson.org/contact and submit it. Don’t forget to record an answer too.

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Brains On is a completely independent podcast, and we rely on your contributions to help make all of our shows. You can do that by joining Smarty Pass. As a member you get ad-free versions of all the Brains On Universe shows, bonus episodes, online hangouts with the Brains On crew, discounts on merch and more. Go to⁠ ⁠smartypass.org ⁠⁠to learn more and sign up.

Want to see Brains On or Smash Boom Best live? We're about to head out on our fall tour. For links to tickets go to⁠ ⁠brainson.org/events⁠⁠.

9/26 Charlotte, NC

10/3 Toronto, ON*

10/11 Dallas, TX*

10/17 Colorado Springs, CO (two shows)

11/7 Norfolk, VA

12/6 Evanston, IL (two shows)

1/31 Princeton, NJ

*Smash Boom Best show

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 didn’t have them. Plus, we talk about animals with two, three, or six toes! Plus, a Mystery Sound that’ll get your ears working overtime.

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Brains On is a completely independent podcast, and we rely on your contributions to help make all of our shows. You can do that by joining Smarty Pass. As a member you get ad-free versions of all the Brains On Universe shows, bonus episodes, online hangouts with the Brains On crew, discounts on merch and more. Go to ⁠smartypass.org ⁠to learn more and sign up.

Want to see Brains On or Smash Boom Best live? We're about to head out on our fall tour. For links to tickets go to ⁠brainson.org/events⁠.

9/19 Minneapolis, MN (sold out)*

9/26 Charlotte, NC

10/3 Toronto, ON*

0/11 Dallas, TX*

10/17 Colorado Springs, CO (two shows)

11/7 Norfolk, VA

12/6 Evanston, IL (two shows)

1/31 Princeton, NJ

*Smash Boom Best show