 is an award-winning science podcast hosted by Molly Bloom and a rotating cast of kids. Every episode answers questions from listeners like “Why do feet stink?” “What did dinosaurs sound like?” and “What is ADHD?”

A big update about the Brains On Universe

We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. 

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 https://www.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 mailing list. Will there be six more bathrooms, 10 more water slides and, we're finally going to fix the doorbell! Go to https://www.brainson.org/newsletter to find out when and where you get to hear new episodes. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Hi, friends. Molly Bloom here, host of Brains On and Smash Boom Best. Both shows are part of the Brains On Universe, along with Forever Ago and Moment of Um. Well, I have some news to share about our shows. We're taking a little break from making new episodes. I know, I know-- not cool. But this isn't goodbye. In fact, it's very exciting because we're looking for a new home. 

Right now, we're busy packing up everything at Brains On headquarters. Have you ever tried to find a box big enough for a taco farm? 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Hey, Molly. I need your help. Have you seen my life-sized cotton candy sculpture of Penelope Poodle. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh. Hey, Sanden. I think I saw Marc eating some cotton candy. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: What? Marc! Wait! 

MOLLY BLOOM: Our new headquarters will be bigger and better-- 6 more bathrooms, 10 more water slides, a working doorbell. 

[OLD DOORBELL RINGS] 

Ugh, that thing drives me batty. Oh. Hey, Joy Dolo from Forever Ago. 

JOY DOLO: Hey, Molly. Hermie the elephant and I are here to pack too. 

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETS] 

Yes, I know, Hermie. You're an elephant, and you always have your trunk with you, but I need your help to pack up the rest of my closet into my trunk. 

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETS] 

OK, our closet. Come on. 

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETS] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Even though we're in transition, Brains On will still be performing live in Dallas on September 13. And Smash Boom Best is bringing live debate action to Princeton, New Jersey on October 26. For tickets, go to brainson.org/events. I'll be there, and I would love to high-five all of you in person. Now I got to tape up this box. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Molly! Do you have room for one more thing in that box? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Hey, Marc. Sure. What is it? 

MARC SANCHEZ: Well, I may have accidentally eaten half of a dog-shaped cotton candy sculpture, and I kind of want to hide the evidence. [GIGGLES] Thanks. OK. I'm off to pack up my inventions in the [? lab or ?] kitchen. Ooh, can't forget Molly's thunder pants. A Velcro balloon? Yes. The lukewarminator. Got to have the zoom ray. 

MOLLY BLOOM: So yeah, we've got a lot going on. To get our forwarding address, sign up for our newsletter. Go to brainson.org/newsletter. You'll be the first to know about our new home. That's brainson.org/newsletter. We cannot wait to have you over for a visit. Until then, we love you very, very much. 

BRAINS ON TEAM: See you soon. See you. See long. Peace out. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Bye for now, friends. 

SINGER: Ba ba, ba ba, ba ba, ba ba ba, ba, Brains On. 

The life of a NASA astronaut

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


How do weather stations predict the weather?

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.

Brains On Podcast

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

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

Every episode looks into the surprising and fascinating history of things we think are ordinary, but they’re not -- like ice cream flavors, video games, baths and more. We make learning about the past fun while teaching listeners to think critically about history.


Forever Ago

Other APM Podcasts

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Do spiders have bones? Why do we jump when we’re scared? The Moment of Um podcast offers bite-sized answers to big questions like these. Listen now!


Listen to the Moment of Um podcast!

We’re working on developing more resources to help you use our podcasts with your students. Sign up for our educator newsletter and stay tuned for lesson plans, episode breakdowns, and more.  



Sign up for our educator newsletter!

Introducing Smarty Pass: Your ticket to the Brains On! Universe

Become a Smarty Pass subscriber today to access bonus episodes and ad-free episodes of Brains On!, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago -- all right here in your favorite podcast player.


