Moment Of Um

How does wifi work?

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wifi seems like magic! It lets us send information from routers to computers through the air!. But how does it work? Are there magical computer data t...

How do crabs breathe?

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know there are thousands of different species of crabs on Earth? Most of them live in water, but there are plenty of species that can live out...

Why do different flowers have different smells?

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For the most part, flowers smell really great, right? They give off scents that are sweet, syrupy, perfumy and fresh. But they don’t all smell the s...

Why is the sun so hot?

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our sun is a big fiery ball of gas. It is very bright and very hot. So hot that we can’t even send spacecraft there without them burning up! But how...

Is a whale shark bigger than a whale?

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whale sharks are big. They’re the biggest fish in the whole ocean! Have you ever wondered how they got so big? We asked shark expert Amani Webber-Sc...

Do wolves get the zoomies?

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever seen a dog get the zoomies? That big burst of energy makes them skitter around like furry lightning bolts! But how about wolves? Do they...

How old is the oldest tree?

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered how trees keep track of time? They don’t wear wristwatches, so…do they have a tree calendar? Or count their rings like candles on a ...

How do you tell real from counterfeit money?

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The paper money that we use in the United States is printed by the Department of the Treasury. But if money is printed…well, then why couldn’t som...

Do dogs and cats have butt cheeks?

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Human butts are divided into two cheeks that come in all shapes and sizes. Plus, they help us stand upright and move around! But what about dogs and c...

Why does chamomile tea make you sleepy?

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are lots of things we can do to relax and get ready for bed at the end of the day: take a warm bath, curl up with a book, or even sip a steaming...

Why do we have reflexes?

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever had a ball tossed at your face, you probably flinched, tried to knock it away from your face, or jumped out of the way, right? That’...

What are freckles made of?

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

People all over the world have little brown dots called freckles on their skin. You might notice that you get new freckles if you spend time out in th...

How far can an owl turn its head?

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Owls are amazing. Most are nocturnal and hunt at night. They have incredible eyesight. And a group of them is called a parliament! One of our listener...

Do dogs have nose hairs?

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who doesn’t love a dog nose? They’re cute, often very wet and way better at smelling the world than our puny human noses. Dog noses are one of the...

Where did the first land come from?

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Earth is made up of giant masses of land called continents. There are seven continents, but which one came first? Where did it come from? We asked...

Why does black absorb heat?

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever noticed how we usually wear lighter colors in the warmer months, and darker colors once it gets cold? Like how your black shirt is perfe...

Why do we talk in our sleep?

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lots of people talk in their sleep, especially kids!  Have you ever heard anyone babbling away in the middle of the night?  Or maybe someone has tol...

How does a zipper work?

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Zippers are everywhere – holding your backpack closed, keeping you snug in your sleeping bag and of course, on your pants! But how exactly does a zi...

Why do nosebleeds start?

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A nosebleed is just what it sounds like: it’s when blood comes out of your nose. Lots of people get nosebleeds, but what causes them? We asked pedia...

Why do you get a tornado if you stir tea really fast?

28 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever tried stirring a liquid really fast with a spoon? Sometimes, it looks like it creates a tiny tornado in the cup! Why does that happen? W...

Why does time fly when you're having fun?

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever experienced the term "time flies when you’re having fun"? It’s an unfortunate reality of life that time seems to crawl by when we’...

Can plants feel an electric shock?

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Believe it or not, plants are sensitive things. They know when the sun is shining. They get stressed when an insect is munching on them. But do they f...

Why does rain fall in tiny droplets and not big plops?

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever been caught in the rain, it probably wasn’t a big deal, right? Lucky for us, rain typically falls from the sky in small droplets. L...

Why do we jolt as we fall asleep?

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever started to fall asleep and then suddenly – whoa! – you jolt awake? What’s up with that? We asked sleep specialist Chris Winter to ...

Do octopuses have brains?

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Octopuses are some of the most incredible animals on Earth. They have three hearts and their blood is blue! Plus, they can taste and smell things with...

Why do people move their arms when they walk?

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s say you’re watching a bunch of people run a marathon. The runners are pumping their legs, sure. But they’re also swinging their arms. Why ...

What kind of blood do insects have?

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever smacked a mosquito on your arm, you might have seen a little smear  of red blood on your skin afterward. But just whose blood was it...

Why do leaves change color only in the fall?

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In fall we like to change up our wardrobe from shorts and T-shirts to pants and sweaters. And guess what, trees do that too! Except they change the co...

Do dogs remember when they were puppies?

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dogs have an amazing sense of smell, incredible hearing, and the most adorable tail wags. But do they remember anything from when they were puppies? W...

Why do we go bald?

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Humans are mammals, which means that we have hair on our bodies and heads. Sometimes, as people get older, they lose some of that head hair. How does ...

How are alligators and crocodiles different?

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

People think alligators and crocodiles are really scary - and lots of people don’t understand the difference between them. But wildlife biologist Ve...

Do microbes sleep?

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our world is FULL of microorganisms, or microbes for short! They’re tiny microscopic living things like bacteria– and they do so much for us! They...

Why do beehives look like hexagons?

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever taken a close look at a beehive you can see that it is covered in tiny hexagons! But why is that? We asked bee researcher Jessica Kev...

What's inside a black hole?

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A black hole is an area of outer space where gravity is so strong that nothing can get out … not even light! But what’s actually inside a black ho...

Why do we have bones?

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bones! We’ve got lots of them. Leg bones, arm bones, face bones, even ear bones! But…not all animals even have bones inside their bodies. So what ...

Why do you lose your voice when you yell?

