Brains On Podcast

If habits are really stuck, we don't think much about them -- we just do them! Some habits are good (like brushing your teeth in the morning) and others are not so good (like biting your nails). Today we find out what parts of our brains help us form habits and why it's actually super useful to not have to think so hard about everything.

We’ll be back with new episodes in January. But we wanted to share another show with you that we’ve been working on -- Smash Boom Best.

Bones! They’re spooky. They’re creepy. They’re utterly fascinating! This episode we dig up the science behind skeletons.

How does your brother or sister know just how to annoy you? It’s like they were born to do it!

The flu shot changes every year. But why is the flu special, if other illnesses have much longer-lasting vaccines? This episode takes us into the world of viruses and immunity?

We're documenting history and digging into why has time seemed to slow down and speed up during the pandemic?

How are mountains made? What causes an earthquake? How does hot lava come bubbling up? The answer in each case is…tectonic plates!

Like so many people in the world right now, we’re stuck in our homes. That means we’ve had to figure out how to make episodes without being in soundproof studios. This episode takes a look at how we’re doing that.

Pollination takes center stage in the second of our two-part bee episodes.

We’re going inside the beehive to find out why bees buzz, learn about their stingers and so much more.

Listen to hear how the origins of our solar system involve a kind of cosmic pancake. And, how the Milky Way plays an important role in cultures all over the world.

Fair warning: Today we’re gonna get gross! We’re talking sounds, smells, and tastes that some people might find repulsive. But we're asking: why? What's the purpose of disgust? Is it something we're born knowing or do we learn to dislike things? When will entomophagy (the eating of insects) catch on everywhere? Plus: A brand new Moment of Um answers the question "Why do worms come out when it rains?"

We know you have a lot of poo questions because you’ve sent many, many of them to us. So we’re finally bringing you the poo answers! It’s a poop party!

We’re thrilled to share a brand new show with you. It’s called Million Bazillion and it’s all about money -- how we earn it, how we save it and how we spend it.

In this episode, we find out why masks are an important tool in the fight against this new coronavirus. We’ll also talk about this unusual time we’re living through and how to deal with the uncertainty of it all. Plus: Kara and Gilly debut their first single. They’re hoping it’s a viral sensation (pun very much intended). And, of course, a new mystery sound and a Moment of Um that answers the question: Why do sharks have to keep moving to stay alive?

Robotics is a huge industry, but in this episode we focus on the smallest part: tiny robots!

It’s the showdown of showdowns: kids vs. adults. Who has more energy and why?

Why do certain colors mean different things? We’re looking at green, red and yellow in today’s episode.