We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. But, our new home is going to be bigger and better and the absolute BEST. We can't wait until it's ready for you to visit.

In the meantime, we still have some live shows planned this fall. Brains On Live will be in Dallas, TX on September 13. And Smash Boom Best will bring the debate heat to Princeton, NJ on October 26. Head over to brainson.org/events to get tickets. We can't wait to high five you all in person!

And, if you want to be the first to hear about our shiny, new home, sign up for our newsletter. There will be six more bathrooms, 10 more water slides and, we're finally going to fix the doorbell! Also, if you have any questions or want to reach out to us, you can still head to brainson.org/contact to get in touch.

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:

Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources

Living in space would be super cool. You could float around with no gravity and see the Earth from really, really far away. But it would also be very strange.

When there’s no gravity, which way is up? How do you use a toilet? And what happens if you fart in space?

In this episode, Molly and co-host Vincent learn all about spaceship airlocks, space cuisine and even interview a real NASA astronaut. Plus, a new Mystery Sound comes into orbit.

Fun episode launching in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…

Featured Guests:
Kayla Barron is a NASA astronaut who spent 177 days on the International Space Station 

This episode was sponsored by:

• Disney's Elio, only in theaters June 20. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:

Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources

You can’t see into the future, but with weather reports you can get a pretty good idea of what weather is coming your way. But how do forecasters make those predictions? In this episode, Molly and co-host Pedro learn about weather stations, special buildings where meteorologists use all kinds of tools to track rain, snow, sun and everything in between. We learn about weather balloons, radars, satellites and ocean buoys. Plus, forecast calls for a brand new Mystery Sound.

This episode was sponsored by:

• Disney's Elio, only in theaters June 20. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.
• Gabb Wireless - Gabb.com/brainson - Gabb can protect your kids while keeping them connected socially, safely. Terms and conditions.

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:

Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources

Trees are the strong, silent type but that doesn’t mean they can’t communicate. In this episode we’ll explore how trees send each other messages above ground and below. Plus we’ll learn how a seed goes from a tiny sapling to a towering plant. We find out some fruit facts and hear an all new Mystery Sound.

This episode was originally published on Jul 16, 2019.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Indeed.com/brainson - Receive a $75 sponsored job credit
• Experience Disney's Snow White, only in theaters March 21. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:

Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources

It’s a Body Bonanza and this time we’re answering your questions about injuries. Bruises are rarely something to sing about, but we’re doing it anyway! Get ready for Bruisical the Musical! Marc is writing a show all about these colorful injuries. Plus, Molly and co-host Nova learn what makes a scar and how Band-Aids help heal boo boos. Oh, and don’t stub your toe on the Mystery Sound!

Oh no! An awful spell has put Ruby, Rosie, and Anna in a poopiful situation at Brains On HQ! It looks like the only way to save them is with a quick game with Molly Bloom. Grab your Smarty Pass to hear how a change of verb can leave things poopiful.

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:

Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources

When you think of dinosaurs, you might picture giant, scaly creatures that roamed earth millions of years ago. And when you think of birds, you probably picture our fluffy, feathered, chirpy friends. But did you know that birds are actually dinosaurs?

Molly and cohost Siddharth dig into how some modern birds like chickens, evolved from dinosaurs like the T-Rex. They’ll chat with paleontologist Jingmai O’Connor about what it’s like to study dinosaurs and hear about an exciting new fossil discovery. Siddharth quizzes Molly on her animal knowledge, plus, there's a new mystery sound to be uncovered.

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:

Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find teacher resources

Collecting Pokémon cards. Trading friendship bracelets. Painting your nails black. All these things have been trendy at some point, somewhere. But how did they become cool? And who made them popular?

Join Molly and co-host Harlynn as they explore the fussy and fabulous world of trends. Sanden will reveal how trends start and spread throughout a population—and why beige wallpaper it out and mocha mousse brown is IN! They’ll also learn about trends in animal populations like orca whales and chimpanzees. To top things off, Marc will start a fad by accident: fruit pants! (Yes, they’re literally pants with dried fruit stuck to them.) Plus, a super cool mystery sound.

Today’s episode is sponsored by:

• Indeed.com/brainson - Receive a $75 sponsored job credit
• Experience Disney's Snow White, only in theaters March 21. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.

Oh no! Molly’s been bequeathed her great-great grandfather’s skateboard, which unfortunately contains the spirit of dictionary editor Rutherford Williams Webster! Hoping to defeat the skateboard poltergeist, Anna and Marc must attempt to spell and define Webster’s most obscure words!

Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:
Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows

Solar panels capture energy from the sun and turn it into electricity. But how do they work?Join guest host Rosie duPont and co-host Anna as they explore the ins and outs of solar energy!

Marc and his latest invention, Sal the solar bot, stop by the studio for a special solar demonstration — then the Earth and Moon chat about why solar power is an important tool for slowing down climate change.

Plus, an electrifying new mystery sound!

Check out our series all about electricity too!

Today’s episode is sponsored by:
Indeed.com/brainson - Receive a $75 sponsored job credit

Experience Disney's Snow White, only in theaters March 21. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.

Asthma is a disease that can make it hard to breathe. And it’s common! One in twelve people in the United States have it, including host Molly Bloom. But what is asthma? And why do some people have it, but not others?

Join Molly and co-hosts Audrey and Indytas they learn about asthma. First, they’ll shrink down and explore how breathing works — inside Forever Ago host Joy Dolo’s lungs! Then they’ll learn how and why asthma attacks happen. Finally, they’ll chat with kids’ lung doctor Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir about rescue inhalers, and what causes asthma in the first place. All that, plus a breathtaking new mystery sound!

Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free feeds, bonus episodes, and ticket discounts!

Today’s episode is sponsored by:

• Disney - Experience Disney's Snow White, only in theaters March 21. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.
• Indeed.com/brainson - Receive a $75 sponsored job credit with code brainson