Moment of Um

By American Public Media

What's Moment of Um about?

Moment of Um is your daily answer to those questions that pop up out of nowhere and make you go… ummmmmmm. Brought to you by your friends at Brains On at APM Studios.

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Moment of Um episodes:

05.03.2024
How do you become a NASA astronaut?
Astronauts have such cool jobs! They get to blast off in rockets, experience micro-gravity, and see Earth from a whole new perspective. But how does someone become a NASA astronaut? We asked spacesuit designer Pablo de Leon to help us...
05.02.2024
How do shells get their shape?
Shells come in so many amazing shapes and sizes - spirals, sand dollars, sundials, ones that whirl around, ones that twirl around, ones that twist to the side and some that even look like cookies! Our listener Lily had a...
05.01.2024
Do snakes barf?
Throwing up isn’t fun, but it happens to everyone. Sometimes we vomit if we’re sick with a virus or an infection – and other times, it happens because we’re feeling dizzy or carsick. But do other animals barf too? Like...
04.30.2024
What happens when you pour salt on a snail?
You might have heard a rumor that snails have a big reaction when you pour salt on them. But curator Tim Pearce from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History wants you to know that it’s cruel to do so. And...
04.29.2024
What makes a good paper airplane?
If you fold a sheet of paper just right, you can create a paper airplane that zooms through the air! But how do you make sure that your plane zooms across a room instead of nose-diving into the couch cushions?...
04.26.2024
How do birds make their eggs?
Bird eggs come in all shapes and sizes, from speckled hummingbird eggs smaller than a jellybean to mango-sized emu eggs. But how do birds make them? We asked bird expert Paul Bartell to help us find the answer. Got a question...
04.25.2024
Do spiders have ears?
Have you ever screamed when you saw a spider in the house? First of all, don’t be scared, that spider isn’t looking for you. But second of all, did you wonder if the spider even heard you? Most of us...
04.24.2024
What would happen if it rained oobleck?
Oobleck is a mix of cornstarch and water that can act like a solid or a liquid. On its own, it’s gloopy and squishy, but if you squeeze it, it turns into a solid ball in your hand! So what...
04.23.2024
Do mice really like cheese?
We’ve all seen cartoon images of a mousetrap loaded with a big wedge of delicious cheese, but is that what mice actually like to eat? Maybe they like spaghetti, or tacos, or chocolate pudding. We asked veterinarian Kate Pritchett-Cornett what...
04.22.2024
How is wood made into paper?
Paper is made out of trees! But… how? Those tall, leafy, shade-giving beauties in your backyard don’t look anything like the piece of white paper coming out of your computer printer. We asked forest expert and educator Sanford Smith to...
04.19.2024
How far has any astronaut traveled?
About 60 miles above Earth is a line where our atmosphere ends and space begins. That boundary is called the Karman line. Of course, rockets that astronauts take go much farther than that. But just how far from earth have...
04.18.2024
Do fish have tongues?
Even though fish can be very small, it’s obvious that they have mouths. But what’s inside that mouth? Tiny teeth? A little tongue? A uvula hangy ball at the back of their throat? Tierney Thys, a marine biologist and National...
04.17.2024
Are birds related to bats?
At first glance, you might think bats and birds are close relatives. After all, they both flap their wings and fly! But are they actually close cousins or just coincidental copycats? We asked bird expert Amanda Bender to help us...
04.16.2024
Why do bats sleep upside down?
We already know that bats are amazing creatures. They are the only mammals that can fly. The bones in their wings resemble our fingers. They account for about one in five of all mammals living on the planet. And some...
04.15.2024
Where does cinnamon come from?
Cinnamon is used all over the world. It makes cookies, cakes, tea, and coffee taste and smell amazing, and it’s also used in lots of savory foods!But where does cinnamon come from…before it gets to the grocery store? We asked...
04.12.2024
What happens when big trucks roll over bacteria on roads?
Bacteria are everywhere. At the top of Mount Everest. At the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. There are millions on your hands and TRILLIONS in your gut! So what happens when a truck rolls over bacteria on the road? Do...
04.11.2024
Where does a candle go when it burns?
We know why candles melt - from being lit, of course! But where do candles go when they melt? Do they just disappear into thin air? We asked scientist Fabien Goulay from West Virginia University to help us understand. Got a...
04.10.2024
Why do bees buzz?
Have you ever watched a bee flitting from flower to flower? It zips through the air like a tiny plane, making a buzz-buzz-buzz sound. But why do bees buzz, anyway? We asked bee scientist Alina Niño to help us find...
04.09.2024
When your eyes are closed, are your pupils big or small?
Have you ever stared in the bathroom mirror and flicked the light on and off and watched what happens to your pupils? They get bigger, then smaller, then bigger, then smaller, right? One of our listeners was wondering what happens...
04.08.2024
How do cameras take photos and videos?
Say cheese! Cameras can take amazing photos and videos of just about anything. But have you ever wondered how they work? We asked mechanical engineer and science educator Tiffani Teachey to help us find the answer. Got a question that’s picture-perfect?...
04.05.2024
How and when did jokes start, and why?
Knock knock! Everybody loves a good joke, but how did they start? And why do we think they’re so funny? We asked Brains On producer and resident funny expert Anna Goldfield to give us the lowdown on jokes! Got a question...
04.04.2024
What happens when lightning strikes water?
It’s one thing to watch a storm roll in from the safety of your own home, but what if you’re out in the middle of the ocean and things start to head in a stormy direction? Jonathan Smith, a faculty...
04.03.2024
Why does bread change color and texture in the toaster?
Bread is the best. But you know what makes bread even better? Toasting it. That brown crunchy exterior with the springy chewy center can’t be beat. But how does a toaster transform bread into toast? We asked food scientist David...
04.02.2024
Do worms sleep?
Worms! Some of us love them - some of us are terrified of them! But have you ever wondered how they get their rest? Physicist Daniel Gonzales is the expert on all things worms and sleep and he’s here to...
04.01.2024
Which is older, the sun or the moon?
