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Dino Edition: How do we know what dinosaurs looked like?

With new fossils and new technology, our understanding of what dinosaurs looked like is evolving. This episode tracks those changes to show a more complete dino picture.


20 years ago, we pictured dinosaurs as green, scaly animals. But times have changed! Now, we know some dinosaurs had feathers. And who knows — maybe some even had stripes.
This episode looks at how we figure out what color dinosaurs might’ve been. We talk to Jingmai O’Connor, who studies fossil reptiles, about finding color pigment in fossils. And paleoartist Emily Willoughby talks to a “museum” about how her dino-depictions have changed over the years. 
Our co-host, Elyana, also brought us this important question: If dinosaurs evolved from birds and birds don’t fart, did dinosaurs fart? Wha-wha-what!?! Look no further than this episode for an extensive investigation.
Remember to keep your ears open for the brand new Mystery Sound. And break out your kilns, because today’s Moment of Um answers this question: How do you make clay for pottery?
There’s so much dino-tastic information that we decided to make a second dinosaur episode. So if you haven’t had enough (and who has?), make sure to check out next week’s show about what dinosaurs might have sounded like.

What's in the COVID vaccine?

There’s a lot of talk about the COVID vaccines, but what are they actually made of. Let’s take a peek!


In this episode, we're using our zoom ray to zoom way in and answer your questions about the COVID vaccine. What's in the COVID vaccine? How does it work? And how do they make it? We'll also look at how our fight against the new coronavirus has had a huge impact on another virus: influenza. And, we'll head to a stadium to learn what 95% effective means for a vaccine. (Warning: There are seagulls overhead!)

Plus, we'll have a brand new mystery sound and a Moment of Um that answers the question: what do scientists eat in Antarctica?

What's behind the waves and tides?

Brains On: Waves, wind, tides and moon

How does the moon control the tides? Where do waves come from? And what’s it like to live in a tide pool?


This is an encore of an episode that was originally published Aug. 30, 2016.

Sir Isaac Newton drops by and drops knowledge. He helps explain why the tides ebb and flow. Then, an oceanographer/surfer tells us where waves come from and how they get there shape - cowabunga! Plus we hear about what it's like for marine life that move to a new neighborhood once or twice a day. Sometimes it's underwater, sometimes it's not. Don't forget to hang ten with this episode's Mystery Sound.
 
Now is the time to vote for debate topics. Check out BrainsOn.org to choose a topic for Sanden and Marc to debate this fall. Everyone wins!

Brains On Podcast

Julie and her daughter, children’s author and educator Emma Walton Hamilton, invite you into their library to read their favorite children's books. Every story comes to life with sound, music and activities. Authors, kids and other special guests chime in, too! 


Julie's Library

Smash Boom Best is a debate show for kids and families from the makers of the award-winning podcast, Brains On! Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best.


Smash Boom Best

A history show for the whole family! Every episode explores the origin of just one thing — like sandwiches, video games, clocks and more — while teaching listeners to think critically about history.


Forever Ago

Other APM Podcasts

Listen to all the episodes in our series on the coronavirus, get resources and more.


Coronavirus Episodes and Resources

Earlier this year, Brains On teamed up with the Science Museum of Minnesota, with funding from the National Science Foundation, to launch a study on how shows like ours can provide families with science-based information to help ease children’s worries during a pandemic.


Scrapbook to remember what it's like right now

Brains On Coronavirus Research!

Brains On teamed up with the Science Museum of Minnesota, with funding from the National Science Foundation, to launch a groundbreaking study looking at how families use podcasts.


PHASE 1: Analysis of Secondary Data (Click Here)

PHASE 2: Listener Survey (Click Here)

PHASE 3: Family Interviews (Click Here)

Brains On Research!

Brains On is an award-winning science podcast for kids from American Public Media.  Each week, joined by a different kid co-host, we ask fascinating questions about science and go wherever the answers take us.  Sometimes this means hearing skits about sound waves, songs about slime or interviews with astronauts.


Resources