Brainy Bits 90—smart science in 90 seconds

How far can your nose smell? A few feet? Maybe a few rooms away? Well, meet the giant emperor moth — the flying superhero that can sniff out a mate from over a mile away! In today’s episode of Brainy Bits 90, we dive into the amazing world of moths with super-sensitive, feathery antennae that can track a single scent through forests and fields. Find out how these incredible insects race against ti...

In this episode of Brainy Bits 90, we’re talking about the wild party happening in your gut—from babyhood to about age 8. According to a study in Nature Medicine, your gut microbiome is basically a microbial city that evolves as you grow. We’re talking poop samples, milk-to-mac-and-cheese milestones, fart facts, and even a Pepper cameo. Let’s get into the guts of it. Brainy Bits 90. ACF

In this episode of Brainy Bits 90, we’re heading into the night sky where bats are hunting—and moths are listening. The greater wax moth has insanely good hearing, like hide-and-seek champion level. Based on research published in Biology Letters, this bug hears bats coming way before they strike. Who wins this nighttime game? Tune in to find out. Brainy Bits 90. ACF.

In this episode of Brainy Bits 90, we’re cracking open a cool discovery: tiny air bubbles trapped in glacial ice are secretly speeding up glacier melt—like, a lot. According to a study in Nature Geoscience, these little pops are stirring up big trouble in the climate game. Let’s find out how something so small can make such a splash. Brainy Bits 90. ACF.

You’ve seen it a thousand times—your dog sees you, and their tail goes into overdrive. But why do dogs wag their tails so much? In this episode of Brainy Bits 90, we dig into a new opinion piece from Biology Letters that explores the neuroscience, evolution, and even the rhythm behind that iconic doggy dance. Bonus: Pepper drops in with a perfectly timed tail thump. Brainy Bets 90. ACF.

In this episode of Brainy Bits 90, we dig into how your teen brain is basically a superhero in training. Learn how practice—whether it’s algebra, figure skating, or just not falling into the pool during swim practice—can help your brain grow stronger, faster, and more flexible (mentally, at least). Brainy Bits 90. ACF.

In this episode of Brainy Bits 90, we revisit the famous “marshmallow test” to see if kids today are better at waiting than kids from the 1960s. A new study published in Developmental Psychology suggests modern kids might actually be more patient—but why? We look at what’s changed over the decades, from how kids grow up to what kinds of snacks they find tempting. Spoiler alert: when I asked my lit...

In this episode of Brainy Bits 90, we explore the clever tactics of the brown thornbill, a small Australian bird that uses vocal mimicry to protect its nestlings from predators. Discover how this feathered trickster imitates the alarm calls of other species to create the illusion of a looming hawk, effectively scaring away threats like the pied currawong. Learn about the recent research published...

Yes, we already have an episode called “Loophole Logic of Kids”… but we love this topic so much, we’re back with more! In this follow-up, inspired by the research published in Child Development, we dive deeper into how kids creatively bend the rules—and what that says about their brains. From climbing into an empty tub to stretch bedtime, to bringing the dog outside to dodge a solo adventure ban,...

When is a dropped ice cream cone the end of the world—and when is it just… Tuesday? In this episode of Brainy Bits 90, the big sister breaks down a new study on how kids react to bad events —especially when they can’t see it coming or stop it. From juice disasters to Pepper the snack-stealing dog, we explore how kids learn to handle life’s little meltdowns, one mess at a time. Also: Mum says no fo...

What do you do when your child finds a clever way around your rules—but doesn’t technically break them? Welcome to the curious world of kid logic. In this debut episode of Brainy Bits, we dive into a fascinating study from Harvard and MIT that shows how children’s sneaky interpretations of rules may actually be a sign of social smarts. From hand-holding hacks to cookie loopholes, discover why lett...