How does soap work?
4/28/202634 min
We wash our hands all the time, but do you ever wonder why? It turns out that soap is super good at attaching to dirt and germs and carrying that gunk off skin. Join Molly and co-hosts Hope and Heaven as they zoom in on soap to see how this sudsy stuff cleans so well. Plus we’ll learn how soap was likely invented and meet some pioneers who helped prove that washing hands keeps us healthy. Oh, and everyone’s favorite viral podcasters, Kara and Gilly, are back! Plus a new Mystery Sound. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate! 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! May 30 - Electric City, Buffalo, NY May 31 - Royal Theatre, Toronto, ON (2nd show added!) June 6 - Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI June 20 - Southern Theater, Columbus, OH June 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI Click here for a transcript of this episode.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMolly Bloom· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Lemonada.
Heaven· Host0:02
[upbeat music] Brains On Universe.
Hope· Host0:09
You're listening to Brains On.
Heaven· Host0:14
Where we're serious about being curious.
Molly Bloom· Host0:16
When you wash your hands, there's a battle going on.
Hope· Host0:20
One between the soap and the dirt and germs on your skin.
Heaven· Host0:24
It's a nasty fight with brutal attacks.
Hope· Host0:27
And no mercy.
Molly Bloom· Host0:28
The soap wins and the dirt and germs lose big time.
Hope· Host0:32
But how?
Heaven· Host0:33
Yeah, what exactly does soap do to cause those filthy foes?
Molly Bloom· Host0:37
Turns out soap has a special design that makes it the perfect thing to kill germs and clean dirt. But to see how it works, you have to zoom in super close.
Heaven· Host0:45
Which is exactly what we're going to do.
Hope· Host0:47
Keep listening.
Marc Sanchez0:49
[upbeat music] Hi, I'm Mark Sanchez here to talk about an important issue. Do you have questionitis? It's a common condition that afflicts curious kids, and sometimes adults too. Symptoms include wondering what octopuses dream of, contemplating how Jell-O wiggles, asking why penguins can't fly, and questioning the existence of time itself. If you or somebody you love is dealing with questionitis, there is help. By joining Smarty Pass, you can get access to hundreds of episodes of Brains On that answer your questions, all