Why doesn’t stomach acid burn right through us?
2/10/202629 min
Our stomachs are full of a powerful acid, one that can burn your skin and even melt metal. So why doesn’t this stuff burn a hole through our bellies? We’ll find out how our stomachs protect the rest of us from this acid. Plus, we’ll learn about some of the wildest ways animals digest food and learn about how a serious accident helped us. Don't forget to listen to the Mystery Sound and the latest suggestions for new rooms in our headquarters.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMolly Bloom· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Lemonada.
Mark· Host0:05
[upbeat music] Brains On Universe.
Wesley· Guest0:10
You're listening to Brains On, where we're serious about being curious.
Molly Bloom· Host0:15
[upbeat music] Inside you, there is a squelchy, churning pit of liquid, a liquid so dangerous it would burn your hand if you touched it.
Wesley· Guest0:25
In fact, this super sludge can dissolve all kinds of things, even metal, and your body makes a lot of it every day.
Molly Bloom· Host0:31
We're talking about stomach acid. It's powerful and dangerous.
Wesley· Guest0:35
So why doesn't it burn a hole right through our bodies?
Molly Bloom· Host0:38
Turns out, our bodies have equally powerful defenses. We're gonna learn all about it.
Wesley· Guest0:44
Plus, imagine if eating rocks was good for you. For a certain animal, it is.
Molly Bloom· Host0:48
Find out which animal coming up. [upbeat music] Hi, have you ever had this happen?
Mark· Host0:57
I have so many questions! If only there was a podcast that answered them.
Molly Bloom· Host1:01
Of course you haven't, because you have Brains On. We're here for all the things you wonder about, like...
Mark· Host1:07
Why do dogs sniff each other's butts? What's up with crushes? Why do we have them? Could you dig a hole through the earth?
Molly Bloom· Host1:13
We've answered all of those and more. If this kind of curiosity-quenching matters to you, support it by joining Smarty Pass. Head to smartypass.org. You'll also get bonus episodes, ad-free versions of Brains On, Forever Ago, and Smash Boom Best, plus