The full moon is bright, beautiful, and reappears in the sky like clockwork. Many cultures use the full moon to mark the passing of time and organize calendars around the moon’s cycle. So why does the full moon also have a reputation for causing mischief and mayhem? In this episode, we’ll learn where some of these beliefs come from and investigate whether the full moon actually does affect humans and our behavior. We’ll also hear about folklore tied to the full moon and examine how the moon’s phases work. All that plus a brand new mystery sound!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - For a $100 sponsored job credit Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

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We listen to music with our ears – and that amazing electric meatball between our ears: our brain! But why do our brains find some music scary?

We’re born with some fears baked into our brains, because our ancestors thought they were scary too! That’s why sudden loud noises startle us sometimes. But there’s another reason certain sounds freak us out – we’ve been taught to find them scary.

We’ll hear how composer Heather McIntosh uses these fears to write scary film scores, and we’ll explore some of the ways scary sounds make their way into music with pianist and musical magician, Jae Kyo Han. Plus an extra mysterious mystery sound!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com - Contact Mathnasium for a free in-center or online consultation)
• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - For a $100 sponsored job credit Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - For a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - Save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - Get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode was sponsored by:

• Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com - contact Mathnasium for a free in-center or online consultation)
• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - For a $100 sponsored job credit Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode is all about one of the most dynamite dinosaurs, the Brontosaurus! This long-necked icon has been featured in books, cartoons, movies, and even logos. But did the Brontosaurus really exist in the first place? We’ll dig into that question and uncover the history of Brontosaurus with science writer and bronto-enthusiast Riley Black. We’ll also learn about taxonomy from a ghost and catch up with Mr. Bone Jangles. Plus, a new mystery sound to discover!

Don’t forget to check out Forever Ago, where we have a companion episode to this Brontosaurus tale. It’s called The Bone Wars: A dino-discovery duel, and it’s all about two competing paleontologists, who get a little carried away.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com - contact Mathnasium for a free in-center or online consultation)
• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINS - For a $100 sponsored job credit Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we check out three different zoos after visitors leave and the gates are locked. We’ll hear about some adventurous penguins, learn how chimps tuck themselves in and find out why it’s important to smell a gorilla first thing in the morning. Oh, and did you know sometimes zoo animals need a ride from the airport? All this and a brand new mystery sound!

This episode is sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picture this: a pickle with a cowboy hat. It has cute little arms and legs -- let’s make them orange. And this pickle is riding a horse on the beach as the sun sets. #PickleLife, am I right? Now think about this: you just imagined that whole scene in your head!

Imagination can engage every one of our senses. It sprouts from the things we’ve experienced in life, then collages itself into new thoughts… like a pickle on a horse. This episode goes into the far reaches of the brain and examines how imagination works and what role it plays in our lives. If you want a fun game to play with friends, try an Imagine Off. That’s when you take turns trying to come up with something that nobody else can imagine. We’ll also meet some of our listeners’ imaginary friends and learn why some people have these companions. U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón also stops by and tells us how she puts her imagination to use. Plus, there’s a brand new Mystery Sound to guess.

We always love hearing from you. Keep sending in your questions, drawings and Mystery Sounds. We’re currently looking for your best jingle about space. If you have an out-of-this-world tune about space, record it and send it to us at www.brainson.org/contact.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're looking at why there are so many different ways to pronounce the same words and where our accents come from. How did British and American accents become different? Why do some kids have different accents than their parents? We're going to answer these questions and find out how our accents tell the stories of our communities and our ancestors. Plus: A brand new mystery sound!

This episode is sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)
• Love Ur Self (LUSBrands.com - use promo code BRAINS to get 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever noticed that different people have different scents? Go on, sniff your friend, we’ll wait. Today’s episode dives nose-first into what makes up our personal scents. With the help of Candace, a one-of-a-kind candle maker interested in making podcast-scented candles, we get the lowdown on body odor. We’ll also hear about super-sniffing animals and some other creatures that thrive on stink. And there’s a new Mystery Sound -- this one is definitely not a stinker!

This episode is sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)
• Love Ur Self (LUSBrands.com - use promo code BRAINS to get 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more of their products for curly hair)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glass is a magic thing that is both solid as a wall and clear as the air. It starts out as sand and with tons of heat, and a few key ingredients, it becomes the super useful material we know and love. In this episode we look at how glass is made, why it's clear and how nature  makes glass too. Plus, hear about Sanden's latest invention and guess the all new Mystery Sound.

This episode is sponsored by

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. Cost per application pricing not available for everyone.)
• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Outschool (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - Get 20% off your first purchase.)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode has something for everyBODY. It's the Body Bonanza where we answer a ton of your questions about our human bodies! This time around, we’ll hear from some of our favorite body parts: the heart beats, the stomach rumbles, the appendix writes a poem. The ear brings us a new Mystery Sound, a foot gives us the lowdown on how it falls asleep, the tongue sings a song… and there’s even an appearance from the “anti-mouth.” Wow!

This episode was sponsored by:

• Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON - to receive a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job posting)

• Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)
• Shopify (Outschool.com/brains - save $15 on your child's first class)
• Bombas (Bombas.com/brainson - get 20% off your first purchase)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.