Have you ever seen an aurora? These spectacular night-time displays can fill our skies with dancing lights and bursts of color. But why do they happen in the first place?

Join Molly and co-host Mariam as they learn about what makes an aurora (hint: it starts with spicy sun burps) and chat with scientist Dr. Liz MacDonald about the best places to see them. Stick around for aurora trivia with Gameshow Molly and a dazzling new mystery sound!


Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free feeds, bonus episodes, and ticket discounts!


Today’s episode is sponsored by:
- Indeed.com/brainson - Receive a $75 sponsored job credit with code brainson

Have you ever seen an aurora? These spectacular night-time displays can fill our skies with dancing lights and bursts of color. But why do they happen in the first place? Join Molly and co-host Mariam as they learn about what makes an aurora (hint: it starts with spicy sun burps) and chat with scientist Dr. Liz MacDonald about the best places to see them. Stick around for aurora trivia with Gameshow Molly and a dazzling new mystery sound! <a href="https://www.smartypass.org/" class="default">Subscribe to Smarty Pass</a> for ad-free feeds, bonus episodes, and ticket discounts! Today’s episode is sponsored by: - <a href="https://www.indeed.com/hire/audio-promotion-highimpact" class="default">Indeed.com/brainson</a> - Receive a $75 sponsored job credit with code brainson

Brains On!® is a science podcast for curious kids and adults from Brains On Universe. Each week, a different kid co-host joins Molly Bloom to find answers to fascinating questions about the world sent in by listeners. Like, do dogs know they’re dogs? Or, why do feet stink? Plus, we have mystery sounds for you to guess, songs for you to dance to, and lots of facts -- all checked by experts.

Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/  

Brains On!&reg; is a science podcast for curious kids and adults from Brains On Universe. Each week, a different kid co-host joins Molly Bloom to find answers to fascinating questions about the world sent in by listeners. Like, do dogs know they&rsquo;re dogs? Or, why do feet stink? Plus, we have mystery sounds for you to guess, songs for you to dance to, and lots of facts -- all checked by experts.
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media <a href="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-stringify-link="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://lemonadamedia.com/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Auroras: Nature's light show

What's better than a mystery sound? How about 11 mystery sounds! We have mystery sounds from listeners all over the world to share with you, plus two from scientists. And our co-host Juniper will try to stump Molly with a mystery sound of her own!

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!

What's better than a mystery sound? How about 11 mystery sounds! We have mystery sounds from listeners all over the world to share with you, plus two from scientists. And our co-host Juniper will try to stump Molly with a mystery sound of her own! Click&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AyG5LIE9Dn5xUZlFphruKCPgzY1KBgDI/view?usp=sharing">here</a>&nbsp;to read a transcript of this episode.
Want to support the show? Join <a href="http://smartypass.org">Smarty Pass</a> to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

It's time for the....Mystery Sound Extravaganza!

Every spring we set our clocks one hour forward. Every fall we move them one hour back. It’s a strange ritual when you think about it, so why do we do it? Join Molly and co-host Ava as they explore the seasons and why days are shorter in the winter and longer in the summer. We’ll hear about the history of Day Light Saving and play a game. And it’s always time for a Mystery Sound! So set an alarm so you don’t forget to tune in to this episode!

Want to support Brains On and all of the shows in the Brains On Universe? Sign up for Smarty Pass. You'll get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus content, virtual hangouts, discounts on merch and more!

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. More shows announced soon!

