Think of the cutest puppy, kitten or baby you’ve ever seen. Now what sound did you just make? Was it an “Awwwww?” Or did you want to pinch, bite or squeeze it? In this episode, we’ll find out why this is a natural reaction to cute and why we’re so easily distracted by cute things.

Think of the cutest puppy, kitten or baby you’ve ever seen. Now what sound did you just make? Was it an “Awwwww?” Or did you want to pinch, bite or squeeze it? In this episode, we’ll find out why this is a natural reaction to cute and why we’re so easily distracted by cute things.

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

What makes cute things cute?

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!!

New Brains On tour dates added: St. Paul, Atlanta, Portland -- and more!

HARVEY, our omnipresent virtual voice assistant, gets a software update that makes him go bananas for bananas. And if we talk about anything except bananas, he turns the microphones off! We talk to geneticist Dr. Janina Jeff about how much DNA we share with a banana, find out why bananas make other fruits ripen, how bananas grow, and where that slipping on a banana peel joke came from. Speaking of jokes, we'll hear a bunch of banana jokes from listeners too! Plus: The Moment of Um answers the question: "Why are peaches fuzzy?"

You can hear more from Dr. Jeff on her podcast In Those Genes.

Silent film expert Lea Stans has a wonderful blog post about the history of the banana peel joke that you can read right here. You can see some of those early comics that featured the joke! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch/RMDgmHB4znc

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

HARVEY, our omnipresent virtual voice assistant, gets a software update that makes him go bananas for bananas. And if we talk about anything except bananas, he turns the microphones off! We talk to geneticist Dr. Janina Jeff about how much DNA we share with a banana, find out why bananas make other fruits ripen, how bananas grow, and where that slipping on a banana peel joke came from. Speaking of jokes, we'll hear a bunch of banana jokes from listeners too! Plus: The Moment of Um answers the question: "Why are peaches fuzzy?"
You can hear more from Dr. Jeff on her podcast&nbsp;<a href="https://inthosegenes.com/">In Those Genes</a>.
Silent film expert Lea Stans has a wonderful blog post about the history of the banana peel joke&nbsp;<a href="https://silentology.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/the-history-of-those-darn-banana-peels/">that you can read right here</a>. You can see some of those early comics that featured the joke!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch/RMDgmHB4znc">https://www.youtube.com/watch/RMDgmHB4znc</a>
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

What makes cute things cute?

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