Human beings have told stories and made art about the sun and the moon for as long as we’ve existed! Both of them were in the sky long before humans evolved. But just how old are they? And is the...
03.22.2024
How can parrots mimic other sounds?
Parrots are one of the few animals in the world that can mimic human speech and other sounds. But how exactly do they do it? We asked bird expert Amanda Bender to help us find the answer. Got a question that’s...
03.21.2024
Can a moon have a moon?
One of the best things about looking up at the night sky is gazing at our big, beautiful moon. But why do we get to have all the fun? Can a moon have its own moon? Harvard graduate student Chantanelle...
03.20.2024
If ants like sweet things, why don't they attack beehives?
Ants, they’re just like us. They like picnics, hills, and sweet things! But if ants like sweets so much, do you think they ever attack beehives? We asked bee researcher Dr. Alina Nino to help us find the answer. Got a...
03.19.2024
What is tree bark made of?
If you’ve ever hugged a tree (and we hope you have!) you’ll know that the outside of a tree can be bumpy, prickly, and can even scrape your skin. That’s because trees are covered in tree armor – otherwise known...
03.18.2024
How do vacuum cleaners work?
Vacuums are like magic. You press a button and POOF – they can suck up all kinds of stuff: crumbs, cat fur, even coconut shrimp. But how do these handy dandy machines work? We asked mechanical engineer Tiffani Teachey to...
03.15.2024
Would a flashlight turn on at lightspeed?
What do a cheetah, a rocket ship, and champion sprinter Usain Bolt have in common? If you guessed they’re all way slower than your average beam of light, you’re correct! Nothing in our universe moves faster than light. But recently,...
03.14.2024
Why do we jump when we get scared?
If you’ve ever jumped right out of your seat when watching a scary movie, you know that sometimes your body has a reaction to being surprised or frightened. One of our listeners wanted to know why that happens, and we...
03.13.2024
How do microphones work?
Imagine this: you’re at a karaoke competition. You grab the microphone, belt out your favorite song, and the crowd goes wild! Everyone can hear your voice, thanks to your handy dandy microphone. But how exactly do these snazzy little machines...
03.12.2024
Why do our lips get chapped?
We’ve all suffered with chapped lips in the winter: itchy, flaking, sometimes even bleeding. Yikes! One of our listeners wanted to know how this happens, so we asked dermatologist Roxana Daneshjou to explain. Got a Moment of Um question for...
03.11.2024
Do eyeballs grow?
Eyeballs! They’re squishy orbs in our skulls, made of lots of different parts that work together to send visual information to our brain. But do they get bigger as we grow from babies to adults? We asked eye doctor Stacey...
03.08.2024
How do mushrooms grow if they don’t have seeds?
Have you ever gone outside after a rainy day and seen mushrooms growing in the grass or on tree trunks? How do they get there? We asked urban agriculture specialist Yolanda Gonzalez to help us find the answer. Got a question...
03.07.2024
Do fish have allergies?
Most of us have some experience with allergies: maybe it’s pollen or a pet that makes us sneeze, or maybe there are certain foods we can’t eat. But do other creatures have allergies too? Are fish sniffling and sneezing underwater?...
03.06.2024
How do skunks spray their stink?
Skunks are part of a family of animals called mustelids, along with weasels, badgers, and otters. All of these animals produce a unique, musky smell, but where stink is concerned, the skunk reigns supreme. They can spray a super-smelly liquid...
03.05.2024
If the earth had rings, could we see them?
We’ve all seen pictures of the planet Saturn, with its beautiful rings. But what if the Earth had rings? Could you look out your window and see them? We asked planetary scientist Linda Spilker to help us imagine what that...
03.04.2024
How do prescription glasses work?
Lots of people wear prescription glasses to help them see. An eye doctor helps to find the right prescription so that our eyeballs focus better on things that would otherwise look like a blurry mess. But how do glasses actually...
03.01.2024
What does earwax do for your ear?
Have you ever noticed the thin layer of sticky, oily stuff inside your ears? It’s called earwax! It’s definitely not the kind of wax you use to make candles or crayons, so what do our ears need it for? We...
02.29.2024
What are eyebrows for?
You might not think about your eyebrows much, but if they weren’t there, you’d definitely notice! So how did those patches of hair come to be above our eyes? Why can we wiggle them? What are they for? We asked...
02.28.2024
What do germs and bacteria eat?
There are billions of bacteria on Earth, and they’re everywhere. Bacteria are on every surface on the planet, and even live in the soil underground. Most bacteria are actually quite harmless to humans. They spend all of their time eating,...
02.27.2024
If hair is dead, how does it grow?
Do you know why it doesn’t hurt to get a haircut? Because the hair on your head is actually dead. But if it’s dead, how does it grow? Dermatologist Roxana Daneshjou explained it to us. Send your hairiest questions for Moment...
02.26.2024
Why do we need toes?
Toes! They’re short and chunky, sometimes smell funky… but without them, we’d be toe-tally out of luck! We asked evolutionary anthropologist Darcy Shapiro to walk us through why we have toes, and what they help us do! Got a question tickling...
02.23.2024
Where do carrot seeds come from?
Carrots are a delicious, crunchy snack. But unlike other vegetables, carrots don’t have seeds inside. So how do farmers grow them? We asked plant scientist Jeff Mitchell to help us get to the root of the matter. Got a question that...
02.22.2024
Why is air invisible?
Air – we can’t breathe without it, we can’t live without it, we know it’s made up of molecules, so why is it invisible? Chemist Vicky van der Geer-Bock will help us answer this question. If there’s a question whose answer...
02.21.2024
Do cockroaches have hearts?
Our hearts are strong muscles that pump blood all through our bodies. But do hearts look the same in different animals? What about a tiger, or a lizard, or…a cockroach? Do cockroaches even have hearts? ? We asked urban bug...
02.20.2024
How do shoelaces come untied?
Have you ever been walking around when you notice that your shoelaces have come untied, even though you just tied them? What’s up with that? We asked engineer Christine Gregg to help us understand. Send us your questions for Moment of...
02.19.2024
Why are some people lactose intolerant?
Say cheese! But if you’re lactose intolerant maybe don’t eat it? Cuz any kind of milk based food will probably give you a tummy-ache! But why? We asked pediatrician Dr. Anjuli Gans why some people are lactose intolerant… and she...

