Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Pearls are shiny little things that look great on a bracelet or necklace. They’re made by shell-dwelling creatures called oysters, but how? Dive in as Molly and co-host Katherine explore the underwater world of oysters and other mollusks. They’ll talk with researcher Priya Shukla and producer Menaka Wilhelm to learn how these squishy creatures make pretty pearls. Plus, a game show and a Mystery Sound!

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Click here for a transcript of this episode.

In this episode, we're tackling all the mosquito questions that have been bugging our listeners. Why do they bite? Why do the bites itch? Is scratching them a good idea? Why do some people seem to be more delicious to mosquitoes? How can we keep them away from us? And are mosquitoes good for the world? The Hoax Hunters also make another hoax-tastic appearance.

*Note: if you had a problem with jumbled voices talking over each other, that has been fixed. Just re-download the file or refresh the feed. Appologies - I was trying to shoo away a mosquito.

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Want to see Brains On live?!? We are probably coming to a city near you. For a complete list of shows and links to tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠head to our events page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Fall 2026 show announcement coming soon!

We use lightbulbs everyday, but how often do we stop to think about how they work? These genius little inventions are packed with cool science. Molly and co-host Maya will explain how they work step by step. Plus we’ll hear your suggestions for what to shout when you have a bright idea. Oh, and a new Mystery Sound to light up your life. Enjoy!

Want to support the show? Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Smarty Pass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

Want to see Brains On live?!? We are probably coming to a city near you. For a complete list of shows and links to tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠head to our events page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Fall 2026 show announcement coming soon!

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

This episode shines a light on crystals, and they’re sparkling right back at us! We’ll zoom way in on a diamond to understand the structure that makes crystals special, and hear about some unexpected crystals, too (hint: chocolate chip cookies contain a few different crystals!). Then, we take a look at how crystals form and get their cool colors. Plus, Marc and Sanden hunt down a hoax about Mesoamerican crystal skulls.

Want to support the show? Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Smarty Pass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

Want to see Brains On live?!? We are probably coming to a city near you. For a complete list of shows and links to tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠head to our events page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Fall 2026 show announcement coming soon!

June 20 - Southern Theater, Columbus, OH

June 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI

We will be back next week with a new episode! This week we have an episode from our sister show Smash Boom Best: Slime vs Slinkies!Set out these two playthings on a table and see which one your kid grabs first. Is it the gooey, squishy, surprising slime? Or the springy, wiggly, wonderous slinky? Both are fun, one will triumph! Smooshing the competition for Team Slime, it’s RadioLab host Latif Nasser. And stretching toward victory for Team Slinky, it’s podcast producer Hans Buetow. Listen to see which terrific toy takes the top prize. And don’t forget to vote for your favorite at smashboom.org.

Click here to read a transcript of this episode.

Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!