March 7 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI

March 8 - Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, MN

March 28 - Center Stage, Atlanta, GA

March 29 - Amaturo Theater, Fort Lauderdale, FL

April 11 - Walker Theater, Chattanooga, TN

April 12 - Carolina Theater, Durham, NC

April 25 - Marines Memorial, San Francisco, CA

April 26 - Newmark Theater, Portland, OR

May 30 - Electric City, Buffalo, NY

May 31 - Royal Theatre, Toronto, ON

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Every spring we set our clocks one hour forward. Every fall we move them one hour back. It&rsquo;s a strange ritual when you think about it, so why do we do it? Join Molly and co-host Ava as they explore the seasons and why days are shorter in the winter and longer in the summer. We&rsquo;ll hear about the history of Day Light Saving and play a game. And it&rsquo;s always time for a Mystery Sound! So set an alarm so you don&rsquo;t forget to tune in to this episode!
Want to support Brains On and all of the shows in the Brains On Universe? <a href="https://brainson.supercast.com/">Sign up for Smarty Pass</a>. You'll get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus content, virtual hangouts, discounts on merch and more!
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&nbsp;<a href="https://brainson.org/events">head to our events page</a>. More shows announced soon!
March 7 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI
March 8 - Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, MN
March 28 - Center Stage, Atlanta, GA
March 29 - Amaturo Theater, Fort Lauderdale, FL
April 11 - Walker Theater, Chattanooga, TN
April 12 - Carolina Theater, Durham, NC
April 25 - Marines Memorial, San Francisco, CA
April 26 - Newmark Theater, Portland, OR
May 30 - Electric City, Buffalo, NY
May 31 - Royal Theatre, Toronto, ON
Click <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xQJQKNsLQqe12CuurVG3tNqDRarl7pOa/view?usp=sharing">here</a> for a transcript of this episode.

Why do we have Daylight Saving Time?

Exciting news! We’ve announced a bunch of new tour stops for this spring! Learn more about the show and get tickets here!



Mar 7............MILWAUKEE

Mar 8..................ST PAUL

Mar 28..............ATLANTA

Mar 29.....FT LAUDERDALE

Apr 11......CHATTANOOGA

Apr 12.................DURHAM

Apr 25.....SAN FRANCISCO

Apr 26.............PORTLAND

May 30...............BUFFALO

May 31..............TORONTO

Jun 6.............ANN ARBOR

Get tickets at brainson.org/events -- hope to see you there!!

Exciting news! We&rsquo;ve announced a bunch of new tour stops for this spring! <a href="https://g3j1.engage.squarespace-mail.com/r?m=69a05492b194764555eec9ea&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fbrainson.org%2Fevents%3Fss_source%3Dsscampaigns%26ss_campaign_id%3D699fc28721f8bb345f8ae071%26ss_email_id%3D69a05492b194764555eec9ea%26ss_campaign_name%3DNew%2BBrains%2BOn%2Btour%2Bdates%2Badded%2521%2B%26ss_campaign_sent_date%3D2026-02-26T14%253A11%253A42Z&amp;w=68c1dc0b951fbe6ec4ab3770&amp;c=b_699fc28721f8bb345f8ae071&amp;l=en-US&amp;s=FLCdg1t5o2sPdWa91zGiEBkM_7A%3D" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://g3j1.engage.squarespace-mail.com/r?m%3D69a05492b194764555eec9ea%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fbrainson.org%252Fevents%253Fss_source%253Dsscampaigns%2526ss_campaign_id%253D699fc28721f8bb345f8ae071%2526ss_email_id%253D69a05492b194764555eec9ea%2526ss_campaign_name%253DNew%252BBrains%252BOn%252Btour%252Bdates%252Badded%252521%252B%2526ss_campaign_sent_date%253D2026-02-26T14%25253A11%25253A42Z%26w%3D68c1dc0b951fbe6ec4ab3770%26c%3Db_699fc28721f8bb345f8ae071%26l%3Den-US%26s%3DFLCdg1t5o2sPdWa91zGiEBkM_7A%253D&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1772318396035000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1NCXMOd8uvKxNqw95ZYpNw">Learn more about the show and get tickets here!</a> 
Mar 7............MILWAUKEE
Mar 8..................ST PAUL
Mar 28..............ATLANTA
Mar 29.....FT LAUDERDALE
Apr 11......CHATTANOOGA
Apr 12.................DURHAM
Apr 25.....SAN FRANCISCO
Apr 26.............PORTLAND
May 30...............BUFFALO
May 31..............TORONTO
Jun 6.............ANN ARBOR Get tickets at brainson.org/events -- hope to see you there!!

Auroras: Nature's light show

In 1 playlist(s)

Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips