How do hurricanes form? This episode dives into the eye of the hurricane to track down that answer and so much more. We also talk to hurricane hunter Major Joyce Hirai, who flies airplanes into hurricanes as part of the Air Force’s Weather Reconnaissance team. Also, we learn how humans have figured out how to be resilient in the face of increasing hurricanes (and hear from our friend Manuel the Mangrove). And get your dancing shoes on, because we’ve got a catchy tune that explains how hurricanes are named. All that plus a new Mystery Sound to tickle your ears.

Don’t forget to record your favorite tongue twister for an upcoming episode. Upload it to our contact page by May 1, 2022 for a chance to be included in the episode.

Sponsors for this episode include:

Insect Lore (Insectlore.com)

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson)

Galileo Camps (Galileo-camps.com promo code: FUNSUMMER2022)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can people actually read minds? Can we move objects with our brains like in the movies? We're exploring the history of shady psychics, sketchy seances, and secret superpower studies. Plus, hear from a scientist who is helping people regain the ability to pick up and move objects through the combined power of their brains and a special computer!

You can support our show by donating, buying our book or telling your friends about us! Head to brainson.org

If you’re in Los Angeles or the Twin Cities and want to see us live, you can get tickets here: brainson.org/events

Today’s episode was sponsored by:

Indeed (indeed.com/BRAINSON) – to claim $75 dollar sponsored job credit before April 30th

Little Passports (littlepassports.com/BRAINS)

Insect Lore (insectlore.com)

Shopify (shopify.com/brainson)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re headed off to an owl sanctuary to meet up with Nolan the know-it-owl for a special night owl Tour. We hear the sound of owl wings and check out some super-tubular owl eye facts. Find out how owls can swivel their heads 270 degrees and why their ears are at uneven spots on their heads. We’ll meet a poetry-loving barn owl named Olive, who fills us in on why owls are considered wise. Fun fact: owls are sometimes classified by their sounds -- bigger owls are hooters and smaller owls are tooters!

Special Thanks to the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for the owl sounds used in this episode:

Jian Diego Fernández / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML420855751)
Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML97928071)
Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML188805)
Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML100707)
Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML140258)
Thomas G. Sander / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML125346)
William R. Fish / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML22874)

This episode was sponsored by:

Insect Lore (Insectlore.com)

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forget those fancy awards shows. This episode of Brains On is exploding with the stars. Find out how each of us is related to these beautifully bright beacons. Plus, we’ll consider what happens when gravity weighs down on a star over millions, and even billions, of years. We’ll also meet a star detective, who was able to witness an exploding star (aka supernova). All that and a stellar, new Mystery Sound to tickle your ears. Now, let’s blast off!!!

This episode was sponsored by:

Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON)

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/brainson Promo code: SAVE10)

Staples (Staplesconnect.com/printbig)

Insect Lore (Insectlore.com)

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is a real stinker, but it had to happen. We go behind the scenes on what makes butts and poop so funny. Why does the mere mention of them make us laugh?

We all have butts and we all poop. Those are the facts. But human butts are different than almost any other animal. We look into the evolution of butts, and find out how our senses of humor develop when we're kids. And we hear from comic Tim Platt on why he thinks butts and poop will always be funny. Plus, we’ll check in with Channel 2’s Bowel Action News team for some fast feces facts. Don’t forget to tune up your ears with the Mystery Sound.

One more thing… who farted?

This episode is sponsored by:

Indeed (Indeed.com/ BRAINSON)

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/brainson promo code: SAVE10)

Staples (Staplesconnect.com/printbig)

Little Passports (Littlepassports.com/BRAINS)

Novo business banking (novo.co/brains)

Insect Lore (insectlore.com)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The immune system is so cool and so important but it largely goes about its business without us knowing it. In this episode you'll get a front row seat as our immune cells (aka friendly monsters) fight off bacteria and viruses (aka bad robots). We'll also find out how vaccines provide important training for our immune cells. Plus, co-host Colin quizzes Molly on immune system facts and there's a brand new mystery sound!

This episode was brought to you by

Indeed (indeed.com/BRAINSON)

Interlochen Center for the Arts (interlochen.org/brainson Code: SAVE10)

Staples Connect (staplesconnect.com/printbig)

Little Passports (littlepassports.com/BRAINS)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s up with worms? How do they sleep? Why are they slimy? How do they move? Here at Brains On, the only way to find out is to embark on an EPIC QUEST!

Join co-host Ezra and the worm adventurer extraordinaire Sir Wormus on a journey to find the Golden Worm, a magical artifact! On the way, they’ll learn all about the noble earthworm from the Tome of Worms, a magic book containing all the knowledge of worm expert Emma Sherlock from the Natural History Museum in London!

Will our heroes find the Golden Worm? Will they select a squirrel’s perfect snack? Will they solve the riddle of the Mystery Sound? There’s only one way to find out. Come on, friends, it’s time to go a-questing!

You can support our show by donating (brainson.org/donate), buying our books (brainson.org/books), or telling your friends about the show!

This episode was sponsored by:

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/BrainsOn Code: Save10)
Staples (Staples.com/printbig)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ExPLORERR was built to go everywhere. That’s why this vehicle’s full name is: the Extremely Practical Land and Ocean Rover Exploring Remote Realms. And guess what? It has a recording studio built on-board! Good thing, because this episode was recorded while traveling up, up, up a mountain!

We discover some wildlife that lives at great heights as well as a rhyming ice cream salesman. Our pal and atmospheric scientist, Dr. Deanna Hence checks in to answer a popular question: if hot air rises, why is it so cold in the mountains? BRRRR! We also hear from NASA’s Dr. Dalia Kirschbaum, who has mountains of information about how mountains form.

Of course, there’s a fun Mystery Sound for you’re ears to explore! And lastly, but not leastly, our two new books came out today. Head to our books page to find out more about Road Trip Earth and Earth Friend Forever.

This episode was sponsored by:

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/BrainsOn)

Staples (Staples.com)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many different types of snow. From the fluffy to the slushy, this slippery frozen stuff comes in all different shapes and sizes. 

From a distance, snowflakes may all look the same, but they are not. In fact, there are lots of different shapes of snowflakes — not just those classic shapes you might try to replicate with paper cut-outs.

In this episode, Dr. Ken Libbrecht answers all of our snowflake questions: How are snowflakes made? Why are they different shapes? How is it that they’re all unique? And how does a scientist who lives in southern California study snow? And, he also lets us in on his brush with a couple Arendelle princesses.

Plus our pal Ruby Guthrie pays her local ski slope to visit a snow-making machine called “Kevin.” And of course, there’s a new Mystery Sound to warm your ears.

If you’re looking for some fun snowflake activities to do at home, Ken’s provided this great list — and you don’t need to live in a cold climate for all of them: http://www.snowcrystals.com/activities/activities.html

This episode was sponsored by:

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson)

Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON)

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/brainson)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It might sound impossible, but you can walk around the world! Rosie Swale-Pope has done it, and we get a chance to hear about her adventures in this episode. She tells us how she survives, and remains upbeat, on the road. Guess how many shoes she went through on her trip? Listen and find out.

We also hear from D’Wayne Edwards, who helped design some of the most iconic shoes ever (Air Jordan anyone?). And see if you can guess the Mystery Sound. It’s a doozy! Plus, Molly, Marc and Sanden begin their own journey as they travel through the planet for their new book Road Trip Earth!

Pre-order the Brains On books at brainson.org/books

This episode was sponsored by:

Mathnasium (mathnasium.com)

Truebill (Truebill.com/BRAINSON)

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen.org/BrainsOn)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.