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, and hear about some unexpected crystals, too (hint: chocolate chip cookies contain a few different crystals!). Then, we take a look at how crystals form and get their cool colors. Plus, Marc and Sanden hunt down a hoax about Mesoamerican crystal skulls.

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. Fall 2026 show announcement coming soon!

June 20 - Southern Theater, Columbus, OH

June 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI

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!

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 Battle Realm to a much more challenging setting: high school. We ask why people seem to love the number 100 so much. We also learn some amazing tricks involving the number 100 and fan favorite. There's a super-cool Mystery Sound too, so keep those ears open!

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!

June 6 - Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI

June 20 - Southern Theater, Columbus, OH

June 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI

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.

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 answered: what’s puberty anyway?

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.

If you were on a merry-go-round that was spinning super fast, you’d feel it. But the Earth is always spinning and we don’t feel a thing. Why is that? Join Molly and Reean as they explore the science of spin. Plus we find out how liquid sloshing around in our ears can make us feel dizzy. And speaking of ears, get yours ready for an all new Mystery Sound.

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 9 - Liberty Hall, Kansas City, KS

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 new limited series to tackle a topic that lots of our listeners are curious about. Puberty!

It’s a lot. There are the awkward conversations and the questions we’re too nervous to ask and the sometimes uncomfortable experience of living in a body that’s changing fast (and publicly!).

This podcast is here to help. Hosted by Molly Bloom, of the award-winning science podcast Brains On, and co-hosted by high schoolers who've just been through it, Puberty! (The podcast) is for everybody — and every body.

Designed for kids 7-12, the show will cover everything from brain chemicals to consent, in a straight-forward and digestible package. This is a safe space for young people to understand their bodies and their brains, and it’s a resource for parents to tackle otherwise difficult topics.

Experts, including Dr. Cara Natterson (Less Awkward), Chris Pepper (Talk to Your Boys), Nora Gelperin (Advocates for Youth), and Erin Walsh (Spark & Stitch Institute), provide science-filled explanations and answer listener questions.

Search for Brains On Universe Presents: Puberty! (The podcast) wherever you listen!

We wash our hands all the time, but do you ever wonder why? It turns out that soap is super good at attaching to dirt and germs and carrying that gunk off skin. Join Molly and co-hosts Hope and Heaven as they zoom in on soap to see how this sudsy stuff cleans so well. Plus we’ll learn how soap was likely invented and meet some pioneers who helped prove that washing hands keeps us healthy. Oh, and everyone’s favorite viral podcasters, Kara and Gilly, are back! Plus a new Mystery Sound.

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.

Humans have visited the moon but we’ve never lived there. Could we build a home on our lunar neighbor? Join Molly and co-host Ira as they find out why the moon can be a dangerous place, and what it would take to live there. We’ll imagine a visit to a lunar hotel, hear about all the stuff humans have left up there and even hear a song sung by the Moon herself!

Featured Expert: Phil Plait, astronomer, journalist and author of several books, including, Under Alien Skies: A Sightseer’s Guide to the Universe, which uses science and imagination to paint a picture of what it would be like to vacation on the moon.
Resources:Learn more about NASA’s Artemis program which aims to bring humans back to the moon.

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 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!)

June 6 - Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI

June 20 - Southern Theater, Columbus, OH

June 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI

Sports and science go hand in hand, especially when it comes to softball and baseball. Join Molly and co-host Caris as they answer more of your questions about these two ballgames. Like why are bats measured in ounces? Or why do some players wear black paint under their eyes? Plus, we’ll hear more of your chants and guess an all new Mystery Sound.

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 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!)

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.