Moment of Um

Dec 11 2024 100 ep. 5 mins 969
Moment of Um Podcast artwork

Moment of Um is your daily answer to those questions that pop up out of nowhere and make you go… ummmmmmm. Brought to you by your friends at Brains On at APM Studios.

  Kids & Family
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How do vocal cords work?

Dec 11 2024 4 mins  
Vocal cords are magical things. They let us speak, sing, squawk and scream. But what are vocal cords and how do they do all that? We asked pediatrician Emma Gerstenzang to help us find the answer.Got a question that’s chattering away in your brain? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll belt out an answer!

How does hair dye work?

Dec 10 2024 5 mins  
If you could turn your hair any color in the world… what color would you choose?! Sapphire blue, hot pink, lime green, neon orange?? There are dyes out there that can turn your hair every color of the rainbow! But how exactly do they work? We asked Chemist Michelle Wall to help us understand.Got a hairy question that needs answering? Send it to us atBrainsOn.org/contact, and we�

How are bricks made?

Dec 09 2024 5 mins  
Bricks are all around us: in walls, sidewalks, park benches, and more. How are these bodacious blocks made, and what makes them different colors? We asked construction and masonry expert Brian Trimble to help us find the answer.Constructing a question? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help you find a solid answer!

When did people start using utensils?

Dec 06 2024 6 mins  
People around the world eat with a variety of utensils like forks, chopsticks, and sporks. But what did people do before silverware was invented? We asked human evolution expert Briana Pobiner from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History to help us find the answer.Got a question that’s unFORKgettable? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll spoon-feed you an

How do our clothes get dirty?

Dec 05 2024 4 mins  
Clothes are FUN. We strut our stuff in them. Laugh and play in them. Sometimes we love one article of clothing so much, we never want to take it off! But eventually, all clothes do have to be cleaned. We chatted with Tide Principal Scientist Jennifer Ahoni about how clothes get dirty, even when they still look spotless. Listen and learn about the secrets of body soils and invisible

Why does salt make you thirsty?

Dec 04 2024 5 mins  
Have you ever noticed that when you eat something salty, you feel extra thirsty for a while afterwards? Ever wondered why? Turns out, scientists are wondering why as well, and it’s a perfect example of how science is always changing how we understand the world. Gastroenterologist Dr. Kaveh Hoda tells us the salty story. Thirsting for knowledge? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/conta

Why does bread have holes?

Dec 03 2024 4 mins  
Bread! It’s good stuff, no matter how you slice it. But why do slices of bread have holes in them? Are there bread moles who tunnel through baguettes? Invisible worms in the whole wheat? Chipmunks chewing on the ciabatta? We asked food scientist David Domingues to help us find the answer.Got a question that you knead us to look into? Send it to us atBrains On.org/contact, and we�

How do people get warts?

Dec 02 2024 5 mins  
Warts are small bumps that can show up on our skin, especially on our hands, knees, or elbows. What are they? Where do they come from? We asked Dr. Kaveh Hoda to help us find the answer.Got a question that’s got you TOADally stumped? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help sort out wart’s wart.

How does a platypus make its venom?

Nov 29 2024 5 mins  
Platypuses seem like they were put together from other animal’s spare parts. They’ve got a bill like a duck, a flat tail like a beaver, and…venom? What’s up with that? We asked biologist Imogene Cancellare to help us find the answer.Got a question that’s as confusing as platypus anatomy? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we won’t even bill you for the answer!

How did the peregrine falcon get its name?

Nov 28 2024 4 mins  
Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals on earth. They’re the super sonic jets of the animal kingdom! So what does the word “peregrine” mean and how did these amazing birds get their name? We chatted with conservation biologist Imogene Cancellare to help us find the answer.Got a question soaring through your brain? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help you