The ocean is huge and full of wonders, so it's no surprise our listeners have lots of question about it. In this episode we'll travel to the bottom of the ocean to find out what the ocean floor is made of, and learn how geologist Marie Tharp helped us understand how amazing it is. We'll also delve into why the ocean is salty but lakes and rivers aren't, and sing along with the Salty Sea Shanty. Plus a brand new mystery sound!

This episode was sponsored by:

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson - for a free 14-day trial and full access to Shopify's entire suite of features)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've probably seen photos from your first birthday. Or maybe you heard about the time you got spaghetti sauce all over the walls when you were two. The grown ups around you remember these things, so why can't you? In this episode, we'll find out how our brains store memories and why we can't hang on to those early ones. Plus: a brand new mystery sound and a preview of everyone's favorite soap opera, The Young and the Toothless.

This episode was sponsored by:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re thrilled to share an episode from our pals at Million Bazillion. Take a peek at the fascinating world of online video makers and the role money plays.

A listener wants to know how the creators of his favorite online videos get paid. It’s a surprisingly complicated question, and Ryan and Bridget have to go viral themselves to find out the answer. Accompanied by their new dog and a bunch of influencers, we’ll learn all about the wild economics of online videos. Put on your tap-dancing shoes, we’re making content!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raise a curtain. Cue the lights. It’s the most most-tacular night. It’s The Mosties! The Brains Brains On favorites, Bob, Gungador, Elevator and HARVEY have all made it out to celebrate superlatives.

The Mosties is an awards show of the extreme. Tonight’s categories include: Biggest Plant, Fastest Organism, Strongest Glue, Oldest Animal and Oldest Music. And don’t forget to stick around for a Mystery Mostie (aka Mystery Sound). And the winner is… ???

This is our last episode of this season but we’ll be back in August with more new episodes. Until then, Forever Ago is coming back June 1st and Smash Boom Best will be back July 7th. Remember, you can listen to Moment of Um every weekday too! Plus, the Brains On books are always around to keep you company -- you can buy them at brainson.org/books

This episode was sponsored by:

Outschool (Outschool.com/brains for $15 off your child’s first class)

Insect Lore (Insectlore.com)

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson for a 14 day free trial)

Galileo Camps (Galileo-camps.com promo code: FUNSUMMER2022 for $100 off camp)

Pinna (Pinna.fm/brainson promo code: BRAINSON for 50% off your first payment of full access)

Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are so excited to share that our podcast, Forever Ago, is returning for a brand new season!

If you didn’t get a chance to hear the first season, Forever Ago is a history show for the whole family hosted by Joy Dolo - where 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 umbrellas.

We think you’ll really like it and we have the trailer of the new season for you to check out! Make sure to subscribe to Forever Ago wherever you get your podcasts and listen to all the episodes from season 1 to get ready. New episodes come out on June 1st! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You dream every night, even if you don't remember them. But why? We'll hop on a wild ride to go inside the brain and see which parts help create these often fantastical images and storylines. We'll also learn how to take control of our dreams and how they make us more creative. Plus: a new mystery sound and a Moment of Um answers the question "How do octopuses make ink?"

Today’s episode is sponsored by

You can support the show at brainson.org/donate, check out our merch at brainson.org/shop or buy our books at brainson.org/books. You can also join our free fan club at brainson.org/fanclub

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it so hard to say sentences like: she sells sea shells at the sea shore? This episode cracks the code of tongue twisters. Check out the role mouth shapes and vocal folds play in tongue twisters. Stefanie Shattuck-Hufnagel will share her research into tongue twisters and how she came up with some of the hardest sentences for people to say. We also have a report on “the late eight,” a group of sounds that can be tough to say — and quite confounding when combined.

Also, be sure to check out our listener-submitted tongue twisters — some you may have heard before, others are brand new to the world! Stick around for a stumper of a Mystery Sound too!

This episode was sponsored by:

Insect Lore (insectlore.com)

Shopify (shopify.com/brainson for a free 14 day trial)

Galileo Camps (galileo-camps.com promo code: FUNSUMMER2022 for $100 off camp)

Pinna (pinna.fm/brainson promo code: BRAINSON for 50% off your first full-access payment)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caterpillars go through a striking transformation from a crawly, tube-like creature into a soaring, beautifully-winged butterfly. This process is called metamorphosis and it’s no wonder our listeners have lots of questions about it. We’ll find out exactly how a caterpillar transforms (spoiler alert: it doesn’t just grow a pair of wings), and we’ll go on a house-hunting journey with two caterpillars searching for their pupation stations. Plus, a pretty tricky mystery sound for you to guess!

This episode was sponsored by:

Insect Lore (insectlore.com)
Shopify (shopify.com/brainson for a 14 day trial)
Galileo Camps (Galileo-camps.com - promo code: FUNSUMMER2022 for $100 off camp)
Pinna (Pinna.fm/BrainsOn - promo code: BRAINSON for 50% off your first payment when you sign up for Pinna full access)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can find micro-animals just about everywhere. They’re on your face and in your hair. They’re in puddles and in soil. One of the most famous of these microscopic creatures is the tardigrade.

This episode zooms in on these adorable little animals, also known as moss piglets and water bears. The biggest tardigrade is about the size of the tip of a sharpened pencil, but most are smaller. More like the width of a hair. They’re kinda like a squishy pillow with eight legs, four on each side, with finger-like little claws at the end of each leg. And a round, snout-like opening on its face.

Jasmine Nirody tells us what she’s learned about these cuties through her research. She’s watched hundreds of hours of tardigrade videos. Way better than YouTube, right? We’ll also hear about where you can find tardigrades, how they live and why we’ve sent them to space.

Don’t forget to check out the brand new Mystery Sound too. If you’re near Los Angeles or St. Paul, you still have time to check out Brains On Live: Your Brain Is Magic. Molly, Marc and Sanden will wow you with magic, jokes and dancing. Ticket info is at brainson.org/events.

This episode was sponsored by:

Indeed (Indeed.com/BRAINSON)

Novo (Novo.co/BRAINS)

Insect Lore (Insectlore.com)

Shopify (Shopify.com/brainson)

Galileo Camps (Galileo-camps.com – promo code: FUNSUMMER2022 for $100 off camp)

Little Passports (Littlepassports.com/BRAINS – 20% off for new customers)

Pinna (Pinna.fm/BRAINSON - promo code BRAINSON)

Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.