Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Humans have been fascinated by metal for thousands of years. But it took us a long time to master making things with metal. In this episode we go back in time to learn how Japanese swords were forged, how swings were used to make thin metal wires and why steel cables saved so many lives. Molly and co-host Ava are joined by Dylan Thuras, co-founder of Atlas Obscura for part two of this deep dive on all things metal. Plus, Marc meets some talking boxes and there’s an all new Mystery Sound.

Metal is amazing. It can be super strong like a steel beam. Or super flexible, like a copper wire. Humans have been obsessed with metals of all kinds for a very long time. This is part one a three-part look at how humans have used metal throughout history. Molly and co-host Ava are joined by Dylan Thuras, co-founder of Atlas Obscura, to look at how Earth got metal in the first place, how humans first found and used this stuff, and when we started making primitive tools with it. Plus, Marc and Sanden have some problems unpacking the new Brains On library. All that and a Mystery Sound!

Most of us take listening to music or podcasts for granted. You can find them on your phone, in the car or just about anywhere you can imagine. But, have you ever wondered how those sounds were captured in the first place? To find out, Molly and Co-host Canyon shrink down and follow a sound waves as it is recorded and stored. They meet a robot who really loves to eat old school media, like cassettes and CDs. And they learn how speakers turn information into the music we hear. All that plus a new mystery sound.

We treat dogs like they're part of the family. But do they know they are a different species, or do they think they're just short, four-legged people?

In this episode, canine cognition researcher Alexandra Horowitz helps us puzzle out this question. We’ll also find out what happens (or doesn’t) when a dog looks in the mirror. Dogs are always dozing, and we’ll check in to see if they are dreaming too. And, we take a quick trip around the world in the language of barks. All that, plus a brand new Mystery Sound!