Become a Smarty Pass subscriber today to access bonus episodes and ad-free episodes of Brains On!, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago -- all right here in your favorite podcast player. Visit smartypass.org/brainson to get your Smarty Pass! It's $4/month or $36/year (a three-month discount!) Don't worry: This feed will stay free and available as it always has. Thank you so much for your support!

MOLLY BLOOM: Hi, there. Molly here. I'm coming to you with some very exciting news. Starting now, we're offering a new way to engage with Brains On! and get some fun extra perks. It's called Smarty Pass, and it's your ticket to ad free episodes of Brains On!, Forever Ago, Smash Boom Best, and Moment Of Um. 

Plus, a bonus episode of one of our shows every month, and you get to listen to it all right here in your favorite podcast listening app, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Pretty cool, right? 

If you don't subscribe to Smarty Pass, your original free feeds will still be going just as they are now. But if you do choose to subscribe, you'll get an ad free feed for each of our shows and some awesome bonus episodes on top of it. What you're about to hear is a little taste of our first bonus episode for Smarty Pass holders, and it's a creep-tacular story. 

Subscribe now to get your smarty pass at smartypass.org/brainson. That's smartypants.org/brainson. It's just $4 a month or $36 for a whole year. That is three months for free-- an excellent deal Thank you so much for helping us make this show, and now check out this sneak peek. 

SPEAKER: Now entering Brains On! headquarters. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Oh my gosh, hi. Welcome to Brains On! headquarters. We're so glad you're here today. That Smarty Pass you're holding gets you access to all sorts of behind the scenes goodies, including visits to headquarters. Ruby said she had a story she wanted to share with you. I think she's waiting for us in the lab or kitchen. 

It's just a short walk and an elevator ride away. Follow me. So this is where we make Brains On!, Smash, Boom, Best, Forever Ago, Moment of Um. We're cooking up some new stuff, too. We can't wait to tell you all about it. Oh, here comes Gungador. Hey, Gungador. Oh, he has his headphones in. Gungador! 

GUNGADOR: Huh? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Hi! Just taking our friend here to go meet Ruby. 

GUNGADOR: Gungador just came from dance class with Ruby. Gungador show Ruby how to do split kick, side slinky and backwards leapfrog. Gungador exhausted and sweaty. 

MOLLY BLOOM: You sure are. See you later. OK. Through there is the taco farm if you're hungry later, and behind that door is the Tree Hall of Fame. Oh, and that's our saber tooth fact checker. He's awesome. A real stickler for bibliographies, though. Oh, and here is Elevator. 

ELEVATOR: You called? 

MOLLY BLOOM: To the laborkitchen, please, Elevator. 

ELEVATOR: Laborkitchen, coming up. You're new here, so here is a joke I wrote especially for you. What do you call a broken escalator? Stairs. Get it? Tough crowd. Anyway, here's the laborkitchen. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Thanks, Elevator. And here's our pal Ruby Guthrie 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Hi, Molly. And ooh, look at you with that shiny new Smarty Pass. Welcome. 

MOLLY BLOOM: I hear you have a story for us. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Indeed, I do. It's spooky season around here with Halloween right around the corner, so I thought I would tell you about the teenage girl who invented the genre of science fiction. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Ooh, I can't wait. For the rest of the story, head to smartypass.org/brainson to subscribe now. Whether you choose to subscribe or keep listening in our free feeds, we really, really, really appreciate you listening to our shows and being a part of the Brains On universe. Thank you so much for your support. If you're interested in subscribing, again, it's smartypass.org/brainson. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 



Did you know we have books? FOUR to be exact! Check out ‘Road Trip Earth’, ‘Earth Friend Forever’, ‘Meet My Micro-Pets’ and ‘It’s Alive’




Check out these Brains On Books

Brains On is back with a picture book about our planetary best friend: Earth! When Earth has a problem it turns to its pals, the humans, for help. This beautifully illustrated story is packed with smarts and humor. Pre-order today!


Pre-order Earth Friend Forever!

As Dominique takes her classmates on a tour through her microbiome, they'll meet some face mites, hang with feet fungi, and visit the fart factory—powered by bacteria in her intestines!


Updates