Brains on

How were people mummified?
^{00:35:47 | November 29th, 2022}

Ancient Egyptians did lots of amazing things, from building pyramids to inventing a form of writing called hieroglyphics. They also mummified important people after they died. In this episode, we’ll explain how that process was done and why. We’ll also meet a museum curator who thinks it might be time to rethink how we study mummified people.

Space: The ultimate intergalactic game show
^{00:35:09 | November 15th, 2022}

Do you like games? Do you like space? Then this is the episode for you! We’ve got five space-inspired games for you: Cosmic Couplets, Infini-Trivia, First Things First, Stars in Space or Pasta Shapes and, of course, Mystery Sounds! Plus we’ll hear some of the super catchy, dance-your-pants-off space jingles you’ve been sending to us! Get your astronaut gear on, gaze up at the cosmos and get ready to play along!

Why are we so sweaty?
^{00:24:43 | November 1st, 2022}

When most bodies get hot, sweat starts pouring out. Why? In this episode, we'll hop in the Amazing Truck of Minimization (ATOM) to see how sweat glands work from the inside out, take a peek back in time to figure out how we evolved to be so sweaty, and we'll find out if there are any other animals as sweaty as we are. All that plus a brand new mystery sound!

Introducing Smarty Pass: Your ticket to the Brains On! Universe
^{00:04:15 | October 28th, 2022}

Become a Smarty Pass subscriber today to access bonus episodes and ad-free episodes of Brains On!, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago — all right here in your favorite podcast player.

Moon Myths: Why are there so many scary stories about the full moon?
^{00:33:41 | October 25th, 2022}

The full moon is bright, beautiful, and reappears in the sky like clockwork. Many cultures use the full moon to mark the passing of time and organize calendars around the moon’s cycle. So why does the full moon also have a reputation for causing mischief and mayhem? In this episode, we’ll learn where some of these beliefs come from and investigate whether the full moon actually does affect humans and our behavior. We’ll also hear about folklore tied to the full moon and examine how the moon’s phases work. All that plus a brand new mystery sound!

AHH! How music can make scary movies even scarier
^{00:33:25 | October 18th, 2022}

We listen to music with our ears – and that amazing electric meatball between our ears: our brain! But why do our brains find some music scary?

Blood: The superhighway of the body
^{00:33:07 | October 11th, 2022}

Did the Brontosaurus really exist?
^{00:32:01 | October 4th, 2022}

Today’s episode is all about one of the most dynamite dinosaurs, the Brontosaurus! This long-necked icon has been featured in books, cartoons, movies, and even logos. But did the Brontosaurus really exist in the first place? We’ll dig into that question and uncover the history of Brontosaurus with science writer and bronto-enthusiast Riley Black. We’ll also learn about taxonomy from a ghost and catch up with Mr. Bone Jangles. Plus, a new mystery sound to discover!