What's Moment of Um about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Moment of Um episodes:

How do you become a NASA astronaut?

How do shells get their shape?

Do snakes barf?

What happens when you pour salt on a snail?

What makes a good paper airplane?

How do birds make their eggs?

Do spiders have ears?

What would happen if it rained oobleck?

Do mice really like cheese?

How is wood made into paper?

How far has any astronaut traveled?

Do fish have tongues?

Are birds related to bats?

Why do bats sleep upside down?

Where does cinnamon come from?

What happens when big trucks roll over bacteria on roads?

Where does a candle go when it burns?

Why do bees buzz?

When your eyes are closed, are your pupils big or small?

How do cameras take photos and videos?

How and when did jokes start, and why?

What happens when lightning strikes water?

Why does bread change color and texture in the toaster?

Do worms sleep?

Which is older, the sun or the moon?

How can parrots mimic other sounds?

Can a moon have a moon?

If ants like sweet things, why don't they attack beehives?

What is tree bark made of?

How do vacuum cleaners work?

Would a flashlight turn on at lightspeed?

Why do we jump when we get scared?

How do microphones work?

Why do our lips get chapped?

Do eyeballs grow?

How do mushrooms grow if they don’t have seeds?

Do fish have allergies?

How do skunks spray their stink?

If the earth had rings, could we see them?

How do prescription glasses work?

What does earwax do for your ear?

What are eyebrows for?

What do germs and bacteria eat?

If hair is dead, how does it grow?

Why do we need toes?

Where do carrot seeds come from?

Why is air invisible?

Do cockroaches have hearts?

How do shoelaces come untied?

Why are some people lactose intolerant?