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever stayed up late talking to your friends while watching movies, or yelled for your teammates at a soccer match, or screamed at the top of ...

Why are diamonds so rare and valuable?

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lots of people love sparkly, pretty things – especially precious stones, like diamonds. But who decides which stones are precious? And what makes di...

Why does your tongue stick to ice?

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been tempted to lick something frozen? Hopefully not, because your tongue could get stuck!  But don’t worry, we talked to engineer Al...

How did people make cave paintings?

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In places all over the world, there are ancient paintings in caves and on cliff walls that were made thousands of years ago by the people living there...

How do bubbles pop?

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bubbles are everywhere! Soap bubbles, fizzy seltzer bubbles, underwater bubbles – even bubblegum bubbles!  But how do bubbles pop? We asked mechani...

Why is pee yellow?

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pee is super cool! It’s 95% water. It’s sterile. And it can be a window into our overall health. But why is it yellow? We asked mechanical enginee...

Why were animals bigger in the past?

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

All different kinds of giant prehistoric creatures used to walk the Earth, from 20-foot-tall sloths to sharks longer than a school bus.. They all seem...

Why do sharks have to keep moving to stay alive?

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If there’s one thing that’s generally known about sharks, it’s that they have sharp teeth. But have you heard they have to keep moving to stay a...

How does your skin make a rash?

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When our skin gets irritated, it reacts! And sometimes a rash appears. Rashes can be red, itchy, painful and bumpy… But how does our skin make them?...

What’s the difference between AM and FM radio waves?

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Radios are like magical devices. You just flip a switch and BAM, you can listen to everything from punk rock to world news. But how exactly does a rad...

Why does ice help with swelling?

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever banged your knee pretty badly, you might have noticed the knee swells up to larger than its normal size. To ease your pain and make t...

Why are spicy foods spicy?

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lots of people love spicy food for that tongue-tingling feeling. But where does it come from? What’s happening in our mouths when we bite down on a ...

Why does the sun stay in one place?

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Earth is always moving around the sun, but does the sun move too? Or is it fixed in one place in the cosmos? In this episode, we talk to astrophysicis...

Do birds build a new nest every year?

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are so many different kinds of bird nests out there: big ones, small ones, some as big as your head! Birds build their nests out of everything f...

When were tattoos first invented?

17 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tattoos are a type of art that’s added permanently to a person’s skin using special inks and needles. It’s a way of decorating the body that has...

How did the days of the week get their names?

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s super helpful that each day of the week has its own name!  Without these names, it’d be really hard to keep track of our calendars – and t...

When were movies first made?

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Movies are everywhere. They’re on our tablets, phones, and projected onto giant screens. But it hasn’t always been that way! So… when were movie...

When were sewing machines first invented?

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We may not think much about sewing machines, but there are so many things we wouldn’t have without them! Think about how many things are sewn togeth...

When did people start having pets?

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

People have all different kinds of animals as pets: dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, pigs, you name it. The famous artist Salvador Dalí even had a pet ...

How do drums work?

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Drums are the backbone of rock’n’roll…and most other kinds of music, too! Where would we be without a big bass drum leading a parade, or a jazzy...

Why are bees black and yellow?

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bees are incredible! There are 20,000 species, and so much to learn about them. But have you ever wondered why they are black and yellow? Such a speci...

Why does your breath smell worse in the morning?

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Good morning! Rise and shine! Time to stretch and yawn and…blech! What is that taste? What is that smell?? Morning breath can be especially stinky, ...

Why does hot sauce make your nose run?

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re an adventurous eater you might have tried spicy cuisine, or maybe added hot sauce to your meals. Did your eyes water? Did your nose run? I...

Why is bird poop white?

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever looked at a bird turd? Like, really looked at it? If so, you might’ve noticed there’s a lot of white in there. But what is that whit...

How do you become a NASA astronaut?

03 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 do...

How do shells get their shape?

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Shells come in so many amazing shapes and sizes -  spirals, sand dollars, sundials, ones that whirl around, ones that twirl around, ones that twist t...

Do snakes barf?

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 b...

What happens when you pour salt on a snail?

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Hi...

What makes a good paper airplane?

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ac...

How do birds make their eggs?

26 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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? W...

Do spiders have ears?

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, di...

What would happen if it rained oobleck?

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Do mice really like cheese?

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 lik...

How is wood made into paper?

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How far has any astronaut traveled?

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Do fish have tongues?

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 b...

Are birds related to bats?

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 cousin...

Why do bats sleep upside down?

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 f...

Where does cinnamon come from?

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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!Bu...

What happens when big trucks roll over bacteria on roads?

12 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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! ...

Where does a candle go when it burns?

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Why do bees buzz?

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

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

09 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, t...

How do cameras take photos and videos?

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How and when did jokes start, and why?

05 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 fun...

What happens when lightning strikes water?

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 he...

Why does bread change color and texture in the toaster?

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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. ...

Do worms sleep?

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 e...

Which is older, the sun or the moon?

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 huma...

How can parrots mimic other sounds?

22 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Aman...

Can a moon have a moon?

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

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

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

What is tree bark made of?

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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. ...

How do vacuum cleaners work?

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ha...

Would a flashlight turn on at lightspeed?

15 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Why do we jump when we get scared?

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 fri...

How do microphones work?

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Why do our lips get chapped?

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 hap...

Do eyeballs grow?

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 the...

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

08 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 agricult...

Do fish have allergies?

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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. Bu...

How do skunks spray their stink?

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, ...

If the earth had rings, could we see them?

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How do prescription glasses work?

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 thi...

What does earwax do for your ear?

01 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ma...